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I think my favorite image of those in this collage is the one at the bottom left, with her in the teal dress leaning on the old painted wall.  There were so many good shots from this shoot, it is hard to decide.  There are several more great images from this shoot, including my favorite, but I am saving those for the proofing session. ;)

The Lord has really blessed me with some great seniors to shoot so far, and Cody was no different.  I was a little nervous about this shoot, as it had rained a lot the night before, and we were scheduled to begin early in the morning when the sun was just right in the sky.  It was a bit of a slow start due to all the water outside, but after we rectified that the shoot went off magnificently. 

Perfect weather, perfect light from the sky, and outstanding backgrounds all make for great shots, but a good subject can compensate for a lot of other problems.  Cody surprised me - I thought he would be a good subject, but this young man has an infectious smile and great humor that made my job easy.

The proofing session for Cody and his parents, Tom and Tammy Hill is this upcoming week, but I wanted to go ahead and give a small preview of the shoot beforehand.

Cody HillCody Hill 2014 Senior Portrait Session

If you see Cody out and about, why not give him a shout out and let him know how well he did.  Oh, you might raz him a bit and tell him, "Cody Hill is AWESOME!" while you're at it.  :)

Remember, if you want a Senior Portrait Session for the fall of 2014, now is the time to book it.  I have limited openings, and the slots will fill up fast.

Imagine my surprise when I found out there was more to Jeremy Sargent that black and whites!  His landscape and nature work is fantastic, as is his portrait photography.  Jeremy is much worth checking out.

You can find Jeremy on Twitter and Facebook.

You can find Ted Sabarese on Facebook and Twitter.

I don't see Slavina on any social media channels, but do yourself a favor and go check out her work today.

You can follow Hans on Google+, Facebook, or Twitter.

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• Wildfire Photography - The destruction of forest fires is terribly sad, but the images are nothing short of amazing.  You can see a couple of great examples with this wildfire timelapse and the Yosemite Wildfire.
• How to Take Great Portraits - Get the background right!
• Eight Ways to Make a Difference with Volunteer Photography - This is a great way to get experience and help others at the same time.
• A Fraction of a Second - Eight great examples of photography that captures a fraction of a second.
• Twenty-Five Photographs of the Wilderness - It is hard to beat the photography from National Geographic.  
• Trading in the Camera Phone - Five reasons why one photographer has switched from a camera phone to an eye-fi card.
• Weird Beauty - These are simply some amazing portraits.  I am impressed what a little makeup can do.
• Bending Flames - Seriously, how is this done?  How does one even think of ideas like this?
• Portraits of Funny People - Funny shots of comedians - huge smile.
• Breathtaking Landscapes - These are some of the most fantastic landscape images I have seen.
• Images of Hurricane Sandy - Amazing images from Hurricane Sandy.

Go check his work out now at DaveBlackPhotography.com, especially his creative lighting work - it is fantastic!

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• Everything You See Isn't Reality - We all know that celebrities and models don't really look as good as they do in photos and movies.  These images from makeup artist Vadim Andreev are an excellent example of why.
• A Secret to Good Photography? - Is there a secret to good photography?  Rick Berk over at DPS would say yes.  Shoot with Intent!
• Photoshop vs. Lightroom - Have you ever wondered what the different is in Photoshop and Lightroom?  This article is a great overview.
• Photography Tips - Check out these nine photography tips the pros don't want you to know.
• 15 Edgy Images of Sharpies - Who would have thought Sharpies could be so interesting?
• 20 Colorful Chalk Photos - Okay, first Sharpies and now chalk.  :D
• Lighting - This is a great article telling all about how lighting plays a critical role in photography.
• The Demise of the DSLR - What do you think?  Is the DSLR on its way out?
• Reflection Canyon - Wow, this is an amazing shot of Lake Powell.
• The Underbelly of an Iceberg - Whoa!  Have you ever seen the underbelly of an iceberg?  Be sure to check out the video!
• Same-Sex Discrimination - A photographer in New Mexico was just ruled against in a case where he refused to shoot a same-sex couple.  What is your opinion on this?
• Albino Animals - 17 cool pictures of albino animals.
• Photo Backups - Do you have a photo backup strategy?  If not, you should consider one.
• Shooting High School Football - If you have never tried shooting high school football, you might not be able to imagine how challenging it can be.  This is a worthwhile article to give you some help.
• Restore Your Old Photos - If you are like many families, you have plenty of old photos that need restoration.  This is a good place to start.
• Starting Out as a Wedding Photographer - One of the most profitable photography genres is wedding photography, but one of the hardest photography genres is wedding photography.
• Train Your Brain - Tips for training your brain to see what others don't see.
• Amazing Examples of High Speed Photography - WOW!

Enthusiasm is inner confidence and it’s radiant and attractive on all levels. Don’t be afraid to connect: KNOW you are worth it. There is opportunity all around you.

