My Uphill Slog With The Mysteries Of Product Photography ! Hastypearl

My Uphill Slog With The Mysteries Of Product Photography !

Hastypearl

WARNING !

I am going to be Graphic in this blog posting.

I am going to post images that WILL offend you.

Your should start by covering 99% of your field of vision, 

only allowing yourself to see 1% if the first 4 images. 

Ha!

Got 'cha !

No, there is No Explicit imagery here, 

just some really scary bad photography !

I say all of that just to let you see where I started.

Leading up to my hastypearl Esty shop opening in 2012, 

I knew Nothing about photography.

I could point and shoot, and share the pics with my family.

That was it.

I learned pretty quick, that what I knew how to do, 

and what I was seeing on Etsy, was faaaaar apart.

I didn't know anyone that knew the answers.

I didn't have a clue how to change what I was doing.

I wish that I could say that it happened easily and fast, 

but for me, it didn't.

I tried everything that I could think of, 

and these pics were about as good as it got.

eeew...

arggggh...

One thing that I DID know how to do, was to ask for help.

Over time, I learned where to watch "how to" videos, 

but without the equipment, I was still going around in circles.

So, I started asking some internet friends about their camera equipment 

and I made my first DSLR purchase.

It was a starter camera for sure, 

but I knew what I saw it turning out for some Etsy friends 

and that was good enough for me.

It came with a kit lens and I added a macro lens.

Not expensive...at all.

My BIL knew of my trials, and generously gave me PhotoShop Elements 6, 

which by the time that I got it, 

it was already obsolete...but it was MY obsolete !

I couldn't have been happier!

He gave me a few how to's...a very few...and the rest I had to figure out.

Again, back to the internet to read and find videos to help.

Then, one fine and wonderful day, 

two sweet ladies came to the rescue when I asked for their help.

One, told me about a book called,

Understanding Exposure

How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera 

by Bryan Peterson

I'm not sure how many times I have read that book, 

but I have read through and taken extensive notes, TWICE.

I later found that much of what is in this book, 

is taught in videos on his School of Photography. 

Frankly, I was glad that I had read the book, before I watched the videos. 

Another friend, told me about CreativeLive.com .

This website has fantastic online classes, 

for Photo & Video and a whole range of other studies.

Those two real suggestions helped me Get On The Road.

Finally, I had on my wish list to buy some lights for my "studio". 

Don't misunderstand.

My photography studio is a piece of white rolled watercolor paper, 

clipped to some drapes, with a table in front.

Again, when I asked the question, 

do I most likely need a different lens or more light? 

The answer was, more light is always the fix.

So, I went to our only real camera store, 

Camera Exchange, in San Antonio and bought my first real lights.

I bought the Erin Manning Home Studio Lighting Kit 

Westcott Basics.

While I never thought that I would spend what I have spent on photography, 

what I have purchased, is very moderately priced, 

and way less than many individuals spend on shoes and handbags in a year.

;)    

Still, I dreamed of having someone come to my home, 

and show me step by step, what they would do with one of my images, 

to get it ready for an Etsy listing.

A month ago, that Finally Happened !!

There is a Socially Excepted Limit, 

to how many exclamation marks to use, 

so just picture that I used One Million in that last sentence :)

That means that...3three3 LONNNNG years after I opened my Hastypearl Etsy shop, 

I got THE piece of info that I had dreamed of.

On Photoshop, it is called the Level's bar, with the Histogram.

It was Right under my nose, the Whole Time.

When my friend showed me, 

she used a phrase that I had murmured to myself so many times...

She said, 

slide this bar, 

and it will "look like you have removed a film off of the image".

That is exactly what I needed !

When I put everything that I had learned together...

I heard the Angels Sing a New Song...

Their song was...

Hallelujah, Laura's pictures just Got Better, 

so Maybe we will stop having to see HER TRULY BAD Ones !!!

Yes, a Heavenly Chorus :)

Again, the audacity of Me telling you about photography, 

when there are SO many much more capable, than I. 

It is equal to me telling you how to fly a spaceship, 

or change a transmission, 

or rob a bank ;)

But, I just wanted desperately to know how to improve my pics, 

for so long, 

that I wanted to share what I have learned.

I have SOOOOO much more to learn, 

but the best part about it is...I Love Learning !

While I would have loved to have known these steps MUCH earlier...

