Behind The Lens: Katie Nelson

I first "met" Katie through pages she posted at DesignerDigitals. I love her style, photo first, and often lots of photos on her scrapbook pages! I loved finding out that my classes helped her photography improve as I believe she came to class with lots of talent! She is known around the internet as Katie The Scrapbook Lady. She takes great photos and makes great pages.

Please meet Katie Nelson.

What sparked your interest in photography?

I’ve always loved pictures and I have been a scrapbooker since I was only 14 years old, however, I didn’t pay a lot of attention to taking quality pictures until just a few years ago. It seems like once I became a digital scrapbooker in 2005 and started spending a lot of time in online galleries, I finally realized that there wasn’t any scrapbooking trick or technique that could make up for the lack of a great photo. For me, photos are the “King” of the layout (and journaling is the “Queen” – an important partner and co-ruler). I have probably had a slow evolution as a photographer since I used only a point-and-shoot camera until 2008, but there is a lot to learn!

What camera do you use?

I have used Sony Cybershot point-and-shoot cameras since 2002. I started with a 2 megapixel model (yikes!) and now I use the 12.1 megapixel model. I was too nervous (and too broke – lol!) to add a DSLR camera into my life until March of 2008. My Mom had purchased a Nikon D40 after a lot of research and she let me try hers out. I snapped a few photos on auto and I was immediately hooked! I have to admit that I stayed comfortably in auto mode for about a year, until I started pushing myself to take online classes and experiment with new settings. I still love auto setting in some cases, but I’m finally enjoying almost all the buttons and dials on my camera. There is something so satisfying about seeing a picture and knowing that it looks a certain way because of what you did to achieve that result!

I learned so much from that class and between that and the “Get me off Auto” e-book, I’ve finally become comfortable with moving my camera dial around! I’ve learned from a few other sources before, but what you taught me about Aperture Priority finally made everything click for me. (pun intended – lol!) I was fiddling with the aperture settings before, but I didn’t really understand how to physically set the distance between my primary subject and what was in the background until I took your class. This really helped me since I don’t have the fastest lenses. Learning that I could make up for that by using aperture priority AND moving the subject away from the background, really gave my pictures a great depth of field. What a difference that has made!

What is your favorite lens?

I use the Nikon 50 mm f/1.8 AF Nikkor Lens a lot because it is such a versatile lens. I bought a Nikon 55-200 mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR (Vibration Reduction) Zoom Nikkor lens just a few months ago and I’m really liking that for people photos.

What makes you happiest about your photography?

I’m trying to focus on this aspect because as I’m learning, I find that I’m becoming so critical of my own pictures that it is easy to lose that enjoyment. I know I still have so much to learn! What really makes me happy though is catching something amazing in an image. A snapshot really is just that – a “snap shot” of a fleeting moment in time. I find that I enjoy photos more with each passing day (or year). When I look at a photo, it takes me back to a place or time and I love that feeling. Pictures are very emotional for me.

Seeing all the great examples from you and the other contributing photographers really helped me work on my composition. I had a tendency to center objects in the photo, but you helped “push me to the edge” and use all the space in the photograph instead.  I have noticed a big difference in how much more I like my photos now!

What have you learned from my classes that has helped you the most?

I have your Get Me Off Auto e-book, and I have taken 2 of her classes at Get It Scrapped - "Your Life Captured Through the Lens” and “Your Kids Captured Through the Lens” and I read her blog every day. I’m totally a Katrina fan! I guess what has helped me the most is seeing examples of her work because she always seems to have just the right image to illustrate what she is teaching! I’ve printed out all the handouts from her classes (and the e-book) and I keep them in a binder for easy reference. I frequently browse through the pages for inspiration and I find something new and useful every time.

What photography projects are you working on for 2010?

Of course I’m trying to capture ongoing and everyday life activities, but I’m also focusing on a few areas that I have come to enjoy. I am finding a lot of joy in photographing toys and collections. I especially love Legos

Thanks so much for featuring me on your blog Katrina! What a fun honor this is for me!

