Use what you have.

I don't have a fancy studio....YET. I don't have assistants.....YET. I don't have a unlimited budget....probably never will. But I do have friends that will help me out and tolerate a lot of stuff so I can try some things that I have been wanting to do. I had an idea for the cagefighter shot a few months back. I talked to Sean about it and he was game, we just had to pick a time and do it. I procrastinated all summer it seams and waited until the day before he had to go back to college. I didn't need much in the way of props, but I did need striking gloves....off to Dick's Sporting Goods and I was in there. This was done on two different locations. The first shot was done in my livingroom with a black background. The second shot is just of the fence and that was done at an elementary school later that night. I combined the two, blurred the fence a little and viola.

Sometimes the treasure is in your own backyard!

I live in a really small town, kinda far away from any city. Not many models around here. I usually shoot models from Orlando or Jacksonville. One or both of us has to drive a fair distance, it's hard to get things set up. Big ordeal if you get the picture, especially if I am not getting paid. I end up not shooting as much as I would like, and I have always believed that you play like you practice, and sometimes I need to practice. I am a good photographer, I can't shoot anybody but experienced models, I can't waste time on someone that doesn't know how to pose. BULLCRAP! This is Kaley. I have been knowing her since she was four years old. She grew up with my kids. She was a cute kid and she has grown up into a beautiful young lady. We had talked about doing some pics a couple of times, but she had never modeled. I needed to shoot, so we set it up. She could just stand there right? Boy was I in for a pleasant surprise! She was a natural. I have never had a first time model do so well. She was better than a lot of experienced models that I have shot. Soooo, I guess what I am trying to say is don't overlook the people that you know when you need to work on your craft. Most of them can't model, but every now and then, you will find the treasure.

Oh Savannah!

Well I have had some major changes in my life since my last blog. I was laid off from my job! That's the half empty version. The half full version is " I have the opportunity to pursue my photography full time!" I like that one better! It's hard not to get into a funk when you lose your income. I needed a getaway! Oh Savannah, the city that I love. I don't care what you want to photograph, you can find it in Savannah. I took an unplanned, not very well thought out road trip last Wednesday. I arrived in Savannah early in the after noon, had some lunch and enjoyed a fierce thunderstorm. I don't photograph lightning at all. Later that night I grabbed my camera and a tripod and headed out. I had never done much long exposure night photography but I had always wanted to. There are so many things to shoot in Savannah, you could easily spend an entire week just shooting buildings at night. Every one is different.

The next morning I woke up just before sunrise and headed out again. The squares are beautiful first thing in the morning. I love the look when the streetlamps are still lit, providing a warm glow to the buildings and statues. People are jogging, walking their dogs and scurrying off to work. A street photographers paradise. That afternoon I headed off to Tybee Island, I would love to call that place home. There is Fort Pulaski, beaches, a pier, two lighthouses, shrimp boats....you get the picture..pardon the pun. I had a great time, got, away from some stress, and got some pretty good images. I can't wait to do it again!