MRS PHOTOGRAPHY, LLC: My blog is a weekly journal on the journey in seeing the world through a camera lens and current thoughts. This blog might include a digital photo hint for you or chronicle a personal experience in this rewarding work. Whatever the content, it is a means to get to know my work and share a passion for photography. It would be great to hear from you, so please do so in the Comments section under the blog posting! Thanks so much, Martha

Sunflowers turn their flower heads to grow towards the light and in still life, light is a key component too.

While preparing for a trip with a bride to Italy later this year, I have been selecting art from the masters to view and study in person.  A key techinque that the Italian masters understood was light.  Ever since the invention of capturing an image directly onto glass as a photograph, mastering light is what make the image most powerful.

Still life is not what I personally enjoy the most in my photography, but it is a discipline to practice periodically for the valuable learnings.  Pick some simple objects and place in an arrangement on a surface with an appropriate background.  Move around the subject with your camera.  What does changing the composition, focus, f/stop openings, ISO, speed, and expecially the direction or quality of light create in the mood of the image?  Flash on or off?  Indirect or direct light?  Did you change your white balance?  Or if outside when is the light more golden?  Early morning or late afternoon when the sun is not as direct and softer.

You can apply this still life lesson in understanding light to all aspects of your photography.  Understanding light is definately a topic in each of my classes such as the September “Outdoor Portraits” Activity #RP0218.101 , November “Take the Photo, Now Gift!” Activity #RP0219.01; as well as upcoming winter 2011 classes “Basics of Photography”, “Smartphone Photography” with more to come!  We are all continual students in the mastering of light in our photography.

August 21, 2010 The future looks promising and filled with possibilities.

While photographing a bar mitzvah service on Saturday, I listened to the words spoken during the occasion rich in history and filled with traditions.  The rabbi’s final advise with his hands resting on the shoulders of the young participants, “You need to understand and respect the past, but you are our future.”

During the celebration I photographed the event with my new Nikon D700 and a Nikkor AF-S DX 18-200 mm f/3.5-5.6F ED VR II lens.  Simply translated, love the new technical capabilities!!!  Fortunately Nikon builds on a similiar camera framework, so it was easy to take out of the shipping box and start shooting.  The playback button is in a different spot to allow for a larger monitor.  Great to have a larger monitor, but I’ll have to memorize the difference between the two cameras.  It is helpful to memorize your camera’s buttons so you can quickly respond to a photographic opportunity without having to look at your camera to capture the moment.

Speaking of learning, I signed up for a 14 hour seminar in mid September, “Bringing the Value Back to Photography“.  Look forward to improving my photography business and technical skills.  Later in September I’ll be teaching “Outdoor Portraits” Activity #RP0218.101 and in November “Take the Photo, Now Gift!” Activity #RP0219.101.

I enjoy learning, as well as teaching, which brings fun and confidence to photographing special events for families.  Then the most rewarding experience is to deliver images to the family for them to treasure for a lifetime.

August 2010 What is the beach without a seagull flying by or waiting for your lunch?

As I have been gathering documents for my Maryland Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) application, I smile in reflection to where MRS Photography, LLC is going.  Almost a year and a half after writing a 3-year business plan, the business may not look exactly the same on aging paper.  However, I see those differences in projections due to reacting or being proactive in business opportunities and the resulting decisions.  An on-going learning experience in being a business person pursuing a living through my passion in photography.

Business is all about risk, whether calculated or unexpected.  The same methodology can be applied in photography.  We learn from trying and taking risks, which digital photography easily allows immediate inexpensive learning experiences.  The panning technique is one of those risks with great rewards.  Using and showing motion in an image is very dynamic.  This technique freezes the main subject and blurs the background.  This seagull is captured at a shutter speed of 1/100, aperture f/18, ISO 400 with a focal length of 292.0mm.  I evenly moved the camera to follow the seagull flight path while my finger was pressing the shutter-release button.  Notice the beach sand is blurred while the seagull’s beak is sharp.  To stop action the wings for a fully focused image I would have increased my shutter speed to at least 1/500 or faster and not panned the camera.  Instead I would have pressed the shutter-release button as the seagull flew by my steady camera.

Take some risks by trying the panning photography technique at the next sporting event or whatever subject racing by you.  You might be flying high with the image results!

Speaking of learning, my Fall photography classes are now on-line for registration.  Repeating the popular “Outdoor Portraits” (Activity #RP0218.101) and offering a new class “Take the Photo, Now Gift!” (Activity #RP0219.101).

July 4, 2010 Fireworks above the White House and the national flag at half-staff to honor U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd

I enjoy talking to brides about their upcoming special day and have had several of those fun conversations last week.  So many exciting details to think about and to prepare for the best photographic coverage for the event!

One of the most important things to think about in advance of the wedding and discuss with the photographer, is identifying the key people along with moments in the wedding you want captured.  Think about these key people and the photographs you want to have taken of those groups.  Are several generations of family going to be there or life-long friends?  What an opportunity to have those memorable photographs taken during those rare reunions and at such a happy occasion all dressed up!

After sharing in advance of the wedding with the photographer these requests, ask a dear friend or relative who knows these key people to be a contact for the photographer.  Having this type of resource is valuable as the wedding party might not be available when needed.  This contact can help gather the key people and ensure that the bridal family has wonderful photographic keepsakes to treasure for years to come.

Finally able to share with you my photograph of the Washington D.C. fireworks this year above the White House for a different type of celebration.  Anyhow, love is in the air and time to celebrate, as well as plan in advance your photographic coverage for your celebration!