Denver wedding photographers, Colorado wedding photography

Archive: October 2008 - View all recent posts

Friday, October 31, 2008 - Personal

Happy Halloween!

Trick or treat!

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treasure this day forever

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Wednesday, October 29, 2008 - Photography

Black and White Fun

ately I've been moved by Jeff Ascough's incredible Black and White work (Jeff, you rock!). So as I came across this image today that I shot at my last wedding, I was inspired to play.

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For the photographers out there: I pretty much used the Totally Rad Actions exclusively on this. A bit of 'Punch Out', a bit of 'Boutwell's Magic Glasses', and then I actually used 'Detroit' for the Black and White Conversion (but I turned the toning way down). A bit of 'Go with the grain', a bit of curves, and then after resizing I used a bit of Kubota's 'Magic Sharp'. I highly recommend the Totally Rad Actions (and I like the second set even better than the first!)

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Thursday, October 23, 2008 - Treasure Box

Finding Joy

o lately I've been examining my own soul so to speak. No, I'm not depressed and this isn't meant to be a downer! This is more of just a journey I'm on at the moment. I'm trying to discover within myself (or somewhere out there) an extra dose of passion. I'm looking for something to excite me right now.

Now pretty much anytime that I pick up a camera and start pressing the shutter button, or anytime I pick up my guitar and strum that first chord - I can feel those 'juices' starting to flow. But do you remember 'Tidal Wave' bubble gum? I guess I'm just desiring something along those lines right now. You know, bite down, then - Explosion!

I've been inspired by some friends recently along these lines. First, my good friend and fellow photographer Kevin Von Qualen, who just today is letting the world in on his new venture - Super 8 wedding videography. It's along the same lines as wedding photography - but with a twist. It's apparent that this is exciting to him and is opening up his heart to experience creativity and art and the wedding business in a whole new way.

Check out his work:

Aspen, Colorado - Super 8 Film from Kevin Von Qualen on Vimeo.

Also inspiring me is my friend Julie Harris. Apparently she's rented a closet of sorts in Paris and is living the creative monastic life there for 6 weeks. I'm blown away. Sounds like she needed some Tidal Wave bubble gum and she bit down hard. Good for her! I'm so proud of her - and jealous...

Another friend sent me the link to Chris Haston's work just the other day. Have you heard of this guy? He's a photographer who discovered a 3-foot statue of the Virgin Mary and ever since has been taking her with him everywhere he goes and photographing her. He's found some inspiration. A Tidal Wave blast of goodness.

And here I am - looking, waiting, knowing that it will come. I don't expect it to be in the form of an old camcorder from the '60's, and it certainly doesn't look like it's going to be an extended stay in Paris, and it's probably not going to come in the form of Virgin Mary either. But it will come. That much I know.

For now I'm finding that it's the simple things that draw me closer. As I sit typing this I hear noises outside my window and upon inspection I see that the HOA funded landscapers have just loaded up their truck bed with all of the orange and gold leaves that just earlier this morning were covering the grass outside my home. Fortunately, just a couple of days ago, we spontaneously found ourselves playing in them as a family. And yeah, Daddy grabbed his camera...

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beautifulhappygirl JaredWilsonPhotography

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I asked Philip to lay in the leaves and when he didn't want to - I made him. Yeah, and then I took pictures! I'm a rad dad!

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So we piled 'em up and I knew that he'd warm up to the idea.

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So - when it comes, whatever 'it' is - I'll be ready for it.
I'm patiently waiting...
and exploring...
and finding joy even now when 'it' turns out,
for the moment,
to be a big pile of leaves.

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Are you searching? Waiting?
Don't look past those simple things.
And when you find them - JUMP!

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - Portraits

Michelle and Marc - The Engagement

love engagement sessions! It gives me a chance to get to know people before the big day - and I really feel that the photos on the wedding day come out just a bit better because of that connection we've already established. I also love engagement sessions because it's just fun! No rush, no pressure, just a few people hanging out and having a good time getting some awesome photos to celebrate their love and their relationship.

That's why it was so exciting when Michelle and Marc contacted me about doing their engagement photos. You see, they're getting married in New York next year and they already have a photographer for their wedding. But they live in the Denver area, saw my work, and they knew that I was their guy to document their joy and their relationship as they anticipate their wedding next year.

