About Me
My job as your photographer is to do more than just put a face to the name. I bring experience, professionalism, confidence, and a relaxed persona that produces photographs that instill a sense of trust and confidence in a potential client or customer. When you don’t do that, you will fail to get everything you can out of a brochure, website, or press release. The picture is critical.
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but you rarely hear about the reactions to a poor quality photograph. Professional photography when presenting yourself or company to the public is a necessity.
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Category Archives: My Photo; My Comment.
Skye
Skye was a both sweetheart and a challenge. The right side her had been disfigured; she was not in the least embarrassed or intimidated by it and I loved that about her. We worked with light and shadow during the entire session to our advantage.
The temptation to mask the injuries in post processing was quickly overcome when I looked into her eyes.
Also posted in People
Tagged art, Duri, eyes, Flickr, Inti, Light, Light And Shadow, lighting, Love, Photo, Photos, Post Processing, pro, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, Sessions, Shadow, Skye, Sweetheart, Temptation
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Ultra close up portraits
I have had many comments on my close-ups. All but one was complimentary and it was because I did not high-key it.
I love the female face. I like to test the limits of beauty and recognition. I have said elsewhere that the eyes are the key to the personality and reveal so much about a person’s mood, emotional state and health.
I always take an extreme closeup during a shoot and/or look for the fuller photograph to crop. Granted, ultra close-ups do not with all models, but I do spent a lot of post processing time looking for an opportunity to display their beauty through its use.
Also posted in People
Tagged beautiful, beauty, Closeup, Closeups, Displays, Duri, emotion, Emotional State, Emotions, eyes, face, female, Female Face, Females, Flickr, Health, Heir, High-Key, Hoot, Limited, Lot, Love, male, man, model, Modeling, Models, one, person, Personality, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, portrait, Portraits, Post Processing, pro, Processing Time, Rant, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, shoot, Test, Ultra Close-Up, Ups
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Setting the mood in photography
Portrait photography is not photojournalism or even about realism; it is an attempt to portray an idealistic view of a person, place or thing. It is the way we see the subject or want the setting to be seen by the viewer of the photograph.
The emotions/memories/ideals we, as photographers, can draw from the viewer are powerful tools.
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- Temperature: 31°F;
- Humidity: 58%;
- Heat Index: 30°F;
- Wind Chill: 23°F;
- Pressure: 30.12 in.;
What’d I say?,,, What’d I say?
I always talk to the models during a shoot; giving direction and asking for a look, pose or interaction.
“Give me the come here look.” “Give me the go to hell look.” “No, your other left hand.” “Relax your eyes.” “Calm your face.” “Do the chicken dance.” “Where’s my camera?” Ya’ know that kind of stuff.
It works 99% of the time; but sometimes I cannot fathom how they came up with that look based on my request or instruction.
People are funny.
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- Temperature: 52°F;
- Humidity: 50%;
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- Pressure: 29.77 in.;
Something soft & sexy, something mean and something in-between
Most every time I work with a new model I get asked the same question: What should I bring to wear?
There is no doubt that clothing, makeup and the ability to ‘strike a pose’ are important to a successful portrait/modeling session. However, the most essential asset a model can bring to the studio or location is the ability to interact with the camera.
My job at a shoot is to make them look as best I am able given my limited skills with lighting and equipment. I cannot, however, do it alone. You have seen that cell phone snapshot that drew you in; you have also seen a professional portrait that, although technically sound, just leaves you feeling that something misfired. A model must have an understanding they are not trying to tease/seduce/influence me as the photographer: They must make the connection with the viewer of the photograph.
They must make the connection with the viewer of the photograph.
My answer to the outfit question: Bring something soft & sexy, something mean and something in-between.
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 50°F;
- Humidity: 53%;
- Heat Index: 50°F;
- Wind Chill: 48°F;
- Pressure: 30.18 in.;
Also posted in People
Tagged Ability To ‘Strike A Pose’, Amp, camera, Cat, Cell Phone, Clothes, Clothing, equipment, Flickr, Hoot, Interact, Interaction, Job, Jobs, Light, lighting, Lighting Equipment, Limited, Lot, Makeup, model, Modeling, Models, Nap, new, New Model, No Doubt, one, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, portrait, Portraits, Pose, pro, professional, Professional Portrait, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, Sessions, Sexy, shoot, shot, Snapshot, Stan, stand, standing, Strike A Pose, studio, Target, Tease, What Should I Bring To Wear?
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Sunrise on the Mississippi
I’m in Minneapolis, Minnesota on business for a few days. The fall colors are wonderful. I wanted to get out of my hotel room and try some landscape photography. Not my normal venue.
