The rest of the set will be complete in the next couple weeks. Hope you enjoy.
My thoughts and opinions about all things photography and other stuff.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Senior Portrait Special Offer
Check out my website for a special offer on senior portrait sessions and collection pricing.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Christy & Jay Engagement Session
A great day for engagement photograph's in Rowe Woods. Time of day (afternoon full sun) presented a few problems with harsh light but mid 80's and a nice walk in the woods was worth every bit of it. Christy and Jay were great and even though some of the hike (up hill) was a little tough, they still smiled and posed like pro's for the camera. Congratulations and best wishes to them both on their May wedding.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
April 2nd Georgetown Kentucky Wedding
Shooting a wedding in Georgetown, Kentucky today. Looking forward to creating some beautiful photographs.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Announcement photo shoot
Doing a photo session for Baptism and First Communion announcements. After the session back to the computer for post and design work. Hope to post the approved designs in a couple days.
Monday, March 14, 2011
My iPad 2
My iPad 2 has finally left Hong Kong and now is in Anchorage, AK. Scheduled to be delivered on March 17th, and it can not get here quick enough! It's amazing to think that in just 4 days, my iPad 2 will have traveled nearly 8000 miles. Gotta love modern logistics.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Wireless Tether with Shuttersnitch
Working with Shuttersnitch wirelessly on the iPad. Review to follow.
UPDATE: March 7 - Completed a short photo session and found that the app was sketchy at best. Snapped a couple dozen pictures and the app froze several times. After a reboot of the iPad, the app seemed to work again for several shots until freezing again. At this point, hardly worth the $15 price tag. I will continue to use the app until satisfied that it's more trouble than it's worth. Check back for a future update of the progress.
UPDATE: March 7 - Completed a short photo session and found that the app was sketchy at best. Snapped a couple dozen pictures and the app froze several times. After a reboot of the iPad, the app seemed to work again for several shots until freezing again. At this point, hardly worth the $15 price tag. I will continue to use the app until satisfied that it's more trouble than it's worth. Check back for a future update of the progress.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Sometimes in our fast paced lives we forget the important things....
Five Lessons About How To Treat People -- Author Unknown
1. First Important Lesson - "Know The Cleaning Lady"
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.
"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."
I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.
2. Second Important Lesson - "Pickup In The Rain"
One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.
A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.
She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.
A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."
Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.
3. Third Important Lesson - "Remember Those Who Serve"
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "50¢," replied the waitress.
The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.
"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "35¢!" she brusquely replied.
The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.
When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.
4. Fourth Important Lesson - "The Obstacles In Our Path"
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand - "Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition."
5. Fifth Important Lesson - "Giving When It Counts"
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."
As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?".
Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.
1. First Important Lesson - "Know The Cleaning Lady"
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.
"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."
I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.
2. Second Important Lesson - "Pickup In The Rain"
One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.
A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.
She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.
A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."
Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.
3. Third Important Lesson - "Remember Those Who Serve"
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "50¢," replied the waitress.
The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.
"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "35¢!" she brusquely replied.
The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.
When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.
4. Fourth Important Lesson - "The Obstacles In Our Path"
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand - "Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition."
5. Fifth Important Lesson - "Giving When It Counts"
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."
As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?".
Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Ipad 2???? March 11TH is going to feel like an eternity!
Looking pretty hard @ the Ipad 2. I have seriously wanted an Ipad for over a year and just never made the purchase. After looking at Apple's website today and seeing the Ipad 2, i'm thinking it could have been divine intervention. Now, i'm so glad I don't have the first because 2 looks awesome. Gotta have one!!!!
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Sunday, February 20, 2011
Harley laying in the sun
My Boxer pup Harley was enjoying the sun shining through our front door on Saturday morning. It's so funny how they find the smallest patch of sun and want to lay down in it. After what feels like the longest winter I can remember, I almost climbed in there with her. They don't like to pose so I have to be quick with my 1D when I see a picture I want. By the time I snapped this one, both Harley and Zoey were up and moving in the opposite direction (probably thinking.... "oh no, he has the camera again!")
Saturday, February 19, 2011
My little girl home for the weekend!
