Gerry here. Last night, Friday, Aug. 6, 2010, was the “Downtown in Focus” photo contest. According to the event website “Amateur and professional photographers are invited to participate in Downtown in Focus, a photo contest aimed at finding some new and distinctive angles and shots of our downtown.” For this event, most of the buildings downtown turned on all of their interior and exterior lights as an incentive to get photographers out for the unique opportunity to see downtown illuminated. I took plenty of shots of the skyline from across the river and on top of the Miami Valley Hospital parking garage — and I’ll post those later — but this one is for my wife. She stayed home with Shepherd so I could go out on my photo explore. She made one request via text message after I made tracks: “Take one that is wide, where you are in the middle of the street looking up and out, ok? For my background. Get streetlights in it. Please :)” I thought, no problem, and I set off to take photos from across the river, where I met my brother and his wife (Cam & Steph) to model for some shots (they were already downtown on a date) — As previously stated, I’ll post those later too, but I digress. When done there, I headed into downtown to get Erinne’s shot thinking to myself that I knew the streets pretty well — after all, I went to school and worked there for four years — but I quickly realized that I had forgotten the layout and street flow, which has also changed since I’ve been absent. I parked and walked for a short while looking for a sweet spot I had photographed years ago while in school. I never really found it, so I eventually just stopped across from the Arcade and Fifth-Third building, which are across the street from Court House square on Third Street. I set up the tripod, drew back the VFL to 12mm on my Tokina ultra wide, cranked up the f-stop, dialed down the ISO, and set my shutter for 30 sec. of exposure. Voila. One for the wife — and for the blog. :)

Gerry here.

Last night, Friday, Aug. 6, 2010, was the “Downtown in Focus” photo contest.

According to the event website “Amateur and professional photographers are invited to participate in Downtown in Focus, a photo contest aimed at finding some new and distinctive angles and shots of our downtown.”

For this event, most of the buildings downtown turned on all of their interior and exterior lights as an incentive to get photographers out for the unique opportunity to see downtown illuminated.

I took plenty of shots of the skyline from across the river and on top of the Miami Valley Hospital parking garage — and I’ll post those later — but this one is for my wife. She stayed home with Shepherd so I could go out on my photo explore.

She made one request via text message after I made tracks: “Take one that is wide, where you are in the middle of the street looking up and out, ok? For my background. Get streetlights in it. Please :)”

I thought, no problem, and I set off to take photos from across the river, where I met my brother and his wife (Cam & Steph) to model for some shots (they were already downtown on a date) — As previously stated, I’ll post those later too, but I digress.

When done there, I headed into downtown to get Erinne’s shot thinking to myself that I knew the streets pretty well — after all, I went to school and worked there for four years — but I quickly realized that I had forgotten the layout and street flow, which has also changed since I’ve been absent.

I parked and walked for a short while looking for a sweet spot I had photographed years ago while in school. I never really found it, so I eventually just stopped across from the Arcade and Fifth-Third building, which are across the street from Court House square on Third Street.

I set up the tripod, drew back the VFL to 12mm on my Tokina ultra wide, cranked up the f-stop, dialed down the ISO, and set my shutter for 30 sec. of exposure.

Voila. One for the wife — and for the blog. :)

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Ellen + Greg | Columbus Wedding Photography

Ellen and Greg are a great couple. An emotional, people-driven, life-loving, face-making, joke-playing, stuck-on-each-other-like-gum-on-a-shoe sort of couple.

We spent the whole day with them on Wedding Day and there were so many tears, I made a note to myself twice in the first hour to remember tissues at all future ceremonies.

Most of the tears trickled forth from laughing too hard. Others escaped during the vows when they got lost in each other’s eyes, exchanging their promises to be there through thick and thin.

This wedding was a little bit like being in the midst of a great romantic comedy and we thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

Thank you for choosing us, Mr. + Mrs. Jackson. It was a JOY. God bless you in the years to come- with lots more laughter and eye-crinkles ;)

Thursday, August 5, 2010   ()

We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once, before a word has been spoken.

Fyodor Dostoevsky
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Top Ten Tuesday | I Love Being a Photographer

I love being a photographer. If you asked me why, I’d probably say “I just do.” So I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what makes our job something I treasure so much. I’ve got a top ten list now. But i could probably go on. and on. and on.

1. I get to create. Photography is not just about snapping a picture and printing it out. There is so much thought that goes into the whole process that it’s turned into another art outlet for me. I get to visualize, set up, orchestrate, edit, stylize and design all sorts of photos and products. It’s never the same from day to day, and I thrive on that! To have something active and tangible that I can throw my efforts into, and to form a product that touches both the eye and the heart is all I ever wanted in a career. In this way, photography has been a dream come true for me.

