D86: Voices

When I awoke this morning, snow was lightly falling and calling my name. I quickly got ready, grabbed some coffee, and headed out the door. I've been wanting to take some shots in the cemetery this winter, but the snow has not been sticking very well.

As I arrived at the cemetery I noticed the snow was cooperating perfectly. I decided to leave the warmth of my truck and do some walking.

There was an overall feeling of warmth and reverence as I wandered up & down paths through this vast resting place. At one point I swear I heard soft voices singing a song in the distance behind me. When I turned around the singing stopped. I can't explain why, but I didn't feel creeped out at all. I had this strange sense of acceptance of this event that I could not explain.

As I continued my journey, I came across a headstone with this written on the back:

I wondered what his story was. What kind of man was he? Why didn't he have any children of his own? Does anyone come to visit his grave?

I hope my own headstone will have more than "uncle" on it. I'd like to think that I will have little ones running around one day, to carry on my legacy.

Some headstones were covered in snow, as if asking for a little privacy. Others stood alone, seemingly watching guard in solitude.

Below I've included a few other shots from this morning.







Manual: Page 122 - Deleting Individual Photographs
Once in a great while I'll get bored between shoots and actually delete my test shots.

Images:David Wittig
I really like David's b&w wedding work.


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D85: The Best Laid Plans

"We're going to the Sundance Film Festival today? Perfect, I'll pack my camera bag!"

A spur of the moment road trip combined with a picturesque ski-town promised to be quite a photo op.

As it turns out, I was more concerned about enjoying myself on my 1 night out of town than toting camera gear around. If I had an extra day to spend in Park City, I would have definitely spent more time behind the camera. Maybe next year I'll go down for a few days.

In the end I had a great time, and some great stories came out of the trip.

Manual: Page 121 - Protecting Photographs From Deletion
This is a feature I've only used once. With larger format memory cards, I've never had a reason to delete photos in-camera.

Images:Emilie Sommer
Emilie has some fantastic photo journalistic wedding galleries.


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D84: Partly Cloudy With a Chance of Smug

My roommate & I ventured down to Park City, Utah today for the closing weekend of the Sundance Film Festival. Smug was the dress-code, and we played it well. Never have I been to a place where a stocking cap, scarf, and sunglasses indoors were almost required.

We hit up galleries, restaurants, bars, the whole works. If there was something going down on Main Street tonight, we probably stopped by.

I've NEVER entertained the idea of living in Utah. Never ever. However, Park City is already starting to grow on me...

Manual: Page 170 - Television Playback
I only really use this when we have family get-togethers.

Images:Annette Biggers
Annette is from Triple Cord Photography, and is an amazing talent. I think their website is absolutely fantastically designed. Just Wow.


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D83: The Intrepid Explorer

Meet Mitch, he's a space cop. I captured a picture of him tonight as he was hiking through an icy wasteland. You'll get to know him a little better next week...

Tomorrow I head to the Sundance Film Festival. We'll see if I come up with anything interesting for tomorrow's blog post.

Manual: Page 169 - Connections
Yes, I do in fact know how to connect my camera to things. One of my favorite uses of a connection is my remote cable.

Images:Anna Kuperberg
I absolutely loved Anna's child photography. I'll have to revisit her before some of my springtime shoots.


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D82: A Shot In the Dark

I decided to combine tonight's ice shot with an bottom-lit idea I saw a while back.

No Photoshop work here. I used a plastic form designed to make ice shot-glasses. A little food coloring gave the ice a little pizzaz.

Manual: Page 163 - Language
Umm... yeah, I'll stick with English on my cameras.

Images:Jason Christopher
Jason does some amazing fashion work. I really love the look of his lighting.


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D81: Details

On the way to check the mail this morning, I stopped to take a picture of some icicles hanging from a juniper bush. How often do you stop and actually study icicles? Once I loaded my images into Lightroom, I immediately noticed a very unique texture on the ice. I haven't the foggiest clue on how this would form, but it was quite interesting.

(and now the conclusion to yesterday's story...)

I may never be able to afford all of the new equipment on my wish list. Instead, I am committed to producing increasingly better images with my current equipment.

I will never stop learning from my peers, and I hope for a day that I can give back to them.

Today's big thanks goes out to Tasra & Ron Dawson.

Tasra is the reason that I started this project. Without her, I may never have decided to push the "reset" button on my photography. Tasra got me out of my comfort zone, exploring areas of photography that I've never even considered before. When I'm in a slump, I always go to her site for inspiration.

