Family Ties

Many things in life today take us away from splendid pleasures family's used to share. My lovely wife does a very good job of making sure our family slows down whenever possible to recognize such golden moments. This photo records one of those times.

My mother-in-law spent a year learning new techniques and searching out patterns to sew us a huge quilt. The quilt says little things about American history in a very lovely, folksy and informative way. It means a lot to us because we are an Americana loving couple.

So this photo records a moment where she took the time to demonstrate this quilt. Carrie explained stories, special sewing techniques and the small attention to details Grandma put into it. We are doing our best to make sure the kids can understand the difference between this work of art, and a Walmart import special.

We only put value on things we understand and experience. This is a moment we intend to repeat from time to time to make our children and family aware of the talents and values we hold dear..we'll pray it takes root and makes trees reflecting the best sum of their ancestors.

-ehw

Happy Fall Day

Today was a happy fall day in Roswell, Georgia.  I enjoyed company of visiting family, and the warmth of their love matched the warm fall day.

Roswell is a very nice town, just north of Atlanta on the north bank of the Chattahoochee River.  Originally a milling town for textiles and lumber, it grew into a quiet suburb of Atlanta over the last 35 years.

Our downtown has a little historical center, often used for movies and promotional photo shoots.  Today I was able to take a walk down the street and catch a few photos.  While we were walking back, the setting sun was too low to obtain any good photos along most of the steet.  I didn't put my camera away though.  Just a few feet short of the car the sun poked through a cloud and illuminated this cute doll.  Since my camera was still out and on, it took but a second to frame and shoot three shots with different creative settings.

Just like everything in life, we always need to be prepared.  The best camera you have is the one you have with you.  The best camera available is the one out and powered up.

It is a metaphor for us all as we face the many challenges of our lives.  When faced with an ethical choice do we have tools needed to negotiate them ready?  Do we have the background materials available to study the problem in greater depth?  Do we have our courage up and ready to defend what we know is right in the face of serious straw men challenges? Are we ready for deep cutting personal attacks rather than philosophical or logical ones?

We will never know the time or day of our greatest crisis, but we are all called to be ready to the utmost of our abilities.  God will help carry us though the rest, but only if we prepared for the test.

-ehw

PS Stand by for a few more Roswell photos over the next week!

Dance

[slideshow] Dance poses a photographer great challenges, especially if shot during a performance.

You have to choose action, pose or some of both.  You have to search for the decisive moment, and catch it in rhythm.  You often have to watch out for rapidly changing lights and exposure.

I love the challenge.  I love the excitement of trying to get "the shot."  After a year off from the recital circuit because of the move down south, I can't wait to see my little lady back up there though my lens.

After watching her practice a few times in the last few months I've been amazed.  She improved her dedication to learning dance, and now observes things about her movements she did not in September.  She is ready to join the "big girls" in her mind, and that means growing up in body and mind.

It also poses a lesson for me to follow as a photographer and as a Dad.  I cannot reduce my attention to detail because I am comfortable with my skills and gear, but to increase attention to detail in all things.  I have to pay better attention to my children, to my wife and the environment we live in.  I also have to continue to mature and grow in faith to be the best role model I can.  I'll never be perfect, but if I put in the same type of discipline to my faith life I will be calmer and more effective for them in all things.

I cannot take for granted that I am seeing more details in the viewfinder than I did a few months ago myself.  I must focus harder, an conceive my photographic vision earlier.  I must remember the fundamentals faster, and recognize them as they appear in the scene before me.

A lifetime of learning lays before not just before my girl, but each of us as well.

-ehw

Perfect Suite 7

The family did some yard work yesterday and the Little Red Wagon was calling me to make a portrait.  I liked the rich fall light, and it just suckered me in.

