Saturday, August 28, 2010



Here is my assignment #1. The subject on the bottom is Karl Lagerfeld and his teddy bear with matching outfit. The subject on the right is my grand daughter, Samantha, and her teddy bear with matching outfit.


Monday, August 16, 2010


Karen,
Thanks for the "spoon" group photo. I have one very similar to Eileen's. Now that our out of town company has left, I can get started on last week's assignment.
Chuck

Sunday, August 15, 2010


Hi All:

Here is a picture of the group that Sam took. It's a 4x6 but you can size it larger. Everyone probably has the same picture. It was a fun week but I am still sorting my pictures. George - don't give up! Just do a little every day. It's hard to remember details if you wait too long. I did order a t-shirt so, if we have a reunion, everyone can wear theirs!

Happy Shooting!

Eileen

Class Photo in a Spoon

Here is my class photo. The back row got lost a little behind the front row so it's hard to make out Claire, Phil, and Eileen who is barely discernible behind Ruth. If you click on it, you'll get the full size version at 5x7.5 inches in case you want to print it out. If anyone has a class photo not taken as a reflection in a spoon, please post that as well!




Saturday, August 14, 2010

T-shirt just arrived!

Hi all, just had to post to say that my very cool Bjorklunden 2010 T-shirt arrived today, which was pretty dang quick! Excellent quality. Thanks again, Karen and Bethany, for setting up the shirt-ordering option for us.

I framed and hung some of my prints from class and they look awesome. A high school friend of mine is taking Helen's watercolor class at Bjorklunden in Sept. and will stop my house in Green Bay on her way home (Chicago) to show me her accomplishments from the week as well as to see my photos, so I was motivated to get them presentable. It'll be fun to reminisce about Bjorklunden with her then.

I'm heading to South Dakota tomorrow to help my daughter move into her new apartment at college. I'll be taking some photos of the Corn Palace for sure! Hope you are all shooting and keeping cool,
Claire

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Björklunden Digital Photography Class Video

The class video can be viewed in the video box on the right side column or on YouTube at the following address:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDKtFzCz0bc

How to Post on the Blog

For those of you new to blogging, here are some basic instructions on how to post to the blog. Go ahead and do a test post if you'd like as you figure it out.  From the main page of the blog, in the upper right corner you'll see two options: Create Blog and Sign In.  You want to click Sign In and then enter your log in information. Once you are signed in, it will likely take you to a screen called the Dashboard which will list at the top all the blogs you are author or administrator of.  Under the Björklunden Photo blog title will be View Blog (which takes you back to the main blog page) and New Post, which takes you to the screen where you can write or post photos. Click New Post. This is the screen you will see (click to make it larger).  (Make sure you see the tab entitled Compose in beige so that it's easier to work with).

The main box is where you can enter text (as you can see I am in the process of when I took this screen shot). Add a title in the title box and start typing away in the paragraph box. You can change your font, size, bold, italic, underline, color, etc, just like in Word or Pages. It will save periodically as you go, but it's never a bad idea to save it yourself here and there by clicking on the save button.

Now, let's add a photo. Look for the little icon of the photograph along the tool bar at the top of the post box. Click on it.



A box will pop up and ask you to upload a photo. From there you can Browse on your computer until you find the photo you want to upload. Often, I find it easiest to save the photo from photoshop to my desktop (in addition to the regular location in which I save it) so that I can easily find it without having to browse through my entire Pictures folder. Click on the file/photo you want to upload. It will start uploading the photo (time will vary based on file size-- it's never a bad idea to save the photo as a copy to the desktop as a smaller file size to save time and computer memory during uploading). The photo you have most recently uploaded will be highlighted in light yellow. Then click OK in that box and your photo will appear in the text in your box at the location of your cursor. There you can pick what size you want the photo to display and right, left or center justified.  I recommend picking Large most of the time. It will be a small photo on the main screen, but every photo can be clicked on to see the full size. It's also not a bad idea to add a watermark to your photos so that people cannot steal them off the blog page and use them as their own. Maybe that'll be tomorrow's Photoshop lesson.

