Christmas Night Photo 1 of 2. Shutter speed 1/80, aperture f/7.1, ISO 3200, focal length 27mm with flash.

The new year began with a powerful poem read for the Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber (BWCC) Women in Business (WiB) Friday the 13th morning.  Despite Friday the 13th superstitions it was bright and cheerful even though a windy bitter cold day outside.  “She Let Go” a poem by Rev. Safire Rose and Ernest Holmes was read to open the educational meeting.  As a new year typically focuses on goals and establishing discipline to change less desirable behaviors, the poem powerfully describes the freedom for an individual to move on without any complications.

I provided professional headshots for the meeting participants and it was a lot of fun to wish happy new year to new faces, friends, as well as colleagues.  Best part, to photograph some of the participants.  A key to having your photograph taken is letting go.  Enjoy the moment and forget the hangups about all the complications of our body betraying our beauty.  Trust the photographer to capture the beauty of who you are.

As a photographer, I am always working on letting go and creatively trying new techniques.  Having dear friends as in these two group portraits, you can’t help letting go in the annual holiday picture tradition.  Each year I try a different set-up and backdrop in the same house.  One of the friends commented this was the best photo yet.  Tripod, self-timer, high heels, step up into this elevated room, slippery wood floor, don’t trip over the dog or cat, get into the picture, and click!  May you also enjoy the process of letting go.

Christmas Night Photo 2 of 2. Shutter speed 1/100, aperture f/7.1, ISO 3200, focal length 27mm with flash.

Late October 2011 with toes in the Caribbean Sea on the island of Cozumel Mexico. Shutter speed 1/640, aperture f/13, ISO 400, focal length 33mm with focus on the water's edge.

Which eye do you use to see through the viewfinder of your camera?  I have always used my dominant right eye and the Nikon camera body has always fit well against the right side of my face.  Late last month an eye exam revealed my right eye now focuses slightly better for the distance and the left eye focuses slightly better close up.  Who knew?

The camera also has different ways to focus on your subject.  Autofocus will focus automatically when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.  If the subject moves before the photo is taken, the camera might not finish recording the image.  A more advanced feature is continuous autofocus, which is great for subjects in action.  The camera uses a predictive focus tracking to keep the subject in focus.  Additional creative features allows a photographer to choose what area of the image frame will be in focus.

May we all experience success while we focus on creating goals for the new year and of course taking creative photographs in focus!

Nice to come back for another meal at this wonderful restauant on the Caribbean Sea at Playa Bonita on the island of Cozumel Mexico. Shutter speed 1/500, aperture f/11, ISO 400, focal length of 27mm and focused on the table by the sea.

December 31, 2011 Last portrait of the bride moments before walking next door to the church for the wedding ceremony. Ambient light with shutter speed 1/80, aperture f/4.5, ISO 6400, focal length 60mm.

What a wonderful way to welcome the new year!  Photograph a wedding on New Year’s Eve afternoon amongst family and friends.

What is it about the last photo?  I find most times it is the winner of all the images.  Is it because the subject has relaxed or the anticipated relief of not being the center of attention?  Sometimes I just sense something special was just captured. The above portrait of the bride was less than ten minutes before her wedding.  One of fifteen quick bridal portraits.  After nine photographs using a diffused flash, chose to use the ambient light to compliment the bride for the last few portraits.  Then her Dad said it was time to walk next door to the church for the wedding ceremony.

The below photo is the very last one taken at the wedding celebration.  The bridal couple was ready to drive to their New Year’s Eve celebration.  A wonderful casual moment to capture of their new beginning.

Congratulations Bill and Winona!

The last photograph of the wedding event. Shutter speed 1/100, aperture f/6.3, ISO 640, focal length 60mm with diffused fill flash.

February 18, 2009 Skiing in Deer Valley Utah Shutter speed 1/750, aperture f/14, ISO 400, focal length 202mm

The change of seasons officially occurred last week and now we have returned to the days growing longer.  Back in time Julius Caesar declared winter solstice on December 25th in difference to the true astronomical solstice.  Various cultures whether ancient or current celebrates this unique time of year.  A wonderful addition to this time of year is the celebration of religious beliefs and the hope of what an upcoming new year will bring.

May the joy of the season stay with you and for all those that surround you.

Until the new year….!

December 14, 2011 Mother and daughter team of DellaBlooms at BWN. Shutter speed 1/60, aperture f/6.3, ISO 630 focal length 36mm with diffused bounced flash.

Holiday portraits are definitely moments in life captured every year.  This will be the 25th year at my in-law’s home that I set up the tripod and dash into the photo.  We all stand in front of the fireplace with each of the family members holding their stockings.  Time flies indeed.

Nikon has a timely on-line article Photograph Family and Friends During the Holidays.  The content reveals an approach to capture moments while we are in the action of enjoying the holidays.  Instead of directing to stop and pose for the camera, capture the candid moment.  It is an approach I prefer especially when photographing children.  When ready a child will look at the camera with the delight of the season in their eyes.

