Lighting Class 001

The photography club that I belong to was holding the first free lighting class today of a series. Today was all about realizing what you already know about lighting. We see light every day and already know how it can change the way a scene looks...the qualities of different light, harsh or soft, from which direction it's coming from and it's effect on colors and details. I didn't realize what I already really knew. I was too quick to think I didn't know anything about lighting and that someone needed to teach me...when really all along, it was there. So today our assignment was to go out in groups and take pictures OF light, letting the light be our subject. I can't wait to see everyone's perspective on this, but here was my take on the assignment.

Butterfly World

I can't believe that I took this shot back in 2007, yet alone with my Canon SD300 point and shoot camera. While visiting my mom in Florida, we went to Butterfly World in Coconut Creek. I was in macro photography heaven, but without the macro lens and quite frustrated. For every good shot, I had about 15 bazillion blurry ones. I will be one happy photographer the day I get my hands on a macro lens. The one I am looking at apparently has gotten great reviews that it doubles as a great portrait lens. PERFECT!! ;)

Click here to see more butterfly photos from that day.

Duke Gardens

All Images © Melissa Berg
Stopped by Duke Gardens today to get a few more nature/flower shots and practice using my new tripod. I also took some shots of the hubby but I'm not done processing them yet. Hopefully I'll get them up tonight! ;)

JC Raulston Arboretum

All Images © Melissa Berg

I am SOOO ready for a new big daddy lens. I felt very limited today at the arboretum in getting those up close shots that I just crave! I think these are good...but some of them could have been much better, had I just been able to get closer! I had to crop some of these and lost a little resolution. Those shots could have been MUCH crisper had I been able to zoom in close enough. I'm TERRIFIED of bees so it was pretty hairy for me to get that close. I got dive bombed a few times (or so it seems through the lens!) lol. Next time I'll need to remember to wear bug spray. I went around 4 o'clock this afternoon and the skeeters were out!! I got bit up pretty bad around my ankles and arms. I think it was worth it though! ;)

I love seeing how already my photography has evolved including my post production processing. I used iPhoto alone on these shots and I think the editing turned out pretty well.


My Flickr Photostream

Our Wedding Seed Card Favors!

© Melissa Berg

Blooms are finally starting to make themselves known! We gave out plantable seed card favors at our wedding and planted a bunch leftover in a pot. This shows a sampling of my love for macro photography although this time I didn't use the little "flower" icon on my camera...lol. I'm loving being able to control the amount of light using aperture size and shutter speed. So pretty! and the perfect color too! ;)