Katie Nelson (aka “Katie the Scrapbook Lady”)

You can find me on my blog at http://scrapbooklady.typepad.com

My flickr gallery is at http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrapbooklady/

Contributing writer at http://thedailydigi.com/

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If you are interested in Get Me Off of Auto, it is on sale today for Thrifty Thursday at DesignerDigitals! Registration is open for Your Kids: Captured Through The Lens. Class starts on July 20th. A registration discount is available until July 12th.

Have I helped you with a class, ebook, or tutorial? Would you like to be featured Behind The Lens? Send me an email at katrina at katrinakennedy dot com.

This Day Last Year

Some things just don't change around our house!

This was Ian last year. He can still wear those shorts, would still prefer to wear nothing, and pines for a slice of sourdough bread.

And I can now say that this face has been developing for years! I am so glad the purple mailbox is gone though!

Does your family have a go to goofy face? I'd love to see it!

Ingredients for a Perfect Day

Can I show you the ingredients for my perfect day?

It started with photographing fresh little baby toes.

I then followed it with watching Ian receive his first karate patch. I loved watching the serious look on his face, followed by a big smile when he received it.

We then ended the day with today's harvest in the garden.

Can it really get much better? And how can I possibly pick one photo to be THE photo of the day?

From My Home Garden To My Dinner Table

My goal in July is to eat only from our garden, buying only a few essential items we can't grow.

This morning I harvested all of these.

And this evening we turned it into this. I love when my long beans are ready. Expect to see them often.

And this.

And this. Shea even said, "I liked the squash." He hates squash typically! Now if I can just get Ian to eat it.

Have I mentioned how much I love my garden? Which would you pick as the photo of the day? It seems I only took food photos today. Not one single smiling face!

Fourth of July Photo of the Day

There were many, but this was my favorite!

Garden Improvements Brought To You By My Community

Today my neighbors made me cry over my garden. A good cry.

My garden is my place of absolute peace and joy. Every morning it is the first place I go and most evenings we stay out until well past sunset.  I photograph it, I sit in it, I putter around, and we cook from it daily. Almost every meal.

While riding our bikes to eat this. Yes, the same one we had yesterday. We never should have discovered SugarPlum Vegan Cafe.

Neighbors just down the street were shoveling mulch into a wheel barrow. The pile was huge and they were almost finished. They offered the rest to us. We immediately said yes and spent the next three hours putting it in the garden. It was a project on our list, but not planned for today. From dirt to magic.

It instantly transformed my happy place into an amazing oasis.

The chicken coop is ready for occupants next week and the dirt path you see will be a pumpkin patch by October!

Do you have a special oasis? Somewhere that brings you joy? I'd love to hear about it.

How To Take Pictures of Fireworks On A Budget!

There are fireworks tutorials all over the internet. Scott Kelby, New York Institute of Photography, Shutterfly's Picture More Blog, Digital Photography School, Wired's How To Wiki, and countless others have advice on shooting fireworks.  Here's a quick summary of the basics they all suggest:

1. Shoot on a tripod.
2. Use an aperture of f/8 to f/11.
3. Focus on infinity. (turn off autofocus settings)
4. Select a low ISO. 
5. Leave your shutter open for a long time to capture multiple bursts.
6. Shoot a lot.
7. Shoot early in the show to avoid all of the smoke toward the end.
8. Have fun.

Opinions differ on lens choice. A long lens will help you get closer while a wide angle lens can give you more context. I've shot with telephoto, zoom, and my 50mm because it's what I had at the time. The most important thing? Have fun! Enjoy the show and the moment. Consider capturing your children's faces as they see the fireworks too, just remember that you've lowered your ISO for the fireworks!

A table top display at our block party. 

ISO 100 | 40mm | f/22 | ss 1/8

The best part of photographing fireworks is that you can get away with many different settings to get different results. 

What if you don't have a tripod? What if you only have the kit lens? What to do? What if you have no idea what all of those numbers above mean?

Here are some basic steps that will still get you great results. In both methods, you are going to bump your ISO up so you can get a bit faster shutter speed and still hand hold. This is not the only way to go about it, just a few of the many options!

In Aperture Priority mode. You are not going to get the long light trails as much, but you will get results. 

1. Select an ISO of 800-1000.
2. Set your camera to Aperture Priority mode (AV or A).
3. Select an aperture of f/5.6.
4. Your camera will select the shutter speed.
5. Set your camera to the fastest drive mode, so you can fire off multiple frames.
6. Shoot away! Your shutter speed's will vary based upon the available light, but you will capture something you'll like!

