Last weekend, we had the pleasure of covering Ally and Adam’s wedding at Middleton Place in Charleston, SC. Sunday morning, we walked the estate and happened upon Doug showing traditional craftsmen building techniques. Doug immediately began describing his craft and the different tools needed to produce wooden vessels, barrels, etc., but one thing struck me. In spite of the insane heat and humidity and the dusty old shed, Doug loves what he does! So much so, he has been at Middleton Place for over 16 years.

With the rush of everyday life, it is easy to fall into a pattern of the mundane. To work without enjoyment, to live without life… This encounter was yet another reminder to pursue what you enjoy and it will never be work. I do love my job!

Even though we shoot primarily in digital format, there is a feel and look to film that is both classic and artistic. Last week I was given a brand spankin’ new 1973 Yashica electro 35mm camera with a 1.4 lens. I shot a few test shots of Emma to see how the camera reads and if it needs to be calibrated. There is definitely an excitement with film that is hard to attain with digital. I think it has to do with patience…

We live our lives in such busyness with an expectation of immediate results. I want food in 30 seconds or less, a phone that does everything, and relationships through texting. I can tweet, but only 140 characters at a time. And if I’m in a really big hurry, I can get around a time-consuming comments on Facebook and just click “like”. Let’s face it, we want it now, perfect, and with little or no cost. Soooo what does this have to do with shooting an old camera?….

I think film makes me slow down a bit. I can’t see the image on the back of the camera. Nor do I know right away if it is a good shot or not. I have to plan each shot carefully. The anticipation builds as I finish the roll and take it to the lab (granted it is a one-hour photo). When I run back by, I anxiously tear open the sleeve to reveal images that capture time and light on film with no fancy computers, no photoshop or lightroom, only a simple manual camera, some film, and some time.

I must slow down.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Memorial Day! Just a little reminder to not only take some time to rest, cook-out, and play on the lake, but also to remember and recognize our military men and women who are defending our country today as you read this post. As well, pause today to pay tribute to the many lives who have been given to preserve the freedom which we now enjoy… Freedom is a beautiful thing, but it definitely comes at a cost.

Very soon, a new CD will be released by Ruth Wakefield. We’ve heard a few of the rough cuts and it is going to be great! Ruth is very special to our family as she is a good friend as well as Emma’s piano teacher. Here are a few shots from Ruth’s CD shoot–we’ll post some images of the CD when it’s complete…

[Show as slideshow]

Those of you who subscribe to our Tweets have received a few photo tips in the past regarding line, shadow, use of lighting, etc. This tip is more about the way we think, rather than the way we shoot.
There is a common denominator among the photography “greats”.

O B S E R V A T I O N

This is a simple concept, but one which takes time and continual practice to hone. Specifically, observe the people around you. Ask yourself questions when you see people on the street or at the grocery store:

How has God created them uniquely? Are there interesting physical characteristics that draw your eye? Do they fit their surroundings or not? Do their eyes tell a story? Are their hands worn and calloused from years of hard work or are they fresh and young, starting life? What is different about this person that no one else can claim? What is their story? Who are they?

These are just a few questions to ask as you see an individual. Everyone is unique and has stories to tell. As photographers, it is our privilege to be able to tell just a few of those stories. So this phototip is to practice the art of observing and getting to know people.

Below is a shot we grabbed from last Saturday’s yard sale. A lot of people came through that morning, but he really caught my eye and was gracious enough to allow me to capture a few images of him. To me, his eyes really tell a story…

There are endless debates between professional photographers and amateurs alike regarding which camera system is the best. The Nikon and Canon camps are incredibly loyal to their brand and specific make of camera. Ultimately, there is no right or wrong answer when searching for the best camera, but one thing is certain. You can’t shoot whatcha’ don’t have withya’! No matter how great my equipment is, the best camera is the one I have in my hand. I can only capture a moment in time if I am prepared with a camera.

One of my favorite cameras is my iPhone. It doesn’t have a flash, no shutter, aperture, or ISO adjustment. There are no fancy bells and whistles. But, I have my iPhone with me everywhere I go so it is a camera that I use a lot… Now of course I do not rely on my phone for weddings, portraits, etc., but it is a great device to capture everyday occurrences that I would otherwise miss. Also, I can test out ideas and play with framing and composition before I pickup my SLR. This “playing” is invaluable to me as a photographer to stay sharp and stretch my creativity between shoots.

So, what’s the bottom line? Shoot, shoot, shoot… with whatever camera you have with you. And when you feel like you’re about to fill up your memory card, phone, hard-drive, etc…. shoot some more!

Here are a few recent images from our iPhones… Enjoy and happy shooting…

[Show as slideshow]

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! We had such a great time with family and friends, enjoying good food and even better conversation. Although we got to relax a little, I know some folks were very busy during the holidays. Now that Christmas 2009 is over, Santa needed a little R&R in the Caribbean…

Driving through Alabama on the way to Texas…

In honor of fall, our daughter Emma designed a background for my iPhone that I thought you might like. Feel free to download this “tree in fall” for a bright reminder of this beautiful season… Also, feel free to leave the designer, Emma, a message here on the blog…

A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to photograph the beautiful baptism of Eleni. We really enjoyed our time with Julia, Constantine, and families in DC. We’ll post a few images from the baptism in a few days, but here are some images from DC. We will be including these images and others in a fine art portfolio entitled “the Washington series” on our website. We hope you enjoy these images from our nation’s capitol…