Category Archives: blux

5 Steps to Improve your Photography

5StepsPhotography

If you have been around this blog for a while you know that I have a hobby of taking self portraits. While the proclaimed ‘selfie’ has been around since the days of Myspace, taking a simple self portrait is more of an art. For me it began in last year with a new photography series I wanted to do revolving around one themed self portrait a week with my friends. Every week we had a theme based off a song title or lyrics and we each brought what that meant to us in a self portrait. Challenges like this can be fun and a great way to keep you accountable as you learn more about your art and craft. I really push people to start taking self portraits when they want to get better at photography because it can help you grow both technically and creatively.

FIVE STEPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY
f r o m B o n n i e o f A C o m p a s s R o s e

1. Start taking Self Portraits. You never need to find a model or tell someone else how to pose. Forget about needing a tripod or a remote. I take most of my self portraits without either of these items. All you need is a sturdy surface and the self timer on your camera.

2. Take One Photo Every Day. There are many challenges out there to keep you occupied with your camera every day. There are even social media groups that participate these types, including on Instagram. Perhaps you do not want to be tied down to a specific or limited theme. Just keep your camera available and shoot what sparks your fancy.

3. Do not Delete. Just because some of your photos did not turn out right, do not rush to delete them off your camera. Learn from your mistakes. The best way to figure out how to improve your photography is to study the photos where you did not achieve what you wanted with those where your photo turned out perfectly. Learning to trouble shoot can take you to the next level as a photographer.

4. Be Inspired. Find ways to inspire your photography. Look at elements within a photograph and go from there. Perhaps focus on locations. Where can you take a photograph and what mood would it set? Start being observant to the world around you and find things in your part of the world that make you enjoy photography. When you love what you do, it shows through your work.

5. Take a Class. Love photography and want to improve? I offer B.Lux Photography courses and in December I am introducing two new classes, with more to come in 2014. No matter where in the world you live, if you have have the willingness to learn you can take these online courses.

BLUX B. In Focus | An beginner’s course or a refresher for intermediate photographers who want to take back the control from their camera and learn how to shoot in manual. We discuss both the technical and the creative aspect of photography as we get to know your camera. Tired of getting fuzzy or outof focus photographs? Not sure why the colours never look right? Having a hard time with lighting and want to know how to work with many different types of lighting situations? Do you want to take better photographs? You have the technology in your hands and you have the creative mind! Now put it together with this course and really push yourself as a photographer. This four week course includes a bonus teacher free week with a final project at the end of the course.

B. Retouched | Do you like to photograph people and take portraits? Not sure what to do with the photos in post processing? In this four week course we learn how to use photoshop specifically for the need of retouching people and faces in your photography. Learn how bring out their natural beauty and how the steps differ depending on the person’s age. From spot retouching, to smoothing skin, and even how to apply make up! The final project in this course will teach you how to take your black and white photo and bring it back to colour with the retouching affects in photoshop.

B. Transformed | An introductory class to photoshop for photographers and bloggers. Whether you are diving into photoshop for the first time as a photographer or are wanting to take your photos to the next level on your blog. We get started with learning the basics to help get away from feeling overwhelmed and start getting creative. In this online course you get on screen videos of how to work in photoshop. From working with layers, filters, brushes, and simple retouch & healing tools. We then look at how you can protect your work, make it web ready, organize and archive your photographs. Help photoshop work with you.

THREE B.LUX CLASSES AVAILABLE!

REGISTRATION BEGINS DECEMBER 2!

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M A K E F R I E N D S & F O L L O W L O U I S A!

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*photography belongs to Bonnie Rose Photography © 2007 – 2013 All Rights Reserved | www.bonnie-rose.co.uk

Weekly Wishes #6: Theatre and You

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I am linking up today with Melyssa for my Weekly Wishes series. While I may not post about all my wishes for the weeks and the upcoming months, they are made and they are there. I would like to touch on some things that have happened in that regard first and what I am wishing for too!

PAST WISHES

T H E U P D A T E S

THEATRE | My previous wishes of getting back into the theatre have continued to be fruitful. My motive for returning to my childhood passion (and my major at Uni) was that I really needed a hobby. Between my husband and I, one of us has to be home to watch the boys and since I now work from home my social circle is not that big. I have to work at finding creative ways to get out of the house and meet new people. It really becomes harder as you get older to make new friends from when I was younger and moved around frequently. So being able to return to something I love to start growing my network has been a blessing. Want to be involved in the theatre world in your area?