ISO 1250 | 50mm | f/2.5 | ss1/200

In Shutter Priority mode, you can set the shutter to something hand holdable and shoot away as well.

1. Select an ISO of 800-1000.
2. Set your camera to Shutter Priority (TV or S).
3. Select a shutter speed of 1/100, this will avoid camera shake, and not stop all motion.
4. Your camera will select the Aperture.
5. Focus on infinity.
6. Shoot!

Take heart, even if you set your camera on a wider aperture with a shutter speed fast enough to be hand held, you'll get results you'll like!

If you do have a tripod, you can have fun playing with lights! Everyone at my house likes getting into the sparkler action.

To photograph light play:

1. Set your camera up on a solid surface, any solid surface will do. An ice chest could work beautifully!
2. Set your ISO to 100.
3. Set your Aperture to f/11.
4. Set your focus on infinity.
5. Set your shutter speed for 1 second or more, the longer the shutter speed is open, the more they can write.
6. Shoot using the self timer to avoid blur from camera shake!

ISO 100 | 21mm | f/11 | shutter speed one second

If you are clicking on links to other tutorials, the Wired Wiki has the most thorough information!

Have fun, shoot lots and see what you get! Be safe and have a great Fourth of July!

Can You Help Me With My Photo of the Day Half Way Point?

Half way through this year's Photo of the Day project! Can you believe it? It has been a fun six months, perhaps a little harder than last year, but still rewarding. I love having the visual journal of our life.


For today can you help me pick the photo of the day? It was Friday Family Fun Day, so no projects, no work, nothing but family fun all day long.


It included Vegan Nachos from SugarPlum Vegan.

And Ian's yummy vegan cupcake, complete with a creamy middle.

Then a trip to Funderland, where Ian showed his co-pilot that all was good.

A little goofing happened.

And what family fun day would be complete without a log ride!

For me, this is what the photo of the day project is all about. The real bits of life. All of those little moments that come together to make our days and weeks and months.


Which would you choose?

Picturing the End and The Beginning

50mm | ISO 400 | f/1.4 | ss 1/80

Yesterday was Ian's last day of preschool. We returned today with cupcakes to say goodbye to everyone. It is a special place we will miss. And now we move on to kindergarden.

Behind The Lens: Melanie Grimes

When I was writing Get Me Off of Auto, I knew Melanie Grimes had to be part of it. I wanted her beautiful photos to demonstrate the steps in the book and simply, she's a treasured friend. She captures her everyday life so well and makes me sad an ocean separates us. I'd be at her house for tea everyday if she lived nearby. 

I am so pleased to feature her in a special Behind The Lens, focusing on the wonderful photographers who contributed to Get Me Off of Auto. You've already met Kathie, now I'd like you to meet Mel.

What do you enjoy most about photography?

Seeing a brief second happen right in front of you and capturing it, as you saw it, so you can share it with other people. 

I admit I used to use my camera to hide behind. I used to take it to all events and places I felt uncomfortable at and hide behind it. Now however I don’t. Its like 100% the other way round…I find my camera gives me more confidence; to stand up, move over there, take this shot, push to the front, direct my models – should I have some, and do whatever I have to do to get exactly what I picture in my head in my lens.

How has your photography changed since being part of Get Me Off of Auto? 

OH YES my photography has changed since GMOA! Or rather, that should read ‘has changed back’. I went to college and did manual photography. You know, in the dark room, pushing the film speed, burning, dodging, chemicals, drying film with hair dryers… LOL and I learnt my light, my ISO, my everything.  But then as time passed I got lazy. It was so easy to ‘get that toddler shot’ and just leave the camera on AV.  Even easier to never alter the white balance, or any settings very much.  Especially digital cameras. I was very ‘yeah yeah I know all that, don’t need to do it though.’

The longer this went on, the more I fell out of love with photography. I didn’t link the two at all until I did the assignments for the book. Back playing with settings to see ‘what would happen if’ I had so much fun. So much fun, you have no idea. I know I ended up sending Katrina ten pictures when she’d asked for one, because I just couldn’t stop!  Ask me to tell you the story about the motorway photos one day ;)

I will always be very grateful for the big shove back to manual. I only shoot manual now, and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Playing with shutter speed allowed me to capture the sprinkler as tiny droplets in the air as Daisy rushes through or turn the water into sharp daggers over her head.

