New Year's Abstract

Funny how life is some times... Not sure why my thumb stopped before deleting this image in my camera; but I am glad it did.

While I was out trying to get some sunrise images in the cold and wind; I accidentally triggered the shutter walking back to the truck. I stumbled over a lump of frozen mud... When I heard the camera cycle; I thought to myself "well, at least I didn't drop it, and it's digital so it isn't like I wasted any film..." When I went to delete it; I just had a feeling... leave it until you see it on the monitor, it will probably look much different at 24" vs. 3"

"Frozen Earth" is the result of a "happy accident"... I am not planning on developing a technique involving tripping while holding my gear. I may have learned to be a little less quick to delete a "mistake" before I've had any opportunity to review it a little further...

Have a great day! - Ed

The Joy of Christmas...

I just wanted to share a quick image from Christmas morning. This image is special to me for several reasons.

This is what Christmas morning is supposed to be all about; the unbridled joy of a child opening gifts from Santa. I wanted the focus to be on her expression and the emotion involved; that's why I went with B&W in this image...

As the new year approaches; I am taking a look back at some of my favorite images from 2009. You can take a look at them here on my Facebook Fan Page. Let me know which is your favorite. I would love to hear your feedback.

Have a safe and happy New Years celebration...

Ed

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

We had a rare December snowstorm this weekend, a week before Christmas. If you were on the edge of the holiday spirit, hopefully this was enough to push you over. Besides the record setting snowfall and my getting out and capturing some images; I was also lucky to witness something else, neighbors helping neighbors just because... Shoveling, snow blowing, sharing some "adult" beverages. It is nice to see that sort of thing anytime, just seem a little bit more special watching it unfold with Christmas lights as a backdrop...

Hope everyone is having a safe and happy holiday season so far, enjoying family, friends, and all the things that make this season special.

I am working on a gift of my own for all of my fans and supporters. Stay tuned for more info...

If you are on Facebook look me up at Edward Harding Photography and join my Fan Page... The rest of my Blizzard of 2009 images are there...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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