D23: The Past That Hides Above Us

I was downtown taking pictures for a Photoshop project, and I noticed and old rooftop sign for "Hotel Yellowstone". A long long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, this building was a famous hotel. It now sits partially vacant, and the ground floor is home to a new sports bar.

This photo got me thinking about all of the other history of our town that is hidden in plain sight. There are many buildings downtown that still have remnants of the old billboard ads that were painted directly onto the side of buildings. I think it would be quite interesting if someone were to photograph these. Hmmm...

It was a cold overcast rainy day, with snow covering the mountain tops around the valley. It felt like we skipped fall, heading directly into winter. Last week the leaves weren't even in full color-change mode. What the hell is going on here? Oh yeah, that's what happens when you live in Idaho. If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes. Shorts & a t-shirt on Monday, pants & a coat on Wednesday!

But I digress. Today was really about trying my hand at HDR photography. I'm pretty happy with it, what do you think?

Manual: Page 12 - Navigating the Menus - The Shutter Release Button
Kind of feels like cheating, nothing was really learned here today. It's like those college classes where half your grade is just showing up.

Images: Richard Shultz - Just love his work! Such a talented artist.


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D:22 Is That a Pen-D?

During my teenage years my grandfather from Hawaii would give me old cameras, just little souvenirs before I flew home. Most were in varied states of disrepair. One old Nikon worked very well and produced excellent images. Unfortunately after over a decade of moves, the trusty old Nikon has vanished. I still get a little sad thinking about it.

I still have many of his old cameras, most of which are just decorations on bookshelves. I pulled one off of the shelf tonight to try some new lighting techniques.

As I looked through my shots in Lightroom, I realized that this camera was an Olympus Pen-D, manufactured around 1962. I've had these cameras for so long that I've never spent any amount of time to learn anything about them. It's interesting what you can learn about things around you when you just take the time to look.

Manual: Page 82 - M: Manual (Exposure)
I usually shoot in manual mode. It's just something I've grown used to.

Images: Jim Goldstein - Another awesome landscape photographer. I actually had a chance to talk briefly with Jim on-line today. I have an idea for a new copyright logo inspired by his. I'm awaiting approval to go ahead with my design. How do you protect your images?


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D21: My Saving Grace

I'm sure we've all been on a shoot where we looked at a picture and thought "I'll just fix it in post". As many of us have been trained to NEVER EVER EVER say that. Life can be so much easier if we just get it right in-camera.

But what about those times we don't?

What about those times that we're in a rush, and it looks good in that tiny monitor on the back of our camera? Have you ever returned to your office, only to find that your eyes lied to you, and you didn't get the shot you wanted? This use to happen to me a lot in the early years. It is more of a rarity now, but it still happens occasionally. Yesterday is a great example.

Due to his hectic work schedule that day, my brother called to ask if I could let his dog outside for a bit. With a busy schedule of my own, I agreed, although I would have to make this a fast trip.

As I let Duke run around in the backyard, I decided to try and get a few shots of him for today's post. I tried a few different techniques, and it appeared that I achieved what I wanted. Upon my return home I quickly discovered my eyes had betrayed me. The lighting was off, the colors weren't great, and I felt like I had wasted my time. I decided that I would see what I could salvage in Lightroom.

Lightroom turned out to be my savior. Within a few minutes I had an image I felt I could use. How many times has this happened to you? Were you as lucky as me in salvaging something from your shots?

Manual: Page 41 - Image Quality and Size
I still have trouble understanding how it literally took me YEARS to start shooting in RAW. In my defense I started shooting RAW once I got serious about pursuing this as a career. There is no excuse for this and I wish I could go back and re-shoot those early years in RAW. Nevertheless, life goes on.

There is only one example in which I purposely shot in "basic" mode. It was a large project for a national sporting goods chain, and I was on a tight deadline. They were building a merchandising catalog for their managers to access on the company's intranet. Basically, they needed a tight shot of each specific section on every aisle & wall. It didn't need to reflect intricate product detail, only the general layout of the merchandise. Hours of different setups each day, and hundreds of final images later, the project was complete.

