Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head

Rain has been a pretty scarce thing around here lately.  Here is what it looks like at 1/400 of a second.

Enjoy the day.

George

The Beach...it makes you slow down

What is it about the beach that we love so much?  The sound of the surf?  The lazy days?  Time with friends?  Time to unwind?  I think one of the greatest gifts we get from a trip to the beach is that we  slooooow down.  When you slow down, you allow the senses to take in and register all that is around you.

We are so busy with cell phones, i Pads, computers, email, and voice mail, often using more than one at a time.  Our senses are in overload and we don't focus on any one thing.  When we do slow down, it is amazing what we notice.  Here is a good example:

These three images were taken on a couple of consecutive days and I didn't move more that 100 feet from one spot to record all of these images.  Three completely different images that were made possible because I was  able to really focus on what I was seeing, without distractions.

Coming home from the trip, I  made a promise to myself to always strive to stay focused in the present, and to go fast enough so that I can get to where I am going, and slow enough so that my senses are able to take in the beautiful sights and sounds that surround me every day.

Have a great day!
George

Puppy Portraits

Our tender-hearted neighbors Frances and Tommy recently became foster parents for a Toy Poodle named Libby and her four newborn puppies. They invited us to visit mama and puppies and photograph the four sisters.  As we waited for the girls to wake from their nap, we were poised to move quickly, as their awake time at four weeks is in very short spurts.  We knew a basket would keep them corralled, that is, for about two seconds.  Getting four puppies to stay still for a 60th of a second is next to impossible, and many of our shots looked something like this: 

Perseverance eventually pays off.  

Using a squeaky toy to catch their attention for a split second, we got our picture.  Window light provided back light, and a strobe filled in the front.  Within moments after this snap, they were all sound asleep. Fortunately, in the small window of opportunity, we captured a darling portrait of the four sisters.

Frances and Tommy and the new adoptive parents have a keepsake that celebrates their giving and caring for Libby and her puppies.  They have all found good homes.

Have a great day!
George

Sunny Day, Fast Cars, and Fast Lenses

The recent National Auto Sport Association events at Road Atlanta were a blast to photograph.   Not much beats a beautiful day at the track, experiencing the sights and sounds of cars racing around a road course.

Getting cars ready for the track is often a family affair with friends and family pitching in for last minute preparations.












Talk about tight racing coming out of the last turn and heading down the front straight!

Great design, great technique entering a corner.  The instructor looks very much at ease.

Reliving the race with a captive audience is a great past time.

Notice the intense concentration in the driver's eyes as he heads into a turn. That sure looks like fun.

Have a great day.

George

Cumming Fair: Alligators and Bull Riding

The Cumming Fair had lots of attractions. The Rodeo was really fun to watch and photograph as the light was getting low in the western sky.  Old Glory made her entrance courtesy of a cowgirl on her special ride.

Then it was time for the cowboys to take over

I'm not sure if trying to ride one of these bulls requires courage or a bit of insanity.  As I think about it, the answer is both.  These guys were great and provided a lot of thrills and excitement for the crowd.

The bulls couldn't resist kicking up their heels and doing a little dance on their own.

This guy was able to handle the gator almost as good as a Georgia Bulldog can.

Lights, characters, rides (amusement and animals), and some photographs to tell the story.  The Cumming fair had it all.

Have a great day,
George

Cumming Fair Photographs...Festival of Lights and Colors

The Cumming Fair was an absolute feast for the eyes when it came to colors and lights.  The interplay of the two created a lot of opportunities for this photographer.  Here are a few images to capture the moments...

What is a fair without stuffed animals????  They want their portraits too.

 Here we go 'round in circles..........

and circles

The fairgrounds were awash in colors

  And lights...

 

What fun to photograph and what a great celebration in Cumming, GA in October of 2011.

more to come.....

Have a great day,

George

Senior Portraits......Class of 2012

Sunny late summer afternoon at a local horse farm provides the perfect backdrop for outdoor senior portraits.  Lovely Miss A's sparkling personality shines.  

The camera loved her.

 

One of the horses wanted their photograph taken too and showed up as a surprise visitor.

A pretty day, a pretty subject, and having fun making portraits that capture the moment.





It is interesting going to a location for the first time and looking at the different possible backgrounds working with, and augmenting the light to make it work.  First order of business is to have a great subject who is willing to be creative and try different things to make a great senior portrait.  Miss A fits the bill.  She was great to work with.

Have a good day.

George