My daughter Heather and wife Karen. Heather is home for the weekend and the family met for dinner. Heather is in her senior year at The Ohio State University and came home to spend a couple days. We had a great time visiting & the hours went way too fast!
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Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Attach a Lens to your Camera Phone???
They are actually making cases now for your camera phone to attach interchangeable lenses. I love the convenience of my camera phone and the ability to capture funny quirky shots when out with your friends or to take a picture of something rather than commit to memory. But... I have to say I've never thought of using my phone to capture an image for a client or one that I'd put on display. I think I'll continue to use my 1D for this kind of work, but it's out there and the idea of what the future holds is intriguing.
Visit http://www.factron.jp/product/26 for more information and pricing.
Visit http://www.factron.jp/product/26 for more information and pricing.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
What a bargain.... it's for a 10mb too!
My first desktop with a HDD was 40mb. Back then I wondered what I was going to do with all that space. Thought I'd never fill it up.... how far we've come with personal computing!
Modern New Home in Old Stone Church
From the outside it appears to be just the same as any other unassuming old church, however take a look inside and this place of worship has been turned into an ultra modern family home. Based in Utrecht, this small-church renovation features a series of levels within the existing large and awe inspiring space.
The mezzanine represents a partial reversion from the building’s last design iteration, and (as the plans above show) is less intrusive than it might appear.
Underneath the upper floor mezzanine lie the bathrooms, bedrooms and a personal study, which provides the churchs inhabitants with privacy. None of these newly-created rooms, however, would be difficult to remove should anyone seek to fully restore the space at some point.
This home allows its inhabitants to bask in the classical features, such as the vaulted ceilings and old surfaces. Wooden pews and hardwood floors were kept from the original building. Where possible, original doors and stained glass were preserved, and other decorative elements were also saved.
Author: Andy Ball (250 Articles)
Saturday, February 5, 2011
How To Take Better Travel Photographs - by Karen Joslin
Most travelers like to bring home pictures to remember their trip. If you're looking for a way to turn so-so snapshots to fabulous photos, take a moment to review these tips.
Before You Leave
Make sure you're familiar with how your camera works. If you haven't read the manual, do it. You may find that your camera has capabilities you didn't know about, or you may find answers to questions that have been bothering you.
If you have enough gear to warrant a camera bag, try to find one that doesn't scream, "I'm a camera bag. Steal me!" You may want to consider a backpack-like style because they're easy to carry around all day, leave your hands free, and appear relatively inconspicuous.
When you pack for your trip, bring your manual, extra camera batteries or a battery charger, and digital storage cards or film for your camera. If you plan on taking lots ofdigital photos and you have a laptop, it may be a wise idea to bring it so you can download your images and reuse your cards.
For air travel, pack your camera in a carry-on bag, especially if you're fortunate enough to own sophisticated equipment. Even locked, checked luggage can be broken into, and if your equipment is stolen, most airlines will not reimburse you. Avoid putting your camera in a jacket pocket, too, since it's easy to leave a jacket on the plane or in the airport. Before you exit the plane, double-check to make sure you have all your things.
Camera Settings
Your camera's automatic settings control the f-stop and shutter speed for you. The f-stop determines how blurry the background looks. The smaller the number (like 5.6), the more the background blurs. The larger the number (like 16), the sharper everything in the picture is. Neither one is inherently better than the other; it all depends on what you're photographing and what effect you want.
Shutter speed refers to how quickly the camera's shutter opens and closes. The higher the shutter speed, the faster it takes the picture. To freeze action, you need to shoot at a minimum of 125. Below 60, you need a tripod to keep the image sharp because your hand will move enough to affect the picture.
Point-and-shoot cameras may not allow you to adjust both settings yourself. However, understanding your camera's automatic settings can help you control how your photos look. For instance, portrait settings are designed to keep the main subject sharp and blur the background, while landscape settings keep everything sharp. Shoot a variety of subjects on each of your camera's settings to see what they do and what you like.
Some cameras have semi-automatic settings which allow you to set either the f-stop or the shutter speed yourself, while the camera sets the other one. These are often ideal: you still have a good amount of control over how your image looks, but you don't have to worry about meter-reading or quickly changing light conditions.
