Preppy

I had to edit five more shots from Sal's set because that's what I promised him. He picked this one. It's growing on me. It's rather clean and simple. It's funny, my studio mate hates that green wall. I quite like it, but I think it's time to paint it another color.

FYI: I learned to tie a bow-tie for this. My skills just keep growing.

Fur

I just love this image. It's not my style at all, but I can't stop looking at it. First, it's has very soft highlights. Second, it's sepia. Third, it has no punch upon first glance, but the punch is there, it's just subtle. And nobody has ever accused me of being soft or subtle.

Sal actually picked to shoot in that fur. I bought it 5 years ago and spent what I consider big money on it ($26 at a thrift store). I've shot it many times, but have never gotten a good picture out of it. Mainly because it has 1980s style shoulder pads that make everybody look like a huge Yeti in the thing. But not Sal, he really knew what to do with it.

It's shot with two lights, one high up to his right with a medium size softbox, and a fill light almost directly to his left - same medium size softbox. If I were to reshoot it, I would probably increase the light to his left a bit (that would reduce some of the noise, which I don't really mind in this particular image).

Sadly, we did four different sets, and I don't want to edit any of them because this picture says it all for me. None of the others will compare to this one. This one feels like art.

Through the Shower Doors

Tonight I took some portraits through old shower doors. I got them free off of Craig's List. The only horrible part is carrying them up a flight of stairs to the studio. (Next time I'm getting a studio on the ground floor.) Actually, I tried to give them back to the CL community, but nobody wanted them, which worked out since I got to use them again. I really like these portraits. I like the colors. Morgan picked the wig and dress which happened to match my painted wall. I picked the doors to shoot through.

This one looks like my style of portrait—good eye contact, simple and direct:

This one looks less like my style, a little off-center, a little more sexy, perhaps hectic:

I can't decide which one I like better.

A Good Day for a Photo Shoot with a Friend

Today, I worked with a model who first shot stock with me 3 years ago (she was 10 then). I adore her. She stuck her face in sugar for me, how could I not love her? She's a free spirit with such a beautiful heart and you can't help but see it in her shots.

She needed pageant shots. I traded her pageant shots for my weird portrait. I think we both got a good deal. Actually her parents bought me dinner, so really, I got the better end of deal.

What makes this day so good is that it reminds me that doing this is more about the friends that you make than the pictures you take. I have made some really good friends over the years, most of them gorgeous on the inside and out.

EDIT: I added the pageant portrait for those who think I don't know how to do "normal" beauty shots. I know how, I just don't find them fun.

Car Wash

I was early for my niece's confirmation on Sunday so I decided to go through the car wash. Then I got bored and pulled out my point and shoot. Then I think I upset the lady behind me because I was taking pictures instead of pulling forward.

Some people say to always carry a camera to catch important events. I always carry mine to catch the mundane events.

Today's Rooster

I've been thinking of Key West a bit lately. I took this one rooster picture there that I wanted to play around with when I got home. I've been home for a year, I guess it was about time that I got to it.

Arlington National Cemetery

Today, while the rain was at bay, I walked around Arlington National Cemetery, one of my favorite walking places. I also downloaded some new textures. There's nothing I love more than playing with textures in my photographs. 

Here's my tribute to our fallen heros and their families who keep them alive in their memories. 

Those hero stones were there when I walked around in November. I wonder if they stay around that long or if somebody comes back to replace them.