Why can't I take decent photos of my grandchildren?

Saturday was my grandson, Anthony's 4th birthday and once again I am totally unhappy with the photos I took. I really suck at taking kids photos. Getting down on their level I only wind up with sticky lens and lots of shoots looking up their noses or at their tongues.

Chelsie's Shoot

It has been a while since I have been out shooting models. My heart just hasn't been in it. I have always shot with other photographers mainly because I just wasn't sure I could the deliver good photos to the models. I wanted to make sure they got something for their time. And I learned alot from the other photographers, but I also realized, I wasn't always completely happy with the shoots.

This weekend was the first time I set up a shoot with just me and the model. Chelsie is a cutie and was so easy to work with and the time just flowed. Alot of the worries I usually have at shoots just weren't there.

Another hurdle has been overcome.







Click to see more photos from the shoot.

Charlotte Neighborhoods

I belong to a group call ProjectCLT. Our goal is to visit a different neighborhood of Charlotte for each of 8 consecutive weeks and document that neighborhood photographically.

I have found it to be very interesting, not only does it force me to get out but it exposes me to places I wouldn't have known about. Each neighborhood has its own special flavor.

One of the really cool thing about posting your photos is you get to check each other photos. I am often suprised by what someone has seen on their walks around the neighborhood that I missed. Makes me pay more attention when I am out.

The following are my favorites from each week.

Week #8 (August 10th): South End






Week #7 (August 3rd): Myers Park


Week #6 (July 27th): Dilworth


Week #5 (July 20th): Elizabeth

Week #4 (July 13th): 4th Ward


Week #3 (July 6th): Eastover


Week #2 (June 29): Plaza Midwood


Week #1 (June 22): NoDa

How to shoot a rainbow

Charlotte has a wonderfull photography group called the STOTM group. Alot of the members are either full time photographers or semi professionals. They are so willing to share their expertise with the rest of us.

We had planned a shoot but the rains kept getting in the way. As we were trying to dodge the rain a rainbow appeared over the city. The photo below was taken without a polarizing filter and post processed to enhance the rainbow.

The rest of the group quickly pulled out their polarizing filter and started shooting away. It turned into a class on polarizing filters (which one more thing I need to add to my photo bag).

Polarizing Filter

The use of a Circular Polarizing filter is the key to taking great photographs of rainbows. If you turn the filter one way, it will make the rainbow completely disappear, while if you turn it 180 degrees, then the rainbow will be brilliantly saturated. Because rainbows are made of myriad tiny droplets of water that are reflecting light, you use the polarizing filter to modulate the intensity of the colors. Simply mount the filter to the front of your SLR lens and, as you rotate it, watch in the viewfinder as the color bands brighten and then fade. Shoot when you see the saturation you want.

You would also use the polarizing filter if you were taking shots of a reflection in water or in windows.

Happiness is only real when shared

Why do we stubbornly cling to an idea even when we are receiving messages that we need to change our course of action?

Trash the dress

The "trash the dress" shoot has been a hit on my flickr account. I have had more hits on it than other set. The next set doesn't even come close.

Fun Shoot

My creative juices have been at a stand still lately. I love photography but I have been a bit bummed with shooting models. Nothing I have done lately has really impressed me. I love the early morning but no one else does. LOL. I look at these kids whose main objective is "to be famous". They have been told their entire lives they are special, when in reality they are just like everyone else. They really don't have the look or the drive to stand out from the pack.

A girl from the office wanted to do a "trash the dress" shoot. My heart wasn't really into it but I agreed anyway. We did it at another photographer's home, in the back yard. We had so much fun with the shoot, it was what I needed so badly. We threw paint and mud on her, she rolled in the mud, then we turn the garden hose on her. It was so cool.