Tag: Photography

Winter wonderland

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It has been snowing crazy where I live and it still snows! unfortunately I forgot my camera today when I went out but hopefully it’s this beautiful on the trees tomorrow as well when the weather app says it’s gonna snow all night and tomorrow.

Hi, good evening or goodnight in my case. I have been up since 1am and it’s now over 9pm so I decided to go to bed early today. E woke up and refused to go back to sleep but luckily he is sleeping since 1h ago. 

So good news is that I’m feeling better and probably will go to the gym tomorrow and also school. I have already checked with nurses and they said if I’m symptoms free and have no fever tomorrow (which is today. I asked this yesterday) I can go tomorrow (thursday). woopwoop. What have I done to make myself feel better? Well, I didn’t get any medication from the HCC so I had to try harder with home remedies.  Painkillers, burning hot tea like every 1 hour, lemon, ginger etc and also the astma meds I had to take more off (with permission from a “hotline” the people in Sweden can call when sick, need advice etc).

Hopefully I will feel good or even better tomorrow because I need to get back into my routines with school, workout, photography, editing etc. I miss having enery and structure so it’s time to beat the funk in the ass and get better (im talking about in general now.. mental health etc).

Short post but I’m here. Goodnight you beautiful souls!

Soon Christmas and I am not ready for it!

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I have not forgotten about you! I have been super duper busy with school, with E, hospital visits, meetings etc. I have been taking time to go outside and take photos which have been a struggle due to time schedule.

How are you all? Long time no seen!

I hope you all are doing good and that you have an amazing December. It’s soon Christmas and that is crazy! Have you done all your Christmas shopping? wrapped the presents? Planned your evening?

I can honestly say, I have only bought a few things to my son ~ busses, tractors, a dupe of a Stanley Cup when he always takes mine. The decorations are not up yet though. To be honest, I do not wanna decorate trees, and all that but I’ll do it for E 😊 I haven’t bought any food for the Christmas dinner yet, not planned or anything. We will probably celebrate Christmas the just three off us alone.

I hope you all have an amazing day and please follow my photography page on instagram (@capturehiddengems). I would be really happy if you do.

I also have a website where you can buy prints of my photographies. All the money goes to charity (yes I will not keep one cent) to help finding cure for cancer & diabetes.

My webshop is; https://emmasgems.picfair.com/

Thank You so so much!

Life as a nature photographer

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What have I got myself into to be honest.. I love taking pictures but risking my life just to get few pictures.. Is it worth it? Maybe. Depends on situation. but to be honest, no.

When I went to my location to take these photos (below), I slipped and fell on big rocks. I managed to stop before hitting the big big rocks and water luckily. But I got hurt really bad and today I feel like a train has run over me.

WARNING; BLOOD AND WOUND

I really didn’t even notice that I was bleeding until I by accident saw it when I was fixing settings on my camera. After I saw it I felt the pain . Not before. How crazy is that? Thank God I was surrounded with snow so I could make it stop bleeding fast.

Today; I can move my finger but it hurts really bad. The wound is pretty deep and big.

Was it worth though? No. For me it wasn’t. The pictures didn’t turn out how I pictured them in my head but it is alright. I had a tiny adventure.

One thing I often ask myself, Am I a nature photographer or just a person trying really hard? What is really the answer? For me  yes iam one but for professional photographers etc I would just be this “girl with a camera trying hard”.

My dream is to become a good photographer. Having the right equipment so I could be able to travel the world and take stunning pictures. A girl can dream right?

National Geographic Magazine.  Now that would be an achievement of life time. Unfortunately I know that would never happen but I have a goal and that keep me moving forward.

Hopefully in future I’ll be able to take other pictures without risking to fall, slip and hurt myself. Lol!

Confession of a shopaholic

Published on by ☆ Emma Santorini ☆2 Comments

I have always been a shopaholic.  I was way worse before than iam now but since I started with photography again I feel drawn to buy more and more stuff. It has become a problem for me so now I have removed all my paycards,  credit cards etc from the wallet on the phone. Read below.

What I’ve just ordered to expand my photograph equipment

to tripod;
● Tripod expander – Cloudteng 369 Camera Top Down Pole
● Tripod head 360° ball x2

● New Backpack because the last order got cancelled
● Double shoe holder for lights on camera x2
● 5 mini lamps
● two wrist holders to camera (the first one broke)
● SD cards holder (for 40 cards)
● 2 new batteries for my camera (gonna need it during winter due to the cold killing the batteries fast)

What i got from my last orders so far;

●●●●●●●●●●●● FILTERS

● Closeup +10 (62mm) ✅️
● Closeup +10 (55mm)✅️
● Closeup +10 (52mm)✅️
● HD closeup filter +4 (52mm)
● HD closeup filter +8 (52mm)
● HD closeup filter +1248 (52mm)
● Starlight 8x (52mm)
● HD Neutral HD CPL Polarisaror (52mm)

●●●●●●●●●●●● TRIPODS & PROTECTORS

● Tripod 157cm with video head✅️
● 2 Smaller tripods
● Camera holder for wrist✅️
● An other wristholder to Camera (different style)
● Backpack for the equipment (got cancelled)

● Lens covers (62mm) ✅️
● Lens cover (58mm)✅️

● Tiny umbrella (incase of bad weather to protect camera)

How long have I had the addiction for shopping? Well to be honest, my entire life. I buy stuff and get tired of them and throws them away. So I doesn’t become an hoarder.

