Chelfoto Photography

Costa Rica Photos Available!

2014-03-06T23:10:00.001-06:00

Chicago's extra snowy weather this weekend seemed like the perfect opportunity to edit photos from my trip to Costa Rica this summer!

It is such a beautiful and unique part of Central America, and the people are amazing! There was more wildlife just out walking around than anywhere else I have ever seen besides going to a zoo! A full album is available on my photo website at Chelfoto.com. Hope you enjoy!

http://chelfoto.smugmug.com/Travel/Costa-Rica

San Jose, Costa Rica

Chicago PASS Program Graduation

2012-06-22T00:02:00.002-05:00

It was such a blast taking pictures and hanging out with students and CPS staff from the Chicago PASS program graduation last week! The students had very inspiring stories and who doesn't get excited when it's officially summer break?! Check out this group while they "bust a move"!

My Big Fat NATO Wedding

2012-06-05T10:05:00.003-05:00

Finally, I'm getting around to pulling up pictures from a wedding shoot that was in downtown Chicago during the NATO conference. I anticipated absolute chaos for this event. I was cringing when I heard each news report and hype about street closings, and I so fretted for this event as there was no limit to what logistical mishaps were potentially possible for ruining the happy couple's big day.

There was absolutely no street parking, no parking in garages, and no bags allowed on any CTA or Metra public transportation. I was scheduled to meet the groomsmen at the W Hotel on West Adams St. by 11:00 a.m. to snap a few shots of them getting ready, and thankfully I had no problems with the cab ride in to get there and made it in 20 minutes early. :)

Prior to the conference, I looked up the media requirements out of curiosity. NATO events were happening along Lake Shore Drive and I couldn't resist day dreaming about getting a once-in-a-a-lifetime picture of a bride and groom touting peace signs and posing with a handful of well-wishing world leaders in front of their motor brigade.....that didn't happen.

There was no hustle bustle of crowded streets on a nice summer day. In fact, it felt more like a ghost town. Police officers and national security officials we're clustered on corners every two blocks throughout the downtown area. We went to our next location on the Wacker.- LaSalle St. bridge to take a few more photos of the guys at the river walk and "first look" shots of the bride and groom.

The only problem was that there were so many officers on bikes that they kept riding through the back ground of the pictures. This was pretty intimidating. During these wedding events I have no problem asking people to move and directing them out of the shot, but seriously now, what photographer do you know is going to ask patrolling cops to move while they are on duty, during NATO? No way! That's what Photoshop is for!

All in all it was a beautiful couple and a beautiful wedding. They had a lot of fun and NATO's events and protestors were hardly noticed. We we're shuttled out of the city by 2:00pm so that they wouldn't get caught in the fights and rants of the 2,000+ protesters that demonstrated. Now that was smart planning!

Spring Unfolding

2012-05-02T22:18:00.001-05:00

Just call me optimistic, but it has been a fantastic spring for all things photography! 'Tis the season to grab your camera of choice and walk around outside. Get back in shape by shooting-on-the-fly and walking to your destinations where possible. What have you been doing to challenge yourself? Maybe you've been able to take advantage of Chicago's light "winter" and schedule photo shoots outside unseasonably a few months early, maybe you spent an extra hour exploring a new corner of town to use as a future backdrop, or maybe you've been getting to know other photographers and attending gallery openings and other creative events. Either way, if you are interested in wiping the dust off your lenses and getting out there, these have all been good places to start for me!

In March, I wanted to take advantage of the still crisp early evenings and city lights and this year did a two hour shoot outside! Thankfully it wasn't too chilly and I'm pretty happy with the way that everything turned out! It was also nice that it wasn't too crowded because less people were staying outside. We had plenty of time to set up poses, keeping in mind composition and coloring. Everything went so well that we were able to do one outside shoot and one indoor shoot. Let me know what you think!

Updates on the Horizon!

