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Planet Project time.
Parents don’t we love project time?  It’s never their project but OURS.  A research paper on the Solar System was assigned about a month ago.  Sir R was assigned Jupiter.  As I read the FIVE sheets (front and back) of instructions, my head began to swell.  I was getting a headache and anxious at the same time.  What did I know in detail about Jupiter?  Well, not much.  Off to the library we went.

For the research portion, I helped Sir R with the introduction and conclusion.  He wrote the body of the paper all by himself.  All I had to do was proofread before he typed it.  That was the easy part for me.

BUT OMG!!!  Boy did we (or do I mean I) had a hard time trying to figure out what we’d do for Visual Aid and Oral Presentation portion of the project.  I spent weeks thinking about it.  I even tried Dr. Google.   To my amazement Dr. Google wasn’t much help.  Thought, I did learn plenty about  Jupiter 2 Spaceship from the movie Lost in Space.

I did find one snippet on making a model but it was all in words.  Who does that?  Or am I the only one that needs a pictorial?  For those who are like-minded.  I want to share the how-to instructions for making a model of the planet Jupiter.

Supplies:

* Styrofoam ball, 8-inch diameter (can be purchased as Wal-mart in the crayon section)

* 2-inch diameter Styrofoam ball

* (2) 1-inch diameter Styrofoam balls

*1/2-in Styrofoam ball

* Jar, 2 juice bottles, and 2 soda bottles

* Image of Jupiter

* Cover Stain primer

* Acrylic paint: Engine Red,  rust, ivory, terra cotta, yellow, dark gray, light gray, brown

* Foam craft brushes

* foam blotter brush

* Dowel rod, 1/2 inch diameter by 12 (cheaper at Michael’s)

*Wood glue

* drywall screw

* screwdriver (electrical screwdriver best)

* plywood 12-inch by 12-inch in length by 3/4 thick (Michael’s has this by the dowels)

* thin wire, such as floral wire

* glitter glue (optional)

 

Ready?  Set?  Let’s Create!!

Place the 8-inch Styrofoam ball on the top of the neck of a clean jar.  Place smaller Styrofoam balls on juice bottles and soda bottle.  We used drop-ceiling hooks to hold the balls securely as we painted.   It depends on your skill level and how confident you feel in painting the Styrofoam ball without it rolling off the neck of the bottle.

Begin to primer with cover stain.  This will keep you from having to paint on additional coats of paint and help the acrylic paint to stick to the styrofoam.

See how happy one gets when they use Cover Stain Primer?

Allow to dry for about 2-3 hours.  As you can see you can also use a wine bottle, spray bottle, or an empty container of honey to hold the Styrofoam balls.

Allow Cover Stain to dry.  While waiting, measure the dowel to 12-inches in length and cut it with a small hand-saw.  This is a 2-person step so, I didn’t get to photograph it.  Locate the center of the 12×12 inch plywood and mark your center on BOTH sides.  On the top place the dowel on your maker.  On the bottom, fasten the screw to the marker using an electric drill.  You do this manually but it will take a bit.

Then, paint the dowel and plywood black.

We added glitter to mimic the stars.  It doesn’t take away from the model if you don’t want to add glitter.

Using a foam brush, spread the glitter glue.

Using the image of Jupiter and it’s moons.  Paint away…

Paint your 8-inch Styrofoam ball of Jupiter with  paint in an unevenly striped pattern with the red, rust, ivory, terra cotta colored acrylic paints.  Refer to the image and attempt to recreate, as best you can, the striped pattern of Jupiter’s surface.  Lighten the brown and orange paints with white paint so the shades vary.  Don’t forget the Great Red Spot, Jupiter’s famous storm.

Paint the 2-inch diameter Styrofoam ball to look like Io with yellow and brown mottled paint.  Add a few small dots of red paint.

Paint the 1-inch diameter balls to look like Europa and Ganymede with mottled brown and grayish colors.

Paint the smallest ball to resemble Callisto, a dark mottled brown and gray.

Allow to dry and turn over to paint the bottom.  This will prevent smearing.

Once dry, place the Jupiter model on the dowel.   Push the bottom center of the Styrofoam down onto the dowel about 3 inches.  Remove the hole and pour a bit of glue in the hole created by the dowel.  Allow to glue to set for a few minutes before placing the Jupiter model onto the dowel.

