Let's Hear It For The Boys!

This is my first entry for I Heart Faces and I hope I don't humiliate myself. The theme this week is "Let's Hear It For The Boys!" in honor of Father's Day.

My husband, David Jr., and his father, David Sr., pose for a shot after trimming a plum tree with a chain saw. This photo was taken in April, about a week after I purchased my Nikon d60, and was taken at dusk with no flash. I was pleased with the result, consider the lack of experience and knowledge I had (and still have).

I used PSE 7 to edit and the editing included lightening it up a bit, reducing the noise (it was so dark I had the ISO up to 400), sharpening a bit and cropping it to center them more.

Would you like to see more pictures of boys and fathers? Have a great shot to share? Head over to I Heart Faces and join in the fun!

Amazing Flower Picture

My mother-in-law is an amazing gardener and has such beautiful flowers. I am NOT a gardener, and while I love this flower, I cannot even tell you the name of it. This photo was cropped only, no editing.


I included this picture in the meme Give Me Your Best Shot. If you would like to participate, go to Better in Bulk and follow her instructions.

First Butterfly Photo

I took some other photos of butterflies, but their wings were jagged or they were moving too much for the light I had available. This one was cropped but not edited.

Candid Portrait

My niece Lindsay, age 11, while we were on a trip in Michigan. The sun was setting and we were by a lake, which made for a lovely candid photo. The picture was cropped and has some editing.

Washington D.C. Pictures

The first picture I am going to share at this brand-spanking new blog is of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. We were there for my father's funeral at Arlington National Cemetery on May 12th.

The picture was taken atop a caution cone because I forgot to bring my tripod on the trip. The photo is unedited.

Welcome to Hollywood Photography

Thank you for stopping by Hollywood Photography! Here is a little about me and what you can expect from this blog.

My Equipment
I am have enjoyed taking pictures with simple point-and-shoot cameras for years, and two months ago I decided I wanted my pictures to "grow up," so I invested in my first dSLR camera, a Nikon d60. The lenses I shoot with are Nikon 18-55 mm (kit lens), 55-200 mm (telephoto) and 50 mm (portrait lens). I recently bought a speed flash, but seldom use it yet. My photos are edited with PhotoShop Elements 7, but I am still a newbie at it also.

Why "Hollywood Photography"
I tried many different blog names, all which were taken. I wanted something more than Amanda Padgett Photography, so I decided to go with a local name. No, I do not live anywhere near Hollywood in California, nor do I live in Hollywood, SC. But, the rural community where I live, outside of a rural small town is called Hollywood, so I chose that. If I ever get experienced enough to do any professional jobs, the name with transfer over here (in real life) well.

My Subjects
Most of my pictures will be of kids, farm life, flowers, and travels. I am the mom of four children, ages 11 to 3.5, so they provide me with lots of photo opportunities, as do the cows in my back yard (kidding, but not really).

Where Else You Can Find Me
I have already been sharing some picture at my personal blog, Moving Forward. Also, you can find me at my blog about blog designs, Beautiful Blog Designs. And, lastly you can find me at my online catalog for Usborne Books, for which I am a consultant and supervisor.