Today we explored lighting and portraiture. The girls learned all sorts of techniques to make their friends laugh. For example the discovered if they told their friend to say "OK" then they would start laughing and get a natural expression.
Group photo by Leanne Taylor
We also explored motion photographing and in particular panning, where the subject is focused in motion, but the background is blurred.
Today we enjoyed the Filoli Gardens. We had a photo scavenger hunt, studied lighting, and had some tutorials on portraiture.
On our first day we explored perspectives and composition. One of the exciting aspects of teaching young people how to photograph is that they are quick to learn and they naturally see the world creatively.
Finding new perspectives
We also incorporated making upscaled jewelry at a fantastic place called Scraps in South San Francisco. It also provided unique photo opportunities.
It was a pleasure photographing this lovely family before they travelled back to Australia. I love the energy and genuine love they share.
Seeing the world from a new vantage point is refreshing and invigorating, as we experienced while riding our mini bikes through Balboa Park in San Diego, CA.
I taught for eight years in a room that didn't have windows. The absence of light began to eat away at my soul. I am now in a brand new building that is flooded with glorious light each morning. The color, texture, warmth, shadows, and variety that light brings, lifts my day. Today's spotlight was on these beautiful Chinese lanterns my students decorated for the holiday.
Though most of the country has probably had enough weather, in Southern California it is a wonderful change to have rain. I am especially glad because currently I am teaching my photography students about lighting. This weather makes for beautiful and constantly changing options of lighting.
I had the privilege of meeting Leonard Knight, great folk artist of the Imperial Valley, in 2008. Knight passed away last night. He devoted decades to creating a "mountain" in Slab City, bold and yet simple in its declaration of God's message of love.
Cloudy weather makes for beautiful photographs. Light is key to making photos, and cloudy days are no exception. The light is still present, and the even lighting makes beautiful mellow images.
Here's to celebrating classic signage and typography.
Last night we lost a precious faculty member of our school, our junior high principal. He was a man who lived by doing, by showing his students he cared. My now high school students overflowed with admiration for a man who changed their lives. "I would have been kicked out if it wasn't for him," one said. "He personally took the time to work with me on my grades," another said. "He played basketball with us!" many more remembered. I am inspired by the positive influence one man has had on decades of students. Each child is precious. May we continue his legacy.
Here are a few moments from the Calvert family session today. It was an honor to spend time with the newest little Calvert, his big brother, and parents.
One of my goals for this year is figure out how to live in the moment. How do I slow down my day and appreciate each moment, whatever it may be? These two individuals are experts at living in the moment. My nieces fill their days with laughter, compassion, storytelling, and teach me to do the same.
Neal Menschel, my documentary photography teacher at Salt Institute for Documentary Studies used to say something like, "If you ever get in a rut with photography, just change your lens." I did just this with my new plastic Holga lens from my in laws. Looking through a totally different lens forces me to see things differently and with this lens especially, more simply. Here's to a new year of photography, exploring light and life as they work together into precious moments.
Today was the perfect day with the Utleys. It was lightly drizzling, overcast, and beautiful. There was lots of laughter and we made photos together. Right when we were done it started pouring.
The ducks were quacking in the background; the desert breeze was blowing on our faces. It was a wonderful afternoon making photos with the Tanner family.
A family cheers on the Long Beach Marathon and Half Marathon runners.
Runners push on at the Long Beach half & full marathon.
We came across this on our way home on the I10 eastbound freeway near Pepper Avenue just after 3PM. The man in handcuffs had a long, thick stick and looked like he was either going to hit the police officer or the car behind him whilst standing in the third lane of the freeway. The officer was pointing a Taser at him. When the man approached the officer, the officer Tasered the man. The man dropped to the ground immediately. The man was then handcuffed and lead back across the four-lane freeway.
