Through My Lens

Dare You

2012-01-19T22:14:00.000-05:00

So I've been needing a little bit of change lately. As a woman, sometimes all you need is a new lipstick... (my apologies to any male readers....)

It's all about your own perception of yourself. Luckily, the brand of makeup that I choose to wear has a recycling program. You take in 6 empty containers from their line, they reward you with a free tube of lipstick. I think in the past 8 years, I've only had to lay down money once to dress up my mouth.

And of course it gives me the opportunity to play with the Olympus PL-2 fit with the toy lens from the PhotoJojo store.

So, anyway... what I've apparently been needing is red. Yes, that kind of red.

Thank you MAC... I needed that!

Winter Has Arrived...

2012-01-16T16:18:00.000-05:00

The Garden in Winter

2011-12-28T15:18:00.000-05:00

Gardens prove to be a continuing source of inspiration even when most of the plant life is "not in bloom"...

Merry...

2011-12-20T22:32:00.002-05:00

Synchronized Conducting

2011-12-04T14:19:00.000-05:00

I got to shoot the Lessons and Carols Service for my church again this year... One of the treats is seeing the father/daughter teamwork in conducting all of the choirs together. (The matriarch of this musical clan is busy playing the organ... just offscreen to the left)

Friday Photo

2011-11-18T10:45:00.000-05:00

The Importance of Play

2011-11-17T12:56:00.000-05:00

The other day I was coming downstairs, totally engrossed in all my recent stresses. I’ve been worrying myself about things I don’t really have total control over --- so much so that I’ve had bizarre dreams of angry disco bees and black fire ants (I know fire ants are not black… they’re red… but work with me here… it was a dream).

And there it was --- a wistful request for attention.

My cat Daisy is pretty no nonsense. When she’s hungry, she does the stare. When she’s angry, she flips and slaps her tail. When she’s trying to lure you into your own demise, she offers her belly for a rub (makes it easier for her to nail your unsuspecting hand).

When she wants to play, she either sits by her favorite toy or she puts it someplace to let you know it’s time to engage with her. I mean really, how am I supposed to resist this face?

So we play. I “tease” her with the felt mouse. She keeps her claws sheathed. It’s all very civilized… and accompanied by the soundtrack of her purr.

Life will get in the way of living if you let it. Sometimes you need someone who doesn’t speak to jolt you out of the mindset of “I’m overwhelmed and I just don’t want to create until I get all my ducks in a row.”… (Incidentally, I’ve never really seen ducks line up in a row… they adopt more of a loose hangout).

My stresses are still present. But I think I’m better equipped to deal with them now that I’ve had a bit of playtime.

Hello Sunday...

2011-11-06T14:00:00.000-05:00

I love my cat. Apparently she hates my camera.

Friday Photo

2011-11-04T12:44:00.002-04:00

Taking Control

2011-11-03T12:57:00.000-04:00

This week I've been working on, among other things, one of the 3 books I'm writing. It's a course-book based on my Intro to DSLR class that I teach at the Light Factory and it's designed to get people to take control of their digital cameras instead of shooting in Auto mode.

It's an interesting exercise --- going through my syllabus and seeing how the information flows best and trying to write everything down so that it makes sense. The dynamic is different when you don't have a student in front of you and you don't have their interaction to see if what you just laid out actually makes sense and helps them grasp the concepts.

A confused expression on a person's face speaks volumes and is, in my experience, one of the best forms of feedback a teacher has.

One of my photographic goals in life is to give as many people as possible the information they need to take control of their images... so they can show the world what they see instead of just accepting that whatever happens when they click the shutter is the actual truth.

Now it seems I have tasked myself with taking control of words, not just images. It's a little outside my comfort zone, but it feels good.

Happy Halloween... Flash Contest!

2011-10-31T13:57:00.000-04:00

So I'm in the mood to hand out some treats... That means I've got a two-part flash contest for you!

The rules are this: Take a look at the image I've posted for this contest.

What do you see in this picture that is not really there?

The first person to message me the answer via my Facebook fan page will win a 6-note Floral Thank You gift card pack from my Portraits from a Moonlight Garden series.

But I'm not done!

Tell me a short story (150 words or less... and less can really be better here!) about the image. You've got until Midnight tonight (East coast time) to get your entry in. Whoever sends me the best story via my website Contact page wins a floral pendant from the Portraits from a Moonlight Garden series.

Please pay attention to the rules... They're simple, but you have to follow them to be entered in the contest and win!

Happy Halloween... Take 3

2011-10-31T12:46:00.000-04:00

Got Gothic?

Happy Halloween... Take 2

2011-10-31T12:38:00.000-04:00

Have you ever looked around and just thought about what exactly is growing close to you?

Happy Halloween... Take 1

2011-10-31T12:15:00.000-04:00

The obligatory pumpkin shot... just in time for Halloween...

It only gets abstract from here...

Friday Photo... and My 100th Post

2011-10-28T13:24:00.000-04:00

A Little More Autumnal Color

2011-10-27T12:04:00.000-04:00

At the End of a Long Day...

2011-10-25T21:40:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday

2011-10-24T11:21:00.000-04:00

Rain Lily

I'm still going through images from a recent jaunt out to Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont, NC. People are incredulous when I mention that I like to shoot there all year long... "Is there anything worth shooting right now?"

Always! You just have to open your mind to the tiny, demure beauty that just is...

A Photo for a Sunday Afternoon...

2011-10-23T10:55:00.000-04:00

We, as humans, often attribute human characteristics to nature... Such as nature is cruel or mean or heartless. Sometimes it's inviting or seductive.

Nature is really none of those things. Nature just is.

These mushrooms sprang up in Freedom Park after a recent flood there. They weren't long for this world because, well... quite frankly, mushrooms are not really all that durable. But they did mark the event.

Sometimes I think that it would behoove me to follow nature's example of just being. But as a photographer, that's not my nature. My nature is to capture fleeting moments of life and archive them so we don't forget.

Life moves fast but it is ultimately made up of individual moments strung together.

Autumn Color

2011-10-18T14:10:00.000-04:00

Trees are not the only source of vibrant color in the fall... Kind of strange how a photographer who specializes in, and pretty much thinks in, black and white can be so happy about color.

So I tried a little experiment with this image. Above is the image as it came out of my camera earlier this month. It's part of the exercise of me pushing my own boundaries.

Below is the same image, but how it would normally end up... I think I'm still growing as a photographer...

Photo for a Rainy Day...

2011-10-11T13:59:00.002-04:00

Friday Photo

2011-10-07T10:08:00.000-04:00

Autumn Light

2011-10-06T10:15:00.000-04:00

I love Autumn...