If you can change your camera's settings, you should know about ISO speeds. They control how much light your camera or film needs to take an image. Low numbers like 100 work in bright daylight, while higher numbers like 400 are for cloudy days or possibly indoors. The lower the ISO number, the more detail your photos will have, so set it at the lowest number you can.
Composition and Subject Matter
The number one thing you can do to improve your photography is good composition. Camera manuals used to say that you should place your subject in the middle. This was because viewfinders showed more than would end up in your picture, but it usually looks boring.
Instead, imagine three equally-spaced lines running across your image both horizontally and vertically. The places where the lines meet are the strongest areas to place your subject. You don't need to draw lines on your viewfinder to do this, however, just practice putting your subjects off-center. Try taking a few shots from different angles. After a while you'll get the hang of it.
It's a good idea to shoot slightly more than you want in the picture, because when you get prints, your images may end up getting cropped to fit the print sizes. If you have photo editing software, you can crop it yourself to the right size so that it looks best. Don't go over board with the extra space, though, because printing a small portion of a larger image will result in poor quality.
Landscapes help capture the feeling of a place, but too often they fall flat. Having something in the foreground will jazz up your landscapes. A lone fisherman on the lake in front of majestic mountains not only adds interest to the shot, it shows just how huge the mountains actually are. Leading lines are good in any image, and even more so in landscapes. What are they? Things like roads, fences, or a line of trees which begin in the foreground and lead the viewer's eye to the background.
Of course, when you're traveling you also want to see people in the locations. There's nothing wrong with photographing your companions by a famous landmark, but remember to use creative composition. Another great way to break out of the "people standing in a line in front of a monument" snapshot is by taking candid pictures. You'll also get more genuine expressions that way.
Generally, the more your subject fills the frame, the better. That's especially true for people and animals. You probably don't care about your companion's vacation wardrobe; what's important is their face. If your camera doesn't have a zoom lens, you'll be more limited in how tight a shot you can get. Pay attention to what's going on in the background. You don't want a stop sign sticking out of someone's head.
Photographing local people can help tell a story about the place you're visiting, especially if you're in an exotic destination. However, many people find it rude to be photographed without permission. If you know that's the case or if someone looks upset about you pointing your camera at them, ask if it's okay to take their picture. A little flattery may be helpful, and some may even ask for money. Don't push it if they say no.
Remember, interesting photo opportunities are everywhere. A bustling market, a cityscape, details of an object or building, a roadside food shack, or a lizard sunning himself can all make great shots. And while everyone prefers to remember their travels as pleasant experiences, few places are completely idyllic. You may encounter poverty, industrial areas, or locations damaged by natural disasters, war, or terrorism on your trip. Although such subjects aren't the cheeriest, they can yield powerful images that make a statement.
With a little practice, your own photos may look just as good as the postcards.
About the Author
Karen Joslin writes for Anguilla-Guide.info, Bermuda-Guide.info, and other Segisys travel Web sites.
Karen Joslin writes for Anguilla-Guide.info, Bermuda-Guide.info, and other Segisys travel Web sites.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Life going full circle with the help of technology. Gotta say I never thought of social media this way... but I have to agree. Good read, check it out.
Why Social Media Is Bringing Back Our Grandparents’ Values http://mashable.com/2011/01/31/social-media-grandparents/
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Sunday, January 30, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
The name says it all...
This is one of the coolest photos I've seen. I spotted this on 1x.com and the photographer (Tom Eikrem) captured an amazing shot. The tones of this photo are perfect and I couldn't imagine this shot having the same effect any differently. It's kind of eerie.... reminds me of the Titanic pictures from the bottom of the ocean or something. Love it, nice work!
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2RnKnk/1x.com/photo/30552/
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2RnKnk/1x.com/photo/30552/
Is the internet running out of space... Interesting article.
The Internet is Running Out of Space…Kind of
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Sunday, January 16, 2011
Photo Session Tips
Photo session tips added to make your pictures the best they can be. These can be found on our website or just click the link below:
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Gabby's Photo Session - Portrait of a Future Star
Gabby's Gallery
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