“A Bit Mad I Am.” My version of the Mad Hatter. Self-Portrait Challenge.

Hi everyone!

              Here is a new challenge that I imposed upon myself.  I really wanted to push my Photoshop limits.  This is my version of the Madhatter.  It’s a bit mad, but then again, that is the point.  I am really enjoying the thought process of creating.  I really feel that we get so caught up in work and in just trying to make every hour of the day productive, that we forget and do not dedicate time to ourselves whatsoever.  I believe I spent about three days at a time for two weeks tweaking and playing with this piece.  There were several times in which I wanted to give up.  I don’t know if it’s art, I don’t know if it is technically sound, but what I do know is that I did best.  I will continue to do my best.  They may not all be gems; however, I do feel that they are a necessary part of the creative process.  At this point in time, I have the opportunity to take a step back and dig in.  Rather than work for a pretty penny, I have the chance to look within and invest in myself.  I have the chance to explore and learn.  I am going to take advantage of it.  On a side note, much to my dismay, the hair is all mine!  I was making the best out of a bad perm.  All I wanted was a bit of volume and some soft curls.  But nooooooooo, that’s too much to ask for.  So, enjoy my new hair-do!  Can you say mousse!

Till next time,

Aimee Michelle

“A Bit Mad I Am.” My version of the Madhatter. Self-Portrait Challenge.

1920’s Inspired Look. “Miss Sassy.”

Hi all!

Here is a 1920’s inspired flapper girl look.  This leads more towards glamour photography. Can we say gaussian blur? How about desaturation? I tried to keep detail in the face and slowly blur going outward. Half of the headband was cloned in because you can never have enough sparkle.

“Miss Sassy.” 1920’s inspired flapper girl.

“Miss Sassy.” 1920’s inspired flapper girl.

“Miss Sassy”

Enjoy,

Aimee Michelle

“Feeling Colorful. “

Hi everyone! I have been trying to challenge myself creatively. My first attempts were not so risque, but they were a step in the right direction. This is me. I feel that this is a work of art and not just a portrait.  I am wearing a tutu on my head and glow in the dark latex body paint on my face.  I also painted in Photoshop to enhance the look.  I used a black light and had my camera on a timer. I call this, “Feeling Colorful.”

Enjoy,

Aimee Michelle

:)

I realize that I can never stop doing photography. I love it too much.

WWPD? What Would Photographers Do?

WWPD?  What Would Photographers Do?  As a photographer, you are there to capture the moment in its truest form without any interference.  Correct?  To capture everything that it entails whether it be a couple getting married, children playing with the dog, or even a festival.  But what happens when the moment you capture is not a festive one?   What if the moment you happen to capture is one of a man facing his immediate death?  Are you still a photographer worried about your shutter speed or angle?  That historian who is all about preservation?  Or are you suddenly engulfed with the urge to interject?  To maybe save a person’s life if not more?  Is this wrong?  Who is wrong?  The photographer who did not interject or the photographer who did not get the shot to attempt to save a person’s life?  Here is where you figure out where exactly the line is drawn.  When do morals kick in?  Do they ever?  And at what costs?  Either decision has a steep price to pay.  So which do you choose?  When do you go from taking the shot to being in the shot?  It is all about perspective.  To you, you may have nothing to do with the situation; however, keep in mind that the person behind you yards away taking a picture, considers you in the shot and  part of  the moment. A recent example is of the photographer R. Umar Abbasi,who was able to get a shot of a man right before he was going to die on subway tracks.  Was he right or wrong?  Was there anything he could do?  Was it his natural instinct to take a photograph?  Do morals have anything to do with his actions? Fight or flight?  Another example that I came across on the web, Kevin Carter, who was a Pulitzer Prize Winner for  this famous photograph.  Soon after, he committed suicide.  How do we separate the human aspect of photography from our work if at all?  And when do we go from being professional to being human?

What would YOU do?

Aimee Michelle

How to take better pictures with your camera

Who doesn’t have a camera these days? Whether it be a point n shoot or a camera phone, these few suggestions will help you to start taking better pictures with your camera. 

1. Don’t chop off heads
2. No bright backgrounds. A bright background may cause the person to look dark.
3. Your subject should be well lit.
4.  Don’t take pictures from the bottom up.  They cause your nose to look big, and nostrils aren’t very sexy.
5. Take pictures with the camera slightly above your head tilting it towards you.
6.  Zoom in.  They make pictures more personal and let your subject be the star.
7. When pushing the shutter button to take the picture, slowly breathe out and this will avoid shaking.
8. When counting to 3, take the picture on 2 1/2, you will have better chances at having everyone with their eyes open and smiling.
9. Clean your lens with a lens cloth to avoid fingerprints and specs showing up on your pictures.
10.  Try to discover new angles and have fun practicing!