Happy Birthday Grandma Maggie!

Chris missed a phone call during church service this morning.  He called his sister back as we sat in his mom's office, where we were discussing our plans for the afternoon.  As he hung up the phone I asked what was going on, and he told us that the plans had changed.  Grandma Maggie was snowed in at the farm and wasn't going to be able to make it to Steve and Linda's for lunch.  And not just for lunch...for her SURPRISE 70th birthday party.  A flurry of phone calls ensued as Plan B (well, there really was no Plan B, but they made one up real fast) was put into place.  Steve told Maggie he would drive out her way and help dig her out.  Then we were all to show up around the same time, bringing the party to her.  Everyone re-worked their schedules and timing to fit the new plan.  Then the phone rang again.

"Grandma Maggie just looked outside and said the roads look clear enough for her to drive out to Steve's, so the original plan is back on.  But, she might get there earlier than planned, so try to show up earlier," Stacey told Chris.  We relayed the message to Mom as we waited for Dad to show up.  So we settled our plans, ran our errands, and each of us arrived at Steve and Linda's well ahead of Maggie, making sure to park around the corner so she wouldn't see any of our cars.

When Maggie walked in, her surprised face was greeted with streamers and a cacophany of voices shouting, "Happy Birthday!!!"  Her eyes lit up with a smile that stretched from ear to ear, and we could tell we had succeeded with our secret plans.  As we feasted on pork roast glazed with mango chutney and a complement of curried vegetables and rice pilaf, buzzes of converstaion filled the air.  Whenever we gather, moments are never silent and laughs are rarely few and far between.

Our combined gift to Maggie was a working day at the farm this Spring, where we would all gather to help her clean and organize the garage, weed her gardens and rebuild the beds, and do whatever other tasks she could think of that she needed help with.

Happy 70th Birthday to a loving, sweet, kind and classy lady...we love you Maggie!

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Exposed

Expose (v.):  To subject (a photographic film, for example) to the action of light.
This is what I do - as a photographer - I subject the digital camera sensor to light in order to create beautiful photos.

Exposed (adj.):  not concealed; displayed for viewing.
This is what I am...today.  And therefore I have a confession to make....

Though I started my blog just over two months ago, I had the security settings set to "private."  My blog was invite only.  I know...how do you gain exposure for your work if you won't let anyone see it?!  The need for "lock down" mode is because of my full time job.  They don't exactly appreciate their employees moonlighting.  They take it kind of personally.  And so I'm taking a risk by making this public.  But, without risk there is no reward, right?

I decided to make my blog public because I'm attending a workshop next month (which I'm SO excited for!!) and all of the attendees were given each other's websites so we could check out each other's work and get to know each other a little better before the big day.  So I realized it was time to come out of concealment, and expose myself for the world (okay, for now just the workshop peeps) to know!  Kind of like how this little guy came out of hiding for me to take his picture (he said he needed new headshots)....

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Happy New Year!

This is that time of year when everyone makes resolutions.  Resolutions to get in better shape, eat healthier, accomplish a particular goal....  But, I don't make resolutions.  I never have.  I've always thought that if I can't be motivated enough to attain something at any other time of the year, then what makes January 1st so special? 

For me, January 1st marks a time to reflect on the previous year (often in disbelief as I realize how fast another year has slipped away) and look forward to the upcoming year.  And, I have to say that 2009 was pretty great.  Great new friendships, great new challenges, and great new opportunities.  And as I look forward to 2010, I'm so excited for the possibilities it holds, the dreams to be discovered, and the beautiful moments that are waiting to be captured so they can be reflected on in the many new years to come. 

I hope the new year brings you new joys, new hope, and new blessings.  I know that I am looking forward with anticipation to what will unfold!

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Merry Christmas!

A couple days late and a dollar (well, now several dollars) short, but I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  I hope your time with family and friends was a blessed one.  We had a blizzard roll through about a week ago, which left us with the first white Christmas we've had in a long time.  It was beautiful!

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Photo Christmas Cards

Can I just tell you how much I luurrrve photo Christmas cards?!  One of the best ideas ever, and such a great way to personalize your greetings to friends and family.  We just received our cards in the mail from Tiny Prints, and I love, love, love them.  I obsessively kept an eye on the tracking number and knew they would be delivered by the time I got home from work today (I was *that* excited), and it was the first box I opened after I set all of my stuff down.  Every year I spend at least 2 hours scouring myriads of photo card websites, looking for that perfect design.  Many times I have come close to just designing my own.  (The perks of being a graphic designer!)  ;)  But, Tiny Prints came through for me this year, and the cards are beautiful.  The photo was taken by John during our family photo shoot.

