winter

This photo taken in Toronto makes me think about my life. So many possible directions, my brain gets overloaded with choices. Like these train tracks, I don't know where any of those choices could end up taking me. Some will surely go to places I wouldn't want to be, but some...some must go to places where dreams could come true. If I make the right decision, it would be the ride of my life and the destination would be incredible. Who do I take on this journey? My husband, my children, my friends and loved ones. What do I pack? My experience, my enthusiasm, my imagination, and my courage. It won't be easy making the choice on which train to take, but that's where God comes in. 


What will I do when I get there? Look for the next train station, of course. That's me. Are you ready?

Family ties

I've been photographing several brother and sister sessions lately. I would guess they, like most siblings, they have secrets, dirt and bonds that run deep from experiencing their growing years together. These sessions can be so fun! I can get a sense for their relationship, knowing how my brother and I probably acted like mortal enemies at times, but now we love to look back and remember all the great stories of our childhood. It has bonded us and been a blessing. Here are a few of my favorite recent shots. Can't you just hear the stories in these portraits? I do a lot of sessions with younger kids, but this is different, and such fun. I have to admit to laughing in the last session until...well, let's say I had to go.

Simple works

Still in the studio, still freezing outside. Sometimes shooting a very basic pose and shot can come out really special. How? Well, I think it's a combination of things. Start with a great model, or at least someone with character and expression. This model is young and gorgeous, but it could be a 90 year old man that makes the shot work. Then add good lighting. The lighting in this shot left the background dark but well lit the face and hair. It could be even more dramatic with lighting only on one side, etc.. Then work the angles of the face, body and arms. Again this one is fairly straight forward but the arms break it up and keep it from looking like a mug shot which is what I see too often when the photographer's creative eye is closed. The old piano bench added some interest without being distracting. All in all, I liked this portrait and thought it was flattering to the model, which was the plan.

Creative Lighting

It's been rather cold lately with a wicked north wind. That has inspired me spend some time in my "studio" practicing some of my favorite lighting techniques from my early photography studies and do some experimenting too. I shot some with my studio lights and umbrellas, etc., then turned everything off (pitch dark) and used only a shop light for the effect in the first photo. You've definitely gotta know your camera's capabilities to pull this one off. She is great at giving me different looks and getting into the mood of the shot. The second shot was with a flash and one fill light. That piano is a hundred years old, or at least we think so.