Moved to Wordpress!

So I have officially moved to wordpress. I will still be updating this blog, but not as much as I have been recently. Check out my wordpress at http://www.astillphotography.wordpress.com. Thanks guys :)

Study Abroad

So Mrs. Harkins told us yesterday about our study abroad trip and I have to say I am sooooo excited. We are going to be going to Austria, Italy, and Germany. I am hoping that I will be able to go on the trip, but I know its going to cost me a big chunk of change.  I better start saving now!! I think I am most excited about going to Milan, the fashion capital of the world.  Whenever I here of Milan I always think about fashion, and since I love fashion photography I think that will be the highlight of the trip for me.

Dorothy O-Connor

I was looking through ACP (Atlanta Celebrates Photography) and I ran across Dorothy O'Connor. I was looking through her stuff and the photographs that caught my attention were the "scenes" photography. Above is one of the favorite images from her. Check her out here.

Feature Picked

So this is the photograph that Mrs. Finch picked for my feature. Definitely not my favorite but I guess it works. I was continuously watching this guy and I guess I got a decent picture of him. I am hoping that I will be able to pull out a good grade on this one.

Class Tomorrow

So tomorrow in class we will be working on our set for the GTC Holiday Portraits. The set is coming along great but we still have a lot of work ahead of us. Day group took Mrs. Harkins shopping today for some items that we needed for the set. Tomorrow, I am guessing that we will be putting all those items into use. I am so excited to have this set finish and be able to start shooting next week. I can't believe it is so soon. It honestly feels like yesterday when we first started talking about what we wanted the set to look like. It is going to be a beautiful set when it is all said and done.

Dog Photography: Erin Vey

Animal photography has always been a great interest of mine so I decided to do some research and look at animal photographers. I came across Erin Vey and fell in love with her work. She is a lifestyle dog photographer, which means she basically shoots dogs in their everyday environment, which is able to bring out their personality. Check out her blog here or her portfolio here.

Mike Rosenthal

Ever since I saw Mike Rosenthal on America's Next Top Model, I have been a huge fan of his work. He is an awesome fashion photographer and also does some great commercial shots. Check out his work and his portfolio here.

Fall

Fall has always been my favorite season. The amazing red, oranges, and yellows of the trees makes me so happy and free! Today, before I left to go shoot my feature I decided to go shoot some of the fall weather. This is one of the images I came out with. I like the image, but I feel as if I could do a lot better.

Pride and Non-Prejudice

So I went to Gay Pride Atlanta today searching for my feature and I am hoping that I have gotten it. It was seriously some of the most fun I have had in a long while. I meet some great people and had some great conversation. I will definitely be going back next year. Drag queens, foam pits, and Delta flight attendants...all in a days work. Check out a few more of my Pride photographs here.

Landscape Photography

One of the reasons why I became so interested in photography was beautiful landscapes and the amazing images that you see everywhere. I have always wondered "How did that person get such an amazing photograph?". Why does landscape photography always catch your eye and make you go "ooohhh" and "awww" and "gorgeous"? So thinking about those questions, I decided to look for some tips on what I could do to enhance my landscape photography. I came across this fact-filled video on YouTube by Karl Taylor, who has shown to be an amazing landscape photographer. Check it out.

So Long SB-900

I am seriously saddened that I will not be able to afford the SB-900 Flash right now. I was so excited to get this flash, and now I feel like a little kid who woke up on Christmas morning with no presents under the tree, disappointed. I decided to save some money and go with the SB-600, save about $250. The SB-600 got 4 out of 5 stars which is an amazing review but the SB-900 got 5 out of 5 stars. I was really looking forward to that 5th star. Oh well, maybe next year.

This is what I get to look forward to now. I don't mean to not sound excited, believe me I am, but 900 just sounds so much better than 600...don't you agree?
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HDR Photography... One of the loves of my life

Last year, while I was at school, I discovered HDR photography and fell in love. I love the idea of being able to take multiple exposures and combine them all into one image to create the perfectly exposed image. Below is a video showing a few HDR images and explaining a little bit about HDR photography.

How to Photography a Rock Band

I have always been very interested in the music side of photography and how music comes into play.  I came across an article on Popphoto titled "How to Photography A Rock Band" and I got all the answers that I needed.  

1. Find a site

2. Plan well

3. Pose each person...

and if you want to know more just check out this article. 

Digital Pioneers Win Nobel Prize

I was looking through PDN earlier today and I came across this article talking about Williard S. Boyle and George E. Smith winning a Nobel Prize.  The first thought that came across my mind was finally.  The pioneers of digital photography finally get recognized for their amazing invention, an invention that change my world completely.  To read more about this, just go here.

Jason Christopher

I came across this amazing fashion photographer Jason Christopher.  His use of light and his talent is motivating.  Check out his portfolio here. You can also check out his blog here.

Night Photography...How to!

So I have always been interested in night photography and I found a short video that explains some of the obstacles that people have. Check it out here.

Fill Flash Assignment

So for photojournalism class we are having to do an assignment dealing with fill flash. Basically fill flash is "filling a space" with a flash on top of your camera. I have already pretty much decided that I want to get the SB 900 Nikon flash but I have to get it before I do this assignment, which put a short time frame on the delivery of the flash. So basically right now I am FREAKING out about getting the flash in time. But I am also excited about this assignment because it will teach me how to use a flash which I have been needing to learn. Basically fill flash will do this for your image which is a great difference.

Feature

So since I was unable to go to the 3-day walk this past weekend, I am still in need of a picture for my feature assignment. I have decided that I am going to go to my first Gay Pride Atlanta for a photo opportunity. I am actually pretty excited about this opportunity and I can't wait for this weekend. To top it all of it is going to Halloween weekend so there should be so pretty interesting costumes.

Its actually working!

So I decided to search my name on google and see if I was number one on the list. A week ago I was number 6 and I was hoping that this web that Mr. Jones said that we are going to create was working. And the verdict is...

I am number 1!! Its actually working.

Coppi Barbieri

I came across this amazing high-fashion photographer today named Coppi Barbieri. I was looking through her portfolio and I was in awe by her work. Check her out here. Above is a few of her images.