Where to go? How to get there? I was lucky enough to meet up with a local photographer, David Goldberg, who was not only willing to show me around but get up at 5am to do it!
It was a beautiful morning, crisp, clear and just a bit of fog hanging over the river and the couple of 10,000 Minnesota lakes I saw. We must of walked 3-4 miles through the woods and shorelines. The morning dew was thick and added a sparkling highlight to most everything.
Thanks David.
-- Weather When Posted --
- Temperature: 70°F;
- Humidity: 49%;
- Heat Index: 77°F;
- Wind Chill: 70°F;
- Pressure: 30.25 in.;
Also posted in Places
Tagged 5am, 5d, beautiful, Beautiful Morning, business, color, Colors, Couple, Dav, David Goldberg, Fall Colors, Few Days, Flickr, Fog, Gold, Highlight, Hotel, Hotel Room, Landscape Photography, Light, Lucky, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Minnesota Lakes, Morning Dew, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photography, Photos, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, Shorelines, sun, Sunrise On The Mississippi, Venue, Walk
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Melissa
I got to work with Melissa yesterday. A little 4’11″ bundle of energy. We spent a couple of hours at Rockledge Park dodging rain showers and finding places for her to change her outfits.
I like working with someone who not only knows how to play to the camera but actually knows the look and style she wants to portray. Mellisa came with clothes, props and lots of ideas.
A well spent afternoon.
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- Temperature: 76°F;
- Humidity: 30%;
- Heat Index: 77°F;
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- Pressure: 30.19 in.;
Family
I finally got some time off to go back to Georgia and visit my family last week. I visited my folks, my daughter, Nicole, (or as I now like to call her – the mother of my grand-daughter(s)), and my son, Jason.
My folks are doing well after a few medical scares earlier this year.
Nicole is due the end of this month with my second grand-daughter. Vanita, Jason’s wife (my favorite daughter-in-law) is due to have their first child in March.
I miss them all.
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- Temperature: 60°F;
- Humidity: 49%;
- Heat Index: 60°F;
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- Pressure: 30.07 in.;
Young girls and tattoos
I have photographed many young females with massive tattoo displays recently. Most all of them were strikingly colorful; both the young lady and her tattoos. They have held all sorts of jobs, been from various backgrounds and nearly all under 21.
The young never see themselves growing old or their bodies wearing out and loosing its youthful firmness. Although I do not have tattoos, almost got inked one night in Army boot camp back in ’72 though, I can understand one, two or a few tats to mark an occasion, person or event. To have massive, highly visible sleeves at 18 or 19 is not looking beyond the rebellious 
moment of youthful freedom.
I did encounter a young woman about 2 years ago, she was in her late twenties, who realized life, to include her body, moves on. She asked if I would photograph her tattoos, after a short discussion we agreed on date, time and place. During the session she explained to me her body was ‘failing her’, her words and she wanted to memorialize them as her body is now and not as her children and grandkids would eventually see them.
I am not against tattoos, I enjoy the photographic challenge of lighting them and posing the model to achieve the best effect. I never mention my thoughts about the years to come and how I have learned life and bodies change. I simply take the photographs for their grandkids.
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- Temperature: 79°F;
- Humidity: 42%;
- Heat Index: 79°F;
- Wind Chill: 79°F;
- Pressure: 30.1 in.;
Also posted in People
Tagged All Sorts, Amp, Army Boot Camp, background, Backgrounds, color, Colors, Displays, Duri, Emily, female, Females, Flickr, girl, girls, Grandkids, Heir, Ink, Job, Jobs, Light, lighting, male, man, Memorial, Memories, model, Modeling, Models, Nathalie, Night, Oment, one, person, Personality, Photo, Photograph, Photographer, Photographers, Photographs, Photos, Places, Pose, Rig, Rkd, rkdauph, Sessions, Stan, stand, Target, Tattoo, Tattoos, Time And Place, woman, Young Females, Young Girls, Young Lady, Young Woman, Youthful Firmness, Youthful Freedom
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Follow Me
My daughter the ax murderer
A couple of weeks ago as I was watching television my 14 year old daughter popped in and asked if she could borrow some of my clothes. I actually did ask “Why?” All she said was she wanted to play a trick on her sister so I said sure but don’t get them messed up.
15 minutes later I looked up and saw her walking through the house carrying an ax. Okay, so that got my attention.
Turns out they had watched a move called “The Strangers”. Her 17 year old sister had gone upstairs to take a nap and Alex decided wake her up.
Never a dull moment around here.
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