Step Up and Volunteer your Services: My local theatre group has a newsletter that goes out every month, to which I am subscribed. I read in a recent newsletter there was a need for a secretary for their monthly meetings. I felt it was a great way to get involved and so far I have really enjoyed it.
Attend a Script Reading: Most theatre houses and drama groups will have readings through out the year. This is a great way to meet people and enjoy the theatre scene. You may even get to be involved! I was asked to take a part for a rehearsed reading at our local group and found myself on stage once again after ten years of absence from the theatre. If you have never been to a script reading, I definitely recommend it!
Audition, Audition, Audition: Yes if you really want to be involved you got to put yourself out there. I have been wanting to do this since my kids both became school age but let the ‘american accent’ be my excuse. I finally decided to go and went to my first audition this summer just to try it once. It ended up getting me introduced to one of the local theatre groups and to attend another audition. This one for the Cinderella Panto in January and I got a part. We had our first read through this weekend and I was so excited to meet the whole cast.
Have a Skill: The theatre is not just about being on stage and acting. There are so many facets to the theatre community and ways you can help out and be apart of the group. From backstage to the front of the house. All you have to do is ask. See what doors open for you.

MOVING | Previously our landlady had decided not to renew our lease which meant we would be having to move days before Christmas again. Between Expat stresses of getting my husband’s visa this month we were also constantly looking at places online and going to viewings in person to find a new ‘home’. Our prayers were answered at the end of last week when we found out our landlady would not be needing the property back and would renew for another six months. So now I can officially plan to be here for Christmas and decorating and put off the house hunt until 2014.

TEACHING | My current passion is photography. It has been since I was a young girl and more so since 2007 when I began my business, Bonnie Rose Photography. Today marks the official first day of my B.Lux photography courses and I have been so excited to work with my students this month. So far I have just one course available, B. In Focus with at least six other courses in production. The next class for B. In Focus is open for registration and begins on Monday the 4th of November, 2013. My wish is for live workshops to be available in 2014 starting in England. I love sharing about photography which is why it is a huge part on my blog. I have a special photography guest post today on Kate’s Grow Your Blog Baby: Photography. Want a photography guest post for your blog, let me know!

LONDON BLATE | I am also hoping to be doing a blate in London next month with my fellow Expat bloggers. It is always good to have something to look forward to and not that I am not stressed out about an impending move a trip to London sounds lovely! Who among my blog readers is in the London area?

1) Always taking photos 2)The rehearsed script reading 3) My Self Portrait
4)Playing with my lighting 5) Reading my Panto script 6) B.Lux Student badge…keep a look out for it! 😉

RECENTLY | I also just wanted to highlight on some recent events in case you missed it.

War on Girls: a new post in the series yesterday about an inspirational poetry slam.
Advice: I would love if you could help me break down that fourth wall and share what you love or may not like on the blog so I can tailor this both for you and me.
Travel Tuesday: I am still doing Travel Tuesday link ups and have changed the button in case you are still using the old one. Hope to see you all tomorrow as I will be mentioning our November theme!
Self Portrait: Along with my goal of posting every day, doing one self portrait a week is my other. Played around with slower shutter speeds this weekend and had my son help out for a more conceptual piece. Whether you just like to follow along or want to link up it is a Self Portrait Saturday challenge.

Q: Tell me What you think about anything, I love hearing from you.

B.Lux Photography Courses | Register for B. In Focus

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I am pleased to announce that the premiere course for B.Lux photography courses is now open for registration!

As of now there are six other courses in the works to be added to the B. Lux family at Bonnie Rose Photography.

The photography 101 course, B. In Focus, will begin on the 21st of October, 2013.

Introducing B. In Focus, the premiere course by Bonnie Rose Photography

B. IN FOCUS: What is in a name? As photographers we want to capture with our cameras what we see with our eyes. The goal for this course is to make shooting in manual not intimidating or overwhelming. B. In Focus teaches you how to take control of your equipment and your creative eye to produce work that keeps inspiring you to carry on!

Course Details: This course is for anyone who wants to learn how to get their camera to do what they want it to in manual. Whether you shoot with a SLR or a Point & Shoot, if your camera has manual settings you can take this course.

