See You Later. . .

One of my favorite prints from the Gelli Plate Printmaking Class held in May 2013.

* * *

Hi! Steve and I are leaving tomorrow morning for a week-long vacation (a small village in Costa Rica) and I will be off-line the whole time (yikes!).

But, my wonderful daughter-in-law, Christi, will be shepherding my e-box, so if you have any “drawing emergencies,” Christi will hopefully be able to help. Otherwise, I return to the office on Friday, September 27 and look forward to catching up with all of you then!

Have a great week, and if you decide to join the upcoming repeat sessions of

Gelli Plate Printmaking

or

Imaginary Creatures

(and, please do!), Christi will be sending you the email with the supply lists and class dates. If you don’t receive it for some reason, email us via my email address —  carla[at]carlasonheim.com — and we will get it out to you.

Also, don’t forget to leave a comment at this post for a chance to win a spot in the “Life Book 2014” online class (where I will be teaching a section).

Have a wonderful and creative week and I’ll see you later, alligator!

P.S. I can’t resist leaving you with a photo of Ethan, now almost 6 months old (grandson):

“Life Book 2014” – I’m Teaching, and a class GIVEAWAY!

Click here to view more details
* * *

Recently I was approached by the delightful Tam Laporte to teach a section in her next “Life Book 2014” online class, where she has gathered 22 other artists to partner in a year-long art journaling/mixed-media journey! And the best news? I am the first teacher out of the box besides Tam herself… my lesson will go live in the beginning of January 2014!

Well, the BEST news really is that I’m able to GIVE AWAY a class spot right here, right now. Leave a comment below telling me why you would like to take this online class, and I’ll pick a winner randomly on Friday, September 27th.

THANK YOU, everyone! The winner was Denise Smart, picked randomly via random.org. Denise — I will email you directly. Thanks again, everyone! 

Comment today!

Also, there are bunches of other chances to win a class spot in “Life Book 2014”:

There’s still time to enter:
Sept 12, 2013 – Tamara Laporte – www.willowing.org
Sept 13, 2013 – Tascha Parkinson – www.timewithtascha.blogspot.ca
Sept 14, 2013 – Lesley Riley – www.lesleyriley.com
Sept 15, 2013 – Alena Hennessy – www.alenahennessy.com
Sept 16, 2013 – Kat McBride – www.KatCanPaint.com

Enter at these blogs through October 4:
Sept 17, 2013 – Carla Sonheim – www.carlasonheim.com

Sept 18,2013 – Jane Davenport – www.janedavenport.com

Sept 19, 2013 – Danielle Daniel – www.danielledaniel.com

Sept 20, 2013 – Jennibellie – www.jennibelliestudio.blogspot.com
Sept 23, 2013 – Kelly Hoernig – www.kellyhoernig.webs.com

Sept 24, 2013 – Micki Wilde – www.thesecrethermit.blogspot.co.uk

25th Sept 2013 – Kate Thompson – www.fracturedangelics.blogspot.com

26th Sept 2013 – Flora Bowley – www.florabowley.com

27th Sept2013 – Anna Dabrowska – www.tworzysko.blogspot.co.uk

28th Sept 2013 – Steven Speight – www.speightoftheart.com

29th Sept 2013 – Mika Diaz – www.mikadiazmixedmedia.com

30th Sept 2013 – Serena Bridgeman – www.serenarty.com

1st Oct 2013 – Dyan Reaveley – www.dyan-reavely.blogspot.co.uk

2nd Oct 2013 – Effy Wild – www.effythewild.com

3rd Oct 2013 – Carissa Paige – www.carissapaige.com

4th Oct 2013 – Marieke Blokland – www.bloknote.nl

5th Oct 2013 – Christy Tomlinson – www.christytomlinson.com

6th Oct 2013 – Traci Bautista – www.treicdesigns.com

* * *

NOTE: I’m on vacation until September 26, 2013. I look forward to reading all of your comments when I return! ALSO… I WILL still be hosting a year-long online class myself in 2014. To be first to hear about the details, subscribe to my monthly newsletter, or check back here December 1, 2013. Yay!

