Photography School

What is the hardest part of Photography School?  Assignments.  For real.  Not only is it keeping up with all the assignments and when they are due, it is coming up with multiple ideas every week.  Right now my brain is fried from this.  That is all.

To Composite or Not to Composite?

Well, that is the question.  I have seen some good composites.  I have seen some bad composites.  When you work in portraiture, they are a pain.  Maybe it is because I just started them.  We had a project in Imaging class that required us to make a new document out of at least 5 pictures we had taken.  So, I made Neverland.  Side note: I love to read and really love fantasy novels even the children's stories.  Most of the elements were really no problem.  But Tinkerbell was a problem.  Cutting out people is complicated- especially the hair.  While I love the idea of using digital backgrounds, it just doesn't seem worth the time involved to get them merged believably.  It is not just taking one picture and sticking it in another.  Beyond the headache of cutting them out, you have to create believable shadows and round the edges a bit and make sure the color of the light is correct.  In this particular scene, Tinkerbell is flying...where do you put a shadow for that?  I'm not completely happy with this, but hopefully it will get easier the more I do it. 

Why I became a photographer

I've always liked to take photographers, but had never really considered photography seriously.  By trade, I am a private respiratory nurse.  When I had children, of course, I always had the camera out.  My Daddy used to fuss when I would take my girls to commercial places to have their picture made.  He always said that the pictures I took at home were better than the ones I was paying for.  After a long struggle with cancer, my Daddy passed away.  One of the ways that I dealt with the grief was to turn to the camera he had often encouraged me toward.   I had a Kodak Z series camera.  It had manual functions as well as auto even though it was a point and shoot.  I decided that I wanted to learn how to use it in manual.  I searched all over the internet and library for information that would teach me.  And yes, I even read the camera manual.  This led to a basic understanding of camera settings- shutter speed, ISO, and aperture.  I also learned a bit about the art side of photography and design elements.  I began to get much better.  I decided to buy a DSLR- Canon Rebel.  This was a bit frustrating.  Even though I knew how to operate the camera manually on a basic level, I had to deal with lenses I knew nothing about, I had no photo editing software, and had only a rudimentary understanding of lighting.  I had taught myself as much as I could and decided that my next step would be classes.  Luckily our local college has an excellent photography program and I am finishing up my first year of school.  I would like to say that I haven't been in this alone.  I have had an excellent support system among my closest friends who have encouraged me and kept me from giving up along the way.  And have patiently suffered through modeling for me.  I would encourage anyone that has a real interest in photography to seek classes.  Even with the knowledge I had beforehand, classes have been priceless in filling in the gaps and giving me a strong understanding of my camera, equipment and using what I have to create incredible pictures.

My name is Kelly Hill. I live in Hickory, NC.  I am the owner and photographer at Metamorphosis Photography.  I am currently a student at Catawba Valley Community College studying for an Associates in Fine Arts- Photographic Technology.  I shoot mainly portraiture and I enjoy conceptual art.  I shoot with a Canon 30D and have a studio set up in my home.  I hope to use this blog as a record of my work and my growth.  My work is available for view at www.facebook.com/metamorphosisportraits.