The meaning of FUN!

I just finished working on this collage for my brother’s family. I love this collection so much because it really shows what it means to have fun! These images are so full of love and life, it makes me want to go back to Iowa City NOW so I can hang out with these guys again! If you’re looking for ways to brighten your mood, spend some time with this piece. These kids’ passion for living is contagious…

Getting Grounded

Every once in a while I find myself feeling drained of creativity. I begin to get sucked into the whirlwind of everyday life and I feel the vibrance and creativity drain from my bones.

I begin to think there’s nothing original left to be done. An image is an image. It’s all the same and it’s been done a million times. I run out of ideas. I wonder why I bother anyway.

Then, inevitably, something happens. I witness something shocking. I meet someone who inspires me. I find a plant growing in a sidewalk. I watch my children play together. Whatever that something is, it wakes me up and reminds me that life is amazing: its wonders abound! I’m instantly filled with emotions and I have a million things to say!

I’ve been “waking up” more often lately – noticing when the mundane is pulling me off track – but sometimes there are experiences that just smack me over the head. Spending an afternoon in Mount Rainier National Park was one of those experiences.

It may seem backwards to say that these events help me get grounded when they spark such emotions, but to me “emotional” is exactly what life is. It’s rich, vibrant, broad, and unexpected.

If you’re life is monotonous, without an array of wonders to savor each and every day, then I would guess you’re being sucked into the whirlwind that has been created by people. People, that is, who have forgotten what it means to live.

It’s time to wake up. Ground yourself in the reality of what surrounds you. It’s the stuff that matters. I’ll keep making photographs to remind you, but really you don’t need my images. It’s all right in front of you; see for yourself.

How to Dress for Portraits

This little guy was dressed so well for portraits! He looks stylish, coordinated, and clean. But what I like most is that he’s comfortable so he can relax and focus on being himself. There’s enough distraction with a camera around; who needs uncomfortable clothes on top of it? I always aim to reflect the moment, and the subject for who/what it is. These parents knew that to have a comfortable portrait that reflects their son’s real essence, he needed to be relaxed and comfortable.

And while we’re here . . . there’s a lot to ponder about the composition in this photograph; especially the use of lines.

Elements of Composition

There are many elements of composition to be considered when creating an image. Be it a painting, a sculpture, or a photograph, these elements are important to keep in mind. If you are looking for ways to improve your photography at home, composition might be one of the simplest places to start. It doesn’t cost anything in terms of new equipment or fancy software; just a few moments of thinking about what you want your finished piece to look like and creating that image from the beginning. To start you thinking about what is involved in composing a piece of artwork, here are some elements of composition:
Center of interest: The place you want your viewer to rest his/her eyes.
Subject placement: The area of the frame where the main subject is placed.
Simplicity: The idea of keeping out extra information that does not enhance the image or add to its impact.
Viewpoint and camera angle: The physical place from which a photograph is taken in relation to its subject.
Balance: The placement of different objects within an image that allows for a frame to be evenly (or unevenly) utilized.
Shapes and lines: The use of shapes and lines can help draw the viewer’s eye to certain areas of an image.
Pattern: Repeating elements in an image, or across a set of images.
Volume: How much or how little you use certain visual cues: color, pattern, size, etc.
Lighting: The quality, angle, and strength with which light falls across the subject and the background.
Texture: The visual communication of how something might feel to the touch.
Tone: The use of different hues to control the mood of an image.
Contrast: The degree to which middle-tones are used in an image.
Framing: The decision to include or exclude particular elements in an image, and where each element is placed.
Foreground: The area between the subject and the camera.
Background: The area behind and beyond the subject (farther from the camera).
Perspective: The literal and figurative place from which the artist created the image.

The list is long, and in some ways the elements overlap. But each can be considered with every click of the shutter. Every image has composition. Whether or not it was intentional plays a big part in the quality of your work. To start the ball rolling, what elements of composition can you recognize in the image above, and what does it say about the child who is featured?

Some elements I utilized intentionally for this child’s portrait include: perspective, camera angle, texture, lighting, and simplicity. What other elements are utilized, and what do they say to you? These are things to think about with every image you see – and every image you create. When you become more intentional with your photography, the quality of your work increases by leaps and bounds.