Portrait of Freyja
12″ x 16″ Oil on ACM Panel
© 2017 – Jeremy C. Sparks
Freyja
Category: Freyja
Weekend Update
Worked some more on this portrait of Freyja. You can still see where the paint is a bit wet on the face. Pretty happy with how it’s coming a long so far not sure how far I’m going to be able to push it but want to find out.
New Camera
I’ve been needing to get some new source photographs for my artwork. I wish I had the ability to just work from life, but my schedule doesn’t really permit that. I’ve been using the same DSLR that I bought back in NYC in 2005 for a while now and the technology has moved on significantly since then.
I’ve been doing a lot of research about the newer cameras and trying to optimize for what we could afford and still get something that would be worth investing in. I ended up buying a Nikon D5200. The D5300s just came out at the beginning of the year so it’s possible to get big discounts on the 5200s now.
In order to keep the cost down I bought just the body and I’m using the lens form my old D40. I actually had a nice 50mm 1.8 Nikon lens. Which would be perfect. Unfortunately they’ve change the technology of lenses a bit in the last decade. It used to be that the focusing motor for the lens was in the body of the camera. Now they’re in the lens itself. So the net result is that the old lens still works… but I have to focus manually.
That’ll be okay for a while and I can pick up a new lens in the next month or two. I did spring for a nice lighting kit though so I should be able to get some nice photographs now. Here’s a couple of shots I got tonight with the new camera and lighting kit.
You’ll notice that they’re not quite in super-sharp focus. I’m still trying to get the hang of the manual focus. But they’re pretty close. These are significantly reduced from the 24 mega pixel originals.
So far I’m really happy with the new camera, can’t wait to get a new auto-focus lens.
Someone knows that something is happening…
She doesn’t know what… but she knows that something interesting is going on.
Wild Thing
Here he was very busily carrying the legos onto sofa one by one and arranging them on the windowsill in a row. When all the blocks were up, he proceeded to toss them all back onto the floor and do it all over again. Whatever uses up that energy, right? He has been playing with… Continue reading Wild Thing
Apples and Exercise Balls
Just a few new random pics of Nolan and company… Here Nolan was watching an episode of Sesame Street when Jeremy came in and found him lounging in the chair sideways. I love the way he stuffed his fave monkey behind his back for a pillow. We were invited over to Aunt Marty’s house for… Continue reading Apples and Exercise Balls
Strides
Our little guy is now nearly 19 months old, and he’s making all kinds of strides, physically and developmentally. He’s still a string bean—55th percentile for height and head circumference, 3rd percentile for weight—and so active I’m thinking we’re never going to get him fattened up now. We finally got him used to his stiff… Continue reading Strides
Non-Stop
Just a few new pictures of our goofy little guy, being busy. We’ve made quite a few trips to the playground this past week, and Nolan is starting to get the hang of it. He seems to be having fun, although he is always so solemn in new situations. He likes to watch the ground… Continue reading Non-Stop
46 Weeks
Nolan is 46 weeks old, and went in for his 10-month weight check this past week. He is 17 lb 7 oz now, which puts him solidly in the growth curve for the 3rd percentile. Length we measured ourselves, and he appears to be about 28.5″, which is at least in the 25th percentile. All… Continue reading 46 Weeks
Happy Birthday, Freyja!
It’s hard to believe, but our little pup is a whole year old today. While she’s busy chawing on her birthday bone, I wanted to take the opportunity to share a few choice photos documenting her growth. Freyja was one of a litter of 11 born on February 18, 2007 to Vom Holtzberg’s Ernie and… Continue reading Happy Birthday, Freyja!