They Came When They Came, and I can live with that.

We are all on some kind of learning curve.

Its what keeps us fresh, stretching, reaching.

Lets remind each other to keep at it !

Its one of Life's Greatest Joys :)

What has been Your biggest learning curve ?

Leave your answer in the Post a Comment section below !

We can cheer each other on :)

Best,

Laura 

ps...these last images, are some angels that I will be listing on Hastypearl Etsy.

Come on by and see whats new in the shop :) 

Pull Up !! Pull Up !! Pull Up !! Hastypearl

Pull Up !! Pull Up !! Pull Up !!

Hastypearl

Do you remember seeing those old movies, where there is a diving airplane,

headed to it's certain doom,   

and the pilot is pulling on the steering wheel 

(sorry pilots, I don't know what they are really called ;) 

and the co-pilot is saying for his life...

Pull Up !! Pull Up !! Pull Up !!

..as if the pilot didn't already Know that he needed to Pull Up! :)

Well, that's what came to my mind this morning, 

concerning an event that I had with an out of state, online friend, 

this past week.

Things like it, can happen so easily 

and get crazy so fast!

It all started, with me asking her a question.

She later explained that she had read my question on her phone screen 

and didn't really get the gist of it, and misunderstood what I had said.

Boy, after I heard that...I totally understood.

Humans, trying to navigate through friendships with only 

the use of texting/convos/emails... 

leads to craziness!!

Things get misunderstood and lots of time 

can get wasted, trying to explain.

I thought about it this morning, and thought...how is it that two people, 

that really like each other, 

and have communicated as much as we have, 

still haven't heard each others voices ?

I plan to change that, soon.

What I just said sounds so incredibly weird, 

but we've all experienced it whether through FB or 

some other social networking.

If two people find their way to each other,

 and enjoy each other for years, its not rocket science to pick up a phone, 

and call each other :)

So, why the Pull Up title, to this posting?

This morning, I wrote her an...

I've got to "Pull Up" on this back and "forthing" of  emails, 

or we are in danger of hitting the ground going a million miles an hour, 

and that's going to LEAVE A MARK !

There are always moments in relationships, 

that if we are sensitive and really alert to what is going on, 

that one of us better Pull Up !!

So, I wrote her to tell her that I was done with each of us trying 

to explain our points and reminded her of how much 

I really care for her,

...the many reasons that we are friends, 

and how much I want that to continue.  

I'm hopeful for an upward turn, 

just like in the movies, 

where we swoop back up to the sky and soar 

off into the horizon, together.

I'm pretty sure that we can and will!

I don't think that I've been this personal on this blog before, 

and I wouldn't have done it except that I think this

 topic isn't MY topic, 

but rather a TOPIC and solution for all of us !

No shame in it for any of us.

Just part of learning how to navigate 

in our New World of Technology !

Been there, anyone ? ;)

*

I've also posted below, 

pics of some of my new Collage Covered Notebook listings.

These are available on Hastypearl.

They are fantastic Gifts !

I LOVE having them to take notes in, 

my grocery list, a quick sketch or even a topic idea for this blog. 

They are a perfect size, to slip in your bag, 

leave in your car, or next to your PC.

Please take a look at them, here, 

and see if they will check a box for your gift list.

You've heard it before...

but, everyone loves to receive something one of a kind :)     

       

*

part of a front cover

part of a front cover

inside pencil/pen pouch

front and back covers

front and back covers

front cover

Stack 'o Notebooks :)

*

Its a Beautiful Sunday morning, here, 

where our fall color is Finally starting !

Hoping that your day is special and full of Wonder :)

Best...Laura

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New Possiblilites ! Hastypearl

New Possibilities !

Hastypearl

This posting may look a lot like my last.

The image is the same, but there is a New Message!

I was delighted, after showing you four 

Mixed Media Collage Etsy Hastypearl listings, 

that one of them Sold !

OK. Not really delighted, but rather...

Ecstatic!

It is a Terrific RUSH, 

to know that something that came from your own heart and hand, 

has Moved Someone enough to hit the buy button, 

and want to look at it, everyday :)   

So, maybe you remember the one...

It is titled,

you, me, us...

Below, is its picture.

A VERTICAL oriented piece. 

I wrote to tell its buyer, how pleased that I was that she had purchased it, 

and that I would deliver it to her home, as she lives nearby.

