Okay, as you read the blog this week you have to promise me you won't allow your eyes to glaze over.  I am going to use as few technical references as possible, and tell you a little story, but I really DO have to, sort of, well, do some wah wah wah wah wah wah stuff.

All you need to know if you are going to hire me to do some photography work, is that I understand the wah wah.  You don't need to, unless, of course, you are interested in the mechanics of exposure and trying to optimize each photo.  Then there are plenty of resources out there to help you through.

The little story:  When I first started getting serious about opening a photography business in 2011, I did not have the camera I own today, nor the glass (lenses).  I shot with a Sony DSC-H7 and a Fuji Film camera.  Neither of these cameras have the same abilities in "manual" mode as my present Nikon D300.  And I had a few lens options for the Sony--a telephoto and a macro lens--but mainly relied on the lens that was built into the camera.  I shot exclusively in JPEG.  Here is a photo from 2011 of Moe, who is the subject I chose for this week's blog.

I call this, Bug Catcher.  Moe hates bugs and likes to spend time on this glider to get away from them.  Here he is most assuredly looking at a bug and wishing he were inside the house.  This photo was taken in very bright sunlight and has sacrificed some of Moe's right shoulder and head to blown out patches.  I'm not entering it into any contests real soon, but I do like this photo, despite its drawbacks.  And thanks to these cameras, I sought out how best to work through exposure problems.

I spent most of 2011 experimenting and trying to decide what photography classes to take.  In the Fall of that year I took an online class which led me to metering and the zone system.  Warning:  Wah Wah ahead.

The Wah Wah:  The Zone System is a product of the bright minds of Ansel Adams (who did his work of looming landscapes in black and white) and Fred Archer (who was a Hollywood portrait photographer).  On a side note (all friends who know this story can skip the next sentence) my brother-in-law, a  native Californian, was one of Ansel Adams' interns and can probably tell us all stories, but he lives in Colorado, and at the time of this writing, I didn't have a chance to call him.

Since cameras are built to be an "average Joe" kind of guy, they usually look at a scene and take the average of that scene and say "okay, this is about right" and SNAP...........and that's why we don't let cameras make the decisions.  Let me show you what happens when I let my camera make the decision, with no help from me, on taking this week's photo of Moe at the park.

SNAP.  No.

Luckily, thanks to Ansel and Fred and a gray card, we have a way to fix that rascally camera.  (I honestly drank no wine before writing this blog.)  So, let me go back to the Zone System.  The system helps you evaluate tones.  There are 10 zones, but to decrease the wah wah, and to make this easier, for our purposes, let's just use three....black, white and the gray that falls right in the middle of the black and white (which is Zone V <- roman numeral, Zone 5).  Cameras are usually metering at that middle gray position when analyzing a scene.  If there is lots of light or sun, the camera is going to try to darken it.  If it's too dark, the camera tries to lighten it.  So this is how we might get underexposed or overexposed photos.  In the photo above, the camera tried to take the dark areas and the light areas and average them out.

To help out in a situation like this, we can use a gray card to meter and expose correctly. The gray card has that middle of the road gray to focus on, so now the camera is doing a better job of using the available light to set the tone of the photo. I placed a gray card in the proximity of where Moe had sat his furry behind and took a shot, then set the camera accordingly.  Here is the photo after recomposing the shot.  Better, right?

I changed my angle slightly and Moe is approximately in the same spot, but you can't see the rocks anymore since my angle is now more on an even keel with Moe.

And last, but not least, below is the final edit of this image.  I've brightened it, added color, and a bit of pop in Moe's eyes.  I do 80% of my work using RAW at this point in my life, but I shot all of these images in JPEG to keep with the thoughts of the Chapter and the assignment.  The final settings on the image above were ISO 200, f/2.8, 1/250, at a focal length of 70mm. If you are still with me and you are interested in seeing other interpretations of the Zone System, start with Boston Pet Photographer, Blue Amrich.