Life has been stressful lately. Things have not all gone as I had hoped. And there are quite a few days when I would prefer to just duck under the covers and wish it all away.

But then Autumn happens to mosey in... Maybe it's the golden hue everything takes on.... That burnished light seems to give me a sense that there's a promise that will finally be fulfilled right around the corner.

And I hope again...

Altering Your View

2011-10-04T20:10:00.000-04:00

This image is another from my Polaroid transfer experimentations.

The original image, shot with my Bronica SQai medium format camera on Ilford Delta film, is one of my favorites. The original image is 6X6 square, however, the Polaroid film is not, so I end up with a crop.

I really lucked out with the tearing of the emulsion. I don't think I could have planned it better!

Photo for a Sunday Afternoon

2011-10-02T16:42:00.000-04:00

Just posting something pretty and vibrant before I have to go out and mow the lawn... You'd think with the fact that I am a floral photographer that I would love yardwork. I don't. It just has to be done and I'd rather share something beautiful with all of you than go plug in the mower.

Okay... I don't think I can procrastinate any longer...

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Shooting for Myself

2011-10-01T21:10:00.000-04:00

Today was the first day I've gone out and shot purely for my own enjoyment for a long time. You see, it's a birthday present to myself. No, my birthday is not today... but this is the first day of my birthday month. In my family we celebrate for the entire month... partly because there are so many of us born in October, partly because life sometimes dictates that you just have to celebrate whenever you can.

Friday Photo...

2011-09-30T14:29:00.000-04:00

Experimentation Does a Girl Good

2011-09-29T23:22:00.000-04:00

I've always been a fan of everything Polaroid. I got the chance to take a workshop in Polaroid transfers at the Light Factory several years ago. I wanted to be able to play with my images.

We went through all the normal procedures... and then I asked the instructor if it were possible to do a "double exposure" using two different slides.

She thought for a second and then said, "I don't know... why don't you try it?"

Hope & Roses (above) is the result of that little experiment.

Sometimes it's a drag to experiment... It can cost a lot of money (the Polaroid transfers are pretty cost-prohibitive) and when/if you don't get a result you like, it can chip away at your creative bravado. The truly difficult part is not thinking of ways to experiment, but accepting the result, good or bad, and embracing it as your own.

I guess that means I should dig up one of the images I didn't really like from the workshop. But the truth is, I liked them all.

Willow Bridge in Freedom Park

2011-09-28T09:57:00.000-04:00

Score!

2011-09-24T12:38:00.000-04:00

My mother is an intelligent woman.

I'm not sure if it's an official "rule", but it's encouraged when visiting her house that before any of us kids leave, we must visit the basement and collect something from our childhood. It's a slow way to clean out all the clutter, but it keeps us from having to clean it out all at once (which is a frightening prospect!).

Even though I know, when I go down those stairs, I'm going to experience an arachnoleptic fit at some point while I'm in the basement, I still go willingly... because there is always some treasure to find. Like this:

That's the Polaroid camera (on the left) my mother used to document our family when my brother and I were kids. It weighs about as much as a brick and it'll smash your fingers when you close it. But it holds great sentimental value because it lets me see what my mother saw when I was little.

My mother has always been supportive of my creative endeavors with photography. She never pushed it on me, but she did always express her approval. I think I inherited my mother's (and even her mother's) desire to document the important, quiet moments of life with a camera.

I should probably have saved this post for her birthday... or for Mother's Day. But I couldn't wait.

I'm going to go see if I can dig up some film at the Impossible Project. If they don't have any, I'll keep looking and see what I can come up with...

Thanks Mom!

A New Direction...

2011-09-22T13:03:00.000-04:00

I've come to the conclusion that I am, for all intents and purposes, really a flower photographer. But I have to keep reminding myself of that fact over and over again. I'm not sure why... I do try my best to make things more difficult than they should be.

This image is from a new flower series that I started last year. I've posted some of the images I've been making along the way. What I think I've learned from this series is that making things simpler ends up making me happier.
The series is still evolving, but now that I've let go of some of the shtick that I started with, it just feels more right... more of my own mind... simple but in an elegant way. And it's even in color!

(And fyi Peter, it's not shot with that lens you despise...)

Seeing a Little Differently

2011-09-12T14:08:00.003-04:00

I started visiting Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in 2010 because I needed a second field trip for my Intro to DSLR students when my classes ran for 8 weeks instead of 6 weeks.

I decided that first trip that I would limit myself to one lens. I chose my Lensbaby because, quite frankly, I needed to practice with it. On subsequent trips, I even limited myself to one aperture.

I didn't necessarily make these initial choices based purely on creative criteria --- I never like weighing myself down with too much equipment.

My laziness in lugging stuff does however benefit me creatively! Limiting myself on available equipment forces me to rely on those technical aspects and fit myself and my subject into those parameters... Kind of like in college when my costume design professor assigned our class the task of designing costumes for Romeo & Juliet using only two colors. The limits worked for that class and I believe those limits still work for other creative endeavors.

I've actually got enough of a visual theme from that experimentation that I now have a fresh floral series. I've started editing it and plan to post it on my main website within the next couple of weeks.

A Photo for a Sunday Afternoon...

2011-09-11T18:16:00.000-04:00

"A Play of Light"

I received an email from my Creativity and the Photographer II workshop teacher, Sean Kernan, earlier this week. He attached a blog post from another photographer that really resonated with me.

As I slog my way through my life as a photographer,

I often encounter the voice of self-doubt. I hate that voice.

But luckily I have a great group of supporters who cheer me on when I become moody and morose.

I know some people would look at the image above and say that it's not a good photograph. I disagree. It is the epitome of "writing with light" and it makes me happy that I shot it.

Needless to say, I'm in a bit of a period of transition with my shooting. I'm not exactly sure where it's leading me, but things look more like what's going on inside my head --- not exactly perfect, but oddly beautiful and new. If I get to where I think I'm going, I really don't think that voice of self-doubt can be heard there...

A Little Preview...

2011-09-01T12:54:00.000-04:00

Here's to testing the waters.... I am exhibiting and selling some of my work at the NoDa All Arts Market tomorrow night, September 2nd, 2011. It's an exercise in what I consider to be one of my toughest challenges --- promoting my own work.

I believe in my own abilities and the validity of my own work... There just seems to be a disconnect when someone asks me to explain why they should like my work enough to pay for it. This always stumps me --- I mean, if you truly like something and want it, why would you need someone to explain your own wants s& desires to you? Curious.

