Beauty IS in the eyes of the photographer

Many enthusiastic photographers like me will at one point in time or another wonder why a seemingly good photograph doesn't get the appreciation it deserves. A photography friend once told me that he also had a stunning picture of some swans flying in the air but it only drew in some views but when he processed it through Photoshop and basically added a moon behind the swans, the same photo got a huge review.

Impact is what people look for. Dramatic effects and the wow factor. Do we really have to post process photos such that they get the huge number of audiences? I am referring to effects outside of the usual cropping, contrasting, saturation and sharpening.

Hmn, at this stage of my photography, I refuse to 'change' my photos (other than the 4 mentioned above). I may eventually one day perhaps only if it interest me to do so... who knows? But today, nope. I want my photos to just be photos even if it means missing out of spots in competitions. (Competitions shouldn't mix the two types anyways to be fair.)

To all photographers who share the same frustration, don't be. Stay true to what your eye sees and what your heart believes in, take the best photo you can and enjoy it to the fullest - it is what the photo deserves.

Just like Red Gloves

Just like Red Gloves, originally uploaded by bluebellmiffy.

I managed to get a few good takes for this year's rose season. It is really hard to choose my favorite rose shot. Reds are the rebellious colors for a digital camera and so technically a little more challenging to capture. This rose being a plain colored rose also attracted far less attention in flickr compared to other roses. Anyhow it won my heart because it is so blood red, has thick healthy petals and is an overall good capture. To the Rose Queen, until another year!

Birthday Happy

From Project One Everyday

It was a good day and yes, my birthday... mom's in town visiting from overseas... and our new camera finally arrived... timmss was so lovely as to provide another surprise - a 100mm 2.8 macro!!! I could not believe my eyes.

My mom also bought me one too many gifts... :) not that I am complaining though...

Well, it's not over yet, this Saturday, we are going out to a restaurant... I din't want to go on a weekday so that my deerie can enjoy himself more if over the weekend.

And so at the advise of some photography guru out there, I have started a photography project - to take photographs everyday and keep one a day. Yes... whether or not they are good, I'll keep one everyday...

I am no photographer, trust me! But it's all about the art in your eyes and your love for it. I might see growth in them too... I am excited to see how the album will look like this time next year!

It will be a LONG while yet before this set goes into the water diving with me... seriously... but it's quite alright. :) For now, I am a happy puppy.

Found the Frock!!

Yesterday saw myself making a last minute decision the night before to have a day shopping (girls only of course) with Timmss family. There were Teres, Jen, Berlin (names altered for their privacy) and myself. A family wedding was coming up and so the ladies were in town to see what frocks are in for Spring.

I do not have a dress at all and not to mention one that I can wear for the family wedding. Can I just say that the ladies in this family do dress very well. While they do not intend to dress to kill, they do kill when they dress! So I had to go shopping and find myself something really decent. I am a petite size 6 too! Dresses are normally too big and just don't fit!

Anyway, I set out to get some fresh air, just go out and look around. You know, chill out.

The first shop we walked into was Alannah Hill. I walked passed a lacy black number which I did take a second look at but it wasn't until when Teres said that it was a nice dress that I decided to try it on. The 3 of them sat outside waiting for me to come out from the dressing room. The dress fit like a glove on my body! The 3 fashion advisors loved it immediately. The more they saw it the more they liked it.

Then came a jewellery around my neck. It turned out to be a fashion jewellery piece by Peter Lang. It had the look of the "Heart of the Ocean" effect on me with the dress. The 'look' was perfect.

When I asked, so is it sold? The advisors said YES definitely almost simultaneously! Then I wasn't sure about the jewellery if I would wear it with something else... they suggested a Cami and out came a 100% silk black Cami and again, it fitted perfected on me! Looked stunning with jeans and heels...

I went back in to change into my cloths. The sales lady came back around (oh, she was so helpful and was there all the long buy my advisors were 'doing their job' critiquing and there wasn't too much room left, you know what I mean...) and asked "how did it go?" "Yeap." went the crowd of 3. "oh, which one?" asked the pretty sales lady. "All 3" said my advisors...

Yes, they helped me decide. And thanks to them I don't have to stress about my dress no more!!!!! I was sure it was going to so hard to find a dress that would fit me off the shelf!

So I left with 2 Alannah Hill numbers and 1 jewellery necklace by Peter Lang. It was a fruitful trip but boy was it tiring. I was shopped out but happy!

P/S: It turned out that the Peter Lang piece has a name "Shine my Light" and stones on the piece were actually Swarovski crystals.