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”?

The Little Fairy Girl

To produce a video of “little ones”, a compilation of my work photographing kiddies and babies, I’ve been reviewing images archived on old external drives.  During my research, I came across this one of Leah.  Her round little face with those big periwinkle blue eyes surrounding by swirling brown curls reminded me of those little cherubs seen in a Renaissance painting.  My thought was to have that Renaissance feel but with a modern twist by adding some texture and tone to the background then finishing with an old world swirl frame.  It enhances the fantasy and makes the background more interesting than the existing textured beige rug.

Can’t you imagine her floating around and above star crossed lovers in some Shakespearean type romantic comedy?

Ellen & Ruby

This is another good example of using ambient light from a window.

This image has a sense of peace.  You can hear the little girl thinking “everything is right with the world when I sit quietly, sucking my thumb with Ruby purring loud behind me.”

Hearing about all the turmoil in the world on the Nightly News makes me wish I could do this too.

Jackson

Whenever possible, my lighting choice is ambient light.  Windows are a great source.  When using digital capture, I meter my exposure on the lighted area – not the shadows.   The larger the difference in f-stops between the light and shadow areas will produce a dramatic lighting effect.  Jackson is fascinated with watching birds.  I patiently waited off to the side and then he looked up at me.  What a sweet little man.