Friendly Selfies!

June 12, 2023 by GmasPhoto 6 Comments

Friendly Selfies!

Hi, I just had a rough day at work. Are you familiar with tough work days? Now I need to have some fun. I am now on a mission to find a way to create slideshow video’s. My selfie folder makes me smile when I look at these images. Needing a pick me up, I have decided to create a slideshow for my week’s post.

It has taken me a bit of time to figure out which software program would be best. Then I had to conquer how to use said software! The software I have chosen is Movavi. It is available for either Windows or Mac.

There are several different programs available for making slideshows. Some are free, with limits and options to upgrade to a paid version without limits. I selected the personal license for Movavi which comes with plenty of basic elements, transitions and such. Comment if you have any questions about my selected slideshow maker.

The pictures were taken by not only myself, but family and friends have shared with me some they took. Please enjoy the show!!

MacBook viewers: If the video does not appear, switch from Safari browser to Google.
The video will then appear.

In my prior post, ‘Selfies, Take Part in Pictures, I had mentioned we are our own self critics. Practicing taking our own pictures give us the opportunity to see what angle our head needs to be at, where to look when taking the photo and just getting used to seeing ourself in pictures. The more you see yourself, the more comfortable you will be each time seeing yourself in your selfies!

friendly selfies — Briella took this selfie!

Slideshows are wonderful for special occasion celebrations- graduation, weddings, birthday, anniversaries and even end of life services. Slideshows add life to photo’s! My goal is to provide different formats when I share my photo’s.

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
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Better Phone Pictures

June 5, 2023 by GmasPhoto 14 Comments

Better Phone Pictures

Hi, a friend asked me, “how to take a good picture? Where should the main subject be placed in the image?” These are good questions. Using the rule of thirds will be your go to resource. The rule of thirds is a tool to create visual pleasing images.

As I have said before, taking better phone pictures begin with taking the shot. Once you have taken the shot, take it again. When you take it again, play with the composition. Change where the main subject is placed.

rule of thirds grid

To enable the rule of thirds grid on your phone, open settings. Scroll down and select camera. Open camera and scroll down to composition and turn on the grid.
better phone pictures grid

When taking landscape photography an example would be placing the horizon not in the middle but instead align on the bottom horizontal line or the top. Giving either the sky or land more space in the composition.

The next two images have special meaning to me. The first, is when I joined my daughter and her family to Florida. Briella was sitting on the beach as the waves were coming in. I just really like this image.

better phone pictures at beach

My next example is while me, my mom and daughter went back to Illinois to my Great Aunt’s funeral.

going to heaven

A powerful image. My Great Aunt driving off into heaven. With the leading lines in the road and on the side rail, they draw your eyes into the field of clouds. Very special image for me.

A single object like a person or pet, place one of their eyes on one of the intersecting lines.

One of our usual weekend routine is eating breakfast out and getting groceries. This weekend we went to the Waffle House. While waiting for our breakfast I took the opportunity of taking a picture of the salt and pepper shakers!

salt pepper — Salt & Pepper Shakers Centered

Looks good. But then I applied the rule of thirds.

There is no one right way or wrong. It is what you like and what is visual appealing.

The two waffle signs look nice. For the collage I prefer the left image with the sign centered. But if I was just taking the picture of sign by itself with no other images to go with it, I like this shot.

better phone pictures

This is why I recommend taking the shot and take it again. It’s much easier to take the image the way you want to start, but there is post editing. In the post editing the image can be cropped, applying the rule of thirds. The post editing can be another post!

Think of the rule of thirds while taking your picture. Consequently, this will become second nature, automatic. You won’t even be thinking of the rule, you’ll just do it.

Most importantly, have fun taking pictures, and taking them again!

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
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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

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