In any event, if you're going to be near the corner of North Davidson and 36th Streets in Charlotte, stop by the Neighborhood Theater and visit me at booth #230. We can have a philosophical discussion and maybe even a frosty adult beverage.

Happy World Photography Day

2011-08-19T14:14:00.000-04:00

Today is World Photography Day...

To celebrate, I'm posting an image that I don't think I've ever posted before, even though it's one of my favorites.

I shot this back in 2005 with my Olympus OM-1, the camera that I learned to shoot with... my first "real" camera. I worked as a camp counselor one summer to earn the money to buy this particular camera and I still use it to this day. I think I've got a roll of Ilford Delta 3200 film in it right now that I need to finish off.

I thought this image would be appropriate because I shot it in Paris. On this date, 172 years ago, the French government proclaimed the invention of the Daguerreotype by Louis Daguerre as a "Gift Free to the World".

There's some controversy about whether the Daguerreotype or the Calotype (discovered by William Fox Talbot) was first. For my part, I'm just glad these people were up for experimentation.

Thank you gentlemen... and all the other photographers I've been priveleged to learn from as well.

Dealing With Kudzu

2011-07-08T16:30:00.000-04:00

Kudzu was introduced in the South from Japan... I remember riding along the interstate with my family between Charlotte and Statesville during the summer months and joking about staying clear of the vine that was choking out most of the indigenous vegetation --- It moved so quickly that, surely it could overtake a human being loitering along the side of the road.

Talk about invasive.

Nothing kills kudzu. It would probably remain healthy and intact after nuclear devastation.

Finally, though, we're figuring out something that can battle the "mile-a-minute" vine:

GOATS.

"Chains" is Coming...

2011-06-29T12:38:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know my syntax is a little wonky in today's article title, but I'm working on a theme...

This is just a preview of some of the things coming down the pipeline here in the "Creativity Chambers" at JAWiley Photography...

An Oldie but a Goodie... The Friday Photo

2011-03-25T13:29:00.000-04:00

I decided sometime ago to post random images on Fridays.... giving no explanation as to what they were or where they were taken. I'm diverging from that goal today.

I shot this image several years ago when I was in Paris. I was still shooting film regularly and was quite frustrated with my work. I decided to treat myself by giving in to the tourist in me and devoting some time to shoot my own interpretation of the Eiffel Tower.
What makes me proud of this shot --- besides the fact that capturing it helped re-energize my creativity --- was the fact that I captured the bird as it was. It is not an edited shot. I saw the pigeon land on the planter and waited for what seemed like five full minutes for it to fly off. I even resisted the urge to toss a pebble in it's direction to force it into flight so I could keep walking.

I'm getting ready to add Intermediate DSLR classes to my teaching roster at the Light Factory. I think I may introduce the students to some of the old school ways of shooting to really give them command of their equipment.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T14:01:00.000-04:00

This is Oxalis Regnelli, otherwise known as a Shamrock. This image is part of the flower portrait project I've been working on.

I usually only purchase cut flowers because, I am ashamed to say, I am not gifted with a green thumb. But I figured I would give it a try since I like this plant.
I have it housed in a mini-greenhouse beside one of the windows by my front door. This is not just for decorative purposes, though. I have a cat that I love very much and oxalis is toxic to kitties. And horses, actually, but I don't usually keep a horse in the house.
And none of this actually has anything to do with St. Patrick's Day... but it's almost 2:00pm and I missed my coffee this morning.

Friday Photo, March 11

2011-03-11T18:23:00.002-05:00

On the Warpath: So What's It Worth to Ya?

2011-03-10T11:13:00.000-05:00

One of the perils of being a photographer in the world of digital imagery and the internet is copyright infringement. Some people believe (or try to convince themselves) that if they can find an image on the internet, it must be in the public domain.

This thinking even bleeds into places where people are “in the industry” and should know better --- I received an email from one of my fellow APA members recently warning of a “rights grab” that was thinly veiled as a contest benefiting a charity. It was a rather nasty rights grab as well, with the sponsor stating “All entries become the exclusive property of … "Sponsor" and will not be acknowledged or returned.” I don’t think this company would respond well if someone proposed that they supply their services for free… So why are they trying to trick new talent into giving their efforts away?

I routinely surf the web, searching for my own images that have been used without my permission. I mean, come on… I know who my clients are and what we’ve discussed in terms of who can post what. I have had some clients who have purchased prints, then scanned those prints (very poorly) and have posted the bad scans. Not only is that stealing from me, that’s presenting my work in a poor light and can cost me other clients if they think the poor scans represent the quality (or lack thereof) of my work.

I even had one person argue with me about use of my images. I had shot an event for a non-profit, and even though I gave them permission to use the work for a specific purpose I still maintained my copyright. I chose to give them a discount, but I did get paid. This person called and asked to use an image from the event for a newsletter for a for-profit entity that had nothing to do with the original client. She got quite frustrated when I would not give her the image for free, saying “But you’ve already been paid for it.” Well, yes… but I had not been paid by the for-profit company.

I have been known to contact clients (or just general people who have no rights to my imagery) and inform them that they are in violation of my copyright. I think I inherited this from my very proper, somewhat petite paternal grandmother…. One day she came back into her office to find someone had wandered in off the street and was going through her desk to grab her purse. She chased him back out into the street. And she got her purse back. So if you plan on “grabbing” the work of me or any of my creative buddies, be forewarned: I will chase you back out into the street and get my work back.

Friday Photo

2011-03-04T14:54:00.000-05:00

Ah, Spring!

2011-03-03T16:14:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago, Punxsutawney Phil, arguably the most notorious groundhog in the United States, did not see his shadow, thereby declaring an early Spring.

It seems that the rodent was right as the Bradford Pears that populate most of Charlotte, NC are bursting forth with their blooms and their pollen. I'm not such a fan of these ornamental trees since I seem to have developed a raging allergy to them. I can just about predict when they will start to bloom by the degree of pain that creeps into my sinus cavities. But it's all good, because I know that the pain with eventually go away and I will have my flowers to photograph again.

I recently grabbed my camera and Lensbaby on one of the first warm days and headed for the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont. The crocuses were up. My bonus-father always kept watch for their arrival and even had a yearly contest to see who would actually spot the first shoots sticking through the ground.

And my flower sources seem to be in high gear, offering several options for flower models whereas a few weeks ago the only thing being offered was what could be shipped in from far off, warmer environs. I shot three flower portraits yesterday and have two more waiting for their close-ups today. Before too much longer, I'll be knocking on strangers' doors requesting to photograph flowers from their yards.

Now where did I leave my allergy meds?

