If you thought playing tag at DjaDja's house meant running around 14 acres of land on your feet...you'd be so last century! Heck we give the two year old and seasoned citizen the leg up in every way. In fact the only guy running on foot was the cameraman!
-ehw
I'll confess this little one is a sweetheart, and I'm partial to her since her parents are good friends of ours. However I think those eyes make the shot, and capture your heart. Her eyes will captivate you in person, and I hope I put such a feeling in this photo.
To accomplish this little shot I was playing with my favorite little lens, the Fujinon 23mm F1.4. In this photo I experimented with an extremely shallow depth of field, opening the aperture all the way just to see what it will do. Because I was using a mirrorless camera, my Fuji XE-1, I was able to see the DOF in the screen as I composed the image in real time.
I know some purists out there will be screaming that professionals use a viewfinder, and that I am violating some law of photography since I did not have my eye up to the viewfinder. Heck I might as well have used a cell phone right? Well probably yes and definitely no.
See part of the reason I switched from traditional DSLRs to this mirrorless design was I got comfortable keeping eye contact with my subjects during composition. An instructor told us how vital was, and at first I was like yah right...but then I tried it. Eye contact helped me take a great group photo of 64 VIPs. Why? Because by looking at my subjects I kept control over them. It then helped me take individual subjects mind off the camera and kept it focused on our conversation. With younger kids it became much less about the camera, and more about the game we were playing. I found more candid moments caught, and fewer cheesy smiles that look like the child in under duress.
Well...the journey is still moving forward as I learn more about my little craft...and I hope to share more of these lessons as I go forward with you!
-ehw
Our first President, and the Congress of the United States, dedicated this day to praying and giving thanks to God. In the final paragraph we see him calling all public and private people to do our duties faithfully. He also asks us to "promote the knowledge and and practice of true religion and virtue." As you can see there is no separation of church and state. To George Washington our bounty comes from God, and our personal duty is to live in accordance with Nature's Law. To Christians this means we must live inside God's design for the world in all that we do.
In fact, to achieve personal and national civility we must receive adhere to this guidance. The result of dismissing this call to Nature's Law is chaos.
We need to look no further than the debates on Furgeson to recognize this. Rioters in the streets don't care that the man killed willfully beat a man to rob his store moments before his encoutner with Police. They do not want to recognize that the man was high on illegal drugs, something that would impair his judgement even more. Obtaining supplies for this habit was the reason he robbed the store, and was wanted by police. The natural effect of giving into vices such as these is a bad conflict with those entrusted by the citizens to protect them from such abusive behavior.
The solution to this type of problem is simple. It is to live inside natural law. To Christians this means simply to live out the Golden Rule...and your relations with others in your community will start off on good footing. To solve many other problems we face, there is a good book that is our family instruction manual I can recommend: The Bible. Start with Poverbs and Wisdom...then move up to read of the word made man in the Gospel and natural law will unfold before your eyes.
So make today something more than turkey and football. Make today a moment that changes your life, and that of your family. Give thanks to God Almighty, and point your family to the eternal wisdom of his word. The greatest thanks you can offer God, is to deliver your house to stand with him.
-ehw
The theme for the day is to honor veterans for their service, both those who died and those who continue to serve. In its original form, Armistice Day recognized the War to End All Wars. Americans and Europeans moved into isolationism, turned inward and also sowed the seeds for the next war. Free nations cast down their arms, and allowed others to prepare the engines of war to enslave them until it was almost too late. Today we see the same problem around the world. Engines of tyranny now spin up and prepare to pounce when weakness reaches its most critical point.
As a historian, and man of Christian faith, I cannot in good conscience follow that example today. I know there are good people in this world. I also know there are those who give into evil. Those people seek to either turn me to sin as an accomplice or make me their slave. The enemies of freedom will never rest. The enemies of building the Kingdom of God will never cease adapting to our transient strengths in their attempts to tear it down.
In a nation of almost 350 million we have only about 1.5 million under arms today. The nation's recruiters cannot get enough young men to join the service due to lack on interest, poor fitness, and (frankly) intellectual incapacity. Many men get rejected due to gang affiliation and drug use. So the administration is actually trying to bring foreigners (legal and illegal) into the ranks to defend this country. As a reminder of history....when every great nation began to commission others to defend their statehood they fell. Just look at the history of Rome. Republic to tyranny. Native sons to mercenaries.
So today please consider something a little different for Veteran's Day. Don't just thank a veteran, raise a veteran.
As a parent myself I can now feel the fear and angst felt when the child raises their hands to say, "This I will defend." Despite the angst I know my life is but a transient one. My days of quality service as a front line fighter now extend far into my past. If my children want to be free, and give that gift to their children, they must one day put veteran somewhere on their resume.
