Early Fall - Nature and Flowers

Here are a few of my recent photos from my adventures this fall. Some have asked what I use to take photographs. I bought a used Canon EOS Rebel T2i DSLR (rather older model) from an electronics shop in NYC called B & H. I still only have one lens and can't take all of the different kinds of photos I'd like, but it's a great start. It has enough control for manual shots if you're trying to learn, but also has a fine auto setting for the less experiences photographer like myself.

Having started photography on a completely manual Canon, I also try to take the photo I want straight out of the camera, without any post editing tools. Eventually I'd also like to learn how to use a program like photoshop, since there really is a lot more that you can do with it... but in the meantime I'll just stick with manual options and the trusty-old iPhoto that came with my computer.

I'm finding that I like macro shots more than anything, especially of nature. I'm not great at photographing people, perhaps because I get shy when I have to wait and keep the camera pointed at them for a long time in order to get the right angle, face, lighting, etc. For animals and flowers, it doesn't really matter how long you sit there. I also really like getting close shots of things that we don't always get to see, such as the spider underneath the flower (featured below). I had trouble focusing this one since the flower was swaying with the breeze, but I was quite happy with how it turned out.

I hope you enjoy them!

-Lana

All photographs are my personal work. Please do not reuse them without permission or appropriate credits.

"Home to New Yorkers"

"Flower and Friend"

"Three Ladies - We Are and We Are Not"

"Untitled"

"Untitled" - Fontanella Tea Garden in Mdina, Malta

"Peace Be With You"

"Halo"

"Red and Purple Peppers"

"The Weeping Willow"

"RamJam"

"Couples's's' Stone"

"Feeder"

Pictures of the Day

Here are some pictures from recent adventures.

Grand Central and the MetLife building

"Love is Patient" 

It's fall!

Street fair/market on Lexington. Witnessed someone stealing sheets I think...

The Great U.S. of A.

Same market.

The Brooklyn Bridge from DUMBO.

Art festival barge.

The DJ

The Party...

The sun coming through the apartment window at 6 am.

Happy Halloween 2012

http://dailycontributor.com/happy-halloween/8236/

Happy Halloween!

Halloween isn't a very well celebrated holiday in Japan.  Some people decide to have parties, but in general it's not a big to-do.  Tomorrow my three English club students will be making some Halloween sweets with me after school, but I don't have a costume or any fun party gifts.  They may be a bit disappointed, but it's hard to decorate for such a thing with no budget and no materials available within a reasonable distance of my house.

Last year, teachers asked me to do special Halloween lesson plans during the month of October, but this year there were too many events happening at our school and no one had time to deviate from the textbook curriculum.  Let's hope they don't suddenly ask me to have something ready in class tomorrow, since I don't have anything to bring and not enough time to make something on the spot.

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As tomorrow is the last day of October, NaNoWriMo will be starting the day after on November 1st!  Here is a short video from the creators of NaNoWriMo.

I was told the following: "Warn your friends, family, neighbors, and pets about the upcoming challenge. The more people who know what you're working on, the more accountable you'll feel and the likelier you are to hit the 50,000-word goal."

I agree that having friends and family know about my projects, as well as supporters cheering me on for whatever goal, helps keep me focused as well as holds me accountable for my actions.

So wish me luck!  I haven't quite decided on a storyline yet, so maybe I'll be day-dreaming all throughout tomorrow about a possible story plot.  Any inspirational ideas?  It is supposed to be easy and fun to write, to the goal is to stick to fiction.

Stay warm, and have a very wonderful and happy Halloween!  It finally feels like fall.  My favorite season.