melissapapajphotography

<p>So true Michael :)</p>

<p>Wow...I have been MIA for a while...I am so sad to hear of Nadine's passing. She has contributed so much to the pnet community and directly to my knowledge in photography. She was always very kind and willing to share her knowledge. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones.</p>

<p>Thanks so much David. It's so hard, because the more I know, the more I stink at it :)</p>

<p>Francie - Do you have the links?</p>

<p>I have to agree with you David, very few people appreciate honest critique. I personally think it is very important and have found the pnet family to be the most honest and open about critique. I know that tthe majority of things I have learned as a photographer is through critique, honest critique, not, "Wow! Great job." but true suggestions of what makes an image work or not work.</p>

<p>I was wondering why there isn't a category for print competitions and all that goes with them. It would be nice to have somewhere to post images for true honest critique being entered into print competitions, such as WPPI and PPA. Is there something like that and I am just missing it?</p>

<p>I am going too :) I won 2nd place in the WPPI's Take Your Best Shot Contest - so excited! I went two years ago and would do a lot of things different. We flew there and stayed on the strip. First, I live in Utah, so I would drive. Second, I am not a huge fan of the strip, I think the food is overpriced and they don't give you anything in your room like a fridge so you have to buy their overpriced food for every meal - including coffee $14 every morning on a simple pastry and coffee every morning is a KILLER :) Take tons of notes and take master classes while you are there too. They are $55 each but well worth it. HAVE FUN!!!</p>

<p>Here's mine for the week from a wedding I shot last year in Denver. Nikon D700, 60mm f/2.8 macro lens, natural light, shade</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks everyone for all of your feedback. I love seeing everyone else's edits and hearing your viewpoints :)</p>

<p>Vail - What a nice post! Seriously, I have told so many people about pnet. It has been an invaluable tool in my learning and growing process as a photographer, and I still have SOOOO much learning and growing to do.<br>

Firstly, Nadine, you are amazing and kudos to you for all of your hard work, honesty and effort into making this forum what it is...It could never have happened without you.<br>

Secondly, I have made SOOOO many new friends on pnet who have been there to support me through my photography journey along with my personal struggles such as heart surgery. I have had so many personal emails from members on here when I had my surgery, I was unable to respond and still haven't been able to respond as much as I would like to from people genuinely caring about my recovery and well being.<br>

And Finally, last - the critiques - though some have been BRUTALLY honest, I have learned so much about myself and my work that I would not have been otherwise humbled.<br>

So thank you pnet, both moderators and the many people on here who have contributed and thanks for the compliments :)</p>

<p>hmmmm....I am always at a loss for which ones to post and can't remember if I have already posted them or not. Here is mine for the week - hopefully I haven't posted it...Nikon D700, 24-70 f/2.8 lens, off camera flash...I can find a few things wrong with this one, but mostly, I am wondering how in the world do I get the smudges off the glasses?</p><div></div>

<p>Nikon D700, 24-70 2.8 lens, off camera flash</p><div></div>

<p>Allan, this is a great shot...very creative. Seriously, I am with Vail on the clarity issue and the other thing I would change is the border...it just seems to make the image look a bit cheesy to my...that's just my $0.02 worth. Again, very nice shot!</p>

<p>Here's mine for the week...shot around 1:00 p.m., Nikon D700, 60mm f/2.8 macro lens, no flash just reflector.</p><div></div>

<p>Okay, here's mine for the week...a recent wedding shot at the Bountiful Utah LDS temple, Nikon D700, 24-70mm f/2.8, natural lighting.</p><div></div>

<p>I typically start from scratch also. I always up my contrast to my liking and then dodge and burn as I feel needed :)</p>

<p>Here's mine for the week... from a groomal/pre-wedding session. Their wedding is at the end of this month. Shot with a Nikon D700, off camera flash - SB 800, 24-70mm f.28 lens.</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks Vail :)</p>

<p>Here's one from a recent engagement session. Nikon D700, 24-70 2.8, no flash. I don't typically submit engagements, but I really like this one. :)</p><div></div>

<p>This is a tough one because I have quite a few I check as much as possible, but these are some of my fav's.<br>

Kay English - A fellow pn photog and has gorgeous work.<br>

Todd Lafler - Again, another pn photog that has amazingly creative stuff.<br>

Jasmine Star - her writing is AWESOME!<br>

Jessica Claire<br>

Marcus Bell - I sat in the front row of his class at WPPI and cried like a baby. The emotion that he captures seriously touches my heart and inspires me to want to capture raw emotion at tevery wedding I photograph.<br>

And Vail, I too, follow yours :)</p>

 

<p>Sounds like a great idea Nadine! Just another reason why I love photo.net :)</p>

<p>I always, always, always hate my pictures :( I always find everything I could have done better and it seems like the more I learn and know about photography, the worse I get. Good luck!</p>

<p>I use a Nikon 60mm 2.8 macro for all of my detail shots and love, love, love it!</p>

<p>Here is mine from a recent wedding. Nikon D700, natural window light, 24-70mm f/2.8 lens</p><div></div>

<p>Okay guys, now you have sold me on a new blog :) I still use good old fashion blogger and have found it to be a HUGE pain most of the time, but wondered if it really was worth the investment. Vail - the other question I have is how much do you have to oversaturate/sharpen your pictures beforehand? I do that both for Facebook and blogger because Facebook sucks in the quality too :) Also, Richard, in response to your question, if you decide to stay with blogger, I have found that if you start from the top of the upload page - putting in the very last file going backwards, your photos will be in order. As for resizing pics so they are big on the blog - I have found no other easier way than to resize them in html each individually. I would be more than happy to chat with you (you can call me) about how I do it - even though it is still a PIA :)<br>

You can view my blogger blog here: <a href="http://www.melissapapajphotography.blogspot.com">http://www.melissapapajphotography.blogspot.com</a><br>

Seriously, I think I am going to look into getting a new blog though :)</p>

<p>Nikon D700, 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, Park City, Utah Wedding</p><div></div>