Studying

In my quest to accomplish greater shots, I have picked up several books on Photography. Currently I am reading through a text book on Black and White Photography Technique. Very interesting actually...and yet, a moment ago, I realized I am sitting at home on a Friday night...inside the house reading a book, while the rest of my family is outside hanging out by the fire...

This has me thinking that I need to give a little! Tomorrow night (hopefully it's not going to rain tomorrow...I haven't looked at the forecast) I will not do anything photography related but instead will spend the entire time with my family!

Tomorrow I have another boudoir photo shoot. I am not sure what to think of this and yet...I did not intend to do anymore of these shoots than the one I was asked to do...and yet, I find it intriguing now that I am on my third one...and have been asked to do several others that I am now working on scheduling. I find them fun, and may end up doing one with me on the other side of the camera to help myself understand what it is that I'm asking of my clients when I want them to pose a certain way, and how self conscious someone becomes on that side of the lens.

I am also looking forward to several other shoots that are coming up including a senior portrait shoot with my best friends son...It seems impossible that he could be a senior already!

All in all, I am completely enjoying this adventure I am on...and indeed it is an adventure...Photography opens your eyes to so many things...It doesn't matter what I'm doing anymore, I see things as if I'm looking through a lens and want to keep my camera near me all the time so that I can capture great things.

  This was a shot that I took last weekend during a photo shoot of these two brothers. The younger one absolutely loves trains and his mother purchased a black and white print of the old grain elevator that still sits over the tracks...that is where we took this picture...but we took it on just the opposite side of the grain elevator. Fun shoot, fun day, cute boys!

Next adventure is planned

I believe I talked about being spontaneous and just planning little adventures this year. Another has been planned! I am so excited.

On March 9th I will be flying out to Myrtle Beach, S.C. and then hanging out in Wilmington, N.C. with my baby sister and my husband's best friend. They used to date, thankfully they are still (or once again) friends. So, this won't be a weird visit where we have to split our time. We will return on the evening of March 13th.

I am beyond excited about this trip! Just Bob and I...kids are staying home! My mother-in-law will be helping Cassy out with making sure people get to school etc.

My camera and a backpack with my stuff crammed in are all that I'm taking. I am thrilled to have a great camera (NIKON) on this trip. The last time I went to N.C. I didn't have a decent camera and it has seriously saddened me over the years that I wasn't able to capture the beach, the ocean or anything the way I would have loved to on that trip.  I can hardly wait!

Safe and Happy Travels.

Photo giant Kodak filed for Bankruptcy

This economy is still in the toilet and now one of the biggest, if not the biggest, names in photography for years has filed bankruptcy.

Kodak has been unable to keep up in this digital world and unfortunately they are now going to have to try restructuring...I have my doubts that this will keep them afloat.

Unfortunately for Kodak, the photography industry has turned towards digital photography. Don't get me wrong there are still those that prefer film, or that use it in certain instances. However, digital photography gives an immediate return at a lower cost. There are arguments for both sides of things and truth be told I have always enjoyed the surprise effect and the excitement that surrounds opening a package of processed film (unfortunately I never learned how to process my own film and at this juncture I am uncertain that I will ever have that opportunity).

The articles I did read regarding the Kodak bankruptcy indicated that Kodak has it's hopes for a resurgence pinned on a new camera (digital) that they are releasing. Unfortunately for them I believe this will be too little too late. When it comes to digital camera's, myself and most of the other photographers I have spoken with will not take the chance on buying a Kodak camera. Kodak isn't known for being able to compete with such camera's as Leica, Nikon or Cannon, or any of a number of other digitals.

This is most likely the beginning of the end for the giant in this industry. Which, saddens me. I remember my first Kodak 110 camera. I took it to summer camp every year. It was a trusty camera that always delivered and that has allowed me over the years to look back and remember some of the friends I made during those long lazy summers. It allowed me to capture moments that have long since passed.

I am hoping that Kodak is able to restructure and hold on to some niche in the photography industry...we shall see.

Thoughts?

A hike through the park

A few pics taken with my new Nikon the other day in Huber Park in DeKalb. I won't go into this park anymore by myself, which is kind of a shame since I used to jog through it, hang out in it...but there was a girl killed in there last year. That's left it with a cloud over it. Thankfully I was accompanied on this trip. I took about 100 shots but these are just a few...I need to play with my photoshop tools as this last picture is from a series I took that had birds bathing in the little areas of water along the rocks.