Star Clatte

My New Lens!

2010-11-29T21:24:00.000-08:00

So for my birthday, ask and you shall receive! I really wanted a telephoto lens for my new DSLR so I could have more photographic flexibility. So dad got it for me!

This is my new Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III Telephoto Zoom Lens! As an added perk, it came with a free UV Filter.

My Canon Rebel XSi has been getting lots of love in the few months that i've had it. I've also noticed that since i've had it, my repertoire of photographic subject matter has expanded to include animals, portraits, events and even incorporating the use of a flash (instead of avoiding it like the plague).

I've also acquired some paying gigs as well! My occupation as an Interior Designer seems to be slowly slopping downward, so i'm quite pleased to see my occupation as a Photographer to be picking up!

My small business of Characters started out as a way for me to sell some photographs and notecard sets using my photography. But now, i'm seeing it as not only that, but also as a business that provides the photography service. I'm very excited to see where this goes...

www.characters.artfire.com

Characters

2010-03-28T19:28:00.000-07:00

My new online shop is finally up! Please visit and check out my photographs for sale as well as my notecards and sets. Happy Shopping!!

Characters Shop

Oakland Zoo Meetup Group

2010-01-26T20:19:00.000-08:00

One of my photo meetup groups went to the Oakland Zoo on January 10th. It was a great day for shooting! The sun was out, and the fog was minimal, and the animals were unpredictable! All in all, it was a fun day with some really cute results.

Christmas 2009 photo shoot

2010-01-26T19:57:00.001-08:00

So Christmas day, i went around San Ramon, Pleasanton, and Livermore. Here are some shots that came out pretty well!

These are in San Ramon:

These are in Pleasanton along Main St.

This one is in Livermore.

Big 5 Personality Test

2009-12-22T16:13:00.000-08:00

I took this personality quiz that seemed interesting. There is various research on this method of personality definition, and i found it to be quite accurate. Here are my results:

I'm a O59-C74-E15-A90-N32 Big Five!!

Some of my favorites..

2009-12-21T20:55:00.000-08:00

Ok, so i know it's been a while since i've posted.. well..... ANYTHING. But i'm still here! So here are a few of my favorite shots i've taken in the past year or so.

These are from the Berkeley Botanical Gardens...

These are from various day-trips to San Francisco...

And these are from a pumpkin patch in Livermore...

I'm planning another photo outing on Christmas day, so stay tuned for more!

Santa Barbara Trip- Oct. 27, 2007

2008-01-07T19:17:00.000-08:00

So i went on another photographic endeavor just before Halloween to Santa Barbara, CA. It was overcast and a bit rainy but i still got some good shots. It was a most memorable trip that i will not forget anytime soon. It brought out the pirate in me. A certain someone will understand that. :)

One Word- Print

2007-09-11T17:42:00.000-07:00

To produce in large quantities by mechanical process. Find 'print' in your space today.
**This is a floor plan i've been working on at my job. Looks like a puzzle!**

One Word- Cake

2007-09-11T17:40:00.001-07:00

A soft, sweet food. Find 'cake' in your space today.

One Word- SOS #3

2007-09-11T17:38:00.000-07:00

SOS #3
**Another Getty picture. It's just awesome looking.**

One Word- SPS#3

2007-09-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

Self Portrait Saturday #3

One Word- Talk

2007-09-11T17:23:00.001-07:00

To converse or communicate. Show us 'talk' in your space today.

One Word- Feast

2007-09-11T17:20:00.000-07:00

**To Be Inserted Soon!**

A large meal or a plentiful supply, show us 'feast' in your space today.

One Word- Hold

2007-09-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

To grasp, carry or support with your hands. Find 'hold' in your space.

One Word- Thoughtful

2007-09-03T18:43:00.001-07:00

Absorbed in or involving thought. Show us 'thoughtful' in your space today.
**These are all of my thoughts... my journals, sketchbook and some things that are objects and symbols of what i think about. I am thought-full!**

One Word- Fall

2007-09-03T12:20:00.000-07:00

To move downwards rapidly. Show us 'fall' in your space today.
**I thought this was cool. Guess we have a tree theme today! Can you see how the branch is falling?**

One Word- SOS#2

2007-09-03T12:16:00.001-07:00

Sunset about 2 months ago.. i tried adjusting the image, but i'm still new at it. I still think it's an interesting shot though!

One Word- SPS #2

2007-09-01T18:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, so i'm still getting used to having to take pictures of myself.. i'm always the one behind the camera, and this is helping me to come out of my shell. Not the best pic, but still a pic.
But i'm proud of this one because, as you can see, i'm wearing jeans. Jeans that i haven't been able to wear(because they were too small) since April of 2006!! Ironically, they are even baggy in the legs.. but not in the hips. Isn't that just the luck? Nonetheless, my weight loss is still going strong, and this proves it! *Cheers for Char!!!*

One Word- Chew

2007-09-01T18:33:00.000-07:00

To bite and grind with the teeth. Find 'chew' in your space today.

