photo playdate with Connie!

[tkradtke]

First of all, we had a wonderful time and an absolutely perfect day! It was so much fun to get out and just "play" with my camera... plus it was an excuse to investigate some of the photo spots I'd been eyeing for a while. Connie and her daughter were wonderful... I think our girls got along really well. Such a great day!

I haven't gone through them all yet... but here are a few from today...

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/tkradtke/blogtuesIMG_49268x10-2.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/tkradtke/blogtuesIMG_49348x10.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/tkradtke/blogtuesIMG_49544x6.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/tkradtke/blogtuesIMG_5064.jpg

Okay, Connie... I'm dying to see some of your photos!

(FYI - in case you can't tell from these photos, my kids are total goofballs in front of the camera... sigh)

[jerih]

fun photos, Tracie!

[Kelly]

looks like a fun and successful day! : )
-kelly

[April]

10,000 bonus points for you! I was hoping you would post the pictures. Connie, I hope you do too.

These pictures are awesome! So what is your trick for such vivid colors? Was it an overcast day or full sun? I want to learn! If it's too much information to write can you at least share one tip?

[ConnieTameling]

Boy, you were QUICK, Tracie!! We had such a fabulous time today and thanks again for being such wonderful hosts. My daughter fell asleep promptly when we started on the drive home . . . I think we wore her out with our adventures LOL!
I LOVED your photos, Tracie. Thanks for sharing. If you have any others you want to share, you can always email them or link me up to your photobucket album :) . It is so fun to see the different ways we photographed the same subjects. When I was uploading my photos and reviewing them, I learned a ton about my photos and things I can improve and work on in the future. We really MUST do this again.

O.K. so here are a few of my favorites. I decided to put my name on the photos, too, after you told me the story about the "borrowed" online photographs. Probably a good habit to get into.

I'm not sure why this first one won't upload to the thread, but you can click on the link to see it:

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/ctameling/photo%20play%20date%20050107/Muralweb.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/ctameling/photo%20play%20date%20050107/Hwindowlightweb.jpg
(above) taken using natural light from the stained glass window in the church

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/ctameling/photo%20play%20date%20050107/HCsillynessweb.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/ctameling/photo%20play%20date%20050107/HCpullholdbackweb.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/ctameling/photo%20play%20date%20050107/HCjoyBWweb.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/ctameling/photo%20play%20date%20050107/spiderclimbcolorweb.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/ctameling/photo%20play%20date%20050107/HALaughterweb.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h89/ctameling/photo%20play%20date%20050107/Hleanmuralweb.jpg

[ConnieTameling]

Was it an overcast day or full sun?

It was mostly sunny and HOT :) . Luckily the mural painted wall was not in direct sunlight. The park was a bit trickier due to the intense, full sun. I'm sure Tracie will be able to offer some good tips . . . me, I'm just learning myself :) .

[April]

Awesome Connie! That spiderweb one is my favorite! You captured some really great colors too! What time of day were you taking these pictures?

[ConnieTameling]

Awesome Connie! That spiderweb one is my favorite! You captured some really great colors too! What time of day were you taking these pictures?

Thanks, April. I arrived at Tracie's at 10:30 a.m. and then we headed out on the town around 11:00 ish. The mural photos were taken first and then we headed over to the park. The park photos were all between 12 and 1:00 -- I'm sure of this because the kids started to get hungry for lunch :) . So, yep, not the most ideal lighting time for photos . . . but I still found several in my bunch that were keepers.

[Kelly]

LOVE them ALL!:)
Great pics ladies!
-kelly

[scrapy]

WOW! What awesome pictures. I'm going to start looking at the playground differently.

[Jamie Hamblin]

Man, you two are AMAZING Photographers!

[tkradtke]

These pictures are awesome! So what is your trick for such vivid colors? Was it an overcast day or full sun? I want to learn! If it's too much information to write can you at least share one tip?

Thanks April! The vivid colors were boosted in post processing. I shoot in manual so I try to get the exposure spot on to start. It was a really sunny day but we were shooting in the shadow of the building. For post processing... I started with Auto Color in PSCS2 (I shot in AWB yesterday most of the time)... then Auto Contrast (I always do this), then I ran Peta's Pop Color action (free download) and after I flattened it, I added another soft light layer just for fun. Honestly, I do different combos for each situation... but these elements are usually involved. Oh.. I forgot that I usually end with an Unsharp Mask.

[tkradtke]

Boy, you were QUICK, Tracie!! We had such a fabulous time today and thanks again for being such wonderful hosts.

