Into Position

Into Position

Waiting for that snap, the players are all ready and in their positions. 

Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.  ~ David Frost

As Important As Playing

Halftime Chat

This is my son during a halftime "chat".  He is so used to having a camera pointed at him, he doesn't even pay any attention to it anymore.  Sometimes, he does not like it.  But, at least I hope, he enjoys having photos to look back on and enjoy those memories.

Luckily, I was using a good zoom lens, so I wasn't standing as close as it appears in the photo.  Those lenses come in handy when you are wanting to be a part of the action without actually being a part of the action.  I love my zoom.  And hopefully you have enjoyed seeing the photos I have taken with that zoom.

Live as if you were to die tomorrow.  Learn as if you were to live forever.  ~ Mahatma Gandhi

It's Okay

Man Down

Tonight is going to be super short.  Basically just the photo.  Who knew that having so few things scheduled for summer leads to very busy days?  Next year a fully scheduled calender for me.

Don't worry, the man down was able to get up and walk off on his own.  It was a sight to see all the boys taking a knee until he was able to get up. 

Halftime

Halftime

Taken during halftime.  It was a pretty bright, middle of the afternoon, day.  Not the best situation for lighting.  That time of day always creates harsh shadows.  Not to mention tires the photographer out pretty quickly.  But, that time of day can also create dramatic lighting.  I knew when I took this photo - I was shooting somewhat into the sun - that I would be able to get some pretty dramatic lighting after I got it loaded into my computer and had a chance to play a little bit.  I have always loved photos with a little more contrast.

Don't waste your time hating failure.  Failure is a greater teacher than success.  ~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Look Closer, It's Not What You May Think It to Be

Good Play

Sometimes, and dare I say most times, things are not always as they seem.  I feel pretty confident in saying that all of us have had an experience or two with that.  You know, where you think you know something and find out later on it is not at all what you thought.  And usually, it is a simple misunderstanding.  And hopefully in your experiences it is just that, a misunderstanding, and not something that blows up into a major event.

Well, photography has the same problem.  And this photo, it cracks me up, is a prime example of that.  At first glance, it may look as though the one purple player is holding onto his teammate.  But, if you look a little closer, you will see there is an orange jersey and white pants hiding behind the one purple player, and that is who the player in the purple socks (aren't they the coolest things ever?) is holding onto.  And yes, that is my son in the coolest-ever purple socks, doing his job of protecting the quarterback in his first ever tackle football game.  I loved watching the boys play - even in crazy 100 degree days.  And I learned a lot from this experience, which I will share with you during these photos.  Bear in mind, each of these quotes are being chosen specifically for these sets of photos.

Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness.  ~ Chuang-Tzu

The Start

The Start

It's always too early to quit.  ~ Norman Vincent Peale

The beginning of some football pictures.  I know that some of you have been wondering how much longer you were going to have to wait for these ones.  My son, after talking to me about it for a year, played on his first ever tackle football league.  It was a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun.  The boys played hard and learned tons about playing tackle - which is very different than playing on a flag team.  It was an interesting experience for them and for the coaches and the parents.  But, then again, isn't everything an interesting experience?

Glorious

What A View

I do love clouds, even ones that don't look like anything in particular.  A good set of white fluffy clouds being highlighted by the sun is absolutely breathtaking.  So much so, I sat in my car at a stop sign taking this photograph early one morning.  And, would you believe me if I told you that the only camera I had was on my cell phone.  I'm still not sure how that happened, to be out and about and camera free, but I think my phone did just fine.

The earth has received the embrace of the sun and we shall see the results of that love.  ~ Sitting Bull

Flip

Flip

If you love life, don't waste time, for time is what life is made up of.  ~ Bruce Lee

Protect the Queen

Protect the Queen

Another view of the battle from last night.  Again, shot in macro mode.  This time I played a little in Photoshop adding a soft glow to the scene.

Is not amusement the very soul of life?  ~ Frances Milton Trollope

Definitely on the Mend, Thanks For Thinking of Me

Boat Battle

First of all, thank you everyone for your well wishes.  I am very much on the mend.  Although most foods are still not appealing to me, I will tough it out and eat.  If I have to.  As a matter of fact, I had some ice cream this evening.  It was torture, but I made it through somehow. 

But seriously, I am feeling much, much better.  And I thank you all for your concern.

