Shooting in the fog is similar to shooting in the snow. They both require a bit of over-exposure in the camera. Otherwise the images all come out muddy and dark. We spent the day in San Francisco at Crissy Field. The fog gives the City even more character than it already has.

In an effort to improve my photography skills and success as a photographer, I've been reading as much as I can about the subject. There is so much helpful information on the internet, but I'm finding my local library to be a wonderful resource too. I'm learning that being a successful photographer is only partly being an awesome photographer, the other part is running the business.I just started a book called Fast Track Photographer by Dane Sanders. In it he talks about selling yourself as the photographer as opposed to just trying to sell good pictures. My first thought was the name of my business which is "Covington Street". This is the street I grew up on, the place where I have so many rich, wonderful childhood memories. Since memories are what I capture with my camera, that's what I named my business. But most photographers go by their own name, so enough of my anonymous web presence. I'm going by my own name now.

If you're interested in reading this helpful book, you can get the ebook for free by using the code "smuglove". This was a special deal through SmugMug, my image hosting company.
This photo is of the temporary memorial set up across from the Lafayette BART station. They display crosses and the total number of soldiers killed since this war began. The hillside started with white crosses scattered across it, but it's now getting crowded, too crowded.

Might Oak

We are surrounded by the magnificent trees where I live. Beautiful Creation.

I'm working to turn my little office into a studio. This will require some lights and a backdrop. I've only just begun shopping for this and don't really know what to get yet. But there are so many cute babies that need their picture taken, I must get set up.

I've been playing around with Photoshop brushes and actions. There is so much out there, actions and brushes...so exciting and fun. Best of all, they are free. There are actions and brushes for purchase, and I will probably buy some one of these days. I need to find out if the ones I must pay for are worth the money.
Photoshop actions are a preset serious of steps that are recorded. They create different effects, such as turning a color photo to black and white, bumping up the contrast, softening the photo or changing the color to some surreal, awesomeness that makes you look like you're working on the set of 300 (the movie). I've gotten some great tips and tricks and free actions from this blog: http://coffeeteaphotography.blogspot.com/
There are also some really cool actions at totallyradactions.com- I haven't bought any yet, but I signed up to get a few freebies which are great.
As for brushes, they are bitmaped images that you stamp onto your project in Photoshop, using the brushes pallet. There seem to be an endless variety of these available. I just type in "free Photoshop brushes" in my new favorite search engine,

and an endless list of options for free brushes is available to download. Fantastic!
I've been renting many books about Photoshop and photography at our local library and it has proved to be a valuable source of useful information. Who knew! The library! Fantastic! You just don't know what you don't know.

I made this collage for my Grandma who recently passed away. She was a beautiful woman and I loved putting together the old photos of her past.