Monthly Archives: January 2009

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WPPI 16×20 Print Competition | Awards of Excellence

January 9, 2009 – 6:15 pm

One thing I have been wanting to do for a long time is enter really well respected print competitions. It is a wonderful challenge to go through from start to finish. The first for 2009 will be the WPPI 16×20 Print Competition Awards of Excellence. The judging is held during the WPPI 2009 Trade and Convention. Now the biggest photography trade show in the US.

Selecting an image or two to enter, editing, re-editing, oh and possibly re-editing some more (one thing I always have a problem with: I’m a perfectionist!), printing (www.WHCC.com) and mailing off. Call me odd, but I’ve gotten a great kick out of every stage so far.

The two images I have entered proceeded this text. This was a self assignment bridal session at the Waterfront Park in Charleston SC. Using a single off-camera flash, 70-200 Canon lens and a Canon 5D. It was fairly close to 4:30 pm when we started, with daylight coming in from the right, along with a breeze.

It doesn’t matter how well I do, I’m only happy that I’ve gotten to check off another thing I wanted to do in the longest time. And that I gave it every thing I have, at this point in time. One thing I can honestly say about photography and that is, you’re continually growing and learning. What an amazing industry to work in.

Good luck to everybody who has entered this year. It’ll be interesting to sit in and listen to the judging. Ok, my stomach will be knots if I get that far, but how exciting!

By Warren | Posted in Studio | Tagged , , , , | Comments (3)

Cassandra & Travis Wedding | Uptown Charlotte

January 5, 2009 – 5:48 pm

The long awaited wedding of Cassandra and Travis in uptown Charlotte. I had been looking forward to seeing these guys after seeing them earlier in the year at their engagement session. They’re a cool couple, which could only mean the wedding day was going to be a lot of fun. And it was, from start to finish. I can honestly say, they have a wonderful group of loving family and friends.

A few things I like to do at a wedding are to capture people at their most natural and then capture a few posed images. Some images were slightly posed, meaning I suggest a possible way to stand, with a looking direction and expression. And then step away to see what happens. Slowly the expressions and body language relax, at which time I get the shot I’m after. I also like experimenting with light, from whatever source is available. Through the mixing of white balance levels, it is possible to get some interesting effects.

Many thanks to Cassandra, Travis Dyke and to all your wonderful family, and friends.

By Warren | Posted in Weddings | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Cassandra & Travis Engagement | Surf City

January 5, 2009 – 5:25 pm

When Cassandra phoned and said, this is probably too crazy, but would you come down to the beach to do the engagement session. I replied, absolutely no problem: when and where? with shear excitement. One of the things I had been wanting to do was a beach engagement session and sure enough my wish was answered with this simple request. A request that Cassandra thought was way out there. See, this is proof, if you don’t ask, you will never know. Always ask, even if you think it is crazy and completely out there.
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I thought, if we’re going to do a beach engagement session I would like to do it at sunrise. Unfortunately, the east coast beach doesn’t see a good sunrise over the ocean as it rises in the west. But we decided to meet at 7:30 am in a car park at Surf City, to then head to their favorite beach a few miles away. I set off on my drive from Cary NC to Surf City NC well before sunrise, with an estimated 2-3 hours drive to get there. Once there, we met up and headed to the beach.

It was easy to see from the first time we met, that this couple are truly in love and excited about the engagement session. I like to talk with the couple about how the session will go before getting started. We will then wonder around and get to know the surroundings. When I start to notice the couple relaxing and getting used to the session, I start to take the images I want to get. I spend a lot of time thinking over images I want to capture before a session starts. Then once there, I like to see what I can get from the list of ideas. I usually have more than I need and will inevitably think of new spin offs once there.

During any session, I tend to go with guiding a couple in a particular direction and then capturing the natural reactions that follow. Unless of course I need to specifically set them up for a shot, I can always follow through by capturing the interacting that come later.

This engagement session last for around 1.5 hours. During which, the couple and I had time to get to know one another before the big day. I always recommend having an engagement session with every wedding package for this purpose, if none other exist. Another by product, is the ability to show a signing board, with a print from the engagement session at the wedding reception.

By Warren | Posted in Engagements | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Bridal Session | Charleston

January 5, 2009 – 4:41 pm

There’s one place on the east coast I simply and completely feel connected to and that place is Charleston SC. I have no idea why I feel this bond, but it is filled with intrigue and wonder. I walk around the streets with wide open eyes, eager to soak up all I can possibly see, hear and spell. I’ve been visiting Charleston since I relocated to the US in 2001. I have always wanted to do photography in this area and intend to start marketing the studio in 2009 to appeal to brides and families.

My imagination simply gets overwhelmed with possible portraits in Charleston, in and around the downtown area. The beaches offer so many other possibilities too, with the ocean and dunes. One set of bridal portraits I kept on seeing in my mind was down by the waterfront, underneath the overhanging trees in the park. A bride working around, day dreaming of her big day and her new life. With partial lighting and gorgeous deep shadows, a bride is found walking beneath the overhanging trees.
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I decided to capture my ideas within another self assignment. There is always attention to detail with any session and self assignments are no exception. The model dress, make up and jewelry were all carefully chosen. The time of day and location in the waterfront park were planned. Additional lighting was setup and the shoot started. The session lasted for roughly 2 hours until dark. The google map above shows the location of the waterfront park. One place I simply love to hang out at after a shoot or walk around town is the East Bay Street Coffee House. Check it out the apple pie!

Many thanks to Tiffany Schaefer (model, makeup artist).

By Warren | Posted in Bridals | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

Portrait Session | Ohio

January 5, 2009 – 1:03 am

One thing I like to do on a regular basis are self assignments. At any point in time, I’m constantly inspired with images that I want to create. It’s not always possible to capture these images with a paying client as soon as I’d want to. So I write down the ideas and then set about organizing a self assignment. The locations are quite often part of the image I want to capture, along with light, texture, movement and mood.

This self assignment was designed to test my abilities to do a photography session at 2 pm, with no shade and using a flash. My assistant, the model and I wondered around a corn field for 2 hours in the blazing heat. Using the sun as a light source in one direction, I used a flash as a secondary source to create complimentary skin and hair tones. I really loved the challenge of working in hot conditions and capturing images I had previously envisioned.

Many thanks to Tiffany Schaefer (model), Janet Schaefer (assistant) and Tom Schaefer (for holding off cutting the corn until we finished).

By Warren | Posted in Portraits | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)