Hard and Soft Light

Tom was willing to be my "stand in" while I was practicing a lighting setup.

This was a quick grab before the lights were actually set and I really liked the hard light that defined Tom's features.  Profile - jaw line are strong with his glance being casual and relaxed.

Evened up the lighting and made this image with a strong, confident gaze - looking good TB!

enjoy,

k

What Do You Think..... want to be Superman?

Had a great shoot with Devon an NYU acting student home for the holiday break.

 We went through a few setups and I went to get a blue gel out of the pack.  It just so happens I store my "Superman" patch in there.

 So, of course, I asked Devon "what do you think - want to be Superman....?"

 Well he didn't miss a beat -

instantly transforming into a Superhero!

enjoy,

k

We Be Gellin'

Playing around with more lighting setups for upcoming shoots.  Two strip soft boxes facing one another with me sandwiched in between.  Feathering both flashes with a little fill from below made for some pretty light.

And not to neglect my background I used a new barn door attachment to selectively place a splash of light behind my subject.  In the first shot above I used only the flash.  For the shot below I added a blue gel for effect.
I like both outcomes - they each offer their own distinct mood.

enjoy,

k

How You Start Your Day?

This photo made me think about "how I start my day"

Our daily choices indelibly bring us to where we are
I feel fortunate to be where I am.

As a New Year approaches I will tend to reflect back on the past year.
I'm not a New Year's Eve resolution maker ~ it's just not my style.
I would rather think of it as learning from the past and hopefully bringing about positive changes going into the New Year.

enjoy,

k

Shake Things Up

One Word  ~ Believe

Somehow I settled on the idea of a snow globe.  It combined the feeling of Christmas with the childlike quality...

"To Truly Believe"
A snow globe is a good omen
Predicting new experiences and adventures

Shake things up

When all settles back down

everything will become

more clear

Trying to come up with an idea for this one was difficult.   I kept feeling conflict.  Part of me wanted to create a positive, uplifting photo as this year winds down.  But the ideas floating through my head were more "non believing" in nature.

Tough year - trusts broken - remaining positive - moving forward.   It's a good start going into 2017.

Once I settled on the snow globe as my idea I had to come up with the "how".  I decided to see if bubbles could do the trick.

bubbles in mid-air / fail
landing on the bubble wand / fail
landing in the snow / fail
landing on pavement    Ah, now I was getting somewhere.

The bubbles changed colors as they hit the pavement.  Eventually turning blue and then vanishing.  Went to a spot where I thought there could be an interesting reflection, blew some bubbles and made my photo!

What I've learned the most throughout this past year is to believe in my instincts, my abilities and my resolve.

"It is a happy talent to know how to play" 

Ralph Waldo Emerson     

enjoy,

k

Above the Horizon Line

For dignity, for stature, for standing in the photograph

put your people above the horizon line.

                                                                        Sam Abell


enjoy,

k

Winter's Day

Today's workday included an assignment to take some photographs of the new snow we received yesterday.  The morning was crisp but not cold, the sun shone brightly and the winds light.  

Snow still covering the trees made for a lovely natural canvas showing the beauty of a New Hampshire snowfall as we take the crest into our winter season. 

 Light played off the grassy field full of cat tails along the side of the road.

 This pond received a skim of ice that held a light coating of snow from yesterdays storm. I was reminded of a child's snow globe as the snow would blow off the trees into the water.

As a chatted with folks along my route I would comment that I always feel the same after that 1st snow of the season.  It's a joy inside that's hard to describe but a pleasure to feel.  Work felt great today - the sun on my face and the weight of my camera in my hand - feeling the giddiness of a child playing in the snow!

enjoy,

k

Portraiture.... Fun Whatever the Season

Portraits sessions in the winter months can be just as much fun as our warmer seasons during the year.  If you're a "four season" lover like myself  the thought of hibernating through the winter just wouldn't cross my mind.

The same thing goes for portrait sessions.  Winter adds different elements through your images.  We can bring a sense of warmth that counteracts with the fact that "it was really cold out that day!"

For those of you that feel like an outdoor session just wouldn't ring your bell.  Well, we can certainly turn up the heat inside and bring our ideas to light.

Sometimes it's just simply

 grabbing someone special to you..

turning up the music....

and feeling the love! 

enjoy,

k

What You Nourish Will Grow

Pinhole Camera
Natural Light
30 second exposure

           What you nourish will grow

...the rest of the story.  I was at the checkout counter paying for an item.  My friend behind the counter asks "this is for a prop isn't it....?"    I respond with a laugh "yes it is".
Oh my goodness I'm getting known!

I love seeing something and feeling there is a photo there.  Very seldom do I know what that photo is going to be.   What I see is simply the potential for something to grow and at some point down the line -

it get's a life


enjoy,

k

Do You See?

On my way out today I had to stop as I looked in my rear view mirror and saw this rainbow.  A passerby slowed and asked       "do you see where the pot of gold is?"

I responded      "yes, absolutely"      ....pretty close to home!


enjoy,

k