Self portrait mirror pix

My bathroom lighting, all ready for a photo shoot

I've had some really nice comments lately on Sewing Pattern Review regarding the pix I take of myself in the mirror. Today Lucy In Virginia asked a series of questions and I thought there may be others interested in the answers. So here I'm making Lucy's private message very public:

I have been admiring the pictures attached to your reviews for a very long time, as they are some of the best I've seen. There's never a mirror flash, red-eye, or shiny spot on the clothes you're showing off.

What is your secret? Is it the camera (what type do you use)? Is it your method or lighting? Or are you just a whiz at photography!?!

Thanks, Lucy! The camera I've used for all shots since mid-August 2009 is a ruby red Sony CyberShot DSC-W230. It was $200 at Target then but I saw it again in Target this past weekend for $170-ish. My prior camera was also a CyberShot that I inadvertently destroyed in August when I cracked the digital screen with my car door. I used it for all prior Sewing Pattern Review pix. (Previous cameras were CyberShots as well).



My new camera!

My current CyberShot has all sorts of photography modes. I just set it on "Easy" mode with the flash off, and take the pix.

I take pix in my bathroom because the mirror is huge and the lighting is the best. I use the shower curtain as a backdrop because I like uncluttered backgrounds. I've been thinking about buying a new shower curtain, maybe one in a solid color like blue. Like for school pix, ha ha.

The fixture in the bathroom takes regular bulbs. I changed the light bulbs recently from regular ones to GE Reveal bulbs which are more "white light" and less yellow. This post shows the before and after pix and what a difference the Reveal bulbs make.

I make sure to hold the camera in a place that doesn't obstruct the view of the garment or my face. Lately I've been doing the "lean against the wall" pose (aka my "Batman" pose) and like that pose a lot. Also, standing at an angle generally makes clothes look more flattering, as opposed to a "straight on" shot, with the hips parallel to the mirror.

After I take the pix I upload them to my Flickr sewing album. Lately I've been cropping the pix using Picnic which automatically launches when I press the "Edit photo" button in Flickr. Once in Picnic, I use the crop feature, adjust the box as necessary, and replace the original photo. When I need to upload a photo to SPR, I download my favorite flicker photo that's been edited in Picnic, and then upload it to SPR.

The mirror has to be clean; when it's not the clothes can look splotchy. There is a paint splotch on the mirror that occasionally crops up in my hair in my "Batman" style shots, which I really need to scrape off the mirror.

I never play around with any kind of "photoshop" style tools.

Unlike many of my fellow sewists who are photography buffs too, I'm not really into photography. I don't think my camera is fancy. I take pix to display my work and capture memories. My creative outlet is sewing and crafting.

Thanks everyone! Good night!

Quick sewing evening

I spent a lot of today cleaning, which means not much sewing. But I did squeak in a little sewing time.

Made a new pillowcase made with fabric fresh off the JoAnn's bolt (also made my mom an apron out of the same fabric):


Made Pete this hat for the third time (take 1: it was too long; take 2: I messed up and cut the fabric the wrong way, so it didn't stretch in the right direction so it's too tight; hopefully take 3 will be just right this time--it stretches and has the shorter hem.)



Here's a preview of what's coming. Guess what I'm going to make out of this fabric:


Here's a pile o' knit fabric. Some stash, some fresh off the JoAnn's bolt.


I'm truly a glutton for punishment and am thinking of entering the SPR Refashioning contest. It ends on 1/14 at midnight so I'd have to make the item next weekend. I'm trying to decide if I should make something pretty (nice shirt) or something cute/funny (shirt for the gym).

I loved this four day weekend and am sad to see it go. Sigh!

Good night!

New Look 6731 view C-ish and other things

Today I made New Look 6731. I've made view A before with the length of view B (that's the one with the floppy cowl collar that I folded over recently to make the cute boat neck). This time I made view C with long sleeves, no sleeve band, and made it the length of view B (shirt length).

I like this shirt quite a lot--the gathers and the nice neckline which is actually interfaced and has a facing. It took me two attempts to get the neckline right, but, channeling Heidi Klum, "it's cute, no?" (I think next time I might interface both the collar and the collar facing to keep the facing from growing (stretching) while I sew it.)

Hmmm...I just realized I'm not wearing my glasses in these photos. Most of my readers have not seen me without glasses before. I'm not wearing contacts, I just didn't put my glasses back on when I put the shirt on.



I haven't posted my 2010 sewing goals yet, but one of them is to sew with more color and less black and brown. So I'm starting off the new year with this bright springy green, even though it's 20F outside right now (that's -7C for my non-US friends). I'll wear this to work sometime next week, though it's sure to have an undershirt underneath and a jacket, sweater, or cardigan on top. (The fabric is hot off the bolt at JoAnn's 30% off "sew classic knits" cotton/poly sale).



For those who love my "oops" shots, here you go:


I'm in the process of "pile elimination" around my home--you know, the piles of magazines, books and papers that "pop up" spontaneously and linger. During one pile elimination yesterday I found this iron-on transfer which I think is from JoAnn's circa March 2008. It was marketed for baby clothes but you know how I love cupcakes. Thought this would be great for the gym since I like to wear fun shirts at the gym.

Unfortunately the "cupcake" word didn't transfer very well onto my pre-owned store bought shirt. So I'm in the process of mindlessly removing the letters. Also the cherry stem didn't fare very well either. It came with another transfer that I don't care about very much, but that one has the word "sweetie". I'm thinking of maybe trying to transfer "sweet" underneath the cupcake. This time I would hold down the iron for the full 80 seconds. Maybe that's the issue?

In other weather news, think this snow mound reminds me of Neapolitan ice cream. No snow, clean snow, dirty snow. Or no snow, new snow, old snow.



And finally, how many solar panels can you count in this picture?


Good night!