2012-03-19T15:59:00.000-05:00

London, fashion, photo shoots and competitions. These are all topics to be discussed in the next blog post - so stay tuned for updates! I've been wanting to write about these for awhile, but I've been editing or shooting pictures, which is a GOOD thing! :)

In the meantime, if you are on Pinterest.com, see daily updates to the Chelfoto pin board.

Also, a BIG thank you to everyone who voted for me in the Chicago LocalTourist.com's 100 Days of Chicago challenge. My photo submission is one of the finalists that will be judged again this summer!

Haiti: Still the Pearl of the West Indies

2012-02-01T01:20:00.002-06:00

In January, 2010, a magnitude 7 earthquake struck the heart of Port-au-Prince, Haiti and killed 300,000 people. As a result, fundraising began and volunteers were sent. I joined a team of 50 from my home church in Omaha, NE and brough my camera along to share in a gallery opening/fundraiser for an orphanage and the ministry that we worked with.

What struck me most was the strength and hospitality of the Haitian people and their resilience to overcome the difficult circumstances around them due to the earthquake. No one can describe this better than Mr. Almando Jean Louis, a lifelong Haitian and friend I made along the way, who works at Praying Pelican Ministries in Port-au-Prince. We've been reflecting on the two year anniversary of the earthquake, hoping that it's recent occurrence started many of the right conversations in the media and that more volunteers would be motivated to go to Haiti. Almando shares his thoughts as we look forward to the city's new improvements and rebuilding!

Hello Almando, what is it like to live in Haiti today? What positive changes have you seen? Living in Haiti has always been both the sweetest for those who are able to afford their daily needs and a struggle for those who can’t. It is still the same today. This year is called the year of reconstruction and I am so excited to see the roads that are being built, parks that are cleared off the tent cities, lots of hotels and new buildings... I am looking forward to seeing the rebirth of tourism in Haiti and the growth of our resorts, new infrastructure and stuffs.
Haiti was once called the "Pearl of the West Indies", do you think this is still true? What should we know about the Haitian people? Haiti was called the Pearl of the West Indies and is still is though it is not called like that anymore. The news and some criminal or wicked journalist that are making money off their lies on Haiti and the politics of the super power to prevent the sons and daughters of the country that are investing in their country from coming back and invest in their country, tend to focus on the poverty or the dirty parts of Haiti to show how poor and small we are but our sun, our mountains, our beaches, our productions remain original and outstanding. As far as the people is concerned, besides being the first independent black nation, Haitian people is laborious, happy, friendly, passionate for the Lord and grateful towards and for life, despite of all.
What areas in Haiti still need help? Do you think more volunteers are necessary? The whole country needs help in different ways. I am positive that we have enough fish but don’t have enough means to catch them (don't know if you know that Chinese proverb) teach me how to fish instead of giving me a fish. Haiti needs developers, more of the new technology, investors, guides and visionaries and no more rice, tents or expired or used stuffs. We do need volunteers J .
What is your favorite phrase, proverb,or saying in french or creole? (please translate) Men anpil, chay pa lou. That means literally " with a lot of hands the load is light. I truly believe that together, we can do immense things.
Do you think a picture is worth a thousand words? If you took a picture of Haiti right now what would you want it to say? Yes a picture means a lot, It has more impact than a words have. I have been asked if Haitian have house, radio, tel, tv... Those people who have asked me those questions saw pictures of Haiti that show them bare foot and naked kids playing with trash. Only negative things and those kind of stuffs is a whole description of Haiti in their minds. If I had to take a picture of Haiti today I would picture the whole land coming out of an egg. Or Haiti as a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. What would that mean to you. I would actually draw something cause there is no where I could take such a picture.

BIG thanks to Almando and everyone involved with this initiative!

Tour de les Cultures Destination 3: Indian Gold

2012-01-06T09:25:00.000-06:00

There is little one has to say to convince about the beauty of this Indian engagement celebration; the colors speak for themselves! At engagement parties like this, the groom-to-be, with his family and close friends, meet for a celebration at his house while the bride is with her family and friends having their own celebration at the same time in her parent's home.

