Before and After

Before opening my Etsy shop I was quite content with my point and shoot automatic camera. It seemed to do fine when I needed to send pictures of the kids to the grandparents. Sure, I got the occassional thumb in the way, or caught someone in action and it was blurred. But I could adjust the lighting and other things on my Picasa program and it was serviceable.

But after seeing what other sellers were able to do with a camera, I was amazed. Their listings were like artwork!! Mine were dark and blurred or too light and blurred. There wasn't a thumb in any, but still. So I began to nose around and I got myself a new camera. Well, a used camera but new to me. It's a Fujifilm A340, and it has all sorts of buttons and settings. It came with a manual which has many pages of instructions and explanations, all in English!

I have been having a lot of fun reshooting my items. I treat my bags or hats like supermodels. I take them outside with me, and I gingerly lay them on a nice spread-out towel so they keep their bottoms clean while waiting for me. One at a time they get photographed from the north, east, south and west. I stand, I squat, I lay on my belly. I sweat and get bitten by mosquitoes (this is FL, afterall).

I have only redone a few of the listings in my shop, but it looks vastly better already. Now, Computers are another issue altogether. It takes a long time for my little dial-up to load each one. Then there was the matter last night of writing this post, moving two photos around and distorting them in the process, then downright losing one, then unbelievably losing an entire draft. I went to bed after that.

So let's take a look at my two pictures below. Got a critique?

The Before The After

In The Before, I notice I had a poor choice of location. I can see hose, I can see drooping and dying sunflower leaves. I also notice Supermodel Pumpkina is showing her protective screening to keep her bottom clean. Oops. The picture was taken outside in full sunlight. The lighting is harsh, too bright, and it's overexposed.

I think The After is better. I found a more attractive place for Pumpkina to sit. It's still an outdoors picture, but during gentler morning light. It was even a little overcast. I used the macro setting, which gives the background a softer, more blending look. I selected an EV setting of -.3, and the white balance of a shady day. The colors are truer. I like the look of the lid much better.

I'm not a great photographer. I still don't look as smooth and artistic as my fellow shopkeepers. But I'm getting better!!!