Red balloon

If you follow me on Twitter, you will know that yesterday marked the first paid gig. I was really excited and VERY nervous. I was asked to take photographs at the reception and ring exchange for a young couple. They were married a little while back in Colorado and had returned have a reception with local family and friends.

I'm still working on model releases and permissions to use pictures from this event. I think some of them turned out really well, but rather then spend the next year in court and hiring attorneys, I'll hold off on sharing pictures with humans until I know. Does anyone know what pictures I can and can't use for this blog?

I'm quite sure this picture is fine. It was taken at Plummer House, a property owned by the city of Rochester, MN. The chair, balloon and lamp are not humans. Unless this is in France, I should be OK.

I really liked the mix of the old style with the bright red balloon.

Give me some luv...

Vacation - The Window

On our last full day on the east coast, I took the family to Mt. Vernon. The home of our first president, George Washington.

As with many heavily visited tourist stops, I find them very difficult to photograph anything too interesting without fighting the random kid walking through the view.

This out of the way window was on the stable. I loved the lines the bricks and the window made. The seem to almost blend into the crushed rock below.

There is almost no way to know this is from Mt. Vernon, but this wasn't a picture for the scrapbook.

How do you like to take photos on vacation? I'd love to hear your stories! Leave a comment here or leave a comment linking back to your blog with the story.

Vacation - Washington Monument

Perspective is everything in photography. I believe the etymological source of the word photography is "painting with light." I like to think about photography is capturing light and creating art through composition and storytelling.

These two photographs are of the same thing. The Washington Monument in Washington DC, but I think each picture tells a different story from a slightly different perspective.

This first one includes the flags. The flags give the photograph a reference by which we understand the story. It's patriotic and shows reverence to the subject.

This second picture contains no flags but is shot with almost the same perspective as the first.

Frequent readers of this blog will know that I love lines in composition. This monument provides us with great lines and the point allows our eyes to follow to the sky.

I'm not sure which shot I like better. The one with the flags is telling a more complete story, but the one without is simpler in composition and to me, more enjoyable to look at.

What do you think?

National Zoo - Washington D.C.

Here we go again, it's a close-up of a flower.

Normally, I don't get really excited about close-ups of flowers, but this one I gave an exception to.

The colors were a bit unusual the patterns in the middle of flowers really produced some interesting perspectives.

This one was taken at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. For the most part, this day was about the kids, so I didn't get a lot of shots, but we could pass on these pink/purple daisies.

This composition is as shot, like all the pictures so far from the vacation.

Vacation - Groom's Dinner 3

Here is the last image of this particular pier.

Most of my pictures don't involve humans. Portraits are an area I'd love to learn more about.

But here is a human adding movement to the lines of the dock. The perpendicular lines mixed with the wind in her dress just seem to capture the mood of the pier.

Well, do humans work in pictures like this?

Vacation - Groom's Dinner Part 2

I spent a fair amount of time hanging out on this pier in southern Maryland.

The Potomac river is huge at this point and just south of here is Chesapeake Bay.

A little haze surrounds the moon, the humidity was horrific, but tonight, we celebrated and enjoyed the cool evening air.

Vacation - Groom's Dinner

Our vacation is widing down. We will be flying home today.

Anyone that knows me won't be shocked to find out I took over 700 images while on vacation. I love the sound of a good shutter!

I've got a stable internet connection and a slow start to the day.

Here's the first picture from this trip I'll share with you.

I took this picture outside the groom's dinner at Captain Billy's in Newburg, Maryland sitting next to the Potomac River.

What a beautiful area!

I'll post more later. It's time for our last breakfast in the hotel and the off to the airport!

Vacation Day 1

Whew! We survived day 1 of our summer vacation.

I actually didn't have the camera out very much but I did snap this one.

This is the campus of William and Mary University. This campus is just beautiful. Unfortunately, the OhPrincesses weren't being very much fun.

Fireworks

I followed my directions from last year and got some interesting exposures at the private fireworks we attending on Independence Day.

We were a lot closer to the action then I've ever gotten to at a public display.

We leave for a family vacation tonight. I plan on wearing out the shutter on my 30D. I might even prepost some more of these pictures to keep you in suspence.

Stay tuned!

Relaxation

I was really glad to get to spend one fun, relaxing weekend with our good friends here in Wisconsin.

The camera even got used while consuming a few of these...

What do you think...can I still shoot after having a few or am I wearing beer goggles?

Weekend Retreat

We took a family retreat weekend to our good friend's home in Eau Claire, WI. The lady of the house has thing for flowers.

While I'm usually not much of a flower guy, just ask my wife, she did ask me to try my hand at photographing these natural beauties.

Not sure what this is, but I think I'm beginning to like using my 70-300mm lens for doing fun things. This photo presented to you as shot.

Happy Independence Day!

I'm still here

It's been a pretty crazy summer so far. I've had my camera out a few times, but nearly as much as I would like. The trip to Quarry Hill with my daughter was cut pretty short so I didn't get as much as I would like. With the 8 year old with me, time was short and I didn't get to do things like change lenses very often.

This first picture is the first picture I've ever taken at a child's birthday party that I really loved and didn't think looked like just an ordinary snapshot.

Happy Birthday Alex!!!

Our trip to Quarry Hill Nature Center, here in Rochester, MN did produce a few nice shots.

I love these turtles! They are so photogenic!

At Quarry hill, there is a big pond people like to fish. There are also tons of lily pads.

These things are hard me to shoot.






Last weekend, we took the kids to the Minnesota Twins game. I couldn't resist this one. Lonely guy. In case you are interested...TWINS WIN! TWINS WIN!

We are taking the family on a vacation, back to Virginia and Maryland. My camera will probably just stay on my neck. Stay tuned!