Shooting truffle - this week's "What's this" Challenge

Sometime in the summer, I wonder how I could keep my FB page active. My 3 monkies have been my models all the times... don't want everyone to get sick of seeing them :P Jobs... have been quiet, unfortunately. And I wanted something fun, and something that I could keep practicing. So, this is what I've come up with:

 

Macro photography + Guess game = What's this? Challenge

 

On Mondays, I will post the question on my page. This is open to everybody. There's no prize (who knows... maybe one day), but you will have fun guessing :)

 

Example: Challenge for this week

Sometime on Tuesday, I will post the answer.

 

This week, I got the champagne truffle as my subject. This lonely "metal poop" has been sitting behind my desk for half a year. I actually bought it on Feb 14, the past Valentine. I always wanted to have a picture of it. But I've been so tied up (am I really? hee) I was searching at home for something more difficult for this week, and it just caught my attention...

 

You know what... truffles are never easy to play with... it's dark, it's not in perfect shape, it's hard to control shadows, etc. This is one of the assignments I needed to do in the Small Product class.  

 

So, here I come.

 

A quick test shot.

 Behind the scene set up: Table lamp (the only light source), playing card shuffled into monkie's slipper (reflector in a holder) and the chocolate box (as another reflector on the other side).

Final result: see the difference at the bottom part?

 

This is just a 5-10 min fun shot. Needless to say, lots of rooms for improvement. See the ugly shadows? Should also have taken out my plexi glass for a better setup. Oh well, at least this truffle has a picture taken now and its mission has been accomplished.

 

Just something to share...

 

Have a nice day!

 

 

 

 

Sometimes I like to close my eyes and imagine what it’ll be like when summer comes again.

This week has been super cold... I feel like missing summer already. This past summer, we had lots of fun... we went to zoo, a local lavender farm (check out this post), ice skating, bowling, birthday parties, etc. also a family getaway at Collingwood with both sides of grannies!

 

On a weekend, we decided to go for swimming at a beach. We would normally drive all the way down to the Beaches (or the Beach). Until this summer, we've learned that there's one nearby home at the Kelso Conservation Park. We know that skiing is available during the winter, but never know there's a beach there. So we went.

 

When we arrived, the beach was quick packed, but still managed to find a spot. Applied the sunscreen and they're all ready to go.

 

Little Monkie #1

Little Monkie #2

Little Monkie #3

 

Time for snack and we couldn't stop her from having the junk food. Look at her hands... she won. Fortunately, her tummy didn't complain after :P

 

We all had a good time and will definitely return next year :)

 

PS - it is such a clean beach. like.

The Amazing Journey

Finally, after 10 legs (aka courses) of the certificate program, I have reached the final leg and received the certicate in hand.

 

 

I was thrilled when I received the confirmation email from the college and that my GPA qualifies me for graduating with an honour.

 

Like many other mom photographers, I started because of my monkies. Throughout these years, many of my friends have asked me... Why are you in the program? What does it do or what does it mean by enrolling into the program? You could have learned photography by practicing, practicing and practicing. True... But I am more a in-class person . This also allows a little bit of "me time".

 

This also means the full support of my family, particularly my husband. He has to take care of the monkies in the evenings or whenever I am out for shootings. In addition, talking about the investments in equipments, it's a LOT of money. He totally understood that you need the right equipment in order to do the right job. He is also very encouraging. Without his supports, I couldn't have done it.

 

To me, it's an accomplishment... a huge accomplishment. It's a lot of work and practice and effort and brainstorming to get through these courses - small products, travel, history & theory, studio, wedding, portrait, etc.

 

Now, I'm done for this part of the journey. What's next? First, to update my profile on my facebook page that I am no longer pursuing my certificate, but a GRADUATE. Then, keep on shooting :)

 

Last but not least, thanks to all those who have helped me out: being my models, shooting with me (love all my group members/classmates), giving me the guidance & advices (to my instructors)... special thanks to my first ever client Catherine for trusting me to capture your wedding (which means a lot to me). Of course, I wanted to thank those who continuously liking my work & posts!

 

Thanks all!

A beautiful morning at a lavendar farm - Terre Bleu

It seems that I haven't been blogging for long... it's a busy summer... back to my full-time job, finishing my last course of the certificate program in photography & busy having fun with my monkies. But so you know... I have created another blog for wedding related stuff, which is called Wedding Photography by Gigi

 

You will find a few posts up during this season of love.

