Bear Artists Online - TBACA

It sure is quiet around here, what's everyone up to? (not you Sandi I could take a pretty good guess what you're up to:P) I'm making bears ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!! I also almost decapitated my little finger last night, a cooking accident with my extremely sharp cooks knife! There was alot of blood! All I can say is thank goodness for "Band Aid Tough Strips Finger Care"! I've got my pinkie strapped up nice and tight and I think it will be fine  And I managed to finish the dinner with one hand.......a little awkwardly.....;)

Goodness Linda, your accident sounds like it could have an implication for bear making! I hope the finger is on the mend asap.

Since it is a bit quiet at the moment I would love some help....

As Sandi can attest, my photos really need some work (and I am finding this a very frustrating task since I'm not a natural in this area). I am interested to hear some tips on good photography techniques. I have tried a few different ways to photgraph my bears but I am not 'getting it' right. Would REALLY appreciate any pearls of wisdom in terms of tools, techniques and tricks.

Thanks everyone!

Lisa

OMG Linda that accident sounds like it could have been worse!  Hope your finger is on the mend and doesn't stop you producing your beautful bears for long!

Lisa - I'm a hopeless photographer too and I don't have a light tent or other such things, so I choose the easy option:  always photograph outside in good light.  I seem to take a gazillion photos (it's funny how most are never 'quite right') but there's always THE ONE you are happy with.  I study a few photos on the computer screen at once so I can compare pros and cons of each until I'm satisfied with only one in that pose.

My bears eyes are their draw card (well, in my opinion anyway) so i try to focus on photographing their faces well to ensure I capture the emotion I have created.  

I'm not perfect at it, but I think you'll find there are heaps of us out there who will admit they're not either - practice makes perfect!

Hugs,

Marg 

Hi  Lisa and welcome to TBACA, I look forward to seeing your bears at the Valentine Show. I have tried different backdrops for my bears and I have found that the blue I now use works well for all colours of my bears either light or dark. it is just a piece of cardboard that I rest againt the seat  and back of a chair. I photograph outside under a patio with a lazer light roof away from the direct sunlight so you get no shadows behind the bears. The camera I use is a Canon Powershot which does all the hard work for me and I do any resizing in Photoshop. 

Cheers Susan♥

Lisa try studying Susan's photos and you will see her bears seem to "pop out of the photo", there are no distractions in the background at all and her blue always works well.

If you are photographing outdoors ALWAYS do it on a bright overcast day (that may sound like a contradiction but we have both bright overcast and dull overcast depending on the colour of the clouds...so light coloured clouds rather than dark grey)...you will get no or very little shadow.

Set your bear up in the position required and take many photos moving yourself or your tripod, from right to left so you are getting the one shot from slightly different angles.

Make sure photos are in focus...if you don't have a tripod it's worth investing in one.

While we are on photography, can any one tell me if you can get the faded out edges with out photo shop. If you can HOW is the question.

Thanks for the tip about the blue Susan, I usually do white, or cream, so I will try blue.

Thanks Sandi, about moving the tripod around I was  moving the bear,

then that was a bother so I will try moving the tripod.

Linda, Ouch, the ends of fingers are soar.

Ouch Linda!!! Hope your finger mends quickly it's so annoying having a finger out of action, are you sure you didn't need stitches?

It has been quiet lately I think perhaps the recent floods and the devistation caused has put us all on a bit of a downer, it's been hard to think of much else even if your not personally affected.

Like you I'm making bears just managed to draw breath from finishing my bears for BMV and it's on to bears for STBF in March. Time seems to flying by this year and it's only just started.

Bear Hugs

Lyn

Hi all! I can't say I've been busy bearing but have been getting ready for our trip  - leave on Australia day. Your poor finger Linda - hope it heals quickly. I have been nursing a very badly infected toe -compliments of a leech. Have had it for two weeks ,and only now with the second lot of antibiotics is it clearing. One thing I know now is that I am definitely allergic to leeches !

I hope everyone has lots of sales at BMV show. My bears will be there and my sister-in-law Jenn Findlay is going to handle it for me. She may log on to the forum so do say hello to her! If I'm near a computer I'll try too.

Hugs Lesley

Have a fab trip, Lesley! I have a friend who is highly allergic to leeches, she swells up like the elephant woman! Not pretty. (How long will you be away?)