~ Sue Bryce

Be sure to check out all of Valeries work at ValerieJardinPhotography.com, or follow Valerie on Google+, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

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• Breathtaking Photographs - We live in a magnificent world.  These photos will help you put things into perspective.
• The Colors of Tuscany - If you are like me, these amazing landscape images of the rolling hills of Tuscany will put another place on your vacation list.
• Typefont Kits - This won't be of interest to everyone, but others will appreciate it.  Photoshop users now have access to typefont kits.
• Adobe Photoshop CC for Photographers - I haven't read this book, but judging from the title, it is one that needs to be on my wish list.  
• Are you a Lightroom user?  Are you using Mosaic?  You should be.
• While we are talking about useful applications - are you using Copy yet?  Think of it like Dropbox, but only bigger.  Use the link here and you and I will both get an extra 5GB of storage when you install the desktop client.
• Lightroom Splash Screen - Did you know you can change your lightroom splash screen?  You can even have it randomly use one of several images.  Cool!
• Sixty Award Winning Photographs from Around the World - These are simply amazing.  Which is your favorite?  I personally love the man running the oxen.
• Ten Tips for Creating Great Family Portraits - Another great article from DPS.
• What are Successful Photographers Doing that You Aren't? - Are you trying to make it in the dog-eat-dog world of photography?  If so, This is a must read article for you. 
• Family Portrait Ideas - More great ideas for family portraits.
• Faces Everywhere! - This seems like a fun project!
• Beautiful Moon Images - 100 magnificent moon images that are totally worth viewing.
• 30 Portraits Worth Seeing - If you enjoy a good portrait like I do, this is worth checking out.
• New Canon Cameras! - Are you in the market for a new point and shoot camera?  If so, these new Canon cameras look like they are worth checking out.
• The Canadian Rockies - Beautiful Photographs of the Frigid Isolation in the Canadian Rockies.
• Social Media Image Sizes - This is a valuable link on ideal sizes for social media images.

You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.

~ Ansel Adams

Just like with Jay, you can prepare to spend some time looking through Varina's work at her website photographybyvarina.com, or on Google+, Facebook, Youtube, Pinterest, or Twitter.

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• Self-Deprecating Notes Found on Vintage Photographs - 
• Nature's Destructive Power - Breathtaking and Horrifying Images of Nature's Destructive Power.
• Lightroom - If you are a photographer and you aren't using Lightroom, you are missing out.  Here you can get a copy for $99.
• Sunrise Photography - 25 cool examples of sunrise photography.
• Rainbows - I have ran across a couple of good rainbows lately, so you can imagine that this link with so many awesome rainbows caught my eye.
• iPhone Photography - These are the winners of the 2013 iPhone Photography awards.  Prepare to be amazed.
• Mosaic - Are you a Lightroom user (see above note!)?  If so, you should be using Mosaic!  The free version may be all you need, and it is certainly a good place to start.  Yes, I get free storage if you sign up via the link I have used.
• Portrait Mistakes - Here are ten of the top portrait mistakes and how to fix them.

To take a photograph is to hold one’s breath when all faculties converge in a face of fleeing reality. It is at that moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy.

~ Henri Cartier-Bresson

His images of deserts, forests, coastlines, water, weather, rivers, waterfalls, canyons and more are all just like I like them: colorful and highly saturated.  Prepare to spend some time thumbing through his images while visiting his website, jaypatelphotography.com.  You can also find him on Google+, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Remember, the audience is paying for your point of view: your agenda, your bias. Not for anything so crass as politics, but for insight, for hope and reassurance--or for upending the status quo, for a challenge, for their world to be shaken up. They want your art to make them feel something important, even if they can't put their finger on what it is--especially then.

~ Steve Hutson

You can find Nicole at her site, nicolesyblog.com, on Google+, Facebook, or Twitter.

Look at your client this week, imagine it is you on the other side of the camera. What would someone have to do for you to get you in that place where you feel trust, trust to let go of your insecurity and fear and let your true self come forward. Can you create that space for people, can you hold that space for them? I want them to feel beautiful, I want them to come forward, I want to hold that safe place for them for as long as I can and I will never let them feel unsure or unsafe in that space. I respect that space.

~Sue Bryce

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• Five Flashes for the Strobist on a Budget - Some photographers seem to have unlimted money.  I am not one of them.  As such, I always keep my eye out for a good bargain on good equipment.
• Family Portrait Ideas - how to photograph your loved ones at any age or occasion.
• 17 Enjoyable Pictures of Monopoly - Who would have ever thought this game could be the subject of such good pictures.
• Professional smartphone photography tips - With such fantastic smart phone cameras on the market today, quality snapshots are at your fingertips.  Check out these smartphone photography tips to help you.
• 10 Photoshop Actions For Professional Photographers - Photoshop actions are one of the keys to fast workflow.  These ten photoshop actions are a good start to faster processing.
• Awkward Portraits - Portraits of People Holding Photos from Their Awkward Years.
• Five Tips for Staying Infatuated with Photography - This is an important read for everyone with a camera and an interest.
• Insane Light Painting - If you don't know what light painting is, prepare to be amazed.
• Photography Tips - Ten killer tips the pros won't tell you.

