Update

Jasmin was kind enough to allow me to post her final product using my photo Blue Ribbon,
with that said, here it is.  

She also sent me this note explaining the meaning behind it. 

"Just to share with you the theme, "What Swiss means to us?

Like my principal's saying "Swiss2013; A GREAT SCHOOL"
Blue ribbon symbolize high quality. Hence, i  used your picture to convey the message of becoming a great school. 

By that, I hope the Swiss student will also endeavour to fulil this title."

Thanks Again Jasmin, it's a lovely piece of work. 

She also has a DeviantART account minlicous, so keep an eye out for more of her work. 

Exciting News

About a week ago I was approached my a young lady, Jasmin, a design student in Singapore about a photo that I posted on DeviantART, entitled Blue Ribbon {{left}. She asked if she could use it for a contest though her school. Considering that she was considerate enough to ask I agreed to allow her to use the photo. Today received an e-mail back from her with what she had done with it, I'm awaiting a reply to see if I could show it off.

I am astounded at the amount of attention this photo has gotten since I posted it. It has 25 favorites, is featured in 14 groups, gotten some really great and flattering comments and has been featured. I'll update soon, hopefully with the design work of Jasmin.

Lots of Stuff

Lots of news today so where to start?

Firstly, tutorials now available on my FaceBook page, so head on over there to check them out. I'm going to try to add more shortly, and continuously. 

SaraJean Photography Tutorial

Secondly new photos are up on both FaceBook and DeviantArt so choose one place and check them out.

Finally on my DeviantArt page you can now find stock photos. Free to use for non-commercial purposes. All you need to do is credit back to me at SaraJ3an.deviantart.com 

Sad News.

I am very unhappy to announce that my good old Toshiba has ran into some more technical troubles, this time without a warranty. Lucky for me the price tag on fixing it isn't to high, and I should have it back to operating by weeks end. On the downside it was my hard drive that went which means ALL the features I have been working on lately, and trust me I had a ton, are now all lost forever. Good news is I have most of the photos favorited on DA so it will just be a matter of organization. 


On the bright side, I am going to aim at having another 1000 Words feature up tonight. And I also made quick links on the blog sidebar so you can quickly jump to your favorite post topics. 


In the mean time, look at this kitten, betcha can't stop smiling now!

Watermarks

Digital Photography School posted an article about photo piracy which was linked to an article about watermarks today, and I read it, as always it was a great article, with great comments that really left me thinking. To check it out head on over to DPS.


At any rate it is a topic that I have found, isn't talked about much, and it seems to be about 6 in on and half a dozen in the other in terms of who watermarks and who doesn't. I for one ALWAYS watermark, or as I call is, add my signature to photos that I put up online, except for those silly snapshots on kittens, cats  and family vacation photos.


Why do I watermark? I started to because I love the professionalism behind it. I am in no way a professional, but it sure makes me look more like one don't you think? Then as time went on it has started to be more. It's an advertisement, it's proof of copyright that many people fail to consider, it tells people that it is mine.

Now those who will steal will steal, and those who don't want the watermark on the image will remove it. Just like i removed a tower and two people from this photo.

All you need to be is half familiar with PS, GIMP, or any other photo program, and guaranteed those who steal photos for a living are quite adapt in removing water marks. A watermark in not a fail safe for theft, and that was never my intention when I marked mine. Preventing photo theft is a whole different ball game, that I'm going to leave untouched.


If any other photographers or artists are reading this, do you water mark? and If so why?
Please comment.

Best Intentions

I was going to try to write one of my weekly posts tonight, however I'm going to postpone until tomorrow, and I may have some new photos then as well.


For tonight I would like to share this event with you, whether or not your in ST. John's. This scavenger hunt is happening down town on Saturday {{Michael and I are going to do it} it looks like a ton of fun. And even if your not here, you can do one in your own town, how fun!!


I'm super excited!


Now I will leave you with a photo from today.

Big News!!

... and no the news isn't that I now can grow a pretty sweet mustache. My real news is that I made myself a website via wix yesterday. I would be thrilled if you could check it out and let me know what you think. Any comments and suggestions are very welcome. SaraJean Photography


Secondly, I would like to try an update the written part of my blog a bit more, give some inside information on my otherwise random thought processes. But first I would like to know what you all would like to know. 


I was thinking... 
A once a week favorite photo and why. 
A once a week featured work by other artists. 
     {{If you would like your work featured e-mail me at _sarajean@live.com with the subject line "feature please" include a web like, no attachments of the photo and if I like I will post. Please no spamming I will get to it as i get to it. I will also be gathering photos from the vast resources of the internet, liking back to the artist that posted it. }


How does that sound? Please let me know. I will try and start later this week with this new game plan, so until then, 
Cheers!

NEW!

New photos went up tonight. 
I was mainly playing around in photo shop, and I liked the look of most of them. I'm interested in what other think, I know they're a tad different then my usual.
Make sure you check out My Flikr as it has a few more photos. Also feel free to add me as a contact.

Now, to answer my question I asked earlier.
Q: Have you ever made money off of your art?
A: Yes, When I did dance I would have paid performances in the summer, and this year I worked with The Muse, a student news paper and I got some money for it, also I do do some freelance photography which generated a small amount, but not enough to keep track of. 

Your Visual Style

Defining your Visual Style


A visual style to me is something that you can't, or rather shouldn't, loose sight of. This winter I found myself loathing while on my couch debating what I should shoot. I found that I was trying so hard to be "great" that I forgot what it is that I loved about photography in the first place. 

It was the captured moments that I could tell a story about for ages that I loved about photography. Maybe it was the nostalgic characteristics, maybe it was the way it made me smile. I still love those old shoe boxes at home crammed with photos from highschool. 

What I ended up doing was creating a pinhole camera modification for my DSLR, it brought back the character I felt like my current photos lacked. They came out fizzy, noisy, and with a distinct black rim around them.  

Lately I have kind of abandoned the pin hole, but I haven't abandoned what I love. 

This now brings me to the article linked above.

(to read about me, continue onwards my friends)

So here I go,
What do I want to Shoot?
1. I love artistic photos,
     Why: I love playing by my rules, and on occasion breaking the rules of photography.
2. People,
      Why:  I'm really a sociologist, I love to look and watch people and how they interact. Combine that with a urge to capture moments it works out great for me. Catch them laughing, playing, bickering even.


Inspiration is Important, here are a couple I enjoy looking out for.
Rose on the Gray:
     She is very imanagitive, and works well with abstract ideas. I don't think I've seen another like her. Fun, cute, and all around a creative genius. Her photos are always colorful and bright, many tell a story and get you to think about them before skipping off to see more. Her use of bokeh and apples astounds me. At one point she had even posted this journal entry   which still inspires me, even though I have yet to do any of it. 


Ryussei23:
     Another artist I love to see. Her photos are magical, whimsical and beautiful. It's hard to find a favorite among them. They all have an ages look to them which only adds to the character. There is something in every one which draws me in to them every time, yet I can never quite place it. Emotive and captavating, everything I want my photos to be. 

This is where I keep all my information about myself and my photography. Please feel free to look around and forward any comments or suggestions to myself at _sarajean@live.com.
Thanks very much for stopping by!


-Sara Jean