Mr. Adams thanks you.  Mr. Archer thanks you.  Moe thanks you.  And I thank you.  Wah wah.

This week's project assignment still has an introspective feel.  Looking at the same images I used last week, I needed to ask a series of questions presented by the author of our guide.  Since I think it would be cumbersome to look at every photo I shared last week, I am going to select one--the photo of our horse Emmett grazing in a field--and ask the questions I need to focus on of that photo.  I think this will be a good learning experience because I do have other iterations of that photo, and why I settled on the one I did as THE photo will be a good discussion.

Here are the questions I need to ask:

1. what thought or feeling am I trying to express?
2. what role does color play?
3. what would this scene look like with a tighter lens?
4. what is it about this specific moment that made me choose it instead of taking the photo a moment sooner or later?
5. do my chosen technical (camera) settings help me tell the story in the way they are supposed to?
6. what can I use to diminish the "unnecessary" in the photo without diminishing the "necessary"?
7. can a shift in my position or change in my lens, make elements in the photo relate to each other better?
8. where are the lines in the photo and would a change in framing (vertical or horizontal) make it stronger?
9. could I change the lines to better direct the eye?
10. what is the light doing?
11. is there depth in the image and could there be more or would it benefit from less?
12. are there repeated elements in the scene that provide a visual echo or rhythm to the photo?
    

                                                                                             (Courtesy of "The Visual Toolbox" ~David Duchemin)

A good place to start this discussion would be taking a peek at one of the photos I did on the same day in the same field.

The thing that caught my eye on this day, besides, of course, the horses grazing quietly, was the sky.  It was late October and the sky was a mass of blue and large, puffy clouds.  It was late afternoon.  I realized that if I walked down field, I would be below the horses and could capture that sky as their backdrop.  The problem was, I was also going to capture quite a bit of the other background things, such as the barn, fence lines, and loads of yellowish/green grass clumps.

Here's the out of camera shot and the edited version side-by-side.

You can see I've brightened the image by adding color and warmth, but I was not happy with the look of the barn or the fence line to the right in the photo.  If the barn was not there, the image might have had promise for me.  I did not want to make the horses move to different spots because I wanted to capture them grazing quietly, and if I started to move them, chances are all heck would break loose and suddenly they might not look so serene.

Emmett happened to be a bit further from this horse.  See that tree to the left?  Well watch what happens to it in this image of Emmett.

Yep.  Emmett is now growing that tree right out of his butt.  Since the message I was trying to convey did not have anything to do with butt-tree-growing-horses, this image was not going to work for me either.  Not even cropped.

In the cropped version, I've now lost my anchor tree to the left the sky is brought closer (not what I am looking for) and Emmett is still growing a butt tree.

So, even though I did not know it, I was applying some of the principles of this week's lesson to my thought process.  What thought or feeling am I trying to express?  One of serenity, calmness, the beauty of nature and animals together.  That was always my intent.

What role did color play?  The colors of the sky grabbed my attention that day.  The warmth of the sun was an important feature of this session in the field.  Although I had thought about a tighter format, what I also wanted to convey was the expanse covered by the sky, the field, and the environment in general, and then bring that all down to one horse (which just happened to be our horse on that day).

Ultimately, below then, is the photo that says what I hoped to say on this day.  Emmett very cooperatively moved a bit to his right on his own, and I moved myself around to capture a different exposure.  He framed himself nicely between the two trees, there is a good fence line showing, and the sky, while a little changed, is still the expansive backdrop, this time with the sun showcasing Emmett while he grazes.

Take some time to read through the questions again and then go over this photo once more.  Do you think I asked enough of these questions?

My new photo for this week is below.  We had a bit of snow (just a little) this past week and some pretty frigid temps.  Lilah, who normally loves snow, could not get over how cold it was.  When she thinks it's too cold to be outside, she sits in a pretty pose in the middle of the yard just waiting for me to say "IN."  Cycle that it is, this is just what I wait for to say it.  Do you think I asked the right questions in making this image?

