A couple weeks ago I had an opportunity to submit some images for an ad agency wanting shots of a child 0-3 years old. I really wanted to take on the challenge and made arrangements for a couple portrait sessions. Sounds easy, right? Well, sort of. The easy part was making images of two beautiful little girls. What I hadn’t prepared for was the energy level of these toddlers! I prefer shooting candid portraits so natural settings are my venue of choice. First was 18 month old Ella. I arrived at Ella’s house shortly after she had woken from a nap. I’m thinking “oh, this’ll be good, she seems a little shy, I’ll talk to her a little, we’ll connect, we’ll play…” Fast forward to the playground. Who knew a 2’9″, 25 pound little girl could run circles around me! Following around a climbing, sliding, jumping, and running child made for a pretty exhausting hour, but her energy and big personality shone through in some really fun and cute candid portraits.

Next came little Everil, such a cutie at only a year old. Thinking to myself again “great, after Ella wearing me out, I’m kind of glad Everil isn’t walking yet. It’ll be a little easier if she’s only crawling”. It was a beautiful day. We met at a local park and for the second time in two days I was in for a big shock. You Moms out there can stop laughing at my naivte now. At first Everil sat surveying her surroundings as I fired off some test shots, checking lighting and angles. Then she decided to explore a little. I had no idea a toddler could crawl that fast! I was literally running around trying to stay in front of her, I go right, she goes left, laying on the ground for a good angle and then losing it as fast as I get into position. Whew, what a work out!

Anyway, it was great fun! Thanks to Desiree for recruiting her friends’ kids for me and to Becca and Jesselyn for providing the best models ever!

What I’m listening to: From The Cradle Eric Clapton

A foggy start to a new day.

Well hello there blog.  I know, I know, I’ve neglected you.  I’m sorry.  No excuses.  Would it help if I said I’ll try to do better?  Honest, I’ve only been neglectful in following through, I really do have at least half a dozen posts written in my head.  I’m an ace procrastinator at times and taking it from my brain to keyboard to blog wall has proven to be somewhat of  a challenge.  Forgive me, please?

Song Of The Day

Time Erase   The New Regime

You should definitely check out all of Ilan Rubin’s (aka The New Regime) music!

Birthday Card for My Sister

Today is my Sister’s birthday and sunflowers are her favorite.  I feel pretty fortunate to have a sister who is also my best friend and I don’t let her know that often enough. I think she is stronger, wiser, and smarter than I’ll ever be. She is generous and caring, often at her own expense.  She tends to see things more clearly than I and is usually the one who makes sense of what is turmoil in my life, the voice of reason. She is my biggest cheerleader when I start doubting myself and my choices. Yes, we still have those occasional squabbles that send us back to our childhood days. I turn in to the bossy, know it all big sister and she the annoying, temper tantrum throwing, door slamming  little sister that my teenage self thought was a pest. With a laugh and her quick wit she reminds me how much I damaged her psyche during our childhood and how difficult it was being my little sister.  I’m sure I did and I have no doubt being  known as my little sister had it’s disadvantages. Our roles in each others lives fluctuate-we’ve shared a lifetime of smiles and rivers of tears. We’ve laughed until our sides hurt and held each other up through difficult times. We are sisters by blood, friends by choice and I don’t know what I’d do without her in my life.

Songs Of the Day:

Stand By Me – Ben E. King (Cover by John Lennon)