What camera and lenses do you have in your bag? Which do you use most? Why? 

I have recently upgraded to my beloved 5D Mark II, a full sensor. Oh its heavenly to have a responsive camera in my hands I tell you. Previously I had used two 400D, until they fell apart. Excellent little cameras!

Having just upgraded to full sensor I lost the use of two of my lenses. They were canon EFS fitting which doesn’t fit the 5D. So I am a little low on lenses right now…I no longer have a zoom!! But have my eye on a new one very soon!

I have a  50mm 1.4, which lives on my camera. Simply because I am a natural light photographer and it lets in so much light when I need it too!  A 28mm 2.8 which I don’t use often but is fun for the right thing. And a 100mm 2.8 which is what I use for my macro shots.  Luckily for me My father is a photographer too, and has a very impressive collection of lenses. If I need one I can usually borrow it, or try it out before buying my own.

Often I don't want everything in focus, just one particular spot. I love this picture of Mollie. It was a very hot day at a busy local fete. I wanted Mollies face in focus of course, and  wanted the busy background to soften around her, but not disappear altogether.

What is the strangest thing you've photographed?

I have photographed many peculiar things. Once I start ot think about it… it’s a little crazy! Lets see; I have taken pictures of wet cement, cuts and bruises for legal cases, Hundreds of eggs for college work. Diamonds and sapphires, for my husbands work. I once had hundreds of pounds of those spread in a lightbox and stacked up next to me. Probably though the strangest thing my family would comment on is how I take photos. I think nothing of dropping to the floor and lying on my tummy to get the dew in the grass. Or of climbing fences when maybe I shouldn’t. Or of leaning out of windows, over cliff edges, into shopping baskets, underneath bicycles… you really cant get between me and the shot!

Where do you keep your camera when you aren't shooting?

My camera lives on my desk, ready to go or ready to download from. Its supposed to live on my side, next to my lenses, and my basket of lens cloths/filters/spare lens caps/etc but it never gets that far!

Backlighting, such a simple but oh so effective thing to do. I love this spider hiding under her leaf! I used a SOOc version and overlaid a version with a pinky preset applied, then reduced the preset version's opacity until I liked it .

What editing/organizing software do you use?

For editing I use CS3. I am going to upgrade, next time I’m feeling brave ;) I use Light Room 2, for downloading and for any presets, which I’m not going to upgrade. I am a little tired of all the upgrades that keep on coming with everything, especially when they make something obsolete or something new not compatible with the old. I’d rather spend my money on lenses you see…

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I feel like I get to be part of Mel's life through her photos! It is such a special connection for me. You can see even more of her work in her flickr pool and at DesignerDigitals. You can follow Melanie's blog Sweet Nothings for a daily glimpse into her world.

If you are interested in Get Me Off of Auto, it is on sale today at DesignerDigitals!

Have I helped you with a class, ebook, or tutorial? Would you like to be featured Behind The Lens? Send me an email at katrina at katrinakennedy dot com.

June Rejects

Remember my question about photographer's showing their bad photos? I've decided to make it a monthly feature. So today, I have for you the worst of June's worst photos!

I hope this was an accidental push of the shutter, otherwise, I have no idea what I was doing!

Never, ever ask your male model to lean his chin into his shoulder. Just a bad idea.

Can you say slightly underexposed?! I think that is my dog. Perhaps I should more closely review Get Me Off of Auto, at least the author knew what she was doing when she wrote it!

Children are hard to capture, especially when they insist on being too close to the lens! 

Is there anything about this photo that isn't just unfortunate?

Again with the eyes closed. I must have 70 of these each month!

Never ever shake a baby, especially in low light with a too slow shutter speed.

And again with the underexposed out of focus thing. You'd think I'd learn! Maybe I really do need to learn to use my flash.

Again with the shutter speed. Sometimes it's as if I just met my camera!

There you have it. And before you think these are all of my bad shots, know I have at least 50 more in my trash can! Link me up to your June rejects!