Ni Hao Y'all

when east meets south

Sunday Snapshot: {a fresh start}

*update: the original code for the new button wasn’t quite right – thanks for pointing that out, y’all – but is now fixed. when you try something new, at least one thing has to go wrong, right?*

The day went by way too quickly.

Seems my husband is nesting, too. He and the kiddos spent almost the entire day cleaning and organizing their rooms. Which left me the duty of going through spring clothes and packing up winter clothes. All. day. long.

By the time I choked some dinner down and hustled outside for some pictures with Vivienne in tow – my go-to girl when I’m on a photography bent – it was almost 8 PM.

So I had to crank up my ISO, and pray for steady hands.



I only managed to take 27 pictures before the sun was completely gone.

Which makes finding one you really like sort of tough.



I was trying to use the dogwoods to sort of frame my girl, but the vision in my mind isn’t quite what played out.

But this gives me a place to start. There is much work to be done.



For post-processing, I used Lightroom. I cropped these and boosted the exposure in a big way. Then I used a Sarah Ji preset, Meadow, edited a bit to make it more to my liking for these pictures.

My camera is a Nikon D90 and my lone lens is a 50mm 1.4. My settings were: ISO 1250, aperture f/3.2 and shutter speed 1/80 second. And I dream of one day having another (non-prime) lens.


Ni Hao Yall


So here are all the new Sunday Snapshot rules – in a nutshell.

1. Sunday Snapshot will begin with my Snapshot post each Sunday (or Saturday night) and will close Tuesday AM.
2. It is open to anyone who wants to become a better photographer and have fun in the process.
3. Snapshot posts should have the photo to be considered AT THE TOP of the Sunday Snapshot post, and should include the Sunday Snapshot button as well as a link back here to encourage others to play along.
4. Share any photography tips and/or settings on your posts for others (like me!) who are learning – this is encouraged but definitely not required.
5. Each Snapshot entry will be considered by moi. I will review all the linked posts, then select a favorite photo to be announced on Wednesday.
6. The winning Snapshot will be selected based on composition, color, emotion, creativity and post-processing.
7. Weekly winners will be featured in a monthly Sunday Snapshot post which will be judged by y’all, the readers.
8. The winner of the monthly Sunday Snapshot will receive a photography related goodie donated by the Sunday Snapshot monthly sponsor. April’s sponsor is One Willow Presets.
9. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
9. Rules subject to change, as necessary, to keep this fun and fruitful for everyone.

Happy Sunday, y’all.


Comments

    • Sweet Pictures of Viv. We are having Spring Break in the homeschool co-ops that we attend so, I think we’ll do a little Spring cleaning and organizing of the clothes too…and a few project/assignments for school too. Have a great China trip next week, and say hey to Wuhan and the yellow crane tower for my sweet Jolie girl.

      Reply

  2. I’ve been working on my print competition images, and your first image beautifully illustrates something that was being taught to me. 😉 We read Left to Right, so our photos should read Left to Right…and your eyes should go all the way across the frame in it. So, sweet Vivi here is on the right 1/3 with space behind her…she’s also looking OUT of the photo. If you could “flip” the image and have her on the left 1/3 with all the space in front of her, and her looking INTO that space…PERFECT composition! 🙂

    Same with the 3rd image, just flip it horizontally in photoshop and see the difference. The leading lines of the fence lead your eyes straight to her…as it is, you hit her on the right 1/3, and the fence lines lead your eyes OUT of the photo.

    Want to know why I know so well? ALL my images for print comp had to be flipped horizontally because I shot photos this way too. Not BAD composition, just not strong artistically for things like print competitions. :o) You did a GREAT job with following the rule of thirds and getting leading lines in the image.

    Hope to add my own here soon…

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  3. She is such a little beauty! I am glad you got to play! I hate when it is getting dark and the day is slipping away and I really want to shoot. I am so excited you get to be with your daughter soon. I have been praying for you every day! Wishing you all the best with your new idea : ) Love, Becky

    Reply

  7. Hi, honey, lovely photos of your sweet little girl! <3

    About your code, you may want to fix it, the link to your website is missing the www and .com parts. 😉

    Have a lovely lovely Sunday!!

    Reply

    • Thanks, Sophi! Got it all fixed now, but I’d have never know if y’all hadn’t pointed it out!

      Reply

  8. Oh sweet Viv!! These photos of her are so precious Stef!!

    This is going to be so much fun each Sunday!

    I am in awe that you would take on this kind of change just a week before heading to China…. you are too much girl!! You never stop~

    Happy Sunday~

    xoxo,

    Lisa

    Reply

  10. I love your property or the area you photograph in, it’s beautiful! Always love your shots! I just got a Canon Rebel T3 and am learning all the settings! I love it!

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  15. I love photos and I have wanted to become a better photographer for a long time. Have I done anything about it …not yet…but you have definitely inspired me…your photos are gorgeous!!!!!! Hopefully, I will learn something from this party each week. I love, love, love, love your photos and am efinitely becoming a follower

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  18. Could it be possible that THAT BIG GIRL is the same Sweet little Vivi I saw sitting like an angel in her Mama’s arms minutes after she became a US Citizen?? Not possible! She looks like such a little lady sitting there. That gorgeous face of hers has lost its “baby” look and I think I caught a glimpse of what she’ll look like as a teenager.

    Time surely does march on but I wouldn’t change a second of getting older and having this front row seat to watch our children grow.

    You crack me up…changing Snapshot Sunday up right before you travel…..you seriously never cease to amaze me! I’ll be with you as you travel…watching you with a smile on my face the whole time! Enjoy every minute and safe travels to your baby girl!

    xoxo
    Dita

    Reply

  19. Good morning y’all! Well you have a steady hand – and I think a great eye – and of course a perfect model!!

    I did get a wonderful piece of glass for Christmas – a Nikon 18 – 200 zoom lens – and it’s about the perfect ‘walk around’ lens! Maybe not a ‘crisp’ in the sense of a single length lens – but worth every penny – and covers an aweful lot of situations when you are just out and about at a park, the zoo, what ever!

    Good work here – in particular with the low light – just great!

    Now – go pack!

    hugs – aus and co.

    Reply

  20. It’s T week!!! I can’t wait for you to be safely in China week again!!!!! And, one week now you will be snuggling with your new baby girl!!!!! Now that Spring is upon us I am going to push myself to jump into your “Sunday Snapshot!”
    Love these pics!!!!

    I hope you have a great week until “Wheels UP!”

    Love,
    Di

    Reply

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