my favourite thing

“it’s just a spark, but it’s enough to keep me...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:35:00 -0400

“it’s just a spark, but it’s enough to keep me going.”

gosh, I enjoy my passion a lot.

Today, my friends and I finally adventured to find Concrete...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 01:32:22 -0400

Today, my friends and I finally adventured to find Concrete City. Several hours later, we found ourselves covered in dirt and mud, sweating bullets, and completely exhausted…. with Concrete City nowhere in sight. It was a pretty big bummer. (although it was a nice day to still get lost with friends!)

Once we finally got home, ready to pass out for the day, Shelby ended up looking online and saw we were on the wrong side of the road, in the wrong patch of woods. Immediately, we raced back (this time, I got to bring my dad along. hurray, for adventurous parents) before the sunset and found it with no issues at all.

If you haven’t heard of this place, it’s basically an abandoned development of just concrete housing. The walls are mainly covered in grafitti, paintball gun markings, and bullet holes. It’s really a neat place, especially for NEPA. Pretty much a photographer’s dream (or, that’s how i see it.).

Before I continue with my boring rambles, it was a very unique adventure. We plan on going back for a full day to use more daylight, but for now, these are some of the shots I got. I ended up using myself, just for fun.

I can’t wait to go back! Also, I’ve noticed I’ve been using that netting for so many photoshoots recently. Guess it’s a literal security blanket for my creativity? Oh well!

Recently, I visited Penn’s Cave with my dad and brother....

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 17:43:15 -0400

Recently, I visited Penn’s Cave with my dad and brother. Coolest experience I’ve had in awhile! The cave has a river going through it, and you take a boat ride through the whole cave. It’s massive! If any of you get the chance to visit PA, consider checking this out! Don’t forget to bundle up, though! The water was 38 degrees and the cave itself was only about 52 degrees. Worth the goosebumps!

Franklin is quite the photogenic lil’ dude.

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 17:32:16 -0400

Franklin is quite the photogenic lil’ dude.

Sometimes, I seem to complain a lot about how awful my hometown...

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 17:30:26 -0400

Sometimes, I seem to complain a lot about how awful my hometown and surrounding areas are. I forget how beautiful the area can be, especially where I live. Nothing but backroads for miles.

It’s nice to adventure around and photograph the simple things. I’ll be doing that a lot more this summer, especially when I remember to fill my gas tank next time.

Model: Mariah

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 17:11:39 -0400

Model: Mariah

Windy days spent in alley ways. Model: Amber

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 17:03:05 -0400

Windy days spent in alley ways.

Model: Amber

This was for a Christmas Lights extra credit assignment back in...

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 17:00:53 -0400

This was for a Christmas Lights extra credit assignment back in 3rd semester. I ended up using myself (and putting my old prom dress to better use!), and set up lights around the pine tree in my backyard. (also huge thanks to my dad for helping me out with the lights!)

I have an obsession with making things and people levitate in photographs.

I’ve uploaded the first image before, but these are some...

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 16:57:42 -0400

I’ve uploaded the first image before, but these are some of my favourite shots from the Ladykiller shoot! Special effects makeup done by Ashley Evert!

I’d love to upload more, but it looks like my internet isn’t letting me tonight....

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:23:21 -0400

I’d love to upload more, but it looks like my internet isn’t letting me tonight. Hopefully when I get to a higher speed internet I can post more, sorry guys!

Colour mood.

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:20:38 -0400

Colour mood.

I haven’t uploaded many photos from my 4th semester at...

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 22:14:28 -0400

I haven’t uploaded many photos from my 4th semester at college, so maybe I’ll do that now. This is from a few months ago. (thanks again for modeling, Laura!)

Self portrait assignment (we could only use our...

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:52:17 -0400

Self portrait assignment (we could only use our feet.)

((I’ll probably regret posting this once the foot lover blogs get ahold of this…))

I have a thing for flowers and darker ideas, I guess.

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:48:56 -0400

I have a thing for flowers and darker ideas, I guess.

I posted this on my other tumblr about a month ago, but...

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:47:18 -0400

I posted this on my other tumblr about a month ago, but I’d love to get my photography tumblr updated while I have the time! This was my 4th semester personal project, and my theme was levitation! I had a ton of fun, and learned it’s not so hard to create these photos as it may seem. Just some balance, correct exposures, and fabulous models in camera. The rest is the magic (the good kind) of photoshop! I’m hoping to expand on this series this summer!