Friday Photo

2011-02-18T10:39:00.000-05:00

Ticking Off the Bucket List

2011-02-15T09:51:00.000-05:00

I started teaching a couple of new sessions at the Light Factory several weeks ago. Whenever I start a new session, I have everyone in the class introduce themselves, tell me what camera they're using and tell a little about why they are taking the class.
I had someone actually say that they signed up for my class as part of their bucket list. This was not an older person, mind you, but they were getting a jump on things.
It's kind of cool being on someone's "bucket list"... Not me, per se, but the act of learning something just for the simple pleasure of knowing something new. I love people like that.

I think when I left TV news to become a photographer, it was part bucket list, part escape from the extreme stress. Now that I've been crafting a new life for myself, I'm not always sure where day to day tasks end and the bucket list to do's begin. I think I'm OK with that.
I mean, with all the responsibility (taxes, health insurance, running a business anywhere but into the ground...) I still have the freedom to set my own course. If I were still in corporate America and the "powers that be" screwed up, I would be at the mercy of faceless upper management. If I screw it up, it's my own fault.... and as scary as that is in this economy, it's just as empowering.

I think I finally feel a connection to my pioneer great-great-grandmother. She built a life with her own hands on the banks of the Yellowstone... I'm building a life with my camera on the banks of the Internet.

Friday Photo

2011-02-11T12:15:00.002-05:00

Creativity Conduit

2011-02-08T16:43:00.000-05:00

There are many different ways to express your creativity. Luckily, how we harness and share that is determined mainly by us --- the creative people.

I never would have made the connection between Kevin Clash, an attractive 50 year old African American man, and some yardage of red, furry fabric. But the man has put his voice to that fabric and is able to touch millions (warning… this video made me cry joy tears). I’m sharing this link with you because it just made my day. I admire the man for his ability to touch hearts and funny-bones simultaneously.

As visual artists, we have tons of choices to help us express ourselves. It always torques me when I hear someone telling someone else, “You should be using this method” or “You aren’t a serious artist because you aren’t using this medium”… If it gets your message across, it’s art. Period. A big, slurpy raspberry to those who say otherwise!

Okay, that last bit is my childish way of battling my inner critics. It can be lonely exploring a new avenue of creativity. What if it doesn’t represent your voice? What if it doesn’t convey any message at all?

I keep dipping my toes in different mediums to see what comes out. Some experiments have been successful. They usually garner me financial gain or some sort of prestige. Some experiments have not been successful. Those are the ones that have gifted me with that emotional joyride. And to be totally honest, I can’t begrudge them. Ultimately, they are my own, however uncomfortable they are.

It’s time again for me to try to push myself into the uncomfortable realm of the potentially unsuccessful. The call has gone out for the Light Factory’s 4th Juried Annuale. Maybe I’ll put Elmo up in the studio for some inspiration.

Friday Photo

2011-02-04T13:40:00.000-05:00

Friday Photo

2011-01-28T10:52:00.000-05:00

Actually Letting Your Work Flow

2011-01-25T14:40:00.000-05:00

Getting new equipment usually makes me do the happy dance. Last Thursday I left a big box store with my brand new 2T external drive tucked lovingly between my arm and breast. I knew this was the answer to my recent storage issues. I even took the drive out of the packaging as soon as I got home and gave it a space on my desk.

And there it sat for the next three and a half days.

The reality of copying and checking and double-checking and then moving or outright deleting files made me want to curl up in the fetal position and wish it all away. I didn't even allow myself to think of defragmenting or reassigning opening programs. But I started.

About halfway through, my best friend gave me a pep talk saying that this set up would be much safer and efficient anyway.
And it is. It's about 27 hours since I initially started and all is well. Everything is set up much more efficiently and the external drive (which I think now I must name) has a comforting little glow and hum to it.

I think I need to take my camera out and shoot just so I can go with my new flow...

Friday Photo(s)

2011-01-21T09:37:00.000-05:00

Comely Attractions...

2011-01-20T11:18:00.000-05:00

Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens kicked off their Orchid Spectacular this past weekend. I thought this might help scare away the last dingy vestiges of the snow. Enjoy!

Profiling Your Personality

2011-01-18T12:19:00.000-05:00

I taught a "photography for jewelers" workshop at Beadlush this past weekend. It's specifically designed for people who are just getting started as a business to be able to shoot decent images of their work for Etsy and other online venues.

At the end of the workshop, we all used one of the most popular networking phrases around right now ---- "I'll 'friend' you on Facebook." It really can be more convenient than handing out a stack of business cards... It can save money and trees. However, it can lead to confusion if you're shy about posting an image of your face as your profile picture. Or if you're trying to be cute/current/hip/whatever. I had to go in and change mine so people could find me since I had changed my image to a picture of my feet in the snow.

Not a very efficient way for new acquaintances to get to know me.

But it got me thinking --- why are people so obsessed with withholding their image?
Are they insecure about their looks? Are they in WITSEC? Or is there maybe an unconscious adherence to the belief by some cultures that having your image captured actually captures a part of your soul?

I tend to go with the vanity option. I am one of those photographers who hates having their photo taken. For me, it's a control thing. I became a proponent of self-portraiture when I figured out that I could dictate exactly how my image would ultimately be displayed. Maybe it's a little BDD, but it is a way of showing people what I think of myself rather than just what might be captured in a random image.

Of course, this is probably a little hypocritical since I shoot to capture a person's essence and personality rather than make them look airbrushed and fake. (For the record, I do not edit my own images to make me look 20 years younger, thinner and cuter! I just get rid of stray corkscrewy hairs and skin blemishes. While I don't like my wrinkles, I have earned each one honestly so they're staying in the pictures!)

I would much rather see a profile picture of someone taking their own picture with their cellphone in a mirror or holding the camera at arms' length than a shot of an inanimate object that never gets changed. After all, I think people are much more beautiful and interesting than they give themselves credit.

On the Warpath

2011-01-12T16:55:00.000-05:00

I just saw a photograph of a friend of mine in a publication. She's a beautiful woman. Accomplished. Smart. Sexy.

But in this photograph, someone apparently thought she needed to be retouched within an inch of her life. And that makes my blood boil. It's as if the publishers thought she was almost good enough... but not quite. So they threw some Photoshop actions at her image and the result is a kind of homogenized, not fully "her" depiction.
Maybe it's just the result of a refinisher not knowing when to stop. Retouching should take out the blemishes, but not totally obliterate the soul of the photograph.
I have photographed quite a few women. I have retouched many of those images. But I firmly believe that the true beauty of each woman is similar to the beauty of the flowers I photograph ---- it is the slight variances from the "norm" that reveals the soul beauty of each living being.

I think I feel an new project coming on...