Experimenting with PanPastels

 

 

 

 

Checking in on a Monday… tomorrow I have another giveaway opportunity, but for now I just have some animals I did over the weekend with PanPastels and pencil (and a little bit of digital coloring). I’m experimenting with a new technique… can anyone guess how I did them? 😀

Book Giveaway Winners

Hi! Thanks to everyone who posted comments. The winners of a copy of “Creative Photography Lab,” picked by random.org, are:

Day 1
Winner picked #33:
Tania Bain: “Oh Wow, I would love to win one of Steve’s books. I would go from stuck in a rut to being a pixel poet :”)

Day 2
Winner picked #85:
Meridith in NC: “I love the book excerpt. Would love to have a copy!”

Day 3
Winner picked #25:
Herma: “Loved your Photo Silly Summer! I am sure your book is also lovable.”

Day 4
Winner picked #8:
Miriam Rogers: “I have a weekend away and now two great projects to take with me, Thanks Steve”

Day 5
Winner picked #15:
Mmir: “Thanks for the giveaway. Hubby and I would enjoy it!”

 

DAY 5 – “Creative Photography Lab” LAST Book Giveaway

Hi! My husband, Steve, just published his first book and it was released last month by Quarry Books! But with all the goings-on of Summer Art Camp and Wes heading off to college, we decided to celebrate the publication this month instead. 

We’re giving away two copies each day (one from this blog, and one from my facebook page). Leave comments in both places each day for a chance to win a signed copy of “Creative Photography Lab: 52 Fun Exercises for Developing Self Expression with Your Camera.“

* * *

Hi, Carla here!

You might have noticed that I am listed as a “with” author of “Creative Photography Lab.” That’s because I contributed six, photo-related mixed-media projects/labs to the book!

This the spread for Lab 9 in “Creative Photography Lab,” called “Textured Photo Flags.” Click the image below to enlarge:

If you have some time, try it! (and post your images on the Creative Photography Lab flickr site, here.)

Thank you, everyone, for all of the encouraging comments! And here’s the LAST chance to win a copy of Steve’s book!

Leave a comment below for the chance to win a book. Winner will be selected randomly on Saturday, September 14. We’ll pick the winners at 7pm PST, so check this blog to see if you won!

Winner picked #15: 
Mmir – Thanks for the giveaway. Hubby and I would enjoy it!

Thanks, everyone, for visiting us this week. Happy creating!

Carla & Steve Sonheim

Day 4 – “Creative Photography Lab” Book Giveaway

Hi! My husband, Steve, just published his first book and it was released last month by Quarry Books! But with all the goings-on of Summer Art Camp and Wes heading off to college, we decided to celebrate the publication this month instead. 

We’re giving away two copies each day (one from this blog, and one from my facebook page). Leave comments in both places each day for a chance to win a signed copy of “Creative Photography Lab: 52 Fun Exercises for Developing Self Expression with Your Camera.“

* * *

Thanks to everyone who has commented! Today I want to give you a quick assignment.

Staring at the Sun

Lens flare is a trendy look in photography these days. You will see it in a lot of advertising and fashion. Images shot this way have a nostalgic and romantic feel to them; like snapshots from the 70’s.

So here are some tips for getting a good lens flare shot:

• Shoot as close to sunset as you can. Midday sun is too bright and could actually be dangerous to your eyes and camera.

• Position your subject so the sun is directly behind them.

• The best location for this are smoggy cities like L.A.

• If you don’t have sunshine, try this with a bright streetlight.

• Use manual or exposure compensation to do a range of exposures from light to dark. Your camera will kind of freak out when you point it straight into a light source, so you have to do exposure by trial and error to see what works.

• If you have a choice of picture styles, use something with high color saturation.

• Use manual focus if you can. (Auto focus can also flip out when pointed at the sun.)

• A longer or more telephoto lens will usually give you better results than a wide angle.

• Post your shots on the flickr site! http://www.flickr.com/groups/2103668@N24

Good luck to everyone that commented!

Steve
Facebook: Stephen Sonheim
Twitter @sonheimphoto
Instagram: ssonheim

Leave a comment below for the chance to win a book. Winner will be selected randomly on Saturday, September 14. (And come back tomorrow for one last chance to win a copy of the book!)

