Return to the lens...

     Well, the picture a day for a year proved too much for me to handle while also being thrust back into the work force.  To those of you working full-time, taking care of your children AND finding time to still shoot on a daily basis, my hat is off to you.  I find myself back in retail, as it was the easiest to enter after a long stint of not being in the workforce.  What this means is that now my life must revolve around a ever-changing work schedule.  And even more so at my new place of employment, as management tends to change schedules after they are written without informing you of having done so.  Vigilance is paramount.

     Anyway, enough of that.  I am once again in a photo class.  Last month was time spent in a much needed Lightroom class learning basic editing and workflow.  This month, Wedding photography!  I know, the picture was a dead giveaway, right?

     Truth is, I still have no desire to be primary shooter at a wedding.  Second, absolutely.  I rather enjoy it.  But my confidence and my "worst case scenario" mindset creates unnecessary anxiety.  However, when I'm a second lens, I can relax, shoot and provide the primary with different angles and takes on the same moments and memories we record for the happy couple.  So I figured I'd take the class to get some more pointers and polish what I already know a little bit about.  Plus, it's lens time.  With someone that's not always ducking out of the way of my aim, complaining that he or she is too fat (eyeroll) or stuffing his or her hand in the direction of  my lens when they see it pointing their way.  So...yeah.

     Oh, and if one of my friends is reading this and thinking, "Why, this stuff is good enough for me! Michael will you shoot my wedding?"
"No."
"But, Michael, you really are good...or good enough anyway!"
"Well, thank you, I think.  But still, no.  However, I have a recommendation!  And she would probably hire me as a second. Hint, hint."
Seriously, I do have  people I would recommend should you find yourself in need of a stellar photographer for that special day.  Check out http://deniselundyphotography.com/   I fully support her work.  And I am not ashamed to say if I get her enough bookings, maybe she'll bug me for a second shooter, should you want one at your wedding! (What? I never said this was entirely altruistic.)  Heck, she's shooting my baby sister's wedding this summer.  THAT is how much I appreciate Denise's work.

     As for the class I am enjoying it.  It's a bit different than my other classes thus far, in that there isn't as much camera time.  But I really like that Sami is covering so much of the business side of things.  And this is the second time I've worked with our model Sarah...so she gets my stupid sense of humor and I can actually get her laughing this time. Which makes for great candid shots.  Well...if my little prime would focus better in low-light situations.  We'll chalk it up to a PEB-CL problem.  (Yes, I bastardized the IT world's "PEBKAC" for camera related people.  The Problem Exists Behind Camera Lens.  Don't worry, I'm working on it.)  I'm learning how to fix and hide things I don't do perfectly.  I really think once I upgrade my camera body I will worry less about the high ISO noise and really focus on steadying my hand and building my confidence.

Thank you one and all that actually come here, read and follow my progress.  Losing my identity as an at home Dad for one of "I work in retail...again" has been difficult.  Trying to wedge myself into identifying myself as a photographer will take some work and confidence.  But I promise you, I have a goal, I will start my own photography business.  And I plan to ask Karen to be my manager. :)  I mean, she has done a pretty decent job managing me all these years already.

Day 25 - A year through my lens

Simple day today. Suffering from migraine, so yeah, I took the cheater's way out and snapped the first interesting thing I found. God saw in His wisdom to ensure there was snow everywhere and easily captured. :)

Day 24 - A year through my lens

I had a self portrait I had painted in high school that was stolen from my locker along with several other works. It was one of the few paintings I have done with which I was truly happy.  So when it was taken, it was a mark of pride that someone else enjoyed it enough to steal it, but frustrating that it was taken all the same.  It suddenly hit me today that I should recreate it in my new medium of choice, photography. 
So, as much as I loathe being in front of the camera, here you go. Two spider lights, behind model (me!) left and right. Used the gold side of my reflector to simulate the fire from my self portrait. Left the tungsten on for ambient and through the background really did well simulating the background fire/lighting from the painting.
The best part? It was stolen, so only the thief and I know how close or how far away this is from the original. Ha!
Oh, and yes, as a matter of fact, that is the very same flannel from the painting. Now pushing 18 years old.  Holes and all, that flannel is possibly the greatest single flannel ever created

Day 23 - A year through my lens.

So, for very personal reasons I won't go into, I nearly threw in the towel on my Year through my lens project.  However, I'm still plugging away, and here is the beginning of this weeks entry!

And yes, the rose is supposed to be soft.  I feel like if I have to tell you, I screwed it up even more.  But I blurred it a little with the clarity slider in Lightroom to give it that dreamy effect.  And also played with the print module in Lightroom.  Lots of very neat page set ups.

I am really enjoying the Indy Photo Coach classes I have taken.  I just finished the Lightroom Workflow class.  This one was a series of two classes, three hours each rather than the four weeks of two hour classes I was used to.  It was a great class, but honestly I should have just taken one private lesson.  The first class was pretty much a time-sink for me as I had taught myself nearly everything he showed us.  However the second class was where all the info I needed/wanted to learn was.  And there was plenty.  Still glad I had taken the class, for certain.  Josh has some very in-depth knowledge of the software, what it's capable of and how we go about getting what we need done.  And strongly suggest any aspiring local photogs look into his class.

Day 13 - A year through my lens

Day 12 - A year through my lens

So inspiration might be lacking.  I was cold today.  So I made macaroni and cheese and a fire.  But hey, how often do you see a fire in black and white?

Day "11" - A year through my lens

I know, I know.  Today is day 12.  But I missed yesterday with good reason.  After several months of searching for a job in order to make up the difference in Karen's new paychecks, I landed a job with Best Buy here in town.  This was a huge sigh of relief for me.  I was becoming increasingly frustrated in the sheer number of applications and resumés going out and nothing as far as interest coming back in.  But anyway...on to the picture of the morning.  Time allowed (I go in to do paperwork and who knows what else today) a second series of something will be taken this afternoon/evening.

I really want to get some diopter attachments so I can get even closer.  Oh! What's this? A B&H  gift card sitting on my desk?!