Snow Day

2011-01-11T19:10:00.000-05:00

I'm still kind of amazed at the fact that we've gotten snow twice already here in Charlotte, NC this winter. We normally only get ice.

That ice has already started wreaking havoc... but we did have some pretty pretty snow.

Snow-Mageddon 2011

2011-01-10T14:41:00.000-05:00

We don't usually get much snow here in Charlotte, NC. If we get anything, it's either usually just ice (not fun!) or it only happens once per season. Today, we got our second snow of the winter... a nice, fluffy, pretty snow.

I'm not usually a fan of snow. I think that comes from working in TV news for almost 14 years and having to go in to work during inclement weather. I usually do an internal eye-roll when people ask if I'm going out to take pictures of the snow... Did I mention I'm not a big fan of snow?
But today, I hit the ground with my camera and a Lensbaby and captured some snowy scenes. I don't think they're my best work. Maybe that's because of the subject matter. But I figure someone else might enjoy them.

Friday Photo

2011-01-07T11:58:00.002-05:00

When Technology Attacks...

2011-01-04T16:31:00.000-05:00

... Or Why HD May Not Always Be the Best Option.

I'm a bit of a techno geek. How could I not be? Both my brother and one of my grandfathers were radio engineers. But I'm not always sold on the idea that the latest technology is always the greatest technology... for every situation.
I worked for almost 14 years in TV news at the CBS affiliate in Charlotte, NC. It was common to walk through the halls and see all the engineers gathered around a piece of new equipment. You could gauge how important and truly useful the technology was by the looks on their faces.
One day my big boss, the VP of Operations & Engineering, saw me and waved me over saying, "You've gotta see this!" It was a hockey game shown in HD... High Definition. It was truly impressive. Cameras that were 50 yards and farther away from the action were capturing images that were unbelievably sharp. If there had only been beer vendors in that room, it would've been as good as actually being at the game.

As the technology became the standard, the HD cameras moved from the sports arenas into the news studios. The distance from the camera to the subject shrunk from 50+ yards to sometimes 10 feet or less. On-air talent were understandably nervous. There was talk of people possibly losing their jobs because they didn't have "HD ready faces."
No one has an HD ready face.
When you look at another human being, especially one that you have an emotional attachment to, your brain factors in the sentient with the visual. Physical characteristics that, according to people who consider themselves experts on human attractiveness, are not considered appealing can become markers that let you know you are gazing upon a loved one. It's your internal filter.

So the next time someone derides you for not having the most advanced piece of image-making equipment, smile and invite them to join you in a photo duel using only an oatmeal box and a can of black spray paint. If they aren't humbled, they may just walk away in confusion.

Friday Photo

2010-12-17T15:39:00.000-05:00

Technical Difficulties...

2010-12-14T16:25:00.000-05:00

I had fully intended to post something new today... Unfortunately, I am experiencing some computer issues and nothing is working the way I need it to.
So the work computer is about to go for a visit to the kindly computer doctor and I am "forced" to plan in a more... how should I put it?... a more analog manner. This means instead of opening up Photoshop to draft a lighting set-up, I'm opening up a notebook and actually using a PEN! Not the Olympus PEN, but an actual ink-in-the-tube, Bic type of pen.
It's kind of exciting. As I looked for a fresh sheet of paper, I flipped past some other creative ideas that I have yet to act upon. It's almost as if the creativity fairy took a hammer to my normal workflow to remind me that I don't necessarily need all the bells and whistles. And while I am quite annoyed with said creativity fairy right now, I am kind of re-energized about those almost forgotten ideas.
Who knows... maybe my New Year's Resolution will be to re-organize my workspace so that ideas don't get lost in the shuffle so easily.

Friday Photo

2010-12-10T16:14:00.000-05:00

When Your Dogma Eats Your Homework

2010-12-07T17:24:00.000-05:00

One of the toughest things I've encountered in my creative life is reconciling myself to my own dogmas... In my more enlightened moments, I am struck with thoughts such as "Every creative endeavor is valid because everyone who creates is responding to being created themselves."
Then I think "Wow! How pretenious is that for a girl from Iredell County?"
Or, even worse, I encounter some work of art --- whether it is a photogragh, a painting, writing or an installation --- and my gut reaction is "Egads! What were they thinking?" Which, in turn, leads me down the dark hallway to the realization that maybe people are looking at what comes out of my brain and thinking "This is supposed to be art?"
I don't like the hyper-critical side of my brain. I don't always see how it can be productive. At least I can remind myself that I don't have to like everything I see... and not everyone is going to like my work. And I don't even have to agree with everything someone does or says or produces to appreciate them or their work. And that's really the way it should be because if we all agreed, we would be an awfully boring lot.

So where is all this coming from? I've been editing and downloading images I shot this weekend. That always gives me time to let my mind wander... I've got the beginnings of a new book or screenplay (haven't decided which yet) rumbling around in my brain and trickling down onto paper. Plus I captured faces this weekend in their natural state (my favorite) and that tends to get my brain going.
So is what I shot this weekend valid and creative? I don't know right now... I think I'm rambling.

Friday Photo

2010-12-03T11:47:00.002-05:00

Prodigal Prints

2010-12-01T12:54:00.003-05:00

We celebrated Thanksgiving last week. There was food... and this being the South, most of that food was produced from old family recipes and was not in the least bit calorie-conscious. I still haven't managed to tally up the poundage of butter used.
But food consumption was not the main thing. I think the "over-indulgence" was actually a form of holiday carb-loading to fortify us for the family workday on Saturday.
There were plans to rake leaves and power wash my mother's carport. The latter activity netted me some forgotten images like the one above.
I had moved back in with my parents at one point and there was not enough room for all my junk. I ended up abandonning a wooden dresser on the carport. Initially the dresser was used to store little things --- safety goggles, dust masks, wood screws, etc. --- but after a while it was ignored. I had forgotten what I had orginally placed inside.

While everyone else was blowing leaves and scrubbing siding, my mother instructed me that since the dresser was techincally mine, I was the one who had to deal with it. There was no escape. So I opened up the drawers one by one to clean them out and get the dresser ready for a new home.
Amid the cobwebs and spider eggs and dust were boxes of old slides. I opened one box and discovered that they were images I had shot in high school and college. I don't really remember shooting a lot of slides... I tended to go with black & white film since it was cheaper. But the images are all from my trips.
And amazingly, everything is in decent condition. No mold. Just a little dirt. But definitely not what you'd expect from being outside for several years. (and the dresser is not in bad shape either)
So I'm scanning old slides and I'll be looking for some more Polaroid film to create some transfers... Anybody got a box of 669 you'd be willing to sell at a reasonable price?

