365 Day 221

taking the new-to-me camera around for a spin

My brother-in-law has a nice 35mm digital camera that he is tired of. He has been talking about getting rid of it for quite a while. I have been saying I'd be happy to take it off his hands...buy it from him, even...but he works a lot and never got around to getting all of the stuff together.

Last Friday my sister Sue surprised me by bringing me the camera and accessories. YAY!

Tomorrow Sue and I (maybe her mother-in-law Val and/or my niece Devon, too) are going to the Shiawassee County Fair to see the goat classes. Sue's friend Terri has several goats that will be in various classes and now I can (hopefully) get better photos than I would with my little Canon point-&-shoot. My little camera is great for quick shots for the blog or online auctions, etc. But maybe I will be able to get decent at taking photos with the 35mm one.


Much to my dismay, there was no operating manual...what was gathered up was the software manual(s). Sue is still looking for me at her house, but in the meantime I downloaded a PDF of the manual from Canon. It is enough to get me through the "what does THIS button do" stages.






I have to get used to using a viewfinder again...LOL. I got spoiled to using the screen on the little camera.

Plus, this camera has a bit of "kick back" when it takes a shot.

None of this is horrible -- I just have to acquaint myself with everything.

It focuses in a different way...so much to learn!




Since the manual is on my desktop, I decided to try to take some photos in the studio. Nothing moves...LOL...but the lighting is a challenge...good practice.

I like how this cat-creature looks startled by the flash.












I think this camera has a sharper focus than the point-and-shoot.














Now some pics with the flash turned off...how long can I hold my breath? How steady can I hold the camera?
















oooh...nice colors


the glare from the overhead light in the bottom of the bin didn't effect the colors...cool










not bad...pretty steady there, Took
















meh...I turned this sideways so it makes a little sense to look at...LOL






well...not too bad...after like 13 different tries (and a lot of breath holding)...but I couldn't capture the honeycomb pattern of the edge of the blinds




I have to be at Sue's house at 7 a.m. tomorrow -- wish me luck with the photo safari to the fair!

365 Day 217

garage sale treasures PLUS a bonus gift

Wow. My sister and her mother-in-law (visiting from out of town for two weeks) and I went to 3 garage sales and then went out to lunch...did we ever have a blast!

The first garage sale was the one I wanted to go to. It was a local artist who had just moved to a new home and she was clearing out art and crafts supplies. Man! What an incredible sale -- I could have bought up most of what she had to offer! I am so glad I got to go to this sale!




five 2-packs of 11" x 14" black frames














a fabulous HUGE book of animals, a way cool book of symbols on rocks and a neat little framed arty picture and quote -- I love the art and the words














a gorgeous little basket, two different small-sized rubber stamp alphabet sets, a rubber stamp that says "Art", a two pack of raven playing cards (how cool is THAT) and a partial skein of the kind of ribbon/yarn that I make the "hair" for my Tookies finger puppets...and the yarn isn't all crunched up!






three metal frames with mats from Frames Unlimited















magnificent, luxurious papers

















an issue of Dog Fancy and a 12-compartment Ernie Ball guitar picks box -- ooh!













Okay. Garage sale number two had nothing for me. My sister got a tray and a watch that just needs a battery and her mother-in-law got a butterfly pin, a purse and a toy for one of the younger grandkids back home.

The third garage sale was in a really swanky subdivision in Northville Township. The house was beautiful with luscious landscaping...even the garage floor was fancy. They had all kinds of cool stuff -- my sister got some clothes and two pre-lighted xmas trees that will go with her other xmas stuff for her yard (she is big into xmas decorations). Her mother-in-law got some clothes and small elephant statues. I could have gone nuts and brought home stuff with lots of potential for making other things, but I was proud of myself that I reined myself in. Really, there were a whole lot of things that could have been used for assemblage and repurposing...but here is what I got:




a HUGE faux wood suitcase-type carrying case (broken hinges, but fixable) nearly full of art supplies from FAO Schwartz -- looks like a deluxe kids' set...the kind that would make your heart race if you saw it in a catalog...well, it would make MY heart race...LOL












this incredibly ugly/creepy/cool pig-creature with jointed, dangling legs -- you KNOW I have to make a different creature out of this thing! Plus it is already on a stick and a base!













and who doesn't need more curling ribbon for a quarter a spool???








But the major "I-forgot-all-about-this" moment came when Sue and Val first arrived this morning. Sue's husband has been saying for some time that he doesn't like his digital camera anymore and never uses it. I have been saying for a long time that I would be happy to buy it from him. Well...



Sue had him get it all together and find all the parts and manuals, etc. and she GAVE it to me today! WOW!

I have a lot of studying and reading to do...but maybe now I can start taking better photographs again. My little point-and-shoot is good for most stuff but I am really thrilled about this! Ooh!


And later on this evening...

Carla is coming over after to work to pick me up and we are going to the opening reception at Detroit Artists Market for the show called "Small(er)". That one where the pieces are 8"x8" or less...the one I made all those plaster cloth guys for that I never got around to finishing in time...that one. I have decided I am not going to try and take photos because it will be waaaaay too crowded -- maybe we will go back sometime during the run of the show. I have seen a few photos by DAM on their Facebook page, though, and it looks like another great show. Carla and I will also swing by Slows To Go and grab something wonderful for dinner. I am thinking some sort of BBQ sandwich and I know Carla is all worked up about mac & cheese...it'll be my first time...I have heard great things about Slows. This is going to be a F*U*N ending to a great day!