For more studies in asking better questions, the blog circle will start this week with Ipswich, Queensland Pet Photographer, Jodie Pholi Images.

Using "The Visual Tool Box" as a guide, this week's theme asks us to take an introspective look at some past photos and add one new shot to the mix in an effort to see a pattern in our work--essentially pointing us to our style/vision.  I am liking the anarchy approach to our author, who states that the best photos are not necessarily those that are technically correct, and as I went through many of my older photos, I remembered that once shared with others, many of the ones I've chosen to show you, were well liked by many...and many of them are not complete technical perfection.

One of my own favorites from the past, is Lilah with her bunny.  She is laying on her bed in front of our fireplace and just enjoying that bunny (a gift from her boyfriend).  This was actually the first image I stopped at in my run through many photos, and I smiled when I came to it.

Have you ever gone through a box of old photos?  You know how you tend to plow through and then, suddenly, you stop at one that you look at for a long time and it brings you back to that very moment when the photo was taken?  That's what I believe all photos should do.  They should bring out an emotion--something you felt at that moment in the past.

Why not a cat napping on a favorite spot in the sun?  All the cats I've ever known have their eyes closed 80% of their day while draped over one piece of furniture or another.  Dilly, our large orange fluffy, went missing last year, and although we searched for him everywhere (flyers, shelters, etc.) he was never found.  Yet, this is how I remember him.  Always napping.

As I went through more and more photos, I noticed that most of my favorites (and the ones I remember as eliciting the most discussion from others) were trying to capture their subjects in their natural environments, showcasing their natural emotions...happy, sad, sleepy, playful...or enjoying a nice patch of grass on a lazy afternoon.

I'd have to say that my vision looks to follow that path, and I am happiest with the images that show relaxed animals doing what they do best....being themselves in their natural environment.

So with that thought in mind, this past week I happened to take Lilah on a little adventure to a friend's farm to visit some goats and horses.  Lilah had a great time exploring, and this is a photo from that day.  What do you think she is feeling?

Now onward through the blog loop.  Remember, if some links do not work for you at first, come back later.  They will be fixed, and you will be able to circle the loop until you return here again.  Enjoy!  I am excited to see everyone's interpretation of the theme.  This week we start with Rachel Moore of Hoof N Paw Fine Art &Photography.

We're BAAAAACCCCKKKKK!  Happy New Year!  I am going to attempt to participate in the Project 52 blog for as many of the 52 weeks as possible.  Last year I joined at around week 37, and I only missed a few times while reaching week 52.  We'll see how it goes this year.

Some exciting things are in store.  We are being challenged by a new text we are using as part of our work.  The text is called "The Visual Toolbox."  I've read the intro and the first 25 pages and I'm excited to learn more through doing and experimenting this year. 

Our first blog is not part of the text, but a free intro week until everyone participating has a chance to purchase the book.  Our theme is "New" and you are going to find A VERY LOT of participation this time.  Get comfy and be prepared to go through a MAJOR loop of blog posters.

It didn't take me long (thanks to winter finally arriving in Pennsylvania after an unseasonable warm start) to figure out my photo for the week.  I had to completely clean (brush, curry, wipe down) six horses in order to blanket them for single digit temps this week.  Not only does my right arm now hurt when I lift it, but I heard myself saying:  "Oh, how nice these blankets look when they first go on."  BOOM!  That was it.

As all horse owners know, the best time to own a horse blanket is when you take it out of the bag.  After that there are no guarantees.  I've been lucky in that my horses are relatively good about their blankets and I get them laundered and packaged up every year at the end of the winter season, so they are clean and ready to go for the next winter season.

The blankets are then essentially....NEW.  Shiny. Clean. Bright.  This lasts for....oh.....about an hour.

