Assabet National Wildlife Refuge

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To get a kick start to the weekend I have to talk about one of my favorite local hikes, Assabet National Wildlife Refuge.  It is about a 12 minute drive from where I live.

I stopped by Wednesday night.  It was not crowded partly due to the rainy overcast skies.  Needless to say the bugs were also out in force.  Fortunately I was very well covered from head to toe.

I was looking for beaver activity.  I had seen one swimming around a few days earlier.  No beavers to be found this time but I was determined to not give up.  I was going to capture something that spoke to me.

As I looked around I noticed lots of green algae.  It was pretty cool with swirls and patterns.  I have been experimenting with slow shutter speeds and painting with light.  And danced with my camera as I captured some images.  They were nice.  But I thought I can do better.  The past week I went to a photography talk by Seth Risnick.  He talked about how he waited for moments.  How he was patient.  As I stood there I listened.  I heard the sound of birds, but then something else piqued my interest.  The sound of flowing water.  I looked around and noticed where there was water flowing into the wetlands.  I started shooting but then thought about how Seth could change the look and feel of the colors of a photo by playing with white balance.  I decided to give it a try.  I changed the setting to incandescent light and it was a whole new world.

I continued to photograph for a while and was very happy with the results that you can see below.

In the end I took a day when most people would have stayed inside and stepped outside and made it something special.  Next time you think to yourself as you are about to give up there is nothing creative going on, wait.  There may be something right around the corner.

 

 

Advice.

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The best peace of advice I can give to anyone wanting to be a photographer is to reach out.

I graduated from Hallmark Institute of Photography about 4 years ago.  After graduating I had a couple of offers right away and was in 7th heaven.  I was out shooting photographs for a medium size school photography company.  I would go to the school and poise the students and shoot.

I was living the good life.  But with the exception of some friends I meet in school I felt alone.  I felt like I did not measure up to anyone else.  I was not making new contacts in the photography world just keeping the ones I had.  Not wanting anyone to know that I wanted to be taking great photos like all my friends were taking.  Jealousy can get the best of us.

That all began to slowly change.  I had the chance after I graduated to hear Justin and Mary speak.  They seemed different.  They were real and let everyone know how hard it is but also the rewards.  They were not full of themselves.  I began to think this is cool.  I want more of this.  We meet up for lunch.  I attended a workshop and began to become friends.  Through that first workshop I became friends with Spring Smith and Steph Krete.   Two more wonderful giving people.

I began to realize I am not in this alone.  Photography can be cutthroat don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t have to be.  We were never meant to travel any road alone.  To give is something I learned early in life and I had been missing that.  I have been learning to reach out.  That I am not the only one who sees all the pretty images and success that everyone is having and wish that was me.  But realizing this diminishes the power that jealousy, fear, and failure have over us.

So no matter where you are or what you do.  Remember to reach out.  Find others who will love and support you.  Who will share there life with you so that you in return can share your life with others.

Headshots and Hallmark.

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After some prodding from a photography friend of mine I went to Hallmark earlier this week and had some new headshots done.  There I meet up with Devkumar Gupta.  A current student who did an amazing job, as you can see below.  It reminded me of my days at Hallmark.

At Hallmark I had the privilege to learn so much about the world of photography.  It was wonderful.  Every day getting to learn with some of the students who became colleagues and good friends. The days were long but the rewards were great.  Seeing that finished image.  Knowing that we were learning from some of the best in the industry.

Since then it has not been the easiest rode.  But it has been worthwhile.  It has been a slower road than I might have wanted but with help from so many friends in the industry it is happening.  I have my first wedding of the year next Saturday and I am anxiously awaiting that day.  I am just so excited.  I wish it was sooner.

To tide you over till those wedding photos come up and lots of other goodness on it’s way check out the new headshots by Devkumar Gupta.

 

Fun with Bridesmaids.

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Nervous.

