Creative Digital Journeys

Eye Retouching Tutorial

2011-02-09T09:00:00.000-06:00

I personally love video tutorials, and this one packs in the education. This high end tutorial goes through some really neat tips and trick on retouching eyes. I found the eyelash parts especially helpful.

Watching in HD is a must, so have a look.

Inspiration: Philippe Kerlo Shoots through Plexiglass

2011-02-08T09:35:00.000-06:00

This video shows the amazing Philippe Kerlo shooting amazing beauty shots through painted plexi-glass material. The combination of extreme makeup and simple shooting style result in stunning images. Please have a watch.

Boudoir Editing Basics

2011-01-27T21:44:00.000-06:00

Video Post - Worflow: Chapter 1

2010-04-06T10:13:00.003-05:00

This is the first of many video posts about my workflow and editing process. This video is a beginner video on getting your images out of the camera and into Lightroom. Watch it on YouTube

Here comes the Puppet Master - New Feature in Photoshop CS5

2010-04-04T11:57:00.000-05:00

With the upcoming release of Photoshop CS5 on the horizon, there have been a whole slew of features that are making us drool. One of the newest features to hit the scene is called the Puppet Warp. The uses for this tool are so vast, it would be impossible to list them all. Watch it below and let me know what you think.

The Frustrated Photographer

2010-04-01T12:07:00.000-05:00

In my Flickr journeys today I came across a post with a link to this video. Originally shot as a commercial for LiveBooks, this cursing photographer is so funny. Worth a minute or two of your time for a good laugh. If you like it, please leave a comment!

The Frustrated Photographer from Creative Destiny, LLC on Vimeo.

OMG, I Love Content Aware Scale

2010-03-27T22:22:00.001-05:00

I use Photoshop for a lot of reasons, for basic edits, for enlargements, for full scale digital art. There are many tools that I feel I could not live without. Tonight, my big fave is Content Aware Scale.

If you are familiar with Photoshop, but not with this great tool, it can really be a lifesaver. Content Aware Scale is located under the Edit Menu. To enable the tool, simply duplicate your background layer (for new images) or select the layer you want to alter. Then go to Edit - > Content Aware Scale to enable it.

You will now have what looks at first to be the basic tools for resizing layers, but there are a few new additions.

First, we will talk about the Amount Slider. The Amount slider controls the amount of content aware scaling is applied to the image. Bringing it down to 0 would basically make it like a standard layer stretch, pulling it to 100 gives the maximum amount of content aware scaling.

Next, we will talk about the little button that looks like a man. This button will help to protect from things like faces becoming distorted as you stretch or shrink the image.

For more great tips on how to use the Content Aware Scale tools, check out this link for an excerpt from the great book by Martin Evening entitled Adobe Photoshop CS4 for Photographers.

I Love This Photographer: John Paul Caponigro

2010-03-05T10:04:00.000-06:00

The second post in my new blog series is about the fabulous photographer and digital pioneer: John Paul Caponigro.

John Paul is a Photoshop Hall of Famer with a resume that is both long and impressive. His background in painting combined with alternative process techniques and other traditional photography techniques allowed him to pioneer new digital processes to create spectacular imagery. His photography focuses mainly on nature and is often of desolate landscapes. But these landscapes are far from boring. The emptiness leads you to a sense of spirituality and closeness to nature.

Additionally, John Paul is a teacher. He hosts workshops regularly and his blog is a must read, with articles on all aspects of photography and the editing process.

New Article from PhotoTuts: 3 Fantastic Uses of the High Pass Filter

2010-03-04T10:51:00.000-06:00

The high pass filter has gotten a lot of attention lately. It is probably one of the easiest filters to overuse or misuse. We have all seen the ridiculously overwork high pass filter attempts.

But, don't get me wrong. This filter has its uses. When used moderately, it is an amazing tool. Check out a great article on 3 Fantastic Uses of the High Pass Filter at PhotoTuts.

