Pacific City

I hate to do it to the locals, but the world must know: Pacific City, Oregon is incredible. The beach is simply a wonderful place with incredible surf (point break characteristics?), and the most splendid tide pools on the planet, plus luscious dunes and caves and enormous rocks. 

I spent an afternoon there last week, and I can't wait to go back. I got to go make pictures for a wonderful family from Idaho, and everywhere I turned there was a great image waiting.

Highly recommended and totally worth whatever drive it takes to get you there.

Nikon D800, 105mm f/2.8 Macro VR lens, f/4, 1/1600s, ISO 100. Pacific City, Oregon's beach is stunning, and Lake Oswego is just a two hour drive away.

Damsels Wanted! Have Hero, Will Travel

I gotta admit, this song has been running through my mind while I've been finishing this image; it's good to be finished...so I can get a different song in there. Making pictures with these kids was so much fun, and then drawing my monster in was a whole other fun thing to do. I can't wait to do it some more!

Tryon Creek State Park in Southwest Portland/Lake Oswego is a wonderful place to make pictures.

Mother's Day II

Nikon D7000, 28-300 f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 68mm, f/9, 1/200s, ISO 100.

Reminder: Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day this weekend, guys. Yeah, it's sneaks up on you. Here's a little something a couple of guys could give their lady love for the holiday.

Nikon D800, 105mm f/2.8 Micro VR lens, f/20, 1/160s, ISO 100.

Twinkle Toes

This is A., and she was a riot to make pictures with. She's one of those kids who you can tell is really smart...and you kinda feel like she's pulling one over on you. She's got expressions and quirky ideas. 

And of course, she dances. I love when kids dance. Invariably they will smile a lot, and they will definitely spin around and get dizzy then fall over in a heap of laughs. I usually do these things with them. Mom's think I do it to make kids smile; little do they know I do it to make me smile!

Nikon D800, 105mm f/2.8 VR lens, 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.

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.

Bad Day, Good Pictures

Sometimes things just don't work out the way we hope. Sometimes there's traffic that makes you late, or frost on the windshield that takes too long to scrape off, or extra work that takes longer than expected. Or little boys with the flu on the day of their photo shoot. Things happen. Fortunately, it doesn't mean that the pictures will suffer because of it. Mom loves this image, and I think it's nice, too...

Zoom

I got caught up looking at some images I made last year when I visited Tokyo. Scenes like this make me miss Asia.

Nikon D700, 70-300mm @ 300mm, f/4.5-5.6 VR lens, f/11, 1/320s, ISO 800.

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.

Trust

Few people have had as large an influence in my life as my Grandfather. Everything from my wife-infuriating-Scotch-thriftiness to my meticulousness in coiling extension cords to my knowledge of tree pruning and bee keeping can be traced to my Grandfather. 

I hope you know your grandfather, and I hope you have as good a relationship as J and P. These two are best buddies, and it showed during our whole photo experience. In fact, when the ladies in the family came over to choose their favorite images, they left J and P on the porch with knives whittling sticks. It's good to be buddies with an older generation.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 150mm, f/3.5, 1/500s, ISO 3200.

Remembering Summer

Don't hate me, but i really think it's going to be an early Autumn. Which is fine with me--I love Autumn; I just hope it's as long as last year's.

So, as K. and her family were getting ready to move to the East Coast this week she called and asked me to memorialize their summe here. See, E. spent her days playing at the park and throwing rocks in the creek, and K. wanted to remember that. Well, my brain started churning, and for  a week I had an image in my mind that would exemplify that feeling.

This was it for me, and it is exactly what K. wanted.

Nikon D700,  70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 98mm, f/2.8, 1/1000s, ISO 500.

The days are cooler, and the grass is green, but the leaves may start turning shortly. Give me a call and we'll reserve your spot for Fall Family pictures. Talk to you soon. 435-535-1501

Feeling Down

T. was having a hard day. First of all, she had a rough time with mosquitos a few days before our shoot, so that wasn't fun for her. Then in the morning she just had a difficult time getting out of bed and moving. We've all been there, so that's totally understandable. Even after being awake for awhile she was still clingy and a bit groggy.

