As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.




Friday, December 13, 2013

A Personal Photo Challenge {Let There Be Light}


Again this month I am joining Donna's Personal Photo Challenge, and this month the focus is light. 

I am fascinated by how much light affects a photograph. Over the years of taking photos for my blog, I have learned the best times of day to shoot pictures in the different rooms of my house. I love to take pictures as natural light shines on the subject. I have also learned (partly through this month's challenge) that the automatic settings on my camera are not always what I need to be the master of my photographs. So I have determined that one of my goals for the new year will be to learn to shoot in manual. (You heard me, Donna. Hold me to it!) 

All of these photos were taken with my Canon Rebel T3.


I liked the way the morning light was falling across the counter top, so I plopped a few candy canes in my little crock of silver spoons and grabbed this shot.


I tried to capture a silhouette effect with my tiny sheep and wooden house on the windowsill. 


I think this one is my favorite. Maybe because I love this old crock, but I was taken with how the sunlight highlighted it.


Thank you, Donna, for the challenge! I am always inspired to see photography in a new light (no pun intended) when I participate!  

20 comments:

  1. They are all wonderful. I've been noticing how the sun comes through the windows and softens our rooms and favorite things. You've done a beautiful job with the challenge. Happy holidays!

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  2. Oh that crock! That looks so artsy, Cheryl. I see that you captured the same sorts of colors that I captured beyond the window. Wonder what the science of that is. I took mine at high noon. What time did you take yours?

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  3. Vee, I took my window shot mid-morning...and I have no idea what the science of it is? Maybe Donna will have some insight...

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  4. That crock photo is really striking with the way the light and shadows fall. I also like the silhouette effect of the sheep and little house. Your header is also a great example of light photography!

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  5. I really like the crock photo. Lighting can be so tricky to get just right. I have lots to learn with indoor photos and lighting!

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  6. OK, I'm going to hold you to that promise to yourself! We can converse in e-mails after the holidays, and I'll coach you through it. I shoot 95%+ of my shots in aperture preferred mode, and I recommend that you switch to that mode for the types of photos that you take. You will also need to know how to use your exposure compensation settings. You will take your photography to the next level this way!

    Now, on to the review! LOL... I really like how you noticed and capture in the first one the streaming morning light, particularly with the diagonal shadows. And I'm glad you tried a backlit shot in your second photo! The shapes are simple enough that you can recognize what they are, so they work for a silhouette. To go even more simplistic, you could try another shot with a tighter composition and without the plant in the foreground. And the crock with the dramatic sidelight is my favorite! You've got a good eye for recognizing that is was a great candidate for a study in contrasts! Well done, Cheryl!

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  7. I'm not quite sure about how to answer Vee's question. You are both shooting jpeg files, and the cameras automatically apply some saturation to the images as a result of the file compression and conversion. And both of you didn't over-blow the backlighting (washing out the colors) because you were both probably using an automatic exposure setting. Thus the cameras were trying to average out the entire scenes.

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  8. ha ha, good pun. I too like your third the best. you could morph that into a oil painting or black and white sketch!

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  9. I think they all look wonderful...I am totally impressed. I got a really good camera last Christmas, but I have not progressed past the manual button...kind of overwhelming. But then I look at the ones you ladies are taking and think it is time I learned how. Enjoy your week-end!

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  10. I like the crock the best too with the light you captured it in.

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  11. Great photos.
    Nice and simple.
    Fantastic!
    Thank you.

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  12. These are All wonderfully done but I think my favorite is also the old crock! Beautifully Done!!
    hughugs

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  13. I love how simple all of your pictures are, but especially the last one with the crock. It's like how a single word sometimes says more than a novel. Great pics!

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  14. All are lovely photos. I really like the warmth of those candy canes on the kitchen counter. I'm also a fan of the crock shot- simple and effective.

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  15. My favorite is the crock also. Have done a couple of paintings of crocks. Such colors to use makes it exciting. Something about crocks brings back memories of my gmother.

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  16. I missed this post! I love these photos. I think the last one looks like a painting by an Old Master.

    Beautiful!

    Deanna

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  17. I love the last photo, great use of natural light.

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  18. Your favorite is my favorite too Cheryl - the light on that beautiful stone is magical!
    All lovely light examples!

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  19. Oh, yes this last shot is outstanding! Enjoy your day!

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