It is time we all realize it is not enough to just thank someone else for the gift of freedom. It is time for each man to serve where able. Service in the active duty military, guard, and police, fire and rescue all keep us safe. It does not have to be a career...just a portion of life holding the line against the terrors of the night makes you a worthy veteran in my eyes.
So today do more than thank a veteran. Raise a veteran. Your grandchildren will thank you one day for giving them the gift of liberty.
-ehw.
Who's Hand is in the sand?
On this Sunday morning, with the two youngest kiddos on my lap, I read the Divine Office of Readings for today. The reading was about Ester. Here she was a young woman being rounded up, just because of her beauty and taken into the harem of the king.
I cannot imagine the thoughts and fears she had on that fateful day. She was nothing more than a pawn, in fact she was less than a pawn at that moment. She was a grain of sand in a vast desert. However, inside that grain of sand we know as Ester something stronger and more significant was ready to bloom through the grace of God.
See Ester had the seeds of faith planted inside that grain of sand through the gift of faith. Through the events unfolding around her she would receive the choice to stand fast with her faith or cover her face in fear. Her free choice to sacrifice herself for her people is a foreshadowing (one of many) of the type of life Christ led on his way to the cross.
As a parent Ester's story only tells part of the story's lesson. Her foster father Mordecai fulfilled his parental and priestly duties towards Ester by first forming her in faith, and then continually reminding her of God's covenant through to her people. A covenant which only survives if each generation embraces it freely in their hearts and deeds. That is why Mordecai continued to remind his adopted daughter of God's commandments and covenant until the crisis peaked.
The challenges we face in this world today are no different than those Mordecai and Ester faced. The way to overcome those challenges are also no different than their responses. Parents and children must respond to the hand in the sand, the love and wisdom of the Holy Spirit in all that we do.
Parents and clergy must form their children with wisdom and the fear of God (that is the desire not to disappoint God) so they can evolve their faith into Love of God (where we make his will our own). We parents can never stop living our lives calling out both ourselves and our children to holiness. We must never stop praying the gift of faith is given to our children.
Children must understand as early as possible, they have a great inheritance. The covenant of God passed down and expanded from God through Abraham, through David, through Christ to each of us. Through this covenant we bind ourselves to follow his law, and obtain the rewards of eternal unity with him in heaven. Their basic choice in life is to chose virtue over vice each day of their lives. Whether they choose to do it from fear or love will be their own, and a decision they must understand accountability falls on them alone.
Have a blessed Sunday while remembering how Ester and Mordecai listened to the hand in the sand.
-ehw
Fingers in the Sand
Today someone drew in the sand a little story. The lines left behind still drew me into an enchanting world of mystery. I may understand parts of the story, but I will never grasp the whole story! I am sure of this since it was not my hand drawing out the tale. It immediately made me think of God's handiwork I see around me, and the mysteries of God I will never comprehend.
Did you have an adventure from fingers in the sand today yourself?
-ehw
Shelby Cobra 67-500
This Shelby Cobra is the last of the 67's. Number 500 in fact! I saw the documentation and original window sticker to get all the proof I could need.
So it is also the last of the Cobras in the original Mustang body style. As you can see the car also wears a special badge signifying the good work of the owners to maintain it in original form. Yes it still has that wonderful throaty engine sound. It has about 14,000 original miles on it (well if I remember accurately).
This photo is available for sale if you'd like to have it adorn you wall, christmas cards or coffee mugs....please contact me at www.ehwphotography@gmail.com! It will help me pay for the website! Let me know the size you are looking for, and I will get you a price quote!
-ehw
The Silver Bullet leaves homeport....
A different type of day today. It is a Federal holiday, so I had the day off and wrote up a busy schedule for myself. However it was a still a school day for Regina Caeli Academy so the four kiddos with the momma got up and at it in the early morning light.
Nine days out of ten...well 95 out of 100...I am the guy up first and out the door while they enjoy their warm blankets for another hour or so. So to be roused by my wife's alarm, and the sound of lots of other feet is a game changer.
Today you can see the Silver Bullet headed out the door on its mission. As it left I found myself reading the news alone with my coffee. I found myself experiencing the same fears I had in my bed last night at 2 and 3 and 4....Ebola, TB outbreak, Flu type 68, ISIS, Russia on the move worldwide, China on the move in the South China Sea, a disarming US, Bishops in the middle east and Africa reminding their people they need to defend themselves, and a blatant turning away from natural law this country was founded on on every page.
Now fear is not a good state to live in, instead it is an emotion that should push us to new work to right the situation. So I made my list for the day, heard the divine office, read the morning prayer, and moved out to 9Am mass. During mass I listened and fell deep into thought. I wanted to ask God where he was. I wanted to ask him to do something about this madness around me, to help my family survive the coming turbulence. In the silence of post communion I my head rang with words from so many other sources me like a piece of lead dropped from the roof.