I admit I was a little nervous.  I was doing a Bride and Bridesmaids shoot in Portsmouth, NH.  I had not done a shoot like this before.  After talking to a few photography friends I began to see the possibilities.  I changed my attitude of what can I do to I have so many fun possibilities.

I contacted Sarah and we agreed to meet at the Whale at Prescott Park on a Thursday night.  The weather was picture perfect.  Could not have ordered up better weather.  Warm but not hot.

What followed was an hour and a half of the most fun I have had behind a camera.  We went from location to location along the waterfront.  They were so easy to work with and were briming with personality.  Having Portsmouth as a back drop also helped.  It is town that says classic New England coastal community. 

In a few weeks I will be working the ladies again at the marriage of Sarah and Martin.  I cannot wait to be able to see Sarah and here bridesmaids again and create more memories in Portsmouth.

 

 

A Community of Photographers

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Community.

It is so important in all aspects of life.  It is of vital importance in Business.  I am fortunate to have such a strong network of fellow photographers who give of themselves and look to support others.  One of the best is Deborah Zoe.

A number of weeks ago I saw a post on one of the forums I follow as a photographer.  Deborah was getting a number of us together for a Styled Photo Shoot.  She invited anyone who was interested.  I thought what a great idea and decided to join in on the fun.  She organized the event but it took so many of us to pull it off.  We had to find brides and grooms, make up artists, bridal gowns, a location, and lots of other details to pull it off.  I was so excited and counted the days off like a kid waiting for Christmas.

I showed up early, as I really like to do.  I helped as much as I could to get everything ready.  The location was the Horticultural Center at Elm Park in Wellesley, MA.  There were about 25 of us who shot non stop for about two and a half hours.


This all came about because of community.  A community that supports each other, that believes in each other and a community that gets things done.

I want to thank each and one of my photographer friends who helped out and created community that day.

 

Easter Weekend.

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I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend.  Mine was amazing and I am going to tell you all about it.

It really starts on Thursday night.I went to my wonderful men’s pizza and Bible study.  We study the days leading up to Christ’s death.  I had not really thought about it and studying with these guys gave me a new understanding of the scripture.

Moving on to Friday.  I went and hung out with Eli Chastek.  It had been so long since we had spent time together.  We meet up and went to have ice cream!!    I wont mention the establishment but I was sorely disappointed in the quality of the Frappe/Milk Shake.

After ice cream we hiked up Mt. Holyoke.  Been there many times but never hiked up it.  Easier than I had anticipated. We made it up in about 45 minutes.

After our hike we had dinner at Thai Garden in Northampton.  It was so fulfilling.  I had the Melon Curry with Chicken.  I had not had this particular curry before. Very light, sweet and spicy.  After dinner we walked through downtown Northamton which is a great city for people watching.  We heard some great street music.  Love the musicians in that town.  Was hoping to run into my good friend Kit but no such luck.

Crashed at Eli’s for the night.

The next day meetup with Daniel and his bride to be at Friendly’s.  Discussed life and wedding details.  Great being able to meet Beth Ann.  Praying for the best for them for there wedding.

After that I spent time with the Collins.  But I had a special treat being able to meet up with Marcus’s parents as well.  They came over a few weeks ago and renewed there wedding vows on there trip to Las Vegas.  Loved seeing them all.  They made a wonderful dinner after which me and Marcus played Euchre.  He beat me as usual but I gave him a run for his money.

Went to church Easter Sunday.  After which I went to the Crook’s.  Now let me tell you if there is anyone who ever knows how to cook a meal it is Lee Ann Crook.  There were 27 of us!  She is truly the hostest with the mostest.  She knows not only how to cook a great meal.  She also puts much time and energy into the details of every part of the meal.  Carson also made the cutest and best cupcakes you have ever seen.  Ok so you see them below but as good as they look they tasted even better.

After the meal we went for a walk.  When we got back to the house where all the young ones were looking for easter eggs in the back yard.

Friends and Faith.  That is what it all boiled down to in the end.  I am so grateful to everyone who spent time with me over the weekend.  Though I live thousands of miles away from my family in Texas  I am so grateful to all my adopted family up in the northeast.