Nevertheless, she's a generally happy child, so even being under the weather couldn't keep her down for long. With the help of the dolls and big sister we did eventually get her telling stories and ended up having a good time. 

Oh, and we made pictures while doing it.

Finally!

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR ens @ 65mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200, Paul C. Buff PLM.

First of all, let me just say that this guy, despite this image, is seriously adorable. I like this picture very much, though, and so did N and J, because it shows an expression that is uniquely him. All babies look cute in a basket, and they all look very similar. Only little Q. looks like this in a basket!

Shooting with N and J was really  pleasure all it's own. Their love for both each other and Q was right on the surface, and for me has truly shown through in these images. They are some of my favorite images I have ever made. I hope you like them, too.

Nikon d700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens @ 90mm, f/11, 1/200s, ISO 800, Paul C. Buff PLM.

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR ens @ 135mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200, Paul C. Buff PLM. 

Nikon D700, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 VR ens @ 135mm, f/8, 1/200s, ISO 200, Paul C. Buff PLM.

Eighty...Eight

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 200mm, f/2.8, 1/400s, ISO 800.

J. has joined the ranks of Octogenarians. His birthday was yesterday, and Jenn and I were fortunate enough to be invited to make pictures for him and his family.

This is S. She is younger than J., the second youngest of J.'s great-grandchildren. What a wonderful thing grandchildren must be, and doubly so great-grandchildren. The contrasts within a single family are truly incredible to see and observe. Ages, preferences, wrinkles, eye colors. What doesn't change is the life in the eyes.

Nikon D700, 70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 160mm, f/2.8, 1/160s, ISO 800.

'Tis the Season

It's that time of year when every child you know is playing soccer or tee-ball or little league. THis is just a reminder to keep you batteries charged in your camera, and remember to download your pictures to your computer and format you memory cards EVERY TIME YOU GO OUT! Memory cards are the least safe place to store your pictures. 

See you at the Game.

Nikon D700, 300mm f/4 lens, f/4, 1/2000s, ISO 320.

"Carpe..." (Family Photography)

The pictures speak, ya know? Reminds me of that scene in Dead Poet's Society when Mr Keating is showing the boys pictures of previous students and reminding them that each of those pictures was a person, living his own life, thinking his own thoughts.

Sometimes as I ride my scooter around town I get to thinking that everybody on the street is living his life, everybody in a car is living her life, even the mailman is living his own life! Maybe you've already realized this, but there are millions of lives happening every second right here--in America! It's pretty stunning.

And every second a part of every person's life just went by. In photographs, I get to help capture that moment, record it a little bit like it was, and my record can potentially last forever. That means the moments  that I see in my lens maintain a small part of a story of a life. A tiny, itsy-bitsy portion of a life. And it's not that important.

Right now.

But how about in ten years, or fifty years when this mother's grandchildren look back at this image? Maybe the girl notices that she has her grandmother's red hair (I know, I know: it's black and white, but you still know she has red hair!) or the boy sees that his little brother looks just like his uncle. At some point this image may share the moment and it may make a connection to the past that shapes the future! Maybe the kid will see his potential and make some kind of decision to do choose to do something worthwhile in his life, to seize opportunity and make a life! Well, I'd like to think so, anyway.

Still, maybe he'll hear it whispering: Carpe...

Nikon D700,  70-200mm f/2.8 VR lens @ 98mm, f/5.0, 1/125s, ISO 500.

Crossing the Bar

T. is a big brother, and quite a character. He's fun, and kind, and I really enjoyed working with him. He reminded me of this poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and I think he's living right along with what Tennyson had in mind:

  Sunset and evening star,
      And one clear call for me!
  And may there be no moaning of the bar,
      When I put out to sea.

  But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
      Too full for sound and foam,
  When that which drew from out the boundless deep
      Turns again home!

  Twilight and evening bell,
      And after that the dark!
  And may there be no sadness of farewell,
      When I embark;

  For though from out our bourn of Time and Place
      The flood may bear me far,
  I hope to see my Pilot face to face
      When I have crost the bar.

This is E.; he's trying to keep up, and I think will make it with a little help from T.

Here are a few more form this fun filled shoot. Spring is such a nice time to be out making pictures. I hope you'll give me a call so we can schedule a time for your kiddos...

Maybe we had a little too much fun...