 

Cut the wire into the following sizes: one 4-inch length, one 5-inch length, one 6-inch length, one 8-inch length.    Push one end of the 5-inch wire into the Europa moon.  Push one end of the 6-inch wire into the Ganymede moon.  Push the end of the 8-inch wire into the Callisto moon.   Finally, push the other ends of wires into the Jupiter model so that the moons are spaced out around it (refer to an image of Jupiter and it’s moons to help you decide on placement).

We had some wire left over so, I decide to label the planet and it’s moons.

 

Here we are.  Final product, ready to be presented in class.

A diagram was also added to help explain the regions of Jupiter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s an infection?  Miss K woke up like this.  We had a photo session scheduled and  now we must reschedule.  I’ll see you soon Miss K!!  Feel better.

Whoopsie…  Here’s a post I neglected to publish in JANUARY.  Forgive me… Should I blame the neighborhood deer?

I’ll forewarn you, this post is a bit long so sit back and enjoy an ice cold pop.

The month is almost over.  I  dream of posting daily, but my crazy schedule won’t allow me to.    Tax time is also knocking at my door (and everyone else’s for that matter).  The early months of the year is a perfect time to sit back evaluate and plan ahead.  It also gives me time to think of ideas and marketing strategies.

Many have asked me questions about photography and the business side of it all.  When it comes to photography I always have a mouthful to say,  I’ll try to keep it short this time.  I’ll even sprinkle photos here and there.

Let me preface by saying I am in no way a business guru.  I’ve taken a ton of classes throughout high school and college.  I continue to learn from taking classes, attending workshops, talking to others, and good ole research.   I’ve made mistakes at times and use those errors as a learning process.  I thank God that my income is not what keeps our family afloat.   Though, I know fellow photographers who have to maintain a certain amount of clients in order to support their livelihood.   I can’t imagine the stress of needing a certain amount of clients in order to pay the bills.

I never planned to have a business.  At times I have to really sit back and say “Wow, lil’ ole me”.   I spent many hours trying to figure things out, camera, photoshop, etc.  My husband gently told me it was taking over my time and costing us lots of money.  I had to re-evaluate (and do so ALL the time) and prioritize my time.   Sometimes I wonder if I should just stop it all…but I’ve decided I love it too much.  Not just taking pictures, but meeting strangers and taking their pictures.  It all brings me so much joy.  So I limit what I take on, and I am mindful of my computer time editing photos.  I still don’t identify myself as having a “job” because its’ just doing something I love and I happen to get paid for it.  My “work” hours are naptime and after bedtime. When it does trickle over into family time, I become cranky momma, and I don’t like her and neither does my family.

It has been difficult for me to figure out what I want to charge.  It was important for me to stay home with my children.  Education, after-school activities, home decor, camera equipment etc. all have a price tag.  I wanted to be able to stay home and help with various bills.  All that said, I am not the photographer for the thrifty person, and I’ve become ok with that (though I felt guilty for quite a while), taking into account that it takes time away from my family.  When they are strangers, they pay full price.  They have sought me out, and they are willing to pay.  To make it less awkward on myself, I don’t do business with those in my church family, but will do a professional trade or refer them to my other photographer friends.  I even had a  friend show interest, tell me I was out of her price range, and I referred her to a friend who is just starting out.  I have no problems doing that–I get it!  I want people to have great pictures, but I just can’t do it all.  I have never charged family members a penny, and many close friends I gift on my own accord.  It is my favorite gift to give those I am closest with.  Once again, the mister reminds me that though it is good to be giving, I simply can’t give all that I want to.

Moving on….those unsure whether or not this is a business for them, here are what sucks your time:

A lot of people don’t realize that a shoot is a lot more than just a shoot. There are so many things and many hours that go into just one session, so here is a breakdown of what each shoot consists of:

Time Spent…

1) emailing back and forth to set the date, time, location, clothing suggestions, etc. (this could be 2 or 3 emails….or it could be 20 or more).

2)  driving to and from each session

3) actually shooting at the session

4)  depositing checks

5)  editing/prepping images for the sneak peeks on my blog

6) weeding out the not so great and editing the rest of the images

7)  uploading all of the photos to the online gallery

8 ) emailing the client the gallery with all of the detailed info

9)  packaging orders

10)  Setting up a delivery/pick up time

11) backing up client files to external hard drives and burning backup discs

12) updating my website and facebook page

 

I had an adventurous time with the B family on their boat.  It was so cool to be all dressed up to take photo’s on the boat.   It’s so peaceful out on the lake.  No wonder lots of families have boats here.

Here’s are some snippets from our day…

Before I introduce the B family.  I need your input.  I’m trying out a new way to display images.  Please let me know what you think.  For those using cellular devices, please let me know if you are able to view the images below.