"Son I did do something about all this. I made you."
With that I got myself into motion working on preparation for Blue Knights tomorrow night (6 new boys coming in for the first time making their shields), meeting with a friend, and saying a few prayers along the way. I guess the big guy reminded me, to do what I can, where I can to build his kingdom. So I better get a little busier!
-ehw
The orange VW Bug
My parents were not hippies (not my Army officer Dad!), but we did have this type of camper back in the 70's. Since the statue of limitations is over I can tell you we sat five in a car with only three seat belts for several years. My sister and brother both slept on a hammock over the driver's seat as toddlers. I can't remember if I was in the tent or not. I think I did, at least once. We also went to see the first Superman movie at the drive through in this big bug as a family. That was a fun night. I also remember holding the check from the back used to pay for it...and as an adult I drove past that spot and memory every day for two years 30 years later.
This automobile may not be a horse, but it does foster bonds between who we are today and our past. Maybe it is because we associate travel with growth and freedom here in the USA. I know this is a poor way to explain an American and their automobiles. I just had to get those stories out. The car made me do it!
-ehw
P.S. X-E1 with HDR Efex Pro2, Slight color treatment in Nik Color Efex 4.
Just too nice not to capture this image
This car sat right next to my booth on Sunday. It was screaming to be photographed. This is one of my favorites from the car. The light and reflection of trees in the chrome makes it almost magical. Well in my opinion! I hope you agree. Any feedback is appreciated.
As with so many cars at the show this one brought back memories for my childhood. This was the car of the Rich and Famous in my teen years. I could never hope to own one (still can't) but they were very refined and lovely cars for their day. Today they are just plain old classy.
-ehw
P.S. jpeg HDR conversion, nine shots +/-3EV. Done in HDR Efex2 by nik. Color Effex4 chrome correction, and finished in Perfect Effects 8.
I will be there, but not driving this Chevy
EHW Photography will be at Caffeine and Octane tomorrow morning from 7A-11AM at 12600 Deerfield Parkway, Alpharetta, Georgia. I'll be selling photos, and hopefully capturing a few new ones to share! Over 600 people and their autos usually attend. So if you want to see classics, hotrods, and modern special editions come on down!
-ehw
A touch of color
Today is Techie Wednesday is about color, or lack thereof...
Today we have a lovely photo where the color of Blues and Greens provided a nice compliment to each other. However I wanted a bit more...I wanted contrast of the blue on grey to make the blue really pop on the screen while the leaves provided context without distraction.
So remember that! Black and White focuses the eye on the structure, patterns, form of the photograph. Color can sometimes enhance this, but many times will detract from it.
In this case I wanted to place each element where it would help me make an image with impact. So I used both to the best effect I could.
Hopefully if you like these little techie moments I'll make sure they get out to you more often.
-ehw
A Mimosa Blvd home in Roswell, GA
The last week was a crushing one around the house. Two boys in baseball (at different fields for four nights in the week), dance four nights a week for the eldest daughter, homeschool bowling league, Blue Knights for the boys, American Heritage Girls for the eldest, Lego Robotics Club for the older son....can you identify a few of these event occur simultaneously? Oh and the two year old always has something going on! So please forgive the slow photo blog postings. It just will not happen when the first time I sit down at night is 9:30PM...and 5:35AM looks too close to the dial.
Friday was a treat thought. I took the Mrs. out to dinner using a little saved up cash from the weekly allowance. We talked about the children of course, while they made pizza at home. Oh the joys of having a responsible teenager and eleven year old working together!
Saturday came, and with it about five and half hours on ball fields for me. A drizzle of rain in the morning game, and a glorious afternoon of high seventies. Both boys had to get hit by pitches though. For Kalen it was the fourth time this year...the boy is a ball magnet! Since the youngest had a special trip with Dad to the park a few weeks back, the oldest daughter needed a treat. So I took her downtown last night to Roswell, and found some relatively inexpensive food. It is wonderful to talk with her about the book she is writing (and I'm the editor of), school, life and the scene around us. If I don't take those minutes she'll be out the door and I won't even know who she is!
The nice part of being with her though, is that she is a budding artist. So I was able to pull out the little camera, set it on multiple film types and show her the color of Roswell at night Fujifilm style!
The Old porch at night...
A reception house set up for a wedding
Julia's catch
If you followed me this far...enjoy this last shot. Julia saw the moon rising over the church and asked me to see if I could capture it in the photo.
So after a day praising God we're back into the thick of it! Two more weeks of baseball..then it is serious Lego Robotics....then the holidays...thank God I can enjoy this life with such a wonderful family!
-ehw
A fast start....