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Guidance Counselor for a day

"You seem to be struggling in your business classes, but you're getting excellent grades in your art classes and public speaking." I sat in my guidance counselor's office at the end of my 2nd year of college, reviewing my transcripts. Macroeconomics. Microeconomics. Statistics. Latin. Photography. Public Speaking.... My counselor studied my grades, making mental notes, mulling them over, chewing on them, and finally spitting them out. He asked about my aspirations and I replied that I wanted to be a business major, of some sort. I didn't even really know what that meant, but I heard it made a lot of money and would be a successful career path. Oh, and my parents wanted me to do it. That, or become a doctor or a lawyer. But I could hear the doubt in my counselor's voice.

In all honesty, I wanted to be an artist. I loved art. I was in the National Art Honor Society in high school - Vice President of the club, even. But how do I make a career out of art? It was not deemed a profitable path. At least not usually until your dead - ask Van Gogh or Vermeer. Except I wasn't Van Gogh - I was the shopkeeper that sold him his paint and linseed oil. But my counselor sat in his chair and convinced me that if art was what I loved, then I would find a way to make a career out of it and be successful. I was sold. I had a new major. I was happy. My happy bubble only popped after I left his office and realized I had to break the news to my parents. But, I did it. I majored in Studio Art with a concentration in Photography and Digital Media. I've been working as a successful graphic designer for the past 9 years, and I owe it first and foremost to that one person who believed in me and believed I could do anything I wanted, as long as I had the drive and determination.

The roles were reversed 2 days ago when I was invited to be a "guidance counselor" to several students at a local alternative high school. The school was hosting a Career Information Fair for these "second-chance" kids. It was an opportunity for the students to gain knowledge about different career paths. I saw it as an opportunity to convince them that they could do anything they set their minds to, and to shape their beliefs that no goal is unattainable with hard work. One of the students totally got it when he said, "So you're saying that if it doesn't happen the first time, then try, try, try, and try again?" YES! I don't know if what I talked about convinced any students to pursue their passion or changed any minds that morning, but if I gave even one person hope for their future, then my time spent was well worth it. Pin It

How to Photograph Everyone

Last night I attended a seminar given by the incredibly talented Clay Blackmore.  Walking in early and hearing "Funkytown" streaming from his iTunes playlist, I could tell it was going to be an upbeat and fun evening.  Backdrops were set up in the back two corners of the room, and spotlights, flashes and reflectors on stands dotted the floor all around them.  As I waited for the class to begin, I took in his beautiful photos lining one of the walls of windows.  Wedding photos, portraits, a camera ad with Anna Kournikova...everything just breathtaking.  I felt so out of my league (well, because I was) but was so excited for what I would learn.

I sat in the front row, not wanting to miss a beat, and scribbled my notes furiously as he spoke with speed and passion.  How to photograph everyone...how to pose them and light them, then lift and refine them.  After a series of slides and explanations on how some of his photos were taken and post processed, he then had live model shoots to further drive home his techniques and methods.  Clay often shot in Live View with a feed to the projector screen so the class could see and understand what he was seeing and composing.  Basic pose.  Feminine pose.  High shoulder.  Spider lights.  Asking his assistants to move lights and flashes here and there.  All about making people look their best and using the right lighting to accomplish it.  Butterflies flitted in my stomach as he called on me as an example.  He said I have a round face (immediately making me regret the McDonald's value meal I had grabbed on my way to the seminar) and that I probably don't like photos where I'm facing the camera.  I most definitely nodded and agreed with his assessment.  He said I probably really like profile photos of myself...again, dead on (the chubby cheeks magically disappear, woohoo!).  Certain face shapes just photograph better at certain angles, and the faster you pick up on that, the faster you know how to pose that person. 

We had a short break (really, I could have gone all the way through and way into the wee hours of the morning, I was that mesmerized), and then after the break a couple of slideshows and some more live model shoots.  He wrapped up and ended the class, but asked the models to stay a little longer so he could snap a few more photos for their portfolios.  I asked if he minded if I stayed and watched him work.  "Not at all," he responded, and I was thankful for any extra time to learn more.  I looked on as Clay gave direction and the models struck their poses, each beautiful girl loving the camera and the camera loving them back.  After the last girl had finished, Clay turned to me and asked if I wanted a couple of photos.  My brain shouted "Ohmygosh areyoukiddingme? No way!" out of nervousness, but my lips formed the words, "Sure, why not!" out of the excitement of having my picture taken by such a talented photographer.  So I stood against the backdrop, lights pointing towards me, knowing I did not have the grace and form of the figures that stood there before me.  Feeling a bit awkward and a little dissheveled in appearance after a late night, I turned and moved as Clay directed and snapped a couple of shots.  And even though the camera may not have loved me, I still loved the camera......the back side of it, that is!

Here is the Explorer of Light working his magic!

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