Moving Pictures

Not too long ago I started messing with the video function on my camera.  Most DSLRs now have HD video capability, which is pretty cool, though it never really occurred to me to use it too much.  However, just as with the advancement of my still photography, the boys inspired me to get serious and develop more expertise.  I mean, photos of your kids are great, but movies have a quality all their own.  You can hear their little voices, capture those fleeting periods as they master a new skill, watch personalities and relationships in a specific moment in time.  If a photo speaks a 1000 words, a film speaks a million.

The movies started simple, one take, one moment.  Then as I became more familiar with editing and the tools available to me, I started branching out a bit, trying to tell a story.  And I found that I LOVED it.  It's a completely different way to approach a visual subject. And as I added the element of audio, in most cases for me music, editing became an art in and of itself.

After sharing my indulgent home movies with friends I was asked to create my first commercial video.  With social media like Twitter and Facebook, and video sites like YouTube and Vimeo, short films can be a creative and entertaining way to share information.  I jumped at the chance to help my friend Cyndi create a promotional video for her new cloth diaper service, Smarty Pants.  Smarty Pants is not only the brain child of a dear friend, but an idea I can get behind. I hope our little video helps garner support and has the customers lining up!

(I suggest watching at 480p, but you might have to let if buffer for a minute)

If you think your business could benefit from a short film like this, I'd love to hear from you!

Three Sisters (and a little brother) : Family

These are my kind of girls.  The kind that aren't afraid of getting dirty, scaling cliffs and jumping from boulders...in pink cowboy boots.  

Great Harvest Bakery : Business

One of the reasons I love my neighborhood is what's a stone's throw away.  Great pizza joint, a chocolate factory and this place! We visit Great Harvest at least twice a week, taking in the tastes and smells of Sara and Ethan's labor of love.   My boys head to the toys as I get a slice for Sam and a biscotti for Joe.  It's so homey, and no wonder.  It's a true family affair at Great Harvest, with two boys and a baby girl rounding out a stellar staff.  So many faces have become familiar, always smiling and always hard at work. My neighborhood benefits not only from their bakery, but  their family as part of our community as residents in the Five Sisters.  I feel lucky to count Sara and Ethan as friends and neighbors  as well as bakers of my bread.  It's comforting to know you'll always find a warm welcome (and a cream cheese and toffee scone). 

Continuing education

For a second here in Vermont, it actually seemed like Spring. But as it so happens, it's not. Well, technically yesterday was first day of Spring. And technically? it snowed. Winter it seems,  does not own a calendar.

Those few warm days had me thinking ahead to wedding season. Yep, it's right around the corner. Between Two House Photo weddings with my partner Carin and a smattering of solo weddings, looks like the summer is going to be jam packed with love. The sunshine, the pretty dresses, the flowers... all those people, all so happy, and a maybe just a little bit drunk - a perfect recipe for amazing images.

In the "down time" of Vermont winter (come on people?! what's wrong with a January wedding? Sparkly snow crystals, warm fireplaces, horse drawn sleds...be adventurous!) there's a bit of time to try new things, get creative and learn something.  I've had a few side projects that I'm really excited about, but not ready to share just yet. It's leading to some interesting ideas that I hope to explore more in the coming year. Stay tuned.

One thing I can share is my new camera. Jay got me a Holga for Christmas. For those of you who don't know, a holga is a toy camera that shoots medium format film (think big square negatives). I've been trying to tame the little plastic beast since the first click. It's my first venture into film since I was 17. I'm proud to say that in the past few months I've increased my "yield" per roll. My first roll of 12 photos revealed 2 keepers. The one I just got back? 7. And most importantly, I'm learning what kind of photos the Holga is best utilized for. Certain subjects, distances and overall compositions increase the likelyhood of nice results. Of course, there are no steadfast rules, but experience has taught me quite a bit. Like making sure to take off the lens cap! duh.  Unlike SLRs, the Holga lets you see whether the lens is covered or not. I've had a lot of rolls with only 8 or so exposures. Kinda a waste of money, no?

