Dabble

So I wanted to dabble a little bit into product photography. It is below zero degree weather, and that seems to put a damper on my motivation to go outside and shoot. So I am sticking to the indoors. Well… that lead to this little project. I love macro photography, and I feel like product photography could really help me learn some principles of this field. As you can see I need a little help! 🙂 If there are any photographers out there, that know of some resources I could turn to that would be great! I did learn that I need to place my subject close and what I want in the background a tab farther away (I know, I know that is basic design stuff… I just needed a reminder).

Aaron caught a cold this week, and I have been applying this essential oils on him. I am still trying to become a believer, but my mom swears by them… and she’s right about a lot of things! So I tried them.

Let me know what you think. What you like, what you don’t like, and what could be improved. 🙂

Jan 20

Caleb

Caleb and I are the best of friends. It all started with playing pirate ship on Sundays and being grounded together on Mondays. I sure do love my brother!

Straight A’s. Caleb has excelled in life! Not just in the classroom, but everything he has conquered in high school. Here are just a few graduation pics. He is one cool dude!

You know as the oldest you get told how “you’ll be a great example.” I think Caleb and I’s birth order got messed up, because I look up to him so much! He is an amazing brother to all of his siblings. I see him treat us with kindness, and a tenderness. Ever since Caleb was young, he has cherished and loved his family and home. (he use to get upset with me if I was gone too much.. haha) Another thing Caleb has learned to love and cherish is his Savior, Jesus Christ. I have watched the light of Christ shine through his eyes. He now is preparing to take these two loves– the Savior and forever families– and gets to spread it through out the world. He is going to be an amazing missionary!

Hurrah for Israel!

The Field is White

Jan 8

Box O Ranch

A large storm tormented the desert for a few brief moments; ah what a relief! The dry ground embraced the moisture like a lost child and his mother. The sweet reunion has been anticipated for months. The sky and ground rejoice together as they relish in their short interlude. The storm departs but the impact it left is still all around us.

I wished to capture the influence the storm had on the land, with the small details. As well as a shot of the “larger picture.” Box O Ranch is a place of gathering, work, learning and really good steaks. It was so wonderful to be out there with family, and to reconnect with the beauty of the desert.

Many don’t see the majestic desert as much. But I promise you there is beauty in it. Can you see it?

World in a Drop. Florence, AZ Box O Ranch. December 2012.

Box O “The View” Florence, AZ. December 2012.

Drip. Florence, AZ Box O Ranch. December 2012.

Gone. Florence, AZ Box O Ranch. December 2012

Jan 3

Giving

Christmas break was wonderful! I relished in the simple moments of being home. Relationships were strengthened, and bridges mended. Of course one of the exciting parts of Christmas break is Christmas! 🙂 The joy of giving to those you love, is a small taste of what the Savior feels when He gives the gift of forgiveness. He knows it is what we desire above all else; and He is the only one that can give it to us. I learned this Christmas the gift giving does not need to be adorned with bows and ribbons. Here are just a few photos capturing those sweet moments of pure love, between a giver and a receiver.

Grandpa Brimhall. Christmas Eve 2012

Aaron Elgin on his first Christmas.

Grandpa Calhoun & Aaron.

Dec 13

Thompson Christmas

The semester is over. My photography class has ended. Yet I am just getting started! I have set a new goal to do a photo shoot once a week. So hopefully I stay up to date.

Here’s my first one. This is the third time that I have shot this couple, yet is only the second set of photos I have to show for it. This week, I learned a valuables lesson in file saving. NEVER hit replace! Your photos disappear into a black hole, never to be seen again. So thanks to Chelsea and Trent’s patience. we were able to do it again. They were such troopers, to face the cold of Rexburg. Here are just a few of my favorites!

Nov 29

East Idaho Photo Contest

I just entered my first photo contest for the Idaho Falls Magazine. We will see what comes of it! I am not a native Idahoan, but I have lived here for about two years, and have new love and appreciation for this place. I have seen a lot of the beauty it provides, and uniqueness it has to offer. I feel like I have captured some of my feelings about Idaho, so I decided to choose a contest that was focused on Idaho.

To check out the contest click on the link. Idaho Falls Magazine Photo Contest.

Here’s my description of the three photos I submitted.
Mrs. Rexburg. This is Chelsea Thompson, Mrs. Rexburg for 2012. She attended the Mrs. Idaho Pageant in Boise in October.
Fall Sunrise. Eastern Idaho is a canvas of color during the fall and this is one of those splashes that we enjoy this time of year.
Red Skirt. This is taken out of the famous American Greek Grill, Opa !in Rexburg, ID. They have yummy food and a really fun atmosphere. With antique signs, license plates, and Coca Cola posters.