I am testing the Perfect Suite 7 for editing.  It is a very powerful set of utilities, in a convenient package for round tripping in and out of Lightroom and Aperture.  The "unique" thing about Perfect Suite is that it is layers for the rest of us.  Photoshop is extremely powerful, as it is pixel level editing.  The terminology of Photoshop is that of digits, and not necessarily traditional photography. Some of us out here in the real world have trouble with the multiple languages required to think Photoshop vs Photography.  Perfect Suite is a lot more photo centric, and for me personally easier to grasp. For others who are new to editing maybe it does not matter as much, but it does for me.

I used Suite 6, and I am finding a number of the new Suite 7 tools are easier to access and work with and visualize how they will make their effects.  Another thing those on a budget will appreciate is the loyalty program.  Perfect Suite updated everything at one time, and you just pay once for all the updated tools for the year.  I love Nik, but the incremental update policy means I am still spending more to updating the suite costs more than the initial purchase.

On average I can save a lot of time by using Perfect Suite when I need heavy editing.  I can do here in under two minutes what it would take ten or more in Aperture or Lightroom.  When editing my big assignments, this is a big deal.

It does have a 30 day free trial, so you can try it out for yourself.  Their information on the website explains everything in detail. Perfect Suite 7 Website

-ehw

God Bless our Veteran's

[slideshow] God Bless our Veteran's of past and present.  May this generation raise up a new and valiant set of defenders who will keep our honor bright.

A special thanks to those I served with across the world.  And another thanks to my immediate family who served:  Dad, my brother Karl, Sister Sonja, DjaDja, Great Auntie Josephine, Great Uncle Walter, Uncle Joe, My Father-in-law, Great Grand Dad (in-law), and of course the lovely Army nurse I stole from the ranks at Ft Benning...my wife.

[gallery]

Joy of Creation

Six months ago my family my wife an I intended to take some of the reduced cost of living in Georgia and devote it to music lessons for the children.  Little did we know we'd get a bonus, a complete homeschooling orchestra!  But wait there is one more deal!  A children's choir at church!!

The joy I've watched as my children learn to play and sing goes from my 11-year old through each of the four children down to the baby.  Big sis plays cello for the baby during girl's time.  Kalen is getting serious by asking questions, and in the last few weeks gained a basic understanding of "perfect practice makes perfect."  My youngest son is singing and liking percussion instruments at the introduction class for kindergartners.  Kalen wanted to sing as well, so he joined the children's choir and is growing into the role very well.

The thing I really enjoyed was not just music returning to the home, but the creation of music in the home.

It did get me thinking about what is so special about God.  God created everything including the laws of physics that give us music.  Yet with each new generation born there is no symphony with their name on it until that generation creates it.

Seeing and hearing my children strive and struggle to create music reminded me of our journey towards faith and communion with God.  Each of us struggle with wrong notes, missed codas, taking a note outside of the designated pitch, good days and bad.  Over time, and with great self discipline, we can create professional performances even on our worst days that will inspire.

I am looking forward to seeing their results at a beginning orchestra concert this Friday, after just three short months of work.  On Sunday I will get to see Kalen sing in front of the church, moving out of the family pew on his own spiritual journey as well.

The pride I have must be an fraction of the joy God feels when we create a life and acts moving us towards his plan.

It gives new meaning to the Prodigal Son, and the stories of the sinners turned saints, when you see and hear this creation with your own eyes and ears.  It also reminds me how much further and harder I have to practice my faith to be a good man in God's plan.

-ehw

PS I hope you like the photo.  I tried to make it as "timeless" as possible.

His Glorious Light

Over the last few days I've felt lost.  I literally feel like the country I was born into, and raised in is gone.  I can literally see challenges threatening what I once thought was universally sacred, my choice of religious expression.

I thankfully read a post from "the Pilgrim" Bill Fortney (www.billfortney.com) and my outlook changed a good deal.  He wrote about a tough old Pinon Pine tree he stood standing tall in very rough ground.  In a place where it should not grow, it stood steady.  A guide told him it was because it had a tough bark, or skin, to protect it from the various harsh weather threats in that part of the valley.

