Behind the Lens

The other day, I was taking photos at my daughter’s school for Grandparent’s day. Some of the compositions were sweet and natural, with children happily working on their art work while their grandparents stood nearby. And because I can not resist the beauty of a child’s eyes, a good deal of the photos had the children looking right down inside my lens. One mom asked me to take a few photos of her child and father together. (more…)

1. When shooting random individuals on the street, give yourself extra time to chat with them. You’ll be just as fascinated with the tidbits of life handed to you verbally as you will with the images.

2. If you find yourself driving down a one way lane that ends with a sign “Private Property: Guard Dog on Duty”, roll up your car windows.

3. High heeled boots do not allow you to take steady shots while on mud soaked paths. Wear comfortable, appropriate shoes.

4. It is almost impossible to edit photos with a parrot walking on your keyboard.

5. It is even more impossible to edit photos with a parrot screeching because he wants to get on your keyboard.

6. If you’ve taken so many pictures that you find yourself getting bored with processing them and you don’t have a deadline….play with a parrot or go clean your mud soaked leather boots.

7. Children are an amazing source of unabashed critique.

8. The roof of a Honda Mini Van will not dent with a medium sized woman and one large camera standing on it.

9. The roof of a Honda Mini Van is a great spot to take pictures just over reach of your head. It also provides you with a wonderful vantage point to take unique shots of surprised individuals out for a stroll.

10. If you “Moo” at a cow, you can get their attention.

Ever have that awesome picture you just have to take, but don’t because of poor lighting will stretch the limits of your high ISO noise to pain tolerance ratio? Using Noise Reduction plug ins for Photoshop can leave your images not crisp, requiring some manual sharpening or masking. Besides, they cost money.

Photoshop CS, in this instance CS3, has a built in noise reducer that work wonders. (Ironically, it does not involve using the Noise Reduction Filter). Here’s how to do it. (more…)

To see my Photos Please click HERE.

And in the case of, The Art of People Photography: Inspiring Techniques for Creative Results
. They’d be completely right. The book’s cover is great. Perhaps the title is just wrong, if it were to be called ‘Quick Post Shot Techniques for Unique Portraits’ the content might match more closely with the description. Maybe I’m being a bit harsh. (more…)

Thankfully someone somewhere had a question that they couldn’t answer and some helpful soul directed the individual to this site:

Ken Rockwell

The Following is a direct quote from his site. I quote it here for my own quick reference and to help you get right to it. PLEASE if you enjoy Ken Rockwell’s site, and want to donate to it click here. If his site can answer some of my other questions as well, I’ll be sure to be donating again.
(more…)

It is necessity and not pleasure that compels us.
Dante (Inferno XXI, 87)

My first lesson in a seminar for my brand new D300 (up until this time, I was shooting with my D70). The D300 offers many more options, and in different place then the D70. I figured a good class would be a great way of learninga bout my camera as the manuals tend to be a bit…dry. In the class the questions were flying, the class was fast paced. It moved around from subject to subject faster then the slides could go. Surprisingly, I was able to follow most of it, and became lost in the quick tide of excitement of getting to actually know what my camera was capable of. Of all the things I wanted to learn about my camera was how to trigger a remote flash (TTL mode) using the camera without triggering the flash on the camera itself. I had a feeling this could be done. (more…)

My favorite method of learning about photography seems to come from simply talking with other photographers. Within minutes, all sorts of new information can be learned off of one another. There is a synergy between enthusiasts that can not be found elsewhere.

At times this is not feasible. (more…)

For me, the best way to develop your skills is to attend seminars and meet other photographers. In learning about my specific camera and to capture some new ideas, I`ve signed up and will take just about every course that`s appropriate for my equipment and experience level given by Henry`s School of Imaging. For those that don`t know, Henry`s Camera is a store, online and irl, that well, sells a good variety of cameras etc from basic to pro. It`s filled with some very remarkable individuals who are exceptionally enthusiastic of photography and are more then happy to discuss their latest photo shoot as well as listen to yours. Most times when I walk in there I feel that buzz of life that comes from meeting others who are keenly interested in a hobby you find fascinating. (more…)

Hello! And Welcome to my Photography blog, Behind the Lens. This web site is a virtual diary of my experiences in photography and digital design.

I have a strong interest in the visual arts ever since I can remember. As a child, I grew up drawing and sketching when I didn’t have my head in a book reading. I attended a highschool for the arts then graduated to university where I focused in psychology and kept my visual arts background as a hobby. A brief acceptance into Ontario College of Art was a joy but the work from two universities simultaneously, was too much and I continued with Psychology. After my post graduate studies in England, I came back home to Canada to become a mother. Five years later with four children, my life and passion focused around them. Art was passed aside as a fragment of my past while I began documenting my childrens’ lives with photography.

My children are growing up now, no longer am I needed on a moment to moment basis for diapers, and sibling disputes. I can even manage to sleep through the night most nights without a small voice somewhere calling me.

As someone who always found technology intriguing, I bring to it my passion for perception and expression of emotion through photography and digital design. While my background is varied, one thing remains constant which is my interest in individuals, whether that be understanding them through the verbal domain, or through artistic mediums when words fail.

The next stage of my life will be to take these interests and talents and apply them to a wider variety of subjects in the unique format of photography and design.

I hope you enjoy the journey documented here.

All the best,

Daspar

Daspar Photography Galleries