Sophie

Nikon D700,  35mm, 1/160 sec., f/4.5

I had a lot of fun shooting my husband's cousin's daughter, Sophie. She is 2 1/2 and got carried away at the end "striking a pose".  The pocket wizards wouldn't work with my camera this particular day, so I shot it with just modeling light.  It was good getting together with family that I don't see often.

Wedding Album

Nikon D700 with a 70 - 300 lens

Here are the wedding pages I submitted for class that came from our mock wedding in October. I had a lot of fun doing this project, although it was hard to choose which images to use since I only had 6 pages.  I was pleased with how they turned out with this being my first time doing a digital layout. 

Ragsdale High School Cheerleading Competition

 

The Ragsdale Varsity and Junior Varsity Cheerleaders competed in Raleigh for the NCHSAA championship.  Although the Junior Varsity team didn't place, they put on an amazing performance.  The Varsity team took home a well deserved first place trophy.

Bridesmaids

Our portrait class is putting together a book of the images we shot at the mock wedding.  This is one of the images I selected to put on a page.

NYC Subway Musicians

I went to NYC last week to a photo expo.  I had fun seeing the different sights around the city that I don't get to see back home.  Shot with Nikon D700, ISO 640, 48mm, f/8.0 at 1/8.

Elsewhere Panorama

This is one of the panoramas of Elsewhere before straightening it up.  I tried to get as many images into the pano as I could.   Shot with Nikon D700, ISO 280, f/16 @ 1 sec, 35 mm lens

Gels

I practiced shooting with gels in Bill's class this summer.  Shot with a Nikon D700, f/6.3 @ 1/250

Elsewhere

 

I went to Elsewhere on Elm Street to shoot my panoramic assignment.  It's certainly a unique place for an artist to find inspiration, and there certainly aren't too many boring spots to be found.  I'll post my finished panoramic later.    Shot with a Nikon D700, f/16, ISO 200

RCC Mock Wedding

 Me and my fellow portrait classmates had our annual mock wedding at a local church on Wednesday.  The first year students participated as the wedding party and guests and the bride and groom was a second year couple. Everyone did a great job. The biggest challenge was 12 students all trying to shoot at the same time and not get in everyone's way.  Afterwards, Emily McNeal and I left at 4:30 and drove straight through to NYC, which made for a long day, especially after starting the day walking 2 miles to the bus stop at 5 am with my luggage. 

Emily's Engagement Portrait

Yesterday, my class was practicing for the mock wedding, and Emily was modeling for me.  I was assigned to take a picture of her reflection in the mirror while my class was looking on.  I think it is a nice option as an engagement portrait.
Shot with a Nikon D700, focal length 92mm, f/4.5, shutter speed 1/25, and lit with off camera flash.

self portrait

Our class assignment was to shoot a self portrait.  I would have preferred to have a more urban look, but due to transportation restraints, I settled for a natural background with a tree. Emily McNeal helped shoot me. I hope to update my photo soon.
Shot with Nikon D700, focal length 180mm, f/6.3, shutter speed 1/125, ISO 200

Zak

My youngest son loves to go outside in his camouflage, and practice survivor skills.  Zak  is color blind, and has a hard time seeing the difference between green, red, and brown, so I had a good laugh when he came out of the bathroom last week with part of his face painted bright red.  I blended the paints together and this is how he looked when he went outside to play.
Shot with Nikon D700, 70-300 lens, f/5.6, 1/40 shutter speed, natural light.

Cassidy

Last year at a convention, I took a class by a very successful photographer and he mentioned that he was known for how eyes looked in the portraits that he took of others, but he would not tell us his secret.  Well, today we learned about lightroom and some of the tools it offers, and wondered if I could make Cassidy's already beautiful eyes pop.  I must admit, I feel a little guilty editing my already gorgeous 16 year old, but I think I'm getting close to learning his secret.  Tell me what you think.
Shot with Nikon D700, 70-300 lens, f/5.6, 1/200 shutter speed, natural lighting.

Sir, there's a toilet in your tree.

After a constant stream of 90 degree plus temperatures that we had most of the summer, it was a nice break to get out and walk in 70 degree weather.  As I was walking along Aycock Street, something strange caught my eye.  I had traveled this street hundreds of times, but only by walking did I catch this unusual sight - a toilet perched in a beautiful magnolia tree in the front yard just feet from the sidewalk. Hmmmm.

