Blog Entry 4: Photographing little ones.

I have the best connection with kids, when I worked in a daycare the kids opened up to me quickly and put their trust in me. While it may seem easy to do with any kid you may know it is a lot harder with kids you don't know or have connection to. After working with little munchkins ages 2-6 I fell in love with the idea of basing my photography around children and families. I started taking images of them when I first got my camera and it was the best thing and over the years I can see a major improvement. Here is a little of my progress.

Silvia Kay Photography

In this image I used two house lights with daylight lightbulbs. The daylight lightbulbs had a blue tint to it and helped cancel out yellow tones. I took this photo in October of 2011 before I knew anything about speedlites and strobes. Using the basics of house lighting and sheets as a backdrop which was hung up with gaffers tape.

Silvia Kay Photography

In my second image I used my newly learned flash for a key light and daylight for my fill.

Silvia Kay Photography

In my third and final image for this blog post is taken with daylight and a flash set up to be like a strobe.  The flash was set on a light stand with a mini soft box over it. although I accidentally cut the tips of her toes it captures the pure happiness and excitement of the little girl.

Within these three images you can see the connection grow closer from a slight smile to a "i'm a silly girl and i'm not afraid to show you on camera" I have another great image take with strobes but I don't have a release for the internet to show it but it goes right into deep emotional thought. 

I love taking photos of children and families, they are a lot of fun to myself. 

Happy Shooting,

-Silvia Kay

Blog Entry 3: What to do with a GoPro when summer is over.

Silvia Kay-Water Images

  In the beginning of summer I purchased a GoPro Hero 3 for my multimedia class. I had always wanted one and figured it was a good excuse to purchase a $300 mini camera. So I did and while experiencing what the little beauty can do I discovered how crazy awesome water photography is with the camera. I had a blast taking images with it, I didn't even want to submit a video time lapse for my final project. Sadly summer is over and fall is officially here so now what do I do with the camera? I don't plan on snowboarding anytime soon or jumping out of a plane tomorrow. So I thought of the following three things:

                                                                                               Silvia Kay-Final project

1: Video blogging my adventures of trying to capture sunrises and sunsets. Mounting the GoPro to my car when driving to locations for my final project in multimedia was a lot of fun I got to see my journey in capturing the great images I did. I'll call it "A day in life of a student photographer" by Silvia Lopez. 

Photo credit: Courtney Greener (http://cdn.visualnews.com)

2. Passing seasons. There is something about looking at images of leaves falling or leavings changing why not take images in a forest starting today then ending when al, the leaves have fallen. While it may be tricky to be I'm the same spot every day it will be fun to try out. Then when winter comes a time laps of snow falling makes a perfect screen saver. The the great thing about Gopros are they are made for weather. I can leave the camera out in its waterproof case and capture a four hour snow fall. 

Finally......

Silvia Kay- Splash Photography

3. Splash photography. I have done several attempts with my DSLR and it is so much fun but very tricky and scary at the same time. You have very expensive equipment all around the subject that can get water damage easily even if it is covered with plastic. Placing the Gopro in its little shell and getting more closer in depth with the micro burst setting, taking 10 frames per second would be crazy fun. And with the wifi built in to the camera the shutter can be released by remote at distant for insurance of no fingers or hands in any image.

Summer water fun may be over but falling leavings and splashing beverages has just began.

-Silvia Kay

Blog Entry 2: A new project.

On Friday I was peacefully sleeping at 6am when I received various phone calls from my dad. Calling back immediately thinking he is hurt or emergency occurred only to find it was nothing health major but a photo emergency. He called me to tell the sky looks like its on fire and it looks like a good photo for me to take. So I crawl out of bed to go look and indeed the sky was painted red and orange. I didn't have my DSLR so I used my phone. It was so gorgeous it really looked like someone just painted the sky, and then it clicked this would make a great project to capture various sunsets through different seasons and various locations its not the first time being done but it would be great to see done in my neighborhood. I can't wait to start.

                                                            Here is the image I captured.

-Silvia Kay

Blog Entry 1: When not bring your DSLR.

Weddings.

I have gone to several weddings and I packed my Kelly Moore Bag with my camera a couple of lenses and a flash and when I get to the event my camera stays in my bag. There were hired photographers working at the reception and I didn't want to seem like I was stepping on their feet. Now before I go to the an event such as a wedding I stop to think do they have a professional photographer there? Will I be stepping on any feet? 

I have to remind myself if I was invited as a guest I'm going to attend as a guest, I shouldn't show up ready to hand out free services for people's social website profile photos. So now I leave my Kelly Moore bag at home and grab a nice little wristlet and stuff it with my phone a point and shoot. 

So now I blend in with the guest with a little camera and enjoy the open bar and have fun on the dance floor. 

-Silvia Kay