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5.28.2015

Photo Tip Friday: Understanding Aperture, Part 1

by Mary Denman   @MaryDenman

Understanding Aperture by Mary Denman Photography
Today’s photography tip is to learn about aperture. It’s a function on your camera that may seem intimidating at first.

Aperture controls the size of the shutter opening. That’s simple enough. But the challenge comes with understanding that the size of the shutter opening has two functions.  

The size determines: 
1) how much light can be let in 
2) how deep the depth of field is. 

We are going to cover just one aspect this week and one next week. That should help make it easier to understand and remember how aperture works in photography.



So, let’s get started and learn about how the size of the shutter opening (aperture) affects how much light is let into the camera. 

5.26.2015

Wordless Wednesday: Flowers of Spring

by Mary Denman @MaryDenman

Welcome back for Wordless Wednesday.
Come back and join me on Fridays for photography tips! 

Sign up for email and get Monday's Musings, Wordless Wednesday and Friday Photo Tips in your inbox! 

Happy Wordless Wednesday!
Bleeding Hearts by Mary Denman Photography

5.25.2015

Monday's Musings: Mountaintop Memories can help in Valley Times

by Mary Denman     @MaryDenman

Mountaintop Memories by Mary Denman Photography
I don't know anyone who doesn't love a good mountaintop experience. A time where life if at it's fullest. Your work is going well. You get confirmation that you're on the right track. You know that God really does love you. 

We love being on the mountaintop. But we can't stay there forever. No matter how much we want. It always comes to an end.

And the only way to leave the mountaintop is by going down.

But this doesn't have to be a terrible thing.

Part of learning from a mountaintop experience is knowing how to leave and take it with us back down to the valley.
We can't take all of it. But we can take the memories. 


5.21.2015

Photo Tip Friday: Using Silhouettes in Photography, Part 2

by Mary Denman   @MaryDenman


Last week, I gave tips on how to use silhouettes in your photography. There will be a link at the bottom of today's post to view Part 1. 

Today, I'm going to go back over the same photos, but this time, listing: 

Time Value (Tv) - Shutter Speed
Aperture Value (Av) - Shutter Opening Size
ISO Value - Sensitivity of the Film

Why? So you can understand how to take these shots yourself. 

Let's get started. 



5.20.2015

Wordless Wednesday: Flowers

by Mary Denman @MaryDenman

Welcome back for Wordless Wednesday.
Come back and join me on Fridays for photography tips! 
Sign up for email and get Monday's Musings, Wordless Wednesday and Friday Photo Tips in your inbox! 

I'm still at the Writing Conference, but I promise to read every comment! 
Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Hydrangea by Mary Denman Photography

5.18.2015

Monday's Musings: Best Laid Plans

by Mary Denman   @MaryDenman

No news flash here, but I'm not the most organized person in the world. I knew I would be off at a writing conference this week, learning, doing author head shots, shooting the whole conference. 

I vowed to get my posts done early....then I got sick last week. Really sick. So the posts didn't happen. 

But I had to share this view from my window. It was this morning. 

Even though I'm so busy with the photography, I also feel like this is a time of renewal. Time to think and ask God what direction he wants me to go. 

I'm excited. 

So, while this is short, please know I'm thinking of you and can't wait to share about this week!! See you on Wordless Wednesday.

Have a great day! 

Mary

5.14.2015

Photo Tip Friday: Using Silhouettes in Photography, Part 1

by Mary Denman     @MaryDenman

PHOTO 1: A church at sunset by Mary Denman Photography

There are so many ways to express or capture a feeling in particular moment. That's why I love the creativity of photography.


Today's technique can create wonderful mood in your shots. 

I want to teach you to use backlighting to create silhouettes.






5.12.2015

Wordless Wednesday: My Wonderful, Goofy Family

by Mary Denman @MaryDenman

Welcome back for Wordless Wednesday.
Come back and join me on Fridays for photography tips! 


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Happy Wordless Wednesday!
Here are pictures from Mother's Day
My kids are goofy, especially for me, a photographer. 
I used to get upset if they goofed around for the family shot....now it's just part of our family! 

My kids, just messing around by Mary Denman Photography

5.11.2015

Monday's Musings: Benjamin Franklin Inspirational Quote

by Mary Denman    @MaryDenman


Benjamin Franklin Quote by Mary Denman Photography
What a choice. 

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin.

There is so much wrapped up in that statement. 

And it's really been challenging me.  

You see, I am a writer. Not just here on my blog. I've written a novel and started my next. I've been to writing conferences like Blue Ridge Mountains Christians Writers Conference to hone my craft. (I'm going next week!) Been in a critique group to for accountability and learning more. 

But I haven't been able to put my novel out there for editors. Why? Because I'm afraid it's not good enough. I guess you could say that I'm afraid I haven't written something worth reading. . . . 

5.07.2015

Photo Tip Friday: Photography Tips for Mother's Day

by Mary Denman    @MaryDenman

Throughout the year, we have very special holidays to celebrate those we love. In the US, Mother's Day is this Sunday, 10 May 2015. 

Often, that means family get togethers with mom. It's an opportunity to photograph your loved ones and document time spent together. So today's tips are designed to help you record Mother's Day! 

Since my mom passed away 2 years ago, I don't have any shots of Mother's Day with my mom to illustrate the tips.

But, I do have shots that illustrate how to photograph special family events. These tips will still work for time with your mom and the family get together. Just substitute your mom for my father-in-law! 

Let's get started. 

5.05.2015

Wordless Wednesday: Irises, Peony & Rabbit

by Mary Denman @MaryDenman

Welcome back for Wordless Wednesday.

Come back and join me on Fridays for photography tips! 


Sign up for email and get Monday's Musings, Wordless Wednesday and Friday Photo Tips right in your inbox! 

The flowers are blooming here! Enjoy.


Peony by Mary Denman Photography

5.03.2015

Monday's Musings: Do You Have Dreams or To Do Lists?

by Mary Denman   @MaryDenman

Recently, I saw a friend's awesome looking diagram of her dreams and how to get there. It's called mind mapping. She's going to share her knowledge with me and I can't wait to try it. 

So I decided to get a head start. 


I wrote a To Do List instead of my dreams
The idea is basically this: you start with writing out your dreams and then figure out how to get there. You write out all the steps and actions to take.

Simple, right? 

Apparently not for me! 

You know what I wrote down? 

A To Do List......a boring, mundane To Do List. 

It wasn't until later that I realized what happened. 

I didn't have any dreams listed. Just chores, jobs, items I needed to take care of. Some important stuff for sure. But it was still just a To Do List. 

That's sad to me. But it doesn't have to be.