Quick and Easy Smoke Photography

2010-03-03T10:00:00.007-06:00

In my meanderings about the web, I came across a great tutorial on photographing smoke. The setup is pretty simple and results are more than amazing. All you need is some paper, a strobe, and some incense. This great tutorial is courtesy of ANRB Photography, so be sure to hand out some website love and check out his other blog goodness.

A Quick Recipe for Amazing Smoke Photography

New Post Series | I Love This Photographer: Joe McNally

2010-03-02T12:14:00.003-06:00

So I know I have been a little lazy on posts, but that is about to change.

First, of all, I would like to let everyone know a little about how I spend my own time. I read. I read a lot. I read a whole lot. Most of it online. Why? For inspiration, knowledge, seeing who is who, and just for good ole' fun.

In my reading, I have come across so many talented photographers. I bookmark their sites, add their blogs to my Google Reader, stuff like that. Now I would like to share with you all of these great photographers I have come across in my digital journeys.

Today, I will start out my new series of posts with the ever amazing Joe McNally. If you do not know Joe, you should. He has a lot to teach you. I learned about Joe McNally from his book entitled "The Moment It Clicks".
This book is an eye opening and informative book that is part how to and part behind the scenes kind of thing about some of his most amazing photo shoots. Having shot for National Geographic for some to die for jobs, I think Joe knows a thing or two about how to do a photo shoot. His client list includes Nikon, Adidas, FedEx, and Sony to name a few.

What amazes me about Joe is his down to earth sensibilities and just straight up honest speech about the photography business. He is not afraid to admit that things happen by chance from time to time and not everything happens "because you are that good".

His blog is a journal/behind the scenes look at his current work. It is most definitely worth an add to your feed reader. Don't forget to check out his other books "The Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes" and "Faces of Ground Zero: Portraits of Heroes of September 11, 2001".

Posted via email from Ariana Bauer

Xciting is sold.

2010-02-06T21:33:00.002-06:00

Just sold my very first big piece. Xciting sold for $250 at Naughti Gras. Come on, still 3 hours left. Four Times the Fun is still up for grabs.

Posted via email from Ariana's posterous

New Gallery Posted: Latex Lovelies

2010-01-10T00:16:00.003-06:00

Just posted a great new gallery with more images to come! All about Latex Lovelies.
These images are *hopefully* going to be showing at Naughti Gras in St . Louis, MO.
See them at my new site Vixen Prints

Posted via email from Ariana's posterous

My Trip to Lebanon: Week One

2009-12-26T15:34:00.002-06:00

First, Merry Christmas (though a little late) to everyone!
I visited Byblos, the oldest continually inhabited city on the planet, this week. This being my second time visiting, I am still amazed at the structure and the souks. Shopping in store fronts that have shopped in for thousands of years is so much fun.
Today, I visited Southern Lebanon, where my family has over 1200 acres and saw the remains of the home my grandmother and great grandmother was born in. The destruction is overwhelming. The cities I was in today were flattened to the ground by the Israeli bombing of 2006. There is so little words to describe how it felt to be standing on the border of Lebanon and Israel. The Lebanese are phenomenal people, after years and years and being bombed into the ground, they are still rebuilding the houses of their families. They will never quite. I saw million dollar villas next to rubble of houses long destroyed.
The Lebanese are perhaps the most resilient people on the planet. I watched my grandmother look over the border and stare onto land stolen from her during war, land she played upon as a child, now guarded by electric fences and snipers and tanks and God only knows what else. She stood proud, her and her brother, and with conviction and hope, told us the stories of their happy childhoods and troubled war stories. It makes me proud to call myself Lebanese today. I truly felt a connection with my heritage today in a way not many people experience. Today we stood four generations on the land of my family, in the shadow of Mount Herman and took our family portrait. It was a moment I will tell my grandchildren about.
Please feel free to ask any questions on Lebanon you might have for me, it would be my pleasure to help people learn more about this amazing nation.
Tomorrow off to visit family in Juneieh. I love Juneieh, it's on the Christian side of the city and has so much shopping. Now to try to get a little sleep and download 16GB of data from CF cards!