Friday Photo(s)

2010-11-26T11:58:00.000-05:00

Holiday Mode

2010-11-23T20:13:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling rather worthless this week... creatively speaking.

My main focus is "crafting" my Sweet Potato Casserole for the family get-together on Thanksgiving Day. I've only had fleeting visits from the Idea Fairy this week. Yes, I know it's only Tuesday, but let's get real... I'm in some sort of nesting-domestic mindset that I probably won't get out of until I put the Christmas tree up on Friday (yes, I'm one of those people).
So I'm not going to fight it. I will embrace that making the yearly recipe is, in itself, a creative venture. Especially since it is truly my concoction. I patched together bits and pieces of recipes and over the past five years have come up with a dish that has begun to be requested at gatherings of friends and family. I will share it with you below --- If you make it and like it, please let me know! And if anyone asks you, let them know you got the recipe from a creative photographer... because creativity does come in many forms.
I'll be posting images from this year's casserole later this week. Here's the recipe:

Jane's Sweet Potato Casserole
Casserole...
4-6 sweet potatoes --- cooked, skinned & mashed
1/4 C. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
6 Tbls. butter, softened
2 Tbls. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
1 15-1/4 oz. can crushed pineapple, partially drained
Combine all these ingredients in a buttered 1-1/2 qt. baking dish.
Topping...
3/4 C. Grape Nuts cereal
1/2 C. light brown sugar
4 Tbls. butter, melted
Combine Topping ingredients and spread on potato mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Friday Photo

2010-11-19T10:36:00.002-05:00

The Art of Compromise... or the Compromise of Art

2010-11-16T16:49:00.000-05:00

Life's been interesting lately. It always is when one is trying to balance a "regular" life and an artistic one.

First there is the pursuit of income. It makes paying the bills possible. It also facilitates pursuing artistic endeavors. The flip side is the pursuit of creative voice --- figuring out what it is you really want to say in a way that strikes a chord with others. In a perfect world the two pursuits would co-exist and actually feed each other.

But a perfect world would actually be boring. I firmly believe that the conflict of reconciling one's regular life with one's creative life can provide growth for both. Unfortunately, sometimes that same conflict can chip away at any progress intended.

Asking for people's opinion of your work is an integral part of progressing as an artist. Sometimes it ends up feeling like a not-so-necessary evil. If the person whose opinion you are seeking is not really feeling up for the task, you can be on the receiving end of some bizarre feedback. That's a drag. I'm learning that the trick is to not only decifer the advice, but to read the giver of the advice and figure out in what spirit they are offering said advice.

In the meantime, I'm getting ready for the annual Light Factory Auction this weekend. One of my pieces, Star of Bethlehem, is up for auction. We'll see what the feedback on that is...

Friday Photo

2010-11-12T12:16:00.002-05:00

Friday Photo

2010-11-05T11:18:00.002-04:00

Mid-Term Election Day... 2010

2010-11-02T16:58:00.008-04:00

I suffered burn out from all the election madness during my 14 years in TV news.

It was exciting when I first started. I was one half of the two-person team charged with programming the equipment that displayed the results on your TV screen during your favorite programs on Election night. It made me feel like I had an important part in the grand scheme of things.

But then I became disillusioned with both television news and the political process. I just wanted to hide. I'm ashamed to say, I think I skipped the last mid-term voting day.

That changed this year. The attack ads began to air in heavy rotation. I watched Real Time with Bill Maher much more often than I should (not that I always agree with him... but it gets me thinking). The Rally to Restore Sanity (or Fear) seemed much more intelligent than anything that was coming out of any candidate's mouth.

I had fully intended to work all day at my computer without taking time to exercise my right to vote.

Then, I browsed the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections website. I took the time to read each of the candidate statements from each candidate that I did not already know... including all the Court of Appeals judges.

Maybe I was overcome by the spirits of Suffragettes... Maybe I was ashamed of slacking off. But this morning I decided I wanted to have my say, and so I did.

Friday Photo

2010-10-29T11:40:00.003-04:00

Viva Vernacular!

2010-10-26T12:35:00.030-04:00

I love a good mystery... especially when that mystery is in the form of a photograph. Specifically, when that photograph seems to materialize in the most mundane places --- stuck between the pages of a book or stuffed unceremoniously into an envelope. The seemingly absent-minded or careless act belies the importance of the document.

Photographs capture not only a subject. They capture a bit of the photographer as well. They show what the person with the camera deemed important enough to chronicle, whether it was a person, place or event. Sometimes these images are not what we would consider "good" photographs in terms of composition or exposure. The power of vernacular photographs lies in the eye of the photographer. And I guess, a little bit in the collector as well.

Because of my passion for photography, I have become the de facto curator of the family photo archives. My paternal aunt has given me a plethora of snapshots as well as a single daguerreotype. My mother has given me some of the images from her side of the family as well. Some of the images have names scribbled illegibly on the back... some others are readable. Most of the images contain some clue about the subject and the relation to my family --- the Dunlop nose from Scotland, my mother's jaw line...
They all document and make real to me long dead ancestors. This helps me figure out my place in my family.

Whenever I begin teaching a new class session, I usually have everyone in the class take a moment to introduce themselves and tell why they are in the class. the most popular reason given is that they want to take better pictures of their families. My goal is to get them to show what is important in their lives.

Friday Photo

2010-10-22T10:21:00.003-04:00

A Studio of Her Own

2010-10-19T14:55:00.008-04:00

When it comes to creative spaces, I think my spirit animal must be that of a wren. I have been known to set up my "studio" in the middle of a street (because the light was right) as well as various open spaces in my own home. My flower portrait series is currently being shot in front of my television... which makes enjoying the evening mysteries and reality TV antics a little tricky. Plus, I have to keep an eye out for my "assistant".

The original plan --- before the economy tanked --- was for me to work and establish myself so in a couple of years I could afford a studio space that could be dedicated solely to my photography. I'm still working on that. And I have met several other photographers who have studio space to rent out when I absolutely have to have a studio.

But I still have a romantic longing for my own creative space.

And then I saw this article on the JPG magazine website --- an inflatable studio. Available in two sizes!

I can't really imagine that I would set this up anywhere... I mean, really, where would I hang the sign? But it is amusing and shows ingenuity and it made me smile. And it's relatively inexpensive, so who knows. Maybe it would be just perfect for my own space.

Friday Photo

2010-10-15T11:00:00.003-04:00

Courting the Muse

2010-10-12T16:25:00.006-04:00

Several of my classmates from Sean Kernan's class have emailed me recently with images they've been working on. This is only making me want to shoot on a theme more than ever. But what to choose...?