When you are done entering text/photos, click publish post. Then click on View Blog or View Post at the top of that next page.  If you are not happy with the appearance of the post or find a typo, you can, at any time, edit your post by clicking on the little pencil icon at the bottom of your post.


It will bring you back to the Post screen with all the text and photos in place as you left them. Then just click PUBLISH POST again when you are done. You can do this as many times as you need to but will not update the time/date of the post so it will stay in order on the blog.

Have fun! Email with questions!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

This weeks photo assignment

From Phil: Find a famous photograph that you like and you try to emulate it compositionally. The left photo is a Michael Kenna photo with the student photo to the right. (click on the image to see it larger)

Make sure to post your "homework" with the original photograph alongside. This can be done by finding the photograph on the internet somewhere, then doing a right click on the image to "save as" and save it to your desktop. When you post on the blog, upload both the saved famous photo and your photo. If you need more help with how to post and upload photos to the blog, email me or Bethany.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

my video of photos from last week

Hey there, my fellow photographers!  How are you all doing as you progress through this withdrawl?  I have found that although I am missing Door County I am also finding some new photography projects.  It has been a goal of mine to keep shooting and have already had people suggest projects and ways for me to keep going and growing.  :-)  New ideas for projects has helped me feel like the world is not coming to an end and that there is yet hope!  I am looking forward to having some pictures to share with you guys!!

Now- for the reason of this post!  I made a video of my pictures from this week.  I added some pictures that you have not seen (only a hand full).

Here is the link to YouTube where you can view the video if you would like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4jf1s2q8wU

I hope you are all doing well and I cannot wait to see where photography takes you in the upcoming months!
~bethany

Monday, August 9, 2010

Test post

This is a test post for anyone who subscribed today to see if you get an email overnight tonight. I'm still not 100% sure I did the subscription function correctly yet as no one is showing up on the list of subscribers and I had managed to successfully subscribe and get an email this morning with yesterday's posts. Hmmm....

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Björklunden Photography 2010 T shirt design options


Bethany and I worked on two t-shirt designs this morning using Phil's silhouette class photo. We have the designs saved on CustomInk.com so that you can pick out your own t-shirt style (e.g. Mens/unisex, women's and specific cut and size). Then you can pay and have it shipped directly to you so that we don't have to worry about collecting checks and mailing shirts as it won't save much money to do it ourselves over just ordering it personally from CustomInk. So, how do you order a t-shirt?

Pick whether you like the black tshirt or white tshirt option (you can pick different ink colors if you'd like to later).

Make custom t-shirts at CustomInk.com





Make custom t-shirts at CustomInk.com




Then, click on the BUY option at the bottom of the box containing the shirt you prefer. Then click Place Your Order Now which will take you to the CustomInk website. (If you hold CTRL when you click on Place Your Order Now, it should open a different window so you can see both this blog with the directions and the CustomInk ordering site. Mac users hold Command when you click on Place Your Order Now). If you like the design and shirt style "As Is," then click the orange checkout button. Enter your size and quantity, then proceed. Since the shirt is designed under my email address, if it asks you to name the design or enter/confirm email address, just add in your own address (&/or design name- which can be any 10 characters).

If you want a different style of shirt other than the basic unisex shirt, or want a different color, then it gets more complex. I'll try to write out some directions. First, when you get to the first CustomInk screen, instead of clicking on the orange Checkout button, click the EDIT button (gray) to the right of the t-shirt sample. On this screen, click Swap Item-- the first/ yellow circle at the top of the box.



On the change color/item screen, the top option is to Switch to a different product. Click this, then click See All Categories to change style of tshirt. Mens/Unisex will be under T-Shirts. Cuts specific to women will be under Ladies. Under each option style, look for Min Qty and pick a sytle that says Min Qty 1. When you pick a style, then choose a t-shirt color from the swatches under "Popular colors for any quantity" Probably it'll be white or black, though some may have a couple other options. When you change the shirt style, you may have to then click on the design itself and then pick the Center Across option from the box on the left of the screen.



