We met a very bright and talented young lady this year in Sadhana. From Bharatnatyam dance to synchronized swimming, Sadhana is a very accomplished student, athlete, and artist. We had the pleasure and privilege of photographing her this summer and creating the video production for her Arangetram performance in Pondicherry, India.
At eighteen years old, I stand before a crossroad, a milestone in my life. After this school year, I am no longer a child who lives with mom and dad; I will be off at college, beginning a new chapter in my life. However, before I leave, there will be an abundant of memories that I will take with me. The true friends that I have made over the years have become everlasting in my heart. All of the unforgettable moments spent together full of laughs, giggles, and grins.
I will look back on my high school years, forever proud to be a Spudder, and remember the life long friends made. High school is also where I discovered my passion for mock trial and built a foundation for my future in law. I was only a freshmen surrounded by a sea of upperclassmen, when I began mock trial. After spending 4 years in the program and going to state each year, I have come to love and respect the law. My passion for the program has led me to consider a career within law.
When I have passed the bar and appear in court, I will not forget where I came from and the people who helped me get there. Today’s moments are tomorrows memories.
Taylin
Back to basics today with b&w studio photography. I was able to talk Ena into doing a photo shoot this afternoon even though she was a little worn out from her workout. This was my first shoot with my new studio strobes which offered a lot more power and flexibility for my studio work. I did use one speed light to help light the background but the bulk of the work was done with a strobe and soft box for the main light. Another strobe light with a shoot through umbrella was used for fill.
Fine Shots in Unlikely Places:
I've previously discussed the fact that you don't have to venture too far away from home to find a good photographic opportunity. Lat week I went out on a mission to catch a glimpse of the sunset but ended up with an image taken in a place I never expected. I found myself on the side of the Interstate 5 on ramp between a gas station and a construction zone. There was roadside trash, wild grass, and every variety of weed one could imagine. Not a likely place to find a good image of the sunset, or so one would think. The image above was taken at eye-level view among a group of wild flowers with the sunset and other greenery (weeds) as the back drop.
Last week I made my way back over to the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge, one of 23 wildlife refuge locations in Washington state. The refuge provides a great opportunity for observing great wildlife in their natural habitat and tremendous opportunity for wildlife and landscape photography.
There are 551 such refuge systems in the United States and there is a good chance that you don't live far from one. Take your family on a hike, drive, or weekend scenic tour and don't forget your camera
I just returned from Spring break today and although I used the time to relax and be with family, I certainly didn't take a break from photography. I brought along my 5DMKII and my G11 to capture some precious moments with friends and family.
The image above is of my niece Joti. She is a shy but creative child and full of life. I caught Joti walking in front of a big blue air jumper and immediately fell in love with the image. Her soft smile with her orange dress against the blue background made the photo intriguing to me.
I have other favorite images from the trip but this one really stood out for me. I hope everyone out there was lucky enough to spend time with family and friends during spring break and got a few shots in with their cameras.
Yesterday we held our first photography workshop of 2010 in Battle Ground, WA. We covered basic digital photography over a 6 hour period and got a chance to explore the subject both in the classroom and in the great weather outside. The image featured in this post was created by one of our younger workshop participants, Samantha Altman (with a little crop/post crop added by myself), with her Canon point & shoot camera. I was extremely impressed by all the workshop participants at how quickly they picked up the concepts presented in the workshop and how well they demonstrated what they learned in the photo assignments.
Every season has its own special photographic qualities and advantages and Spring is no exception. My family and I are beginning our Spring Break planning and whatever we end up doing, photos will be involved. The best part about taking photos in the Spring is that you really don't have to travel far to capture some amazing images. Plants and trees are already beginning to flower while insects and animals are on their way out of hibernation. 
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Executive Chef Scott Neuman at Oba in Portland's Pearl District while doing a food photo shoot and portrait session. Oba takes Nuevo Latino cuisine to a whole new level; lighting my taste buds on fire with an explosive combination of flavors and freshness. After shooting Chef Neuman's food, there were far too many temptations on the menu so I asked the Chef to prepare four courses of his choice for me; I was simply blown away!