You’re My Best Friend - Queen

My Hero – Foo Fighters

Lean On Me – Bill Withers

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First Flight Into The Wild

I can remember when the American Bald Eagle was on the endangered species list and seeing just one was news worthy of national headlines. I had never seen one live-in captivity or in the wild-until last year when I discovered there was a small population right in my backyard. That’s when I became obsessed. I scoured the internet for information about their habits, migration patterns, and searched for their local hangouts. I’m a warm weather, summer loving kind of girl, but despite the onset of fall and winter I was determined. Layers of fleece, a mug of coffee and camera in hand, I headed out to the lake every chance I could on my quest to spot one. No doubt if you live in Alaska, Washington or Western Canada, you’re probably wondering what the big deal is, but here on the Eastern seaboard in central NC there aren’t a lot of Eagles. I dragged my photographer friends out at dawn and hiked what felt like every inch of the 180 mile shoreline for what I later learned were only 5 nesting pair. I’ve since seen many, but never really close enough for “the shot”. In early February I discovered a webcam of a pair at the lake and watched as the eggs were incubated, hatched and cared for by the adult birds. I had no idea how addicting that would become! Once the NC birds began to fledge the nest I discovered another cam at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens in VA. On April 26th the female Eagle was struck and killed by a plane, the 3 eaglets were removed from the nest the next day and taken to the Wildlife Center of Virginia to be raised and then released. Fast forward to July 27th. I decided I’d drive the 3 hours to Charles City, Virginia to attend the release at Berkeley Plantation on the James River. They were not only releasing the triplets, but two additional juvenile birds that had been injured and rehabbed at the center. They released 5 Juvenile Bald Eagles with a crowd of about 1200 in attendance. It was a pretty amazing experience watching the birds as they took their first flights into the wild. They said we would see the moment in flight when the bird realized it was free-it was true-all of a sudden after it gets air-born the bird relaxes, the flight becomes smooth, and sure, the Eagle soars effortlessly into the great wide open. If you’ve never seen it, you need to!

NZ Ready For Release

More photos from the release.

Here is a great video of the release from the VDGIF

Songs of the day:

Into The great Wide Open-Tom Petty

Learn To Fly-Foo Fighters

Learning To Fly-Pink Floyd

Fly Like An Eagle-Steve Miller Band 

Summer Sunrise

I met a photographer the other day, who, after looking at my website suggested I need to find my direction. I’m not really certain I know what that means. I’ve pretty much lived my whole life flying by the seat of my pants, the only direction being moving from day to day because the sun rises and sets. Most days, in the grand scheme, I have no idea what’s in store. Sure, I have my plan, my “to-do” list, but usually, aside from meetings, obligations and deadlines, the list usually changes. I kind of like it that way. The same is true in my photography. Experience has taught me that as soon as I try pigeon-holing my craft instead of allowing it to grow organically my creativity suffers. I can’t definitively say I prefer photographing one thing over another. Am I good or successful at shooting everything? No, but if I don’t try I won’t be challenged and grow as an artist. One characteristic that defines me is that I have a lot of diverse interests and most are reflected in my work.  I do think, varied as it is, my photography has a unique thumbprint. I want to photograph what moves me, challenges me, and excites me. Some days that’s an idyllic meditative moment in nature and other times it’s an in-your-face rock concert. I think maybe I’ve found my direction and motto perfectly stated by the immortal (& one of my many heroes) Bruce Lee-”Using no way as way” and “Having no limitation as limitation“.

What I’m listening to this week: This is Gonna Hurt  by Sixx:AM

An Honor Guard soldier at the Tomb of The Unknowns.

There’s more to the 4th of July than fireworks, barbeque, fun and celebrations. I recently visited Arlington National Cemetery. Regardless of your political views or religious beliefs, being there, standing in the midst of the 624 acres of buried soldiers who lost their lives fighting for our freedom is a sobering experience. Even if history isn’t your thing it’s easy to appreciate the memorials from as long ago as the Revolutionary and Civil Wars to the Challenger shuttle and 9/11 Pan Am flight. Burial places of Presidents, Supreme Court Justices, astronauts, and military and political leaders, among many others, is a lesson in how our country has evolved. So while we’re all enjoying cook-outs, fireworks, and festivities, take a minute to appreciate how and why we have the freedom we do.

One of the many areas where soldiers are buried.

The Eternal Flame at the JFK grave.

One of my early concert photos: Sting from The Police's Synchronicity tour. Circa a long time ago.

I guess I’ve always believed, good or bad, everything happens for a reason. We I don’t always see it clearly or right away and occasionally we, um, I have to be hit over the head for clarity. More often than not, for me, it’s usually after the fact. So, my point. My “real” job, although I loved what I was doing, was changing and had me wishing for something different. The thought of looking for a new job and going to work for another employer made me want to curl up in a fetal position, draw the blinds and wallow in the dark. I finally decided to take a huge leap of faith, quit my job and work for myself. Working harder than I ever have, I am now hitting the pavement, so to speak, pursuing my passion and working as a photographer full time. The synchronicity part? Well, it all became clear after I resigned. All the signs are telling me I made the right decision and I couldn’t be happier!

I’m adding the final touches. Keep your fingers on your keyboard and an eye on this space…

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