If you pick a color that is dark (for the darker logo) or light (with the lighter logo), you'll want to change the color of the printing. To do that, click on the logo itself over on the t-shirt design preview box on the left (the one with the picture of the model wearing our tshirt). Then you can pick the color of the logo under Color Option/ Choose Your Color. When you are happy with your tshirt style, color, and color of the print, you can click on GET A QUOTE. There you can enter your size and see how much it will cost ($20-25 depending on the style of shirt). Make sure the design is centered on the shirt (see picture above). If you've changed the colors at all, it may ask you to save your design and enter your email address before ordering. Once you do that, you can proceed to shipping and place your order.

If you have problems/questions, or cannot figure out my directions or the page, call me or the customer service at CustomInk. If anyone has a better idea of how to do this, feel free to suggest it. I am open to ideas.

Handling Björklunden Withdrawal... day 1

As the light came through my window this morning I was hit was a sudden panic... I thought I missed the morning breakfast bell!!! ... oh wait.  Having a hard time adjusting to life outside of Björklunden, Karen and I set off on a journey of reliving fond memories. 

 
This morning I completed a slideshow of photographs during our wonderful week (after looking through others and finding some more great shots) and sat down to enjoy a pleasant breakfast.  We, of course, made cappuccino chocolate chip muffins with scrambled eggs and cherry juice.  I also sported my new Björklunden apron.  I wonder if we are going through withdrawal... :-)  We continue to try to adapt to life back in the real world and continue our journey on this 12 step program.  I think our experience this morning should be added to the list of *things not to do when trying to overcome Björklunden withdrawal*.

Subscription via Email updated

I have attempted to redo the email subscription feed. You may need to resubscribe to get posts, but I'm not sure. Please let me know if you're getting the post emails. Thanks

Saturday, August 7, 2010

How Does This Happen?

So, tonight, I find myself sitting on my couch, watching shark week on TV with my dogs and wondering how did I get here? How is it Saturday night and how is my week at Björklunden over and how am I home? How does this happen so quickly? Maybe you are wondering the same thing and suffering Björklunden Withdrawal. What, you ask, is Björklunden Withdrawal and how do I know if I have it? And what do I do about it?!

Björklunden Withdrawal usually begins Thursday night, though for seminars extending to Saturday, symptoms may not begin until Friday lunch. This is when the sufferer realizes the end of the week at Björklunden is imminent. Often, the onset accompanies the completion of the Photo Essay project, when one has completed his or her last photograph of the essay and closes the Photoshop application for the last time of the week. Symptoms escalate during this first phase which includes the process of packing up one's suitcases and camera/computer gear as well as the last meal together (lunch Friday or breakfast Saturday) when goodbyes begin. For returning participants, the fish boil or Swedish Pancakes with lingonberries can initiate or worsen symptoms. The first phase reaches its peak when cars are packed and the participants begin the drive down the long windy Boynton Road to highway 57. Symptoms of the first phase include a feeling of sadness often accompanied by a realization of the strangeness of this feeling while at a wonderful place. Other symptoms can include unexpected teariness, deep sighs, a sense of denial, and taking mental postcards of memorable people and places such as your room, the seminar room, or a look from a friend. Tears may well up at the conclusion of the Photography Class slideshow or at other times throughout the last 24 hours on campus.

The first phase concludes once the vehicle leaves Björklunden property which signals the commencement of the second phase. This phase can be severe with feelings of depression often peaking when the sufferer awakes in his or her own bed the first morning home or when the breakfast bell does not ring signaling the amazing spread of cuisine and the start to a new and exciting day. While reunions with family, a night in one's own bed, and breakfast at home are all acknowledged as wonderful, the sufferer first begins to realize how much he or she misses the people with whom the week was just spent, how much each person in the class was enjoyed, and how our lives were enriched by meeting, living, and working with each other for a week. The second phase concludes when one comes to acceptance that the Björklunden week is in fact over. This phase can take a few days to a week to complete depending on how quickly one must assimilate back into "normal", non-Björklunden life.

