Thursday, July 10, 2008

Workshop Update!

Wow! I have been totally, totally overwhelmed with the response to my workshop suggestion. It certainly seems like something worth doing and I appreciate all the support shown!

I am in the process of sending out emails today and must apologise in advance that I can’t send hugely personal emails back to everyone – many of you have taken the time to write such beautiful things.. Thankyou so much :)

I’ll post full details of the workshop here once it’s all finalised – I imagine it will be ready to go by middle to end August.

I’m very excited about this opportunity, thankyou!

S xx

Edited to add: If you’re wanting to enquire, please send me an email:

sheyerosemeyer@bigpond.com

I’d hate to miss anyone’s comment here! Those who’ve commented so far I have included in my list.

Also, just to clarify, it is an online workshop – I’ve had a couple of people getting their bags packed! Do I need to make up extra rooms?!

Thanks again for all the support :)

S xx

Posted in Eye Candy by Sheye at 7:32 PM 29 comments »
Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Peek Through My Window {Part 2}

It’s so lovely to have you all take the time to write questions, thankyou so much! I’m wondering this: because so many of the questions are photography related, I would be happy to do an online workshop for those interested. I don’t mind sharing tips here but in all honesty, I feel like my blog is a difficult place to expand on specific techniques with the detail that’s probably needed. For the more general, quick q’s, I will add them in…

If you are interested in signing up for a workshop, please send me an email so I can gage interest. It will be aimed at beginners and those looking to move towards starting a business. I will be happy to share as much as asked and will offer personal c&c for participants. If interest is there, I will be looking at running it from around mid August.

I really hope by doing it this way, I can put the required time and effort into helping those who genuinely want to learn in more of a one-on-one environment. Just send me an email (sheyerosemeyer@bigpond.com) if you’d like to register interest.

So, a few more Q&A’s for today!

Have you ever thought about selling or sharing some of your own actions?

Often! I plan to sell them as soon as I have time to get a pretty page up :)

What was the hardest shoot you ever had?

Probably my very first, just because of sheer nerves.

Do you ever still get nervous or intimidated?

I do, but not as often as I used to. If I’m well prepared I’m usually more relaxed..Early on I was quite terrified actually.

How long have you been photographing clients?

Since 2004 but it’s taken me quite a while to get in the swing of shooting regularly.

How many shoots do you have during the week/month?

Usually one a week..sometimes two. I rarely take on more than that otherwise I find myself in a bit of a spin. I never want to feel like photography is a chore – I do it because I love it.

How much time do you spend editing?

I usually proof a shoot in a day. The more time I take to prepare pre shoot, the less time it takes in editing.

What did you do before photography?

I was the woman you rang to shout at when your phone bill arrived.

You never talk about your mother… has she passed on?

Oh no! She’s very much alive and well and lives just down the road from me. I actually moved up to Brisbane to be closer to her :) We have a regular shopping date most weeks and talk on the phone most days. Mum is my rock.

This month I would like to know how you shoot into the sun without getting harsh sun flare?
In some of your pictures the sun looks so diffused and soft.

There are lots of variables that affect how flare appears. It comes down to the position of the subject, the position of the sun, what’s in-between the two, the time of day and the aperture you’re using and making sure you compensate with exposure. It takes a while to feel comfortable shooting into the sun but it’s worth learning. 
 

 

What is the most profound spiritual moment of your life?


Giving birth to Ava and Ivy, in water, without drugs. Holding Ava just after she passed away. I cannot seperate the three as I believe the primal intensity of each of those situations was very, very similar. 
 

 

How would you describe yourself in one sentence? 
 

 

Altered. 
 

 

Are you willing to share the pre-PS versions of the images from this post? 
 

 

Why yes I am! I will dig them out and post them this week.Okay, it’s school holidays and I have a date with two cute boys and a ten pin bowling alley.

S xx

 
 

 

 
 

 

 

Posted in General, Photography by Sheye at 7:22 PM 13 comments »
Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Peek Through My Window {Part I}

