Tuesday, December 30, 2008 - Weddings & Clients
2008 in review: The Moments (Part 2)
A
nd here's part 2 of the 2008 moments in review.
If I had to pick my favorite image that I've ever captured (aside from those of my family) I think that on most days I would choose this one from Angela and Drake's rehearsal.
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Nisha and Akshay's wedding was my first Indian wedding. I was blown away by the wardrobes, details, and traditions.
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Marissa and Jeff - Just Married.
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I mentioned my favorite photo - this one might be my favorite moment. From Krystal and Brad's wedding - read more about it here.
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From Stacey and Eric's wedding - time for the rings...
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Did I say 'rings'? Kerri and Zane's wedding...
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6 months after Julie and Brett's wedding this one cracks me up.
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I had Kelly and Mike climbing these tight twisted stairs for some of their portraits and sometime in those moments I captured this shot.
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Kaitlin and Jeff during the toasts.
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Shauna and Aaron during the Hora.
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At Erin and Colin's wedding, Erin danced with her father...
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And this one is special - because it is my brother, Jonathan, and my new sister-in-law Angie.
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And rounding out these moments in review is Bree and Tom's son. Sometime during the ceremony they had communion - and I believe they were using real wine...
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treasure this day forever
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Monday, December 29, 2008 - Weddings & Clients
2008 in review: The Moments (Part 1)
L
ooking back over all my 2008 weddings there were so many 'perfect' moments - frozen in time with the flip of a shutter. So many in fact, that I'm going to break it up into two smaller posts.
I love looking back and remembering all these joyous, beautiful, humorous moments that truly capture the 'feeling' of what it was like to be there on that day, in that space of time.
Here are a few of those that stand out to me for whatever reason - in no particular order...
First, a moment from Emily and Jason's wedding when Emily's father just finished walking his daughter down the aisle and greeted his new Son-in-law.
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Right before Jennifer and Brian's ceremony began - Brian and the boys were hangin' at the bar.
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In March I had the great pleasure to join Angela and Drake in El Careyes, Mexico. Shortly after their ceremony they were serenaded by a friend on the beach at sunset.
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At Laura and Frank's wedding, the flower girl got into the act.
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Jill and Josh were crowned champions... of something...
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No, this isn't some kind of funky mirror trick. How about a double wedding of two sisters? Annabelle and Mosh and Kristine and Brandon. What a unique day!
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At Elise and AJ's wedding I caught this image of Elise's father laughing during the toasts. This one makes me so happy.
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Ok, technically this isn't one moment - but three. Melissa and Greg dancing it up.
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And here are Meagan and Stephen dancing as well. Don't you just wonder what he said to her?
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Joel hugging his daughter Becky just before giving her away to Mike.
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Jessica and Jeremy's first dance.
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At Natalie and Chris's wedding, Natalie showed the flower girl a move or two.
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Right after the ceremony Sheila and Aaron were congratulated by their family and friends.
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And rounding up this bunch - here's another random moment from Sheila and Aaron's wedding. I believe this family was from Australia and I guess they do things differently there. :)
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More moments tomorrow!
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Wednesday, December 24, 2008 - Personal
Christmas Eve
D
ear Philip,
It is so exciting watching your anticipation grow for Christmas Day tomorrow. I can’t wait to see you open your Bumblebee Transformer. I know that you will take one glance and then, in about 1.5 seconds, you will realize what you are looking at and then you will turn and shout and let us know what Santa has put under the tree for you. I can’t wait for that moment.
I’m also looking forward to the giant box of Legos to be unwrapped. They were mine when I was little, and I’m sure a few belonged to your Uncle Ton as well, and Nana and Papu kept them all these years. Now, they will be yours! We’re going to build wonderful things together, I just know it. Cars, robots, rockets – and then we’ll crash them into each other until they fall to pieces and we have to build them again. It’s going to be so fun and I’m sure that your Daddy is going to feel like a child again with these little building blocks in his hands 20-something years after he last touched them.
You’re at a wonderful age where you are anticipating everything without really wanting anything and I think that’s a wonderful place to be.
