Archive for the 'Photography' Category



11
Jul

How I spent my 30th Birthday

 

How I spent my 30th Birthday?

 

All will be happy to know that my 30th birthday was nearly perfect. I awoke around 9am to the sound of Sunday and Ben sneaking up the stairs with a birthday muffin and candles. So darling. We did some work and email in the morning and then headed out to the Chicago Botanic Gardens. We spent the day taking pictures of flowers, waters, and ducks. Below is a photo from the day! Gorgeous huh?

 

 

 

 

Then it rained, we were sad, so we went and got some wine at Sam’s (the wine importer not the mega store!).

 

Then we returned to the Gardens to watch David Gweshe. This is part of their hot summer nights series. Thursday evenings at the Garden offer high-energy music on the Esplanade as the perfect lift to get you through the work week. Tafeneyi (David) Gweshe of Zimbabwe to Hot Summer Nights. David was accompanied by six musicians and the Boterekwa Dance Troupe, who will perform with him on the Esplanade.

 

http://www.chicago-botanic.org/calendar/hot_summer_nights.php

 

We closed off the night we a bottle of wine and a few short clips from the “short films” history of by Pixar Animation. I guess being 30 isn’t so bad huh? Feels like I am 25!

 

Anyone interested in joining for the next “Hot Summer Nights” ?

Hot Summer Nights Performance Schedule

June 12 – Big City Swing with The Flat Cats

June 19 – The Silver Beams

June 26 – Jesse Lege and Joel Savoy
(Cajun music)

July 3 – Chicago con Clase with Saladeen Alamin

July 10 – Tafaneyi (David) Gweshe and the Boterekwa Dance Troupe

July 17 – Big City Swing with Lesley Byers and
The Jazz Cats

July 24 – The Chicago Cajun Aces

July 31 – Tafaneyi (David) Gweshe and the Boterekwa Dance Troupe

August 7 – Chicago con Clase with Saladeen Alamin

August 14 – The Silver Beams

August 21 – Big City Swing with Lesley Byers and The Jazz Cats

August 28 – The Chicago Cajun Aces

 

03
Jul

Security for models


In response to a question posted on photography forum — “what should a model do if a photographer refuses to give information about their company?”

 

As a photographer myself, I can appreciate when models and clients ask me for detailed information. I recently had a client ask me “how old are you” and “are you married”. Not that it impacts my professional work, but he appreciated the fact that I was honest with him and didn’t dodge the questions. If you are going to spend 2 hours with someone in an enclosed room you need to feel comfortable with who they are and know they are a “real” person. I try to be as upfront as I can with my models about the session and the studio – I even offer green tea during my portrait shoots as this is part of who I am.My advice for models would be to be polite with questions but also persistent! If someone avoids your simply questions, can not tell you about their gear, will not provide you a photo of the studio or tells you to come alone… those are warning signs. Please do not put yourself into a dangerous situation.

On the flip side, maybe someone can offer some advice. Sometimes in the back of my mind I wonder about the models who come into the studio. How do I know they are legitimate and not just out to case the joint? To protect myself and my equipment, unless I have already worked with the person or they are a personal referral from a close friend, I have a second photographer on site. Most people are open and able to provide me sample photos, which I appreciate but not all clients do. Any thoughts for up front pre-screening of models and clients?

 

 

13
Jun

smugmug discount Coupon Code b9UgUL143SurE

Are you looking for Smugmug discount code? Want to receive $5.00 off of your membership fee? Smug mug now offers the chance for current (and satisifed) members and customers to spread the word and share in the Smugmug business.

Enter the following information into the “Referred by” field to receive an automatic $5 off! This is not a gimmick - I received my $5 off code from a trusted photographer friend and want to share the joy and savings onto others!

(Copy past exactly as you see it below, needs to have upper and lower case letters)

 

Coupon Code:

 

b9UgUL143SurE

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers!

