Photo Expressions

Nikon J1 Camera Review

We recently took a trip to Disneyland with the 3 little kiddies.  As a professional photographer, my gear is kind of big and heavy.  In fact, my camera body, big 70-200 lens and flash combined weigh about 7.5 pounds!  I was looking to get a camera that could take great pictures, but was a little more inconspicuous.

Enter the Nikon J1, a new type of "mini-SLR" camera on the market.  This type of camera is also known as "mirrorless", because there is no optical viewfinder with mirror, which would add bulk.  The bottom line is a compact, fits-in-my-wife's-purse camera which has a lot of great features.  I bought one with a 10-30mm zoom lens and took it on our trip.  Here is a look at some of the features and some samples:

Motion Snapshot - this innovative mode takes a still photo and a small snippet of video at the same time.  The result is - a still photo and a small snippet of video!  You can review the small videos at the end of the day and it makes a great, unique slideshow.  Plus, you have stills you can print.  I love this mode!  Here is an example of a slideshow I made of some of the video clips:

Best Shot Selector - this feature has been around for a while on Nikon cameras, but the Nikon 1 series kicks it up a notch.  When you press the shutter in this mode, the camera takes 20 photos at 30 frames per second.  It then analyzes the photos for focus, motion blur, eye blinks, etc, and delivers the 5 best photos, with the best photo stacked on top.  You then have a choice to delete the other 4 photos, leaving you with the 1 perfect photo.  Amazing!  I actually don't have any examples of this feature, because it was so easy to edit them to one shot, and anyone who knows me knows that I whittle my photos down religiously as I take them.

World's Fastest Auto-Focus and Continuous Shooting - you can shoot 10 fps (frames per second) with AF (auto-focus) tracking on, and up to 60 fps in single AF mode.  With 73 different focus points, more than any other camera, the auto-focus works quite well!

If you want to test your camera's auto-focus, try doing so at night, 40 feet in the air, at high speeds, going in circles!  (you will note some noise in this image background - it was shot at 3200 ISO and lightened in Photoshop)

Auto Scene Selection - in Auto mode, you can let the camera determine the best "scene mode" for you on a shot-to-shot basis.  Beach?  Portrait?  Fireworks?  They are all there.

These photos were taken with different "scene modes", but as far as I care, they were all taken on "Auto" (the photos are straight out of the camera).

Full HD Video - this is my first camera that takes full HD video, and I quite like it!  It also has a special mode where it shoots video at a whopping 400 fps, instead of the usual 30, for a silky smooth slo-mo.  Five seconds of filming becomes just over a minute of playback.  Imagine this on your golf swing!  And maybe the best feature of all, you can snap full size still photos while shooting full HD video, completely uninterrupted!  It is truly the best of both worlds and a jaw-dropping technical advance.

Full HD Video:

And the super-slo-mo.  This is from the fireworks finale:

These photos were taken while shooting HD video:

So there you have it.  Pretty much all of the bells and whistles on this camera I found useful and extremely fun to use.  Combine that with the tiny size for an SLR camera and simple controls, and I think Nikon has a big winner on their hands with the J1!  Come on down to Photo Express foto source to try it out today!

- Ron C

Tutorial: Coloring and Shading Flowers by Sharon Harnist

Ttutorial: Coloring and Shading Flowers by Sharon Harnist

1. Stamp an image. Then, choose a 3-color blending group (here I used R20, R22, R27) and quickly base coat the roses with the lightest color.	Here, I’m using R20. You don’t need to be concerned with taking your time and coloring in small circular motion; you’ll be doing enough blending later! You can even leave the a few areas white, like the very tip ends of the petals.
2. The illustrator will usually give you an idea of where the shading, or deeper/darker colors should be; those areas will usually be cross-hatched or indicated with lines or stippling. Color those areas with your mid-tone color (R22).	3. Go back with your first, lightest marker (R20) and blend the colors together.
4. Also, keep in mind that areas/petals that are closer to you will appear lighter and petals that are towards the back or bottom of the flower will naturally appear darker; color those areas with either your mid-tone or your darkest color (I used R22 and R27).	5. Go back and add some depth to your mid-tones and deepest recesses of the flowers with your darkest color (R27). Also, where some petals cast a shadow on other petals, use your darkest color to indicate shadows. Blend with your mid-tone color, if necessary.
6. For the leaves, again, choose a 3-color blending group (I used G21, G24, G28). Quickly base coat the leaves and stems with the lightest color in your blending group (G21), leaving a few white spaces as highlights if you wish.	7. Use your mid-tone color to add depth to the areas indicated by the illustrator (usually on the lower half of the leaf) and on leaves that are further away from you or towards the back of the plant (G24).
8. Go back and use the lightest G20 to blend the two colors together, if needed. 9. Go back and add some depth to your mid-tones and deepest recesses of the flowers with your darkest color (R27). Also, where some petals cast a shadow on other petals, use your darkest color to indicate shadows. Blend with your mid-tone color, if necessary.