When I first arrived at the brides house, she was still getting ready in her bedroom and surrounded by seven of her closest girlfriends. Bangle bracelets, other shimmering jewelry pieces and a palette of eye shadow and lip color spread across her light oak dresser as she looked into the mirror straightening her hair. Other guests came into the house, removed their shoes and waited for her appearance in the basement where the floor was covered with an array of soft, velvet pillows to sit on. "I'm ready now," she said and that was my cue to set up at the end of the stairs and photograph her escorted 'decent' to begin a three hour festival just for her.

She came out of the room with a yellow veil draped on her head and all seven friends with small female cousins to hold a sheer orange banner of fabric high as a long canopy over them. Family members came back to the entry way snapping pictures and followed her into the basement. A loud cheer began upon her entrance to join her family sitting in the front of the room and there was so much excitement!

I quickly hopped through open spaces on the floor to get to the front. A prayer was said and each individual came with a kiss, a gift, and to feed the bride a piece of fruit and rub her chin before giving her a hug. This was a Muslim engagement party and people rotated through the long line or waited eating chicken, rice and other delicacies for the next two hours.

This was one of my most difficult events to photograph because the continuous flow of people and every greeting with the bride happened simultaneously to others greeting their family. "Do not miss a moment," the bride's mother said to me and made sure that she saw my flash light the room with every single piece of fruit offered. It was important to keep fresh batteries in my flash so that it could cycle quickly enough. I recruited a young family member to assist me by running through the crowd to my equipment so that I never had to leave my post. After the long line procession, there was a family portrait and the men went upstairs while the women started singing and dancing and my services were no longer needed. The excitement was very fun to be apart of and it was great to see "a village" rally around this young couple.

Chicago Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-25T11:12:00.001-06:00

Chicago Thanksgiving 2011

In light of the Thanksgiving holiday, I'd like to pause and reflect on celebrating the season's change! I pray that your friends and family were nearby yesterday and if not, that you were able to take in rest, peace and an appreciation of this life happening around us right now!

To see more photos of Chicago, click here.

Destination 2: Go GREEK or Go Home!

2011-11-12T18:25:00.000-06:00

Hello Blog Readers,
It is wonderful to be back after a slight absence to typing thoughts and exciting photos from the cultural happenings of wedding photography! There are so many new "destinations" to show and I can't wait to start "traveling" with you again!

To come back with a BANG- there is no better place to begin with than visiting a Greek wedding! With so much music, dancing and tradition, you will easily find more to say than just "Opa!" Even though I have yet to attend a reception that serves flaming cheese, take a look at the photos below and you will see that the energy lasts until dawn!

A bride is welcomed into the family with a chair dance.

Weddings are great for bringing family together--and many Greek families are BIG families with many members in attendance.

Blessing and prayer before dinner. This was done by the bride's brother and he gave a 30 minute speech about the families' history and how the she grew up to be a beautiful bride. Both the bride and groom came to the front to take communion together with their parents.

Time to party!

See examples of this type of family Kaslamantiano dancing here.

Elbows up in the traditional style, EVERYONE is dancing!

You get the idea-

Go "Greek" or Go Home Baby!

If you would like to see more wedding photos from Chelfoto Photography, click here.

If you would like more information about Greek wedding traditions, click here.

Les Culture Destination 1: Irish- Walking Down an Emrald Isle

2011-08-30T07:18:00.001-05:00

For anyone wishing they had the luck of the Irish on their wedding day, I couldn't agree more!

Of the many cultures in Chicago, the Irish are inescapable! Whether you know this from the long reign of the Irish American Mayors Daley, the South Side Irish parade, or dying the river green every March, there is a large population of Irish-decended inhabitants. After reading through the Encyclopedia of Chicago, it is interesting to find that it emerged as the fourth largest Irish city in America by 1860.

