5.18.2010

tree lights & bird prints

Over the past year of taking outfit photos I've done quite a bit of experimenting with the sun. When I started out, I was a complete amateur. I would snap photos on the street and have them up on the 'ole interweb completely unedited in a matter of minutes. Not that that's bad at all, but over time my interest in photography evolved and my photo standards grew with it. I'd probably say I'm the biggest critic of my work. I'll be in love with a set for a bit, and then look back on my blog and be completely unsatisfied with what I posted. I wouldn't say I'm a professional at this point by any means, but I do know a whole heck of a lot more than I used to. Some of that education has come from asking my friend Cody to tell me all about my camera (I bought it off of a friend of a friend and didn't get a manual with it), and the rest of it has come from experimenting with the light while I'm out on my adventures. Although it's taken me quite a while to figure out, I think I've finally found my favorite way to get good light in my photos (or at least until my critical voice makes me fickle again). Hopefully I can explain it to you without sounding too crazy.

You know the kaleidoscopes that are created on the ground from the spotlights peaking through the trees? Well, that's one of my favorite things in the world. It's something sort of abstract, those shadows and highlights, and I often wonder if everybody notices those sorts of things or if it's just because I'm a photographer looking for light that I see them. I think I could spend a whole afternoon sitting on a sidewalk, sipping sweet tea and dazing off into a daydream as a medley of lights reflect their story off my eyes. They do wonders for photos too. Do you remember that set of shop photos featuring the popular 'Scallop My Heart' dress? Those were shot in the spotlights of a heavily forested area. I've been doing it a lot lately (in a few outfit photos I haven't shown you yet), and it's probably going to be a recurring technique I use in my photos for a while! I did it again yesterday in this bird print dress I got from Paddywack's (she has an Ebay, but I bought it local). I guess I fell in love with the bird prints after Miu Miu graced us with her birdie goodness, and then again when Modcloth released their birds.






Vintage Dress: Paddywack's Vintage $35
Shoes: Goodwill $4

30 comments:

C said...

I love your description of using light in photography. There truly is art in it. And these pictures are lovely.

Carys said...

Beautiful dress!! And your photos are always so amazing, I love hearing about how you take them!
From Carys of La Ville Inconnue

Carys said...

Beautiful dress!! And your photos are always so amazing, I love hearing about how you take them!
From Carys of La Ville Inconnue

Sher said...

The lighting in your pictures are always beautiful, no exception to these pics! And the little bird print is so adorable, I think everyone is scrambling to find miu miu alternatives nowadays:)

xx

tess said...

this dress has the most fun print ever

Anonymous said...

gorgeous! The print on that dress is so cute and unique, awesome find! ^.^

Away with the fairy's said...

I was honestly just looking at the tree shadows on the way home from college today and thinking how wonderful they are :) lovely dress! definately Miu-miu esque!

http://illustratemypillowcase.blogspot.com/

Rosie said...

I adore your photography. I hear you on being such a perfectionist, I'm really trying to work on my technique too. You've done a beautiful job with the lighting and shadows here and that dress is just fabulous!

Avalonne Hall said...

This post was a delight to read. I love that you've grown a passion for photography throughout this whole process of blogging. I've always loved photography, but I never did anything about it since I didn't have a DSLR. I have an SLR, but since film and processing are so expensive, I didn't really make use of the camera. Now that I have a DSLR, I will do more with my cameras and hopefully develop and evolve as a photographer. Photography is so interesting. I love your photographs and obviously your outfits. Let's both improve as photographers :)

Alesha said...

I totally understand about the photography thing, I have recently kicked up my creativity for it and have no experience at all. I dont think I'm doing too badly though! hehe. But I find it hard to critique photos of myself sometimes.

Love the dress too!

amanda said...

great dress and i am always so jealous of your photog skills. you are so great at it! i love the dappled light in these pics. i wish i was better at photography and having my new camera really makes me want to learn. i just have to take the time. i will one of these days. oh and i am loving those espadrilles!!!

Revital said...

adorable dress!!! love it!

http://revi-pinkillusions.blogspot.com/

Rebecca said...

I adore bird print dresses, this one is great. Interesting to read about your photography styles, I feel like I'm learning all the time.

Anonymous said...

That is such the splendid pattern on the dress!

Anonymous said...

I'm definitely still learning the ins and outs of photo taking... many of mine are beyond horrendous.

I love that skirt! The print is soooo cute!

Melanie@Unravelled Threads

M. said...

adorable dress

lovelove, M.
http://marissaexplains.blogspot.com

Maria Confer said...

It's tricky using the sun to advantage, but you do it so well Starr.

Lulu Letty

The Body Electric said...

Ooo, that fabric is amazing! Love, love, love!!!

Thanks for your lovely comment and encouragement on my blog!!!!

Here's my email address you asked for iamzooey@yahoo.com :-) So fun to meet other children's book enthusiasts! :-)

kathy said...

I love that bird print!

I really need to be a bit more experimental with photography, i have my dads old camera (which i think is quite a good one) but it's just been sitting and collecting dust in a corner. I think i should make this one of my missions for the summer x

Victoria / Justice Pirate said...

You wear it so well. It is good that you have been experimenting and learning and coming so far through taking so many photos as you do. I thouroughly enjoy it.

Q's Daydream said...

That dress is the best! I love novelty prints, specially when they have sweet little animals!
Your photography really inspires me, so I'm happy you love it so :o)

Mel said...

I'm glad you took such an interest in photography, because now we readers get the benefits of your superb photography! Your dress is stunning, I love the colors and the print!

Amanda said...

Oooh, I love the birds on your dress. Definitely a great take on the whole trend. The colors are gorgeous. I like what you said about the whole kaleidoscope/light thing. I wish I could try this, but the trees around my area are just too wimpy I think!

Arianne said...

Ah the travails of amateur photography! B and I have a hell of a time with our cameras. Our ratio of blurry to clear pictures is 5:1 but we hope to get it down to 3:1 by the end of the month.

I really like the way shadows fall on your dress and shoes. Definitely works as a dreamy mood maker. :)

A from A + B in the Sea

Bea said...

I was just going to say this is SO USEFUL for us amateurs. I need all the help I can get with the lighting. I hope you share more of your camera tricks in the future. :)

Minka said...

lovely pictures

MOUSEVOX VINTAGE said...

Light can make or break a photo, that's for sure. This dress is pretty stellar.

Manja said...

I am still trying to get to know my camera better, I still have to learn a lot about it.

Oh, that dress is so lovely! What a great pattern!

guildedsecret. said...

i quite like the amount of detail you put into each photo... i love the shot of your sandals with the sun streaking overtop them... fabulous :)

xo.
princesspolitico.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I'm not surprised that you're obsessed with lighting; one of the first things I noticed about your photos was the incredibly dreamy and romantic lighting. It's kindof perfect. And no, you're not alone with the tree-kaliedoscope thing, I love those too! I always try to take pictures of them but they never turn out quite right. You style your vintage shoots very well too. I was pretty impressed. I think it really adds alot that you do multiple outfits and models together and coordinate them because it creates a clearer picture of your inspiration and aesthetic for the viewer and just gives an all-over, more cohesive feel. My best friend and I are starting up a blog soon. I'm definitely bookmarking yours under my favorites!

Cheers,
-Natalie