SPF: Un-automatic for the people

This is up my alley!
Stuff Portrait Friday's assignment from Kristine at Random and Odd is:

This Friday’s theme…Take me off AUTO!
1. Macro: take a picture of something ‘close up’. Don’t use your zoom, make sure you have good lighting and make sure you’re steady. If you have to, set your camera down on something and then take the picture.
2. NO FLASH: try swiching the flash off and taking pictures of your stuff without it. It may take a lot of pictures to get the right shot, but open the windows and find artifical light to get it to work.
3. Perspective: get up high or down low…either way, change the perspective of your picture..tilt the camera sideways. Change the layout of the picture. Instead of having the subject framed perfectly in the middle of the picture…move it to the left or the right.

Now I am going to go off on this one!
First off...MACRO
While this not true macro, I am trying to go with the spirit of what Kristine asked...this is not a zoom and not with a macro lens, but very tight.
This is one of my fave pics ever...perfect blue and the yellow compliments SO well! I do very little nature photography, but I could:-)
Next up: NO FLASH

I am sure not many people would understand the picture, but the fact is that there is no story...I just saw the meter, it was lit well and the background just exudes downtown...this could be in perspective as well.
I am sure a lot of you will laugh at this one, but hey...it has character and it even has a strange emotion to it! Also...this could also be a perspective shot:-)
Last but not least: Perspective

I actually took this last night and yes...that is CBS News guy Bob Schieffer...a total class act! I wanted a shot that was not like the sometimes aggravating newbie college press photographers that were in the room and so I went low and got an incredible perspective. This is also a natural light shot...I took the light from the news station and used it for my own purpose.
I was able to lay on the ground and nailed this shot. Thankfully the sky was overcast and I shot it with black and white in mind. Getting low and high is the best way to get a shot that stands out. I also shot slow to get the feel of motion.

The assignment was a Pet Expo and I needed a shot that exuded love of animals. For this I actually laid chest down flat on the ground and captured this image of pure love between two species. The little girl knew I was shooting, but never mugged for the camera, choosing to stay natural.
Well...that's it! This was a great SPF week and I even got to throw some of my news shots in the mix:-) PLEASE leave feedback...I love to hear comments!

Comments

[MrsDoF]

Oh my goodness gracious!
Absolutely great! Every single one!

The window ledge picture reminds me of 'going' at my Aunt Lou's house. The panes of glass and the shadows are the same style.

Although if I had to choose, the girl and her friend is so sweet.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
ps I didn't play today.
Swimming (sinking) in Math homework assignments.

[Jenelle]

WOW!! All of those are SO good! I am so impressed! Great SPF! I played, but your photos put mine to shame. LOL

[joye]

I don't know how you do it. Can't understand a photographer's eye at all, I take the worst pictures ever. You are blessed with a gift, guy.

[Torie]

Wow - I'm so impressed by them all. They are great. I love anything black and white.
I played!

[Kristine]

I have ALWAYS been one of your biggest fans! YAY for UZZ!

I think my favorite is the fair shot. I adore the depth of field on the first two. FANTASTIC!

[Lisa]

I adore the shot of the parking meter. My absolute favorite!
I played too.

[Lee]

neat stuff...schieffer looks like he's being interviewed by a dominatrix ;)

[kami]

Beautiful photos. Love the butterfly...

[Army of Mom]

As usual, I'm humbled by your skills. I, too, like the butterfly the best. The detail and color is incredible.

[Jana]

Wow, those are some amazing pictures. Makes me want to delete mine and go hide in shame!

I played.

[Cheeky]

Absolutely a GREAT SPF!

I played

[Angi]

The window... my definite favorite. It has mood and character. It's great. I like several of the others too - great eye - but that one stands out to me.

[Cullen]

I love the amusement park swing shot. It looks foreboding. Did you use a wide angle? The center seems slightly bulged like an 18mm or so.

The butterfly is probably my next fav. I have some bumblebee and hummingbird shots from back at Fort Huachuca that are similar. I'll have to see if I can dig them out.

[Lindsay]

Thanks so much for sharing. They are absolutely beautiful. You have been blessed such an amazing gift. I think you should publish a book of your works.

[Kristine]

Well I keep saying if I had a better camera I could take better pictures, and I'm sure that would help, but the one thing I'm missing is TALENT, and you sir, have it oozing (ewww bad word choice!) out of your pores I'm sure. What an amazing bunch of photos. I'm sort of ashamed to say I played too lol.(but I did)

[Charmed*1]

Your pictures are the bomb! Love the one of the boots!

Happy Friday and I played!!

[ZuphChic]

Your pictures put the rest of us amateurs to shame! LOL

[Stacie]

You just made me like Black and white photography. Not an easy feat..I have never been a fan of it before. I have no problem getting on the ground or laying down for my photos, but I have never achieved the perspective you got with these...I love the little girl and the dog. I played too...Stacie

[Stacie]

You just made me like Black and white photography. Not an easy feat..I have never been a fan of it before. I have no problem getting on the ground or laying down for my photos, but I have never achieved the perspective you got with these...I love the little girl and the dog. I played too...Stacie

[Uzz]

WOW!!! This is the highest total of comments I have ever had! Thanks to all of you who came by...I am heading over to your sites shortly.

I really enjoy shooting and I really enjoy teaching people what makes a great photo. The sad part, is that I don't think I am anywhere I need to be, but I am good at capturing a soul. If anyone EVER has questions about photography (equipment, technique, etc...) feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] and I will be glad to help you out!

Thanks again for coming by!

Uzz

[Sondra]

Lovely work!! And I'm glad to know that I'm not the only person who literally LAYS DOWN on the ground for the sake of a shot. I've embarassed my husband several times now by doing just that, but hey...I do what I gotta do.