Phase three is acceptance and is heralded by "forward-looking" where the sufferer is able to realize that summer 2011 will be here before he or she knows it and one will be back at Björklunden very soon. When recalling the previous week, the sufferer no longer feels the sense of loss felt during phases one and two, but feels a warm sense of fondness and happiness. Life returns to "normal," with a sense of enrichment for having been together at Björklunden. During phase three, the sufferer completes the Twelve Steps of Completing Björklunden Mourning and Surviving Björklunden Withdrawal.*

*The following are the Twelve Steps of Completing Björklunden Mourning and Surviving Björklunden Withdrawal:

1. Realize the end is near and inevitable and that there is life after Björklunden.

2. Get up early-ish on the last morning to spend a few minutes sitting out by the lakeshore benches or taking a long walk on the property and listening to the waves lap against the shore.

3. Sit at the Photography class table(s) at the final meal.

4. When packing the car, make sure your camera gear is easily accessible so that you can stop along the drive out of Björklunden or throughout the drive out of Door County to take a few last photographs to commemorate the trip.

5. Take the old drive out of Björklunden past the chapel, through the old gate, and down Chapel Lane to Frogtown Road. Take a right and head down Frogtown road along the shores of Lake Michigan. For maximum processing, roll down all the windows and play favorite pensive music. Music suggestions can be: Homeward Bound (Simon and Garfunkel), Leaving on a Jet Plane (John Denver), Ooh Child (particularly the line "Things'll get brighter...." Marvin Gaye) or Two of Us (The Beatles). Also, Carolina by James Taylor can be used if you substitute Björklunden for Carolina (In my mind I'm gone Björklunden. Can't ya see the sunshine, can't ya just feel the moonshine, Ain't it just like a friend of mind, To hit me from behind till I've gone to Björklunden in my mind...)

6. Spend a couple extra hours in Door County before leaving the peninsula seeing a sight that you missed during the week or return to a favorite spot from the week and soak in the sights, sounds, aromas and even tastes (if you have any appetite left after all the great meals, desserts, and snacks that were just consumed in the week previous).

7. Once home, unpack your class list and email all your new friends. This can also be accomplished by joining the class blog and posting photographs and comments to each other to encourage each other to continue growing in our new found knowledge.

8. Process the rest of your photographs, selecting your favorites, and show them to your family and share the experience of Björklunden with them.

9. Recall the memories of the class often. Consider putting together a photo book published through an on-line store. Use this as your coffee table book for the next 10-12 months.

10. Continue to shoot, working your way through Phil's book or repeating the previous weeks' assignments, challenging yourself to do something different or improve your photographs in someway.

11. Sign up for the Photography/Photoshop seminar in 2011 when the schedule is announced in early 2011. Email all your Björklunden friends to tell them you are coming back and cannot wait to return. Begin wearing your Björklunden gear again.

12. Upon return, come in on Boynton Lane drive off of Highway 57 as this is the fastest and most direct route back to the lodge. Once through the door at the main entrance. breathe deeply the air of Björklunden, taking in the Björklunden smell. Greet old friends and look forward to the new ones you'll make. Sit at the unofficial photography seminar table(s) for the Sunday night meal. Settle in and begin to ready yourself for another great week of food, friends, and photography.