Yeah... I was quick... but I'm impatient and I didn't have to drive home! LOL! We had a great time too... we have to do this again!

I love your photos! The ones at the park capture such great expressions! I'm working on a layout right now using the "outtakes" of my teeter totter shots... they're far from perfect but they are too much fun not to use.

Oh... I have the pics I took of you and your daughter on the teeter totter... I'll have to get those to you. I have a hard time with bright sun like that so just keep that in mind when you see them. :D

So... when's our next playdate? ;)

[April]

Thanks Tracie!

[mindy]

Those are all stunning! You both captured such happy moments and real genuine personality! I would love to do something like that someday with a friend. Thanks for sharing!

[ConnieTameling]

Yeah... I was quick... but I'm impatient and I didn't have to drive home! LOL! We had a great time too... we have to do this again!

I love your photos! The ones at the park capture such great expressions! I'm working on a layout right now using the "outtakes" of my teeter totter shots... they're far from perfect but they are too much fun not to use.

Oh... I have the pics I took of you and your daughter on the teeter totter... I'll have to get those to you. I have a hard time with bright sun like that so just keep that in mind when you see them. :D

So... when's our next playdate? ;)

Hi Tracie!
Ooooh, I would LOVE to see your "outtakes" layout!! I'm sure it is so much fun. And I bet the photos of me on the teeter totter are simply lovely :p NOT. But fun, nonetheless.

As far as setting up our next playdate . . . how about tomorrow :D ??
O.K. on a more serious note, I'm thinking we need one at the beginning of June. I know you have some travels coming up and perhaps we could schedule something for when you return. Just let me know what works well for you. We could come into the city again or we would love to have you take the train out to us as well. Options, options!


My daughter is already asking when she can see yours again :) . I just adore how quickly children can make friends.

[Caroline]

i LOVE those!!!! awesome photos, girls!!!

[Alicia Story]

Such fun work!
LOVE the spider web one too!! And the mural with the two girls walking!

TFS!

[tkradtke]

As far as setting up our next playdate . . . how about tomorrow :D ??
O.K. on a more serious note, I'm thinking we need one at the beginning of June. I know you have some travels coming up and perhaps we could schedule something for when you return. Just let me know what works well for you. We could come into the city again or we would love to have you take the train out to us as well. Options, options!


My daughter is already asking when she can see yours again :) . I just adore how quickly children can make friends.

Sorry I disappeared on you Connie!!! With the nice weather we were outside every chance we got and now I'm down with an ear infection that's making me batty (nothing like a trip to the ER for mother's day :) ).

Here's the link to my outtakes layout (http://twopeasinabucket.kaboose.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1145885)... not my usual style so I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it was fun to do.

The first part of June works for me!!! The sooner the better! :D We head to Paris next week (please let my ear be better before I get on that plane!!) but after that we have no other travel plans until July.

Too funny about your daughter.... Clara does the same thing. She keeps talking about your daughter and how she "really liked her" and wants to play with her again. It's funny how they had that slow start and then the next I knew they were holding hands, whispering and giggling!

Okay... I'm going back to the couch! Just let me know what works for you for June... your place or here in the city... either one works for us!

[Jamie Hamblin]

I hope that you get feeling better tracie! :)

[ConnieTameling]

The outtakes layout is HILARIOUS, Tracie!!! Love all those funny expressions :) !!

Ooooh, sorry to hear about the ear infection. Hope it gets better before the Paris trip.

As soon as you return, we can set up something for early June. I don't have my calendar now, but we can email to firm up a date/location. Already looking forward to it.

[janet_o]

I WANT TO COME!!! Those are amazing photos...wow

[Angie]

Very great pictures! Wow! I was happy with my little point and shoot camera until April just got a new amazing camera! The pictures she can take now are so impressive! Everything April does creatively is impressive (let's just not talk about her cooking skills). Ha! Ha! I have to have one thing I do better than April. (I can tease her, I am her sister).

[April]

Excuse me Angie... I make the best microwave chicken nuggets in town. Ha!

[Erin]

Way cute pictures!!! I love the colors and the contrast!

And p.s. . . . April, should we tell everybody about your cooking skills. . . Worm green bean salad, burning your house down, Megan finding food in between the car seat and saying that it was her favorite. . . etc. . . No just kidding. But really, you do make the best chocolate chip cookies and chicken nuggets in town. (I can tease her too. . . I'm her other sister.) But i do have to say that you are one of my most favorite sisters. You too, Angie!

[April]

Goofball.