Saturday, October 26, 2013

the one with cheese

Cheese. I hate that word. I want to erase it from the vocabulary of every single parent on the face of the planet. Okay, rant over. Now let's get down to business, not to defeat the huns, but to look at how to get a natural smile out of a child who has been told to say "cheese" his whole live. (Disclaimer: I am by no means trying to bash parents who use this word. If they are comfortable with the smiles they get while using that word, more power to them. However, as a photographer, I strive to take pictures that are as true to a person's nature as possible, and so therefore, the word "cheese" has no place in my vocabulary while a camera is in my hand.)

The other day I had the privilege of taking some pictures of one of my best friend's little kids. Somewhat sadly, I don't have any pictures to show you that depict the say-cheese-smile. However, I think the ones I do have will show you enough to hopefully convince you to throw "cheese" out on its ear in the rain.

Picture #1. I actually like this one. I asked him to go sit on the rock and showed him where to place his hands, but the look was all his doing. Cute, solemn picture, but not what I am looking for.

Picture #2. Yeah, now we are getting off track. His left hand is blurry, and while I am fine with him looking up, the look on his face is not a good one.

Picture #3. Tissue, anyone? Okay picture, but again, it's not what I am looking for. 

Picture #4. Ah. Now we are getting somewhere. I grabbed a leaf and was "tickling" him with it which ended up producing some great smiles. I like this picture, but his hand is up which I don't like, as well as the look on his face isn't incredibly relaxed.

Picture #5. Eyes closed and leaf in the way. 'Nuff said.

Picture #6. Cute look, but the fact that his hands and body are moving make me want to throw this picture away. However, I do like the opened mouth laugh. But it's not quite what I had in mind. 

Picture #7. There it is. The picture I have been waiting for. His hands are relaxed and by his sides, his body is relaxed and bent forward just a bit. He's not looking at the camera, but that's okay since his smile is relaxed and genuine. 

I edit #7, throw the other 6 out, and everybody is happy, happy, happy. 

So there you have it! The process I go through to not only get a good smile, but to pick out that good smile from my other pictures. And sometimes, I look through my pictures and don't have a good one. Which is okay. It happens. You learn from your mistakes and hopefully become a better photographer every single time you pick up your camera. 

Sunday, October 20, 2013

playing catch up

I know I have been absent from here for like, a really long time, but I haven't fallen off the face of the planet. I promise. I have been incredibly busy with school, etc. and just haven't made this place a priority. If you still want to see pictures on a semi-regular bases, go like my Facebook page. Anyway. I would give you a run down of everything I have been up to, but a) I don't want to, and b) you probably don't want to read about it. So I will just show you pictures instead. Cause that's what I do. 

Yesterday evening, one of my bestest friends ever and I went to a corn maze. It was a ton of fun.

I will admit that this farm girl felt slightly weird paying money to go walk through corn, but oh well. 

It was a beautiful fall evening.

Poor little girl is lost. (Just kidding.)

This picture was way harder to take than it looks.

Skipping off into the mass of corn.

Don't ask what was happening here.

Apparently, we are treasures.

......do you even know how to drive a tractor?

She was so excited about that tractor...

....and about the tractor tire...


...and about the tire swing. (I think she may still think she is 6.)

And then, once we were done with the corn maze, I made her pose for me. 

The lighting (and model) made me want to stay there until it was too dark to see.

I love her laugh.

So pretty.


And now a few pictures to sort of catch you up.

My grandpa's 78th birthday.

American Thought and Torture Culture is much better when you get to take a picture like this afterwards.

The college-aged church group I have been attending.

A beautiful photographer who I met at church.

And last, but certainly not least...

One more sneak peak photo from the wedding I helped photograph last weekend! 
(I should be able to show you guys all the pictures in about a week.)

Enjoy the sunshine and fall leaves, folks!

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

we went for a walk

 Okay, seriously? My dog is the most beautiful dog on the planet. 

She also does awesomely-crazy poses for me.

It has been way too long since I've been down to the sloughs. Not much has changed.

Random airplane that flew over.

Mmmmm.

My crazy dog went for swim. (Needless to say, I didn't pet her anymore tonight.)

So peaceful. So relaxing. So calm. Except for those lovely waves that my puppy was making (thanks, Sabrina.) 

Happy Tuesday all, and to all a good night.