CONTROL THE SHOT


Ok, so you cannot control kids and the way they smile, when they smile, or even if they do. I am sure that you have found this to be true in all situation as well. So what can you control? The lighting for one. Try to move into shade and and get your camera settings set so that every shot you take is going to turn out the same each time so that when the child does what you want, you get it right. Many times I take "practice pictures" while the kids aren't looking at me to get the proper ISO and exposure. Many times I even use the parent to practice on, because kids will only give you so many shots until their attention is lost, so why try to use their "attention time" while you are getting your shots ready? Another factor you can control, such as in this pic, is the parent. It works best if two parents are present, one to be in the pic and one to get the attention of the child. That way the parent can look great in all the shots, even the ones the child is not cooperating on, so when they do cooperate, the parent is ready as in this shot. -adam-

GOTTA LOVE WEDDINGS!

This was one of the first weddings I took about a year ago. I was not the main photographer, but it gave me a great chance to get some "side shots" and candids that the main photographer could not have gotten. This one for example should be cherished forever (the bride was not there for the pic :-)

USING SHADE

Today was a perfect day out at the park. I saw at least 4 other photographers out taking pictures of families, seniors and models. The only problem was the sun. Not a cloud in the sky, and when trying to take portraits, a perfect day out is not always a perfect setting for a picture. This shot was taken in a shaded area with the sun actualy to the back behind the backdrop seen here. Taking a picture in shade with a shaded backdrop helps to control the shot. Also, watch out for "sunspots" comming through the trees, such as the small on on the mothers right arm here. Also, a diffused flash or umbrella off the the side never hurts. -blessings-

LEAF-BOY

This is one of my fav's as well, taken about a year ago this time, but it really fits the fall season! You know what I am finding out...kids are hard to shoot! Yeah, my son is easier than most b/c he knows me and has grown up with "the intimidator" (my huge zoom 100-210 for those of you how don't know). Even he is getting hard to shoot, and when I look back at this shot, I am really glad I got it. A tip for those of you trying to shoot kids....have their mother stand right nest to you with her face about a foot from the lens and don't have her get the baby's attention until you want the shot. It keeps the expressions fresh. Good luck!

My First Pumpkin Shoot Ever!!!

So I have never tried to photograph pumpkins, or even thought of the idea till I recently joined ISTOCK and my wife brought home these two "masterpieces"...ok maybe not, but it's not the worst, and a good learning experience. I added the purple flowers in the front to try to give a little extra flavor. To do it over again, I would have moved the flowers to the right and back. It was an akward shoot as I was in my front yard with my "intimidator" 100-210 lens and my reflector at 5pm when all of the neighbors were comming home.... wow. Such fun.

GOODBYE AFRICA!!!

Unfortunate news recently broke in the Fort... The children's Zoo is going to be closing the African Veldt section for the next 2 years for a remodel. I thuroughly understand the importance of the update and how nice it will be when it is done, but I am loosing a large quantity of "free models" such as the giraffe seen here. I had to wait to get this shot, famed as it is with the soon to be extinct Zebra Car in the background. The day was fairly hazy, so I am somewhat satisfied with the results. On a parting note.... Goodbye my friend, and see you in 2 at the zoo!

Well, when starting a photography business, one has to come up with a logo. I think that this picture looks good to me. I know they say that taking a picture of your shadow is over done, but I think that this really works! Don't you? It is great framing with the tree and lawn, the colors are bold and flow together and the shadow is stretched from the setting sun. Once I photo shop out the power line it will be even better! Let me know what you think, but i think that its a great logo!

Ok, so this picture was taken almost over a year ago, but it is still one of my favs! My boy is so sweet! We ended up taking this in the park with my new Minolta 7D and the (nasty) Quantaray 100-300 zoom I had from my old fim days, not bad for such a lame lens I say. Can't wait for this fall...I hope to try the same settings with Judah, he loved leafs last year...most likely this year too!!! Untill next time.... Adam

So my wife and I had breakfast at some friends yesterday and they talked me into trying to submit some of my work to ISOCK. Sounds interesting, sounds exciting, sounds like a reason to keep shooting photography. So I signed up and submitted my application. The pics I choses aren't necessasarely the best I've taken, but the best quality as I know that is what they are looking for. My artistic style includes many high ISO shots which do result in "noise" which I actually like having in some shots, but since ISTOCK is more "fine tuned", I thought that I would submit "tighter" pics with less noise. We shall see what they say. The folling pic is one I almost submitted, but they said to stay away from "sunsets" and it does have a little noise in it. This is a picture I took on the way to my inlaws last winter. I call it "A sunset over Pleasant Lake" Might be a good pic for inspirational reading...who knows! :-)