Winner picked #8:
Miriam Rogers: “I have a weekend away and now two great projects to take with me, Thanks Steve”

DAY 3 – “Creative Photography Lab” Book Giveaway

Hi! My husband, Steve, just published his first book and it was released last month by Quarry Books! But with all the goings-on of Summer Art Camp and Wes heading off to college, we decided to celebrate the publication this month instead. 

We’re giving away two copies each day (one from this blog, and one from my facebook page). Leave comments in both places each day for a chance to win a signed copy of “Creative Photography Lab: 52 Fun Exercises for Developing Self Expression with Your Camera.“

* * *

Thank you, everyone, for all of the encouraging comments! And here’s another chance to win a copy of Steve’s book!

Leave a comment below for the chance to win a book. Winner will be selected randomly on Saturday, September 14. (And come back each day this week for more chances to win a copy of the book!)

Winner picked #25:
Herma: “Loved your Photo Silly Summer! I am sure your book is also lovable.”

DAY 2 – “Creative Photography Lab” GIVEAWAY

Hi! My husband, Steve, just published his first book and it was released last month by Quarry Books! But with all the goings-on of Summer Art Camp and Wes heading off to college, we decided to celebrate the publication this month instead. 

We’re giving away two copies each day (one from this blog, and one from my facebook page). Leave comments in both places each day for a chance to win a signed copy of “Creative Photography Lab: 52 Fun Exercises for Developing Self Expression with Your Camera.“

* * *

“The introduction alone was worth the price of the book.”
— Karen Kay, read full review here! (Thanks Karen!)

This series of 10 images was taken in Savannah, GA last week when I was on a job. I gave myself the assignment to take 10 images in 10 minutes.

This is similar to the first exercise in “Creative Photography Lab,” called “Smart Phone 3/30.” Click the image below to enlarge:

If you have some time today, try it! (and post your images on the Creative Photography Lab flickr site, here.)

Steve
Facebook: Stephen Sonheim
Twitter @sonheimphoto
Instagram: ssonheim

Leave a comment below for the chance to win a book. Winner will be selected randomly on Saturday, September 14. (And come back each day this week for more chances to win a copy of the book!)

Winner picked #85:
Meridith in NC: “I love the book excerpt. Would love to have a copy!”

DAY 1 – “Creative Photography Lab” GIVEAWAY

Hi! My husband, Steve, just published his first book and it was released last month by Quarry Books! But with all the goings-on of Summer Art Camp and Wes heading off to college, we decided to celebrate the publication this month instead. 

We’re giving away two copies each day (one from this blog, and one from my facebook page). Leave comments in both places each day for a chance to win a signed copy of “Creative Photography Lab: 52 Fun Exercises for Developing Self Expression with Your Camera.“

* * *

Hi and thanks to Carla for sharing her blog space with me. I was sitting on a plane last week reading an article about Stern Magazine, a German weekly that features consistently wonderful photography. The art director, Johannes Erler, said in the interview: “I always prefer the emotional picture instead of the perfect picture.”

That quote struck me as the summation of everything I feel about photography. Without really knowing why, I am always attracted by, and attempting to create, an emotional image. And by emotional, I don’t necessarily mean something that has people in it who are demonstrating a strong feeling. Stern Magazine is mostly about lifestyle and fashion and I think the art director was talking mostly about that kind of photography. But for me, some images — magically, mysteriously — are packed with feeling.

And unlike the “perfect” picture, you can’t really construct an emotional shot from the ground up. There are no rules of composition, lighting schemes, or Photoshop filters that can guarantee a truly moving photo.

I believe that the only way to make emotional photographs is to be present and connected to your subject in an emotional way. Photographs should be like poems: An honest and well crafted response to what you are feeling at the time.

My hope is that our book might be a small help in that direction. You start by setting aside your preconceptions about the “perfect” picture and just start shooting from the heart. Of course understanding your camera is an important part of crafting images and we try to introduce some technical understanding into each lesson.

Thanks for your comments!

Steve
Twitter @sonheimphoto
Instagram: ssonheim

Leave a comment for the chance to win a book. Winner will be selected randomly on Saturday, September 14. (And come back each day this week for more chances to win a copy of the book!)

Winner picked #33:
Tania Bain: “Oh Wow, I would love to win one of Steve’s books. I would go from stuck in a rut to being a pixel poet :”)

I’m Getting in on this Meme Thing (cont.)