The passage, and bible verse that followed reminded me of a book I read by Scott Hahn called A Father Who Keeps His Promises.  It reminded me that while natural law always existed, and revealed God's plan, his explicit compact for our salvation started with just one man's family.  The one family wandered amongst the great nations of the world for a hundreds of years before it formed itself as a nation.  And it was hundreds of years after that before our savior came and spread the message to the whole world.

After reading Bill's words, the Bible psalm he selected, thinking of Scott Hahn's message, and counting the people around me who believed in the law of God like me; I finally realized the obvious.  I would not be lost if I followed God's plan and not mine.  God, thankfully, put me in a time where there are others who believe and live as virtuous life as possible.  I needed to reach out to people who are role models for the life I want to build.  If I work with those people, it can be a tough skin of friendship I'll need to keep my family moving towards God's graceful light.

So today at lunch I walked, and picked up a challenge to see what I could get in the harsh light of mid-day that would be somewhat reflective of that theme.  And yes, thankfully see some of his light came through and struck my lens and sensor with his glorious light.

-ehw

Reflections

As an exercise I was watching reflections in mirrors and glass for how they interacted.  With that in mind I saw my son playing with my youngest daughter through the glass.  It made me think of a special effect in a movie.  So I grabbed a shot.

Glass causes a lot of interesting possibilities, and this was a simple fun one.  In this case a classic home moment of two children playing together with hint of through the looking glass. -ehw

Time Travel at Home

This weekend I worked overnight Saturday to Sunday, and found myself forced out of the opportunity to capture the wonderful fall light.  I grew frustrated as I traveled from site to site, or took my nap since so many lovely photos were not being turned into digits.

This evening just before dinner I grabbed the P&S when these chairs started providing a silhouette and warm colors. I thought the chairs looked like something from a nice trip I once took to a historic residence.  It made me feel like I'd gone back in time.

I shot several frames, removing distractors...and messing up Mom's organization for the kiddo's home school classroom.  I got a nod of approval from my wife...and I kept working.

After a little experimentation in Perfect Effects 7 I got this result.  I hope you like it. (My wife did, so the disruption to her classroom was acceptable..whew)

The moral of the story, is that a camera can serve as a time machine in the hands of a crafty practitioner.  Even if you do not have the opportunity to travel the world, like so many of the fantastic travelers I've read recently, you can travel world wide in your own home with a little bit of forethought.

-ehw

EXTRA EXTRA!

EXTRA EXTRA! As of today I am in business!  Everything is in with City Hall and approved.   I can now take orders and provide photography services to you!

It is an exciting day.  I have a long way to go before I can quit my day job, but now I can grow in new ways!

So if you are looking for someone with passion who wants to tell your story...I'm available and ready to serve you!

-ehw

BOO!

[slideshow] Happy Halloween!

Shapes

For my homework lately I've been examining shapes. One of the hardest shapes to work with are triangles. Triangles are the strongest shape, they divide our rectangular frames and add tension to photographs. So I took it upon myself to try to create a pleasing photograph while on a walk about full of triangles.

I this photo I played with the triangles, parallel lines, circles and implied rectangles to keep the photo interesting. With a little luck I made some edgy tension relaxed by implied rectangles.  I added the vignette to also create a rounded edge driving you easily and naturally to the focal point of my photo.

So on your next walk about see what you can make from the world around you!

-ehw

Sport Event Nightmare!

[slideshow]On Sunday I found myself blessed to watch my sister's college soccer team (she's an assistant coach) play soccer.  The weather was absolutely perfect up at Piedmont College in Northern Georgia. The ride was smooth and the family company wonderful.

The nightmare began when on this lovely, sunny fall day when I looked at the SHINNY WHITE UNIFORMS glowing in the 1PM sunlight.  I also forgot my mono pod.  So everything would be hand held 60-250 from the sideline stands.  When the ball started moving around I realized I had a lot to learn about the sport of soccer to identify the decisive moments.

