Photojojo has compiled ten tips for photographers to go greener. Click here for the full article.

1. Switch to digital
2. Reuse your film containers (i.e. as flash diffusers, pocket plant pot)
3. Use rechargeable batteries
4. Use a solar charger like the Eclipse solar charger camera bag
5. Donate your old or unused equipment
6. Recycle your equipment rather than throwing it away, you may also get money out of it at Ecophones.com among many other recycling organizations
7. Use recycled photo paper
8. Reuse unwanted photos (i.e. note pade, postcard)
9. Volunteer your photography services to environmental organizations

Photographing indoors is still a challenge to me.  First of all, I don’t have an external flash and I rely on the built-in flash.  Most of the time, I don’t like to outcome of the pictures I used flash with.  I usually like the colors that come out of the non-flash photos.  However, I have to up the ISO and my subject better not be moving.

With built-in flash

Ambient lighting

With built-in flash

Ambient lighting

I’ll hopefully learn something when I start classes in the Spring semester.  I might have to buy more equipment, but I just have to accept that I’ll be spending more this time.  I need to start saving…

I’ve officially registered for Spring semester and I’m excited!  Since my classes are scheduled in the evenings and I mostly do my work for Aylee Designs at night, I might lessen the orders I’ll be accepting at Aylee Designs.  A couple of people told me to hire someone to handle the administrative work, but I don’t think I can afford it since there’s a lot of administrative work going on :(.  I have my cousin who helps me out with the designs, but I don’t expect him to do most of the administrative work.

I keep blabbing I haven’t even answered the question, “What class am I taking?”  It’s Photography!  Only 2 of the 10 people who voted on the poll got it right.  Visual Art Management was first and Computer Animation & Interactive Media came second.  I should have made it a contest :P.  Oh well…

John and I went to a wedding yesterday and I decided to do more editing than my usual crop-and-sharpen routine.

Before

After

Before

After

I’ll be posting more photos, but not much.  I didn’t have spare battery so I ran out.  And of course everybody’s in the way and since I’m not the photographer, it’s hard to get through the crowd.

I browse through photographers’ blogs quite often and I’m just amazed at how beautiful their photos are.  I can’t seem to create photos as beautiful as theirs.  I know they do some tweaking to come up with such amazing photos, but I didn’t know how much until I read one of my favorite photographer, Becker’s post series: Massaging in Photoshop.  The series is pretty cool and very informative.I guess I have to do more than sharpening and cropping my photos lol.  I also need to learn more about photography.  I’ve never taken any lessons.  Before I was also thinking that I may need better equipment, but now maybe not.

Here is a slideshow of my aunt’s niece, Elyssa’s photos.  All the photos are straight out of the camera.  I didn’t even bother to open Photoshop.  Song is My Child’s Eyes by Paige Stroman.

UPDATE:

I finally did more editing than just sharpening and cropping.  Click here for the edited photos.

aylee:  did u know that 5d has housing now?

john:  yes, very pricey

aylee:  1400

john:  dome port?

aylee:  for 16-35mm… 200

john:  wide angle

aylee:  u want wider than that?

john:  possibly

aylee:  10-22mm (my brother has it) dome port is $200

john:  nice

aylee:  not fast enough

john:  darn

aylee:  fastest wide angle… 14mm f2.8L, $200 dome port

aylee:  14mm f2.8L = $1749!!

john:  nice!!

aylee:  16-35mm f2.8L = $1283

john:  bah

aylee:  $500 difference are you kidding me??

john:  hmph!  stop discouraging me

aylee:  i already said i will in my post

john:  lol

aylee:  did you see my list?

john:  yes

aylee:  what else do you need to complete your set-up?

john: $$

aylee:  lol

John has been talking about getting a new underwater photography system, but I tried to convince him to put it off for the meantime since the whole set-up would cost a lot.  When we went to Cayman in January, I broke the flash part of his camera housing for his Olympus C-8080.  I kind of feel guilty and decided to stop discouraging him.  Now, I’m finding myself looking at digital cameras and housing.

From experience on land, we definitely prefer a DSLR over a point-and-shoot because of speed.  So John wants to step it up a bit and was looking to purchase an underwater DSLR system.  I already have a Canon DSLR so we were looking at the Canon EOS line.  I was telling John to get the 30D since it’s reasonably priced, but he kind of wanted a full frame camera and the 5D is one.  So here’s a price list I’ve compiled:

30D System starting at $4552
30D = $1069
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L = $1283
Ikelite body housing = $1400
Dome Port = $200
Strobe = $600
Other ?

5D System starting at $6123
5D = $2640
EF 16-35mm f/2.8L = $1283
Ikelite body housing = $1400
Dome Port = $200
Strobe = $600
Other ?

We can also wait and see what new cameras Canon will come up with next year.

I’ve been fascinated with photography for a while now.  I even bought my own DSLR to learn with.  In addition to limited spare time, my lack of photography knowledge does not help with my pursuit of producing good photographs (click here for samples of my photos in my unfinished gallery site).  So I was thinking of attending photography school.

Taking photography classes will allow me to learn the technical skills I need and give me the opportunity to meet people in the field whom I can learn from as well.  I believe working alongside an experienced photographer is a great advantage to learning the art.  But right now, I don’t even know anyone in the photography business.  However, there are two things that are keeping me from attending photography school at the moment… money and time.