Images: Travis Gugelman - Travis shoots many senior portraits, and he does a fantastic job. He has carved out a niche in his local market, and he has inspired me to follow his lead.


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D:20 Listen to Your Friends

It can be hard to look at the world around you with a fresh perspective. Driving down the interstate, on a stretch of blacktop that has been familiar for over 25 years, has a way of doing that to a person. Especially me.

The same high-desert landscapes. The same rest areas. The same farm silos.

"Hey, those silo's would look cool in black & white."

My longtime friend and driver of this road-trip, Dan, possessed that much-needed perspective that was escaping me. Time was of the essence so I quickly pulled out my camera and started shooting. I had little time to make adjustments, and then the silos faded into the horizon behind us. As our weekend was drawing to close, Dan provided me with a fresh set of eyes, and today's image.

I went back & forth between today's image and the one at the bottom of the post. I couldn't decide if I wanted to show the shot as I took it, or really focus on the silos. In the end I decided to stay with my original instinct. Which image do you prefer?

Manual: Page 175 - Printing Photographs
I've never used this feature and I can't really say that I ever plan to. I have become so accustomed to checking everything on the computer before sending anything to print. I do see many situations where this would be beneficial, just none that I would utilize. Plus, you can't print RAW that way.

Images: Gary Crabbe - I've looked at his work before, but I can't get over his landscape shots. Absolutely a-mazing. I tried at landscape shot at dawn over the weekend, but I just couldn't get it. I can't pinpoint what was missing, I just didn't get the same feeling as when I look at Gary's work. That definitely gives me something to reach for.




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D:19 Never Lose That Sense of Wonder

"Jason, less go catch a peetot!"

At only two and a half years old, she was determined to catch a peacock on her grandfather's ranch this morning. We tried to sneak up on them, but they proved to be a little too stealthy for a small child that hasn't mastered the art of whispering.

When we came around the corner she stopped at the fence, scanning the property for these elusive creatures. When asked if she was ready to go inside for breakfast, she politely replied "no tanks, imma get a peetot..." Every time she caught a glimpse of a "peetot", her eyes lit up with excitement.

When was the last time you got that excited about something? More importantly, when was the last time you got that excited about photography? I think it's important to remember that, as it's easy to get complacent in our day-to-day lives. I challenge each of you to keep that awe and wonder alive in your photos!

Manual: Page 116 - Photo Information
As I read this, I wondered how many times I get home after a shoot, only to find that I have a few unsalvageable images. How many of these could I have fixed in the field, if I had only paid more attention to the technical data? Have you ever ran into this problem?

Images: Lisa Dillon - I checked out Lisa's senior portrait work in hopes of coming up with some new ideas for my own. Lisa seems to do a good job in keeping her shoots fun. I think that's very important in our business. Have you ever felt that you were boring your clients, just in an effort to get that technically perfect picture? I personally feel that the best picture is the one that captures true emotion, even if it breaks a rule or two!


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D:18 On The Road Again

I got an invitation from a friend this week to join his family on a weekend trip. They were going to visit family, and there was to be a pig roast.

How could I possibly turn him down?

So here we are, barreling down the interstate as I write today's post. As the sun started to set, it seemed to light the sky on fire. This provided a perfect backdrop for the little farms dotting the countryside. Setting up the tripod would have perfectly captured this moment, but we were on a deadline. Instead, I cranked up the ISO and opened the aperture wide. It didn't quite turn out perfect, but neither do most road-trips. We're sure to encounter our share of bumps along the way, and that's part of what makes it memorable.

Manual: Page 200 - Advanced Menus
There are so many custom features in most of today's DSLR's, it's almost a waste not to learn them. I guess there will always be hobbyists out there that spend thousands of dollars on equipment, yet never take it out of 'auto' mode.

Images: David Bean - He does a lot of advertising/lifestyle work, and his images are incredibly rich in color & contrast. Every new photographer that I come across makes me yearn for more lenses. They're coming. Soon.


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D:17 Giving Back

Yes, I realize that tonight's image is very similar in composition to last night's image. Once again, I had something completely different planned for today. Someone once said, "Life is what happens while you're making plans.." and it couldn't have been more true today.

