classes Archives | Page 3 of 4 | Kate's Point of View

Working With Glass

On December 23, 2011

When I took a glass blowing class earlier this year, I loved the experience. So when the opportunity came up to take a glass fusing class, I jumped at it. Last Saturday I showed up with pretty much no idea what to expect. The process was pretty easy and way easier than the glass blowing classes. I’m pretty much stunned by the end results.

My green and white pendant is good. Not awesome, but I’ll take it.

The red pendant I made? I’m blown away. I am so proud of myself for having produced this!

Silk

By Kate

On July 27, 2011

In classes, photography

I wrapped up my photography classes last week. I’m sad that that I won’t have the class pushing me to take better photos, but I do love that my Tuesday evenings will be freed up. My favorite photo from the last class is this one.

Doesn’t it look like some underwater creature? It’s corn silk!

Scary Cats

By Kate

On July 7, 2011

In animals, classes, photography

At my photography class on Wednesday I sat next to a woman who saw me scrolling through pictures on my camera. There were photos I took at the animal rescue / clinic at which I volunteer so all images of cats. She asked me how many cats I had. I explained that not all of the cats in the photos were mine and that I had two (The Notorious B.I.G. and Addy). I then went to show her the funniest picture I took.

I am not making this up. She completely freaked out and covered her eyes saying she was scared of cats. Then she got up and moved her seat to the other side of the room. There were like 8 students in class so it was pretty noticeable. Cat hater.

I understand that cats can look creepy sometimes.

But those same cats can also be super cute.

Even Mr. Tongue has his handsome moments.

And a lot of cats are so much more scared of people than we can ever be of them. I was able to snap some good pictures of Wesley only because I poked my camera behind a shelf and luck struck.

Photography

By Kate

On July 6, 2011

In 100 List, classes, photography

I am loving my photography classes and very proud that my 100 List helped motivate me to take them. Each session we focus on something new and I always learn some new fact or skill. Last class we focused on metering. The teacher said this is a powerful tool. I think I need to play with it some more because in my hands it was a useless tool.

This week we learned about depth of field. I loved this because it’s something I play with anyway. I love taking pictures as up close as I can get. My zoom lens helps sometimes but mainly I just get all up some peoples’ and animals’ business. That’s what makes flowers so easy. They just sit there cooperatively.

I also continued my ironic streak of bug photos but it’s not quite as good as the others. The point of focus is about ½ and inch to the right of the critter. But now, thanks to my class, I can articulate what could be improved on the image.

My teacher would say that this spider photo is très boring because I have him centered. I get his point (now, thanks to the classes) but still like the picture.

Examining the World

By Kate

On June 11, 2011

In 100 List, classes, photography

This past week I started photography classes. Through a local nature center I’m taking a series of six classes from a professor at a local university. There are only 10 of us in the class and we meet for two hours once a week. I have a really nice camera and feel like I’ve gotten some beautiful shots with it, but I rely too much on luck for those images. My teacher says I should discard the power of luck, but we agree it would be nice if some skill was involved.

The first class was about while balance and lighting. We did cover a few other things but they were review for me. White balance is something I’ve always understood but just adjusted for in Photoshop. One of my good friends was horrified when he learned that I edit every. single. picture. with Photoshop. I have a system and it’s fast to do, but still. If the color balance was any better in the original photo, I’d be a lot better off.

After each class period we will be turning in five to ten of our favorite images and they will be used in a calendar for the nature center. Do you know what that means? My photography could be appearing in two 2012 calendars. Also, by taking the class, I am working at checking another thing off of my 100 list.

Some of my favorites from the first class: