Journal Entry 2013-12-29

Gardening in Middle Tennessee
Sunday
Starts my January Book.

Last week found that my last Farmers Market sweet potato had sprouted - so of course, I couldn't cook it - had to put it in a cup of water.

---

How did this entry get here? What are Journal Entries? https://www.thelittlebiddyhenhouse.com/2018/12/combining-blogs.html

Journal Entry 2013-09-13

Gardening in Middle Tennessee.

We are less than 300 feet from a small lake - meaning lots of skeeters - and the wonderous (sic) chirping of thousands of frogs. I have so missed such a chorus. And, of course, I hope all those frogs are eating LOTS of insects!!!

---

How did this entry get here? What are Journal Entries? https://www.thelittlebiddyhenhouse.com/2018/12/combining-blogs.html

Journal Entry 2013-06-02

Gardening in Middle Tennessee

• Strawberries, peaches, lettuce, small garlic, and jams from yesterday's farmer's market.
• Adding things to my Evernote Farm Files
• Not sure when the local farmer planted corn, but it is over a foot high now
• First of my Costoluto Genoveses are ripening. Small toms - probably a reaction to the plant almost dying. [2013-06-08 Turned out they were cherry tomatoes that had inter-twined with the Costoluto Genovese. Explains why they were small.]

---

How did this entry get here? What are Journal Entries? https://www.thelittlebiddyhenhouse.com/2018/12/combining-blogs.html

Farmers Market

Opening Day at The Farmers Market

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 18-55 mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/8
Exposure: 1/500 sec
ISO:400
Exposure Bias: +0.7
Focal length: 44 mm (35 mm = 66 mm)
Max aperture:4.8
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: cropped to 5x7

Opening Day at The Farmers Market

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 18-55 mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/5.6
Exposure: 1/125 sec
ISO:100
Exposure Bias: +0.7
Focal length: 44 mm (35 mm = 66 mm)
Max aperture: 4.8
Metering: CWA
Flash: Fill Flash with diffuser
Photoshop: cropped to 5x7

Assignment: Farmers Market

Look for Hicklofarms for those baked goodies - at gmail.com

Farmers Market

Kelley's Berry Farm

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 18-55 mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/25
Exposure: 1/13 sec
ISO:100
Exposure Bias: +2.3
Focal length: 55 mm (35 mm = 82 mm)
Max aperture: 5
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: No color adjustment;
     cleaned up strawberry juice on plate
     cropped to 5x5

Assignment: Main Street Farmers Market, Murfreesboro, TN
The best thing about this kind of shoot - you get to eat the subjects!

Visit Kelley's Berry Farm at http://www.tnfarmfresh.com/FarmDetails.asp?id=14

Photo of The Day

Herbs in Pot

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 18-55mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/22
Exposure: 0.77 sec
ISO:100
Exposure Bias: +1.7
Focal length: 18mm (35mm = 27mm)
Max aperture:3.6
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: cropped to 5x7

Assignment: High Key, Over Exposure Experiments

Photo of The Day

Bird on Neighbor's Tree

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 55-300mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/29
Exposure: 1/640 sec
ISO:4000
Exposure Bias: 0.0
Focal length: 260mm (35mm = 390mm)
Max aperture: 5
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: Curves adjustment for color;
     cropped to 5x7; handheld

Assignment: Photo of The Day
I think this is a type of tanager.

Photo of The Day

Rutherford Co. Farmers Market Treasure

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 18-55mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/22
Exposure: 1.0 sec
ISO:100
Exposure Bias: +3.0
Focal length: 29 mm (35mm = 43 mm)
Max aperture: 4.4
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: Cropped to 7x5

Assignment: Light Box
The best thing about food pictures - you get to eat the subject matter after the shoot!

Farmers Market - Rutherford County, TN

Rutherford Co. Farmers Market

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 18-55mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/8
Exposure: 1/60 sec
ISO:800
Exposure Bias: +0.3
Focal length: 38mm (35mm = 57mm)
Max aperture: 5
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: Curves adjustment for color;
     cropped to 5x7

Farmers Market
Wonderful, fresh bread.

Farmers Market - Rutherford County, TN

Rutherford Co. Farmers Market

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 18-55mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/8
Exposure: 1/8 sec
ISO:800
Exposure Bias: +1.3
Focal length: 35mm (35mm = 52mm)
Max aperture: 5
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: Curves adjustment for brightness;
     cropped to 5x7

Assignment: Farmers Market
Had a wonderful time taking photos at the Rutherford Co. Farmer's Market today. Wish I had more time before I had to go to work. Still, I scored some awesome fried pies and strawberries - most of which were happy in my tummy by the time I got to Nashville! And butter pecan honey. Mmmmm, you just knew I'd be hooked if you got me to try some, didn't you?!

 

Rutherford Co. Farmers Market

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 18-55mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/7.1
Exposure: 1/30th sec
ISO:800
Exposure Bias: 0.0
Focal length: 38mm (35mm = 57mm)
Max aperture: 5
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: Curves adjustment for brightness;
     cropped to 5x7

Assignment: Farmers Market
You just know I smelled the strawberries from when I first walked in the door - and those red baskets pulled me right over to the table. I didn't have a chance.

More photos of the Farmers Market soon... but this one is open during the week, making it more difficult for me to attend. But mmmm, those fried pies were good. Might just have to wake up earlier on Tuesdays!

Photo of The Day

Childhood Keepsake

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 55-300mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/10.0
Exposure: 1/20 sec
ISO:100
Exposure Bias: + 1.0
Focal length: 48mm (35mm = 72 mm)
Max aperture: 5
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: Curves adjustment for color;
cropped to 5x7 and brightened

Assignment: Light box work
Keepsakes are as precious as any museum piece - working on bringing good lighting to small objects.  Balance between highlights that show off the piece - and bright reflective spots from the flash.

Photos of the Day

Today's photos are a variation on a theme: Fifteen Bean Soup.

Fifteen Bean Soup Mix

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/32
Exposure: 0.62 sec
ISO:100
Exposure Bias: + 1.0
Focal length: 40 mm
Max aperture: 4.8
Metering: CWA
Light Source: Tungsten (my husband's high powered shop lights) from the left; flash bounced off of top of light box
Exposure: Aperture Priority
White Balance: Incandescent
Photoshop: sizing and copyright notice only

Assignment: Product Shooting
I like this shot best out of the viable shots because the colors and the light shadows makes this photo warm and inviting.  The photo below is whiter and cleaner, and has more technically correct lighting - it probably makes a better "product shot" if one was going to add it to a catalog; however, the one above might be better at enticing someone to cook up some soup.

Fifteen Bean Soup Mix

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/10
Exposure: /10th sec
ISO:100
Exposure Bias: + 1.0
Focal length: 60 mm
Max aperture: 4.8
Metering: CWA
Light Source: Tungsten (my husband's high powered shop lights) from the left; flash bounced off of top of light box
Exposure: Aperture Priority
White Balance: Incandescent
Photoshop: sizing and copyright notice only

Assignment: Product Shooting

Fifteen Bean Soup Mix

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/5.3
Exposure: 1/25th sec
ISO:100
Exposure Bias: + 1.0
Focal length: 40 mm
Max aperture: 4.8
Metering: CWA
Light Source: Tungsten (my husband's high powered shop lights) from the left; flash bounced off of top of light box
Exposure: Aperture Priority
White Balance: Incandescent
Photoshop: sizing and copyright notice only

Assignment: The composition for this one has some potential, but it is not centered in the frame well, and the lighting is weird.  The composition, however, has some potential.  Maybe I'll try this setup again, now that I have several reference cards for lighting.

Fifteen Bean Soup Mix

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/36
Exposure: 2 whole sec
ISO:100
Exposure Bias: + 1.7
Focal length: 55 mm  (35 mm = 82 mm)
Max aperture: 5.0
Metering: CWA
Light Source: Tungsten (my husband's high powered shop lights) from the left; flash bounced off of top of light box
Exposure: Aperture Priority
White Balance: Incandescent
Photoshop: sizing and copyright notice only

Assignment: Backgrounds.  And more practice with my light box.

Journal Entry 2013-04-23

Gardening in Middle Tennessee
Neighbor's bearded irises are beginning to bloom. Their daffodils are done. The first born Red Cherry Large Fruited has it's first pea sized tomato forming. The Red Cherry Large Fruited have been, by far, the most vigorous under poor circumstances - planted to early, transplanted to cups too late, left under lights too long, put outdoors before it was really warm enough for tomatoes to thrive... and yet, it thrives.
Lawn needs mowing twice a week when it rains and its warm. Our neighbor has a lawn care business, so does it for us cheap; however, I am seeing a riding lawn mower in my crystal ball...can't wait for my own place. All that grass will make some awesome compost.

---

How did this entry get here? What are Journal Entries? https://www.thelittlebiddyhenhouse.com/2018/12/combining-blogs.html

Loving my cardboard Light Box

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/8
Exposure: 1/6 sec
ISO:100
Exposure Bias:-0.3
Focal length: 55mm
Max aperture: 5
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: cropped to 5x7

Assignment: Product Shot
Tripod, Flash S1L3 shot across the top of the light box, electronic shutter release

Photo of The Day

Classic Nashville

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/5.6
Exposure: 1/1000 sec
ISO:800
Exposure Bias: -4.0
Focal length: 55mm (35mm = 450mm)
Max aperture: 5
Metering: CWA
Lighting conditions: Dim; after sunset, but with some light in the sky
Photoshop:cropped to 5x7 and set up for web

Assignment: Night Photography, no flash
Hand-held. Under exposed to get the black background.