I received a phone call from a friend that needed some help - just a simple errand really. As I went out to my truck to pick him up, one of my neighbors flagged me down. She has been quite sick lately and has been confined to her house for the last year. She felt good enough today to get out for some fresh air, but quickly learned that her car battery was dead. I hopped on over and got her taken care of, feeling quite good about it!

After I was done helping everyone that had called me, I ran into some friends that I haven't seen in months. I was in a hurry, and it would have been easy to just wave and keep walking; however, I felt the need to stop and say hi. After we played catch-up, I noticed that I had lost my light for the day and I drove home. Well wouldn't you know it, the moon was just hanging around, waiting for me to get home! I quickly ran inside to get my tripod & gear, and captured this image after about a dozen attempts.

It's funny how things work out sometimes. Today's chain of events led me directly to this photo. Do not pass GO, do not collect $200.

Manual: Page 24 - Basic Photography
How many of you forget the very basics every now & then? I do! Who knows how many times I've left my lens cap on, or left my memory card in my bag.

Images: Gary Crabbe - Gary does landscape/travel photography, and a LOT. He has some absolutely b-e-a-utiful images. I'm thinking I'm going to have to start traveling more if I'm going to expand my outdoor skills.


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D:16 A Little Luck Never Hurt

Check your settings, and check them often.

There is an insurance company that is headquartered in my town, and they have a beautiful building. A great combination of glass, brick and stainless steel. I captured a few good images and headed home to check them out. I had left the ISO on 1600 from the night before. Way too much noise. Fail.

After my little failure, I decided it was a great night to try my hand at low-key shots. Don't ask me why I've never tried them before, because I don't have an answer.

I decided to make the subject of my shoot a little Buddha that a friend gave me. He picked it up in Hawaii in the 70's, and he thought I might benefit from some good luck. After some trial and error, today's post is what I came up with.

This is not my favorite shot, nor is it my worst. It was my 1st attempt at something new and I was satisfied with the outcome. After all, isn't that what this whole challenge is all about? Without pushing the limits of our creativity, how will we ever grow as artists?

As I picked up my manual tonight, I realized that it has less than 365 pages. So what do I do with the rest of the year? What are you planning to do when you run out of new pages? Perhaps pick a page in the morning, and apply that topic to the day's photo?

I asked Tasra Dawson the same question on Facebook, and the strangest thing happened.

We had a short conversation.

Why is this strange you ask?

I'll tell you why. Because in my world, Tasra is a celebrity, and I got to talk to her. My personal "celebrities" are professional photographers who also seem to be amazing people. I would much rather have lunch with someone like Tasra than any movie star. Social media has completely changed the way we interact with the world. Just 20 years ago aspiring photographers like myself could never have interacted so easily with a professional photographer across the country. I think sometimes we forget how amazing technology can be.

Manual: Page 52 - Preset White Balance
I've always used on of the presets for WB, but tomorrow I'm going to give this a shot. Maybe starting out with a custom WB will eliminate a small step in post-processing for me.

Images: I stumbled across Robert Frank's work as I searched for some examples of street photography. This is yet another avenue that I have never tried. I'm not generally comfortable with walking up to someone on the street and asking if I can take their picture. I hope to try it soon!


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D:15 A Lesson Learned

I was recently asked by a local game store for a donation. They were doing a big release for the new game "Halo 3: ODST", and they were looking for giveaway prizes. I didn't imagine that the majority of the "gamer" crowd would be looking for portraits, but it was an inexpensive way to try tapping into a new market.

I decided to attend the midnight release, hoping to get a good shot of the crowd. What I learned was that these gamers are incredibly dedicated to their craft. There was a trivia contest involving everything Halo, and the detailed knowledge of these people was amazing. Hours before the game could even be purchased, these warriors of the game consoles showed up in droves. With a line running outside and around the building, they waited. It's a unique community of folks, to say the least.

It got me thinking about how we photographers approach our craft. What if we all approached photography like these gamers? Some of us already do, absorbing every bit of information we can get our hands on. Others just pick up the camera every now & then, never really pushing the boundaries of creativity.

I challenge each and every one of you to approach something in your life with the same level of passion. Dive into it, wrap it around you like a warm blanket on a cool Fall night. See where it takes you.