You can find out more about will and his work at his website, Wiljax.com, or check out his Portrait of a Juke Joint Project.  

The best piece of advice ever given was by the art director of Harper's Bazaar, Alexey Brodovitch, to the young Richard Avedon, destined to become one of the world's great photographers. The advice was simple: 'ASTONISH ME.' Bear these words in mind, and whatever you do will be creative.

~ Paul Arden

Be sure to go check out the rest of Martin's fantastic work.  You can find out more about him on his website, Martin Bailey Photography, on Google+, Facebook, or Twitter. 

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• 15 Adorable Pictures of Babies Smiling - Often I think babies look like Winston Churchill.  These are great examples of how baby photos should look.
• Garden photography tips - How to take pictures of plants.
• 20 Spectacular Examples Of Macro Photography - WOW!  I love this!
• Dogs Dressed As Their Owners - Sebastian Magnani does a really great job capturing dogs and their owners, showing just how much pets look like their owners.
• Artic Foxes - 17 GREAT photos of Artic Foxes.  These are such beautiful animals!
• Red Pandas - If the foxes weren't enough, here are some fantastic Red Panda images to enjoy!
• Photos of Seals - This must be animal week.  Enjoy these seal photos.  Something tells me they are a lot more ornery than they are cute.
• How Not to Photograph a Deer in the Wild from a Safe Distance - I wouldn't be surprised if this happened here in Kentucky sometime.
• Wildlife Macro Photography - Why not just continue in this vein?  These are some amazing images.
• Great pictures of Gorillas - Some of these are just stunning.
• Twenty Amazing Photographs of Snails - Now this is just getting weird!  So many animal links this week!
• Genetics are awesome! - Okay, let's mix a little humanity in here too!

For me the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides simultaneously. In order to “give a meaning” to the world, one has to feel involved in what one frames through the viewfinder. This attitude requires concentration, discipline of mind, sensitivity, and a sense of geometry. It is by economy of means that one arrives at simplicity of expression.

~Henri Cartier-Bresson

Doesn't that bring a smile to your face?  I encourage you to check more of her work out at her website Martine Roch Studio, at her Facebook Page, or on Twitter.

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• Focus Blur Fireworks - Independence Day may be over now, but this is still a worthwhile trick to keep in your back for next year.
• World War One Photos - This is pretty incredible.  A rare 3D camera has been found containing images from World War I.
• Beautiful Female Portraits - Andrea Hübner has really done a fantastic job with beauty photography.  This link is family friendly, but beware that her site may not be that way.
• Rare Photos of Lady Liberty - These are some great, old images of Lady Liberty under construction.
• Black and White Portraits of the Homeless - There is a great deal of debate on taking pictures of the homeless, but I don't have a problem with it.  These images speak loudly to me.
• Shutter Sound Symphony - This is well worth watching and so creative.
• Forty Beautiful Photos of Greece and the Islands - Beautiful!
• Incredibly Colorful Rock Formations in China - Can I reuse beautiful?  Beautiful!
• Photographing Native Americans - I have such a dream to do just this - to document the modern day Native Americans in photos.  Hopefully this next week I will begin the project as I visit a Choctaw reservation.
• Lightroom 5 - Ten tips in 10 minutes.
• Photoshop Shortcuts - This is a great infographic of Photoshop shortcut keys.

For those who are not familiar with street photography, it’s all about the gesture, the expression that tells a story. The moment will usually only last one frame, a fraction of a second. The success of the photograph will depend on the viewer’s reaction to it, not so much the technical merit of the shot. It’s about the ability to anticipate and see the story.

~ Valarie Jardin

His Circus Peanut gallery is quite amazing too.  I hate to have to give this warning, especially with such good work, but not all his photos are kid-friendly, so keep that in mind as you peruse his gallery.

