GET THE PICTURE...RIGHT

As bloggers, our craft is just a part of having an enjoyable blog. There is another very important part and that is lighting. If we can't get those pictures up and showing just the right lighting our followers can't enjoy the fruits of our labor. So, we are in part photographers as well.

As a novice at blogging with less than one year under my belt, I still find indoor photography challenging. Since I am a blabber mouth and will talk to anyone with at least one ear (that includes my pets and I also know a little sign language lol), I learn so much.

A few months ago, I was talking to an art teacher who was also the yearbook sponsor. After a few question I walked away with new insight and hope. He described a method called three point lighting. I found a site that has helped me somewhat...you will still have to play around with the technique, but it is certainly a starting point. The site has a simulator which was a big help in understanding the effects of lighting.  http://www.mediacollege.com/lighting/three-point/simulator.html

This year I plan on making one of these light boxes. Minidork shows an extremely easy way to make one with what you probably have on hand. It even has self-contained storage!
http://modernminihouses.blogspot.com/2012/12/let-there-be-light-diy-lightbox.html Maybe those of us who need it can work on and grow our photog skills together.

Hope this helps!
Grandmommy

My Cup Runneth Away With Me Part II

Warning...long post!

Okayyyy,
Thanks to a little playing around with Blogger and Roville's and Vanessa's  suggestions it looks like I am back in business. Thanks Roville and Vanessa!

 As promised, I have a couple of great things I want to share with you. 
  This project is waaay on the back burner. I bought it about two years ago not knowing what I was getting into. I just knew that I loved it. Once I got it home and compared it to my dolls, I realized it was too small for 1:12 scale. So this will become my 1:24 scale arboretum/conservatory...one day. It opens by lifting the whole glass top. I have a lot of the accessories for it, but I just want to do a few other things and get more experience first with lighting and such.  So, for now it will go back into a box in the back of the studio.

This seems to be a bird feeder. Not sure. It has a nice Greco style to it. I thought it looked like someplace for my dolls to hang out and experience warm bubbles or maybe just a place to pitch pennies and watch birds. I painted the roof with textured spray paint to give it a shingled look and covered the pillars in marble looked wallpaper.  It will be an easy clean up when I finish and put "water" in it. Mini Barbie thinks it just right for posing.

Then there are these tiny 1:144 waiting to be furnished

Now for my Grand Finale. TADAAAAA! My Craigslist purchase!

You might remember, in Part I of this post, I said I didn't need any more projects...then if you noticed I mumbled something (  mumble mumble.) LOL Well, I happened across another deal. LOL

It had been riding around in my daughter's SUV, because it would not fit into my car. Both her back seat and one middle row seat had to be folded down in order for it to fit. She finally brought it over this weekend. I was like an expectant mother. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. The fellow I purchased it from must have thought I was a nut because I kept squealing and jumping up and down. AHAHA

  It is huge at over a yard tall and wide and vintage hand cut from lumber not a kit! It has nine, yep, nine rooms and opens from in the front and the back as well as the middle sections. Don't you just love that little landing in the front hall? All of the windows are glass and several of  the floors wooden. The carpet will of course be changed to match the decor.

Even the little front door is cute. I am thinking of using a white stucco type finish on the exterior with black window frames and lots of landscaping. The color looks different because some are from the Craigslist ad and the bad ones are mine. LOL 
Good things come to those who wait on God! 

You can see where it comes to next to my daughter

Closed front

Kitchen area

Front

Back

Front center hall

Side

Here is a comparison between my Victorian one and the new one

As if that weren't enough, I got a bag FULL (16) of books to go along with it...check them out.

Now, you have to guess what I paid for all of this...Whoever gets it right or the closest without going over wins this: a pathos plant in a ceramic vase. It works for both 1:6 and 1:12 scales{battery not included :-)} In the event of a tie, the first one to comment wins!

Oh, and-ah...this is, ahem...the last new project...for real... :-x

Click on pictures for a larger view