Manual: Page 150 - Custom Setting 19: Flash Mode
I have been wanting to try some low-key photos lately, so I decided to brush up on my flash modes. I guess we'll find out in the next week what comes of it!

Images: Scott Kelby - What a master of lighting! He gives me the inspiration to experiment with different lighting techniques for hours on end.


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D:14 It's In the Air

I drove up into the mountains today to scout locations for fall landscapes. The leaves have only just begun to change, barely showing the transition into light-orange hues. Although it was too early to find the deep reds among the trees, the approach of Fall was palpable in the air.

I snagged a few good shots, and you get a double feature for the 2nd day in a row. A friend of mine tagged along, and he was eager to learn. He loves photography, but he feels inept since he only has a point & shoot. I took some time in-between shots to show him that he can take great pictures with any camera. My goal was to get him to think a little more about composition and lighting.

Ha! It's humors me that I was playing the role of the teacher when I am still very much the student. It was a good feeling though, imparting some of my wisdom upon an avid hobbyist.

I was talking with a friend tonight and mentioned the upcoming Help-Portrait project. His girlfriend is an amateur tog so I asked him to pass on the info to her. So far I am the only person trying to organize this event in my town. I am normally not someone who excludes people, but I made the decision not to ask any of the big names in town to participate. I know it sounds childish, but many togs here would only want to use it as a means of self-promotion. That is simply not what the program is about. If any of them approach me about it with sincerity, I will be happy to have them on-board. Damn that sounds pretentious. Oh well.

Manual: Page 62 - Choosing a Shooting Mode
Again, a learning experience. I had no idea my camera displays how many shots the buffer can hold, when I have the shutter-release pressed half-way. I normally shoot in continuous mode, so it's interesting to me that I never noticed that.

Images: Veronique da Silva - I really like her portraits. She does a great job at capturing people in their element, without them looking posed. That is something I've been working on lately. How do all of you put your clients at ease when shooting candid portrait shots?




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D:13 Easy Like Sunday Mornin'

With the sun just starting to peak over the tops of the mountains, I headed out. On the way to my destination I stopped for a much needed cup of coffee, and a newspaper.

There is a small chunk of real estate next to the county fairgrounds, full of trees and flowers. The sign describes it as an "All Abilities Trail", and I drive by it every week.

This morning I decided to stop by and check it out.

Small trails wind in & out of trees as you immediately realize what this slightly-hidden gem has to offer. There are many different varieties of flowers, along with some surprises. Pumpkins and corn! Maybe an anonymous community garden? Further investigation will be required.

The sunflowers seemed to be basking in the sun, almost as if they were yawning after the end of a long cool night. I had a hard time choosing between this shot, and the one at the bottom of the page, so I give you both.

Manual: Page 95 - Flash sync modes
I've never used the rear curtain mode. I think I'll play around with it tonight. Which reminds me, I have an SB-600 that needs some TLC.

Images:Listed only as "Natalie from Montana". She has a great gallery of homeless people. With each person, she didn't just ask if she could take their picture. She sat down and had a conversation. Great images, and amazing stories.






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D:12 What Moves You?

Two night shots in a row. Well at least I'm trying, right? Going to bed really late and then getting up really early made for an afternoon crash. Right into bed for a nap. I can't remember the last time I took a nap. How on Earth do kids not like naps?

I read a good article today from David Weintraub about success in the photography business. He feels that every photographer should write a mission statement to define what they want to accomplish with their work/business. He goes on to say that doing so may help you realize your goals quicker than going into it blindly.

That got me to thinking. What is my mission statement? What do I want to achieve with my photography? Professionally, I want to hone my craft to the point that it affords me the life I so desire. Personally, I want to create images that move people. My hope is to find a balance between the two, perhaps even bringing me balance in the process.

There are many avenues of photography that do not interest me, and many that I am not good at. I will continue to explore these avenues, pushing myself every day. I don't EVER want to get to a point where I feel ALL of my photos are excellent images. I love taking absolute crap photos now and then. It keeps me grounded. The day that I believe I take 100% perfect photos is the day that I quit.

