Q&A

after having a blog for awhile, it seems that questions pile up - most of them similar if not the same question.  i thought i would answer some here, and if you have any more, feel free to ask in the comment section!

1.  What type of camera/lenses do you use?  i have a Nikon D40 (the newer similar version of that available now is the Nikon D60).  i have the nikkor 18-55mm VR lens that it comes with, which is what i use most of the time.  i also have the nikkor 50mm F/1.8 lens, which is the one i use where there is a very blurry background (and sometimes quite blurry subject, since bennett moves so much now its hard to get him in focus).  the 50mm f/1.8 lens does NOT autofocus on the nikon d40 OR d60, which could be a pain, but i am so used to focusing it manually now that it doesnt bother me....however it would be nice to have a camera that autofocuses that lens one day...it is such a great lens.

2.  How do you get such big pictures on your post?  There are a couple ways to do this, so bear with all the techy jibber jabber.  

1) after you upload your pictures using the blogger uploader, you can go into the "edit html" tab and change the width and height in the html code for that picture.  it will say (for example): "width:400px;height:340px;".  the trick is you have to keep the weight to height ratio the same when you change it.  for instance, if you want your picture to be 500 pixels wide (make sure you dont make your picture wider than your posting column!!) then you just do some simple algebra:  340/400=x/500   (old height over old width equals new height over new width).  in my case, you grab your calculator and multiply and divide it all out and solve for "x".  the new width would be 425px, and all the proportions would be the same as the original.  OK, so that sounds really annoying and who wants to revert back to 8th grade algebra anyway? so you could also

2) upload your picture to something like flickr or photobucket.  i used to do photobucket, but it would upload my picture to an already determined size that i didnt get to choose.  in photobucket though, you can click the picture and then go to the "change size" option after your picture is uploaded and change the width to 500 for instance.  it will then automatically change the width to the right size.  you save it, then back on the main screen when you put your mouse on the picture you will see "html code" and you just copy what is in that box and then paste it in blogger where you want the picture to be (make sure you are in the html tab when you do this, it will just make it easier).  in flickr, after uploading a picture i click on the picture and at the top of the picture you click on the magnifying glass that says "all sizes"  then you click whatever size you want (the medium size is usually around 500px wide) and grab that html code and place it on your blog.  sometimes i still go back and change the width and height to be even bigger, but i dont have to keep doing the algebra thing bc from doing it once i always know i can change the width to 640 and the height to 426.24 and my pictures will be in proportion (if of course it is a landscape picture, in portrait mode it would be opposite).  

was THAT confusing enough for you???  seriously though, once you do it once, it is so easy.  just have to figure it out.

3.  How did you get the colors in your pictures to look like that?  if you are talking about any other post than the memorial day post, then i can just throw it out to the camera and the lighting and the situation. however, in the memorial day post i did edit a few of them.  the ones of bennett in the pool, with the flower, in the backyard, and in the tree i adjusted the contrast.  the one of bennett eating oatmeal i adjusted the brightness.  i never edit my photos, but always think every once in awhile it would be fun to.  all the pics i always see on other blogs that i love are always edited, so why not do it every once in awhile.  im not high tech enough to change all the color levels and saturations and white balance and what not like the professional photogs do, but increasing the contrast (and on a couple of them the brightness to make up for the contrast change) just made them look kinda cool.  in photoshop-related programs, just go to the "image" tab at the top, then "adjustments" then "brightness/contrast."  have fun  (and yes - i think the overcast lighting in the ice-cream ones made all our skin tones look kinda weird to me, but i didnt fix them - i might want to go back and see if i can tone them down or something...or maybe not.  we look super tan...)

4.  What kind of fabric do you use on the aprons?  i have found that etsy is the cheapest way to order trendy cute fabric like amy butler, michael miller, joel dewberry, holly anderson, etc.  other fabrics are just finds at my local hancocks, but for some reason since our local one got their "makeover" months back, i havent been able to find as cute fabrics.  hmph

5.  Where can I buy an apron?  so glad you asked :)  actually, ive had an etsy store set up for awhile, just on a whim, but didnt really get the inspiration to be proactive about it until the giveaway.  i was flattered there was actually interest in them...soooo ive ordered boocooclas of fabric and am slaving away to actually have some to list on my store.  i will reveal the address when there is actually something there to buy.  i'll keep you posted!

6.  do you have any more questions?

ask away!  ill be happy to answer them...these were just the ones that kept coming up recently

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