Posted via email from Ariana's posterous

Off the Wall at City Hall - Saturday, December 12

2009-12-07T13:51:00.002-06:00

Hello Everyone!
Be sure to add Off the Wall at City Hall to your weekend activities list. Saturday night will be great music, food, and art all in one amazing event. There will also be a sneak preview of the Square Foot Show, so don't miss it!
The party details:
WHERE: City Hall (downtown)
WHEN: December 12, from 7-11PM
MORE: $10 suggested donation at the door.
I will be one of the many art vendors there. I will have my prints and smaller items on sale. All items under $25. Great last minute gifts!
http://portfolio.arianabauer.com
http://www.facebook.com/arianabauer
http://twitter.com/arianadbauer
http://www.flickr.com/arianabauer

Posted via email from Ariana's posterous

Brand New Site Design

2009-12-01T12:54:00.002-06:00

My website is all new an redesigned! I decided to go with a brighter theme to let my images really pop. A brand new blog and store are on the way soon!
http://portfolio.arianabauer.com

Posted via email from Ariana's posterous

A Toast to the Fantastic Mr. Fox

2009-11-28T23:28:00.002-06:00

While this blog is supposed to be about photography, but the movie The Fabulous Mr. Fox has blurred the line a bit for me.
For those of you who live down a fox hold, this movie is based upon a story by Roals Dahl of the same name. While the star studded cast and dashing dialog are enough to lure most viewers, for me it was how it was made that made this movie a must see.
This movie was created with thousands and thousands of single still images created with digital SLRs. All of the movie was REAL. The hair on the animals, the sewers, the leaves, everything was created on miniature. The lighting and colors were intense, vivid, and surreal at times. The still images ran across the screen to my amazement with fluidity and grace.
My hat off to the team behind this feature film. The movie was inspirational and fun, heartwarming and emotional, and visually stunning.
My advice is that all you creative folks out there, go see this movie. You will leave inspired for sure.
To see a really cool behind the scenes video and the trailer visit http://www.thefabulousmrfox.com

Posted via email from Ariana's posterous

Check my fan page for the latest news!

2009-11-24T16:21:00.002-06:00

Wow! Ariana Bauer Digital Art & Photography now has over 200 fans! I will be posting new galleries tonight on the site. Be sure to sign up on my mailing list for free desktop backgrounds and discounts in my store.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Columbia-IL/Ariana-Bauer-Digital-Art-Photography/196862585504?ref=mf

Thanks everyone!

Posted via email from Ariana's posterous

My Lensbaby and Why I Love It

2009-11-20T10:41:00.002-06:00

Today on Flickr I was intrigued by a post asking some questions on why to own a Lensbaby. In answering the post, I realized that my Lensbaby is so much more than a lens to me. I am posting it here because I believe that there is something so amazing and creative about this simple little tool. So enough babbling, here is the post:

Q: Why is it essential to have a Lensbaby?
A: It is not essential, until you have one and then you might find it essential, you never know.

Q: Why is it "unique" among all the other lenses?
A: Because it is a Lensbaby, of course! The better answer, because it is innacurate, random, strange, odd, changeable. You never shoot something the same way twice with it. For me, I pull it out to spark new creativity. To unfocus and see thing in a way I did not see before. I use it as much for an inspiration as for a tool. Some of my own favorite images are the ones where I threw my Lensbaby on my lense and forced myself to not take it off. It also makes me think about what I am shooting and concetrate on isolating a single subject, thought, or idea. I also use it to challenge myself to do something I would not normally do otherwise.

Q: I know the creator of this planned to replicate the Holga cameras... but why do people buy this lens?
A: People buy this lens for fun, for creativity, for sh**s and grins. Some people buy it and tell you its a waste of money while others say its a vital tool in their creativity.