RCC Field Trip

My portrait class went on a field today to practice taking wedding pictures.  After we left Ashley's church we went outside and Emily McNeal took  this class picture.

My boy needs some makeup!

When we brought my son home from the hospital, we stopped at Elizabeth’s Pizza with some friends to try and put some weight back on Hunter. He lost 23 pounds in the 9 days while at Cone and is still continuing to loose weight.  His sunken eyes and hollowed cheeks were a constant reminder of all that he had endured.  Cassidy pulled out her concealer and touched up his eyes to put us all a little bit more at ease. 

Sweet Sixteen

My only daughter, Cassidy, celebrated her 16th birthday this month.  If she was the only blessing that I received in this lifetime, it would be enough.  

Little Luke gets stitches

My best friends little boy needed stitches so I drove them to the hospital.  I of course brought my camera and was very excited when I discovered the moveable light in the examination room.  Instant studio light!

Jimmy Williams

Jimmy Williams, a successful commercial photographer came to RCC as a speaker for ASMP.  Emily McNeil and I video taped the event with two video cameras as part of our multi media project.  I was very surprised to learn how complex a photo shoot can be.  It's a big jump from what we are doing now.

The healing continues

Hunter's physical therapist, Wendi, helps him move his fingers.

Wendi  helps Hunter get out of bed and into a chair.

Family friend Chris, from Galax Virginia, uplifts
 Hunter's spirits as he signs "His eye is on the sparrow".

Nurse Stacie gives Hunter a shampoo.

Hunter continues to amaze his doctors, nurses, and therapists.  After spending 3 long days in ICU, he has been moved twice and is now in a regular room where the pace is slower, and the room is void of monitors. An ICU nurse that graduated 6 weeks ago was so excited Hunter was doing well and informed me that he was the first patient that she had that hadn't died. I had to put that thought behind me because he still had 2 days left in her unit!  He walked a total of 60 feet today with only the aid of a walker type device.  I watched with great anticipation, pride, and gratefulness.  It was like watching your baby take his first steps. We have a lot to look forward to and so much to be thankful for, God has truly been good.

"Hunter, meet the street lamp"

I was in downtown Greensboro with classmate Emily working on a multi-media assignment, when I got a phone call that my son Hunter had been in a scooter accident.  He was thrown into the air at 35 mph and hit a street lamp. I raced to Cone where hospital chaplain took me to the family consultation room to report that Hunter had multiple broken bones, but miraculously no head or internal injuries.  He broke his right scapula, right humerus in 3 places, right knee cap, L4 (lower back), ischium (base of pelvis), and left femur. He went into surgery for 9 hours to put a rod in his leg and multiple plates and screws in his arm and elbow.
Hunter was transferred to the step down unit afterwards where he was the life of the party for about 36 hours, but has since been transferred to ICU and put on a Bipac to help with respiratory complications. He has yet to complain about pain, and his only complaint was a nurse that didn't want him to talk.  He said she bringing negative energy to what had otherwise had been a positive experience!

Home Depot is now out of screws.

"Hunter, if you don't wear a shirt, I'm not wearing a shirt" - Monique

I am so thankful that God protected Hunter, when the accident could have been much more tragic. Please pray for a speedy and complete recovery.

UNC-Chapel Hill

Last night I traveled with some classmates and instructor John Rash to  UNC-Chapel Hill to hear husband-wife team Julie Winokur and Ed Kashi speak about their documentaries.  It was the first time I had been to Chapel Hill, and I was amazed by their beautiful campus.  Emily, Caroline, John and I ate at a Mexican restaurant and it was wonderful.  Hope to go to another one soon.

Skitz in the Park

I was shooting at Center City Park in downtown Greensboro when I was approached by a stranger and asked to take his picture as well as his friends.  Skitz is a natural when posing in front of the camera.  I also shot his friends.  Skitz has a video production and recording studio in Greensboro.

Summer Wedding

I shot this while Haley waiting to have her picture made by Billie.

Cassidy got this incredible shot of the groom's brother while the bride and
groom where being photographed.

I was asked to help a fellow classmate to shoot her first wedding.  My daughter Cassidy came with me to help take some pictures and also allow us to spend some mother daughter time.  She has an awesome eye for composing pictures and definitely has a journalistic approach to shooting.  Cassidy captured some awesome images, and could problably handle a wedding on her own, something I'm having to go to school for six semesters for.  I'm looking forward to her assisting me on future jobs.  Cassidy shot the picture on the left and I took the bridal shot.