Hey you sweet readers!

I’ve worked a post this morning on and off and my computer might be trying to die on me.

It keeps randomly shutting down and of course, blogger loses all the pictures that have been uploaded.  So, forget that.  I’ll do a post that only requires one picture. 🙂

I’ve been getting questions through comments and email, regarding the pieces I’ve shown and painting in general…so I thought I would work on an FAQ section of the blog.  That will take some time (and will change in 2 or 3 weeks when the blog is redesigned), so I thought I could start by answering a couple of questions I’ve gotten lately.  Then, you guys can leave me any other question you want me to answer in a comment below this post.  (plus, that would mean it would all be organized in one place and I, the scatter-brain, wouldn’t forget to answer someone’s question)

He he.  🙂  No, I’m definitely not a photographer.  I do, however, love that creativity comes in so many forms, and taking pictures seems to be such a wonderful way to express art and creativity.  So I do love photographing pretty much anything from my kids to furniture to mason jars. 🙂

I have a Sony a350 DLSR; it is a great camera…we got a display on clearance this Christmas!  Whoo-whoo!!  I had another dslr and it was kind of going downhill.  I think it got dropped a couple of years ago and it made this terrible whirring noise when we turned it on….not a good sign if your camera’s doing that.  So, to the new one….I’m really just beginning to use all of its features, which you must do if you’re going to spend the money on a good camera.  The lens I use most (also Sony) around the house is the 18-70.  Gets me close up without having to stand 35 feet away from the object.  I have two others, but I will say this is the one that stays on the camera the most.

Also, let me give you a couple of little tips (because I’m sure you have not heard these…they are so genius and originated with me). 🙂  Open up those curtains/windows/blinds/doors….anything you can to let some natural light in.  If you can wait to take the picture until you get some natural light, by all means, do it.  Your pictures (and readers) will thank you.  Point that flash (and yes, use the attached flash if you’ve got one) up!  Don’t leave it pointed straight at an object, giving it an unnatural burst of light.  This will cause one of two things; whiting out the picture or tinting the coloring of every object.  Yes, you can edit, but I find that bad lighting is pretty much the hardest to correct when editing pictures.  So, move that flash around (mine mostly stays pointed up to the ceiling to reflect as much light as possible into the picture.)  I also (wait for this technical speak) lower the “f” number to allow as much light into the lens as possible.  I have also found that if I can get good lighting and simply look for good angles, then I really don’t have to edit my pictures very much.  (but–don’t be afraid to edit them–that’s what picasa is for, right??)

By the way, Lauren (wonderful photographer you are), if you’re reading this, just don’t laugh at me.

In the FAQ section that I’m working on, I’ll go into more detail on the painting of each piece, or pieces you are interested in.  Each piece is painted so differently (even though I do have my preferred techniques), so it would be helpful to know which you wanted to know more about.

Ok…..one question down. Now, ask away!  I’ll get started as I receive questions to get you some good info.

–have a blessed one,

shaunna 🙂