Hope this explains why I love my Lensbaby. I hope it inspires others to fall in love with this amazing lens.

Interview with Ariana @ Inspire76

2009-10-24T11:06:00.001-05:00

I have had my very first interview post this week. You can see the details here:

http://inspire76.com/2009/10/24/interview-ariana-bauer-photography/comment-page-1/#comment-264

Please retweet or facebook it if you like it!

Here is the transcript straight from the source:

A few weeks ago we had spotlighted the inspiring work of photographer/digital artist Ariana Bauer. We were lucky enough to get an interview with her and find out more about her creative style.

1 ) Tell us about yourself:
I am a Lebanese American digital artist and photographer. I love to capture beauty in the world around me, and have been interested in just about every form of art since childhood. I have worked in many medias, from textiles to painting to collage, but the world of photography and digital art are my specialties.

2 ) Tell us a bit about your artwork:
My artwork is a combination of digital painting techniques and photographic media. I use many different images in a completed piece. I let the core image drive the inspiration and direction of my pieces. In the photographic elements, I love to shoot all different kinds of subject matter and work in many locations. I have a huge library of thousands of images that serve as a core for my work. No matter what my subject matter, I focus on bringing out the natural beauty in my subject though age. I find aging an image allows the subject to truly shine. I also love to experiment by trying different combinations of images, no matter how strange or chaotic. Sometimes the chaotic element makes it to the finished work and adds a bit of the unexpected to an image.

3 ) What are your tools of the trade, including hardware and software:
I shoot with a Nikon D300 and a selection of lenses. My preferred lenses are my Nikkor 17-55mm, my Nikkor 50mm , and my Lensbaby.
I have a large selection of studio lighting equipment, nearly all Alien Bees mono lights. I am in love with my latest acquisition, the 86″ parabolic umbrella (you can find a review of the device on my blog). It just creates the most amazing light. I prefer to use simple lighting techniques with two, maybe three lights at a time.
I like to edit my work in the midst of the chaos of my living room on my Lenovo Y530. It is durable and has taken a few hits with ease (my 19 month old threw a hard sippy cup at it and dented the case). It is speedy and has a great monitor.

For software, there a few programs I could not live without. Adobe Photoshop CS4 is where I do all of my editing. I use Noiseware Professional for noise reduction and skin smoothing and Alien Skin BlowUp to literally blow up my images for print. I also love the filters from Photokit, especially the creative sharpener brushes.

4 ) How long have you been an artist and what, if any, hurdles did you have to overcome in the process?

I have been creating digital art for around 10 years and have been very serious about my photography for the past 5 years. I started with 3D animation, moved to graphic design, and eventually into a mix of the medias with photography.
I think the biggest hurdle in my art has been finding the right audience. Digital art is a very new field and people are not always sure how to respond. Is it a photo? Is it a painting? My art falls between the lines in a place that is hard to categorize. My work also tends to feel “old” or “vintage” and doesn’t seem to have a home amongst the typical newer photographic works on the gallery walls.

5 ) Where do you find your creativity and inspiration?
I find creative inspiration everywhere around me. My biggest inspiration are my two boys (3 and 19 months). I adore watching them discover the world. I am in awe of how they notice the smallest details on the tiniest flower. The world around them is so new and free. I long to create in a way that is as free as they are.
I am also incredibly inspired by the early days of photography. I love the freedom the early photographers had, the pioneer spirit. I think they were then what digital artists are now.

6 ) Who are your favorite artists and why?
This is a very hard question because I have too many to list here. As far as photography is concerned I am always in awe of Annie Leibovitz. I started reading Voque as a child and have been collecting her images from the magazine pages for many years.
My mother has always been a fantasy artwork collector. I grew up with Boris Vallejo calendars filling the walls. This has been a big influence on how I work with models. I strive to create a fantasy world like the ones in the calendars.

Traditional fine art is also another source of inspiration. I adore Monet for his amazing brush strokes. I am obsessed with texture. I love to go to the St. Louis Art Museum and inspect paintings for the texture and feeling.