Ron has truly given me an inside look into the minds of so many photographers. I listen to Ron's podcasts at the gym, in the car, or while I'm editing photos at home. Ron has given me a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives of so many talented photographers. It is because of Ron's interviews that I truly feel I will one day make it in this industry I love.

Thank you Dawson family!

Manual: Page 165 - USB
Does anyone really use the USB connection on their camera anymore? I think just about every computer on the market now has a memory card reader.

Images:Scarlett Lillian
I just finished watching Scarlett on today's askdane.com episode. She's such a neat person, and I absolutely love her work.


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D80: Support

I walked around my neighborhood today, looking for something to kick-off my "ice" series. I came across a sheet of ice that had cracked into hundreds of tiny pieces, yet was still intact. I took a closer look to find out why the ice had not fallen into the hole below.

As it turns out, there was an intricate support structure consisting of pine needles, acting as nature's scaffolding.

That got me thinking about our support structures as individuals. How many of you have a support system to catch you if you fall? Does this allow you to take bigger risks? Have you ever shied away from taking a chance on something because you lacked adequate support?

Seven years ago I decided to pursue my photography as something more than just a hobby. During those seven years, I made all kinds of excuses as to why I never sully took "the plunge".

Truth be told, I was afraid of completely putting myself(and my work) out there for everyone to see and judge.

There were maybe 4 or 5 people that supported my work. Everyone else in my life thought I was crazy. They had never looked at my work, they just thought I should get a "regular 9 to 5" with benefits, 401k, etc. Not much has changed in the last 7 years in terms of support from those around me.

I've tried a million times to push photography back into the hobby category. Its kind of like trying to put the genie back in the bottle. When I look at photography, I get that warm fuzzy feeling that most people get with a new love interest. There are days when I spend hours browsing the work of other photographers, completely losing all track of time.

Part of starting this 365 project was to build a new support structure, consisting of people in the photographic world that inspire me. Most of the photographers that give me "support" have no idea who they are. I listen to their podcasts, read their articles, browse their work, etc. That is what gives me the motivation to keep trying.

I am not a phenomenal photographer.
I have not produced any groundbreaking images.
I have yet to define my style.
However, I am learning.
I am evolving.
I am striving to be a better photographer.
I am a photographer.

That's what the last five months have taught me. I am a photographer, and nobody can take that away from me. I may never be the best, and I may never be well-known, but I will always be a photographer.

(I'm going to cut myself off right there. Part II of this story will be tomorrow.)

Manual: Page 102 - Flash Exposure Compensation
I played with this quite a bit during my 1st experiment with HDR. The jury is still out on my HDR skills.

Images:Gabrielle Geiselman
Today I looked at some of Gabrielle's portrait work. She is great at creating drama in her images. Loved 'em.


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D79: I Love Goldfishes...

...'cause they're so delicious.

Ok, tomorrow begins my attempt to limit my "filler" images. Time to get creative again.

Manual: Page 112 - (Blank page)
Haha, I'm awesome.

Images:Tasra Mar
I revisited Tasra's site today for some inspiration. Tomorrow will start a series entitled "Ice".


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D78: The $70 Sandwich

Mini BLT's. That's what I wanted for dinner.

Grocery store trips are never that easy.

After finding many of my favorite things on sale, and a new waffle iron, my BTL's suddenly got pricey. In the grand scheme of things, I saved about $40 tonight!

That's what I'll focus on.

Manual: Page 97 - Using the Built-in Speedlight
The only time I use my speedlight nowadays, is when I'm using it as a remote trigger.

Images:Brad Mangin
Brad has some awesome sports shots, and is frequently featured in Sports Illustrated.


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D77: Apocalypse sNow

Its the middle of winter, yet people still think the world is ending when a little snow falls.

As I traveled through town this evening, I noticed that half an inch of snow prohibits people from parking normally in a parking lot. The streets were a mixture of motorists driving 10 mph and some other idiots that must have thought they were Nascar drivers.

It was maddening.

As I sit here editing photos, my house is full of girls. There are worse ways to spend your Friday night.

Manual: Page 86 - Exposure Compensation
Again, not something I used that often, as I'm always shooting manual mode.

Images: Anonymous Photographer
The wedding photographer I reviewed today shall remain nameless. There were so many issues with this person's shooting style. I am far from perfect myself, so I won't burden them with a publicly poor review.


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D76: Letdowns

Tonight featured an out-of-town date night, a win at the casino, and a slightly failed attempt at a cityscape photo.

What was the best part of my night? The beer I opened as I returned home for the night.

