Sunny Days

Every once in a while as I'm editing, a photo strikes me so much that I can't wait to share it. This is one such photo.

I photographed little Shayla (one of my best clients!) and her parents in Millennium Park tonight. The light was simply delicious. There's so much more to come from this shoot. But up first... the wedding I shot a few weeks ago. A few more minor tweaks and I'll be ready to share them with the world.

Have a great weekend everyone!

By The Light Of the Full Moon

One of my 2010 goals is to attend six Chicago Digital Photography Meet Up events. Back in January I attended the polar bear plunge with my friend Sarah, but since then I hadn't gone to any. Now that the weather is heating up, the the Meet Ups are much more frequent and with that the opportunities for photography are much more compelling.

Last Thursday I attended the Full Moon Fire Jam Meet Up, again with my friend Sarah. I'd been to the Full Moon Fire Jam years before with another photographer friend, however, I didn't bring a camera that time. Having gone before I knew the opportunities for interesting photos would be plentiful, so this was one Meet Up I wanted to attend.

The Full Moon Fire Jam takes place every full moon. A group of dozens of fire spinners and drummers meet in one of the lake shore parks and jam out for a good hour and a half under the light of the full moon. It's awesome. And if I do say so, my pictures from this jam turned out as awesome as I had hoped they would.

I shot manually the whole time, knowing that metering and capturing the light would be really tricky.  Photography is all about light and in this instance the light varied in brightness and was constantly moving. I really tried to test what I've learned about photography and capture the light in every way I knew how. I think I surprised myself a little with the variety of the types of shots I got out of this one event. I literally did not move from my spot all night. It was one of the best seats in the house - think fire dancers right in front and jamming drummers right behind. Since my view didn't change I changed the way my camera saw the scene.

I caught the fire spinner's spinning:

I caught the fire spinners faces:

And then I even stopped using the auto focus on my camera and started going abstract:

Doesn't that almost look like a painting?

But the three shots below are my absolute favorite. Usually these kinds of shots are a happy accident, but honestly, I knew how to catch these. And I couldn't be more proud. Pat on the back for me!

To give you an idea of the scene in its entirety, I even took a bit of video. The drummers make this event so I thought it only fair to show you their contribution as well.

One more goal this meet up helped me to accomplish is making it half way through my take 10,000 pictures in one year goal. I'm at 5,133 now with less than half the year over. Dare I say it, I just might blow my 2010 goals out of the water this year.

A Photo Collection Unlike This Blog Has Ever Seen

I have featured countless photos other people on this blog. I thought today I might turn the tables on myself. I'm not in front of the camera often (I prefer hiding behind the lens) but I happened into a windfall of photos when I was home last weekend.

My mom handed me a stack of photos from various family events over the past few years that were mine to keep. It seems I can't escape her lens. And it also seems that her lens does not like me. I present to you a collection of ugly and embarrassing photos of me. Please keep in mind that I had to scan these pictures because my mom gave me hard copy prints so the quality isn't so great. Please also keep in mind that my mom thought these photos were print-worthy.

Up first, Christmas 2008:

I am in the top right corner of this photo, looking very uncertain of things - mom's camera? Dinner? My crazy nephew in front? Who knows.

March 2009:

My mom, sister and I went to a friend's play in Stockbridge when I was home that weekend. I apparently brought my fake smile and crazy eyes on the trip.

May 2009:

I stole my nephew's bike and took it for a joy ride. I am that kind of aunt. I actually love this picture. I only wish you could see my face and the child's helmet I'm wearing a bit better. The scan doesn't do it justice.

The next three photos are all from my friend Dorrie's wedding last September. I had a great time at this wedding, but these picture will lead you to believe otherwise.

Two things I feel I need to clarify: 1) I love Mike very much and do not think I was angry with him when this photo was taken and 2) I am not a mouth-breather.

We like to call ourselves the Selma Street gang. (Our hands are spelling the letter S in case you can't tell). According to the faces of the other members in this gang, our gang is nice and friendly. According to my face, I'll cut a bitch.

This last one is my favorite and it's a shame it didn't scan better. This photo was taken right after my solo violin performance was over. I was happy and relieved. Yet this photo captures a very different Amy. This Amy has a machine gun in her violin case and isn't afraid to use it.

These photos makes me question what my face looks like on an average day. I don't think I generally walk around with my mouth open, with a crazy smile plastered face and certainly not like I am plotting other people's demise. But with the high percentage of crazy looks my mom was able to capture with her camera I am second guessing that. So I guess what I'm saying is if I pass you on the street and I look mean or crazy, please know that's apparently just what my face looks like. It must run in the family.

This is my parents on New Years Eve this past year. I can't really tell what my dad's about to do here, but I'm guessing they had a pretty fun night.

I love you mom!

Calmer

It's over. My first wedding is done.

The night of the wedding when I got home and was laying in bed I couldn't stop thinking about it. I did the thing that I always do after a shoot. I analyzed the day and determined what I did wrong, what I should have done better and convinced myself that I'd be lucky if I got one good shot. Yes, these thoughts (and a splitting headache) woke me up at 4 a.m. and would not stop circling my brain. The next night was better, but I still couldn't stop the thoughts completely.

It's four days after the fact now, and I've come around. The cool, even-headed Amy has prevailed, and I'm pretty sure I did a good job. Are there some things I would have done differently? Yes. Did everything turn out perfectly? No. But do I think I did a good job? Hell yes. And I'll be proud to share these photos with the bride once they are ready.

And now my brain is as calm and peaceful as these photos I took at my parent's lake house. It was the perfect place to relax after shooting my first wedding.

Wedding pictures are forth coming, but editing will take a little longer than usual this time. I promise, I'll share though. I always do.