Remote Shutter

March 20, 2023 by GmasPhoto 10 Comments

Newly found phone accessory, the remote shutter.

Hi, I found a new accessory for the iPhone camera. It’s a remote shutter. Originally I discovered a selfie stick that had a remote included. I liked it so much I found one independent of the stick.

Remote shutter

The AB Shutter3 was simple to pair to the phone. When I was searching Amazon, the description was vague. With the price less than 10 bucks, I decided to give it a try. Typically I do not write reviews, I did for this. I included my image above for others in case they had some of the same questions I had. I’m pleased Amazon approved my review!

Selfies remote shutter
Of course after the pairing was completed, I had to practice! The first picture I had met this young lady on a previous library visit. There was someone sitting at each table. She asked if she could sit at the table I was occupying. I was happy to share the table with her. It was a Saturday several weeks ago. In the times I have been to the library, I have not seen a same person a second time. Well today, I happened to look around and there she was! I asked her if I could take a picture of her and me, pleased she said yes.

The middle two I took a break from writing for the blog. And the last picture was while I was picking my grocery order up. Told the young lady I just got my remote and wanted to practice. She was a good sport and smiled with me.

The iPhone 14 ProMax is a large phone. Trying to hold and touch the shutter on the phone screen is quite awkward; almost dropping the phone on more than one occasion. The remote will definitely be handy in taking better pictures, especially selfies.

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra

The Wishing Bench 2023

March 13, 2023 by GmasPhoto 14 Comments

Revisiting the wishing bench in 2023

Saturday I was not motivated. I had slid back into my funk. It could have been due to me not taking my happy pills the last two days. Needed to get them refilled. Or because my CPAP mask broke. Had to order a new one, took five days to arrive. Whatever the reason, I made myself get out of the house yesterday. Made a list of my to do’s while in Lawrence. It’s more difficult to remember things when I am in this funky mood.

My list included filling Adam’s pillbox, picking up Kevin’s and my prescriptions, picking up grocery order, having lunch with my mom and finally contributing to this week’s blog post. While making my list, the wishing bench popped into mind. It has been more than a couple years since I visited. I wondered if it was still even there. To my surprise, yes!

Below are close up images of this dreamy, happy bench!

Wishing bench 2023 2

If you would like to see the changes over the years, I have included links below to follow my previous visits.

The wishing bench in 2017.

The wishing bench in 2015.

Have you ever seen a bench like this before today, this post? I have not actually sat on the bench to make a wish. My next visit I will plan on making an addition to the set and make my own wish!

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra

Daily Photo Opps

March 6, 2023 by GmasPhoto 8 Comments

Daily photo opportunities.

I had such an opportunity today. Luckily my subject is stationary. My phone camera was not operating correctly. Panic set in. I went to settings, changed a few and still not working. It dawned on me, my phone updated yesterday to iOS Version 16.1.1. My camera worked just fine before the update. I decided to power off the phone. Waited a few minutes and turned the phone back on. Problem solved. Thank goodness!

It’s easy to get caught up in thoughts. I have been to my local library many times. The building and landscapes have not changed. On one particular visit, as I was walking back to my car, the bike rack caught my attention. I had never ‘seen’ the air pump next to the rack. This is such a neat and convenient thing to have next to the rack. There are daily photo opps, I just need to not get caught up in thoughts and ‘see’ my surroundings!

My husband and I do not live in town, we are in the rural community. I have two favorite local libraries, one in Lawrence and the other in Tonganoxie. During one of my visits to the Tonganoxie library I had a fun photo opportunity. And rather comically it also included a bike rack. A family of four. As we conversed the mother said they were taking one day a week to detox from digital. On this particular day they went on a picnic and a bike ride.

What caught my eye was the white bike that was connected to the black bike. During my visit with the family I did get her (mom’s) permission to take these pictures. If they had been inside the library I would have just taken the picture of the connected black and white bikes. I did not want them to think I was an odd bird!

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra

Selfies, take part in pictures!

January 30, 2023 by GmasPhoto 1 Comment

Selfies, take part in pictures!
Hi, if you are like me as you are looking back on the pictures taken, none of them have you as the photographer in them. One way to create better images for memories sake is being in the image. That’s why my post, selfie pictures.

As simple as this sounds, getting the best selfie is an art. My daughter said practice taking selfies and watch YouTube! There are lots of YouTube tutorials. My plan is first give you pointers today. As I add posts that include pictures, I will provide the techniques used to get that shot.

For example, this image of me to the left, I used my selfie stick. I am the grandma with a big purse! Actually the selfie stick folds up pretty small. Not only can I use it for selfies, it’s a tripod as well. I have been able to take pictures of a larger group of family and friends.

In addition to using a selfie stick, I have learned that having a ring holder on the back of my phone helps me hand hold the phone while taking pictures overall. PopSockets is another good option for stabilizing your phone while taking a picture.

Phone ring

In this next set of pictures, I was trying to figure out where to look and how to hold the phone for just the right pose.

You might be wondering why would you want a selfie? I like to have a picture reminding me of a fun time I shared with a friend.

Selfie pictures friend

We are our own self critics. And we are too critical. Just take the shot. Later you will be thankful for that! Here are just a few I enjoy looking at time again.

More selfie pictures — Taken with the selfie stick.

Best wishes, Debra

Take the Shot

January 10, 2023 by GmasPhoto 3 Comments

The best place to start taking better pictures is simply to take the shot. Any shot is better than not taking a shot at all.

My goal is to take one image each time I leave my home. This may be when Kevin and I go for breakfast or lunch. Other times when I take a walk in the pasture, around the farm. This post image is my favorite entrée at the Aqua Mexican Grill and Cantina, the beef quesadilla.

The picture is straight from the phone camera. No editing. Image was cropped to make two images. Camera (iPhone) settings used: photo, 1x lens, Live Photo off. I let the camera’s auto function do the rest. While framing the image, it was necessary to move the phone to avoid getting its shadow in the picture.

Just because my phone is with me, I still have to remember to take the shot. It’s second nature for the younger generation. For us baby boomers, we have to train ourselves to take the shot! Taking the shot is better than not. Now I have a visual to add to my memory of my yesterday’s lunch date with Kevin.

What’s your favorite meal? Have you taken a picture of the food you like to eat? Please share!

This is the original image from the phone used for the collage at the beginning of this post. Here you can see a bit of the phone’s shadow in the bottom right side. I was able to crop the same image twice. Creating two different images for the collage. Notice in the collage the phone shadow is not shown. With simple cropping, I was able to make the picture look better.

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra

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