Thursday, January 28, 2010

Exposure...

I went on to http://www.photonhead.com/exposure/exposure.php, and got some info about exposure. I am a total rookie/amateur and have no clue as to what exposure is.

Exposure is controlled by aperture and shutter speed; it is predicted by the aperture or f-stops that it is set at.

On my particual camera I control exposure by using the P, Av, or Tv modes.

Hoestly, I am not sure how to use the controls but will be playing with them very soon, so look for updates!

Missed the bus had to drive to Pryor!





So, yesterday morning I was taking my daughter to the bus stop and we missed it by like a minute so I ended up having to take her to Pryor. (She attends the mission school there) The sun was starting to rise so I stopped and snapped a few photos along the way and way back and decided to use the spontaneous trip as my assignment for class.








I love this old house. It used to scare me when I was younger but have always wanted to take a picture of it but never had a camera in order to do so; so that was finally my day.






This is the emblem outside of Plenty Coups High School; I thought it looked nice with a bit of mountain in the background. I wish I could have included more but if you've ever been through the sight beyond (and in the corners of the photo) unfortunately, are not the prettiest sight.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Weekend Photos

During the actual weekend I was unable to go out and snap some photos due to the weather that actually may have been better scenery, but any-who these are some I took in and around my home and then some I took this morning.



This is Dax,
my Lilac-point Siamese,
very curious guy indeed.















This is a tree outside my balcony still trying to hang on to the warm weather!




Beautiful Billings?


Ahh, there she is...

     






God's Country: Big Sky State
        
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indy galloping in Zimmerman's Park
 


Thursday, January 21, 2010

Model Release Form

Model Release

In consideration of my engagement as a model, and for other good and valuable consideration herein acknowledged as received, I hereby grant the following rights and permissions to Dustie Cummins, her heirs, legal representatives, and assigns, those for whom Dustie is acting, and those acting with his/her authority and permission. They have the irrevocable, perpetual and unrestricted right and permission to take, use, re-use, publish, and republish photographic portraits or pictures of me or in which I may be included, in whole or in part, or composite or distorted in character or form, without restriction as to changes or alterations, in conjunction with my own or a fictitious name, or reproductions thereof in color or otherwise, made through any medium at her studios or elsewhere, and in any and all media now or hereafter known, specifically including but not limited to print media and distribution over the internet for illustration, promotion, art, editorial, advertising, trade, or any other purpose whatsoever. I specifically consent to the digital compositing or distortion of the portraits or pictures, including without restriction any changes or alterations as to color, size, shape, perspective, context, foreground or background. I also consent to the use of any published matter in conjunction with such photographs. I hereby waive any right that I may have to inspect or approve the finished product or products and the advertising copy or other matter that may be used in connection with them or the use to which they may be applied.

I hereby release, discharge, and agree to hold harmless Dustie Cummins, her heirs, legal representatives, and assigns, and all persons acting under her permission or authority or those for whom she is acting, from any liability by virtue of any blurring, distortion, alteration, optical illusion, or use in composite form, whether intentional or otherwise, that may occur or be produced in the taking of such photographs or in any subsequent processing of them, as well as any publication of them, including without limitation any claims for libel or violation of any right of publicity or privacy. I hereby warrant that I am of full age and have the right to contract in my own name. I have read the above authorization, release, and agreement, prior to its execution, and I am fully familiar with the contents of this document. This document shall be binding upon me and my heirs, legal representatives, and assigns.



_____________________________________ ___________________________________
Signature Date Name


_____________________________________ ___________________________________
Address Phone Number/Email


_____________________________________ ___________________________________
Witness Signature Date Witness Name


_____________________________________ ___________________________________
Address Phone Number/Email

Property Release Form

Property Release

For good and valuable consideration herein acknowledged as received, the undersigned, being the legal owner of, or having the right to permit the taking and use of photographs of, certain property designated as the at (address) does irrevocably grant to Dustie Cummins, her heirs, legal representatives, agents, and assigns the full perpetual rights to take and use such photographs in advertising, trade, or for any purpose. The undersigned also consents to the use of any printed matter in conjunction therewith. The undersigned hereby waives any right that he/she/it may have to inspect or approve the finished product or products, or the advertising copy or other published matter that may be used in connection therewith, or the use to which it may be applied. The undersigned hereby releases, discharges, and agrees to save harmless and defend Dustie Cummins, her heirs, legal representatives, and assigns, and all persons acting under her permission or authority, or those for whom she is acting, from any liability by virtue of any blurring, distortion, alteration, optical illusion, or use in composite form, whether intentional or otherwise, that may occur or be produced in the taking of said picture or in any subsequent processing thereof, as well as any publication thereof.

