Thank You!

What can I say about Kathy, John and now Claudia? The infinite patience and kindness they show to us as they help us color correct, edit, and navigate through the Commercial Photography program helps us immeasurably. I am so grateful to you guys for sharing your knowledge with us, and just being who you are. John's great sense of humor has kept us laughing... no matter how tired we are! We appreciate you guys so much!

Fall Quarter 2008... Survive or Thrive????

Gregory Heisler

We are honored that Gwinnett Technical Institute was chosen to be a location for a filmed interview with renowned portrait photographer Mr. Gregory Heisler. Mr. Heisler counts over 70 Time Magazine covers among his many photographic achievements. As students we certainly feel fortunate to be a part of this exciting experience... to literally be able to sit at the feet of masters and learn. To see examples of Mr. Heisler's work, click here.

Denis Reggie

We were very excited to have Denis Reggie visit our campus yesterday. Mr. Reggie is a world renowned photographer who has been a pioneer in the area of Photojournalistic weddings. To read a fascinating interview with Mr. Reggie click here.

White and Light

I loved the play of light on this dewy white camellia. I shot this with my macro lens on a foggy morning in South Carolina.

The Music

One of the joys of Central Park is that you can hear amazingly talented musicians playing for free. This young lady was a joy to listen to, and made a glorious afternoon in the park even more perfect.

To Find Your Prince...

Sometimes you have to kiss a lot of toads. This woman bought hers in New York's Chinatown district for the simple pleasure of letting him go. He escaped becoming "frog legs on a plate". For now at least.

One Little, Two Little....

Three Little Piggies..."hamming it up" and doing a little shopping in the Meat Packing District of New York. One last shopping spree and then...BACON!!!!

The Wish

What is it that has caught the imagination of this little one? Is there something she sees out there that she wants as part of her life? Or is she letting her imagination conjure up all sorts of wonderful scenes?

The Lesson

I caught this moment between a father and son in Central Park in New York. I love the fact that you can't really see their faces...it allows this shot to be about all fathers and sons and the skills passed on from one generation to the next.

Manfrotto Tripods...An Interview with Brent McCallister

Camellia

What flower doesn't look better with a bit of dew dripping from it? This was the real thing...on a rainy morning in South Carolina in some amazing gardens at an old Southern plantation.

It's All About the Light

The dappled light on this bird is what attracted me to this shot. Not to mention the gorgeous plumage of the bird himself.
Great combinations of color.

Not Just Kangaroos

Don't think the Kangaroo Center has just Kangaroos. Here's something a bit more colorful. Believe it or not, she's a species of pigeon. Her name is Indigo.

Bold Lines

I discovered that I feel pure joy when I'm capturing reflected images in these buildings. The lines and forms and distortions are fascinating, and I love looking back at them and trying to piece together what portions of the photo are reflective and what portions allow you to actually see the true building.

American Stock Exchange

We are living in uncertain financial times to say the least. The stock exchange has been front and center in the news for quite some time now and its volatility reminds us of how fragile a nation's economy can be if the people's confidence in the system falters.

Determination

It amazes me to see life clinging to such a stony unforgiving slope. Such determination to survive! What a great lesson.

The Three Stooges

This comical trio is enjoying the "Georgia Outback" at the Kangaroo Conservation Center outside of Dawsonville. I was fortunate to be able to get "up close and personal" with some of these rather shy creatures with the help of a Canon 70-200mm zoom lens. What a treat!

Take Me Away

I'm working up a few of the Cumberland Island pictures I took while on a quick getaway there. I'm so ready to go back. I'm looking forward to Christmas break and the possibility of another relaxing jaunt outside the city.

Leaving Fall Behind

The pumpkins are slowly disappearing...and fall is giving way to winter. The bright red,orange and yellow colors of fall are almost gone... replaced by evergreens and brown leaves. But a few pumpkins will make their way to Thanksgiving tables soon.

Wind Power

I love this windmill blade against the sky. It reminds me of yesteryear, and yet at the same time, it reminds me of the future. Just change the configurations a little and you'd have the modern wind power blades that dot the California countryside.

Environmental Portrait

Yes, it's Rockefeller Center! And this gentlemen steers the zamboni over the ice... preparing the way for all the skaters who will be flying over its surface later in the day!

Looking for Something?

Where did I put my wide angle lens? I know I packed it this morning before I left! I simply must get a shot of that human over there!

Tate the Doe

Tate, a wild doe, wandered in one day and took up residence at the Kangaroo Center. She's since had a little fawn and is still not the least bit interested in leaving. What she was very interested in was my lens!

Kangaroo Center

The Kangaroo Conservation Center in Dawsonville is the basis for my final four Photojournalism project. It is amazing to see Kangaroos hopping all over these beautiful hills in North Georgia. And its not just kangaroos...it's all sorts of other animals and plants that are native to Australia!