A special thanks to Bethany for her wise contributions to the editing and refining of the description of Björklunden Withdrawal and the Twelve Steps of Completing Björklunden Mourning and Surviving Björklunden Withdrawal.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Creating the Feeling of Motion

1. Stop action: freezing the action of motion. Everything is crystal clear. Use a fast shutter speed (1/500 or 1/1000 of a second). Need to be under bright light in order to use that fast of a shutter speed. You can also increase the ISO setting or a large aperture (small Fstop number, F5.6) to allow you to increase shutter speed, but you may trade off noise/graininess. Also, you can use flash. Flash however creates harsh lighting and distance to your subject will have to be close as the light will fall off very quickly as you get further away (ie you can't be up in the stands to catch a player on the court shooting a basket).



2. Panning: Moving the camera horizontally along with the subject at same rate as the subject is moving. Use in sports for runners, car racing, horse racing. You can use a tripod to keep level while you pan. This will create a blurred background but sharp subject. Use a slower shutter speed (1/30 sec). Can use TV mode or Shutter priority mode to set your shutter speed to 1/30. However, you cannot use this long of a shutter speed in really bright light. You can compensate to lower ISO (100 or even 80) and use a smaller aperture (larger number, F16, F22, etc)



3. Blurred motion: this is the opposite of panning. The moving subject will be blurred and the still subjects will be clear. You need a long shutter speed such as a 1/15 or slower. You'll also need a tripod to eliminate camera shake.
4. Free camera motion: Everything is blurry. Camera moves to blur everything. Use a 1/15 of a second or slower and low light.



To achieve slower shutter speeds:
1. Shoot in lower light 2. Use your highest f-stop aperture (F22, F32, etc)
3. Set your ISO for the smallest number (100)

To achieve faster shutter speeds:
1. Shoot in bright light
2. Use your lowest f-stop aperture (F4)
3. Set your ISO for the highest number (ISO 1600)


Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Creating a Silhouette

To create a silhouette of a subject, photograph your subject against a white/cloudy sky or a light/white background. Open your photo in Photoshop or Photoshop Elements.
In Photoshop: select the background layer, then from the menu, go to Image> Adjustments> Threshold. Move the slider either left of right until you are satisfied.

In Photoshop Elements: select the background layer, then from the menu, go to Filter> Adjustments> Threshold. Move the slider either left of right until until you are satisfied.

Depth of Field


Depth of Field:

Depth of field is analogous to the area in focus of the picture. The top picture shows a long depth of field where all chess pieces are in focus. The bottom picture, only the castle is in sharpest focus and the rest are gradually falling out of focus.


There are three ways to control your depth of field:

1. F-Stop/Aperture
To create a Long Depth of Field use a large numbered aperture to make a small aperture opening (F22, F29, F32, F64). Ansel Adams used F64 to have everything from foreground to background in focus.
For a shorter depth of field, use a small aperture to create a large aperture opening (F2.8, 4, 5.6).

2. Focal point: to have everything in focus focus further away.
To blur the background, focus on something close to you.

3. Lens: using a wide angle lens or setting on your lens (18-28) will create long depth of field. Using a telephoto lens will shorten depth of field. On a zoom lens, zoom out for longer depth of field and zoom in for a shorter depth of field.

When should you use a short depth of field: Sports photography, close-ups, portraits.
When to use a long depth of field: landscapes

Depth of field will be greater behind your focal point than in front of your focal point. 2/3 of your area in focus will be behind your focal point and 1/3 of the area in focus will be in front of your focal point.

Depth of field preview: Most digital SLR cameras will have a depth of field preview button on the side of the lens (look up your camera's specific location in your manual). While you're composing your picture, push this button to get a preview of your depth of field in your view finder. The red arrow on the camera on the right shows where the depth of field preview button is on most Canon DSLRs. Below shows the depth of
field preview button on the Nikon dSLR camera bodies.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Students hard at work...






Pamela VanEss and Chuck Heuser carefully composing their shots.

Field Trip to Cave Point


The first excursion of the Björklunden digital photography class was to Cave Point. It was a good afternoon. Nobody was injured, and we took a few asymmetrical photographs. (Karen was very close to the edge, but didn't fall.)

Welcome to the Björklunden Photography Blog!