Tonight's picture is from a school project for my son.  He had to create a commercial for a product.  They had the choice of video taping it or doing it live in class.  The two boys decided videoing was a better option.  After completing all the hard stuff, we worked on the "fun" things that make a commercial, like background music and credits.  We had a mini photo shoot for some still images to be displayed for the intro and credits.  This is one of the photos from the project.

It's always so dramatic to put items against a white background.  Don't you think?  That background is nothing more than several sheets of 12x12 white card stock spaced out enough to cover the base and the background.  We actually shot this on the kitchen counter.  And, if memory serves, it was done with my point and shoot camera on the macro setting.  I mean why "over think" something if you don't have to?  There are many tools that can get you great results.  The key is getting comfortable with the ones you have so that you can use them to their full potential.

Learn all you can from the mistakes of others.  You won't have time to make them all yourself.  ~ Alfred Sheinwold

I Made It

Untitled

Hi there!  I'm back - after a few days of well, let's just say an interesting weekend.  First of all, I apologize for missing you on Thursday evening.  Some work was being done on my computer and I just couldn't keep my eyes open any longer waiting for it to finish.  And then, well, let me just say that I hope everyone out there had a much better weekend than I did.  I will sum it up in just two words - Food Poisoning.  I'm here to tell you that it's no fun at all.  On the bright side I think I may have dropped about five pounds.

And now it's Monday evening and all is - almost - good, so I am back to share the photo that I had all planned out for last Thursday.  After I was unable to post it on Thursday, I almost skipped it all together.  Somehow, this one really sums up my tumultuous weekend.

I do love clouds, and love them being photographed.  I spent a very long drive across country with one of my brothers passing the many, many miles finding images in the clouds.  It was a fun time for both of us and one that we both remember very fondly.

Life is a series of surprises.  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just Rolling Along

Rolling In

Now how on earth could I resist photographing such amazing clouds!  Really, we don't see clouds like this here very often, and when they come, you better take advantage and photograph.  Especially before the rain comes along.  I mean, look at that super dark cloud top right.  Yikes!

Nature does nothing in vain.  ~ Aristotle

It Comes to An End

S5

The last photo that I will be sharing from what was a very fun portrait session.  (Thanks again Sara for a great day!)

I had a hard time picking out the ones that I wanted to share with you all.  As I hope you can see, there were several very, very good pics to choose from.  It's funny, but I very rarely choose the same pics as my favorites as do the people that I am shooting.  Whenever I do a session, when scheduling our time to meet up and exchange the finished pictures, I am always asked how they turned out.  It's kind of a tricky question.  The ones that I like are usually so very different. 

I did however receive her graduation announcement and was so happy to see that one of my favorites was used.  It is a very good picture of her and one that shows her fun personality.

Follow your dream.  Transform your life.  ~ Unknown

Allright, I Played A Little Here



S4

I was so glad when Sara said it would be alright if I played a little with her photos.  I always give copies of all photos taken - except for the obvious closed eyes and blurred or such - in both color and black and white.  That way they have the option of both varieties.  Sara's photos were so fun, I really wanted to spend a little bit of extra time working on them a bit.  I had a feeling they would look really good a little "blown out".  Meaning, deliberately overexposing them just a tad.  And this photo is definitely one that benefited from that.  I love the original as well, it's very good.  I think it's fun to see how you can play with the images a little to create a different mood. 

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Again, I Love This Lighting

S3

The thing that really got me excited about these columns is the lovely halo effect created around Sara's hair.  It created such soft lighting for her face.  I just love the way this looks.  And yes, it does really help to have such a beautiful subject to light up.

Life is short, and it's up to you to make it sweet.  ~ Sadie Delany

Lovely Light Creates Lovely Lines

S2

Another Sara photo.  Isn't she adorable?  And probably just a little embarrassed at the moment, knowing her.

One of the things I have learned about photography over the years, you just never know what you are going to get.  This is the second time I have shot at this location.  I'm very pleased with it so far.  And really, I've only explored one small section.  There are more areas I would love to play around in.  I have wanted to shoot with these columns both times I have been here.  And, at first, it just didn't look quite right.  On this particular day, we went to the columns and then moved to other areas for a bit before heading back over.  And I am so glad that we waited just those few minutes.  I love the lighting on this shot.  It was something very magical when I looked through the lens.  I love the lines that all that streaming sunlight created.  So fun.

In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test.  In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.  ~ Tom Bodett