 

Talking about love... umm... romance... How about a field of purple lavender?

I always want to visit one... but the one close by is still far... how far? 6 hours of driving all the way to Quebec. With the 3 monkies? huh... don't even think about it...

 

Recently, we were introduced to the Terre Bleu farm. Where is it? Just in Milton, Ontario, which is only 15-20 min away from our place. Sweet...

 

Last week, we visited the Terre Bleu Lavendar Farm.

 

 

Here is the stunning look of the field. Lots of busy bees working around.

 

 

Staff were very friendly and proactively offered us guided tour. Ian explained to us that there are actually 250 kinds of lavenders (wow!) and they planted 6 in considering the super chilly winter here. They've harvested most of the them and the one we see above is called Grosso.

 

 

Other than the staff, mosquitoes did welcome us with their "hugs & kisses". My Little Monkie #1 was a bit upset at the beginning 'coz of the mosquitoes & bees (he got "kissed" before). I thought lavender is one of the natural anti-mosquito repellents. Ian said it is... however, we're in a open field and there are so many different factors involved. 

 

Okey... So when we're in the nature, so be part of the nature and enjoy. See my Little Monkie #2's happy face :)

 

 

 

My Little Monkie #1 posing.

 

Other than the lavendars, they also have a distillery with a huge steamer imported from Portugal to make essence oil. They also keep some hives on the other side of the field. There are lots of lavendars products and they make them out of these. There is a small store at the entrance and ladies, you will love this place.

 

They also keep 2 horses there. Unfortunately, we didn't have a chance to meet them. It's okay... next time :) This is their first year of opening to the public and I'm sure there are many chances for me to visit. This is such a beautiful place. And you know what... they're open for photo shootings and weddings. If you're interested in having me capturing the timeless moments for you, flip me a message/email.

 

I got mine - my Little Monkie #3.

 

 

For more pictures, check out my FB page at: www.facebook.com/GigiFanPhotography

 

And don't forgeto to 'like' my page. Thanks ^^

New thing learned - Gif

I was retouching the pictures of a mini playdate section last week. For a few pictures I asked little Charlotte to blow some dandelions. I like them all and thought that it`d be lovely if I could put them as a collage.This is something that I`m not good at, but was trying to google for some advice (let me know if you do, I`m still interested)...

Then the word `gif`came up and a whole bunch of tutorials got displayed. It`s actually an animation clip that you make a video using images. First trial failed using CS6...somehow the make frame function could not be found on my version. Glad that I haven`t uninstalled my CS5 and it works!! Played around with it for a bit and uploaded on Facebook.

Was so excited and waited to see the result... ehh... it`s still stationed. So more googling was done... apparently FB doesn`t allow gif animation file. But I really wanna show this... (I know this may  be something not new to you... :P), so here it is - on my blog ;)

Haa... now I'm happy and can go back to my retouching... have a nice evening all!

Kasen's Birthday Party - Lego Farm

A beautiful afternoon, no rain & not cold, which was filled with fun to celebrate Kasen's 6th Birthday! The theme of the party was Lego Movie: birthday banner, decor, cupcakes and the birthday cake were around the theme.

 



 

Look at the birthday cake. Isn't it amazing?! Credit goes to Kasen's talented mom, Rosa.

 

 

She has made the delicious cupcakes too.

 

 

To our surprise, there were other guests to the party - animals. The backyard was set up as a little farm.

 

Everyone could feed them and touch them.

 

And, kids could ride the pony as well. Love their smiles.

 

Of course, the part that the guests would look forward to the most is hitting the pinata.

 

 

For more pictures, please visit my facebook page at:

www.facebook.com/GigiFanPhotography

 

and choose the album titled "Birthday Party - Kasen"

Don't forget to 'like' my page if you like my work. Have a great day!

Aggy's Birthday Party

It's finally the time to blog about Aggy's birthday party. She turned 4 in March and I was excited to be there. It was the first session that I used my new baby - a full frame camera. Not only I needed to learn how to use the buttons, but also needed to download new software. Now I can communicate with both the camera & the computer and here are the happy pictures.



 



 

It was a fun party. There were endless activities like catching bubbles, hiding under the parachute, passing the obstacle course, and on and on. I guess the guests had a blast. Look at their smiles. And looks like the cupcakes tasted pretty good. Nom nom nom.

Once again, Happy Birthday to the Little Big Girl Aggy!