The Chicago "ChIrish" are here to stay and they are a 'loud and proud' bunch! Going to an Irish wedding is definitely a must. While shooting this wedding in the photo on the left, the D.J. and Reception Coordinator where actually afraid that the floor was going to break through from all the dancing! One of the glass light fixtures as seen above actually fell from the ceiling because of the shaking! I was in my very own Irish bouncy-castle and the experience was very surreal!

It was also fun meeting cousins and relatives visiting from Dublin. Their accents are fantastic! There are fantastic hats and family style galore, and many women in the crowd are wearing sparkling green jewelry to show their family pride.

Even meeting an adorable grandmas named "Poppy" was a hoot because she had some of the best stories!I would love to take pictures at a British wedding and see which is the louder crowd!

I love being a photographer at weddings because it is such a whirlwind! Check back for a photo tour of the next culture destination!

I'd love to tell your family story! If you would like me to come and photograph your special day, click here to view my wedding portfolio! There is always lots going on at http://www.chelfoto.com/ so check back for more events and happenings!

Weddings: Les Tours de Culture

2011-08-17T12:31:00.003-05:00

Okay, okay, we all knew this day would eventually come right? I have now taken pictures at over 20 weddings and I'm going to spend the next few posts talking about weddings, but not just weddings, their culture and that's my trump for keeping this blog topic about travel! :) To talk about weddings without focusing on the wedding itself and more about my interacting with every "Dearly beloved" day as a whirlwind of cultural documentation.

Think about it, when else do you get to meet total strangers, find out how they met/fell in love, meet their entire family and extended relatives, share a meal with them, hear their favorite dance music, know their religious background, and meet each one of their best friends- all in ONE day?!!

These occations included Greek, Italian, Irish, Indian, and Polish cultures. I am excited to reflect on their cultures with you- it has been quite a ride!

"Staple It Together!"

2011-08-05T09:59:00.001-05:00

While sitting at my desk editing photos, I got a little bogged down with all the technical requests for changes, like ya know- just reconstructing a fake ceiling, making someone skinny, younger, and other minor details ;). Ironically enough, the next thing I'm hearing from my shuffle set on iTunes is "Staple It Together" by Jack Johnson. This song was precicely perfect listening to while editing with photoshop and I just couldn't resist playing a game of "Now ya see it, now ya don't" with you to see if you notice the reconstructs and other changes!

At the end of the day, it was decided that photoshop is the cheapest lipo-suction procedure you can get and that approximately 92% of photos on display have a lots 'imperfections' removed before you see them. Truely that's the 'beauty of marketing' and this post is just a reminder to not take every photo you look at at face value, but with an extra grain of salt. And while we appreciate the concepts images contribute to and their ability to add impact, we also have to remember that nothing is as genuine or breathtaking as keeping it real and being yourself in-person instead of some 'now ya see it, now ya don't image'!

Before After

A Little Photo Accessorizing Goes a Long Way

2011-07-21T10:10:00.006-05:00

Lets try to count how many images we see in one day. One...two...three...seemingly impossible right? I could not find any statistics that include images + ads but lets just say it is a LOT! And since we are in such a visual culture, it is important to create pictures that will stand out from the massive assortment of brands, posters, billboards, online journals, newspapers, magazines, the stack of photos your aunt found from behind her cabinet, and many others. Keeping it visual means keeping it interesting.

When on an assignment or just for fun, lately I've been trying to accessorize my photos with something that gives them an extra "Pop!" to make them different. When selecting shots, I'm asking, "What makes this item unique?" and I try to emphasize this aspect with lighting and adjusting angles. The point is to draw the viewer's eye first to the subject and then to the little extra "sumth'in sumthin".

Making images interesting in a good way to keep the attention of those looking at your work. It's easier to accessorize them than to be like this guy >Link: http://bit.ly/qUmBXQ. Keep it real without the headache! :)

For More Photos and Information, check out the gallery at www.ChelFoto.com.

Summer is Alive!