But I was horrible and way worse before when I was a massive addicted. I just grabbed everything I wanted and bought. I have gotten better due to massive hard work on myself. Now i get stuff into my cart, think it through and ask myself if I really need it. Most of the time it’s no so I put things back  to it’s place. Unfortunately I noticed when it has come to photography and camera equipment I have become worse so now I must restart my brain and work hard again.

But Emma, why do you buy so much to your camera? I have two old cameras Canon 450D (my first DSLR camera) and one Canon 1100D . Due to them being old they doesn’t give me the sharpness I wish for or focus. So buying filters, tripods etc is something I hope would help me instead of needing to spend $$$$$  on a new camera.

I have googled around and watched youtubes on tips and tricks on how to get the pictures more sharp and it’s all about shutterspeed, aperture etc but honestly they also say “instead of buying a new camera because your camera are fine. Invest in equipments and lenses ” but due to the prices off lenses in Sweden, I will try equipment things first. Hopefully I will be able to buy lenses that will help me but the lens world is crazu big and I do not know which ones to pick.

I’m also trying to find my niche i  photography, trying different kinds styles. I know for sure that portraits ain’t for me.

so yeah, a little backstory of my confession. I might continue with this and make it a series. I have a lot of confessions and it actually felt good to write this even though it was a mix of confession and photography.

Current situation & photowalks in nature.

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Goodmorning pumpkins! I hope you all are doing good this lovely Thursday 🙌🏻

im currently in thr bath, writing this. It’s freaking cold here in Sweden and due to my diabetes,  my feelings in feets/toes aren’t the best so before I can put on my warm wool socks I need to warm them up.

Facebook page < link

Plans for today? Well I went to the Healthcare clinic two days ago, met with a doctor who said I have no virus so I’m not in risk to get anyone else sick.. so I guess im going to school. WITH CAUTION OFCOURSE! Before school im gonna go buy more supplies of mouth mask/ facemasks. It’s starting to go low at home. And I’ll also sit in the way way back in the class.

What else? Well i got one of my packages with camera equipment! Woho. My tripod, few filters and also the hand holder (instead of the big to hang around your neck) but unfortunately that hand/wrist holder was bad because I tried it while sitting at the table and it “broke” so luckily the camera was mounted on to the screws.

I had a photowalk yesterday while the sun was out. Unfortunately it was harsh sunlight and i do not like that. But I managed to fix some pictures though.

not the best quality online though. I’ll upload more on my Instagram and Facebook page. Through my eyes and camera.

Instagram page < link

Photography for me is my kind of relaxation.  Unfortunately I went through some things the other day that made me decide to not take pictures in town and around buildings. I will tell you guys more about that later. It was a sad decision for me but I am still scared and haven’t been able to shake off what happened.

📸📸📸

Photowalk with thoughts that needed to be clear.

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While I was outside for a photo walk alone I had a chance to think of a lot of things. Such as photography thoughts, school, future etc.

Hi everyone! The sickness is still going strong but I felt i had to get out for a bit. I had a gazillion thoughts going on and I remembered that photography used to make me de-stress for a bit. So I grabbed my gear and went out. 3 hours. I got dressed really warm and I was sweating outside. I felt many times to remove jackets but I did not.

My experience about this area where I live (first time photography walk like this); it’s pretty here but it’s not really a lot of taking pictures here. Which is sad.

The thoughts that went on in my head was a lot as you can read above. Why do I really wanna do photography?  is it for de-stress? do I have interest in it? etc etc . Yes I questioned myself but the conclusion of my thoughts; photography has always been an interest for me. I love it. And yes it is a de-stressing moment for me. Simple; I just simply love it.

So even thought I am sick I went outside. Ofcourse I didn’t go near people (I didn’t even see one when outside) and I was careful.

now im suffering after the walk because I was lying down on the ground, stood in weird positions, climbing etc just to get THE picture. Unfortunately the sharpness was really bad on most of the pictures but it’s fine. Now I’m suffering with a lot of pain in my back . Was it worth it? Yes! But now my cough and sneezing has escalated so it hurts even more.

●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● NEW FACEBOOK GROUP

I had to delete the photo group I made due to I can not make the group public from private but now with the new group – everyone can join without sending a request and wait for approval.

FIND THE FACEBOOK GROUP HERE < click.