Mrs. Rexburg. July 3, 2012 6pm. Rexburg, Idaho. f/5.6 1/160 sec. Nikon D70.

Fall Sunrise. September 26, 2012 8am. Taco Time Rexburg, ID. 1/64 f/5.6. Canon EOS Rebel T3i.

Red Skirt. September 20, 2012 6:45 pm. Opa! Restaurant Rexburg, ID. 1/80 f/5.6. Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Nov 3

Poster Print

Bikes. September 27, 2012 Rexburg, ID sunset. 1/50 f/5.6 Av Mode. Canon EOS T3i

This photo has been one I have over looked all semester. I liked it but I didn’t love it; till this week. It is unique, and I love the coloring. I did have to do a few edits to get it to look like this. I first added a curves adjustment layer to bring out the color of the bricks. this brought out the rich reds in the wall. I had to mask out the bikes on this layer. This was the most time consuming, but I loved the effect it gave. The color on the bike really stand out. I then brightened and added contrast slightly to the entire image. I also added a vibrance adjustment layer. I had to mask out the top of the photo where it is extremely light. Because it is a panoramic I had to use the spot healing tool to touch up some cracks and such on the wall. I decided to print this on canvas; I hope it turns out!

Oct 29

Borders

81.October 17, 2012. afternoon. Bannack Ghost Town. 1/800 f/5 ISO 800. Canon EOS Rebel T3i.

Flower. September 28, 2012. 6:30pm. BYU-I. 1/80 f/5.6 ISO 200. Canon EOS Rebel T3i.

Aaron Elgin. October 226, 2012. Rexburg, ID. 1pm. 1/50 f/5.6 ISO 200. Canon EOS T3i. window lighting.

Jars.October 17, 2012. afternoon. Bannack Ghost Town. 1/80 f/5 ISO 800. Canon EOS Rebel T3i.

Flower. September 28, 2012. 6:30pm. BYU-I. 1/200 f/5.6 ISO 200. Canon EOS Rebel T3i.

Really fun editing assignment! I can see how some of these can be applicable down the road so I am glad that I learned them now. I think my favorite is of the feet. I might made it black and white and frame it. It is more of a classic style, but I love it! It was fun to go through the photos I have taken this semester and add some fun editing to it.

Oct 29

Light Painting

Elder. October 27, 2012. 9pm. Rexburg, ID/ 16 sec f/4 ISO 100. Canon EOS Rebel T3i. small LED light.

Live Well. October 27, 2012. 9pm. Rexburg, ID/ 20 sec f/3.5 ISO 100. Canon EOS Rebel T3i. small LED light.

Green Bottle. October 27, 2012. 9pm. Rexburg, ID/ 16 sec f/3.5 ISO 100. Canon EOS Rebel T3i. small LED light.

Ugh! October 27, 2012. 9pm. Rexburg, ID/ 10 sec f/3.5 ISO 100. Canon EOS Rebel T3i. small LED light.

Light painting was a new adventure for me. I have never shot in that much darkness before, so it brought some new challenges. It was a Saturday night and my husband and I stayed up doing light paintings! I think my favorite part of the shoot was how much Preston go into it. 🙂 He had some great ideas and really helped me out. I think my favorite one is Elder. It tells a story, and has a reflective mood to it. The last one titled Ugh! was simply a mistake. At this point we were both a little frustrated as we were trying to still figure this thing out. So here is our frustration and surprisingly enough it turned into one of my favorites.

Oct 24

Bannack Best

Poker Face October 17, 2012 Bannack Ghost Town. afternoon. f/5.6 1/125 ISO 400. Canon EOS T3i. Continuous lighting

Gambler. October 17, 2012 Bannack Ghost Town. afternoon. f/5.6 1/125 ISO 400. Canon EOS T3i. Continuous lighting.

Bang. October 17, 2012 Bannack Ghost Town. afternoon. f/5.6 1/125 ISO 400. Canon EOS T3i. Continuous lighting.

Shop. October 17, 2012 Bannack Ghost Town. afternoon. f/5 1/64 ISO 200. Canon EOS T3i. window light

Organ. October 17, 2012 Bannack Ghost Town. afternoon. f/5.6 1/10 ISO 800. Canon EOS T3i. window light

Paige. October 17, 2012 Bannack Ghost Town. afternoon. f/5.6 1/125 ISO 200. Canon EOS T3i. window lighting.

Bannack was a great experience! I learned a lot from the TA’s models and other students that I were shooting with. I had a lot of fun and learned some valuable lessons. The top three things I pulled from Bannack are the following:

1. How to shoot in Manual mode. Yeah!

2. Talking casually to your models helps them relax and helps you get the right pose.

3. I love HDR, continuous lighting and capturing a moment