I'm going to head to bed now. Maybe I'll feel better in the morning...

Manual: Page 79 - S: Shutter-Priority Auto
I've used this from time to time with sports shots.

Images:Steve Winter
I googled winter photography, and Steve was my first result. Pretty cool photos of snow leopards, and some shots of Haiti before the devastation.


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D75: Take That, Fuel Economy!

I found a fun new app called Waze, and I think they're in bed with the oil companies.

Waze started out as a project to help map streets in areas/countries with lacking online databases. They have since expanded to real-time traffic reporting, and even a GPS-based game that is basically PacMan in your car. I drove around all afternoon, collecting points and burning gas.

Manual: Page 77 - P: Auto Multi Program
Another setting I never use. I could almost superglue my dial on "manual" and be happy. Almost.

Images: Rafael Ben-Ari
Since Waze was first tested in Israel, I decided to look up an Israeli photographer. Rafael has traveled the world with camera in-hand, capturing some beautiful images.


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D74: :^)

Its always fun to have a "need" for chapstick. That's all I'm going to say about that...


Manual: Page 90 - Bracketing Tables
More data for the spring!

Images: Gavin Holt
Gavin has some b-e-a-utiful engagement photos. Check 'em out.


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D73: My Dad is Crazy

Over the last year, I've been helping my dad with a makeover on one of his houses.

He's lost his mind...

Today's "Dad You Crazy" moment was about doorknobs. After helping him hang a bunch of doors he had painted, he informed me that we had to wait 3 days to put the doorknobs on. He wanted to ensure that the doorknobs wouldn't leave any marks on the door.

This was the first time the doorknobs have been removed in 15 years. It may be another 15 years before they are removed again. However, my dad wanted to ensure there were no marks left UNDERNEATH the door knobs.

That's about how the entire summer went.

Manual: Page 87 - Bracketing
I've only used bracketing a handful of times, usually when I'm doing HDR work.

Images:Once Remembered
The girls of Once Remembered Photography, headquartered out of Boise Idaho, do some great portrait work!


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D72: Betrayed by Photography

I'm an educated person. I understand what goes into a food photo shoot. So why do I feel so wronged tonight?

I stopped by the grocery store to pick up a few things for dinner tonight, as I was expecting a guest. I stuck with "comforty" foods, and they looked quite tasty.

As it turns out, my guest had to cancel. This was quite acceptable, as the food turned out to be no bueno.

I was betrayed by my own people.

Manual: Page 68 - Summary of Autofocus Options
Yay, more background info for my spring testing.

Images: Michael Ray
Michael does great work in food photography, and has an extensive client list. Maybe I'll play around a little with food photos this week!


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D71: Covert Cart-Rider

I used to love Saturdays as a child. Saturdays meant that I got to go to the grocery store with my mom. She always let me sit underneath the cart, where you went largely unnoticed by shoppers.

I was in my own little world, with my mom directing where our adventure would take us. Every now and then I would pass a shopping cart with a kid on their own covert mission. As an adult, I've never seen a kid sitting on the bottom of a cart at the grocery store. I wonder if any parents still let their kids sit down there...

Manual: Page 161 - CSM Menu
Changing to the detailed menu was the best things I ever did when I was first starting out.

Images: Raghu Rai
Raghu has some beautiful street photography of India. He has been shooting in India for over 40 years.


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D70: Friday Night

It's Friday night, and I feel alright. The party's here on the west side.

If you are younger than 25 you probably don't get the reference.

The funny thing about taking pictures of mixed drinks is that I don't want things to go to waste. So as I mixed liquors and juices to get the color I wanted, I found a tasty new recipe.

Manual: Page 144 - Custom Setting 7: Image Review
I guess its nice that I can choose to show a grid over the top of my images on the LCD, but its not really something I need.

Images: Dennis Stock
Dennis passed away Monday at age 81, after a battle with colon cancer. Dennis is most notably know for capturing images of many iconic people in the 50's & 60's. His photos are timeless, and I think I'd like to add one to my collection.


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D69: Date Night

I'm a big fan of meeting new people, so dates are usually especially interesting.

Those closest to me know why I took a hiatus from the dating world. There were a few dates here and there, but nothing of consequence.

Recently, I took the plunge and re-joined the dating world. Without getting into details, I am definitely enjoying myself.

Manual: Page 84 - Autoexposure Lock
Very interesting. I've never tried this, due to the fact that I shoot mostly in manual mode.

Images: Jason Hooker
No, I am not reviewing myself. This is a different Jason Hooker who is also a photographer. The bastard is actually really good. It appears that he mostly shoots the kind of things that I too enjoy.