Hope you had a wonderful Easter as well.  Love to hear about it.  Leave some love in the comments section.

Ice Cream and New England.

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I love this time of the year.

I have to admit though there are really few times of the year that I don’t enjoy in New England.  My love for New England falls deeper than any season.

This is the time when all the Mom and Pop Ice Cream Stores open up.  The places where you can go and get a kiddie cone the size of your head.  There are a few that stay open year around.  Very few.  I went to one of the best of them yesterday Trombetta’s in Marlbourgh.  I had the chocolate almond, one of my fav’s since I was a kid.  I got the small size because well it was more than enough, as you can see below.

So enjoy your day and grab some ice cream.

Dreams and Dave.

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We all have dreams.

Big Dreams.  The kind that keep you up at night.  The kind that you have to tell everyone about.  The kind that fear tries to crush you down with.

I wrestle with my dreams.  As I have mentioned here I play it safe but am changing.  Fears does nothing but lead to despair or contentment.  Despair tears you down and contentment gets you nowhere.

As my friends Justin and Mary say “This is the time.  This moment right here.  This is when it all begins to change.”  Change is good.  It means that you are moving, breathing experiencing life.  Dreams always lead to change.  The question is where will your dreams lead.  Will they lead to joy and triumph or will they be crushed by your fear.

Dave knows change and new possibilities.  He knows what it is to live on both costs looking for change.  He knows the longer hours involved in studying.  He knows big change and it is coming soon.  I cannot tell you where this change is leading but I can tell you it is big.

To celebrate his change we did a formal session a few weeks ago and here is result.

 

 

Blue Like Jazz Encounter

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Yesterday I posted about going to see Blue Like Jazz.  Here is the story.

So I got there early.  Really early, I think I was the first one there about 4:45.  I wasn’t sure what was going to happen I did not have a ticket but I really wasn’t worried about it.

At about 5:00 I saw the Blue like Jazz bus drive up.  I was begining to get more excited.  Steve Taylor(the director and artist extraordinaire) walked out and I was pretty excited.  I thought, I’m cool, I don’t get excited and make a fool out of myself.  So I stood around for 10…, 15…, maybe even 20 minutes.  I then thought about my post earlier in the year about 20 seconds.  And how 20 seconds of insane courage can change the world.  I walked over thinking of this 20 seconds.  I introduced myself and chated with Steve shortly stating that I was hoping to secure a ticket  and he said he would make sure it happened.  Don Miller(amazing author and life upon which the movie is based) came up shortly after that and I was introduced to him as well.  They had to scurry into the theater for an interview while I decided to get a quick bite to eat at Friendly’s.

After eating I went and grabbed my camera and took a few shots of the meet and great with Steve and Don.  Both guys were animated and welcoming to everyone.  I loved the way that Steve Taylor kept giving out Twizzlers to everyone.  I never had the privilage to meet Ben Pearson(the Director of Photography)but he was there as well usually behind the camera.

The movie was great.  It had great production value.  It moved along at a nice pace without running to fast.  It was easy to follow.  The story was amazing though.  About half way through the movie I wasn’t sure and toward the end I wasn’t sure about how it was going to end.  The ending of a movie to me means tons.  Everything else can be great but a bad ending leaves it completely flat.  I really enjoyed the ending even though the ending itself isn’t necesarily cumulative to the story.  But I think that is the point.  Life isn’t always nice and neat.  The ending was real though, true to life.  It was full of forgiveness, regret, and true friendship.

The movie is not for everyone.  It does have real life issues I would recomend it to anyone 16 or older because it is so true to life.

As far as how the movie affected me personally.  I believe I am so much like Don’s character in the confession booth at the end.  I feel I often leave my Christian Faith on the shelf.  I don’t want to be associated because I want to be liked.  I put my social status above Jesus.  Since seeing the movie that is what I have been thinking about.  I don’t know that I will change.  Change is hard.  But I now know what I need to do.