7 ) Which piece of your art stands out as a favorite and why?
My favorite piece is a very simple seascape image, called “Forever”. The image was taken in San Francisco, CA. The day was especially cool and the surfers were not going in the water, they were just sitting and watching the waves. It was maybe 5 PM, so the sun was on its way down, showing in from the right side. The sea was just so perfect and seems to go on forever. I am in love with ocean and wish that I could live by it. For me, this image is where I could be forever.

8 ) Tell us about your artistic process from creation to completion:
An image for me starts one of two ways, random inspiration or avid research. If I have an idea that can be worked out in the studio, I will build a set and hire models when needed to create the core image, though most often I am just walking along and I snap away. Often times, those are the images that stay with me and move into the next step in the creative process.
After choosing a core image that speaks to me, I start to play. I edit out anything that is obviously out of place, such as basic color and skin retouching. Then I let the image do some work. I layer multiple images together to texturize, age, antique, and change the color of the image. The hardest part is knowing when to stop. An image may take me one hour to one week to complete. I know the work is usually done when everything I add I don’t like.

9 ) If you could have your art displayed anywhere, where would it be and why?
Okay, another hard one! I would love to see my art at the Bellagio Fine Art Gallery in Las Vegas. The Bellagio is known for being a place for luxury and I would love to have my work in a place aimed at people who buy work because they adore it.

I would also love to see one of my images at the St. Louis Art Museum, mostly because I grew up going to this museum and it would be amazing to have a piece in a place where everyone I know could go see it.

10 ) If you could escape into any one fantasy world what would it be an why?
My fantasy has always been to live as an artist in Paris. Walking the city with no where to go and taking pictures. The city is just so romantic and classic. Paris is a very special city in my heart and my dreams. I will live there, one day.

11 ) Tell us about any upcoming projects you have planned:
I have a few upcoming projects. One that has me very excited is a line of jewelry featuring my fine art images. I am also working on two series, one new and one expanding. I am working on expanding my Pink Explorations series with pin-up inspired fantasy pieces. I am also working on a collection pieces I call “Cracked”. This series will explore combining images with the concept of items that are cracked apart. There is one piece done already and many more to come.

12 ) Where can people find you, website etc?
My website is http://www.arianabauer.com
You can also find my artwork for sale at http://arianabauer.etsy.com and locally in St. Louis at Mist Spa.

13 ) Anything else you want people to know about you?
I currently have work on exhibit at the Flax Gallery in St. Louis, MO and will be featured at the Soulard Art Market in St. Louis, MO on November 14-15, 2009.
Thank you Ariana for your time!

The Incredible Aunia Kahn

2009-10-12T18:18:00.000-05:00

In my endless web surfing for new and amazing art, I stumbled across a local artist whose work is both fascinating and mesmerizing. Her work combines many forms art, both traditional and digital. Her work is raw beauty wrapped in plastic wrap.

I will be purchasing her calendar for my mother as part of her Christmas gift. She sells her work in both Open and Limited Edition prints as well as calendars and post cards, so just about anyone can afford to own an Anua Kahn piece in some small way.

Here is her site:
http://www.auniakahn.com/

A few of her pieces:

These images are Copyright Aunia Kahn.

Inspire76 Art Blog

2009-10-10T10:10:00.003-05:00

Just discovered an amazing blog! Inspire76 is your place for your daily dose of inspiration. This blog features artists from all medias and areas of the globe, check it daily to get your morning inspiration.

Upcoming Events

2009-09-24T15:03:00.004-05:00

Wow, October is looking busier and busier for me! I am so excited. Here is where you can find me in October and November:

October 2-4: Art on the Fence at Taste of St. Louis
October 3: Art on the Bluffs Art Walk in Columbia, IL (10AM-4PM), in front of Mist Spa at the Old Distillery on Main Street
October 16-November 28: SAVE THE GIRLS! at ArtDimensions of St. Louis - Flax Gallery. Opening night reception on October 16. Fund Raiser for the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer foundation.
Novermber 14-15: Featured Artist at the Soulard Art Market

Look for me around St. Louis more this month!