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• 8 Photography Tips - GREAT advice!
• Understanding Exposure - An Introduction to the most important photography lesson.
• Capture Colors With the Adobe Kuler App for the iPhone - This is just too awesome.  No, it isn't directly related to photography, but still very useful.
• Beauty Photography - Most beauty photography is not suitable for a family friendly blog, but this is a great example of how it should be done, in my opinion.
• When Is a Senior Portrait Too Racy? - This is a real pet peeve of mine - in appropriate senior photos.
• Love in Nature - Some of these are just adorable.  I particularly like the baby animals with the adults.
• Everpix 2.0 - Organize Every Photo You've Ever Taken and Display Them Beautifully
• Fantastic Frog Photography - These images are nothing short of amazing.
• Google+ Now Makes Moving, Uploading, Downloading Photos a Breeze - Seriously, if you are a photographer and you aren't using Google+, you should be.
• African Safaris - Check out these astonishing images by Mario Moreno.
• Scent-ography - This 'Camera' Captures Smells Instead of Pictures.  Awesome.
• Why you SHOULD use watermarks - Last week I posted a link on why you shouldn't use watermarks.  This looks at the alternative approach.
• Photographing fireworks - Though it is already after Independence day, there may still be some fireworks show this weekend for which this can be used.
• Colorful Photographs of Candy - Need I say more?
• Beautiful Infrared Photography - This is such a fascinating genre of photography, but unfortunately, it takes special equipment.
• Photoshop Tips and Tricks - This may not help the experienced Photoshop user, but these are good tips for the beginner.
• Five Hard Photography Habits to Break - We all have them.  Bad habits.  Here are five bad photography habits that you may need to work on.
• Stunning Arial Photography - I am always amazed at how different our world looks from the air.  Such beauty!
• Bursting Soap Bubbles - You may have seen high speed photos of bursting balloons.  I can't believe I haven't seen others taking photos of bursting soap bubbles.
• Cool Pictures of Baobab Trees - I have to admit, I didn't even know what a Baobab Tree was, but I am glad I went to find out.
• Northern Lights Images - This is on my bucket list.  Stunningly beautiful!
• Reignighting Your Love - NO!  Not your love with a human; your love with your camera!
• San Franciso - A timelapse image of San Francisco like you have never seen it before.
• Mind-Blowing Shadow Art - I don't have words to describe this.  Truly mind-blowing.
• Canon 70D - Can I just go ahead and say that I WANT THIS!

Photography is an art of observation. It has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.

~ Elliott Erwitt - Photographer

Image courtesy of Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Elliott_Erwitt_in_the_Westlicht_Museum_of_Photography,_Vienna.jpg)

One thing that really makes Matt's work a little more special to me is he has ties to the area in which I live.  Be sure to check him out at his site, The Digital Trekker, or connect with im on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

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• Five Tips for First Time DSL Owners - I don't know that I agree with this totally.  The one tip I would add is to realize the nice camera isn't going to make your photos better by itself.  In fact, it might make them worse.  Once you master it, however, it is amazing!
• Photos that Reveal the Hidden Nature of Depression - This is amazing.  
• 25 Insanely Detailed Macro Images of Insects - I have always been fascinated with macro images, and this is a fantastic example of why.  You really should check this out.
• Dragonfly Images - WOW!  Such amazing images of dragonflies!
• 17 Superb Pictures of Nature - Lovely shots of nature!
• Shadow Sculptures - A good friend shared this with me - so cool!
• Beautiful Bird Images - I love seeing good images of birds, but they are so hard to take.  You couldn't tell that from this collection though!
• Get Better Bird-in-Flight Images - So now you are inspired?  Check out these tips.
• Family Portraits - Can you tell what is wrong with these family portraits?  I couldn't.
• Bryan Adams, Photographer - Please forgive me.  Did you know Bryan Adams, the musician, is an accomplished photographer?
• Ten Best Free Photoshop Plugins - I always love free and good.  Do you have any suggestions to add to this list?
• Top Ten Photo Editing Software Packages - Looking for a good editing program?  Here's a great list to begin with.
• Cameras in Flight May Soon be Permitted - Honestly, I never knew they weren't.  While I didn't take pictures during takeoff and landing, I have taken pictures during other times during flights.
• Latte Art - Okay, this is cool, but I sure wouldn't pay extra for it.
• Images of the Earth's Oldest Trees - This is impressive, and WOW, the age of these trees!  WOW!
• Buying Used Lenses - If you use an interchangeable lens camera, this article should be of interest to you.
• The Edge of the Earth - In last week's Frame-by-Frame we saw the end of the road.  This week, we see the edge of the earth.
• Are Smartphones Killing Memories and Experiences? - I am not sure, what do you think?
• Amazing Hand-Drawn Pictures - Okay, so this isn't photography, but it is as good as photography.  Amazing!
• Portraits of Centurions - What a cool project!
• Forty-one Reasons to Date a Photographer - Last week we talked about why you shouldn't date a photographer.  Here are reasons you should do so.
• Photos from London's Abandoned Post Office Railway - I love photos like this.
• Before They Pass Away - The first photo won me over, and this so closely resembles a dream I have.
• Twenty Majestic Pictures of Tigers - I love the big cats, and though not my favorite, tigers are up there near the top.
• A Different Night Sky - Have you ever imagined what the night sky would look like if the planets were as close as the moon?
• Thumbs Up - Hilarious blogger photoshops guns out of movie scenes and replaces them with thumbs up.
• Pencils - Eighteen ingriguing pictures of pencils.
• Surreal Photos That Make You Look Twice - This artist is amazing!
• Fuji XM-1 - An interchangeable lens camera for the masses.
• GIMP 2.8.6 - An alternative to Photoshop?  I have used GIMP, and though impressed, it didn't replace Photoshop for me.  I will experiment again with this version.  It is free after all.
• Mobi SD - A wi-fi SD card that could change your ease of use with photography.
• Spice Up Your Photography - 6 Addictive Ways To Play Around With Color And Spice Up Your Photography.
• Why I don't Use Watermarks - One popular photographers reasoning for not using watermarks.
• Hands Tell our Life Stories - One of my favorite photos is of my grandma's hands.  Hands really do tell so much.
• Forty Hyper Realistic Artwork - One word: Unbelievable.