Being a Libra, I've always celebrated my "whim of steel" which tends to make living with me a little exciting. I can be thinking of and talking about researching a new car or sofa... and then after saying "I'm going to just look at this..." I will actually come home with something totally different.

It's kind of that way with photography projects. I've got tons of ideas swirling around in my head, but committing to one feels like I'm cheating on the others. I want to make absolutely sure that what I choose to explore is something I want to be associated with. And so I vacillate...

Friday Photo

2010-10-08T10:30:00.002-04:00

Friday Night Favorites

2010-10-07T12:22:00.013-04:00

Historically, they are gods in their youth. Playing their part in a microcosm that is supposed to prepare them for life afterward.

Most teens spend their days shuffling among classes that someone else has told them they have to master. They don't really get the importance of what is being forced upon them. The recognition of what is ultimately important usually doesn't come until years, even some decades, later.

Uncertainty rules their world. Their brains are not going to be fully functionally developed for another decade. So they process what the adults in their lives tell them and come up with their own world order. It's a world order that doesn't matter after they graduate --- either from high school or from college --- but while they are in the thick of it, they try to make sense of it all.

I think that's what draws them to the field.

We all remember our own high school days, either with wistfull longing for their return or with gratitude that it's long over and we're on with our lives.

The Curious Effects of Cooler Weather

2010-10-05T10:50:00.010-04:00

Maybe it's the cool crisp of the air... or possibly it's the fact that it's my birthday month, but I'm always relieved and feel I can take a deep, cleansing breath when October arrives. My world can be falling apart, but once the temperature dips to the 40's in the morning no bad thing seems like it is final. Everything seems to have a glow of promise.

Maybe I'm a little delusional. But then again, if the weather can affect the human psyche in a negative way, why can't the opposite happen? Maybe it's like a reboot for my system or maybe it's the jolt of the air... or maybe it just makes me happy that my normally stand-offish cat tends to curl up and cuddle with me on cold mornings.

Whatever it is, I'll take it and relish it. Happy Autumn!

Friday Photo

2010-10-01T11:39:00.002-04:00

Decisions, Decisions...

2010-09-28T09:38:00.009-04:00

A photographer I know here in Charlotte, Brian Gomsak, recently wrote a blog article on whether or not photographers should specialize. That subject seems to come up frequently when photographers are gathered.

There are passionate supporters on both sides of the argument. I'm not 100% sure that I've decided what I should do, but I'm starting to see patterns in my own work that may indicate what I've already made the decision.

When I started my photography business, people would ask me "What do you shoot?" and my stock answer has always been rather cheeky --- "I'll shoot anything but porn... but if things get really bad, maybe I'll do that too." That was before the economy tanked. I haven't started shooting porn, but I've thought about it every time the bank account gets low.

So does this mean that I've been shooting everything and anything? Kind of. I'll try to capture just about anything. It's mainly figuring out how to make your subject look good or appropriate and that's a matter of controlling the light. But what do people hire me for? That is starting to narrow down to two things: people and flowers. Usually in black and white.

I love shooting flowers. Georgia O'Keefe hated flowers, but said "they're cheaper than models and they don't move." I don't hate flowers. I love flowers. I just have a brown thumb so the flowers I photograph aren't long for this world after I finish with them. Hopefully that doesn't take the shine off my flower work for you.

People are different. People can be a bit of a challenge. After all, they move and are possessed of their own opinions and insecurities. But their capacity and thirst for joy can be boundless. When I am blessed with capturing that moment of joy, it becomes infectious and I revisit those images as I work.

So have I made a conscious decision about what to specialize in? Not really. I think the work has found me.

Friday Photo

2010-09-24T08:51:00.003-04:00

Peeking Around a Tree

2010-09-22T21:18:00.005-04:00

I kind of feel like I'm in the woods... peeking around a tree... and finally beginning to see the other end of the forest!

I finally made it to the halfway point in shooting my flower project. I've still got a long way to go, but at least getting to this point gives me the mental support to keep going.

To Do List... Truncated.

2010-09-21T19:54:00.004-04:00

So this is what I end up posting when I neglect to put "write Tuesday's blog entry" on the to do list.

Mysterious, no? Textural, definitely.

I've been racking my brain trying to come up with some new, subject appropriate backgrounds and I decided late last night as I was just about to drift off to sleep (because that's when my brain works most efficiently) that I needed moss. Mind you, I have no moss in my yard. I only have parched grass. Not too much in the way of shade either.

So on my weekly pilgrimage to the wholesale florist I asked "Do you happen to have any moss?", not really expecting what kind of reaction I would get. The kind lady behind the counter said "Yes... it's beyond those double doors."

I was halfway expecting to see a dense forest with elves & gnomes armed with shovels ready to assist me. But there just beyond the double doors were cardboard boxes of Mountain Moss and Sheet Moss and some other kind that I can't quite recall now. All neatly packed away but smelling funny... I can't quite figure out how to describe the scent other than it's not what I expected moss to smell like. Then again, I didn't think I'd find moss in prepackaged boxes.

But now I have my subject appropriate background. It sheds, but it works! Actually, it sheds so much my cat won't even touch it, but that's what vacuum cleaners are for.
Product shots with the moss background should be posted on my Etsy site by this time next week...

Friday Photo

2010-09-17T10:46:00.003-04:00

Individual Vision

2010-09-14T11:55:00.007-04:00

I start new Intro to DSLR classes at the Light Factory this week. It's always exciting. I get to meet new people and share one of my greatest passions with them. Then I get to be there as they, hopefully, discover their own individual creative voices.

Sometimes they just struggle with comprehending what Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO are and how they combine as Exposure... but I usually get to at least see a glimmer of how these other individuals see the world. Sometimes people just want to know how a particular shot was achieved so they can shoot just like that. That's not what I'm usually hoping to pass along to people, but I'll give them the basics to see where they take it.

One of my favorite portfolio reviews was with photographer Brian Ulrich when he had an exhibit here in Charlotte. It was more like a visit than a formal creative critique. He really looked at every image I put in front of him and asked me questions about how, why and where I shot each frame.

Then he asked me why everything was always shot with a shallow depth of field. I had never really thought about it... Maybe it's because I have an astigmatism and the blur just registers as "normal" in my brain. Then he suggested I try shooting my normal subjects with a greater depth of field. I was aghast! Wouldn't that be the way someone else sees the world? Maybe. But I wouldn't know if I didn't at least give it a try.

So later that week I was working on my flower series and I tried it. I ended up liking it.