Okay, well.. I’ve shut up shop, sent the kids to foster homes and suggested my husband take up golf…It’s going to take me a million billion years to answer all those questions!! Thanks so much for the great mix of topics, I’m going to start at the start and see how we go :)
“I have to photograph my bf’s niece for her mum and i was wondering what advice you could give?In particular for bright eyes..”
Not knowing the age of the subject, it’s hard to give specific suggestions for a shoot but in reference to bright eyes, light is most important ingredient. Face her towards the light (if inside have her positioned beside a big window if possible) and make sure your camera settings are adequate enough to let lots of light in. Don’t forget to bump up your ISO when needed. You can always lighten up a little further in post processing with the dodge tool.
“I am just starting out and wondering if you have any tips or advice ?”
If I could do my time over when I was learning, I’d make sure I was disciplined about when I picked up the camera…to put effort into preparing the subject, the location and choosing the time of day instead of just winging it and hoping it would work. I learned a lot by my mistakes but I think preparation is really important if you want quality images.
Also, don’t compare yourself. Be inspired but don’t be intimidated – anyone can be a great photographer with effort and determination. Love what you do and don’t be too influenced..the image I’ve posted tonight is not technically strong but I like it so to me it’s good enough :)
“What is your fav holiday memory?”
Oh, so many – I can’t choose!
Shopping with you Jen in the States :) & seeing snow for the first time in Yosemite, over 10 years ago now.
Visiting Assisi in Italy with Crayton – it’s beyond description.
Walking around beautiful Spanish influenced buildings at sunset in Laguna Beach earlier this year.
“What is some music that gives you great memories?”
Purple Rain by Prince – growing up in my Grandmothers crazy house full of kids – what a blast.
She’s Crafty by The Beastie Boys – reminds me of a complete lack of responsibility at 16.
Anything Smiths/Joy Division/The Cure – all take me right back to teenagerdom.
R.E.S.P.E.C.T by Aretha – driving around Cali with Jen and Sandra in a big old Lincoln, a great girly holiday.
My Baby Just Cares For Me by Nina Simone – my wedding song.
Anything Backyardigans – makes me see Ava dancing around the loungeroom.
“What is the hottest love scene in a movie you have seen and why?”
Here’s a confession – I cannot stand the sight (or sound) of other people kissing so love scenes often have me shutting my eyes and blocking my ears. It’s that Catholic schooling I tell you.
Where in the world are you most inspired?
Laguna Beach – Arty, pretty, great light and near to good shops. All I need.
Oh, and Flickr.
How did you get started in photography?
I have always loved it, right from school but couldn’t quite understand it, even after doing courses. It wasn’t until Ava knocked my camera off the table and I took the opportunity to buy a DSLR that I really started to get my head around it.
“What is your favorite lens?”
The 50 1.4mm (well it would be the 50 1.2 if I owned it!) for a beautiful prime and the 24-70 2.8 for a great zoom with the perfect range. Both are essentials to me.
“How do you get that amazing color?”
I use my own actions for most of my images. I just tend to like my colors more “candyish” rather than “poppy” so I play until they look appealing to me. I never have a clear process, I find every image needs something slightly different and it’s taken quite a while to stop wanting to proof in a million different ways – I tend to know what suits me when I get there.
“I’m embarrassed to say I don’t know what heatwheats are.”
And I think I’m embarrassed that I do! They’re little bags of wheat that you can heat up in the micro, akin to a hot water bottle!
“What types of things do you say to other people’s children to get those gorgeous expressions?”
A hard question as I think it’s different for every family. I tend to play hide and seek and chasey a bit which does mean more camera shake than I’d like but it’s worth it when I do get that real happy coming through. I also tickle feet (and often make smelly feet accusations!!) and whisper silly secrets too. Because I love obsure angles, it doesn’t worry me that I’ll usually be holding the camera in a strange place while actively playing..it seems to work in the end! There are times it is better having the parents do the playing more than me though, depending on the nature of the child.
Okay, I think that’s information overload and I’ll do some more in the next couple of days. I’m really enjoying answering these, thanks again for taking the time to ask :)
S xx
Posted in General, Photography by Sheye at 3:05 AM 12 comments »
Sunday, July 6, 2008

The Early Years.

Having a look back through old photos today, specifically those that I believed at the time to be cutting edge creative. A little grain here, a little high key there and presto. It’s funny to see them now, with all their flaws and over processing, but they still make me smile knowing I liked them at the time. While this feels akin to showing old bad perm photos, I’m game.

(As tempting as it was to try to redeem these, I’m showing them in their original glory.)

Here you have March 2002. The boys were actually at the beach. There was sand..and waves. It’s amazing what one can do with a white paintbrush and vision.

Moving on to 2004…a very tinted, slightly blurry Mason. Throw in a grunge border and voila, insta-creativity. Loved this back in the day, I did.


Here comes the high key again..and you can’t go wrong with a tight crop, right?


I actually don’t mind this one of Luca, back when I didn’t have a remote clue how to get sunflare so no doubt this was a happy accident.


This one is from my first ever shoot with someone I didn’t know…a real client. I was beyond nervous, I remember not shutting up for 2 hours straight in complete fit of Fake It Till You Make It approach. I obviously had a lot of enthusiasm for the good old Teeth Whiten action.


It wasn’t all bad – I’d obviously realised by this stage that leaving the background in was sometimes a good thing.

So there you have it..a rundown of When Photoshop Attacks. As per Frans wise suggestion, I’m going to double dare all of you to open your dodgy PS vaults and tell all.

In an attempt to reduce the guilt factor that comes with my Inbox, I’m going to do a Q&A day here once a month, starting today..I get lots of interesting questions via email, some photography related and some not and don’t always have time to answer all of them.. I then end up feeling awful and neglectful. So, if there is something you’ve asked and I’ve missed or something you’re wanting to ask – no matter how obscure, go right ahead and ask in comments, I will do a new post during the week with answers :)

S xx

Posted in Photography by Sheye at 1:53 AM 47 comments »