2. I get to set my schedule. There’s nothing better than waking up in the morning knowing I can plan my day around my family. Being a photographer has allowed me to be home with Shepherd for most of the day. I am even able to do my post-production work while he cuddles on the couch beside me or plays with his toys in the living room, where we have our computer set up. Working at home means my family can and will always come first.

3. I get to go places. I’ve always been fascinated with other cultures and places. I’ve been itching to travel aaaall my life, and this year we’ve started to book weddings outside the normal Columbus-Cincinnati route. We’re going to a Rehoboth Beach in Delaware this fall for one wedding, and later, we get to see Chicago (at last!) when we travel there for a WPPI conference. Who knows where else these cameras might take us? Anyone know folks looking for a photographer in, say… Argentina? Greece? Japan?

4. I get to work with my best friend + husband. Gerry is a talented artist and has studied graphic design and photography, but also motion picture production. This mix-up of skills makes for some very dramatic and stunning images when it comes time for him to go off and do his thing on wedding days. He sees things most people would never think to look for, and risks his neck (more often than I’m comfortable with!) to get the shots that will mean the most to the folks in the pictures. Beyond that, he has sacrificed a lot of time and effort into being part of this dream and pushes us to get better with every session. I wouldn’t want to do this without him!

5. I’m always learning. Whether from other photographers’ blogs, or books, or magazines touting the last software and equipment, there is ALWAYS something new and exciting going on in the world of photography. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to catch up on all of it, but it’s sure fun to try. And who doesn’t like to learn something new everyday? A job devoid of new ideas and techniques would get boring very quickly, indeed!

6. It’s a challenge. Like any profession, photography comes with its own set of challenges. There is always the risk of an equipment malfunction, bad weather, same old locations, the list could go on and on. But the beauty in every challenge is that it pushes us to find a creative solution. Dropped a lens? Okay, how do we recreate the style with a different one? Ooh… cool. Storming outside? Let’s break out the umbrellas and play in the puddles. Everyone loooves Cox Arboretum? Well, it’s a big place, let’s hit the road less traveled. There’s always an answer, we just have to be patient and think outside the box. More often than not, those moments provide some of the most unique images.

7. We won’t forget our own memories. Another perk of being a photographer is that we usually have a camera (or two) out at any given time during the day. I think I’ve managed to catch every Shep milestone on a CF card and have it backed up in a few different places. Work has been welcomed into our family life by allowing us to document and preserve so many memories we could have missed. I can’t wait to look back when the kids are older and play slideshows of those moments for them!

8. The people: from strangers to friends. I have met so many people in the last few years of capturing love with our cameras. I live for that shift where we go from being strangers, to hearing people’s stories, to celebrating their relationships with them.  I will probably never develop a love for doing photographs that don’t include people. You guys are too big a part of why I do this and I wouldn’t trade that for anything :).

9. The people: from wallflower to super star. It’s really something to be permitted to bring someone quiet and wary of having his/her picture taken out of the shadows and into the limelight. And to hear how cool/beautiful they feel upon seeing their photos once the session is over. We are blessed to have a job in which a huge part of our goal is to make whomever we’re working with feel comfortable, special and worth our undivided attention. We’re there to serve, and it’s really all about you, the subject of the shoot!

20. The people: oh, the encouragement! I love and continue to be wowed by how much our clients give back to us, and it’s totally unnecessary and unexpected. This year alone, I’ve received some beautiful notes that are taped to my computer as constant reminders that we’re doing more than just taking pictures. We’re being invited into peoples’ lives and making a mark there, for better or for worse.

one of my favorite notes from a bride this year… “you made us have laugh and have FUN during one of the most nerve-wracking times of our lives! we really admire your creativity and your gentle loving spirits.”

and that’s why i love photographing people!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010   ()

the tumpaks | dayton family photography

Amanda + Jeremy have always been ready and willing to venture out with us for a shoot. A couple years ago, it was as a young married couple to help us build our portfolio. Now, they are a hatchback-driving family of four with two little girls whose cuteness and personality cannot be contained. (not that anyone would ever try!)

Sofi, featured while in her Mama’s belly in this post had her first out-and-about photo session and she did great. She let Mimi (big sister) hug her, kiss her, squeeze her as much as she wanted - as long as Mama was waiting with some soothing cuddles afterward :)

And Mimi… that little bundle of sweetness has really come into her sense of humor in the last few months. Amanda says she’s a little bit of a teenager already, too; with a mind of her own and a thirst for independence. But like Sofi, she always comes back to Mama and Daddy for kisses and cuddles.

Love you guys!

Monday, August 2, 2010 — 1 note   ()
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