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ConfettiPhotography Tips By Kathleen R. McKissick How many of you remember cameras that used film? • If your subject is moving, use the multi-shot You had to wait till you got your photos back to see which setting on your camera. It will take continuous ones were good. Well, thank goodness for the invention shots while you continue to hold down the of the digital camera! Now you can check the image shutter button. The camera will store all of them instantly and take another one if it isn’t up to par. to the memory card when you release the button. If you like to take a lot of photos, get to know your camera • Using the flash on a moving subject can freeze and learn all of its functions and settings. Take a lot of their movement. test shots using the camera’s different settings. This way when you’re ready to photograph a person, place, • Changing your view point, to lower or higher, can thing, or an event, you’ll know which function of your have a tremendous impact on your photo. camera to use for the occasion. The more you practice, the more at ease you’ll be with your camera. Since its • When photographing children or animals, digital, if you don’t like the photo, you can just delete it! physically get down to their level. Here are some tips I’ve learned along the way: • In order to get children to hold still for a nice photo, I tell them “If you’ll behave for this one, • Take as many photos as you can, especially if you you can do funny faces and poses in the next one.” are on vacation, at a special event or have young children. The event won’t be repeated and you • When photographing a baby, have their parent may never vacation there again! If you have stand behind you and call the baby’s name. This children, they grow-up so fast and capturing way the baby will look towards the camera and them in photos is time well spent! not to the side. • When using the auto focus setting, keep in mind • Using your flash on cloudy/gray days can the camera might focus on what’s behind your brighten up your subjects. subject if it is not fully locked onto your subject. Try aiming the camera at the subject’s chest and • When photographing a person in bright press the shutter button half-way to lock the sunlight, using the flash will help reduce the focus. While continuing to press the button, dark shadows under their nose and chin. reposition your camera till you see the shot you want in the viewer. Then fully press the button • Don’t always use the flash. Sometimes the to actually take the photo. natural light might produce the best shot. When in doubt, try the shot both ways. • If photographing a large group, make sure you can see everyone’s face. • If you are not well versed in photo editing on the computer, take a faraway shot and then zoom in • Unless the area is well lit, make sure a person for your close-up shot. with dark hair is not standing in front of something dark (tree, doorway, drapery, etc.). • If you take nature shots, your subject (tree, sun You will see their face, but not their hair! setting on the horizon/ocean, etc.) doesn’t need to be in the middle of the frame. Having it offset52 Summer 2015 to one side can be more aesthetically pleasing for the overall photo. This is often called “the rule of thirds” grid and it also works for human or animal subjects. Most digital cameras have the grid setting and it can be displayed on the view screen to assist you when setting up the shot.
© Can Stock Photo Inc. / Andres• When using the grid pattern for a horizon shot, • Most of all, be sure to hand your camera to place the horizon line at the bottom third line of someone you know and ask them to take your your screen. photo. After all, how else will you prove you were there, too!• Use the macro and super macro settings for extreme close-ups of a flower, frost on clover, etc. Other helpful suggestions: Make sure to charge your camera before a big event. Always carry extra supplies• If you are tall, make sure the camera angle is not with you. When printing your photos, also save the shooting down on the average size person, as it memory card’s images to a CD, flash drive, or computer. may distort their height. The memory card can be easily damaged and it is not designed to store the images forever. If you don't have a• The sun doesn’t always need to be behind you. computer, you can do this at your local drug store when You can shoot in the direction of the sun, but printing your photos. only if your camera’s lens is shaded. You can use a piece of cardboard or even use your hand to Everyone enjoys seeing photos and reminiscing, so share shade the lens. your photos with others! Happy photographing everyone!¨• At an event, take candid shots of people in groups. Some people don’t like to have their photo taken and you might miss getting a shot of that one person if you ask them to pose.• When posing people, also check the background. An object, such as a plant or lamp shade, may appear to be on top of someone’s head! 53www.youreinvitedmag.com
Kick Off Your Boots stay awhile. Photography by Sandy Vogel54 Summer 2015
Around the World Photos provided by Fiesta Charity SpectacularFiesta of the Spanish Horse By Sheri LamasFor 17 years, the Fiesta of the Spanish Horse has been raising money to help find a cure for cancer. This year theyhave partnered with Kure it Cancer Research to raise money for less known and underfunded cancers such as kidneycancer. In addition, they will honor Wounded Warriors Organizations at the Fiesta. The annual charity event willbe held from May 6-10, 2015 at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. May 6-10, 2015. May 9th, 2015. Doors open at 3:00 pm. The Main Spectacular begins at 5:30 pm. Adults: $15 Seniors (65+) and children (5-12): $10 Children under 4: Free 55www.youreinvitedmag.com
The Fiesta Charity Spectacular attracts more than Although the entertainment changes every year, a few4,000 people and hundreds of horses and is an of the activities you might see are costumeentertaining event the whole family can enjoy. The cost presentations, roping, and drill team, where a group ofof the show is very affordable and all the proceeds go to riders and their horses perform choreographed movescharity. There are a variety of food and shopping to music. Dressage exhibitions showcase a horse’svendors, a silent auction, and raffles to participate in. natural athletic ability as the rider and the horse areWho knows you just might find yourself holding the required to complete a series of predetermined move-winning ticket! You can visit the barns to learn about ments. The International Equestrian Federationthe various breeds and even meet Traveler, the mascot defines it as “the highest expression of horse training.”for the University of Southern California. It is sometimes referred to as horse ballet.Trick riding involves riders performing stunts on their The evening’s main event is a dazzling Broadway stylehorse and is always a crowd pleaser. The champagne show where the horses are the actors. Showcasing theirchallenge is especially fun as all the breeds compete by elegance and grace to music, Andalusians, Lusitanos,carrying a glass of champagne. The horse with the Lipizzaners, Friesians, Peruvian Pasos, and othersmoothest stride and the most champagne in their glass high-stepping horses put on a performance that’s sureis deemed the winner. See even the horses like to to delight you.celebrate with a glass of champagne!56 Summer 2015
“Pura Raza Española” translated as the pure Spanish horse is also known as the Andalusian in the United Statesand around the world. It came from the Spanish region of Andalusia, where its name is derived. It is a strong andathletic horse, yet elegant and regal.In the 16th Century, King Felipe II saw an Andalusian on wall paintings and began breeding them for militarymaneuvers. The horse was first used on farms to work with bulls for bull fighting. They were also used in war dueto their bravery and skill, which is why they are recognized as the war horse. The King often gave the horses toother kings and queens, who in turn bred them with the horses they had at the time.Beginning with ChristopherColumbus’ second voyage, theConquistadors brought theAndalusians to the New World andlater brought the mares. Thesejourneys were extremely tough andto return the horses would be toocostly, so they left them in NorthAmerica. The Indians began breed-ing their wild horses with theAndalusians. As a result, theQuarter Horse, the Morgan, theTennessee Walker and the WildMustang all have Spanish blood inthem.Andalusians are a rare breed withapproximately 8,000 in the UnitedStates and less than 30,000 world-wide. They are considered to be oneof Spain’s national treasures.The Fiesta of the Spanish Horsecame about to showcase the horseand teach people its history. As theshow grew, other breeds wanted tojoin making it a multi-breed horseshow.For more information on the Fiesta,please visit their website atwww.fiestacharityshow.com.¨ 57www.youreinvitedmag.com
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