What is a die cut machine and what do you do with it?

What is die cutting?
Die cutting is like using a cookie cutter. A hand-operated, die cutting machine uses steel rule die shapes to cut through a wide range of materials quickly and easily.

What makes die cutting better than scissors?
The use of scissors takes time and patience. However, die cutting transforms the tedious task of cutting numerous letters and shapes into a fast, fun and easy endeavor – replicating the same perfect shape over and over again.

How do I clean my machine?
Over time and due to normal use, your shape-cutting machine may become dirty or dusty. To clean, use Isopropanol (rubbing alcohol) poured on a clean paper towel and rub over the machine until it evaporates. With another clean, dry paper towel, wipe off any residue. Never use bleach or abrasive cleaners on the Machine. Never oil your Machine.

What can you cut?

•Self-adhesive rubber (for making rubber stamps)
•Sheet magnet
•Foil
•Static cling vinyl
•Fabric
•Felt
•Thin metal
•Paper wood
•Heat and shrink plastic
•Poly foam
•Sponge
•Leather
•Faux fur
•And so much more

Sizzix Big Shot Machine

There's a big reason why we call our shape-cutting and embossing machine a Big Shot. It's because the stylish black-and-pink Big Shot works with our smallest dies to our big 6" wide plastic-backed treasures and embossing tools. If that wasn’t big enough, this portable roller machine cuts and embosses many different materials. This versatile machine works with ALL dies and embossing folders.  Now that’s a big deal.

There are two different types of Sizzix dies - embossing and shape cutting.

Embossing

Shape Cutting

One die, endless possibilities

Inspiration for you:

Create a scrapbook page base out of patterned paper. Ink edges of page. Cut a large patterned paper rectangle and adhere along the right side of the page. Stamp a Bingo Card onto cardstock, trim around the design, mat on patterned paper and attach to the page. Stamp designs along the bottom of the page. Die-cut a Tag from cardstock, ink edges and attach to the page. Die-cut No. 7 from cardstock using the Cargo Stencil Numbers Movers & Shapers Magnetic die set and the Base Tray. Crop a photo to size and attach to the page. Die-cut Tattered Flower Garland from patterned papers and ink edges. Layer flowers to assemble and secure layers with brads. Adhere as shown.

Cut cardstock to size and fold to form card base. Cut a piece of patterned paper to fit across the card front and emboss using the Honeycomb embossing folder. Adhere in place and distress with ink. Die-cut Harlequin Border out of patterned paper and adhere to the card front. Trim away excess. Die-cut Bird Branch out of cardstock and patterned paper. Distress with ink and attach to the card front. Stamp a sentiment onto patterned paper, trim to size, ink edges and attach to the card front. Wrap a ribbon around the card front and tie in a bow.

Cut a box out of cardstock and it's lid out of patterned paper and fold to assemble. Distress the edges of the box with ink. Wrap a ribbon around the box and tie in a bow. Die-cut Sewing Edge from cardstock. Embellish with twine and ink. Stamp a sentiment onto cardstock, trim to size, ink edges and attach to the box top with foam dots.

Delightful - New Authentique

I've been so bad at getting new products into the blog lately, there has just been too much new stuff. I am so in love with the monthly releases from Authentique. This month is beautiful for feminine and soft pages. They have also added in some matching baby items too.

Delightful

"beautiful" paper	"elegant" paper	"lovely" paper	"sweet" paper
"charming" paper	"cheerful" paper	"details" 12x12 stickers	"elements" 12x8 stickers
6x6 "bundle"	collection kit

Baby

baby girl "excerpts"	baby girl "expressions"	baby girl "headlines"	baby girl "noteables"
baby girl "icons"	baby girl "tabloids"	baby girl collection kit	baby girl "classic type"
baby girl "diction"	baby girl "petite type"

 

Easter Eggs using your Craft Supplies

Here are some great ideas from Better Home and Gardens for making pretty Easter eggs.

Using a crafts punch, punch circles from double-sided adhesive. Attach them to the eggs. Pour different colors of glitter into separate bowls. Roll each egg in glitter; remove excess with a clean paintbrush. For a multicolor egg, place a few stickers on an egg at a time. Roll in glitter, remove excess, adhere more circles, and repeat with a different color glitter. And by using different die cut or punches shapes, the possibilities are endless.

Scrapbooking supplies are a simple way to create cute, dye-free eggs. Thicker stickers work best because they cling to the shape of the egg. Place decorated eggs in mini pots for a seasonal display.

Decorative paper delights on these sophisticated eggs. Attach patterned-paper pieces to double-sided adhesive, remove backing, and attach to egg. To decorate eggs with ribbon, use 1/8-inch double-sided crafts tape to make designs. Stick ribbons onto tape, then adhere to egg as desired.