Round and Round..

This weekly photo was to capture "Motion." I decided to go to the Asheboro NC Zoo and take a picture on the carousel.  So I got on and asked this very nice lady if I could take a picture of her and her daughter.  She was more than happy to let me.  After I got done shooting this, I stopped her and asked her if she wanted a copy because it was just absolutely ADORABLE!  We started talking more after I got her email and she happened to know one of the 2nd year photography students.  I thought that was pretty interesting! 

Ant on Mushroom

I had such a fun time with this Lensbaby tilt shift lens! This was the first time I've ever used one.  At first, It was a little bit difficult to figure out how to focus it.  After I figured it out though, it was a breeze to use!  This was a weird looking mushroom growing in my yard by a huge tree trunk.  As I was setting up my camera an ant started walking along it.  It was a great add to the photo!  Thank you little ant. I hope to be able to invest in a Lensbaby tilt shift lens very soon.

Frog

 I finally decided to post the picture of a frog I took in my yard a few months ago.  This little guy was just chilling out one day in my backyard and I just happened to notice him while I was taking pictures for a project.  If you look really close, on his back, he has some pollen from the flowers on the plant he is sitting on.  I love green, purple, and yellow-ish triadic color scheme that is playing in this photo!

Wildlife has always been a part of my life, our property is actually a Certified Wildlife Habitat.  So no one can hurt the wildlife around us.

The American Sport - Baseball

So this week, I want to start off with one of my projects for my Small-Format Photography class.  We are suppose to go out and take five different pictures of baseball games.  One picture of the pitcher, three action shots with the ball in the frame, and one Americana.  This is my Americana shot I got at the first game I went to. 

Even though I don't watch baseball much, I've had a great time at the games!  I'm glad I got the chance to do this, or I never would have even tried to take pictures at a baseball game.

Arms of an Angel

When I got home from school today, I turned and looked to the left of the walk way up to my house and I saw the light on this statue of an angel.  It looked as though this would be a great photo to turn in to print.  We will be converting this to a black and white photo in class Monday morning.

I know it's dirty from the rain splattering and dirt covering it.  It shows some age from being out in the weather for the years, but I loved how the light was shining through the trees right on the angels face! 

Coffee Buzz

  
One of my assignments this week was to take some sort of "Product" picture.  I decided on coffee.  I've always wanted to take a picture of coffee beans in a cup and this was my chance to!  

   I had such a fun time on this shoot.  I set up at my grandparents house on their kitchen table.  Got my background ready and had an assistant hold it for me, put the beans in a cup and went for it!  I was really excited, because I just recently got in my wireless remote for my camera.  So I put my camera on my tripod and started taking pictures.  Zero camera shake!
   I can't wait to learn more about product photography and how to light it.

Roy & Little Man

 
 This is Roy Frye and Little Man.  They're from Robbins NC, the town I live in.  I've seen this man and his dog walk around town every day for years.  He walks his dog to the town of Robbins 3 times a day.  I've always been fascinated how regularly he walks Little Man through town.  So dedicated.

   I one day just decided to stop and talk to him.  I asked him his name and we started talking about how he was related to the person who owned "Frye's Department Store." An old clothing store that use to be a huge hit in Robbins.  My mom has told me so many stories of going to Frye's every Summer when she was younger and getting pairs of jeans and overalls. 

   It's so amazing how much you can find out about someone if you just take the time to stop and listen.

Street Photography

Off Sunset Dr. Asheboro NC

  For this week,  my assignment was to go out and shoot "Street Photography" with somebody in the picture I didn't know.  It was challenging, but not as hard as my first assignment where I had to walk up to someone I didn't know and ask permission to take a picture. 

   I investigated the area, and found the spot where I wanted my photo taken at.  I decided to wait.  I knew if I did, I might have a chance at getting the picture I had in mind.  I framed the shot and waited.

   As the time went on, people started opening up their businesses, and walking around on the street.  Finally, the moment came and this man walked around the corner.  I'm so glad I waited!  It was well worth it to capture this moment.

Window Portrait

T.D. Burgess Sr.

   This portrait was taken at the end of my last semester.  I absolutely love how this turned out!  My grandfather is an amazing man!  96 years young and still as spunky as ever.  When I told him I wanted to take his picture, he was so excited! 

   A few days before the photo shoot, I told him I wanted him to wear a nice suit, and as you can see, he did!  I show up to the house, my grandmother answers the door and he's behind her, in his suit, just smiling away.  We go into the living room where I had in-visioned him sitting.  I got the chair where I wanted it and had him sit down.  I snapped a few photos and it wasn't working for me, so I had my grandmother find one of his cigars and had him hold it in his mouth.  This was it!  I took a few more shots and got it. 

   I told my grandfather I wanted to get it printed professionally and he wasn't allowed to see it until I got it back from the printers.  I ordered him a canvas and had it sent to my house.  What a long wait, I was so impatient..  This was my first professional quality print I've ordered.  So I was excited!  The day came that I finally got it,  I opened it up and it took my breath away.  It was one the most beautiful things I'd ever seen! 

   I asked my teachers if it was okay to present the portrait to my grandfather at the portfolio party we had for the spring semester of 2016 and they said it was fine.  So the day of the party, after my grandparents showed up and looked around at mine and my classmates work, I told him I had a surprise to show him.  I walked him around to the other side of the studio and presented my portrait of him.  He lit up and started smiling from ear to ear, I've never seen him so happy before.  He carried the portrait out like a baby and started showing people he didn't even know. "Look what my granddaughter did for me," he would say.  I'm so glad I got to make him happy! That's my job as a photographer.  I love it!

It's in the eyes

Photo Taken: Southern Pines, NC

   I can't believe it, already my second week in my summer classes and we have 4 or so projects due.  This was my first assignment, what a difficult one!  You would never believe this would be a hard picture to capture, until you figure out it has to be someone you don't know, a total stranger.

   When my instructor told us it was a stranger assignment, I thought "I got this."  I wasn't nervous at all! Then I went out to start looking, and it began.. I was so nervous.  I didn't know what to say or how to act, but I knew what I was looking for;  someone who had character.
 
   I'd found a couple people who I took a picture of, but not THE person.  I was about to give up.. Then he rode up on his motorcycle, and I knew I wanted a picture of him.  I walked up all nervous and asked if I could take a picture, and then why I wanted one and where I was from.  Totally backwards from what my instructor had told me to do.  He was very friendly and said it was fine.  So then I snapped the shot.