I'm looking forward to incorporating the holga into some weddings.  A few magical photos to match the magical day. Here are a few of my favorites from the winter. I seem to do better in black and white.  I haven't quite mastered the color.  I've got a roll of color film in my Holga as we speak.  So fingers crossed that I'll have something to share next week.

This last one is actually from my very first roll.  Pure luck, but still one of my favorites.  Of course the subject matter doesn't hurt (my guy Sam...age 4).

Terri Sue & Jeffery : Wedding

It's nice to be back.  Though it was wonderful seeing my sister, there's nothing like the familiar comfort of home. Oh, believe me I enjoyed the mornings of sleeping in and alone time with my brain. And it's always good to have the opportunity to miss the boys a bit.  Makes their adorable smiling faces so much more precious. 

I was down to Tallahassee to help shoot Terri Sue and Jeffery's wedding.  My sister works with the groom's mom, and after hearing they weren't hiring a photographer,  volunteered her services so they could have a little more than just sweet memories of their wedding day.  Having never shot a wedding before she was understandably a bit nervous, so I jumped at the chance to volunteer my services as assistant. Hey, just fly my down! To FLORIDA. All out the kindness of my heart.  Oh no, had nothing to do with leaving the snow, the cold, and the constant bundling of little boys.  Exit 20 degrees, enter 70...never crossed my mind.   

To  help make it possible, the boys got their Grandma all to themselves for a long weekend.  We did a kind of trading places, as she left Florida and headed to Vermont.  Exit Florida sunshine, enter Vermont snow.  Over a foot of it the very next day!   Somehow, I don't think "thank you" quite cuts it.

But as you can see, it was a beautiful affair.  My sister did an awesome job running the show and I was more than happy to snap away as second shooter.  Love was in the air...the warm, sunny, Florida air.

The Head and the Heart : Music

When I saw that these guys were coming to town in support of Dr. Dog, and on February 15th, I knew immediately what to get J for Valentines Day.  It was supposed to be a surprise, but a momentary schedule misunderstanding forced me to let the cat out of the bag.  The Head and the Heart has been the dominant soundtrack around these parts since I got turned onto them by Amy, my sister in law.  If you've been enjoying the recent surge of neo-folkyness such as the Avett Brothers or Mumford & Sons, I suggest you check these guys out.

I was initally worried about bringing my camera.  Februrary in Vermont is not a time to stash a camera in your car unless you want your LCD to explode.  So I gathered a little gumption and emailed the press contact for the band, to ask permission.  I got a quick and enthusiastic reply and as a result, I got my very first Photo Pass.  Hopefully not my last.  And perhaps in the future I'll bring more than one lens.  I didn't get quite the photos I had hoped, but it can be hard when your busy groovin and singing along.

B is for Bobbin

My Sunday was spent with these lovely ladies (and one handsome dude) photographing the handmade fashions available at The Bobbin in Burlington, VT. The space was just what I love.  Gritty and funky, full of stage props,  cast offs from abandoned art projects, and your basic hodge podge of good ol' junk.  Perfect for a rock n' roll meets vintage vibe. It was a thoroughly DIY affair, from the repurposed handmade clothing, the hanging of the B, to Bobbin owner Gyllian posing in her own creations for my camera. Another "work with what you got" aspect,  I must admit, was my lighting.  I am not a "studio" photographer, and my lighting set up usually consists of, well...the sun.  I prefer natural light and only employ a flash when absolutely necessary.  And unfortunately this space, with it's high painted metal ceiling, didn't give me much in the way of diffusing or bouncing the flash.  And without diffusing, you end up with that stark, flashy snapshot effect.  Not really what we were going for. But being the thrifty and resourceful people we are, we made do.  The lone bank of windows provided a gorgeous moody light. Lightbulbs from Lowes and an amateur model/electrician and viola! some stage lighting was quickly rigged up. And  lastly, we headed out into the elements.  Where else would you take photos of faux and recycled fur? Thanks to Emma, Scout, Christina, Jason and Gyllian.  Together I think we more than made do, with some seriously awesome results!