The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.

~Dorothea Lange - Photographer

Picture courtesy of Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothea_Lange)

Tyler_color

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I often review other photographer's work, and this one was pointed out to me by a good friend as one I needed to check out.  Her children's photos are amazing!  These are the type of images I aspire to produce.  Check out the full website at Laura Morita Photography and you can find her on Facebook too!

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• What it Takes (Interview) - This is a really good interview and write up on what it takes to make it.
• The Bonzart Ampel - This is a really cool looking camera.   I suspect it would be fun to play with.
• Sigma 120 - 300 f/2.8 - SO WANT THIS LENS.
• A Picture of Home - Pakistani photographs on a personal level.
• Photographs of Marilyn Monroe - Vintage 1949 photos of Marilyn Monroe by Andre de Dienes.
• Fixed Lens Cameras by the Prothusiest - I keep reading how good these are, but I struggle imagining going back to a fixed lens camera.
• New Zealand Timelapse Videos - New Zealand sounds like a beautiful place, and if these timelapse videos are any indicator, it is.  Seriously, the cloud formation at 1:10 on the second video is amazing!
• Rotating Supercell Timelapse - Simply WOW.  You have to watch this.
• Timelapse Tutorial - Speaking of timelapse photography, this is a nice tutorial from Vincent Laforet.
• Portraits of People - People exposing their insecurities and issues to the camera.
• The Case of the Disappearing Photographer - The Sun Times fired all their photographers.  Should this concern us?
• Stepping our of our Comfort Zone - Kudos to this lady for stepping out of her comfort zone, but I have no intent of following along.
• Portraits of People Wrapped in Rubber Bands - Okay, this is just strange.
• Professional Hair Processing in Photoshop - This is pretty neat.  I'll have to give it a try.
• Parents Unhappy with Class Photograph - I seriously doubt this was intentional, but wow it frustrates me.  Look how happy that boy is.
• How the Other Half Lives - This is sobering.
• Photos of NYC's subway - Fascinating!  I can't imagine seeing this in real life.
• Photoshop in Real Life - One creative photographer's take on how life would be if Photoshop worked in real life.
• Webcam Captures Volcanic Explosion - This is pretty neat to watch.
• Portraits of Fans Emulating their Idols at Concerts - I used to do this myself, but I sure don't understand it now.
• High-Speed Photography Demonstrations - I so badly want to try this sometime.
• How to Take Cute Pictures of Kittens - Seriously?  Does one need a guide for that?
• Adobe Photoshop CC: Favorite Features for Photographers - I love watching Julieanne Kost, and this episode is no different.
• Photo Overlays Create a Then and Now Perspective - This is really a cool way to do this.
• Affordable and Cool Shutter Release - SO WANT THIS!
• 35 Photographs you need to Really Look at to Understand - This was really amazing for images that overall seem to not be planned out.
• The End of the Road - Images of the end of the road.  Really, just go check it out.
• 9 Weird Photography Tricks That Actually Work! - I love #2 and #8.
• Colorful, Confusing Mosaic - Mind tricks!  This is pretty amazing.

Art is about ideas. The clearer you are in what you're after the better the chance of success. Ask lots of questions about what you're doing (at least at first). This will lead you to answers that might be a little different than the next person. How you answer these most important questions is where your style lies. Style is not a technique. Style is a world view. Show us your world.

~ Steve Huston, Artist

 vs. 

When I first began reigniting my interest in photography, I began using Photoshop, as we had purchased a student version for one of my son's classes.  While it was very difficult for me to learn to utilize Photoshop with any usefulness, I soon reached that point, and what was work became pleasure.  

As time went on, I began hearing other experts saying that Photoshop was not really the best tool for photographers, and that photographers should be using Adobe's Lightroom.  While this seemed good to me, as Lightroom was far less expensive, I already owned Photoshop and did not have a compelling reason to purchase Lightroom.

Fast forward several months.  Now my hobby has turned into a business, and I am needing to make the process as efficient as possible.  My current workflow in Photoshop is not going as quick as I need it to for this to be profitable, so I began looking at what others are doing.  Of course, I found many ways others are automating their work, but the one message I kept coming across is how Lightroom is more efficient for photographers.  Lucky me!  I had just purchased Adobe's Creative Cloud, so I now had access to Lightroom.

