Filters [Filtros]

I've been exploring and trying new things lately - both in photography and life - here I'll stick to photography. Most recently I discovered the work of Dave Hill, my favorite is his series titled 'Girl on an Adventure.'

[He estado explorando e intentando cosas nuevas - en fotografia y en la vida - pero aqui hablare de fotografia. Recientemente descubri el trabajo de Dave Hill, mi favorita es su serie titulada 'Chica en una Aventura.']

Looking at his work I was motivated to look into all the filters available for use with photoshop. Photoshop has some great ones, I'm a big fan of the gaussian blur, but there are companies out there specifically dedicated to creating filters ... and they're amazing.

[Ver su trabajo me motivo informarme sobre los filtros disponibles para uso con photoshop. Photoshop viene con unos estupendos, soy una gran fan del desenfoque gaussian, pero existen compañias dedicadas especificamente a crear filtros ... y son impressionante.]

My current explorations took me to two websites, Lucisart and Imagenomic. Go on, explore, see what results you can get. When using filters remember that a filter is not created in a new layer, so it's best to duplicate your layer and then apply the filter --- just in case you change your mind.

[Mi reciente exploracion me llevo a dos sitios, Lucisart y Imagenomic. Hechales un vistazo, mira los resultados que te puede dar. Cuando uses filters recuerda que un filtro no se aplica en una nueva capa, asi que es mejor duplicar tu caa y despues aplicar el filtro --- por si cambias de opinion.]

Below is a picture from May of this year. It was the first time I went out and shot in RAW. Back then I didn't like all the reflections, now this is what I love most. In this image I used the portraiture filter from Imagenomic.

[La foto abajo es de Mayo de este año. Fue la primera vez que hice tomas en RAW. Entonces no me gustaban todos los reflejos, ahora es lo que mas me encanta. En esta imagen use el filtro portraiture de Imagenomic.]

© 2009 Ivett Chicas

Parque El Retiro, Madrid, España (Jardines de Cecilio Rodriguez)

First Shots

I've been in Madrid for a little over a month now.  (1 month and 3 days to be exact)  The beginning was a bit rough, getting my Foreign Identification Number (N.I.E.: Numero de Identidad de Extranjero) was tougher then I thought.  For now, I'll omit the messy details of getting settled in a new country and instead will focus on my reason for being here: PHOTOGRAPHY.

I started my Professional Digital Photography course about 3 weeks ago on April 15th.

First class was essentially reviewing school rules (Las Normas) and getting acquainted.  The course is 9 months long, give or take depending on Holidays and such.  We already had a Holiday on Friday, May 1st - (Dia Del Trabajador), and we have another one next week on Friday, May 15th.  If things continue at this rate I may be here for much longer then I anticipated.

Second class was more exciting.  We looked at various photographers, who by chance were mostly American.  I discovered a new photographer to admire: Mark Seliger (www.markseliger.com).  We also looked at Richard Avedon, Martin Parr, Joel Meyerowitz, Steve Hiett, Edward Burtinsky, and David LaChapelle.

The classes that followed became more technical and we reviewed the following:

Aperture (Diafragma); Shutter Speed (Velocidad de Obturador); Law of Reciprocity (Ley de Reciprocidad), ISO (Sensibilidad de Pelicula), Focal Length (Distancia Focal); Lenses (Objetivos); Depth of Field (Profundidad de Campo)

The photo classes double as spanish classes!

Our first excursion was to the park across from my apartment:

Profundidad de Campo (Aperture was open all the way)

Profundidad de Campo (Aperture was closed all the way)

Velocidad de Obturador (Fast Shutter to capture jump)

Barrido (Sweep or Swept): Follow moving object; object is focused, background is blurred. This is best done with a tripod but I didn't have one this day, you can still get a sense of the effect.  Fun times, I hadn't done this before.  I captured bicyclists, motorcycles, joggers, and below - cars.

That's all for now, Folks.