Recently for a mini portfolio assignment for my colour therory...

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:26:53 -0400

Recently for a mini portfolio assignment for my colour therory class, I used holi powder to make simple portraits eye catching. I’m in love with how vibrant the colours were! These are some self portraits, others are of some wonderful ladies, Laura and Alicia. These were my favourites! (aside also from the fact you can only upload up to 10 photos for a set at a time…)

I hope you guys enjoy them! I’m extremely thrilled with how they came out. Through this project I learned a lot about body positivity, colour theories, and to never throw the powder in someone’s face if their mouth is open… (sorry, Laura!).

Check out more of my work on facebook.com/sylvannabaranphotography !

Finally got a wonderful start on my personal project for one of...

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 18:23:00 -0500

Finally got a wonderful start on my personal project for one of our classes. I’m doing levitation photographs, and I have so many ideas for this! I wanted to start off breaking away from the dreamy, sleepy themed levitation photos and do something on the darker side.

Still trying to nail this technique, in camera and post production, but I’m still extremely excited about these shots! Major thanks to Shelby for modeling!

Hello again, everyone! This photo is from part of my pin up...

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 23:44:07 -0500

Hello again, everyone!

This photo is from part of my pin up assignment for one of my classes. I had my friend Ashley model for me for this. She’s just as interested in pin up fashion/hair/makeup as I am, if not more, so she had the look down perfectly! We used our friend Tyler’s car as a prop, and it worked out really well. I’ve always had a strong interest in pin up photography. It’s so classy and the poses are timeless, no matter how modern or vintage you make the shot! I had so much fun with this shoot, and I’ve noticed with models, they have to be confident for pin up shoots, or it won’t show through at all and put a damper on the shoot. I’ve noticed it helps too when the photographer is comfortable with their model, talking them through it as well as keeping a conversation about anything with the model. It really, really helps. It lifts any awkward tension around both the photographer and the model to bring that confidence out. My biggest issue with working in this field is my social anxiety. It’s gotten a lot better over the years, but I’ve realised if I keep pushing myself inch by inch out of my comfort zone with photoshoots, I can come out with some really great images!

I’m really hoping this is one of many to come with the pin up category!

This photo is from the word assignment. For our Pro Photo 2...

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 13:47:01 -0500

This photo is from the word assignment. For our Pro Photo 2 class, we get a new word every few weeks, and have to represent it in an image. For this image, we had the word “gravity”. I had Bobby Jo model for me, and hung a paper lantern above her. I ended up taking out the small part of the cord showing in the photo in Photoshop.

Now this is a small example of how Photoshop can be used to completely alter an image, but I’d like to ask a question (or a few) to those of you who follow my blog. When is Photoshop too much? How far is too far? When is it the right time to use it, and how much should be used?

My belief is for something like this, it’s completely acceptable. If it’s going to help the image, then sure, go for it! However, if it’s documenting reality, I believe that’s when it shouldn’t be used at all. It all just depends on the photograph, in my opinion.

I’d love to hear your opinions! Send them to me in the ask box, or reblog this post with your opinions and feedback.

Hello again, readers! These pictures are for my gels assignment,...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 15:31:21 -0500

Hello again, readers! These pictures are for my gels assignment, and we got to use the gels over the strobes and light the background or subject and make it creative in our own way.

I had Shelby model for me, and did a “winter/Christmas” theme I guess you can say, with Christmas lights in the back, and her wearing winter attire. I did some with a mug and without.

I’ve noticed there’s always a trend with Christmas photos about a month or two before the actual holiday month, and I figured I would try this idea out for an assignment and see if I like it enough or not to try it again with other people and setups! It was a pretty fun shoot. I originally planned for the lights to be bokeh behind her but my lens is a kit lens and barely worked how I wanted it to. I tried having Shelby stay still, with the gels lighting her face and the lights in the background as I moved my camera in different directions, and these two photos were the best results! I really enjoy how they came out, and I’m hoping to try this again for anyone who would like Christmas photos for cards and whatnot but with more lights, people, and possibly ugly Christmas sweaters!