Manual: Page 166 - Dust Ref Photo
Well apparently you can take a reference photo similar to a customer white balance photo, to aid your camera in "dusting off" photos in Nikon Capture. I'll have to play with this a little, as I'm curious if will affect Photoshop or Lightroom. So great to learn new things!

Images: Johnna Brynn - I don't know what it is, but I love really high-contrast shots. Johnna not only takes great pictures, she also is wonderful with compositions featuring a wide contrast in colors. A few shots had DOF's that make me kick myself for not having a prime 50mm. Soon.


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D:11 Friday Night Social

The town I live in has a large hill in the middle of the university's campus, named "Red Hill". At the top, there are huge concrete steps, upon which sit equally large Romanesque columns. It's a pretty popular spot for locals, offering sweeping views of the city and surrounding valley.

Tonight there were about a half-dozen people up there. Some were couples, likely looking for a little romantic outing, enjoying the last of the late-summer nights. Others were college students new to the area, looking for something to do.

In an on-going effort to push myself out of my comfort zone, I befriended a group of 3 students and struck up a conversation. We talked, we laughed, we shared a few beers. I answered a stream of photography questions, and I think I left them with a little more knowledge than they came with. We can hope.

Manual: Page 168 - Image Rotation
Remember the days before automatic image rotation? What a pain in the ass. I'm definitely a fan of the continuing techie upgrades our industry gets.

Images:Looked at a local photographers collection today. I will keep them nameless, as to protect the innocent. This tog had a few great shots, but the majority were really run-of-the-mill shots. I don't know what came over me, but I started going through their gallery, over-critiquing EVERYTHING. What was with this sudden attack?

I think sometimes I get in a funk where I'm feeling insecure about my own work, so I criticize other artists. It's petty. It's childish. It's annoying. This is supposed to be a culture of artists that share ideas and help each other grow. So why do I sometimes feel all alone?


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D10: Creeping Out The Neighbors

Why is it that when you pull over to the side of the road in a rural area and start taking pictures, EVERYONE looks at you funny? I know they didn't see a booger hanging out of my nose as they passed me doing 40mph in a 30. Or did they?

Not much post-processing. I brightened up the shadows in the background, due to the fact that I was a little late getting set up. I take a lot of sunset/evening photos. It seems to be a perfect compliment/example of my procrastinating nature. I had to crop out about a 1/3 of the picture. I didn't think the neighbors would like the strange man in the street, walking through their field.(not enough time to ask permission)

As I was driving back down the canyon I saw this old dilapidated tractor just off the side of the road. I had to stop. I pulled just off the road, in the entrance of someone's long country driveway. After I finished snapping pictures I glanced at the house I was parked in front of. It looked abandoned, like someone defaulted on their mortgage and skipped town in the middle of the night. BUT, there was a rabbit pen with healthy-looking LIVE rabbits inside, about 30 yards down the driveway. It was one of those houses where the main entrance is on the 2nd floor, and there is a sliding glass door where you would expect a garage door to be at ground level. The door was slightly ajar, and everything inside looked dark. I couldn't really tell if someone was just letting fresh air in, or if the house was just left that hastily.

There was a car in the driveway, which lead me to believe SOMEONE had to be there. Probably even alive. The whole experience just had a creepy curiosity to it. It's that moment in the movie where you think "THEY CANNOT POSSIBLY BE THAT F*@#ING STUPID! DO NOT GO INTO THE HOUSE!"

Good thing I agree. I promptly got into my car and drove off.

Manual: Page 162 - Mirror Lock-Up

I fear that I have a small speck of something evil on my sensor. I risked cleaning the sensor directly about a year ago. No problems so far. Am I daring enough to risk it a second time? Sadly, yes.

Images:Juan Pons - Good outdoor shots, just another reminder that I'm not going to Portland this weekend. Damn responsibilities.

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D9: Page Turners

I used to read. A lot. In fact, I almost lost a job due to my literary fascination.

Tom Clancy. Stephen King. Michael Crichton. These men took me to worlds more fascinating than my own. These men pushed my eternal "what if" button, time and time again.

I miss that. Staying up until 4 am with my nose buried in a book. Page after page until your neck is ridiculously sore. I need to get back in the saddle. Maybe that would help my creative block.

