A bit of success :)

The wine and cheese tasting table

The art that was up for auction...most pieces were bid on and sold!

My own personal photography that I was selling...with ALL proceeds to the charity.  I sold 3 pieces :)

The media presentation my boyfriend set up and created, using BARC's videos and images of their success stories. 

I thought I'd share some casual pics with you all today, instead of my usual blog format...

The above photos (taken with my cellphone) are from this past Saturday, during the event I hosted and organized to support an animal rescue organization in Bali, Indonesia.  With the wine tastings, art auctions, art for sale, baked goods and raffles, we raised over $800 for them!  It may not seem like a huge amount, but in Bali, $800 CAD goes a LONG way :)

You can read more about this wonderful group at their website:

http://www.balidogrefuge.com/

It was a fun and successful day! 

BFF's

Canon Rebel, ISO 400, F 7.1, shutter 1/100, 48mm

This photo was one of the creature shoots I did for WHIMZ a couple of years ago, and it's still one of my favourites.  This turtle and lizard have been friends for 12 years!  They love each other:)  I think it's amazing, and can teach us a lot about different species we may think of as not "feeling" as much as we do.

Plus, I'm really happy about how sharp this image turned out.  Even viewing it on our 60" TV it's super clear, not pixelated at all:)  Guess the "kit" lens isn't so bad after all...

Weekend of photos!

I actually didn't realize it was Tuesday already and it's been a few days since I posted anything.  I've had a few photo shoots since my last post, plus I've been out and about a lot!

The studio shoot on Sunday was really cool:)  I haven't even had time to edit any of the photos yet...but here's a couple unedited (I just put a watermark on them) as a sneak peek:

"Day of the Dead" theme by makeup artist Andrea Gray

Native Couture by stylist/makeup artist Alicia Nugent

Yes so I have about 200 photos to go through and hopefully some will be published:)  Excited!

I promise to post more frequently, as my photo-a-day is turning into a photo every few days when I have time...ooooops.

Family Sunset

Canon Rebel, ISO 200, f 18, shutter 1/500, 50mm

Kuta Beach at Sunset
September 9, 2011

Really, the picture speaks for itself:)  This photo is actually one of a few that are available for purchase as stock photography on www.bigstockphoto.com
I had put a few photos up there last year and totally forgot they were there!  I'm thinking I should submit a few more...try and create a substantial stock portfolio.  It's on my list!

By the way, if you like wine, cheese and saving animals, you should come out to the fundraiser I've organized on Saturday, August 25th.  We have a well known professional sommelier pouring wine flights with cheese pairings:)  The charity is called BARC - Bali Dog Adoption and Rehabilitation Center.  I'm hoping to go and volunteer for them at the end of the year!   Local artists have donated paintings and crafts to sell with all proceeds going towards the charity:)

You can read more about it here:   http://bit.ly/barcTO

To purchase your advanced ticket for the wine tasting, visit my website:

www.johnstonephotography.ca


Have a great weekend!

World Askew

Canon Rebel, ISO 100, f 12, shutter 1/160, 15mm fisheye

May 2010

So this was one of my first times using a fish eye lens.  I'd rented one to test for a weekend, then bought this attachment lens on ebay since I couldn't afford a fixed lens.  This lens attaches on to my 18-55mm lens, and works pretty well.  This photo was taken while camping at one of my favourite places, a provincial park called Silent Lake.  It's just south of Algonquin Park, but it's typically less busy and the private campsites are surrounded by woods:)

I was just lamenting on my facebook page as to why I haven't been camping yet this year!  We'd go camping every year when I was a kid, mostly because I grew up in a single parent household and it was an inexpensive vacation...but still I actually loved it (except for the bugs, of course) and try to still get out into the woods once a year.  This year has been crazy busy and full of life event/changes so it's understandable why I haven't found the time to get away.  But I'd still like to try before winter comes back!

P.S check out my upcoming event!  It's an art show/wine tasting fundraiser:)

http://www.johnstonephotography.ca/

Bees?

Canon Rebel, ISO 100, f 7.0, shutter 1/100, 55mm

You know, I can't remember where I took this picture!  I *think* it was while on a wine tour in either Niagara or P.E.C.  I tend to take a lot of flower macro-type images, as well as of course grapes and vineyards, during those trips.  Being out in the country inspires me to search out plants and creatures. 

This photo was really overexposed, so I played around with it in Photoshop and this is the result:)  Lesson: check the settings before each shot if using manual functions.

So I'm excited I've got 3 photo shoots coming up in the next couple weeks!  One is in a studio and I haven't really done any studio work yet so I'm really looking forward to it and I'll learn a lot:) I have my own "studio", soft boxes and back drops, but to work in a real studio will be pretty great!