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Sure enough - we had a blast! Michelle and Marc are so fun and kind. And they keep each other smiling.

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Marc specifically said at one point 'We need to get lots of 'fun' pictures - because that's how our friends think of us.' To which I replied, 'There's a swingset!'

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The colors here are just awesome right now - but I don't know how long it's going to last. I think these are the final days of trees with leaves - which makes me sad. Happily however, Michelle and Marc were able to take advantage of it!

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Taking engagement photos at Chautaqua park provides lots of possibilities - that's why it's one of my favorite spots.

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Also providing some photo possibilities was Marc - who brought a bat, a ball, and a glove. Marc likes sports. I like sports. But to put it simply: Marc likes sports > I like sports (or anyone else I know). I just love Michelle's staredown here over the glove. It reminds me of watching Papelbon the other night (and Price on Sunday)...

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We also went up Flagstaff for sunset. Gorgeous.

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Thanks Michelle and Marc for a wonderful evening of laughs and photos, joy and sunsets. Congrats on your engagement - we wish you all the best!

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treasure this day forever

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Thursday, October 16, 2008 - Personal

A New Do

oday's post is for Grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles everywhere. Ok, maybe just about 10 of them...

Our neighbor, Delphi, is from the Ivory Coast. Recently she offered to plait, or braid, Rose's hair. We waited for her swim lessons to finish before we did it so that she could keep it in for awhile. I think it's really cute. Don't know that I would want it frequently (and now, with winter around the corner it seems like weird timing) but it's a fun change. She seems to like it.

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They sat in these chairs for over 2 hours!

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This was taken right after it was finished. There seemed to be a bit of tension to it so it had this Octopus/Spider thing going on for a few days.

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And here's our Rose this morning.

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So pretty! ;)

treasure this day forever

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008 - Photography

Photographer Humor

ow about a little humor for the photographers out there? I wanted to give credit to whoever came up with this originally, but it looks like it's been around for a year or so and shown up in various places. Anyway, a spin off those wonderful Chuck Norris facts about a photographer, Ken Rockwell.

* Ken Rockwell is the Chuck Norris of photography

* Ken Rockwell's camera has similar settings to ours, except his are: P[erfect] Av[Awesome Priority Tv[Totally Awesome Priority] M[ajestic]

* Ken Rockwell doesn't color correct. He adjusts your world to match his.

* Sure, Ken Rockwell deletes a bad photo or two. Other people call these Pulitzers.

* Ken Rockwell doesn't adjust his DOF, he changes space-time.

* Ken Rockwell doesn't wait for the light when he shoots a landscape - the light waits for him.

* Ken Rockwell never flips his camera in portrait position, he flips the earth

* Ken Rockwell ordered an L-lens from Nikon, and got one.

* Ken Rockwell doesn't use flash ever since the Nagasaki incident.

* Only Ken Rockwell can take pictures of Ken Rockwell; everyone else would just get their film overexposed by the light of his genius

* Ken Rockwell is the only one who can take self-portraits of you

* Ken Rockwell's nudes were fully clothed at the time of exposure

* Ken Rockwell once designed a zoom lens. You know it as the Hubble SpaceTelescope.

* Rockwell portraits are so lifelike, they have to pay taxes

* On Ken Rockwell's desktop, the Trash Icon is really a link to National Geographic Magazine

* Ken Rockwell spells point-and-shoot "h-a-s-s-e-l-b-l-a-d"

* For every 10 shots that Ken Rockwell takes, 11 are keepers.

* Ken Rockwell's digital files consist of 0's, 1's AND 2's.

* Ken Rockwell isn't the Chuck Norris of photography; Chuck Norris is the Ken Rockwell of martial arts.

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Tuesday, October 14, 2008 - Portraits

Coleman Family Portraits in Thornton

t's fall - and that means that it's time for family portraits with the Coleman family! I love this family and it's so cool that they've used me for their annual/holiday family portraits for three years running now.

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Their little guy was really little two years ago, but now look at him!

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He's the same age now as his sister was when we started. And look how she's grown!

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I love these photos of them by the tree.

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And they get along so well together. I love the big-sis-little-brother families - probably because we have one!

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It was fun spending some time with you all! Glad we got it in before all the cold hit!

NOTE: If you are a Colorado family and would like some holiday portraits this year - hurry! Mention you saw this post and I've got a holiday portrait session special for ya'!

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