The Roswell Art Festival is on Saturday and Sunday! Come on down and enjoy over 100 vendors selling just about everything from lemonade, paintings, metal works and pictures like mine! I'm also a little nervous since it is a festival with a set of judges looking for best of show. Don't know how I'll fair there.
Take at look at the homepage and you'll see my Fall Portfolio. If there is a gift you need for Christmas...you just might find it! Check my online store and you'll find everything you need!
Something not in the portfolio? Is it in the archives? Well call me and I'll make it for you! You want your own car, family or event photographed? Give me a call! It would be darn fun to make something for you!
-ehw
Oh this color just wanted to play too!
One of the great arguments about photography is whether it is an art or merely the capture of something that already exists...
I bet you can guess come down on the side of art! Well I'll also add in there that there is a bit of science and art in photography.
See the art is the composition, light and shadow. The science is the math of aperture, shutter, ISO.
In this photo I added selective color just for fun. Well also because flowers deserve some color to show off their glory.
I think all of life is a mix of science and art. We have science that defines physical interactions, and art that defines how we use science to effect perception. The moral compass that keeps the art and life on track? The Bible.
-ehw
A nice way to end the day...I think my son would like to be out here fishing away if he could. I think my father-in-law would join him...and my son's Godfather as well. Me? I'd probably be playing with my camera just like this!
-ehw
P.S. Fujifilm X-E1, 55-200 zoom. Jpeg using the Velvia film profile
Just like this boat I'm battened down and ready to crash for the night. Wonderful day...full of work, travel and a photo to close it out.
-ehw
While I am out and about I sometimes see an image immediately drawing me home. This was one of those moments. Walking down the sidewalk I saw an unmistakable symbol of music, and my thoughts turned homeward bound. Over the last two years the ability to bring music back into the house, and into the lives of the children, through the Joyful Noise Homeschooling music program enlivened the family. Initial cat gut screatches became music I can recognize. Scales firmed up with practice. Now both older children can teach me theory I never knew. The little guy sung the Gloria at church with his two best buds with gusto this Sunday.. All very cool!
So this image made music in my lens...
I also wanted to point out something about street photography as I see it. While I was out walking a college age couple were shooting the streets. Sitting on the side walk was a mentally ill man. He was dishevelled, talking to himself incoherently, but otherwise not bothering anyone. The lady in the couple thought he made a good subject. So she switched to live view and took some hip shots of the poor soul.
Being in a public area means a photographer needs no consent to photography you. However a photographer should exercise some level of respect for the man. If the photo will be provided to people looking for him great..otherwise I worry that this is exploitation of personnel morbid curiosity. In many people's ciricles today this is just a chance to get a little self promotion on Twitter and Instangram. It is an opportunity to exploit for themselves, not elevate humanity. There are plenty of people on the street (such as street performers) who are interesting subjects, and more than willing to pose for a small tip.
If I photograph a person I have either their consent or they are doing something themselves to gain attention of passerbys. For instance in Miami I photographed a skateboarder doing flashy tricks in a highly visible area on purpose. A chef I photographed nodded yes when I asked to photograph him.
I know someone out there will say they are doing a social justice peace. I just don't buy it. If you are doing social justice work you'd also be taking him to dinner.
With all that said...have a great night and PRAISE God!
-ehw
PS For you techies this is the Fujifilm X-E1 with 23mm at 1/210, F8 ISO 800. I used the film simulation of Velvia and applied a slight crop, small sharpening effect and vingette blur in Nik Snapseed. My 23mm F1.4 is my current favorite Fuji lens...and it really wants a 56mm in the stable next to it!
Wild forest awaits me...
Yesterday I met a young photographer and she showed me some of her urban explorations....pretty cool stuff. Well talking to her I also made me long to get out a shoot myself. You know work and play often don't mix it up very well...and the client projects I did make over the last month were for internal release only!
So after we got home, fed the kiddos and enjoyed a quick date night out I realized I still had some daylight left. Instead of urban exploration I did some deep forest exploration from my backyard. I spent the rest of the night playing with development settings, Aperture, Capture One, OnOne, Nik Suite....just to see what I could do. This is one of the three I liked. I wanted it to make me think I was really deep in a mysterious woods. I hope I fooled you!
So the moral of the day is..as Bob Coates would say...take some time to play and imagine. Sometimes it unlocks doors you would not know existed.
-ehw
PS Fujifilm X-E1, 23mm, tripod mount, Capture One and Silver Effects Pro2.
Keeping the light on in his presence
Just a quick post as we all head past the top of the week...
Just a quick play with light and depth of field here in our Blessed Sacrament chapel a few weeks ago.
It is very peaceful in the chapel, and the soft lift, and lovely rose window let one sink into the presence of our Lord.
Like most people I found myself drawn to the largest light source...and after a few minutes I realized the Lord was there in the quiet shadows waiting for us all.
-ehw