Dear Rose,
You’ve got quite a list – and it’s such a blessing, as parents, to be able to give you almost everything you wish for. Yes, we are blessed – and we are looking forward to sharing this blessing with you tomorrow. I know you really want those Sketcher shoes like your friend at school. And tomorrow when you unwrap them it will be so fun to see your little grin spread across your face. But I’m really looking forward to the first day you go back to school and you put those fancy new sneakers on with pride.
Red ‘flowy’ dress? Check. Radio? Check. Pink Christmas tree? Yeah, we even got that too. Rose, your Mommy and I just want you to know how much we love you – and wow, how it delights us deep within to be able to provide for you the desires of your heart. How fortunate we are!
Dear Emily,
Your self-sacrifice is amazing – and humbling – to behold. You never want for anything and here I am seemingly always wanting everything. It’s a treasure to have you as my wife. To be able to enjoy you. To love you. And yes, to learn a few things from you.
You don’t want it, but I got you a gift. I know you’ll want to somehow ‘twist’ it to bless others – but I’m going to try my best not to let that happen. I want you to be blessed, to receive a gift – to have something be yours and not give it away to someone else. You deserve it. You really do. And I love you so much – I want you to know that.
I imagine you’ll be upset that I broke the rules and got you something. But I’m the indulger and you’re the sacrificer – and I guess we knew this would happen, right? I hope that it will put a smile on your face, that you can receive it and be happy – be blessed. And that you will forgive me. :)
Dear Family,
I love you all more than I could ever express. Michael Scott says that a gift is a way you can show people you love them ‘this many dollars worth’. Well, all the money in the world wouldn’t be enough.
You three have my heart.
Dear Little One,
Somewhere, you’re out there – and it seems that in 2009 we’ll finally get to meet you and hold you in our arms. We can’t wait for that moment to happen. We look forward to giving you every blessing we can provide – whether it’s Bumblebees, Legos, Sketchers, or whatever else you are going to want. But most of all we look forward to sharing our hearts and our lives with you. We’ve always said that there’s more room in our hearts just for you and what a blessing it will be to have you enter that place so we can surround you with love.
Soon, Little One, soon…
treasure this day forever
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Wednesday, December 17, 2008 - Photography
Santa Came Early! (First 5D MKii Images)
I
'm no expert reviewer, but if you're a Canon Photography 'geek' like me then you're gathering all the info you can right now on the new 5D mkii and so I'll throw you a bone. :)
I preordered the camera about a week or two after it was announced and it just showed up today! I don't have anything 'real' to shoot for another couple weeks, but I just took a little walk around the block and snapped a few.
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I left the camera on it's 'Standard' setting which is described in the manual as 'The image looks vivid, sharp, and crisp. This is a general Picture Style suitable for most scenes'. Well, if you ask me, this Standard Picture Style provides some funky colors and so I'm sure I'll be adjusting the camera to my own personal style soon. If you want to see what I mean, here's one straight out of the camera...
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That's almost the perfect color for my home, but that sky has never looked that blue. Here's another example straight out of the camera...
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This isn't a complaint by any means - just saying that I now realize after looking at these first images that straight out of the box isn't going to do it for me and so I need to get in there and tweak it. The camera I've used for the last couple years is the 1D mkii N. I'm pretty sure I have everything in that camera set to Neutral/Flat all the way across the board and I process it myself later on my computer.
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The 'finish' of the camera is just like my 1D mkii N and not like my 20d (which I believe has the same 'finish' as the original 5D). It feels solid - almost like a miniature of my 1D. The original 5D (and my 20D) tended to feel like a 'toy' to me and so I'm loving the new look and feel of this camera!
The LCD on the back is every bit as impressive as people have said. 'Wow', is all I have to add. The Menu system is... Well, I won't say 'improved' because I don't really know how much I like it yet, but I will say that it has been stylishly designed - like someone actually put some creative thought into it, which is cool.
I have a lot more shooting and testing to do before I can really say anything definitive - EXCEPT for this...
The LCD on the back is every bit as impressive as people have said. 'Wow', is all I have to add. The Menu system is... Well, I won't say 'improved' because I don't really know how much I like it yet, but I will say that it has been stylishly designed - like someone actually put some creative thought into it, which is cool.
I have a lot more shooting and testing to do before I can really say anything definitive - EXCEPT for this...
