So while I was still knee deep in wheat and mud taking pics of Michelle, I turn around to look for my trusty assitants... and there I see Nadine perched on the back of the bakkie, and Jordy doing her make up! They had decided Nadine needed a shoot too.

Since the light had gone, we went back to Michelle's house to do Nadine's quicky shoot. I don't have lights or any fancy equipment, so I pushed the ISO up (my advisors tell me never to go higher than 800) and we whipped the shades off two table lamps, and the shoot was on! The pics are pretty grainy as a result, and I botched the DOF in most of them (stupid mistake!), but its all part of the learning curve. At least now when I stuff up, I know why!

Thats progress.

We had heaps of fun and Nadine's happy with her pics - and thats what really counts at the end of the day.

The only way to improve is to practice, right? So I'm practicing...

On Saturday I did a shoot with my niece, Michelle, in our wheat fields. Jordy (~Jordee) did the make up and styling and her friend Nadine was reflector-girl. I don't have a real reflector, so we ended up using one of those shiny dashboard-protector thingys - it got the job done, sort of.

Not only is Jords a frikkin good MUA and stylist, but she was SO helpful with the actual shoot - her experience was invaluable to both me/myself (?) and the model. Thank you Jordy!!

After Michelle's shoot, and with the waning light, we went to Michelle's house where we ended up doing a shoot with Nadine - but more about that when the pics are ready to upload.

For now though, a few pics of my beautiful niece, Michelle

PS: Its a mircale we got this shoot done considering the fact that we were all hungover as hell from a debauched girls night the night before!

On our way to Cape Town 2 weeks ago (wow, time flies) we spent the night at the Gay Hilton where Shane and Johann (=FuzzyYak & *TehHuskeh) generously offered Jordan (~Jordee) and I the use of their studio for a shoot she had in mind.

Jordan is a pro, so being asked to do a shoot with her blew my mind to begin with. She may be my daughter, but when it comes to photography and modelling, she's the grown up in the relationship! And after all the C&C I've received with the editing this week, I can safely attest to her being a bullying parent! But her crits were spot on, and I've learnt a ton this week. Thank you Jordee!!!

And thanks to my surrogate husbands for the use of their studio and lights!

Results of the shoot are here:
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I'm going to CT for a week (eat your heart out, Donna!!), so won't be doing my daily posting for awhile - but hopefully I'll come back with some brilliant new shots.

Take care.

I am trying to upload a photo a day. It forces me to stay focused and always have an image ready. You don’t have to comment on all of them, you don’t even have to look at all of them and they won’t all be my best. In fact, I’d like you to be selective. Practice makes perfect, and which pics you open and the comments you leave will help me improve.

Thanks.