Interview with Janet

Hope you enjoy this interview about my post graduation plans. There are many options for students studying commercial photography, the exciting part is deciding which option to pursue.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October was breast cancer awareness month, and so naturally I was reminded of my own cancer journey.... through chemo, radiation and surgery. I was blessed throughout that journey, and every time I see the pink ribbon symbol it reminds me not only to do all I can to help to find a cure, but also to give thanks for the treatments that are already available. And most of all to be thankful to God...who carried me gently through the entire experience.

Preparing for the Road

Even just this small portion of this statue tells a story!

Katie Bee

A fun way to illustrate a nickname for Senior Portraits!

Stopping Traffic

If there was traffic on this quiet road, Kate could bring them to a stop!

Cousins

The oldest and the youngest...from elementary school to college!

Very Surprised

Shocked was the word to describe my mother's reaction as she walked into her surprise 80th birthday party!

Hitting the Road

I'm off to Dublin, Ga. to a surprise 80th birthday party for my mother.  I think they'll be plenty of opportunities for some interesting photos!  Hope to have some up soon!  

GWTC students: Check your e-mails for some last minute notes on Holiday Portraits!

Reflections of the Big Apple

On a recent trip to New York City, I found myself fascinated with photographing reflections of buildings within buildings.
For more reflections shots click on the picture above.

Interview With Sarah Paulsen

Enjoy this interview with Sarah!

Our First Customers

Today we had our first customers for our Holiday Portrait shoot.  A sweet family group of four people who purchased three poses/six pictures.  We had a camera battery glitch which we had to resolve, but the family was very pleased with the shoot.  They loved the set, had a great time, and told us that they were thrilled to receive a business card from our group when they came to vote.  They asked if we did this every year, and said they had never done a family portrait Christmas shot like this before, and were very thankful that we had let them know about us.  What a delightful start! 

Fill Flash

Here's my pick for my fill flash assignment.  It was taken up in North Georgia inside a covered bridge looking out onto the fall foliage.  I loved the look of the wooden bridge interior against the vivid colors of the landscape. 

Holiday Portrait Lighting

A twelve hour day at school...devoted to working on the Holiday Portrait set with the exception of a quick 30 minutes of time spent in the lab and a few minutes for lunch.   No time for anything else...I must go finish mounting my Kids Portraiture assignment and finish getting Holiday Portrait e-mails out to the lower quarter.  John and I worked until 8 p.m. on lighting the set.  

There's still much to do tomorrow.  

Ansel Adams Video

If you're a fan of Ansel Adams, you must watch this excellent YouTube video highlighting his work.  The embed feature was disabled, so to view it you'll have to click here to follow the link to YouTube. Trust me...you'll be glad you did.

History of Photography-Part 1

Enjoy this stroll through photographic history!

History of Photography-Part 2

Forms, Forms, Forms...

Friday and Saturday were devoted to more last minute details for our Holiday Portrait Shoot. Lots of forms to be typed, errands to be run, last minute purchases to be made. We are working hard to try and bring it all together. Hopefully all our efforts will be rewarded and things will run smoothly this first week. No time for photography these last two days...but next Saturday I'll get to shoot...lots and lots of Holiday Portraits if all our advertising effort brings in a big crowd!

Holiday Portraits Shooting Schedule

Everyone please be sure to check your e-mails regularly. We just sent out the updated version of our Holiday Portrait Shooting Schedules. Everyone should have three time slots. Please make sure you mark these on your calendars! If you cannot be there for your time slot it is imperative that you switch with another person, and let us know who you are switching with. A huge thank you to all that helped Emily with the mulch for the set on Thursday.

Burt's Pumpkin Farm

These little guys don't appear to be bothered in the least by the "No Sitting on the Pumpkins" sign! What a great moment!

The Day After

Our photojournalism assignment for this week was to shoot something that showed what was happening the day after the presidential election. We were given some examples...campaign signs being taken down...reaction to the election results, etc.
Here's one of my favorites...an Obama supporter giving the "thumbs up" to other supporters near Ebenezer Baptist Church in downtown Atlanta.

Street Artist

One of the wonderful things about photographing New York is that it is such a pedestrian city. Everyone is out on the sidewalks...and you're sure to stumble on just about anything happening. It was a pleasant surprise to find this street artist sketching away!

Holiday Portrait Advertising

A huge thank you to all of you who came to Gwinnett Tech today to pass out Holiday Portrait cards to voters. I've already heard that you had a great response to your efforts! And thanks to all of you who came Monday... for all the hard work on the finishing details of our set. The street lamp is glowing, and brand new bushes are in place! Happy Holidays!

Pack It!!! Commercial Photographers on Location

Enjoy this cool video on packing and transporting gear!

Snoots

I loved the "homemade" aspect of this lighting tip.  Want to direct your light to just a certain part of your photo?  It's all about the light, right?  Click here for some sound lighting advice.

