More Candid Photography---Portrait Photography

Here are some more journalistic style images that I shot last summer at the Fourth of July parade that strolls by on the street by my backyard (it is wonderful that every year, all I have to do is grab the coffee cup, a chair and walk right outside to see the parade). Click on the images to see a larger view:


See her expression!


This woman looks so serene and quite beautiful!


This is surreal...as if they had never seen a horse!


The actions of everyone in this image tells a story!

In addition, I wanted to show some portrait work I had done of my nephew and my daughter (both are naturally photogenic--not trying to brag--but they take some wonderful images--and easy to work with):





Portrait work is quite amazing, especially when you can get the subject to relax and enjoy the time spent in front of the camera.

I will have more artwork back up soon, just working on some samples at the moment in preparation for the art-show that will be coming up soon!

If you have any critique or comments about any of the images, feel free to comment! Have a great evening!

New Project inspired by my *Muse*

I am working on a series of shots that I decided to turn into a project that was inspired by my *muse* who insists that we kiss each others eyes every night before slumber so that we have sweet dreams!

The top four images are the same with different layering techniques, and I love each one of them. I will probably make all of them one large image!

The second one was adjusted to a solarization layer (I love doing this technique in the darkroom and equally as well in my digital darkroom) an I love the atmosphere that it gave to the image!

Sweet dreams to all and have a wonderful evening!

Happiness only a child can produce

I was snapping pictures tonight of my little one's dance class. There was one picture in particular that I fell in love with right away.

I wanted to share the serenity of the scene that I captured of my daughter walking across the floor in her tap shoes while being distracted by the chaotic scene that was out of sight of the camera in her dance class.

I find this image to be very beautiful and I just wanted to share it, so please enjoy and have a great evening!

Photograph everything and then sort it out Later!

My new philosophy is to photograph everything that makes you move and then sort it out later!

Here are some more shots of various scenes that I have come upon in my travels around town, my favorite is the distorted view of the full moon that my daughter and I chased the other night shortly after it had started to rise in the northeast corner of our world!

The other images were just random shots that caught my eye, please feel free to comment, and and critique away. I always welcome feedback, that is what makes us drive ourselves forward to become better at what we love!

I would love to shoot film again, but I want to wait until I have that darkroom built in my own place, I would not want to waste film!

Have a great evening!

The moon and I!

My daughter has always told me that the moon is hers.



Recently when it was full, we were outside and I heard her say
"Look, there is my moon....Hi, Moon...." she waved at it and then
stood there for awhile watching the clouds slowly drift over its
surface. I love her imagination and spirit, especially when she
allows me into these moments of joy.

After we had gone inside and she went to bed, I decided to pull
out my camera and shoot some images of "her moon".

Please enjoy this image, as it has taken me quite some time to
finally capture the moon without it looking like a big ball of
bursting light!

Have a great evening!

Lights in the City

This past April, I had to work downtown at a hotel
located next door to our major baseball stadium.
It did rain hard that night for awhile and during
a break I went into one of the new conference rooms
at the hotel to enjoy the view from the window. What
I saw was impressive, so I got my new toy out
and shot this image below:



A week or so later, I finally downloaded the images
that I had taken through the window and was quite
impressed with what I had done.

I love the scene, it is a little chaotic, quiet and
peaceful. I love the effect of the chandeliers, they
seem to fit perfectly into the scene outside of the windows.

I love to shoot images at night and miss doing so, but is
hard to go out at night by yourself, especially in the
city, so I usually just stick close to the area that I
live in. When I have access to a scanner, I will upload
some nights shots that I had done at school in B & W film
and processed on fiber paper.

Hope you enjoy the scene, Have a great evening!

I LOVE JPGMAG.COM!

There is a new theme to vote for on JPGMAG.com
called "House...Capturing the place you call home"!

I uploaded an image to the house theme and titled
the photograph "View from my frontporch".

I am pleased to say that I have had at least 64 views!
It may not be many, but it is more than I expected, and
I am quite happy!

So, if you get a chance, click on the photobox below and
take a look at my image, go ahead and leave a comment or
critique if you are brave enough!

All I ask is that you just Please vote!

Thanks!

Journaling and Artwork

1.2.
3. 4.

The above images are as follows:

1. My daughter's first self-portrait (they were studying Paul Klee) in Art Class
2. A start of a sketch that I had done for a Design 2 project (it is not much, but it turned out well)
3. A start of a picture for my Drawing I sketchbook (I still need to finish this portrait..I need help!)
4. A part of one of my photography classes journal....

I have found that it is important to keep a journal of what you are thinking, seeing, sketching, etc...while working on projects. My daughter has started on this little quirk and has taken over some of my journal books and by sketching in some of her own ideas about art.

I did add a picture of one of her first art projects that she completed in her kindergarten art class. The art teacher discussed the artist Paul Klee and had the students do a self portrait in honor of his work.

On another note, I had a enjoyable class this evening, but soon it will all end next Tuesday for the semester until the middle of January, 2009. It was fun learning about the various parts of a Apple Computer, but I am ready to get back into the art classes and getting my hands dirty again.

Have a great evening!

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. I will attempt to log in everyday and post my thoughts on photography.

I currently attend the local community college and I am in the process of finding a new job.

I previously worked for about 1 1/2 years as a photographer for a local company that specialized in underclass and senior portraits. I gained the knowledge of posing, candid photography, studio lighting and outdoor sports photography while I worked there.

I believe that the knowledge that I gained from this job enhanced my love for journalistic photography.

My youngest child has become my "official" model and you will see her often in my work. She is very photogenic and is a natural in front of the camera and is also developing a love for the art as well.

Thank you for stopping by and Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

I know I will be enjoying myself visiting family and friends tomorrow.