AZ

25
Apr

Lake County Prairie Wolf Forest Preserve Dog Park on Route 43

This past week the Little Wet Dog and her caregivers went for a run to the dog park. We love the dog park! We can run and take pictures and then run and then sniff other… well you know.

Spring is here! I love spring. The weather just lovely this week and we got to go to my second favorite dog park. Mommy and daddy like this one because the lake is fenced off so I can’t jump in and get stinky. But don’t worry… I find mud everywhere I go!

This week daddy went for a long run around the thistle area while mommy stayed behind to take some photos. I was so worried that daddy ran away and left us behind. I panicked. I know mommy loves daddy so much that I ran after him to get him to come back. I ran for what seemed like a mile through that dog park track and found him. I was so tired but turned right around and ran back to tell mommy that daddy was coming back. She didn’t seemed worried. Then when he ran back to her, he turned around and ran away again so I had to high tail after him. The Little Wet Dog was so confused!

Eventually after a few attempts to scare me, I just gave up and stayed with mommy. Don’t worry though, I still looked back every few feet just to check to make sure he was coming. After I go my paws washed at the hand pump daddy came running down the path. I was so happy to see him. Along the way I met a nice lady with a point nose – she was nice.

Overall we had a great day at the dog park! Lot’s of buddies. Lot’s of running. Lot’s of photos (which mommie likes). I like spending time with my family.

25
Apr

One dance with angels of rain

As the clouds came overhead on Friday April 25th, we ran from dinner at Las Palma’s to get home before the massive storm. We knew that the Little Wet Dog would be quivering under the table.

This is the cutest thing! She will never let a stranger into the house (she would destroy anyone who tried to enter without permission) and is the world best guard dog, and yet as a thunderstorm approaches and she is a puppy and likes to snuggle with mommie.

cracked-road-with-rain_resize.JPG

Around 7pm the mad storm rolled through northern Illinois, tearing through the suburbs without regret. We watched on the radar the red boxes flashed across the Dell computer monitor. As I stood at the window watching each drop fall and each sprinkle of rain sing their songs of joy, I had a moment of calmness.

This opportunity made me stop and think a moment about my life. Think about the mad rush through life… another wedding, another meeting, another portrait session, another communion, another something, another cup of coffee and you’re gone. (I wouldn’t change it for the world though!)  And yet, at that moment… I stopped. I stopped and waited. I waited for nothing. And nothing happened. The drop just stayed on the window. It didn’t have anywhere to go. No hurry. He just sat and waited. I waited for him and he waited for me. And yet we waited for nothing. My mind began to wander away and wander back. It was the peaceful sound of calm.

My 50mm lens and trusty camera provided me the chance to capture the most amazing image of a rain drop caught on a window screen – and I share that image with you my dear friends.rain-drop-on-window-sill.jpg

As the liquid angels subsided, I saw the amazing reflections of the street lamps upon the long puddles on the asphalt. I grabbed my Canon Digital Camera and, along with my EF 28 to 135mm lens, I ran out to get some amazing photos. The moment of peace still in my bones and soul, I rushed out to the fresh cool April breeze. All around me the drizzle came and I didn’t notice. Drop. Drop. Drop. I didn’t notice. My hair was drenched. My pants were wet and ruined. Before I realized it, I was lying on the ground, soaked all the way through, getting “that one perfect shot”.

I got it!

(Scroll past the picture for description of the image).

angel-dance-with-devil-in-blue.JPG

My artist’s eyes saw the dancing of my angle rain friend as if she were entrenched in a fox trot with the devil surrounded by the flames of Satan. The lights swayed back and forth singing “dance with me, dance with me” and the blue aurora filled the sky with its benevolent glory.

Tonight was a might fine night. A perfect night to live and a perfect night to dance. A perfect night to find appreciation and beauty all around. While the world continues to turn and another day approaches, I had but one last dance with the angels of rain.




 

September 2008
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