This course is for beginners to intermediates who either:

shoot only in automatic
have no clue what they are doing in manual
rely on ‘training wheels’ like Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes
want more confidence with a refresher in manual settings

In this course we look at both the technical side of using your camera and the creative side of being a photographer.

Two aspects that put together will improve your photography skills.

www.bonnie-rose.co.uk

Your Online Class Includes:

Four weeks of online lessons on www.bonnie-rose.co.uk.
Log-in details that will be emailed on the Sunday before your course begins.
Lessons begin every Monday which include text, images, and video.
Assignments which are given on Monday and due every Sunday.
Mentoring with Bonnie Rose through out the fours weeks.

B.Lux | Mentoring:
Beyond a course of online information, B. Lux photography courses include a mentoring program with your instructor, Bonnie Rose, through out the four weeks. Get the ‘in person’ feel of a live workshop in the convenience of taking the course on your own time where ever in the world you live. Mentoring includes:

Email correspondence
Feedback on assignments
Weekly image critiques
Submit questions for answering

WHAT WE COVER IN THE FOUR WEEKS:

Making the switch from auto to manual
Four steps to shooting in manual
White balance and colour control
Aperture, depth of field, background blur and bokeh
ISO and controlling grain
Shutter Speed
Metering Modes
Working with different types of lighting
Working with shadows and finding your light
Reading your camera’s histogram
Composition
10 Ways to Create Interest in a photograph
Unleashing your creativity

BONUS:

If that was not enough on top of the four week instruction you get an extra week for catching up and review. There is no assignment in this week although a final project for the course is due at the end of this period.

A bonus week to review.
Final project with submission into the B.Lux Alumni album.
Membership to join the B.Lux private Facebook group.
Optional B.Lux Instagram hashtag project

www.bonnie-rose.co.uk

GEAR NEEDED Students will need to have a digital camera for this course, which can be a SLR or a point and shoot with manual capability. No specific lenses are required for this course. Access to a computer with internet will be needed to do your lessons and complete your assignments.

COURSE COST ~~Originally £65.00~~ £55.25 per person / if purchased before 3rd of November, 2013
* Offering everyone a special introductory rate for the course if you purchase before the 3rd of November. B. In Focus will be starting on the 21st of October and the 4th of November. Lock in this special price for either two course dates!

CANCELLATION POLICY A full refund is available if the cancelation is made 36 hours before the beginning of the course. Cancellations within 36 hours to the beginning of the course will be issued a credit for a future course. No refunds or credits will be issued once a course begins. If the B.Lux course is cancelled by Bonnie Rose for any reason, full payment will be returned.

COURSE START DATES The B. In Focus course begins twice a month for new students on the first and third Mondays. There are five dates for B. In Focus for the rest of 2013.
2013: 21 Oct | 4 Nov | 18 Nov | 2 Dec | 16 Dec

REGISTER FOR B. IN FOCUS

*B.Lux are photographic services offered by Bonnie Rose Photography | http://www.bonnie-rose.co.uk

Big Announcement & B.Lux

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Blogtember | Monday, September 16: Write a public love letter to someone in your life. (It doesn’t necessarily need to be romantic.)

Dear Friends,

Today I have some pretty big news but cannot begin to talk about it without saying thank you. Thank you to so many of you who have been influential in my life and my journey in the last several years. With out your inspiration, motivation, and encouragement I would not be on this new path that I embark. It is with my whole heart that I write this public letter of gratitude and reflection.

Pictured with amazing supporters of my photography journey, most importantly my husband Ryan.

I have to start with my family. Thank you to my parents for encouraging me in my creative endeavors. For the number of cameras, rolls of film, and editing software you supplied me with while growing up at home. Thank you to my dad, watching down from heaven, who got me my first really nice camera after the birth of my first son. Thank you to my husband for encouraging my interests in photography and getting me my first DSLR that began it all. Thank you Ryan for letting me explore my passions.

To my expat & model friend Leigh who brought me back Penguin biscuits from England before we ever met and who I have photographed on many occasions in Hawaii and England.

You have always been so amazing to my family and I am better for knowing you.

Thank you to my fellow photography enthusiasts in the Hawaii military wives community. As a self taught photographer I really appreciate all the guidance and for answering any questions I had when I first started using my DSLR. Thank you to my good friends who let me practice and were models for me while I honed my skills with the camera.

