Mild Winter

It's been moderate, not that cold overall. Last year I was walking to work in my vibram 5 finger shoes and freezing my piggies off. This year, I could wear shorts most days and survive. The low snow pack has the ski bums, ya know, bummed, and the warmth is already flooding a bit on the river bottoms. Still, it's extended the season for making pictures outdoors.

And that's been fun. Sometimes, kids just react better when you go outside. In the Studio, they may get the feeling that it's my space, but outside is a free for all. They don't mind bossing me about when we're out of doors, and I don't mind moving accordingly.

So we headed out to make pictures with this wonderful family. We went to one of my favorite places I've never been before: the USU campus. I love working there because we can always find good light and we can always find something new.

I love this one. For these we played around the Geology Building. I studied Geology in college, and there's something homey for me there, I guess.

These guys were a blast to work with. They came down from Alaska to visit, and were really enjoying the warmer weather and mild winter this year.

Yep, no complaints from me about the mild winter. Bring it on!

Coming and Going

N. found me on Google. That never happens to me. Almost all of my clients are friends of my other clients. I'm not complaining, mind you, I'm just surprised and pleased. Very pleased, actually. N. is one of the funnest people to work with, and her family follows suit. Not only where they all looking great for pictures, but they were naturals in front of my lens. I gave directions and chatted with them and made pictures. 

See, many folks stop talking and freeze a smile on their face when I lift the camera to my eye. Or, even better, they talk through their teeth without moving their face. I also love it when people are quiet in the studio--like a library!--as if talking ruins the pictures. I'm not picking on people who do these things: I sincerely appreciate their efforts to make the best pictures of themselves. And we always end up with terrific images...once I convince them it's okay to keep on talking with me as I shoot.

Anyway, 'Coming and Going'. Little A. is only a week old--just came. Big T. on the end is heading to Europe to be a missionary. Going. I'd be happy if they came a little more often, actually.

Nikon D7000, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @82mm, f/10, 1/200s, ISO 200.

Beware

See, these boys are dangerous. 

Nikon D3s, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 122mm, f/9, 1/200s, ISO 1000, SB-600 through umbrella

Every time I see them they are building something or crafting a new method for launching arrows or other projectiles. They are becoming increasingly accurate and powerful. Plus, the oldest brother, E., is a thinker; you can hear the gears of his mind turning from across the neighborhood. Then he's got the next boy, B., to refine thoughts and act as sounding board and executer. K. is dangerous just because he's fearless--he can literally do anything. Watch for him break dancing--he'll be famous and you can claim to have known him when. And don't let that little guy's innocent look fool you: he'll be joining the brothers in mischief in no time--just as soon as he can sit up on his own...

They think they have mom and dad fooled, too, but S. and S. are in the know, managing the boys and directing the mayhem in a controlled manner. They know what they're doing.

Nikon D3s, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 300mm, f/9, 1/125s, ISO 640, SB-600 through umbrella

We had fun making pictures together. I see the boys finding ingenius ways to haul one another around the 'hood on a single bicycle. I'm glad that we made these pictures before they kill themselves.

Nikon D3s, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 150mm, f/9, 1/125, ISO 1000, SB-600 through umbrella.

A Cathedral Wedding

I'm glad that A. and J. decided to risk it. The weather has been rainy all week and the temperature dropped last night, too. However, the sprinkling stopped almost as soon as the bride started down the aisle, and it didn't rain a drop the rest of the afternoon. In fact, we were blessed with character-rich clouds and fabulous, even light across the sky. The grandest barrel-vaulted cathedrals in Europe can't match the hills and sky of Avon.

I was pleased to assist Chavonne Demler for this wedding. She has style and is a wiz at this stuff. I sure had fun working with her and the families, making beautiful images that they will treasure for a lifetime or two. We both shoot with the same camera, so we were switching gear all around and sharing lenses, and talking tech (always good to sound like you know what you're doing!), using remote strobes, and just generally using light to create. 

Plus, the reception food was incredible.

Nikon D90, 12-24mm lens @24mm, f/8.0, 1/100s, ISO 800, SB-600 camera right (bare headed on a monopod from high).

Lunacy

We've seen this race before here. The Ragnar Relay is happening again in Utah next week, and all sorts of pain seekers are signed up to participate. These girls are so excited to go punish themselves, that they wanted a photo-shoot to commemorate the event. Perhaps I should be honored: these pictures will be displayed at their funerals next week after killing themselves running from Logan to Park City. R.I.P.

Nikon D90, 12-24mm lens @ 24mm, f/10, 1/125s, ISO 200, SB-800 through umbrella.

Just the Boys

This was obviously fun to make. There we were, doing regular family portraits before the reception began, when A. says, "I really want one in your hat," and there are the brothers standing around, so this was the result. A.'s good at getting a stance and seems very comfortable in front of the camera. I was thinking that he looked a little mobbish in the hat, and he had two henchmen handy. I thought that a rim light would show his profile well, and by removing all the surrounding light we get a feeling like maybe we don't want to mess with these guys--which is impossible to feel around these fellows in person; the nicest crew you could imagine. Still, if you're short on funds, maybe they can help you out...just don't be late on payments.

Nikon D90, 50mm lens, f/11, 1/80s, ISO 400, one SB-800 and one SB-600 at +2 EV, fired through a white umbrella about five feet away. The light is far enough away that the intensity of the light is maintained across the first two guys, even though they are not the same distance form the light. It really starts to fall off by the time it reaches A., however.

Yep, this one's almost perfect.

Dumpster Funk

You walk out the door in Atlanta and there's always something going on. Heard the siren call of this band a few blocks away. It was almost as much fun making their portraits as it was listening to them.

This isn't their official name, but the dumpster near the bar's patio and dank Atlanta evenings explain it all.