It would be interesting to see how many continents have a Jason Hooker tog.


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D68: Relaxing Days & Childhood Treats

There were plenty of things that I probably should have been doing today.

Its strange to think that I never feel like I have enough time to get things done. I have a ridiculously open schedule right now. In fact, I almost feel like I have more free time when I'm working a normal 9 to 5 job.

Today's Costco trip yielded a large box of fruit snacks. Remember those little bags of chewy snacks that your mom used to put in your lunch box? Now I have a month-long supply!

Manual: Page 101 - Compatible Lenses
It's interesting to see how many new lenses Nikon has produced since I first purchased this camera body. There are far too many lenses that I am currently coveting.

Images: Brian Valentine
Brian is the last macro photographer that I'm reviewing this week. I really like how many of Brian's images capture a macro view of water drops. What sets these images apart is that Brian captures images inside of the water drops, making them appear as if he manipulated them.


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D67: Stickin' It To the "Man"

Or perhaps we just took advantage of an offer inspired by the "Man".

I went with the little sister today to watch "The Blind Side". At our local theater, Tuesdays are "Stimulus Days". They offer popcorn & drinks at a fraction of the normal eye-gouging theater prices.

Great movie, great time hangin' with the sis.

Manual: Page 81 - Aperture-Priority Auto
I use this setting most when I'm shooting my fixed 50mm.

Images: Igor Siwanowicz
Igor has a gallery dedicated to macro photos of insects & reptiles. Awesome work!


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D66: Acceptance

Discovering the truth about your dreams can be a hard pill to swallow.

The truth is, photography has become severely undervalued in my community, and it may never recover. Our area has an endless supply of "photographers" who just picked up a $400 SLR with a kit lens. I am saddened when I look at the quality of work being produced around here.

I am a firm believer that you can make it as a photographer without a formal education. However, you still need some type of education. "Spray & Pray" is practiced far too often, and guarantees that you will never progress as an artist.

It really seems that I will have to leave the area if I am to pursue the direction that I so desire. To succeed in my current location would mean high-volume, lower prices. Personally, I feel that is an equation that will result in a love-loss for the art.

What does that mean for me? It means that I'm going to take things one day at a time. It means that my photography will, for now, remain a side-job.

Manual: Page 76 - Exposure Mode
Great. Another reminder of my kryptonite. Perhaps one day I'll make it through an entire month without leaving the ISO on the wrong setting.

Images: Cyrus Khamak
More bug macro work. I really like how his images are vivid, but have a really soft feel.


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D65: The Invisible Difference

One of my specialties in the kitchen in brick-oven pizza. Hand-tossed crust, premium ingredients, even a big wood paddle to shovel the pies into the oven.


My saving grace is cornmeal. Grinding corn into a sand-like substance reduces the dough-paddle friction factor; throwing pizzas becomes a dance.

Manual: Page 67 - AF Area Mode
Pretty similar to last night. When doing product shots, I've always used single area.

Images: Frank Phillips
Frank focuses on bugs, and his work is amazing! I'm really wanting to pick up a macro lens now.


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D64: /sabbatical

Wow. Two months and no posts.

Its almost enough to make me want to quit my 365 project.

Almost.

I'm really good at letting life get in the way of things. I got all tied up doing things that I can't even remember now, and I missed a few days of shooting photos. Days turned into weeks, and I quickly felt lost. I decided that I was going to suspend my 365 project indefinitely. It didn't feel organic anymore, everything felt forced.

I coasted through the holidays, avoiding my cameras. Suddenly we felt like strangers to each other, passing in the hallway with nothing to say. I would occasionally glance over at my shooting table to see my cameras in an unchanging spot. As a photographer, its quite sad to think that your gear may start to collect dust before you pick it up again.

This morning I decided to go through a stack of DVD's sitting on my desk. They had been piling up for months, and it was time for them to find more suitable accommodations.

When I completed my task, I had a small stack of unlabeled DVD's left, waiting to be popped into the computer to ascertain their contents. Before I knew it, I was arranging them in different ways and taking pictures! I was back!

Will I be able to finish my project sans another sabbatical? Hopefully.

Manual: Page 64 - Focus Mode
I have used AF-C in the past, but I have almost exclusively used AF-S on all of my cameras. I'm really excited to put together a day dedicated to testing different settings. I'm thinking that will have to wait until spring.

Images: Igor Siwanowicz
Igor does some killer macro work! Check him out. I think I'll dedicate this week to macro.


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