Post Production, Uploading, Printing

Spent six hours preparing files for uploading to the professional lab that I am testing. The prepping consisted mostly of cropping photos to 5x7 and 8x10. A little bit of color correction on a few items, but the photos really are as I shot them. In part because I'm not yet that skilled in Photoshop! The photo lab comes highly recommended, so I am hoping the photos will turn out well. I am reprinting some photos that I had printed at Wal-mart for comparison, in addition to the photos that I will be giving to drivers this weekend when I ask them to sign model releases. I am hoping they will want to order prints; but I am also hoping that I will get their model release and then be able to use them in my marketing materials, on my website, and also as part of my portfolio for when I have enough to present to a stock photography house. 

Other activities this week includes getting ready to shoot the races on Saturday - the first time with my new camera and longer lens.  Still learning where all the buttons are and what everything does - but I've found the important stuff - aperture and shutter control, and ISO and white balance. 

My favorite car and driver!

Photo of The Day

Nest

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 18-55 mm DX VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/7.1
Exposure: 1/60 sec
ISO:2000
Exposure Bias: +0.3
Focal length: 40 mm
Max aperture: 5
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: Curves adjustment for brightness;
     cropped to 7x5
Props: Taken inside my home made light box with top, slightly back
     lighting and front fill flash bounced off of ceiling of the light box.
     Hand held

Assignment: Product Shot
As you can tell, I am on a Nature streak here, so I decided to extend that to practicing my "product shots."  Now, granted, my homemade light box is not a thing of beauty; however, for the price (free), it is working well.  (I found the instructions here; Thank you, Stobist.)  I didn't have white poster board available, so I used a paper towel for the background "drape."  I could have blurred out the texture in the back ground with Photoshop, but I kind of like it.  What do you think?

Photo of The Day

Female Hairy Woodpecker

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 55-300mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/6.3
Exposure: 1/320 sec
ISO:400
Exposure Bias: 0.0
Focal length: 300mm (35mm = 450mm)
Max aperture: 5
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: Curves adjustment for color;
     cropped to 5x7

Assignment: Depth of Field Control
The Cardinals and the Blue Birds are getting used to me, and the Robins are down right blase; however, this little woodpecker only stayed long enough for me to fire off 4 quick shots and then she was gone.  I've seen her pecking at the holly tree in the front yard though, so I am hoping she will get used to me... and that she will have babies and bring them to visit.

Photo of The Day

Backyard Wildlife

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 55-300mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/5/6
Exposure: 1/200 sec
ISO:400
Exposure Bias: -0.3
Focal length: 300mm (35mm = 450mm)
Max aperture: 5
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: Cropping and sizing only

Assignment: Depth of Field Control
Love the natural spotlighting from the sunlight filtering through the leaves. Catch light in the eyes.  Bushy tail.  Apparently I'm going to have a whole collection of squirrel photographs.

Photo of the Day

Backyard Wildlife

Camera: Nikon D5100
Lens: Nikon AF-S 55-300mm ED VR Zoom
F-Stop: f/5/6
Exposure: 1/500 sec
ISO: 3200
Exposure Bias: -0.3
Focal length: 300mm (35mm = 450mm)
Max aperture: 5
Metering: CWA
Photoshop: Curves adjusted to brighten for printing

Assignment: Depth of Field Control

I think I like this photo because he (she?) appears to be looking at me (ok, he is looking at me). From a technical perspective, I like the back lighting - especially on the tail, the translucence in the ear, and the catch light in the eye.  Also, I think the bushes and weeds in the background are nicely blurred by that wide open aperture. Still, the tuft of grass in the right foreground is annoying, and a faster lens would have let me blur out the shorter grass in the foreground, making this little guy stand out even more.  All in all, I like it.  And even though it is cropped over 50%, the non-web version of this photo will print nicely to about 11x16.

Journal Entry 2013-01-05

Gardening in Middle Tennessee
12:48 pm Nashville

I am so excited - it looks like I may have found some dirt to play in while I am temporarily landless.  Jessica has been visiting and we visited the Oaklands antebellum home.  They have a small garden with plants from the Civil War time period.  Right up my alley.  So looking forward to it, both for the learning and the doing.  So many things to research.  Their master gardener is Connor Moss.  

---

How did this entry get here? What are Journal Entries? https://www.thelittlebiddyhenhouse.com/2018/12/combining-blogs.html