2011-07-06T23:44:00.000-05:00

Summer is here!
Whether you live in the Midwest or anywhere else in the world, everyone loves being outside, together with loved ones and just having some good 'ol fashioned time to kick your heels up! Here are a few glimpses from the past few weeks that to me are signature moments of summer. Enjoy!

Pause & Reflect: What's Your Cause & Effect?

2011-06-14T12:00:00.000-05:00

Have you ever tried taking on something new and exciting, but the experience felt like building a plane while flying it? As if you were going on all cylinders and couldn't slow any of them down in fear of losing momentum? That my friends, is the point when you are in the danger zone of being completely and utterly distracted from what you originally set out to do.

We advance, grow and learn from our mistakes. We create, discover and try new things. There is nothing wrong with multiple pursuits, but the key is keeping them separate enough that they do not compete against each other and maintained in a way that is benfecial. Don't let your curiosity hinder the pursuit of your goal. Take time to pause and reflect, what is your work's cause & effect?

Stay in your lane and stand with confidence that you are not giving up your position. This is a delicate dance that I've watched multiple mentors successfully navigate. Both distractons and opportunities can occur at anytime. With bells and whistles or through simple suggestion. Think about whether or not the adjusted position is something you will still be comfortable with five years from now.

This is a crucial new addition to my business plan, actually factoring in time to contemplate which method will be truest to the origial purpose and ways that each moving part can run efficiently. What is motivating you towards a certain project and what possibilities can be anticipated in the response t it? As a photographer, I want to capture weddings, but more than that I want to capture art, culture, and create a photo that takes you somewhere.

"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."
George Barnard Shaw

>>To view this photo and other original Scenics click here<<

Keep It On the Sunny Side

2011-05-16T16:03:00.003-05:00

You might be asking, "With a blog title like that, why would you post pictures from a rainy day?" To which my reply is, "Look closer my friend, taking good photos means focusing on bright spots no matter the weather!"

This wedding was fun even though it was a cold, wet, damp, dim, pants-soaked-up-to-your-knees kind of Chicago Saturday (ironically enough, it is sunny and 86 as I write this- the weather always keeps us guessing in the mid-west!).

Moving on, my point is that we should just be realistic in saying that the weather, shooting conditions, and equipment will not always be the most ideal, but just roll with it! There is still beauty that can be found right infront of the lens and it is up to you to bring out the bright spots for your client or audience.

These 'sunny spots' are what make the composition colorful, interactive and interesting. Something that says, "so what if it was crummy weather, we still had a beautiful time and these pictures portray a valuable memory."

On this day, it was cold, wet, and my lenses kept fogging up, but thankfully the event was still captured and this couple still has some fun little moments to hang on their walls and keep in their photo albums.

To see more photos online click here>>> http://chelfoto.smugmug.com/

The Haiti Report: We DID IT!

2011-04-21T17:25:00.000-05:00

We raised $2,135.00 at the

Chicago Photography Benefit for Haiti!!

*Contact me at Rachel@ChelFoto.Com if you still want to donate or view pictures online!

I recieved this email from the organization this week:

"The money that you have raised could not have come at a better time. The orphanage that you served at is going through a really tough time. They have a $7,000 rent payment that is past due and if they don't pay it within the next 10 days, they will be forced to leave. They were able to obtain $4,000 so far, but are still short $3,000. PPM is hoping to help cover the rest of the cost so this is what your donation will go towards."

Thank YOU for stepping up for this cause!

The Story is NOW: Time to Join In

2011-04-07T11:14:00.000-05:00

In my last post, I wrote about photography as a great medium for capturing a moment, emotion, or portraying a concept. When is the last time you allowed yourself to stop, look and feel taken into the scene of a photo? There's a difference between looking at something versus looking into something. The latter requires going beneath the surface, and caring enough to figure out what it means to us.