A few posed portraits of course are part of the tradition and you still can capture priceless candids while everyone is trying to put their best leg forward.  While on the topic of family portraits, three weeks ago photographed a family for their holiday portrait and look at her iPhone back case cover.  In the below photograph, the proud Mom and BWN (Business Women’s Network) President gave a testimonial at their December event.  I was touched by how she raved about the resulting images.  Isn’t the phone photo cover wonderful?

Enjoy the holiday season and capturing the moments in life!

Proud Mom and BWN President with her family holiday portrait on her phone. Shutter speed 1/60, aperture f/6.3, ISO 640, focal length 112mm with diffused bounced flash.

Grand Cayman. Shutter Speed 1/320, aperture f/9, ISO 1000, focal length 202mm.

Last week viewed a commercial for a photography safari in Texas.  An eastern African photography safari is definitely on my bucket list, but a safari in a controlled environment for photographers is not on the list.  Not all wildlife photography is truly shot in the wild.

Thomas Mangelsen truly photographs in the wild and has been awarded by BBC “Wildlife Photographer of the Year” along with numerous other recognitions.  Had the joy to see him photographing on location in 1999 for his book Spirit of the Rockies:  The Mountain Lions of Jackson Hole.  Thrilled to look through his beautiful Nikon lens of the mountain lion mother.  What a challenge in patience, moments of discovery and creating beautiful images of nature.

Regardless of how the animals are photographed, it increases our awareness of this incredible natural world.  Can you tell which of these two blog photos were photographed in a controlled environment versus in the wild?

Grand Cayman. Shutter Speed 1/125, aperture f/5.6, ISO 500, focal length 202mm.

Holiday decorating DellaBlooms gorgeous style. Shutter speed 1/60, aperture f/9, ISO 2500, focal length 92mm with diffused and bounced flash.

Decorating for the holidays recalls memories from seasons past.  The scent of pine along with fresh arrangements is a wonderful accent to the season.  The week before Thanksgiving DellaBlooms had a display at the BWN (Business Women’s Network) November luncheon.  Everytime I see Dana’s gorgeous and unique arrangements, I smile.  May you have a moment to smile while decorating for the holidays.  When you photograph your decorations, capture the big picture and then zoom in for close-ups of the season.  In the meantime, look forward to photographing the next BWN event on December 14th for the Networking Holiday Luncheon.

Shutter speed 1/30, aperture f/5, ISO 6400, focal length 105mm

November 26, 2011 Annapolis, Maryland. Shutter speed 1/500, aperture f/11, ISO 640, focal length 27mm.

Popcorn!  Ice Cream!  Shouted with a children’s enthusiasm knowing a reward was to be enjoyed after the family holiday portrait session.  It has been a year since I have photographed this family and my have the children grown.  To see for yourself click on September 27, 2010 blog titled “Special Moments via Technology”.

This time we went to historic Annapolis Maryland for a wonderful backdrop.  With children and even adults we lose attention quickly, so we wandered to different spots to enjoy the different views and quickly photo opportunities unfolded.  Typically we spent less than ten minutes per spot.

View four more family portraits below.  Popcorn!  Ice Cream!   Anyone hungry?

Shutter speed 1/500, aperture f/11, ISO 540, focal length 78mm

Shutter speed 1/640, aperture f/13, ISO 640,, focal length 39mm

Shutter speed 1/500, aperture f/11, ISO 640, focal length 27mm

Shutter speed 1/250, aperture f/22, ISO 640, focal length 27mm, fill flash

November 12, 2011 Shutter speed 1/250, aperture f/5.3, ISO 500, focal length 300mm with fill flash.

As the holiday season approaches celebrations include an annual time being thankful with Thanksgiving despite current economic times.  For the younger generation, they are just beginning their lives with the excitement of being a Senior in high-school and hoping to have the opportunity to be admitted to the college of their choice.  I remember that time with fondness and feel fortunate to have from that time college friends for a lifetime.

Both of these photos of this lovely Senior were captured with a small aperture opening.  In other words, chose a camera lens f-stop opening that was wide open (f/5.3-6.3).  Due to physics of light (scattering of light in all directions through the lens) allows the background to be blurred and your subject in focus to be sharp.  A wonderful effect for a late afternoon outdoor Autumn portrait.  For those of you unable to choose your aperture opening, select the portrait scene mode.  Choose the symbol of a woman in profile with a wide brim hat.

A personal heartfelt thanks to a wonderful husband, family, friends, clients, and colleagues.  May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving this week.  In the meantime, may this Senior have the opportunity to pursue her dream in international studies with the college of her choice!

Shutter speed 1/160, aperture f/6.3, ISO 500, focal length 170mm.