She said, "Great ! 

We can walk around the house, and see where it should go. 

I could hang it or maybe put it on a shelf...

could it be placed, HORIZONTAL ?"

I thought.

No.

I Made it to hang, Vertical.

Thennnnn, 

I remembered that within that last blog post, I clearly said...

I don't tell my buyer My story, 

because I want them to have their OWN story!

Hmmm...already, I must Walk the Talk?

I knew the piece well enough, that I turned it horizontal in my mind...

and I realized...

It Would Look Fantastic Horizontal,

 and that Way, it would tell Her story, too !

I present to you...

you, me, us...

Horizontal!

And Why Not ? :)

Lots of lessons here.

The greatest is, that we keep our minds Open to New Possibilities, 

and to hearing stories in more than one way.

We can all have a Different View, and still all of them are, Good !

Do you sometimes catch yourself thinking, that Your voice is always the best ?

*

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day...

either, Vertically OR Horizontally !  :)

Best...Laura aka hastypearl

 ...to see the three other pieces that I posted about, click here !

Mixed Media Collage Hastypearl

Mixed Media Collage

Hastypearl

I. Love. To. Collage. :)

I told the story a while back, 

about taking a ton of paper to Colorado during one of our last visits.

For me, Colorado means...No Cooking.

No Cleaning.

Few Responsibilities.

Etc.

On the Flip side it DOES Mean...

Yes, to Exploring.

Yes, to Photography.

Yes, to Art.

So, my favorite thing to do, when I first arrive, 

is I set up a great Drafting Table that the previous owner of our home, left, 

a nice lamp for light, 

and a small radio set to KSNO...get it?...Sno :)

Then, I spread my supplies out, that I have bit by bit, 

sent up in USPS flat rate boxes and 

I CREATE!!!

Well, back to my story.

I first cut out my basic 4"x 4", 5" x 7 ", 8" x 10 " and 10 " x 14 " watercolor paper.

Then, as they say...I Let The Fur Fly !

When I do multiples like this, 

its wonderful, to see a series of themes, 

similar colors, style and even philosophy take shape.

My life experiences certainly speak up.

Songs that I hear, speak up.

Dreams that I have, speak up.

Everything at that moment...Can Speak !

One thing that I did at the Redstone Labor Day Art Show this year, 

was intentionally NOT tell my customers the art pieces' stories.

They are after all, MY story and don't have any business worming 

their way into someone else's lives :)

I like to leave that up to the viewer.

Again...what ended up happening to these pieces on that trip was...

I got all of the compositions laid out, 

probably three days before we were to head home...

but I hadn't taken into account, 

that they ALL HAD TO BE GLUED DOWN, BEFORE I LEFT!!!!

EEEEEK!

So, I went white knuckle nose to the ground, and glued almost 40 pieces, 

with just enough time to have them dry and to be 

packed in my luggage to bring home !

I think I was a little Too relaxed and without a plan and it was a Close Call !

My recommendation to you...

Don'tEverDoThat !

So, here are some of the 10 " x 14 " pieces that I created on that trip.

They are all mounted on beautiful birch cradle boards, with black edges.

(I've recently blogged about that process if you would like to learn)

They have saw tooth hangers making them ready to hang,

 or I often lean my art on a shelf, against our books, or even on a mantle or console,

They certainly can still be professionally framed.

I like to give my customers options.

*

This first piece is called, Reclamation.

Below, is a close up of my handmade watercolor papers, 

vintage fibers with a little stitch, 

the stain patterns left on a tea bag, 

all built on a vintage journal page, #45.

*

This next piece is called, Neighbors.

Named after another old poem.

I've NEVER been able to recreate that amazing Teal color since 

this piece of handmade watercolor rice paper. 

You would think if you did it once, you could do it again.

It is my quest...to keep trying, because it is SO striking.

There are lots of subtle metallic's on that same sheet of paper.

Stitch, and vintage trim, a vintage telegram fragment 

and black and white, mark making paper.

The image, two down, shows the profile of the black edged cradle board.

* 

This next piece is called, The Roots.

I used a very old botanical book page, 

and circled the words in metallic gold thread,

The roots, 

followed by more random circled words...

...established a position and in particular abundance.

Then, I stitched a tree above and below the earth.

And I also included a paper fragment with the words...

...coming home.