Despite my new-found access, I just couldn't get into Lightroom.  I convinced myself that it was because I cut my teeth on Photoshop, but it still frustrated me.  Even so, I kept hearing folks say that Lightroom should be a part of a photographer's workflow, so I was determined to learn it, and Memorial Day weekend was the time to do this!  So I hunkered down and started learning.

Don't get me wrong, I could process photos in Lightroom, that was never an issue, but I didn't find it intuitive or fast.  I could easily whip out my photos in Photoshop (with Adobe Camera Raw) before I felt I could do it in Lightroom.  I watched videos, read great posts, and still struggled.  Then it hit me.  I was expecting Lightroom to be something it wasn't.  Lightroom is not Photoshop.  Wow!  That was revolutionary!  I kept thinking Lightroom was a dumbed down Photoshop, and though I have never used Photoshop Elements, I am sure that is more in line with what I thought Lightroom was.

So what is Lightroom?  Keep in mind, I am far from an expert, and in fact, I am just a brand new beginner.  That said, I think I can summarize Lightroom far more simply than I have seen it summarized elsewhere.  Lightroom is a Digital Asset Management application with a very user friendly version of Adobe Camera Raw.  Yes, yes, the zealots will tell me about all the differences, but frankly, I think they are muddying the waters.  Though there are differences, the crux of the software is simply Digital Asset Management and Adobe Camera Raw - period.

So, that said, is there a place for Lightroom in my workflow?  I think so.  I love the Digital Asset Management in Lightroom.  LOVE IT!  I am also appreciating the editing features more, and I see value (thanks to Scott Kelby and Matt Kloskowski).  I intend on using it as a major piece in my workflow going forward, but for me, there is still a place for Photoshop too.  One example is the use of layers.  Even so, the advantages of Lightroom are enough that it makes sense to use now that I understand it.  So, for me going forward, I will use Lightroom for most tasks, and I will finish the task in Photoshop if necessary, and with the new features being added all the time, I suspect my reliance on Photoshop will become less and less. 

John

John2

As you can see, one of Don's specialties is snowflake photography.  In fact, he is about to publish a book that should be amazing.  In the meantime, just peruse his site, in particular his snowflake images.  Don't stop there though, there are a lot of other great images on his site too.  You can connect with Don on twitter, Google+, Flicker, or Facebook.  He also occasionally co-hosts TWiP, where I first discovered him.

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• Ideas to Make IOS 7 Better for Photographers - I seriously doubt some of these will be considered in any upcoming IOS, but they are fun to talk about.
• The Rise of the Selfie - Am I the only one amazed with the number of selfies on the Internet?  
• Photographing the Top of the World - Okay, Joe McNally is one serious photog who will do more than I will for a unique shot.
• Photographer Snaps Nearly 100 Photos a Day with Homemade Camera - This is a really interesting article, but some of the images are not kid/family/work friendly.
• Photographing through Screens - I was pretty amazed at how appealing these images turned out.
• Camera Centric Nokia? - A cell phone that seriously replaces the need for a good point-and-shoot camera?
• Adobe Pranks Pedestrians - Seriously, this is GREAT!
• Forty-one Reasons You Shouldn't Date a Photographer - This is hilarious, but just a bit of crude humor in one point.  Why do they do this?
• How to Capture the Perfect Photograph - Want to be a better photographer?  Check this out.
• Five Reason Why NOT to Become a Professional Photographer - Good points in this article.
• Vintage Photographs of Native Americans - I have a soft spot in my heart for Native Americans, so you can imagine how much I enjoyed this.
• Mesmerising shots of Mother Nature - WOW!  These shots of nature in all its fury are amazing!
• Lightroom Curves Unleashed - Do you want to better understand curves in Lightroom?  If so, this is the article for you.
• Celebrity Photoshopping - Grrr!  This really aggravates me.  There is no wonder our youth have poor images of themselves.  But just in case you think this is new, check out this article on photo manipulation.
• Digitizing old film - Do you have some old 35mm negatives that need digitized?  You should check this out.

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Throughout all of history, cultures have celebrated the transition from teenage years into adulthood.  Parties and celebrations are thrown, traditions are followed, and we experience a wild range of emotions.  All of these events create memories, but without high-quality portraits, these are just memories.  It is the high-quality portraits that help keep these memories alive.

High School Senior Portraits are truly an American phenomenon dating all the way back to the 1800s.  For a moment in time, teenagers are transformed into fashion models making a statement.  For a moment in time, memories are created.  For a moment in time, the high school senior can demonstrate to the world who they are.  Even so, many people don't realize the importance of high school senior portraits. 

High School Senior Portraits are an opportunity to visually capture one of the most important times in a person's life.  Whether it is sports, fashion, hobbies, or quite frankly, just making a statement, a high-quality photographer specializes in helping the high school senior share who they are with the world.

