Madonna and Child

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 36mm, f/8, 1/320s, ISO 640, Nik Color Efex 4.

One Little, Two Little, Three Little...

This is one image from an ice skating competition I recently photographed with Gary Bird. A division of labor, you could call it. Gary photographs the skaters during their performance, and I make fine portraits while they're all done up in their outfits. It's really fun to see these kids perform after working so hard--and it really is hard! High school athletes practice for some time before their competitions each season. These kids--little kids!--practice at least four times a week year round! It really takes huge dedication from both parents and skaters, and i'm glad I can be there to help record their efforts.

Plus, they're stinkin' cute.

Nikon D800, 70-200mm F/2.8 VRII lens @ 200mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 100.

New Brother

This is Turbo. He's having trouble saying his C's, but it's cute 'cause he's two. The littler one is C., and she's 6...days old. Turbo is still adjusting to the situation, I think. In another picture he was supposed to give her a kiss, and he put his mouth right close to her head and then looked like he was about to bite into it like an apple...

He'll adjust.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @100mm, f/8, 1/160s, ISO 800, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Harbinger

If you look through this blog, you won't see newborn babies in pea pods dangling from a snagly branch over the raging surf during a beautiful sunset. It's not that I don't think that wouldn't be a beautiful (if insanely dangerous) picture...it's just not my style.

My style is usually mom and dad with their little kiddo, brother and sister with the new sibling--these pictures I love, and I can interact with and make a more real picture. There's only so much emotion I can elicit from a crocheted owl touque.

But I do enjoy making pictures with meaningful objects, stuff from the family, stuff that might be with the kid for a while. Grandma's blanket, dad's christening clothes, mom's teddy bear, the blanket auntie made. These things have more meaning, and help tie an image to the past, to the family. I dig that.

And this little guy sure dug it, too, when we swaddled him in dad's high school football jersey. Something about all that old sweat and grass stains must be comforting.

Nikon D800, 70-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 98mm, f/5.6, 1/160s, ISO 640, Nik Color Efex Pro 4.

Headless Chickens

Ever feel like one of those? It's been the busiest summer of my life. I returned the other day from a wonderful conference in Chicago where i got to teach alongside one of the greatest photographers in the world, I just photographed the birth of a brand new baby girl (all natural for mom--wow!), and I finally moved past my stigma of winning third place in the Logan Summerfest Plein Aire Photography Competition.

I initiated the competition three years ago, and for the last two years I've earned third place. Heck, I picked the judges and couldn't win! Well, this year, I didn't pick the judges, and not only did I not get third, but I did get First and Second places. I was floored and honored. 

And someone just reminded me that didn't even post those images here! So, first and second respectively. 

Father and Son

Yep, it's another Cat Stevens quote. But what could be more apt? 

Having K. and little R. in the studio was such a pleasure. We played and played and played. I've just sorted through the images, and I've still got over 100 unique expressions from this kid! Man, that was fun.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 90mm, f/9, 1/200s, ISO 200, Nik Color Efex 4.

I love Seniors!

Take these two sisters, for instance. Somehow, being a senior in high school is a license to look great in pictures. See, most of us usually feel like we are going to look silly in a picture--that's really the great fear, that we won't look good. 

But whenever I get together with people we always lighten up and make pictures that not only look good, but we also have a good time making them! With S. and K. my cheeks were sore from smiling and laughing so much. 

Finally!

Last fall O. and S. joined my class as models for an evening. We made some great pictures for them, and were eagerly awaiting their wedding to do it again. Well, yesterday I finally got to make some formals for them in their wedding garb. Always a pleasure to make pictures fro such wonderful people.

This is just a quick sneak peek...

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @105mm, f/5.6, 1/400s, ISO 400, Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

Brontosaurus

Did you know there's a dinosaur in the Chicago O'Hare airport? Yeah. I know.

Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @230mm, f/7.1, 1/40s, ISO 1600.