Lastly, the piece that I titled...

you, me, us 

You can see the fragment with those words covered by the sheer gold paper.

The colors on my handmade watercolor paper, run from greens to salmon.

It takes layer upon layer of colors, to get this much coverage.

Sometimes, I just can stop!

Every new color that I add, makes it even more beautiful.

There is another word fragment...

I am always on the look and listen out, for beautiful phrases.

This one says...

...and how we used to lay under the tree, gazing upwards...

Who hasn't done that in their lives?

If you haven't...you Must!

And maybe you will do it With someone...

...you, me, us

Relationships like that, are woven together.

Weaving's in my art are always symbolic and seemed so for this piece.

*

My customers tell me that they can look at my art over and over, 

See new things.

Find new meanings.

Its a way for me to tell a story.

An open ended story.

One that doesn't have a right or a wrong.

Its just up to the viewer, to fill it in for themselves.

So, it has been a while, since I had posted my hastypearl art.

These four 10 " x 14 " pieces are listed at $140. each

I hope that you enjoyed seeing it and maybe could see it working its way into your lives :)

These pieces are all listed in my Etsy Hastypearl shop.

Please take a look at more images of them, and the other listings that I have.

You can go there by tapping here !

I'm so glad that you stopped by.

I'd love for you to sign up to receive an email,

(you can find that box on the right side column) 

letting you know when I next post.

I hope you will :)

See you again, soon?

Enjoy these wonderful days !

Best...Laura   

Man, "She Really Gets Me" Hastypearl

Man, "She Really Gets Me"

Hastypearl

I thought about writing about Gifting.

You know, about giving someone just the right, Thing.

The holidays are inching closer, and to be sure, there will be lots of 

fruitcakes, ties and ugly sweaters

exchanged, after all !

History has proven that its just the way it is:)

But that's not really the topic that I was thinking about.

More specifically...

This last week, I hosted an art workshop in my home.

Each time, I enjoy giving a gift to the artist that I host.

Usually something that I made, and I really want it to be Special.

I love making and selling Mixed Media Angels on hastypearl, 

so I gave her one.

What she then Gave to me, completely blew me away!

You see... 

She knows me.

She knows important things about me.

What she gave me was so, so, so...Not a fruitcake !

She nailed her gift to me...

because, "She Really Gets Me".

It touched me so much...

On the second day into the workshop, I was very surprised that as soon 

as one of the attendees walked into the house, she handed me a bag.

It was Unexpected and I had no idea what was inside.

When I opened the bag and pulled out her Gift to me, I got chills.

How, after only being together for such a short while, 

had she so PEGGED me so right, in her selection?

She had an incredible Intuition about me...and when I hugged her I thought....

Man, "She Really Gets Me".

How are some people so Intuitive?

So Perceptive?

I think its actually, a Gift.

Like, writing, or conducting, or dance.

Its an Inner Intellect.

Its about being able to reach in and connect with someone, right away.

Its a beautiful thing.

I don't think that it's an Exclusive Gift, just enjoyed by a select few, 

but rather, I think its available to everyone, if we want it.

The other quite remarkable thing about those two moments...

I had to ask myself...

Would you be as generous as these two, 

to give either of these two gifts to someone else?

That's how Perfect they were to me.

I'm not sure.

I think I'm generous, but there are things, that are I want to hold on to, 

that I don't think I would be able to give away.

If you asked me...would you love to give someone Chills, 

by what you do, give, or say, to them.

Of course, I would say, Yes! 

Then, would I give Anything?

I'll have to think about that.

It was a great experience all around for me, 

and obviously something that is still

 rolling around in my mind.

Either way, I want to slow down, recognize the 

Beauty, Strengths and Heart of others and be ready and  

willing to Give, when I'm supposed to, 

because I know that it means so much to me, 

when others extend that to me.

During the upcoming Best Time of the year for Giving, 

we will all have an opportunity to practice giving, 

and if we believe that it is 

better to Give than to receive,

we can !

I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes...

In a world where factions are doing evil things for their causes, 

and a time where we don't feel we are equipped to stop it...

we always have the power to Give...

*

quote...

The best investment I know of is Charity:

You get your principal back immediately

and you draw a dividend every time you think of it. 

Josh Billings (Henry Winkler Shaw)

* 

I'm so happy that you stopped by for a little visit with hastypearl.

You know that I love that you do...:)

Best...Laura

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