The Genius of Photography

I recently found this great series on Youtube all about photography.  


It is free
It is interesting
They are 15 minute clips
Incredible source of information.

The first episode features a gentleman who makes a camera out of an entire room.   Very cool stuff.

Genius of Photography


Here is the first episode with a screen shot of the room as a camera.

Headshots in a snap

A local Mary Kay Consultant, piano teacher and mother asked me to take some new headshots.  She didn’t have a lot of time but we were able to create 4 looks in the span of about 15 minutes.




Now she has a choice which picture will represent her and her business on her cards and website.

Portfolio Continued...

Well here are the results I have produced by putting together a simple portfolio I mentioned in a previous posts.
What’s in your portfolio?
and
The Portfolio Creative Process
The pictures below are the current result. 





Heather and I spent an evening looking through pictures and pairing them up.  In the end I have about 40 pictures in this little binder.
Now the exciting part.  Because we took the time to put this little folder together and I reached out I have learned about my strengths and weaknesses and am much closer to finding where I really want to be with photography.
I have been able to sit down with 2 professional photographers in the area and discuss business, photography, their philosophies and much more.  Through these meetings I have learned more about myself and my photography than I think I would have in a semester or beginners classes in college.
The last and final suggestion made to me was to take the majority of this portfolio and forget about it because the new equipment purchased has changed my ability significantly.
Here we go.  Over the next month I am working to have an entirely new portfolio with families, business head shots and maybe even some wedding work.

Headshots in a snap

A local Mary Kay Consultant, piano teacher and mother asked me to take some new headshots.  She didn’t have a lot of time but we were able to create 4 looks in the span of about 15 minutes.




Now she has a choice which picture will represent her and her business on her cards and website.

Peak Balance Chiropractic

Today I am featuring a local business here in Colorado Springs.  Our family has been going to Dr. Harlow for 2 years now and since we had our first little guy he has started going as well.

 

Dr. Harlow was great and very gentle while working with our guy.  He was relaxed and laughing.

Thank you Dr. Harlow for continuing to help our family and be a part of this community.

Peak Balance Chiropractic

Today I am featuring a local business here in Colorado Springs.  Our family has been going to Dr. Harlow for 2 years now and since we had our first little guy he has started going as well.

 

Dr. Harlow was great and very gentle while working with our guy.  He was relaxed and laughing.

Thank you Dr. Harlow for continuing to help our family and be a part of this community.

Memorial Park Skate Park

It has bee about a week since I purchased my new lens and I have to say I am in love.  I wish I had purchased this one much earlier.







This may be a favorite spot in the future.  It is close to where I work and while I was there everyone was great.  I did have to dodge a stray board here and there.

Uncle Wilber

Everyday in the summer the parents and kids gather and wait for 11am to roll around.  They are waiting for Uncle Wilber to cool off the mid-day heat and bring smiles to their children’s faces.  They are also taking a break from the fast paced life.

This also happens to be a great place to meet people.  While there I encountered 2 separate people taking a bold step and talking to strangers about Jesus.


Most people may not know that the City comes and turns on and off the fountain everyday.  It takes 2 people to turn it on because there is a confined space involved.


Thanks to those 2 men Uncle Wilber can come to life.

I will have to return later this week to get Uncle Wilber in action.

Value

Last week I posted a question on Facebook that may have received the most responses I have seen on my personal page. 
“What are you thoughts on starting a business with debt? Is debt necessary to start?”
Some of you may know that the Valentine family follows the Dave Ramsey financial plan.  We have been following that plan for a couple years with the cash envelopes and all.  Recently we joined FPU for 13 weeks to help motivate ourselves.
That brings me to the Facebook post.  I have been looking into new equipment, classes and mentors to constantly improve.  One of the biggest suggestions is to get better gear.
The 2 best lens options at this time are to get the 24-70mm 2.8L or the 50mm 1.4.  The cost difference is about $1000 which I don’t have.  I can afford the 50mm 1.4 but was afraid I was selling myself short.  Monday I decided to live within my means.  I bought the 50mm 1.4 and it has been great.
It was not 2 minutes from the store and found some inspiration.


At home I gave the shallow depth of field a try and the clarity was amazing.

The next picture was taken on the hood of the car.  I am very happy with the quality.


My reasoning for getting the less expensive lens was that it is still a stellar lens.

July 4th Camping Trip

The last couple years we have been camping in the Buena Vista area for the 4th.  We have camped on Tin Cup Pass and near the base of Mt. Princeton.   This year we were at KOA.

We love heading up that way because there is so much to do.  Camping, hiking, fishing and mountain biking and 4-wheeling.

This was the view from my parents site.

Here is their site.  They know how to camp!

This was the view from our hike!

Eli even had a chance to sit in the front seat.

We fished at 2 different lakes and Clear Creek Reservoir was “clearly” the best.

Eli’s first fishing trip was not his favorite.  Camping in general tired him out.

We took a trip to the continental divide and played in the snow in sandals.

Lastly the family picture.  We were lucky enough to camp below my parents.