Babies are not decorations.

A few weeks back, I had mentioned that I would be doing my very first maternity photo shoot.

I have been trying to prepare for it by doing some research on the subject. 

Among all the useful information I have come across, I have also realized something.

Babies.are.not.decorations.

I just don't understand the concept of photographing a baby in a bowl.

or nekked on a rug.

or hanging from a silk hammock.

I wont lie.

It frustrates me.

But I guess it's because I find a connection to more real photographs.

By that I simply mean photographs of real everyday moments, not studio.

I would much rather see pictures of babies in their cradles.

or their parents bed.

or their baby blanket.

or their parents arms.

So while I may highly dislike this area of baby portraits

I still want to understand. 

Why do parents like those photographs so much?

{LPS}

Photo Quote of the Week

I didn't choose photography. Photography chose me. -Gerardo Suter

I wonder. . .

I am inclined to believe this whole heartedly.

The more I think about how I have felt about photography the more I believe this. 

My earliest memories of me with a camera date back to when I was about 10 yrs old.

I remember it was one of those disposables by Kodak.

I made it the point of this one vacation in Mexico to take 

SURPRISE.snapshots 

of all my family members.

Before that, I used to beg my mother to allow me to load the film.

and unload it.

and take all the pictures!

So i guess photography really did choose me.

Not the other way around. 

What are your earliest memories with cameras?

{LPS}

Photo Quote of the Week

The 'machine-gun' approach to photography - by which many [photographs] are made with the hope that one will be good - is fatal to serious results. - Ansel Adams

OK.

So this week I did not forget to provide you guys with another photography related quote.

aren't you proud of me, you know you are.

And again when I read this quote I felt compelled to share some thoughts. 

mostly stemming from my personal experience with this concept. 

Before I had taken any photographic instruction, I admit I used this 'machine-gun' approach. 

I took many, many photographs of my subject with such rapid continuity that I was basically just hoping I got at least 

one.good.one.

Highly ineffective. 

While it is not a negative thing at all to take many photographs of the same subject, each 'repetitive' photograph should have a purpose.

Without it, you're just a sniper sitting in a tree with no scope and no visible target.

Each repetition should be serving some purpose.

Whether it's a change in angle.

in focus.

zoom.

depth of field.

whatever.

but your repetition should have thought.

it.should.have.aim.

like that sniper I mentioned earlier.

Otherwise, you're not doing yourself or your talents much good.

{LPS}

Thoughts on the Photo Quote

Quick recap of the quote:

If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff. - Jim Richardson

To continue with my rambling from last post, I want to share with you some thoughts on this quote.

At first glance it may seem like this quote is simple and straight forward but if you look deeper you can see there is more then we realize.

For example: 

it is true that if you want to be a better photographer you should find more interesting stuff to stand in front of.

or behind.

or to the side.

or under.

. . .What I'm just being creative here.

and that's precisely another facet of this quote.

.be.creative.

challenge your self to find more interesting stuff.

better photographs are better because not only have they spent time and energy into practicing to become better.

they also challenge themselves to go out on limbs.

to try things they may not have been so sure about.

example.

i sliced a very thin round of lemon some time ago.

and i challenged myself to make it interesting.

so i did.

see.

the seeds make it look like eyes. . .  

ok. so maybe it isn't so great.

but i challenged myself with something i wasn't entirely sure of.

and that's part of the journey.

so there you have it.

i think.

this quote has more to offer than first meets the eye.

so look deeper and see what others may not see.

---------------------

i'm sure i had something more insightful to say regarding it 

but there i've gone.

gotten all caught up in one thought.

and lost all the others.

oh well.

hope this helped someone.

{LPS} 

Photo Quote of the Week

If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff. - Jim Richardson


So I am most definitely ashamed of myself. 

I promised myself that if I didn't have anything to offer you guys on any given day in any given week, I would at the very least have the Photo Quote to give. 

I failed. 

Epically. 

Well maybe not quite so epically but, it has not been over a week since I have provided you with a quote to hopefully ponder over.

AND I'm not even posting it on a Tuesday.

(I had secretly made Tuesday the day to post, as an incentive to make Monday a happier day. . .

  you know, because then I would be excited on Monday that photo quote tuesday was "tomorrow")

Anyway enough of my rambling, I apologize and will do more than try to not let it happen again.


Now since I believe I have more than lost your interest I will be back tomorrow with my thoughts on this particular quote. 


I believe that it has the potential to speak great words of wisdom to young photographers beginning their photographic journey.

Like me!

Have a great one!


{LPS}

straps or STRAPS!

I know we are all familiar with the standard Canon neck straps.

(Or even Nikon straps for that matter.)

You know, the ones that look like these. 

Yes, I know we are all familiar with these. 

They are stiff, uncomfortable and so plain.

Granted they are very durable. Trust me, I know.

(My Canon strap has taken quite the beating

during my futile attempts to soften the material.)

But still stiff, uncomfortable and plain.

Ugh.

So I embarked on a journey to find a softer, more comfortable and most definitely

funner alternative.

(I know, funner is not a word but I felt in this instance, it would be ok to make an exception.)

Behold the amazing neck straps from MyFunkyCamera.com.

(click on the image to see more styles)

Yes these straps are most certainly not plain.

I do not own one yet, but thus far the reviews have been great.

The inner linning is fleece (I think) for softness and comfort.

The outer lining is something decorative and fun.

In between is a light layer of padding for added support and comfort.

They have so many different styles and colors that I am having a hard time deciding which one I want to order.

I'm thinking this blue/brown scrolls one.

Be advised they are not on the cheap side. At $32 a piece, they make that Canon (or Nikon) strap sound pretty darn good. 

But if you're using your camera for extended periods of time, you may want to consider trying these out.

Or if you just really like them, adding them to your birthday/holiday wishlist.

Or for those of you fortunate enough to afford it no problem, just picking out your favorite and enjoying.

Let me know what your thoughts are whether or not you own one of these already.

{LPS}

p.s.

i totally found my signature to sign off with.

yay.

Photo Quote of the Week

If you buy a flute, you own a flute. So why is it that when you buy a camera, you're a photographer? - Anonymous


So normally I don't post anything after the quote ( I know, I know this is only the third quote, still you know what I mean) mostly because I find myself at a loss for words, however, today I have something to say.


As a developing photographer, I often feel so under-appreciated. When my family tries to refer me to friends and acquaintances, they often get a response similar this:

"Oh yeah, my (insert relative here) has a new camera and (insert same relative here) 

takes great pictures!"

Ugh, so what you're saying is anyone with a camera is a photographer?!

I only partially agree. 

Everyone with a camera has the potential to be a photographer. Now that I've immersed myself in photography, I see the differences between a person holding a camera and a photographer holding a camera.

(Trust me, I know it. I often find myself as the person and not the photographer, at least it feels that way, very frustrating.)

Hopefully, someday we can make people understand that owning a camera does not make you a photographer, just like owning a flute does not make you a flutist.

(Is that even right, flutist?)

{LPS}