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Do you realize this transition from being a teenager to an adult, from a high schooler to a graduate, will likely be the last time pictures are exchanged with friends?  Think about it - how often do folks past their senior year in high school do this?  NEVER!  Let's face it, there are some of the classmates that will never see each other again.  This once united class will disperse to different colleges, different cities, different occupations, different hobbies, different friends, and soon these classmates will find their high school years to be little more than memories.  One of the more enjoyable walks down memory lane one day will be flipping through these portraits of their friends, and who knows, the memories that reignited that day may very well reignite a friendship.

It's not all about the memories though, is it?  Let's be real, high school senior portraits are FUN, high-quality images!  How often do you get an opportunity to have a fashion shoot?  How often do you get to make the shoot all about you?  How often does a photo shoot really show a snapshot of your life?  High school seniors have one opportunity to show the world who they are in a really creative way.  A high-quality photographer will take the time to get comfortable with the student, and despite their hesitations, their comfort will rise, and the images produced will be a remarkable mirror of the best things in their life.

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For many people, their high school senior portraits will be the last portrait they ever have taken.  We leave high school and suddenly things like portraits don't have the same significance they once did.  Unfortunately, many of us won't reach a point in our lives where that significance returns until we have a graduating senior ourselves.  Sadly, for some this is all too true, and the senior portraits end up being the one thing that keeps the memory of their child alive.  Thankfully that is not a challenge most of us live with, however, but not having high-quality portraits of our loved ones is a challenge you will face from now on, which makes a high-quality senior portrait all the more important.

If we get right down to it, life is gonna change.  Senior portraits are fun for the upcoming graduate, but in reality, these portraits are for the parents.  The child you have raised for 18 or so years is never going to be the same.  They will soon move on to college or the workforce, and the recent memories you have now will become more and more distant.  High-quality high school senior portraits are a way to preserve this part of their life - to keep these memories alive.

The concert was great and was really my favorite era of their music - the "Sports" album.  While they generally stuck to these songs, they did play one new song.  The crowd was enthusiastic, and became more that way as the night went on.  When Huey Lewis claimed the night was late at 8:50 PM, the crowd begged for me, and Huey Lewis and the News obliged.  

Here is one of my favorite shots from the night, but I really had a hard time deciding.  If you are a fan, I encourage you to check out the whole set.

Huey Lewis and the News-0770

"The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it!"

~Ansel Adams, Photographer

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Lee had been a realtor, which is the career he pursued when he first moved to Las Vegas.  Soon he realized there was going to be more money for him in personal training, which he did for a while.  It then hit him that Elvis impersonators could make some really good money in this city, so he worked on his moves and changed jobs again.  All was going well until he injured his knee, which is a hard injury for a personal trainer or an Elvis impersonator.  At the same time the economy collapsed, which left Lee without a job or a home. 

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Here's a collage of some of the best shots from the portrait shoot, and you can see all of them in high quality at s•c•e•e•e Photography.

RYAN_COLLAGE (1) Give a shout out to Ryan and let us all know your favorite photo.  If you like what you see, please share this post on Facebook, Google+, or Facebook.  Just copy and paste the following:

Check out the awesome senior portraits of Ryan Wells at s•c•e•e•e Photography: http://bit.ly/13Nf0BI.

• VSCO's New Upcoming Camera App - I am sold on ProCamera, I am not opposed to trying a new app, especially if it is free.
• What a Way to Propose - Through the Lens! - I would love to think I am this creative, but alas, I am not.  Besides, my wife would never look through my viewfinder.  :D
• Incredible Self Portraits - Okay, if you haven't seen the work done by this teenager, you have really missed out!  Can you say CREATIVE?!
• The Benefits of a Tripod - I have used a tripod almost as long as I have used a camera, so many of these ideas weren't new to me, but they were a good reminder anyhow.
• Creative Family Portraits - While some of these are too cheesy for me, there are also some great ideas here too.
• Inexpensive Infrared Camera - Okay, this is too cool!  Before you get your hopes up, it can't be used really to see where hot and cold spots are in your home, but it can show if your plants are growing well.  Awesome!
• Works of Art You Won't Believe Aren't Photographs - Okay, this is nothing short of amazing.
• Beautiful Black and White Photography - Not everyone appreciates black and white photography, but for those who do, you will enjoy this link.
• Portraits Before and After Drug Use - As I understand it, these are real life before and after pictures merged together.  Amazing.
• America's Fifteen Best National Parks - Well, I just added some more places to my bucket list.
• Underdog Photo Portraits - This is hilarious.

Did I miss any?  If so, share it with everyone in the comments.

One of the difficulties of digital photography is noise.  Sure, film had grain, but noise is different and, in my opinion, ugly.  As I was reading some articles on Friday, I stumbled across a headline that caught my eye on reducing noise: A Look at Reducing Noise in Photographs Using Median Blending.  I honestly had no idea what median blending was, but I was determined to test this myself.  Following the directions at that link, here are my samples of 100% crop images shot at 12,800 ISO on a Canon 5D Mark II.  The first in each set is the original image, and the second is the image produced using median blending.  There was no other noise reduction applied.