Manual: Page 124 - The Playback Menu

I didn't realize how much customization there was with slide shows. You can customize which pictures show up! Wow, it really is embarrassing how many little things I don't know about my cameras.

Images: Moose Peterson. Great outdoor work! I have the chance to go on a weekend road trip to Portland tomorrow, if I can find quick accommodations. What a great opportunity for great scenic shots! I need to get my happy ass out of town.

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D8: What I know

Shoot what you know.

I keep hearing that. What I know is the outdoors. I must have shot hundreds of clouds during my senior year of high school. I loved it because every shot is different. I love how the light may only be perfect for a matter of minutes. When it leaves, it leaves you wanting for more. A thirst.


Well, I've decided that I'm going to shoot what I know, but I'm also going to challenge myself. Isn't that what this is all about? I'm going to push myself to get shots that I would never normally think about. Really get outside my comfort zone. I used to have a camera with me more than not. I need to get back to those days.

Manual: Page 6 - Control Panel

I knew most of this. The "flash sync mode" reminded me of how much I have to learn when it comes to creative lighting with flash. I'm thinking I need to visit the world of Zac Arias.

Images: Zac Arias. I would absolutely love to attend one of his One Light Workshops. But they're always sold out. And they're always across the country. Maybe I'll have to settle for his DVD.

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D7: Release

Week 1. It's finally over.

There were times where I didn't think I was going to make it. I walk around the house all day, waiting for inspiration to hit me. It doesn't. "They" say that you should shoot what you know. Well, I know the outdoors. Is that why it's so hard for me to come up with interesting ideas in a studio?

Perhaps I should spend a little more time outside, hunting for those special little moments. I feel like I have "shooter's block". Does that even exist? I'm sure it does.

Once on TV, I saw a cool time-lapse photo of what happens when you pop a water balloon. I always wanted to try capturing that on film. I became quite frustrated with my camera, because she can't shoot any faster than 1/500 with her flash on. I'll bet if I took the time to read my manual, I could come up with a solution. But alas, I am a man, and not a fan of reading manuals.

Other than my daily page, of course.

Manual: Page 20 - Inserting Memory Cards

Well look at that, I found a shortcut. Rarely do I format my cards in-camera, I usually save that task for the computer. Well this nifty little book 'o instructions just taught me how to format without going through the menu.

Honestly, how many simple things have I not learned about my camera(s)?

Images: Scott Bourne. I've always loved his work. Looking at his images makes me wish I were a little closer to more lakes. Perhaps I'll have to arrange a road trip now that fall is approaching.

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Creamsicle Sunset

D6: On The Same Page

I was driving home from the grocery store this afternoon and I noticed we were in for a decent sunset. Not one of those super-ridiculous-omg sunsets, but a decent one nonetheless.


With my trusty D70s in hand, I found a good vantage point that included the industrial factory on the outskirts of town. With the layout in my head before I even arrived, I was able to find the perfect spot to park so that I didn't waste time and loose my light.

After a few clicks I headed into my neighborhood, noticing a great cluster of clouds. The way the sun was hitting them, they seemed to come to life. I decided to rush home(only 2 blocks at the point) and get the shot from there. As I drove down the street, there must have been at least a half-dozen other people outside trying to capture the same shot. Sadly, the dusky dance of the storm clouds was short-lived, with the sun dipping behind the horizon within minutes.

Still, it was nice to capture what I did.

Manual: Page 107 - Using a Remote Control

I had no idea that the cordless remote could also control the bulb setting. I've always used the remote cable for this.

Images: Jeremy Hall. Good stuff. Some really great macro work. Reminds me that I need to diversify my lenses a LOT more.

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Closed for the season

D5: The End of Summer

Sometimes I wish we had "scratch-n-sniff" pictures on the internet. What you can't smell from looking at this photo, is the pig roast that is going on next door. It smelled AMAZING.


Have you ever returned home from a day of shooting, and you feel like you camera decided to sensor your work? Today was one of those days. I'm pretty sure that one of my cameras decided she needed to delete some pictures from today's shoot. That has to be the case, because I KNOW that I took more pictures than what I came home with.

