And this is a another “Then and Now” moment.  On the left, Cody in 2003 and on the right, Cody current day with Stella.  Time sure flies and this is why I love what I do.

Click to see video slide show:  Harts at Play

And then we have this sweet moment with Mom giving big brother Ezra a big warm cuddle and to thank him for being such a great Big Brother to his baby bro and sister.

Breon Gardner, a.k.a. Dad, is also owner of Body Balance Techniques with a great location in downtown SW Portland.  This is a first class facility, much like ones you’d find in West LA where Hollywood’s A listers and the corporate power brokers would get into fighting shape!  Breon’s facility has beautiful showers and locker rooms filled with all the amenities to wash off the sweat and get you back pumped and ready for those power meetings!

This little guy has a mischievous look like he’s taunting you to take a bite out of his Spiderman ice cream only to pull a “Lucy” and snatch it away from you just as you chomp down!

Here’s a slide show of some of the activities of the day:  Dr. B’s Ice Cream Party

To see all the stills, click here to go to the Joni Photo Facebook Fan Page:  DrB Album

What I’d like to know is why there is no ice cream being handed out at the finish line for the adult race?!  Kids get all the fun!

This year’s Race for Justice is Saturday, JUNE 19th.  Click here for more information.  It is easy this year to register and ask for pledges online!  Hopefully I’ll see you there!

SALC helps bridge the gap for families who do not qualify for Legal Aid and can not afford to hire a private attorney. As a result of the legal representation that SALC provides, families have increased financial security, stay off of welfare and are overall more productive members of our society. And more children also grow up in positive and safe environments as a result of SALC’s intervention.

I love this image for so many reasons.

From the technical aspect, the “halo” effect comes from the subject being “back lit.”  This means the strongest source of light (in this case the sun) is behind the subject.

In this “back lit” situation if you let your programmable camera select the settings for your exposure, most likely your subject’s face would be too dark.  This is a good time to use a handheld light meter to read the light exposure coming from the brightest side of the child’s face.  Setting your camera to the  ”manual” mode, you set your aperture and shutter speed settings according to your readings off your light meter.

Here’s a little trick to measure exposure readings for photographing moving objects like little tikes on the run like this guy when in outdoor settings.  Place your hand in the same orientation as your subject and take the exposure reading off your hand using the handheld light meter.  You don’t have to be in the exact same spot as your subject.

Another reason why I love this image is the curls of Luke’s hair!  This is my third portrait session with him and he has had these lovely locks since he was a little baby.  Its hard to resist messy up his hair with your hands when you see him.  I’m also in love with his expression, no cheesy smile just soft and sweet.

I asked Sam if he would step into the “camera zone” so I could test my lighting set up before the other family members were ready for this portrait session.  Though this was just a “test”, it is one of my personal favorites from the session but I couldn’t pinpoint the reason for liking this.

I sought help and shared this image with fellow photographer and my mentor, Jamie Bosworth.  [Check out her work and you will see why I'm always inspired by this pint sized powerhouse photographer!]  Her feedback was  ”intriguing shot… a little dreamlike” and noted that the scale is “little odd… like many things are on the small side… a little Alice in Wonderland. Drink me.”  Cool insight.  Thank you Jamie!

“what is the use of a book,’ thought Alice, ‘without pictures or conversations?”  - Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland, Ch. 1

Corbin and his  family came to our place at the Riverplace Marina where the nearby garden pathways are lined with tall wispy golden grass with splashes of purple, greens and reds provided by beautifully landscaped flora.  It was a beautiful fall morning but the moment they arrived, the sky opened up with torrential rain.  Plan B was to set up inside our condo.  With such an adorable happy little guy, I don’t think we missed the fall colors. Besides, Corbin and our “cow” chair became great buddies!  How do you like his “shout out” to “Where the Wild Things Are”?