Photographically inept!

  

   I know a good photograph when I see it. That's why it's such a frustration to me that I can't look through my camera lens and take one!! Look at this fabulous To pluck down justice from your awful bench a fine art travel photography print (10x10) photo done by Raceytay on Etsy . It makes you want to find out where this bench is, just so you can sit in it and say you'd been there!

   Every since I opened my shop on Etsy me and the camera have been mortal enemies! It started with me trying to take good photos of my 'Wuglyee' scarves . This is what I thought was a good photo of my Wine Me Winter Too Scarf  back then...

   Pitiful!!!...I look at it now and I just feel sad. Sad because I can see all of the bad shadows, the bad setting, the lack of detail, and Oh! the mannequin!...*shaking my head*...But also sad because I DON'T WANT TO TAKE THEM OVER AGAIN!!! LOL I'm almost tempted to take all of the scarves out of my shop rather than photograph them again!...The only help for this photo, which I did using Picassa, was cropping...

    Okay, so it's not much better...Who would even know from looking at this scarf that it's actually quite fabulous! It's soft, has wood beads sewn on the ends, and I put a lot of work into the detailing. I think nobody's bought it yet because they can't really see it! And my photography isn't helping them!

   I tried to look around and take some clues from some of the great photographers on Etsy like Raceytay whose photograph is my header picture today. I learned a lot just looking through her shop. And believe me, anybody really wanting some good photographs for a room in their house or as a gift for a friend, can't go wrong with her photos! I mean, just check out this Hydrangea, the Umpossible fine art flower photography print (10x10)

   In fact, she's not alone. I'm always roaming around Montagyoo . It's another Etsy shop with fabulous photos! This is one. It's a 4x6 Dogwood print .

  You can almost smell the clean fragrant air while you're sitting in the faint morning sun, can't you?! It's so inviting...Not like the photo of my Candy Corn Look Scarf ...

       ...The faint morning sun in this photo just makes you wonder why that mannequin is so close to that window! And is that a tree out the window? What is that on the windowsill?....UGH! I tried cropping it...

...Does it look any better?!....I know it doesn't look as good as this "Vintage Filigree Necklace ..." in this excellent photo by Vintage Filigree .

   She has a beautiful shop, with the most stunningly beautiful photos of her jewelry that I've ever seen. Hers was one of the very first shops that gave me a hint of the 'Photo Jealousy Monster'! I was only jealous for a hot second though. That's how long it took me to figure out that the reason her photos are so great is because of her hard work on them!...Now, it's just a matter of how hard do I want to work on mine!

   So, I lightened this Baby Blue Jay Scarf ...

...I did a little somethin' somethin' to my Red And Black Stylish Scarf ...from this...

...to this...

    Okay, so it still doesn't look that great! :-) But, rest assured that because of all of the good examples I've seen, I do know what a good photograph looks like. I've even taken a couple here and there myself that I've been happy with! Like my Purple And White Beetle Button Two Painted Seasons Necklace

   I love that you can not only see the detail in the button, but you can also see the threads so clearly! I had a good day with this one! Clearly I haven't had a lot of good days strung all together!! LOL I'm going to continue to work on it though....against my will!!! And thankfully there's tips to help me in this forum thread about taking photos.

 My Inside Is Not Out

On the inside, I am skinny,

and my clothes all fit just right.

I wear shorts 'Just like a trooper',

and my shoes don't fit too tight.

On the inside, I feel great

when we go out to a restaurant.

I can slide right in a booth,

and I can eat just what I want.

On the inside, I love shopping,

and just walking through the Mall.

I can exercise for hours,

and my breath's not short at all.

On the inside, there's no diet

filling my head with shame and doubt;

Words like 'Atkins' and 'Weight Watchers'

are things I don't know about.

But- My Inside Is Not Out!!

On the outside, I am heavy,

and my clothes don't  fit me right.

I wear skirts , instead of pants,

and my bra's always too tight.

On the outside, when I'm smiling,

its because of stomach gas;

Not because I'm just so happy

to be eating soy and grass.

On the outside, I hate shopping,

except through the catalog.

I get winded when I walk,

and I don't  even try to jog!

No, But on the outside, there's  no diet

that would change what I'm about;

I'd look different, but I'd  be

happy, loving, plump and stout-

Just the same-Just inside out!