Original:

IMG_9881-Test With Median Blending:

Stack2-Test

Original:

IMG_9886-Test With Median Blending:

Stack1-Test

Original:

IMG_9891-Test With Median Blending:

Stack3-Test

No, these images aren't noise free, but WOW, the are so much better than the originals, and there was NO NOISE REDUCTION APPLIED!  This is, quite frankly, hard to believe.

Just for the curious - I found no benefit to using Median Blending on copies of the same image (i.e., all IMG_8049).

There are really limited applications of this, but for those cases where it would come in handy, it is very handy.  One can presume that had this been done with 10 images, or perhaps 20, the noise would have been reduced more.  This calls for further experimentation.

So, you can't close a post with a comment like that, can you?  Here is a comparison of 20 images, all shot at 12,800 ISO.

Original:

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With Median Blending:

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Though is still considerably better, it might not be worth taking 20 images in every case; however, there are situations the noise reduction would be worth it.

The final experiment is to blend 20 images shot at 25,600 ISO.  In the original 100% crop these images are almost totally unusable:

Original:

IMG_9935-Test

With Median Blending:

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And as you can see, with Median Blending, this very high ISO image is totally usable.  

Like I said earlier, the application of this is limited, but I fully expect to get an opportunity to use it in real life.

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I had a great time taking Josh's Senior Photos, and I think you can tell by his expressions, he had a great time too.

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Feel free to share this post on Facebook, Google +, or Twitter!

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As you can see in the photos, David loves the outdoors and Kentucky Lake.  He enjoys swimming, fishing, and kayaking.  He also plays baseball in Calvert City.

I have known David for most of his life, and it is nice to see him grow into a young man with a promising future.  I pray for the Lord's blessings over this transition from high school to college and beyond.

You can see the whole set of images here: http://sceeephotography.com/p1020946149.

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This first image was shot with a 200mm lens without Image Stabilization at 1/50.  You can see the obvious blur in the original cropped image to the left.  The image to the right is the outcome after using the Piccure plugin.  I was hopeful with this image, as perhaps you could salvage a shot with this in certain circumstances.

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This next image was shot with the same lens, but at 1/30.  The blurriness is far more evident, and the resulting image from using Piccure is not only useless, but perhaps even worse than the original.  

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The final image was once again shot with the same lens, once again at 1/50, but this time more blurry than the first, and entirely unusable after attempting to clean it up with Piccure.

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We do have to remember, this is a beta release, but honestly, it doesn't give me much hope.  I hope the folks at Adobe or Intelligent Imaging Solutions can improve this technology to create something that might be useful, and perhaps if I had a photo with less blur it might have been, but the icing on the cake was the fact that each time I used Piccure, Photoshop would inevitably crash.  Not good.  Yes, I know it is a beta, but still not good.

IMG_8246 This ought to give you a clue where I stand on this.  I am of the belief that if you feel confident the medical needs are being attended to, then there is nothing unethical about capturing the events of life.

What's your opinion?  

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After some discussion, I found that John David was from Lexington, KY and had lived in Russellville, KY for a while.  Even so, he wasn't familiar with the far western end of the state.

Here is the other (highly) processed photo of John David, which I like better:

JohnDavid

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Goldman is from Ivory Coast, a violent nation on the west coast of Africa.  He lives here now with his wife and children, and the saying he kept repeating was, "Live life to the fullest!"  

Here is the same shot of Goldman with different processing, which I like better.

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Abraham was born in the Sudan.  He told me he was one of the Lost Boys of Sudan.  I had not heard the term, but in summary, he was part of a terribly large group of young men separated from their parents at gunpoint, never to see them again.  This happened to Abraham when he was 12.  He suggested I watch Lost Boys of Sudan to understand what happened.

Abraham has been in the United States about twelve years, but due to immigration law and finances, his wife and child are still in the Sudan.  He is working to resolve that.

I was pleased to find out Abraham knows Jesus as his Savior.  It sure didn't surprise me seeing the joy on this man's face.

Abraham

Brett has been with Kind Coffee about a year.  He had a great laid-back personality that was welcoming.

Brett

Kate moved to Estes Park from Seattle about three years ago.  She has actually been a barista for twenty years!  Seriously, did she start when she was three!?  She has worked for Kind Coffee for about three years.  

Kate

I had a great conversation with these two, and I hope to meet them in my travels again.

Kat

I don't have a lot of time for blogging now, but I do see websites, articles, pictures, and other items that I wanted to be able to share on my own site.  Yeah, I know G+, Facebook, and even Pinterest can be good for this sort of thing, but there is something about having it on this site that I like.

I hope you like what you see as this comes together.  Once again, welcome.