Alien Bee 86 inch Parabolic Umbrella - Silver

2009-08-15T22:09:00.003-05:00

Alien Bee 86 inch Parabolic Umbrella - Silver
Originally uploaded by arianabauer

I had a quick minute today to try out my brand spanking new 86" parabolic umbrella from Alien Bees. Here are my thoughts.

1) The umbrella weighs pretty much nothing, first of all, and has no issues with bending on the shaft at all, just to dispel that nonsense.

2) It came packaged in a nice shipping tube (which I kept for intermediate storage and moving around in vehicles and such) and weighed less than 2 pounds according to UPS.

3) I ordered the umbrella in silver. This one does not act as a shoot through, which I knew when ordering but wanted to point it out for clarity.

4) I also ordered the diffusion fabric, but have not tried it yet.

5) It is very easy to shoot with and covers a lot of area with really even flat light, just as promised. I used my 2 year old standing on an old mannequin stand for height to make him almost the height of my shortest models. The umbrella was positioned at around 45 degrees or so and about 5 foot away, which was all i had room for without major rearranging. It threw the light just as I wanted it. I have no doubt it would handle a 6 foot human without any issues.

6) I don't know if it is "true" parabolic, but I don't really care as I love how it works. It was great for shooting kids with because it threw out a nice big beam of light and so the kids had some room to move around without getting outside of my setup zone. It made a nice light falloff too.

I have a session planned with a ballet dancer later this week and will try it out on her. She is nearly 6 foot tall, so she will be a really good subject for this.

Here are my quick snaps of the light itself:

And here are a few of my test shots.

Oh, and yes I know my son's shirt is huge, but he loves Domo. I can't blame him.

Hope this helps!!!

Elizabeth I – The Virgin Queen

2009-08-09T12:44:00.001-05:00

Elizabeth I – The Virgin Queen
Originally uploaded by Alexia Sinclair

Want to know how to make a really incredible composite? Well, this series ought to show you. These amazing images by Alexia Sinclair showcase what happens when a talented group of people really put their mind together.

Gallery Showing at St. Louis Naughti Gras

2009-01-31T21:41:00.004-06:00

I am very proud to announce my very first gallery showing ever.

The photo here, entitled "Lady Lovers" will be shown as a 12"x14" giclee print at the St. Louis Naughti Gras exhibition.

This photo came from an incredibly fun photo shoot with two awesome models, Summer & Shane. We had a ton of fun doing the shoot and I very pleased with the results.

The original went through many hours of photoshopping to get the final vintage look. My objective was to re-create the 1890's style of images that at the time were referred to as Naughty French Postcards. This nickname came from the fact that nude images like this one mostly came from France and were often passed around secretly in post card size or as a post card itself.

I am planning to continue this series of images with a number of models and create a printed book at the end of the project.

About St. Louis Naughti Gras
St. Louis Naughti Gras will be held on February 14, 2009 from 7PM - 1AM at the Koken Art Factory. Official Website

Light Painting with Thousands of Candles = Amazing

2009-01-22T10:32:00.002-06:00

I ran across this on the today. This video is of a group that put together thousands of tea light candles for this amazing stop motion video. Check it out.

Naughty Little Alice

2009-01-11T00:01:00.002-06:00

Naughty Little Alice 8
Originally uploaded by arianabauer

So this is my favorite image from my set with a local model that goes by Zaea. I had the best time with her and the images turned out great.

I hope to get her back in the studio when the weather gets a little warmer.

Film star Helen Twelvetrees, ca. 1936-7 / photograph by Sam Hood

2009-01-08T22:47:00.002-06:00

Film star Helen Twelvetrees, ca. 1936-7 / photograph by Sam Hood
Originally uploaded by State Library of New South Wales collection

I found this image snooping around on Flickr. I just love it and wanted everyone else to see it.