One Word- Dish

2007-09-01T18:21:00.000-07:00

A shallow bowl or radio antenna. Find 'dish' in your space.

One Word- Cloud

2007-09-01T18:17:00.000-07:00

A mass of water vapour. Show us 'cloud' in your space today.
**Couldn't decide again.. so you get double the clouds!**

One Word- Apple

2007-08-28T18:43:00.001-07:00

A red or green fruit from a tree. Show us 'apple' in your space today.

One Word- Sun

2007-08-27T18:59:00.001-07:00

An object that gives light and warmth. Find 'sun' in your space today.

One Word- Show Off Sunday

2007-08-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

This was taken at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. I really like the composition of this photograph and the different lines that are created. Hope you like it too!

One Word- Self Portrait Saturday

2007-08-27T18:51:00.001-07:00

The first SPS. Not sure how i'm going to do with these, but i'm sure we'll find out!

One Word- Stone

2007-08-23T22:32:00.000-07:00

A hard solid mineral. Show us 'stone' in your space today.
**I'm a huge collector of crystals and gemstones. In this picture, you can see Citrine, hematite, jasper, tiger eye, moonstone, sodalite, agate, amethyst, quartz and many others!**

One Word- White

2007-08-23T19:39:00.001-07:00

The palest colour and sign of purity. Find 'white' in your space today.

One Word- Friend

2007-08-23T19:37:00.000-07:00

A person you know particularly well. Show us 'friend' in your space today.

One Word- Wet

2007-08-23T19:36:00.000-07:00

Covered or saturated with water. Find 'wet' in your space today.

One Word- Plant

2007-08-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

A green living organism. Show us a 'plant' in your space today.

One Word- Can

2007-08-23T19:34:00.001-07:00

A container for food or liquid. Show us 'can' in your space today.

One Word- Fly

2007-08-23T19:32:00.001-07:00

To move through the air. Find 'fly' in your space.
**Can you see the bird? He's getting ready to take off, i know it...**

One Word- Lock

2007-08-23T19:31:00.000-07:00

A mechanism for keeping something closed that is operated by a key. Show us a lock in your space today.

One Word- Chop

2007-08-23T19:29:00.000-07:00

**Pic to be inserted soon!**

To cut into small pieces. Find chop in your space.

One Word- Window

2007-08-23T19:28:00.001-07:00

An opening in the wall, filled with glass. Show us a window in your space today.

One Word- Pasta

2007-08-23T19:27:00.000-07:00

An Italian food made from dough. Find pasta in your space today.

One Word- Drive

2007-08-23T19:25:00.001-07:00

To operate a vehicle. Show us drive in your space today.

One Word- Thread

2007-08-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

A long strand of fibres. Find one in your space today.

One Word- Down

2007-08-23T19:19:00.001-07:00

To fall to the ground. What moves down in your space?
**I liked both of these and couldn't decide. **

One Word- Double

2007-08-23T19:17:00.001-07:00

Two of the same thing. Find double in your space today.

One Word- Earring

2007-08-09T21:41:00.000-07:00

A little something to adorn the ear. Find one in your space today.
**What... too many? :)

One Word- City

2007-08-09T21:38:00.000-07:00

A busting place to hang out, meet friends and enjoy. Show us a city near your space.
**This was the metro stop in Chinatown in Los Angeles. See all the buildings in the distance?

One Word- Eyes

2007-08-09T21:36:00.001-07:00

The window to the soul, which eyes are watching in your space today ?

One Word- Bloom

2007-08-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

A period of greatest beauty, find 'bloom' in your space today.
*Ok, so this is a bit of a cheat. But if they were real, they'd be gorgeous!

One Word- Fat

2007-08-05T19:36:00.001-07:00

Something a little rounder than it could be. Find fat in your space.
*So that's Billy Bug, my giant ant pillow. Doesn't he look so comfy?

Downtown LA Trip (July 14th, 2007)

2007-08-05T12:37:00.001-07:00

This was at the Cathedral in downtown LA. I actually liked how the water was frozen in time because it gives it an interesting look being on a wall.

In the corner of the fountain was this tiny, flourishing plant. Hidden from most people's site, i found it, and decided to remember it.

More frozen water... doesn't it look like it's walking down the steps?

This was in Chinatown, one of the side streets.

This was on the ground at the Metro stop in ChinaTown. I love this shot.

Union Station. Something about the symmetry of this grabbed me. And i love Union Station.

Another classic shot inside of Union Station. Just beautiful!

Outside view of Union station. Again, just classic.

This donkey was just outside the entrance to Olvera Street. Too funny NOT to take a picture of! He is kinda cute isnt he?

An outdoor area behind a church, across from Olvera Street. I loved the way the shadows of the canopies reflected on the ground. A beautiful, quaint little area.

A view of the street. I'm a fan of perspectives. This is a great example of one point perspective and repetition.

One side of the old firehouse building. Wonderful architecture and brickwork. I also liked the little lanterns overhead, the arched windows and the brickwork of the street.

Another lovely building. Look at the gorgeous arches of the windows and the details. The streetlights just add measures to the shot. Beautiful lines and perspective.