To REGISTER> Click HERE

To MAKE A DONATION> Click HERE

THIS Saturday, April 9th we have an opportunity to go beneath the surface and care for a school and an orphanage in Haiti that are "running on fumes" financially. Both organizations are making a big impact in Port-Au-Prince while the government is still paralyzed. Their monthly operating budget expenses are only $4,600 but they receive under $1,700 in income. By donating to this cause, you will be helping at least 600 children affected by the earthquake last year*.

For only $12 there will be pictures, food for sale, and lots of stories from Haiti to see and hear. Funds raised will go to Service de Prochains Haitiens (Haitian Neighbors Service) orphanage and Maranatha School in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. To register or make a donation, visit http://www.HaitiAsISeeIt.com .

Location:
1355 N. Milwaukee Ave. #3
Chicago, IL
(Above Quality Home)

Saturday, April 9th
6:30-9:30 pm
$12

* All funds are directed through a non-profit account!

The Story Is NOW: This is Our Moment

2011-03-11T11:06:00.000-06:00

An aspect that I love about photography is it's role as one of the great mediums for storytelling. In just a single photo or a series, the taker's goal is always to capture a moment, emotion, or portrayal of a concept. These three items are all building blocks of good story telling, but since we have a story of what's happening currently in Haiti, let's dig in a little more to an actual plot example shall we?

CAPTURE A MOMENT: Time is happening all around us, but what makes it meaningful is how we spend it. Last summer while volunteering in Haiti, I saw firsthand that the Haitian government's corruption stalled any effort to rebuild and help it's people. And now as I spend time at my house in Chicago, the people in Port-au-Prince have spent over a year (far too long) in tents with little shelter. In my photos, I display their stand-still to nudge onlookers towards an urgency to help whenever possible.

This is our moment to do just that. To help. If you are in Chicago on Saturday April 9th, come to a Photography Benefit for Haiti. For only $12 there will be pictures, food for sale, and lots of stories from Haiti to see and hear. Funds raised will go to Service de Prochains Haitiens (Haitian Neighbors Service) orphanage and Maranatha School in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. To register or make a donation, visit http://www.haitiasiseeit.com/.

Get a Background Check!

2011-01-14T10:59:00.000-06:00

Since when did taking pictures require you to get a background check? Lately, one thing I'm reminding myself to do more and more is to make sure that the background interacts with or tells the same story as the subject. The background brings out an identity of who or what you are looking at. Identities are relatable, therefore the closer this connection is, the stronger your photo.

We understand that it is best NOT to take a family vacation photo infront of a trash dump, or that the guy behind your posed professional is NOT picking his nose! Unless you meant it that way for some kind of wierd artistic irony, the photograph's emotional value will depreciate!

In the first photo (left), this man was looking for new pictures to put on his Chicago-based urban ministry website. After several backgrounds for his urban style headshots and poses, we felt this is an accurate fit to his vision and has received lots of positive feedback on his Facebook page- I think because people can recognize it as his personal identity and say "Oh yeah, that's our guy!".

The dipping bride and groom on the right are center stage with a crowd of spectators gazing at their every turn. It celebrates an event identity in this couple's beautiful process of coming together.

Moral of the story, avoid photographic 'sitations' and may your background checks always come out 'clean'!

Light: Returning Challenges

2010-10-26T17:48:00.000-05:00

So here I am, looking through the lens every-other weekend at weddings, running in between trollys, venues and equipment bags for something the bride forgot that would add the perfect touch, and last but not least, learning lessons about lighting...again (see previous post: "Light: Fashion, Friend, or Faux"). Many photographers have assured me that this is a life-long journey and even they took a long time to get the right balance for aperture and shutter speed settings to produce the clearest shots possible in addition to staying true to color and ambiance. This is no small task once you see the difference I assure you. Ignacio, the lead I worked with last weekend said some of the best advice that I've heard in while in saying, "just keep shooting". (click here to see additional pictures!)

Even though I still feel like young, wide-eyed observer in adjusting my pace to that of wedding photography (similar to this little guy above), it feels good to know that my pictures are improving and I'm starting to see positive results in my submissions. I'll just keep chipping away at the field of freelance and it is GREAT and much more rewarding than I could've imagined! So for all of you out there who can relate, just keep shooting!

