Laura Brophy Photography

Last night a wonderful mother, teacher, artist and friend passed away. Tracy was an extraordinary woman who faced both the joy and heartache of life with courage and grace. She raised two beautiful children, traveled the world with her husband Jim, and taught children to love art as a teacher at a wonderful little preschool. Tracy was the author of a very special art book, Picture the World: Children’s Art Around the Globe, published in 2000.

The image on the right is a painting Nora made with her in 1993 when she was just three. Tracy had it mounted for a community art show, and it continues to hang in Nora’s room to this day. Today, we took a photo of the painting and turned it into a sympathy card for Tracy’s family. It turned out so beautiful.

It’s been a wild week…a whirlwind trip to NYC Tuesday and Wednesday and then the sectional swimming prelims tonight. Rachel gave me all of 30 seconds for her Valentine’s Day pose for a card…and she loves this shot. I’m not so sure…

Will placed third at sectionals in both the IM and breast stroke. Finals are Saturday night. The pool at Brockport was dark and yellow. Nearly impossible photo conditions…I quickly gave up when even 3200 ISO wouldn’t cut it.

Tech: top, ISO 200, f 1.8, 1/125; bottom: ISO 3200, f 7.0, 1/50

I’m really struggling still to be able to see these images as others do. It is not helped by the huge variations I’m seeing from computer to computer, program to program, web host to web host. But generally, I seem to have been processing everything too flat and too dark. My dad had always said as much, but I just couldn’t quite see it. I posted these pictures on ilp.com and got some helpful comments.

It is all probably related to my tendency to underexpose. These were definitely underexposed despite careful checks with my in-camera meter. I was using a white background, however, and that definitely threw me. I also think that the light in my bedroom, where I took these, is rather flat, due to the number and location of windows.

My other new challenge is to find a way to get images organized. Shooting in raw in putting new strains on my organization and iphoto isn’t cutting it. My charming husband is going to blow a gasket if I don’t get the files organized. I’m currently cluttering up the desktop.

I’m traveling for work this week, so I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to post…. (though I do have an image saved for Valentine’s Day).

Tech: ISO 200, f 1.8, 1/320

We took a trip to the zoo today. Beautiful, sunny winter day in the 30s. I took a few shots of clown fish and their friends.

It was, however, a somber day at the zoo. The community’s long-awaited African baby elephant birth had ended with the death of the calf. The community came out to express their support, and zoo volunteers and workers were still crying and shaken two days after the announcement had been made. There was a lovely display of flowers that had been sent and the cards children had made for Genny C., the expectant mother elephant. I wish I had taken a photo of the display, but I was so moved at the time that it never occurred to me. Genny C. and all those who have loved her and cared for her are very much in my thoughts.

Tech: ISO 200, f 1.8, 1/160

Today was sobering. I wanted a photo for my profile and I also wanted to test a new backdrop setup, so I turned the camera on myself. I swear it was a wake-up call… the wrinkles are suddenly appearing, the bags under my eyes are darker, and my burn scars are now more pronounced. It’s time to take better care of myself.

I have to say, however, that the new healing brush in CS2 is simply amazing and helped to correct some of the aforementioned problems…at least temporarily.

It looks like I messed up some formatting when I add the profile back in…I’ll have to tackle that beast in the morning.

Tech: ISO 200, f 1.8, 1/160…it is so cool to be shooting indoors with those kinds of numbers…loving the new 50mm 1.8.