Yes, I believe my cameras are conspiring against me.

I cannot tell you how many times I get home, dump my cards, and am annoyed with something I overlooked on the shoot.

Oh well, I guess that is what this is all really about. Improving EVERYTHING.

Today's shot coincided with an end-of-the-summer BBQ I was invited to. Good food, good friends, good bye summer.

Manual: Page 136 - The HELP Button

Again with the irony. Need to know what something is in your camera menu, and you don't want to pull out your manual? Just hit the help button. I have never used this button, although I cannot recall the number of times I wonder what a particular technical-looking setting does. I never think to "ask" for help.

I'm also not sure that I should freely admit there are functions of my cameras that I have never used. Or even fooled around with. They go unnoticed, year after year.

Maybe tomorrow...

Images: Jen Basford(3 Girls Photography). Browsed through the family section looking for some inspiration. I have a few family shoots coming up and for some reason I'm nervous. They are all very laid-back people, and I know them personally. Maybe that is the issue. Part of me is so worried that they won't like my work. I can handle strangers not liking my work, but I crave the approval of my friends.

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8 Years

D4: Remembering

Most Americans, and for that matter most people around the world, remember where they were this day 8 years ago.

I woke up to a frantic phone call from my girlfriend.

"...blah..blah..World Trade Center..blah..blah..terrorists.."


I couldn't understand most of what she was saying. I was confused and tired. I walked into the living room, turned on the tv, and sat down. Am I still asleep? This can't seriously be happening. Not us, not in America.

Over the last 8 years we as a country have had steady reminders of the surreal and tragic day. Every time, and I mean EVERY TIME I look at a clock and the time is 9:11, brief images flash through my head, reminding me.

A fellow tog made an interesting comment today.

"Dear America, I hate to say that I'm FAR more concerned about your future on 9/11/09 than I was 9/11/01. What are we doing with ourselves?!"

Manual: Page 46 - Sensitivity (ISO Equivalency)

Ironic. I forgot to turn down the ISO today when I was taking pics. Fortunately it wasn't fatal, but there were a few shots that were noisier than I would have liked.

Images: Jim Garner. American Photo Magazine named him one of the 10 best wedding photographers in the world. Inspiring work. On the other hand, it's nice to know that even someone that amazing has a few pics in his portfolio that just don't "do it" for me. Kinda reinforces the reality that not everyone will love your work, no matter how good you are. Still though, love his stuff.

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Long night

D3: Hard Knock Life

We were pretty hard-core 4th graders, sniffing smarties on the bus, yo.

I've been having lighting issues this week. I need to spend some serious time trying some new techniques.

I need sleep, I'm about to fall asleep as I write this. Those are the breaks of waking up at 7am...


Manual: Page 70 - Focus Lock

I've used this a time or two, especially when I'm shooting sports. What I really need to do is spend some quality time with manual focus. Calibration too. Note to self: check camera's calibration in the morning.

Images: Miscellaneous photos from Zack Arias. I really love his framing. Well I take that back. I really love pretty much everything about his photos.

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A Moment of Harmony

D2: The Bee's Knees

I've FINALLY started carrying my camera with me when I run errands. I've been helping my dad get his house ready to put on the market, and I'm currently working on the garage. Cleaning, touching up drywall, painting, etc. I was standing around, thinking about what kind of picture I wanted to take today, and it came to me. There are some large bushy-shrubby looking plants out by the front of the house, and they come into bloom in the late summer. This late bloom has been accompanied by a TON of bees. Well maybe not a ton, but at least a hundred at one time.

I've stood out in the front yard before, watching the bees as they made there way from flower to flower, doing the job outlined by Mother Nature. It's kind of harmonious when you can stand out there in the middle of them and just watch. They have so much going on in their little world that they could care less about me and my camera.

Well, I quickly became disappointed with auto-focus, switching to manual for a little more control. This was a great idea, mainly because my camera wouldn't listen when I told her to focus on the bee and not the flower.

I tried to follow Brutus(yes, I named a bee), but he was kind of scatter-brained. He was a beautiful bee, very regal looking and quite different from the others. Brutus had a way of waiting until I had him in focus, and then darting off to the next bush. I settled for a more mature(in my opinion) bee that spent a little more time on each flower. It seemed to give each flower the attention a mother gives her daughter when brushing her hair.