My Photography Goals for 2009

2008-12-31T12:50:00.003-06:00

I am planning on making my photography much more than a hobby this year. I want to get models in the studio at least twice a month, get a book of photos self published, and hopefully get into an art gallery showing.

I also have a set of projects related to commercial food photography to complete.

Additionally, I am going to scavenge for cash for some major lighting upgrades!

I am being horribly ambitious, but that is me. As my favorite author Robert Heinlein states:

"Everything is theoretically impossible, until it is done."

"Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done and why. Then do it."

"I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If i find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do."

These three quotes are going up poster size in my studio and I plan to follow the advice in them quite heavily this year.

Photographing Small Children OR JUST STAND STILL!!

2008-12-28T20:55:00.003-06:00

So today I attended a family gathering that was a delayed "Christmas Eve" event. There were three small children at the event, my two sons (2 & 9 Months) and my niece(2). There were the typical happenings, present opening and a meal of course.

So I have decided that trying to photograph the munchkins is a nightmare in the waiting. They are all super speed. And in home lighting is a disaster!

So my brother and sister in laws house is in a typical St. Louis suburb old city type area. The houses are more vertical space than horizontal with the houses very close together and a lot of windows. The light coming in was nice, but caused way too much backlighting for a good solid photograph. Additionally, they are "saving cash" by keeping as much of their inside overhead lighting off, not helping to compensate for the backlighting.

So here is how I handled the setup, mostly because I had like three minutes to setup the camera before mass photo opps occured. I put on my Nikon 18-200 VR, attached my Metz 45 directly on the hot shoe. I attached my Lumiquest 80/20 bounce after pointing the flash straight up.

OT: I LOVE MY LUMIQUEST 80/20 Bounce!!! I think I will post a review of it later!

So I needed to be at a fast shutter speed, so I set to manual and set my shutter speed to 1/250. I also wanted to make sure I didn't "lose" any photo opps of groups so I set my aperature to f/7.1, which was the max I could get out of my lighting situation. After a few test shots, I was shooting with flash at anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 power depending on the distance of the subject.

So here is my problem with children, they always come towards the camera!!! So its like i need the flash to read my mind as the children come closer!!!!

Anyway, enough rant about photographing little people. The party went well and I even brought home some Christmas Loot of my own (which will be used to pay for some photo gear i am sure!).

Trip to St. Louis Art Museum

2008-12-27T19:01:00.002-06:00

Today I had the opportunity to visit the St. Louis Art Museum. This is the first time I have been there in a long while as well as the first time I open my eyes to the true masters.

In my two hour long trip through the museum, I realized that the masters of painting knew a whole lot about light. There is so much to pull inspiration from in the classic styles of painting. A simple still life of fruit became so much more than that for me today. I feel like I really had an "aha" moment where it clicked in my head.

I also took a tour of the Pollock exhibit, which is there until January 4th. The exhibit also covered many other influential artists of abstract expressionism. That period was so much about the medium and it really made me think, how can I make photography about the "medium" in a digital process? I don't know yet, but somehow this will all sink in and flow into a form of inspiration for me.

I Love My Nikon D300

2008-12-27T12:27:00.002-06:00

Okay, so I shoot with a Nikon D300. It was a surprise gift from my parents and I can't be any happier with my camera.

I love shooting digital. I can snap away without worry that I didn't get the shot, because I can go back and review my work before my model has even left the building.

I also own the extended battery grip. This makes the hold on the camera just perfect for my hands. The camera is extraordinarily sturdy and a real tank. It is so sturdy, that I have even let my two year take pictures with it (with help of course!).

This is not a formal review by far, but I just wanted to let everyone know I really do love my Nikon D300 and would recommend it to anyone.

Fine Art Nudes Site

2008-12-27T12:16:00.001-06:00

So yesterday I decided to start the design work for sketching out a group of websites to sell fine art nudes, fetish, erotica, & pinups created by yours truly as well as other invited artists.