Up-to-Date And Running!

2010-09-17T18:51:00.000-05:00

As fall kicks off, I feel like I've been running since July 25th photography-wise. What a whirlwind of updates! Just after my last post, I traveled to Haiti for 7 days as a volunteer. Our team had a wonderful trip, but it was hard seeing the current situation in Port-au-Prince and lack of progress since last January's earthquake. It was my goal to photo essay the people during their abrupt transition as their country was known as the poorest in the Western Hemisphere before this tragic event took place, and unfortunately there is still a lot of work and transition to be done. I will be hosting a gallery-fundraiser event in Chicago displaying some of the 900 photos taken to help a school and orphanage we worked with while in Port-au-Prince. The date is still TBD so stay tuned! One of my pictures from the trip was already accepted at iStockPhoto.com and you can click here to view the fallen Presidential Palace near the epicenter of the earthquake as a sneak peak before the gallery opening!

In other news, I've been 2nd shooting for some weddings lately and it is highly likely that some of them will start popping-up on the blog. Don't worry, the goal of exploration and bringing the uncommon into familiar light will always be number one in my picture taking, and these shoots are opening some great new spots and people to photograph. Tomorrow, there is a 5-location shoot in the city-should be interesting. Wish me luck!

Portraiture

2010-07-21T11:02:00.001-05:00

Oh sweet off-camera flashes, how I love thee!
Let me explain so that you too can celebrate the brightness of this photograph. The element was taken in a dark basement with absolutely no lights somewhere far, far away in Nebraska (where the sun don't shine! ;) Well, at least the part about the lighting is true! In my photography I am a big fan of creating contrast and the 430 flash is my new best friend! This image was an introduction to testing limits in no-light situations and after using the flash and I'm happy to say that it was a pleasant surprise!

Here is a new face portrait for you to 'meet'. In challenging myself to take more shots of people, specifically their beautiful mug-shots, I'm finding a new interest in capturing the photo while in the process of talking to the person. As a life-long student of communication, the great thing for me is that it is a "both and" activity combining two wonderful ways to pass the time- creating photos and interaction. My hope is that this concept is translated to the viewer with hospitality as both the subject and photographer are much less stilted and more inviting.

Light: For Fashion, A Friend or Faux

2010-06-23T22:54:00.002-05:00

When taking pictures, lighting is the constant tease. The angles, the challenge, the drama- oh, the drama! After attending a fashion show last weekend, I found it to be one of the hardest lighting tests yet. My lack of ring flash was not making it any easier! It didn't seem to matter that the models were standing basically still and became especially difficult to shoot throughout their subtle movements from spotlight, to slight turn, to dark back drop, to fading out of view from the runway.

I much prefer catching light when it is more 'photogenic'. This second picture was taken to essay changes in the color-enhanced scenery still soaked from a torrential downpour that had already relocated. The light still existent just before dusk worked into the frame as an extra silhouette. To me, this added feature takes on a larger role in the picture. Like a new character written into a sitcom, the scene's dynamic completely changes.

Business As Usual

2010-06-03T13:58:00.000-05:00

In a quaint section of town, this particular slice of Friday afternoon in New York was stagnant and still confined within the acceptable list of social graces to conduct business from the park before ending the work day. Spectators perched on heavy wrought iron chairs and while leaning from cafe tables, peered over a book or chess game to see what latest fan fare was strolling by. One older woman sat with her face almost as poised as the auburn colored cotton-candy perm atop her head and stared into the sidewalk. When the gentleman infront of her finished his phone call, simultaneously to the second he'd gotten up to leave, another woman bee-lined towards him to take his seat.

I'm on a new self assignment to photograph more people. Hopefully, many shots will be "blog worthy" enough for you to meet their faces. Typically, this is not a subject that I enjoy photographing and so begins the challenge.