It wasn't quite the shot that I was looking for, but I am happily satisfied with the results.

Manual: Page 194 - The Low-Pass Filter

Upon learning how to check your sensor for dirt or other foreign objects, I thought of a great question. How many of you have your cameras professionally cleaned every few years? We spend so much money on camera bodies and lenses, yet I can't remember the last time I heard a fellow tog talk about getting their equipment cleaned. I'm sure I am just a horrible listener. Tomorrow I'm going to look into where I can get my equip cleaned.



Images: Bambi Cantrell's name sounds familiar, but I don't think I've seen any of her work until today. She does an AMAZING job at capturing emotion in her portraits. It's so inspiring to look through her portfolio. I hope to one day capture people in the same way that seems to do so effortlessly.

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Well, that was unexpected.

Day 1: A Worldwide Moment

Today is the start of my 365 project. It is also the day of the Worldwide Moment. I've spent the last week trying to think of what image to capture for this moment. Nothing came to mind as I sat at my desk day after day. My mind was devoid of inspiration. I decided to jump in the car and head towards an area of town where I had been meaning to go for some time now.

See, there has been this pair of shoes hanging on the power lines right in front of a Denny's restaurant. I thought maybe I could capture one of those iconic "shoes-hanging-from-a-line" shots.

As I stood against the wall of the drug-store, figuring out the best angle for the shot, a man walked by and he was visibly perplexed by my presence.

"Are you investigating someone for a workman's comp claim?"

"Nope."

"Are you trying to catch someone not working, when they should be?"

"No, I'm getting ready to take a picture in exactly 1 minute."

"Why?"

"Well, you see, there are about 2,000 photographers right now getting ready to do the exact same thing, all around the world."

"Wow, you guys have WAY too much time on your hands."

He walked away, seemingly annoyed with my explanation.

Part of my reluctance to shoot this photo as part of the Worldwide Moment, was because this picture had no story, and certainly no relevance to peace. After my conversation with the passerby, I realized my story didn't develop until I stood there holding my camera.

A perfect stranger is walking down the street when he notices a man, casually dressed with a baseball cap on backwards, holding a camera near a busy intersection. The stranger approaches the man, assuming he is trying to catch someone committing some type of wrong. When the man assures the stranger that he is simply taking a picture for the joy of it, the stranger dismisses him as an annoyance.

When did it become normal to assume the worst of people? Why did this stranger find it so odd that I was simply taking a picture for the sake of taking a picture? Perhaps he is still searching for his own inner-peace.

Manual: Page 72 - The AF-Assist Illuminator
How dumb do I feel? I had no idea I could turn this feature off. A few months ago I was trying to take some night shots on a city street, and I wanted to remain unnoticed as not to interfere with my subjects. Well, every damn time I depressed my shutter-release button, the light flashed and everyone looked at me. I guess this is why they give you a manual in the 1st place.


Images: Jeremy Cowart ran a test "live-critique" on-line this afternoon. It was great! There were about 200 people tuned in as he randomly chose pictures we were submitting. Some were amateurs, others were professionals. Jeremy prefaced the broadcast with the fact that he is NOT a pro at critiquing, he simply wanted to try an experiment. It was really interesting to not only look at other photographers' work, but here what a pro had to say about it.

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I'm In!

I've been a photographer on the side for years, always dreaming of making it into a full-time career. I hope that I'll be able to realize that dream, and this challenge inspired me to be a little more proactive about it. So I will join Tasra and countless others in a quest to sharpen my skills.

The rules are simple. Take 3 actions daily, for a year, in an effort to improve my photography 300%.

The actions:

* Take at least 1 photo every day.
* Read at least 1 page in my camera manual every day.
* View other professional images every day.

I am someone who likes to start large projects like this, but rarely sees them through. On the rare occasion that I do finish a large project, I revel in the sense of accomplishment. So why don't I finish them all? Perhaps I take on too many at once, or maybe I'm just a little A.D.D. It will be interesting to see where I am in a year, and I'm excited for what I'll learn along the way.


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