I still favor a fairly shallow Depth of Field, but I am trying more techniques. If they look like something that would come out of my mind, I keep them in my mental creative files. If not, they get filed in a different area... because the technique might perfectly express someone else's view of the world.

Friday Photo

2010-09-10T09:20:00.004-04:00

Thinking Outside the Full-frame Sensor

2010-09-07T22:15:00.010-04:00

It's been about 2 weeks, 2 days, 23 hours and 50 minutes since I returned from Sean Kernan's mind-opening workshop in Maine. I'm still processing the experience in my head... trying not to slide back into old, sticky habits. But it's hard.

And that's all the whining I'm going to do on the subject! Because even though I'm back in my normal environment with all my creature comforts and obligations surrounding and insulating me, I still have this little voice throwing ideas across my mind that beg attention.

I've gotten several calls/emails/messages over the past several days asking how people can purchase note cards or necklaces. This prompted the recent production frenzy of said note cards and necklaces in which I'm currently swimming. Not a bad wake up call since it's something I enjoy doing and it's another way to express myself creatively. (Actually the only things I dislike about the process are getting glue all over my fingers and the smell of the solder.)

But even as I'm going through the motions that are so familiar to me, I keep going back to the concept of the Extended Photograph that Sean encouraged us to explore. An Extended Photograph provides an experience that goes beyond just the visual... It can incorporate any of the other senses that will get your message across to your audience. At least that's what I think it is.

I've got two ideas that are bouncing around in my head for my Extended Photographs, but I think for my own sanity I'll concentrate on just one of them for the next six months and see how it evolves.

Curious? So am I. Stay tuned...

Making Connections in the Garden

2010-08-31T12:40:00.009-04:00

I've been plugging away at finishing my book project on black and white flower images and grabbed this bunch of Scabiosa --- a nectar-rich, rough and floppy flower that is a favorite of butterflies. I'm pleased with the image even though when I first picked them up I thought they looked a little "rode hard & put up wet".

Of course I didn't make the connection between the blooming of these flowers and the beginning of Butterfly season ( I didn't even really think about butterflies having seasons... but then again, this is all turning out to be a great learning process for me...). A friend of mine and I took a little road trip to Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens late last week and discovered that it is indeed time for butterflies to crawl out of their casings to show the world their transformation.

In order to prepare for the event, Something's A-Flutter, the people at DSBG have several glass cases in the Orchid Conservatory full of butterfly chrysalides. At first I thought they were bits of jewelry, especially since the chrysalis of the Monarch butterfly looks like jade.

I've never seen a butterfly straight out of the chrysalis. Instead of the flitty, flighty insect I'm used to seeing, I witnessed creatures that seemed exhausted and crumpled as they had not yet been able to pump their wings into flight mode. It was a little sad.

I'm getting to take my Intro to DSLR class to the gardens tomorrow. I hope the butterflies are a little more ready for the world, but even if they aren't, I can't wait to see my students discover them...

Mind Buzz...

2010-08-23T12:13:00.006-04:00

I'm just back from the Maine Media Workshops in Rockport, Maine where I got to take part in Sean Kernan's Creativity & the Photographer II workshop.

I was a little nervous going into this. The workshop focuses on the creative process, not the technical aspects of photography. Sean uses movement and theatre exercises to get the photographer more in tune with the world around him or her. I was worried what it would actually be like...

Thankfully, it was wonderful. I have never known what it is like to be in a truly safe environment for creating art. The group of people melded together in a way I've never experienced in a workshop setting. It was like being a part of a litter of puppies --- ready to explore!

Some really wonderful work was produced... Some was just started.

I'm excited about working on my creative projects in the coming months. I have Sean Kernan and the other "puppies" to thank for that!

To Retouch or Not to Retouch...

2010-03-21T21:47:00.008-04:00

... that is my question when I'm doing a self-portrait. Is it more honest to leave all the blemishes when you're exploring who and what you are or is it okay to soften things a little?

Even when you have 20/20 or better vision, don't you really gaze upon others (and yourself) with an emotional filter? Hmmm... that's my conundrum as I work on my latest project.

What do you think?...

More Lensbaby Love at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens

2010-03-03T21:38:00.003-05:00

From the Orchid House at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens

Lensbaby Love at DSBG

2010-02-27T21:26:00.001-05:00

Food for Thought, part 3

2009-12-01T20:57:00.003-05:00

Thanksgiving Day 2009 with some of my family... and a lot of good food.

Food for Thought, part 2...

2009-11-11T14:34:00.004-05:00

Chocolate Coconut Cupcake from the Polka Dot Bake Shop in Charlotte, NC.

Food for Thought...

2009-11-10T20:44:00.003-05:00

Red Velvet Cupcake from the Polka Dot Bake Shop in Charlotte, NC.

On a Roll...

2009-10-08T19:14:00.017-04:00

Finally finished the editing on this portrait shoot. I'm very please with how the images turned out.

It reminded me that I've been shooting images but not posting here on the blog... So here are some more of who and what I've been aiming my lens at.

These are a few recent portraits from my last photo blast at Lotus Studios. The studio had to restructure so now I'm looking for new studio space where I can host dance shoots... I've got a few ideas...

Night Shoot in Uptown Charlotte... October Edition

2009-10-04T14:22:00.005-04:00

I took my Intro to Photography class out for their night shoot field trip last night. Always fun!

The weather was perfect. No rain anywhere to be found.

I think I'm going to be sticking to the uptown area from now on... I don't seem to have as much drama when I stay close to the buildings and the cool ambient light. The only "problems" I had last night were a) getting to know the new camera body I had just picked up (had to reset all the custom functions that the previous owner had set) and b) not heeding my own advice and having fresh and/or extra batteries on hand (bad teacher, bad teacher).

It was funny... We had many more people stopping and asking what we were doing than normal. And 2 of my students ran into people they knew.

Of course it wasn't as exciting as last session

when we went out onto the bridge on Central Avenue for the skyline shot. Five minutes after we made it onto the bridge, a wreck happened right underneath us.

The driver was alright (I think NASCAR needs to recruit her because she kept her car from rolling over) and then we ended up with all the emergency vehicles stopped right where we were....

Shooting by the Light of the Moon

2009-10-03T16:14:00.003-04:00

It's that time again... One of my favorite classes during each session of my Intro to Photography class that I teach at the Light Factory: The Night Shoot Field Trip!

No real lecture. Just the students and their cameras and tripods... and some crazy available light provided by uptown Charlotte.

Everyone seems to have a genuinely good time and are pretty amazed at the images they have captured by the end of the evening.

I'll try to remember to post images from tonight's shoot as soon as I get them processed.