Elements of Composition #4

 Element number 4 is:

Patterns, repetition of lines or elements

 Sorry, clothespins aren't the most picturesque thing to photograph....it was hard to find subjects for this element! ;)

Tomorrow will be: Depth of Field

Elements of Composition #3

 The third element of composition is:

Rule of Thirds 

place points of focus at thirds rather than center, center on the x- and y-axis

This photo demonstrates the Rule of Thirds element pretty well.

I placed the point of focus (the shoreline) two-thirds of the way down the photo, instead of smack in the center. It's not always the way to take a photo, but sometimes it gives a great effect!

P.S. I know the quality of the above photo is pretty bad...but I couldn't put a grid on it in my photo editing program so I had to do it in my graphic editing program. That made the photo awfully grainy. Apologies. *sniff*

Elements of Composition #2

 The second element of composition is:
Simple Backgrounds

The title basically explains this element...a simple background! 

I don't know if the duck (Platypus?) photo quite made the cut on this assignment...you can tell I took the photo on a white towel ;) 

Oh well. You get the idea. 

Tomorrow I will be posting on the Rule of Thirds!

P.S. I used flash in the second photo... could you tell? See the ducky's beady little eyes ;D

Elements of Composition #1

This week on 31 Days to a Better Photo I am learning about 9 different elements of composition.

My goal is to take (or hunt in my photo archive for) one or two photos that illustrate each of the nine elements :)

The first one is: 

Filling Your Frame

The first photo is probably a better illustration of this element, but both work. I think the key is getting your frame filled with something, and have the majority, if not all of it in focus.

Next up... Simple Backgrounds!

New Testament Dedication

Here are the Bible Dedication photos I promised you :)
Our internet is finally working again, so I can resume blogging photos. (Yay!)

We had to get up at 4:30 to take the bus to the area where the dedication was to take place. I took some photos during the bus ride, but I'll just show you the actual dedication photos for now. I figured 24 photos was enough to give you for the moment ;)

There were many different speakers, most in traditional costume.

Lots of cameras there, including some pretty serious looking ones. :D

My family asked if I pasted these three faces together, but no, it is one photo!

There were TONS of people there... I'm guessing well over 1000. Old people....

...and young people!

Amazing dancing combined with cultural music, costumes, and themes.

Each person received a traditional necklace, and they were available to buy...aren't they gorgeous? Not that I'd be brave enough to wear one ;)

I saw this girl pointing her camera at me...(not an uncommon occurrence as a white foreigner) so I decided to take her photo taking my photo. Evidently the girl behind thought it was hilarious. :D  

There was reading from the newly translated Bible...

...and thoughtful listening. (or boredom?!)

Adorable little girls!

Many of the people who had worked on the translation were honored.

Another adorable little girl :)  (Look at those eyelashes!)

More dancing :)

Dedicating the New Testament in their heart language.

I was sneakily taking a photo of these girls, and they saw me. So I obliged and took a posed one of them. Then the girl in yellow whipped out her cellphone and handed to the girl in blue.  The first girl came over and sat by me and the girl in blue took a photo of us together.  Then the girl in yellow took the phone and the girl in blue had her photo taken with me.  I seriously felt like Cinderella at Disneyland having photos taken with excited kids!

Great shirt! :)

Our lunch!

While everyone was buying Bibles and eating lunch, this little boy hopped up on stage and started playing the drums with his hands :D

Awww....

My dad and brother "hanging out" ;)

Reading the Word

I love getting photos like this!

What a great costume...this woman worked so hard and so long on the project. It must have been a wonderful day for her; seeing the Bible finished at last!

 I'm so thankful for the opportunity to attend Bible dedications...Not many people have the chance to experience something like this!