I watched for a half, and then went to work.  To reduce the blown out highlight problem I activated the "highlight correction" feature.  I knew of it thanks to reading the manual.  Then I set my camera to shutter priority to keep the speed up enough to freeze action, and shot away.  I was happy when I came home to find most photos were exposed properly.  However having a ball in the photo or a good story was difficult to find.   The ball moved fast, and the geometry was sometimes difficult to predict to anticipate where to put my lens.  I also realized that this sport was a little harder to use my selective single frame shooting for.  Soccer, like football, demands a little machine gunning photos at a critical moment to get the elements you want in the frame.

In the future I'll bring a step stool so I can move around a fence line and hold the shutter release down a little longer. The other motto from the story will be read your manual.  In these fancy cameras you will find gems in the feature set which will allow you to capture the moment in some rather adverse conditions...if you know it exists!

I hope you enjoy the photos I selected!

-ehw

Beauty in the midst of our lives

Like most homes with four homeshooled children, and both parents involved in scouting leadership, life is a wild ride.  I am often wonder how I will grow as a photographer in the midst of all this "living." This weekend was no different.  I was at an all day adult scout training event, and I thought I would never get a chance to shoot something really nice.  Then I looked over and saw light streaking through the trees to a red bush being backlit.  It was like a fire alarm went off in my head...that might be the shot of the weekend!  I grabbed my P&S and started to crouch and follow light...frame the photos...switch to aperture mode to try a few creative visions.  Then I snapped away.

Meanwhile ten other adults looked at me with a grin and bewilderment.  I could almost hear, "What is that guy doing?"

Little did they know, I was chasing my dream while facilitating those of my family and friends.  It might be a road less traveled, but it is the one that has made all the difference.  It makes me who I am, and ever more appreciative of the beauty in the midst of our lives.

-ehw

Building Blocks

[slideshow] My next mission is to grow as a photographer using Picture Perfect Practice by Roberto Valenzuela.  (You can get your copy through Amazon here Picture Perfect Practice)

While at Skip's Summer School a few months back (wow time flies) I spent a whole day with Roberto introducing to his technique for photographic growth.  To make it simple to understand put this picture in your mind...take a classical guitarist and put a camera in his hands.  Now you have Roberto.

Perfection in music requires a combination of precision movement of your muscles, a metronome of a mind, technical competence with music theory, and enough comfort in your capabilities to let your soul's unique sound emerge through the music.  This process to make a top level classical guitarist takes years, and the same can be said of photographers.  Luckily for most of us, the age of digital photography made the growth process faster since we can advance and study our frames not only faster, but in far greater detail than during the age of film.

By the time I entered Roberto's class I was running on fumes.  A 12 hour car ride, 13-14 hour workshops two days prior...and then Roberto hits me with a tidal wave of his own making.  Luckily he has a book out and I will revisit his lesson through it.  If I am lucky in two years I'll have a mastery of this photography thing...

Until then I offer a few photos I took with his lessons in mind.  Unfortunately I have only two in here I attempted to pose, the rest were all opportunity shots during the wedding (basically street photography!).  I am now looking at them know how far I have to go to be great, and it seems a long long distance from here!

Fortunately I can begin my journey with but a single frame and single lesson at a time from Roberto (and some other notables along the way)!

(I already did rectangles...now I'm working circles...) -ehw

Stay the Course!

I am writing this post for a good friend.  Tomorrow he is halfway through his project of taking 50 straight days of macro photographs.  His rules are that he must take the photo and edit it that day.  I am very impressed with what he did...and wait in great anticipation to see where he will go from here.

So in tribute to his halfway point I am going to remind him to stay true to his journey's goal my keeping his focus on true north, and then to tell himself that he is only half full of lessons he has yet to learn from the project.

