Muse

Today I got a LensBaby Muse from my Uncle Jeff for Christmas. (Yes, we all know it's March, but it's still my Christmas gift.) I suspect I can use it for some portraits and whatnot, and who knows, maybe I can get some amazing music photographs out of it! Can't wait to test it out - Saturday will probably be the best day to experiment because I'll be downtown and also at the Children of October show.

Speaking of testing, I used my K20D for a shoot last Wednesday. The model was Mary Beth and I just adore her. Here's a sample:

Buying a K20D

Due to issues with my beloved Pentax K10D (the mirror flipped up and when I got it back from being repaired the same thing happened and I had to send it out AGAIN), I've just placed an order for a K20D. I'm hoping the K10 is fixed properly this time, of course, but I know I'll always be a bit paranoid about it and have been lusting after the K20 for ages, so yesterday I made up my mind to upgrade. I'll probably use the K10 for shows and the K20 for shoots and important shows. You know, ones I get paid for, or Rock in the Suburbs or national acts. That sort of thing. The K10 will be more everyday and the point-and-shoot I bought in January will be for sticking in my pocket when I go out and I can stop using it for shows.

Because I'm graduating in June, it's important for me to have a back-up camera. I took this quarter off which is why I've managed to survive without my K10 (as much as a I wanted to work on my portfolio) but if something like this happened while I was in school or had a job...it would be disastrous. So my new K20D will be here in 5 business days and I can't wait! The K10 should arrive sometime this week as well...

ImagingUSA

I've just returned to Pittsburgh from Phoenix, AZ (which is about 60 degrees warmer than home) where I was attending the ImagingUSA photo conference as a student volunteer. While it was definitely not a vacation, I had a good time and learned A LOT - amazing Photoshop techniques I can't wait to try out; some ideas for weddings and portraiture; as well as that fixing my camera should be covered under SPS/PPA's insurance policy.

There was a portfolio review that, sadly, I didn't get as much out of as I would have liked, but did meet some interesting people. One is a portrait photographer from my home town of Moon Twp - interesting that I went all the way to Arizona to meet her! I also met the founder of AfterCapture Magazine, which I absolutely adore, and some of the photographers who looked at my portfolio were pretty cool. My reviews were a mixture of "your work is wonderful" and nitpicking. I was most pleased with being nit-picked, because it reminds me to fix small details and also lets me know that overall my work is decent far more than just being told that is. If they're looking at the tiniest things to correct I must be doing something right.

I shot almost 2 whole rolls of color slide film on the plane home today, so I have to go to Photo Depot and get them processed tomorrow!

The Good and The Bad

The Good: I got a flash (and a new camera case) for Christmas - it's the Pentax AF549FGZ, which is far too complicated of a name, so from now on it's going to be referred to simply as The Flash. It'd be great, except for...

The Bad: My camera broke on Christmas and it's currently off being repaired. I won't get it back for a good month or so, which is quite a setback.

The Good: I'm taking this quarter off, so I don't have to worry about actually HAVING to photograph and can spend time editing instead.

The Bad: I don't have a camera to take to ImagingUSA, though I'll probably be buying a point-and-shoot for the trip. This will also allow me to take a small camera with me when I don't want to lug my Pentax around. It'll be helpful for ideas and sketches.

The Good: ImagingUSA is next week!

End of Fall Quarter

This is my exhausted face. V-V

I have to wake up in less than 5 hours to go to Master Printing, last final of the quarter. I've already had Fashion, E-Folio (www.elena-dee.com), and Thesis. After tomorrow is have winter break and a quarter off to shoot shoot shoot. And, of course, go to the ImagingUSA photo conference in Phoenix in January! I, along with others from the AiP chapter of the Student Photographic Society (SPS), am going as a student volunteer, which basically means I get to go for free because I'm working there. It'll be amazing and really educational. I need to work on my portfolio for the review I'm getting while I'm there.

I also need to work on getting an internship and matting my Master Printing final. The negatives aren't scanned yet, but here's something from Fashion.

Music [On] Now Available

My book from Thesis is available for purchase at Blurb.com

Music [On]

By Elena D'Agostino

Fashion Final - Stephani

Just got back from a shoot for my Fashion final with a model named Stephani (http://www.modelmayhem.com/slezatoff ). She was so sweet! We shot in the church her father is a pastor at, so that was a pretty neat setting. The dress wasn't as ripped up as I would have liked, but I got some silhouettes that I'm really excited about and am currently loading into LightRoom.

Another thing I'm really excited about is my thesis. It's on the local music community and I shot the cover for the book this weekend (getting the title in the process)! It, in my opinion, looks amazing. I can't wait for it to be done!