The undersigned hereby warrants that he/she is a legally competent adult and has every right to contract in his/her own name in the above regard. The undersigned states further that he/she has read the above authorization, release, and agreement, prior to its execution, and that he/she is fully familiar with the contents thereof. If the undersigned is signing as an agent or employee of a firm or corporation, the undersigned warrants that he/she is fully authorized to do so. This release shall be binding upon the undersigned and his/her/its heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns.



____________________________________ __________________________________
Printed Name Signature Date

____________________________________ __________________________________
Address Phone Number/Email



____________________________________ __________________________________
Witness Name Witness Signature Date

____________________________________ __________________________________
Address Phone Number/Email

Winter Photography Tips

I was browsing a search engine under winter photography and came across this site: http://www.my-photo-blog.com/winter-photography-8-great-tips
I thought it was quite informative. Maybe because I am a total newbie when it comes to photography, especially outdoors...and in the cold.
There were some good tips about not warming your camera in your jacket and keeping extra batteries in your inside jacket pocket to keep warm because cold batteries lose power faster, so to keep interchanging the batteries out when they get warm, even possibly even keeping hand-warmers in that pocket.
So I think I will be purchasing some chemical hand-warmers, stat.
I also spotted this great photo I wanted to share: http://www.alaska-in-pictures.com/data/media/19/winter-scenic-with-hoar-frost_1977.jpg . Not sure who it's by but it is from an Alaskan photo site.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Michael Anderson

I chose to blog about Michael Anderson, who is mainly a landscape photographer, but does include models in some shots; I know the assignment was for a winter photographer but I saw a photo he took and had to use him in this blog. He includes winter photos in his collections, which after searching for winter photos led me to his website. He takes awe-inspiring photos and has won several awards. He seems to have a great eye for great photo ops.

What I also found interesting about him is that he is not professionally trained. He just loved to travel and would take pictures of the things that moved him and ended up being able to make a career of it.

He has traveled the world taking his camera along for the ride. His website is www.michaelandersongallery.com.

Here is a link to the photo that inspired me:

http://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/images/winter-wonderland/ma2.jpg

What I love are all of the elements it encompasses. The warmth and cold, the jagged peaks with the soft round ice circles, the light of the sun and the dark of the shadows. Their is great contrast that complements and completes the experience of the photo.

Model Release Form

Basically, to look-up info on this topic I Googled it. The gist of the model release form is that the models, or people in the photos you take, need to sign a document giving you, the photographer, their permission to use/publish the photo(s) or any other media. It covers the photographer legally in case a model comes back and tries to sue you for using their image or something along those lines.
It should include the names and contact info of the parties involved, their signatures and the date each person signed (if person is a minor parent/guardian permission needed), the model or their guardian explicitly stating that they give their consent for the photographer to publish the photos, as well as any other pertinent information, like what else it may be used for or if there are any limitations to the images uses.

Here is a link to a sample of a simplified model release form:

Permission for Photography

For valuable consideration received, I grant to Joe Photographer ("Photographer") the absolute and irrevocable right and unrestricted permission concerning any photographs that he/she has taken or may take of me or in which I may be included with others, to use, reuse, publish, and republish the photographs in whole or in part, individually or in connection with other material, in any and all media now or hereafter known, including the internet, and for any purpose whatsoever, specifically including illustration, promotion, art, editorial, advertising, and trade, without restriction as to alteration; and to use my name in connection with any use if he/she so chooses. I release and discharge Photographer from any and all claims and demands that may arise out of or in connection with the use of the photographs, including without limitation any and all claims for libel or violation of any right of publicity or privacy. This authorization and release shall also inure to the benefit of the heirs, legal representatives, licensees, and assigns of Photographer, as well as the person(s) for whom he/she took the photographs. I am a legally competent adult and have the right to contract in my own name. I have read this document and fully understand its contents. This release shall be binding upon me and my heirs, legal representatives, and assigns.




SIGNATURE

(SEAL)



NAME





ADDRESS (Line 1)





ADDRESS (Line 2)





DATE




WITNESS





ADDRESS (Line 1)





ADDRESS (Line 2)


Let me introduce myself...

Well, this is my blog. I am a first-time blogger. Have never really read others and am really only doing this first blog to introduce myself to the class and on the small possibility that others may actually read this.

My name is Dustie Rose Cummins, but go by just Dustie. I am starting this blog for a photography class I am taking @ RMC this semester. I am going to be graduating this May with a BS in Psychology. On a more personal note my life is fairly quiet; I have a six year old daughter named Ayden who may be included in some photos that I post, not quite sure if I want to put her face on the blog yet or not...

Anyway, I look forward to any comments you may post.