This is our horse, Roo, after just being turned out in his "new" (as in clean) winter blanket.  He's a hippy kind of guy, so these peace symbols suit him rather well.  I've applied a little artsy Topaz effect to this photo, taken with a 50mm lens, ISO 200, f/11.  Roo loves to stand in the bright sun enjoying his smorgasbord of hay.

Turns out this cleanliness lasted longer than an hour this time.  I took a photo of him later in the day (see below) and the blanket was still very clean.  This meant no rolling to try to remove the blanket, or grind in dirt to make it feel more homey.  Now Roo's only question is, "do these peace signs make me look fat?"

Same lens, ISO 200, f/11, no effect applied to photo.  Edited with Lightroom and Photoshop Elements.  If we ever have a "dirty" theme, I'll retake a photo of this blanket at the end of winter.  I am quite certain it will not look this good again.

As I noted before, we have quite a blog loop this week, so enjoy going through it and seeing what everyone has to offer in terms of the "new" theme.  Since there are many newbies joining this week, if you find a link may not work, stop back later in the day.  We will have worked out all the bugs by then and the links will be up and running.  For now, start your journey all the way in Queensland, Australia with Jodie Pholi Images.

I, unfortunately, did not make the time frame to link up to the bonus week of Project 52 due to a very busy week, which also involved an ice storm.  But for fans of the blog loop, I've included the link at the very end of this post so you can still read the blogs of other participants for the week.

I am looking forward to the 2016 Project 52 year, as we will be using a text to guide us as we move through the year.  I will tell you more about it next week when the year begins anew.

I thought I might share just a few of my favorite photos from this year.  Since I did quite a bit of shelter work, I am going to feature some shelter dogs and cats as part of my review.

Early in 2015, I visited the Lehigh County Humane Society and met Anna.  She was a shy little terrier mix that just loved the vintage suitcase I brought along.  It provided comfort for her and I was able to better photograph Anna this way.  Anna was adopted to a very loving home within a week of this photo being taken.  She is one of the dogs that could have easily come home with me (which is an inherent danger for me doing sessions at the shelter).

I also met Larry that same day, and decided to do a little "packed-and-ready-to-go-home" shot since he liked standing on the suitcase.  Larry was also soon adopted.

In the spring I visited the Pike County shelter and met this lovely cat.

I also found this very handsome, stoic face at the Pike County shelter.

In the middle of the year I took two of my very favorite shelter photos at the Lehigh County Humane Society.  It was very close to the Fourth of July when I met Margo, a poodle mix, and another little dog that could have had my heart for a song.  Again I had brought a container with me to use for the smaller dogs who tend to be a bit shy.  They always seem to feel more relaxed if they are inside of something.  I tend to keep my props to a minimum when shooting at the shelter, instead looking for natural backdrops in my surroundings which can help to show off the dog or kitty.

As you can see, Margo really enjoyed her time in the bob-for-apples bin.  And so did Kahlua (below) who ended up being my cover page for my personal Facebook profile that month.  Both Margo and Kahlua were adopted.

 I need to throw in one more kitty to the mix.  Late in the year I snapped this photo of Church at the shelter.  I loved his massive head, how he patrolled the tops of the cages in the cat room and his insistence on knowing what was going on outside the windows at all times.  I was so happy to hear he was adopted as well.  I am sure he is sprawled out on a sofa somewhere.

That's just a quick review of some of the animals I've met this past year who were seeking, and ultimately found, new homes.  These shelters do their best to ensure that all of their charges move to great new places in their lives.  I am looking forward to meeting more of them in 2016!  Happy New Year everyone!

Now, here is a link to Susannah Maynard of Suzi Pix Photography and her Project 52 blog for bonus week.  From her blog you will be able to move on to see who else might be in the loop, but remember, you will not be able to get back here, as I am not a part of the loop this week.  I will be rejoining the group next week for our first week of 2016. Enjoy!