Liisa and Melissa whose art I adore and friendship I cherish. I miss working with you both!

Thank you to my friends that I met in Hawaii who sparked my creativity passions in photography. The painters, the illustrators, and artists who encouraged me to continue in my art. Thank you to my models and my team of make up artists who brought to life my creative vision for my first ever photography exhibit. It was the one photo shoot that began them all. Thank you to all the models, stylists, make up artists, and assistants that I worked with there after. I could not have asked for a more amazing group of people to have worked with during my time in Hawaii. It was never work and you all became like family to me. Thank you for taking confidence in me and encouraging me with each click of my camera. Thank you to all the other photographers who treated me like their sister, teaching me and advising me in my work. When it came to moving away from Hawaii at my last photography exhibit, I was blown away by the turnout and all the support. I may have left the island but a piece of my heart will always remain with you.

At the magazine launch for my first photos published!

Thank you to all those who were apart of my work being published in magazines, newspapers, and online publications in both my photography and my work as a hairstylist & make up artist. Thank you for your belief in me. It has been an honour to be a part of something so much bigger than me. Thank you also to all those who I look up to as mentors who have taken time to correspond with me in person and online. It really has meant so much to be able to have such creative and motivated people in my field who find success doing what they love. The fact that you have taken time to encourage me in my passions still means so much to me today.

Thank you Hudson for being my cheerleader and friend and hooking a girl up when I needed help.

Thank you to all all those I worked with in the fashion world. From the runways of Oahu, to Tucson Fashion week on the mainland, and Bristol Fashion week here in the UK. I have really enjoyed being able to be apart of the fashion community. Thank you for the encouragement of all the fashion bloggers here in the UK and for welcoming me as I left the US. Thank you to all my readers here on A Compass Rose. You live all over the world and make me feel so connected and included in this blogosphere. Thank you for all your support, your love, encouragement and kind words on my photography and posts. I started blogging every day to give myself consistency in a nomadic life but I found out I return every day because of you. You are so welcoming and so loving that it is hard to fathom that there is a form of distance by miles between us. Thank you for following along on my journey as a photographer living the ex-pat life.

To the fashion & photography community in Hawaii you will always be my Ohana!

Faithfully Yours,

Bonnie Rose
(pictured above in black and the long blonde wig)

Linking up with Jenni’s Blogtember challenge

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THE BIG NEWS

FROM BONNIE ROSE

It is with much excitement I announce some really big news. I began Bonnie Rose Photography in the winter of 2007 and have been blessed with many great opportunities since that time. This Autumn I embark on a new path with BRP and look forward to being able to give back to the photography world that has continued to inspire and motivate.

B.Lux Photography Courses

What’s in a Name?
Exposure is the amount of light allowed in when taking a photograph and is measured in lux, a unit of illuminance. I thought it only fitting to use this term as I shed light on subjects within the online BRP photography courses.

Courses
The first course of B.Lux to set to begin in October. Soon after and throughout 2014 it will be joined by a number of other courses already in the planning stages. The first course is entitled B.In Focus and the other courses have similar names with photography terms.

B. In Focus
In this course you will learn how to switch from automatic settings in your camera and to rely on your new knowledge of manual. The course is geared towards beginners who have only shot in auto and intermediate photographers who want a refresher to gain more confidence and skill in using manual settings. To take the course you need a camera that can shoot in manual settings, be it a point & shoot camera or a DSLR.

It is a four week course, with freedom to go at your own pace throughout. It is structured into four week segments that include a lesson, an assignment, and quiz at the end of each section. Lessons will include text, images, videos, and mashups with 60% of the course being taught in video lectures.

You should take this course if you do not feel comfortable relying on manual when wanting to get the shot you want, or often switch back to auto when using your camera. By taking this course you will build the foundation to get your camera to do what you want it to do in manual. Though not required, this course is a recommended prerequisite for the next six photography courses that will be included in the B.Lux series.

Ready to take part in B.Lux?
Thank you for reading about the official announcement! I know you will probably have many questions. Do not worry much more is to come in the next two weeks. Stay tuned for more information about B.Lux photography courses from Bonnie Rose Photography. More information on how to register, price, and number of openings available will be announced soon. To make sure you do not miss out you can follow along on Bloglovin’, Facebook, and Twitter for special announcements and future updates.

Q: Are you ready for B.Lux?