Btw, iam truly sorry how bad the quality of the pictures are here on the blog. I do not know how to make it better.

5 things… photography edition, including death

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okey so my “five things challenge” continues and in this post we gonna talk about photography related things that is in my top five.

starting with

●●●●●●●●●●●  Niches.

People talk about having niches on pretty much everything ~ social media, blogs, cameras, youtubes etc. But why? Fine I get the part of “you stand out more and can focus on your niche” but for someone with ADHD like me and a gazillion thoughts in my head I can not just pick one. So what are my niche when it comes to photography? Nature! Nature, landscape and macro/details.

It has always been that ever since I started with photography back in 2004..til I lost my passion (more below).

but why nature, landscape and macro? well to be honest, I tried to take portraits and of people but I felt very uncomfortable taking pictures of people (except my son) so I stopped. I tried one wedding but no. It wasn’t for me. Nature photography makes me relax. I need all relaxation as I can get.

●●●●●●●●●● Equipment

As much as I wish I could just buy the latest cameras with lenses etc  I have a old but gold camera. I have my 450D (had since forever. It was my first DSLR camera) and the recent 1100D (I had one before but gave away..). And for me they are good..  if remembering the shutters, AFs etc.. lol!

lenses? I have four lenses but have recently fell in love with the new lens I got . It’s a Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM . . A cute little lens that works on landscape and close up.. though I must get a closeup filter (to get more close up).

●●●●●●●●●● Slowly finding my passion again

I started photography when I was 14. I think I was 16 when I bought my own system camera (DSLR) ~ Canon EOS 450D . I could be out for hours and hours just taking pictures, walk outside in the forest (with my heart in my nose due to scared of forest and it’s surprises)  lay on the ground to get closer to objects. Use shit tons of equipment just to get that one photo..

I stopped doing photography for a while but found it again (I did not use the camera. I used my then phone) and kept taking photos, edit on phone and added to social media… til the time when my parents passed away.. I lost my passion for photography. I didn’t feel joy, or happiness when taking pictures anymore.

with death, u go through stages of grief but unfortunately I had to go through them fast to.. yeah..  family problems.

but recently I have found a little spark of the passion again so I decided to buy a new camera and start again. Slowly, slowly my passion is coming more and more.

●●●●●●●●● Future & Photography

Hopefully in the future, the passion for photography is still with me and that I’ve learned so much more so I could take really good photos. Maybe travel the world to capture stories with my photos.

• my dream is after all to become a photographer for national geographic ~ LOL! a girl can dream right?

●●●●●●●●● How’s it having ADHD & Photography a good combo?

Because ADHD people has too many tornados in their head and for this woman with ADHD, photography helps calming her head down for a bit. for a while. A good de-stress hobby. On same time (if you photo landscape & nature) you get to go outside to get fresh air and exercise.  So win win situation for me.

Recharge. Breathe. Relax.

Published on by ☆ Emma Santorini ☆2 Comments

Something I always wanted to learn with photography was to be able to take pictures of thr sky with stars and capture milky way or what it calls. Like the photos photographer manage to capture with the “galaxy” on the picture.. I suck on space and stuff so I don’t really know what they call..

So tonight when I met up with E, we went to the harbor so I could try.. Let me just say that I need to buy a tripod for my camera and pack down the remote control. Lol.

I tried all different kinds of settings but I have forgotten everything. So I must re-learn everything again. Plus I haven’t invest in the latest models on camera but it’s fine. It’s an oldie but Goldie.

It was fun. I tried to take pictures on other things as well but I can honestly say, I will probably be taking photos during daylight but will try to learn night photography again. Before I was able to capture auroras/ northern lights, stars etc but now.. a whole different story. Wow.

i really need to buy a tripod.. But I think they are too big and clumsy.  Ugh! Any recommendations on a tripod that are not big and clumsy?  Lol pleeeease!

I posted this on my facebook group and also my Instagram

Recharge ~ escape the reality for a while to be with yourself and try calm down. Get new energy to be able to handle life.  Old energy out, new energy in. Inhala, Exhala.

Facebook groups??

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are they really good? I have found so many facebook groups i have joined but most of them is just out of the niche. Spamming fake news, WhatsApp numbers to contact to buy stuff etc.

That makes me really irritated so I often leave all the groups I joined. Don’t get me wrong.. There are many groups that is sticking to their niches. I have joined many for photography such as for inspiration, tips and tricks etc.

But it made me think…Should I make a facebook group for fun for my photographies? I share here on the blog but also have a space on facebook to show? Hm. I did one but we’ll see how it goes. Haha!

CLICK THIS LINK TO COME TO IT.

feel free to join 🥰🥰

I promise to not post fake news etc. Just show my kind of art that I make.

A real beauty

Published on by ☆ Emma Santorini ☆2 Comments

“True beauty comes from within” ~ Emma (me)