Take a look at his work and even if he calls himself a newbie...don't believe it.  This guy loves Kelby Training Videos.  He borrowed my Metz ringflash, and wore out a new set of batteries in one night...actually four hours between shifts!  He loves bugs and takes requests.  He is a macro lover and growing into quite the artist.

Rich I'm proud of you buddy!  Just remember your journey is only now starting to show its rewards.  The first bud is coming, and so many more are now ready to bloom. Just keep plowing on.

I have a project coming up after baseball season, inspired by you!  Just have to figure out what it will be though...

Here is his project Mendler's Macros  let him know what you think!

-ehw

St. Mary, Georgia

[slideshow] Traveling to southern Georgia last week was terrific. I had a chance to swing by the scenic town of St. Mary, Georgia.  You might not know the name, but you may have seen it in many a TV show or movie under another name.

The waterfront is on a river which separates it from an island national park.  The park is lovely, and includes several piers, a water fountain and some good places to eat!  I tried to get a little flavor of the town in these shots I had time to get.

On the way home I took a road less traveled, the ones I really like to take, and met Tatter.  Tatter is Matter the Tow Truck's older brother.  Tatter and I had time for a short conversation.  I learned everything Matter can do, Tatter does better because he taught him.  The talent scouts wanted Tatter, but he loves Georgia Peaches too much to want to trade it in for Tinseltown! Other trip photos can be found here!   St Mary, Georgia

Enjoy!

-ehw

Shadows make a shot

[slideshow] Skip's Summer School lesson #1001

Shadows make a photo.  Funny to think of...but after looking around for terrific light it is the shadow that makes or breaks you.  The shadow allows your mind to perceive depth in a photo.  With depth comes the desired three dimensions in a two dimensional frame.

In these photos I made a concerted effort to have a shadow under the nose, or in the fringes of the eye socket.  When I watched my son advance down the first baseline I watched through the telephoto and chose a few frames where I anticipated the shadow (I don't spray and pray..This was his second time around and I already knew where the shadows were working).  With my son I even practiced with him playing, and then posing for me trying to get the light right.  I tried about ten poses and techniques to finally get this one.

I know, not award winning, but even in short trips out with the kids if I practice selective photo taking I will produce a better image.  One that I may want to frame as more than a Kraniochrome.

Shadows make a photo...remember that and 9 times out of 10 our photos will improve!

-ehw

Leading Lines

[slideshow] Back to lessons learned...

This week I want to briefly discuss leading lines.  In three of these photos I used lines to focus the viewers attention.  In one photo I don't, and that photo leaves most viewers with a question mark in their minds.

See in baseball the eye can follow the baselines...and the action does as well.  All action focuses on the point where the runner must meet the base and pivot his direction to advance.  You would do the same thing in soccer, football, or basketball by showing the goals and basket.

In the photo where three players go up to catch the ball they just happened to be in perfect alignment for split second (when I caught them).  The ball is visible and lets us know what they are jumping for.

In the photo of my outfielder son the lines run in multiple directions.  One runner is headed to the base, the cutoff man is looking at my son, and my son is focused on the boy headed to first base in a third direction.  He has the ball though...so the viewer would be saying "What is he looking at?"  It works to show the confusion of  the moment,but it can leave more questions than answers in the viewers mind.

So keep these lines in your head when photographing sports, travel scenes or anything else.  They can be used to reinforce your photograph's intent in ways limited only by your imagination.

-ehw

Mentorship

[slideshow] I was Friday's Guest host on www.photoresroucehub.com for my buddy Skip Cohen.  The topic of the host is mentorship.  We all have mentors in our lives...parents, co-workers, bosses, friends...but do we really use their lessons?  In most cases we have to overcome a great deal of hubris in ourselves before we realize how many pains we can avoid while growing in our personal and professional lives.  Once we overcome that hurdle we can blossom faster than if we work alone.  I speak from painful experience of not listening fast enough...and now am older and wiser because I head counsel much faster than ever before.

Well check out the post and see a great website!  Guest Post by Eric Wojtkun

-ehw