Strobist Lighting Article

Just starting out with off camera lighting?  Check out Stobist.com. There's an interesting article on balancing ambient light with strobe.  Click here to read it.

Grand Central Station

"Grand" is an apt description!  Just look at the stately architectural detail and beauty.  A far cry from the subway station kiosks below the ground here.

Gentle Doe

I truly couldn't believe she let me get this close to her.  What a magical moment!

Fall Is in the Air

Nothing says fall like a scarecrow... although this one looks too congenial to scare anyone.

Keep Those Posters Going Up

If you haven't picked up your Holiday Portrait posters yet, please do so on Monday.  Everyone in Upper Quarter is responsible for distributing ten posters to businesses either near the school or near your home.  The posters are in the "set" studio.  Please sign your name on the distribution sheet so that we know you've picked yours up.

Holiday Portraits Preparations

We are in the "home stretch" as we battle to finish the last details of our holiday portrait set.

Yesterday was devoted entirely to our backdrop, and today will be as well.  Hopefully we can emerge today with something that will do justice to the rest of our set.  If not...well, there's always tomorrow! A huge THANK YOU to Kathy Carr, an artist friend who is helping us with our backdrop makeover! She has been such a gift to us!

High Key

Here's my "High Key" shot...angelic white on white.  Click here to see a quick glimpse into the studio background.www.flickr.com/photos/31842244@N08/sets/72157608486731401/

Kids Photo Shoot

Shooting photos of kids is challenging, but so rewarding!  Click here to view a few of the different shots I got of the adorable blue eyed Caitlin.

Pet Portraits Challenge

This was the final image I ended up with for our Pet Photography assignment.  Click here to view some of the shots I passed over in favor of this one.

My New Flickr Account

I just opened a new Flickr account.  To view some of my favorites, click here.

Holiday Portraits Advertising

Posters are popping up all over Gwinnett Tech for our Holiday Portraits.  And the phone is already beginning to ring off the hook!  Keep those posters going out to churches, schools and businesses near you!  Thanks, upper quarter, for all your hard work!

BYOB Photos

When photographing plants and flowers, bring along a small spray bottle of water.  It's amazing what adding a few droplets of "dew" can do for those close up macro flower shots.

Front View of Flier

This shows one of the "fan fliers" from the front view.  What a thrill it must be !

Flying High

On my way home this evening I chanced upon a group of guys that were flying high...literally.  I couldn't believe my eyes as I watched them taking off and landing and doing all sorts of acrobatics in the sky!   

Faux Tripod

I attended a photography talk at a recent Landscape and Garden event at the World Congress Center.  The talk centered around shooting flowers, landscape shots, etc.  One of the speakers said he never leaves home without his "faux tripod"....in essence a beanbag.  You can actually purchase beanbags with tripod attachments, but you can easily and cheaply just make a beanbag.

The beauty of it is that it conforms to whatever surface you want to rest your camera on...even a jagged piece of rock.  Set your camera on that, and you have a secure surface.  

Holiday Portraits Set

We have nearly completed the construction of our Holiday Portraits set.  Now we can begin the process of lighting it, and discovering what final touches we need to add.  A huge thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make this a reality.  If anyone has a source for artificial poinsettias please let me know. We'd love to add more to the set to make it more colorful.

Wedding Preparations

This beautiful child was one of the attendants in the "Kid's Parade" at Amanda Abercrombie's recent wedding.  I took this shot as she was getting ready...and loving every minute of the whole experience!

Water Lily

I just finished editing this water lily that I shot in a fountain in Central Park.  I love the vibrance of the strong purple against the green.

Pet Photography

I did some final editing on the "Cassie the Birthday Princess" photo today.  Photographing pets presents unique challenges...you never know what surprises are around the corner!  But it's that element of surprise that makes it fun.  

PORTRAIT OF SARAH

She's an absolute angel in this beautiful gown with gossamer wings attached.  Watch for more "angelic images" to come!

Senior Portraits

I just finished working up some senior portrait images I shot recently. I would love to help your family with any of their photographic needs.

WEDDING BLISS

I was honored to be one of the photographers recording the wedding of Amanda Abercrombie and her new husband Josh which took place yesterday evening at Oregon Park in Marietta. In a heartfelt ceremony, designed by the couple themselves, they pledged their love and commitment to each other in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Holiday Portraits at Gwinnett Tech

Yesterday our Holiday Portrait set began to come together.  Why should this interest you as a reader? Because this is an excellent way to get your family Holiday Portraits done by great photographers at a reasonable price. Want to know more?  Visit our Holiday Portraits site at http://gtcholidayportraits.blogspot.com.  Children and pets welcomed!!!

Reflections of the Big Apple

On my recent trip to New York, I was fascinated by the almost kaleidoscopic effect of these reflected building images. It's hard to tell what's real and what's not.