The finger probably could have done with a stitch or two, but that seemed more hassle than it's worth so I've kept it covered and dry and took a peek at it today, it seems to be healing ok  Luckily it was the pinky on my left hand so hasn't impeded my bearing in the least

Susan I use my patio for photography too, it has laserlite roof and I also hang up a white cloth up to cut the glare of the sun. So it really does end up like a bright overcast day, lightwise. I'm going to invest in some coloured card too, I like the nice smooth undistracting background you get with it. I must say that digital cameras have been a boon for all of us. Back in the bad ol' days of film I'd often get a roll back from processing and there would be nothing worthy on it! It was usually a case of choosing the best of a bad lot. At least these days you can keep plugging away and checking things out on the computer until you're totally happy........that is so long as you haven't left everything to the last minute with a deadline looming.....cough cough.......:/

Kay I don't use Photoshop...maybe some of the others can help you.

Linda...you're right, I was, but I'm packing it in for the day  to do some sewing...I'm all 'putered out!

OOOOWWW!! Linda!!!  Lucky it's the pinkie!!

Well it has been a big few weeks but now Mum has two new knees in and she is up and running 3days after....maybe you wouldn't call it running but more like an exhausting shuffle!!!

All went great with the op, she went in at 8 am out at 11am and had lunch at 12. Everything would have been brilliant but for them running out of the drug they use in the epidural on the first night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pain level hit an 8/10 by the next morning, and Mums 8 is most likely many peoples 12/10. It took them till lunch to get it back under control as they have to build the level back up slowly!!! Happily now she is through the very worst, still many challenges to get through, but back on her feet enough to hit the loo and get to the seat in the shower to freshen up! Mum is only 68 so I reckon she is going to be jumping out of her skin in 6 months and can finally throw all the pain killers in the bin...yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looking forward to the valentines show !!!

On photography ....I am forever trying to get better, so have taken in all the tips....I do mine under cover outside .

Goodluck at the show everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs Lindaxx

Hi All,

I'm just off to bed, but I thought I'd check in and let you know I am around.... but feeling fairly sorry for myself I've got a suspected stomach ulcer (or possibly hiatus hernia) and I've got at least 6 mths of tablets to look forward to. Got horrid chest pains and can't bend down, or eat more than a few mouthfuls and I feel really rotten! I've been told it might take 6 to 8 weeks before I'll feel better; it's worried me re the bears and fairs a bit.

On the bright side I should imagine I'll end up a size 10 by the end of it!!! Bit of a drastic way to get less cuddly!

I am looking forward to the show too :0)

Hugs everyone,Linda I hope the finger heals soon,

Ruth xx

This is the get well message to every one. Linda, with her finger, the other Linda's mum ( I do hope she progresses well. ) and Ruth.

We need happy stitchers in our bear making family.

I'm wondering what to expect in the Valentine show. It's my first on line show, so I'm a bit nerves. We don't have to stay up all night do we?

I'm sure that would not be expected, although I bet the candle will burn late into the night for overseas inquiries.

No round the clock for this one Kay ... it runs from 8 pm Friday till 8 pm Monday ... I don't think any of us could manage that! LOL!!

We will have our special forum page open as we have had in the past and hopefully we will still see some action.

Hi Sandi,

Is it O.K to post sneek peeks of our valentine bears yet?

Cheers Susan♥

I'm pretty sure it was the 1st of February for BMV sneek peeks....I seem to remember that date for some reason.

I've been busy busy!  Last week of school holidays then it's back to school and kindy for my 2.  I'm looking forward to getting a routine back again.  I've been making bears and loving it.  I'm working on making a koala from synthetic fur, similar to the needle felted one in my profile pic.  I'm also finishing up my project for ABC magazine so that will be sent off this week.  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's creations for BMV.

Hi Susan...I would dearly love EVERYONE to get behind the show and start promoting it on their blogs, face book pages etc...but NOT ALL OF YOU AT ONCE. Maybe add a a snippet of each entry over a period of 10 days culminating in a collage on the 1st  February.

I have just put an ear of a bear on my site. I hope thats what we do.

I will pop over to you Susan and have a look at what you have done

kay,

Don't hurry I haven't updayed yet, it has been a bit windy here and that is not good for fluffy mink....it makes for a bad hair day.

Cheer Susan♥

Kay Schulz at January 21, 2011 at 6:30 AM

While we are on photography, can any one tell me if you can get the faded out edges with out photo shop. If you can HOW is the question.

 

Thanks for the tip about the blue Susan, I usually do white, or cream, so I will try blue.

 

Thanks Sandi, about moving the tripod around I was  moving the bear,

then that was a bother so I will try moving the tripod.

 

Linda, Ouch, the ends of fingers are soar.

Hi Kay. I use PSE and I will try to explain my best.  Bring up you pic you wish to edit.  Down the left side you will find an icon that looks like a rubber stamp - it is a clone stamp.  Then you ALT and click mouse on an area of background that is the colour you want to  blend over the faded edges.  Just play around with it - takes some practise! Good luck!  

Hugs Wendy XXX