MomShots

I love the early mornings.  Mornings always make me feel like the day is full of wonder and anything can happen.  I start thinking about fun stuff to do with my kids, photos to take,  things to make, where to go…  the list goes on.  We have been making Halloween decorations and today we are going to make a ghost garland.  Autumn is in the air!

This really isn’t a Fall photo shoot, it is just one I did last week. Ben, my husband, needed some photos for a website he’s working on.  So he gave me an assignment - to put Gar shirtless and in overalls and take some photos of him doing things that could be done in the 1920’s - things that aren’t dated.  I got some pretty good shots, but I need to reshoot because now I have more information.  I shot most of my photos in portrait orientation and he needs them to be in landscape orientation.  It was really fun to just take photos of Gar.  He did so well at following my instructions.  It was really hard to get him to look at me and smile but he still did fantastic.  It was kind of a special time for us.  Just mom and Gar time.  He ended up being my special little buddy all day.  It was really fun!

I think this week, I am going to focus on getting some Autumn photos of my kids.  Bundle them up and take them for a walk up one of the stunning Wasatch Mountain canyons.  We’ll see what we can create.

What does this week have in store for you?  Any photo ops coming up?  Any fun things coming your way?  Have you taken any Autumn photos yet?  How did they turn out?  Where did you take them?  I want to know the whole scoop!

I got an email the other day from Momshots reader Aubrey.  She said

 I tried out the duotone one & loved how it worked on a pic of my son.  The original pic was a little too bright; the red of his shirt really stole the focus away from his face.  I tried black & white, but it wasn’t giving the image the soft angelic look I felt it needed.  So I tried the duotone with a blue cast and I love it! 

Here are the photos Audrey sent.  I’m sure you will agree with me in saying that her son is just totally adorable.  

You can see what she means by the red in the color photo being a bit much.  Your eye is drawn away from his cute little mug and onto his shirt.  The black and white is lacking something but the blue duotone definitely gives it that look she was going for.

I’m so glad you emailed me Aubrey!  Thanks for showing us all a fantastic practical application and example.  I love, love, love that you tried all three versions and sent copies to me.  It is so helpful for not just me, but I am sure, many other Momshots readers.  Thanks!

Did you try a Duotone photo?  How did it turn out?  

Shelle tried her hand at the spot color.  Don’t you think she did a great job?  I love the spark that the spot color gives her photo.  She’s such a great photographer.  I’m definitely a fan!

I was introduced to a new photographer today.  OK, not actually introduced.  She has no idea who I am, but I’m her new stalker.  Just kidding, of course!  She is a mom and a professional photographer, plus she has the good sense to also be named Jessica!  Again with the bad jokes…

Her name is Jessica Kettle and she is located in the Salt Lake City area.  She has one little boy name Max and has been working as a professional photographer for just over a year.  She has graciously answered a whole bunch of photography related questions on her blog that her readers have asked.  She has also recently been featured on a local news station where she spoke about the backgrounds she chooses to use when taking interesting portrait photographs.  Watch the video below and hear what she has to say about backgrounds.

 She talks about how we have to be on the lookout for cool back grounds as we go through our day.  When we start thinking about backgrounds, we might be surprised by the types of places we find.  She suggests to look for places that have color and textural elements that our eyes are drawn to.  She has some great examples in her interview.

I know that since I have started this love affair with photography, I have really noticed all kinds of strange places that would make for interesting backgrounds.  Every time we drive around, I notice places that would make a great background.  I need to start writing them down so I don’t forget! 

There is a warehouse on my way to Kristina’s house that has old, rusty teal painted exterior walls.  Many local photographers, including Kristina, who took the adorable photo below at this location, have used that site for some amazing photos.  I have only driven by it, but each time I do, I can’t help but imagine a little photo shoot.  I have also noticed people’s stairs, old brick walls, antique trucks, empty fields, big solid trees; the list goes on and on.  I find that locations kind of pop out at me now.  I think it is part of this obsession!

I have posted this photo before, but I will again since it fits so nicely with this post.  This is a photo I took of Uly in front of a covered baseball bleachers wall.  I love the rich red color and the vertical slats that add texture.  I also love that Uly’s shirt has some of that same shades of red in the horizontal stripes.

That is what we are looking for here, texture and color.  You can find that in so many ways.  It doesn’t have to be a wall.  It doesn’t have to be brightly colored or highly textured - just enough that it adds visual interest.  You don’t want to over power your subject.  You want to use the background as a compositional element that adds interest and complements your subject.  

I would love to see some photos that you have taken with surprising backgrounds.  Do you have any favorite spots to shoot?  Any good places in your neighborhood?  Any good suggestions or ideas?

Hopefully.

I have had a couple of crazy weeks.  A few days after we got home from Moab, my parents came to visit.  We had a great time and got all domestic.  We canned a box of peaches and made soup base from about a million tomatoes.  We tried a new BBQ restaurant in my neighborhood (It was super yummy so if you are ever in the Springville, UT area and are hankerin’ for some meat, try Charlie Boy’s.  Pretty good Carolina BBQ)  and we spent a lot of time visiting.  

Part of the craziness I was feeling was because Ben, my husband, went to Santa Fe with my cousin’s husband, Ben McPherson.  Ben M. is an awesome painter and had a gallery exhibition at The Blue Rain Gallery.  My Ben went with him to help transport his paintings, offer moral support and (here I think is the real reason) so they could hang out.  You put those two in a room together and they don’t ever stop talking.  They are always working on some kind of project and are currently working on a really cool screenplay.  

The show was a success and they made it home safe and sound.  It’s nice to have my hubby home.  He’s my rock.  

We went for a Sunday drive yesterday afternoon.  We saw beautiful foliage putting on their Autumn colors.  We saw turbulent clouds, vivid blue skies and smiling faces.  We found a really cool little park in a planned community that seems have felt the recession and doesn’t look like the houses are being currently built.  There are some really good sledding hills in that area so we will be back when sledding season is on.  We call it the Secret Park.  My little guys loved it.

So I have been thinking about some Momshot stuff lately.  I haven’t really been posting much lately.  A lot has been going on in my life but I still need to take a minute and share my new photographic discoveries with you.  I have some ideas for posts and I suppose instead of just thinking about them I should just type them up!  I will make you a promise.  I will do better.

Oh, before I go, I wanted to mention something about the photos in this post.  The one in the top left is my favorite.  The reason is because Uly was trying out his new “Sponge” smile.  He said, “Mom, do you want to see my Sponge smile?”  Of course I said yes!.  He then proceeded to show me that cute smile and various renditions of it.  If you look closely and use copious amounts of imagination, you can see a resemblance between Uly and Spongebob Squarepants.  I love that he is experimenting with that kind of thing.  I think it is adorable and very fun!

I am finally getting my act together and have created a Technorati account.  I know, I’m slow…

Any Technorati love you’d like to show Momshots would be greatly appreciated.  Just click on the link in the upper right corner. Or here  Anyone can do it.  You don’t have to have a Technorati account.  

Just click.  

Easy.

Do it now (please).