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24mm, 1.4, 1/125, ISO 6400 straight out of the camera
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24mm, 1.4, 1/40, ISO 6400 straight out of the camera
Un-be-liev-able!! With my 1D mkii N I never shot above 1000 ISO. Even at 800 or 1000 I didn't really like shooting there and I'd often put on the flash or try to figure out something I could do to get under 800...
Now, being able to shoot GOOD images at 6400 ISO is just plain ridiculous and I'm simply in awe imagining all the possibilities this opens up. This alone makes this camera worth the purchase. Nevermind all the other great features this camera comes loaded with.
Un-be-liev-able!! With my 1D mkii N I never shot above 1000 ISO. Even at 800 or 1000 I didn't really like shooting there and I'd often put on the flash or try to figure out something I could do to get under 800...
Now, being able to shoot GOOD images at 6400 ISO is just plain ridiculous and I'm simply in awe imagining all the possibilities this opens up. This alone makes this camera worth the purchase. Nevermind all the other great features this camera comes loaded with.
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My favorite lens has been my 24 1.4. Until now I've used it heavily and have shot thousands of images at 31mm (due to the 1.3X crop factor of the 1D mkii N). Now, with my first full frame DSLR, my 24 is actually a 24 and one big question I have is if it will continue to be my favorite lens.
This question - as well as many more - are out there waiting for answers as I explore this new adventure in photography with the 5D mkii.
This question - as well as many more - are out there waiting for answers as I explore this new adventure in photography with the 5D mkii.
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Tuesday, December 9, 2008 - Weddings & Clients
2008 in review: The Engagements
A
s 2008 comes to a close it makes me smile to go back and take a look at everything I photographed over the last year. A flood of memories return and my grin spreads ear to ear. These moments are so precious and it reminds me that, with a photograph, we truly can treasure this day forever.
First, I'll reflect on The Engagements - from the earliest to the most recent.
The photo below is of my brother and his (now) wife. Maybe this is a cliche from the '60's but - it's so dreamy!
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Funny how some photographs (like this one) don't stick in your mind. I completely forgot about this photo, but seeing it now - again - with fresh eyes... I really like it.
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I dig this one - but it brings back some sad memories too. I was told that I couldn't do engagement photos here at the Denver Botanic Gardens again unless I shelled out $400 or some crazy number. Oh, well. We made this last time count!
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One of my all time favorites. Actually a bunch of them from this session would qualify for that statement.
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The light is really beautiful at sunrise. I don't see that hour very often! :)
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Just funny and weird. :)
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Cool photo from the top of a ferris wheel. This photo is now being used on the home page of WeddingParty.Com!
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I'm a sucker for dramatic blue skies.
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...and trains/traintracks.
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This had to be the most joyful I've ever felt while photographing two people in love. Beautiful light. The ocean crashing at my feet (and knees). I remember thinking 'THIS, is perfect!
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Happy.
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Another reflection photo. Another 'leg' photo. This one has 'em both.
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Yummy, yummy golden flare. (Speaking of flare - I got to see 'Benjamin Button' recently. Great flare in that film!)
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Cute and cuddly.
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Yeah, still a sucker...
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Another one that could qualify for one of my personal all-time favorites. The symmetry is wonderful.
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After reflecting on all of these - I'm SO ready to do some '09 engagements. Bring 'em on!!
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Saturday, December 6, 2008 - Photography
Deck YOUR Halls
H
ello Friends!
About a year ago I took off on a solo photographer's field trip to Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona. Along the way was Arches National Park and so I was able to enjoy that part of the world as well. Antelope Canyon had been on my list of places to see for quite awhile, and so when my family was out of town for a few weeks and I had a few days free - I made it happen.
It was incredible. Exploring my creativity. Being inspired by the beauty of creation. Being alone (or nearly alone) in a magnificent slot canyon for hours. Waking up to hike the national park hours before the sun arrived...
Some of these images I share with you now in a new Fine Art Gallery. All of these prints will be signed by me, and are available as Limited Edition prints or canvases. When each print reaches its limit - it will be taken offline and never sold again. Also, 10% of each Fine Art Print or Canvas purchase will be donated to Shaohannah's Hope in support of international adoption.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PRINTS
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Thursday, December 4, 2008 - Personal
Holiday Dancin'
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