And that concludes my tour of Downtown LA! Hope you enjoyed the show! I took many digital shots, as shown, and also many shots with black and white film. Maybe one day if i can find time to scan the good ones, i'll post those as well.

One Word- Smile

2007-08-05T12:30:00.001-07:00

A lifting of the corners of the mouth to express happiness. Show us a smile in your space today.
*So that's me! A bit of camera shake, but it's tough to hold the camera with one hand! The sunglasses on the head are typical for me. :) As you can see from my weight loss ticker, this pic is mid-progress... i'll be sure to post more as i keep losing. It'll make a great comparison pic!

One Word- Lights

2007-07-01T17:46:00.000-07:00

So my word for the game is Lights. This isn't the best shot, but i still thought it looked cool. This is one of the office lights in our building. I found it interesting as a designer, that each bulb was a different temperature, thus making one yellow, one white (with light bulbs that looks blue) and one pink. I'm already fearing the headaches. :p

One Word- Filligree

2007-07-01T17:45:00.001-07:00

Ornamental fine wire work. Show us filligree in your space.

One Word- Bowl

2007-07-01T17:44:00.001-07:00

A round, deep dish. Show us a bowl in your space today.

One Word- Sit

2007-06-25T21:35:00.001-07:00

A position in which we relax. Who is sitting in your space today?

One Word- Soap

2007-06-24T11:44:00.000-07:00

A product we use to help us clean. Find soap in your space today.

** I love my little soap dish.**

One Word- Write

2007-06-23T21:25:00.001-07:00

To make marks with a pencil , paint or ink. Show us writing in your space.

**Ok, so i have this list of things i want to do at some point in my life. Some of these things are completely out of my element, but that's the reason i want to do them. Most are things i have never done, while some are things i want to do again. Some are easy things like going to a certain place, but others are more symbolic. This picture shows a few of them. I purposely framed the shot as to cut off the list in both directions.. after all, it is mine. :p

Friday Evening

2007-06-22T21:46:00.001-07:00

So i had dinner with my dad tonight and then hung out back at the house for a while. We played with the dog, watered the flowers, and sat out on the patio for a while. Here are some pictures that came out well.

That is my dog Coco. She's so silly. She was running around the yard this evening, all hyper and smiling. The kitty on the wall is Buster. He lives next door. It would have been terrible to miss the opportunity to get this shot.

This was just something i saw that caught my eye. I was sitting on the patio and just looked up.

Some flower shots. The back yard is in full bloom right now, so there is a lot of plants and such to catch on camera. These just came out well- focused as well as overall nice composition and detail.

One Word- Straight

2007-06-22T21:45:00.001-07:00

Moving or extending in only one direction. Show us straight in your space today.

One Word- Tea

2007-06-21T21:57:00.001-07:00

A drink with jam and bread, that will bring us back to Doh, oh, oh,oh. You must have tea in your space - show!

One Word- Press

2007-06-20T20:49:00.000-07:00

To compress, extract, squeeze, urge and manufacture. How do you see Press in your space?

I couldn't decide which one to go with. I think the first one is a unique angles, but the second one conveys the idea quite clearly. And i think the second one is clearer. What do you think?

My paseo walk over the weekend

2007-06-19T19:15:00.001-07:00

So i was feeling photographic and went for a walk around my dad's house, on the paseos. For those of you who aren't familiar with the paseos, they are simply pathways that go through the housing tracks. I am starting my summer photography course this week, and wanted to post my favorites pictures from my walk as my warm up for the class. I took composition, positioning and angles into consideration when shooting. I like trees and odd angles. Shadows play an excellent role. I likes contrasts in color as well as shape and direction. I try to see things, and show things, that most people miss, but i guess that's what makes me an artist.

One Word- Milk

2007-06-19T17:36:00.001-07:00

A creamy white liquid nutrient provided by animals. Have you got milk in your space?

One Word- Drink

2007-06-18T18:45:00.001-07:00

A liquid refreshment. Find one in your space.

One Word- Berry

2007-06-17T16:06:00.000-07:00

A small fruit with a stone or seeds. Show us a berry in your space today.

One Word- Hat

2007-06-16T10:24:00.001-07:00

A cover for the head to keep it dry and warm. Find one in your space today.

One Word- Shell

2007-06-15T18:28:00.001-07:00

A thin protective cover for an animal or egg. Show us 'shell' in your space.

One Word- Boat

2007-06-14T19:54:00.001-07:00

A small vessel propelled by water. Find one in your space today.
**Those are seashells**

One Word- Hand

2007-06-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

The end of an arm. Show us a hand in your space today.

One Word- Tired

2007-06-14T19:50:00.001-07:00

In need of rest. Show us tired in your space.

Giving in..

2007-06-14T19:01:00.001-07:00

Ok. I caved. I created my very own blog. Is this possible? The one girl absolutely refusing to create a myspace profile, rebelling against the fad of internet diaries, has given in? What is this world coming to? Apparently one where Char has a blog. *-* Alright, enough. Moving on.