Shooting With Friends...

I had the good fortune to grab a few hours this morning shooting at Longwood Gardens with a few photo friends. Some I haven't seen in a while, and others I met for the first time... I happened to spot a note from Ed Heaton on FaceBook that he was heading there to try out a new Macro lens (looking forward to the results) and decided to take a ride over when I realized that my morning had opened up...

I was able to get some nice images; but I am really looking forward to getting to Longwood during the upcoming holiday season. Hopefully we'll meet up again, cameras in hand.

This image is called "5 & Friends"...

Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Thanksgiving!

Have a great day! - Ed

Elise Takes the Wheel...

Had some fun with Elise yesterday... I wanted to get some pictures of her in her new hat. To make things interesting, I told Elise that she could pose and do whatever she wanted and I would just shoot. I also told her that the final picks where up to her at the end of the shoot.

We only shot for about 20 minutes or so, that was enough for Elise. I think we captured some pretty interesting images and she seemed to like being more involved in the process...

It was great Daddy & Daughter time and that was really the result I was going for; the images will just be memories of the time we enjoyed...

Have a great day! - Ed

Inspiration

Here I am 6 years later, still marveling at the passage of time... That tiny little being is becoming before my eyes... The reason and inspiration the re-ignition of my passion for capturing images...

Funny thing how life works... Two months ago to the day, we were morning the passing of my father. And today, we are celebrating my daughter's life and growth, and I swear that I see just a hint of my father in there...

Is this the greatest image? No... It isn't the most technically sound, nor artistically balanced. But, it does for me the one thing that a photograph is supposed to do, grabs a little piece of you, your heart, your soul, and your imagination.

Elise, now and forever my Scootlebug, happy birthday...

I love you - Daddy

Have a great day! - Ed

A Little Introspection...

I often get asked where I am when someone is looking at our family photos. After waiting a moment to see if the answer comes to them; I finally explain that I am the one behind the camera...

Behind the camera... The safe spot, the comfortable spot...sometimes all the technical knowledge can simply be a convenient excuse to remain hidden in plain sight.

Sometimes the creation of an portrait isn't just about the subject, it may be more about the photographer's unwillingness to put themselves in the firing line of the lens. More about the photographer capturing the vulnerabilities he feels on the face of another; wishing to share in the happiness witnessed in someone else's smile. The "it" that the photographer is trying to capture in an image is almost as varied as the reactions to it by each individual that views the finished image.

Creating the image above got me thinking about the "why" of portrait photography. What am I trying to convey? Will people viewing the image be able to understand what I was going for when I pressed the shutter? Questions that both only I can answer and time will tell...

The real reason for the photo above? I was trying out my new tripod set-up to get familiar with it at home rather than in the field. It is a Manfrotto 055XPROB with a 486RC2 head. The tripod has a unique center column that can be laid over horizontal while the camera is still attached. Very simple to operate, the construction and fit of the unit is fantastic. This will open up a lot of ideas as I can get a lot more creative with the camera handling abilities of this tripod.

Have a great day! - Ed