I know the market is down and very saturated, but i think with the right form of presentation, I can make this work. I will be using the following URLS:

www.ageofnudes.com
www.ageoffetish.com
www.ageofpinups.com
www.ageoferotica.com

The sites will be sister sites with very similar layout and style. The content of each site will be very different. Right now, i will start with age of fetish as this is my preferred style of work at the moment. The sites will of course contain nudity.

If you are a photographer or model and are interested in a site like this, please contact me. I hope this all works out because this will be a great new forum and community for the artistic side of erotica.

I will be posting more as this project moves from a simple idea into a real concept.

BOOK REVIEW: French Postcards: An Album of Vintage Erotica

2008-12-27T00:36:00.003-06:00

French Postcards: An Album of Vintage Erotica
By Martin Stevens, Hardcover
144 Pages, 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.9 inches
I bought it for $15.96 at Amazon.com

This book is a sort of collector book that is useful for photographers as well.

The book is small and fit in my purse (where it has stayed for reading while my husband drives!). It is hard cover with reasonably thick pages. The text in the book is not overwhelming at all. It is quit concise, in fact, but very interesting.

I purchased this book as inspiration for an upcoming photo shoot in which I want to mimic the style of these postcards. I was so excited to be overwhelmed with ideas. The book even discusses a small amount of how these photographers lit their amazing beauties.

I recommend this book to any photographer working on nudes. It gives an idea of another way of producing fine art from the human body.

I very much love this book. I am shocked, though, by the simplicity of the photographs in this style. I am pretty sure I will be able to recreate this style with modern day models.

Naughti Gras St. Louis

2008-12-26T23:56:00.002-06:00

So, in hopes of a real gallery showing, I am pushing hard to complete a very complicated set for a photoshoot I am doing with two models for my entry to Naughti Gras.

For those of you who don't know, Mardi Gras in St. Louis is a major event. It is second only to New Orleans. Last year, a group of artists started a pre Mardi Gras gallery showing and named it Naughti Gras. The gallery showing is only for erotic art.

So after seeing that the open call for entries is up to January 25th, I made a quick decision to just go for it. After all, what the hell, right?

So my shoot is kind of secretive, but the big details are open. I am going to shoot with two girsl, Summer and Shane, both incredible models. The shoot is inspired by a book old fashioned "french postcards". These are vintage post cards from the edwardian and victorian era.

So I am very nervous about this shoot and hope to get everything i want out of this. I mostly hope that my equipment doesn't poop out on me.

Well, I will be posting more and the results on my shoot soon. It is setup for Jan 2.

Great Link for RF Sounds & Music

2008-12-26T22:09:00.003-06:00

I was thinking today about how to monopolize in YouTube as a sort of advertising space and decided to create a slide show of my photos and post them to the tube. I realized I needed some background music and started snooping around. I found a really awesome site. It has all sorts of purchasable royalty free music and some free royalty free downloads. Check them out:

The sight is called Partners In Rhyme:
Royalty Free Music and Sound Effects Download the music and sound effects you need for your multimedia project today at Partners In Rhyme.

Also check out their other sites:

http://www.musicloops.com/
http://www.sound-effect.com/

Starting Over

2008-12-26T21:27:00.003-06:00

I am starting my blog over again, mostly because i never really started it.

The objective of this blog is to show my process for my photographic journey. I will try to post weekly or daily with new information about what i am doing.

I do have many ways to get in touch and see my work.

First is my website, where you can find prints of my work for sale.

http://www.arianabauer.com

Otherwise, you can check out one of my many profiles on these websites:

Model Mayhem: http://www.modelmayhem.com/arianabauer
deviantArt: http://arianadbauer.deviantart.com/
OneModelPlace: http://www.onemodelplace.com/member.cfm?P_ID=215774

I am working on trying to get into a few art galleries and specialize in fetish and erotic photography.