Mom's Day

I love chance meetings that introduce me to new friends. It was also fun getting Dad off the hook for forgetting the camera. At least, I think he is off the hook now. :-) It was lovely laughing with all of you and I am really looking forward to creating some lovely maternity images for you this fall. Let me know if these truly do get Dad out of hot water. Talk with you soon!

Fun In The Sun

Mel, I had so much fun playing with you and your family at the Wildlife Center. Could there have been anything more precious than your little boy’s smiles? And those brown curls bouncing in the sun as your little girl chased those geese, it was a joy to watch. She was so determined to pet one, thank goodness for Goldfish and Grandma or we might still be there. Please tell your Mom thank you, she was wonderful. I can see where you get your spirit and beauty. It definitely runs in the family. I hope these images bring you back to a little of the joy of the day.

A Lovely Afternoon

Well, you two, we couldn’t have asked for a better afternoon, the last minute location idea was just perfect, and you both were so cute together. Yes, I said cute and I am not taking it back. Thank you for letting me share in a small part of this very special time in your lives. I am honored. And, in case you are wondering, the blue is just the perfect shade of … blue.

Color Crazy

Creating beautiful images is my passion. Having the opportunity to take some of those images and dust them with a little extra magic is just outright fun. I have always loved the look of those heirloom black and white photos that were painstakingly hand colored. Adding a rosy cheek to a sweet-faced toddler or bringing the color back to the petals of a rose, turned those early images into something extra special. It took a steady hand and an artistic eye, but when done right, those images were showstoppers.

Digital colorization still needs that steady hand and some serious restraint. It is all too easy to get carried away with what you can do, but it is important to remember some basic concepts so you don't 'overdo'. The eye is going to be drawn to the element that is most vivid in the image. In a standard image you’ll see the lightest elements first. In a high key or very light image, you’ll be drawn to the darker elements. And, in a black and white image, the eye will be drawn to color. That is why it is important to consider the composition when selecting which colors to ‘reveal’. Try not to let the color lessen the impact of the image. Use it to enhance the overall feeling and then sit back and enjoy the results. Here are a couple of my favorites from the last year. Let me know what you think.

The Bread Art Project

Remember when you would pull apart your bread and make shapes or maybe you poked your fingers through and made a ‘bread puppet’? I cannot be the only one! Well, whether you have ever played with your food or not, there is a great way to make your own bread art and help feed the world. Check out my recent animation ‘masterpiece’ at http://breadartproject.com/?l=animation&uid=S.526.71713.63371 and then go to the galleries to see other toasted art works. (I’ve made others. See if you can find them.) Make sure to get creative and make some art of your own. Then, let the kids get crazy and play with their food in a positive way! $1 is donated to Feeding America for each piece of toast you hang in the gallery. Send me the links or list them in the comments here. I’d love to see your creations. It is simple and fun and helps others, what could be better? By the way, why do I suddenly feel like having a PB&J sandwich for lunch?

This is what they say: Your participation in the Bread Art Project, http://breadartproject.com, will help families in need. Because for every approved submission, the Grain Foods Foundation will donate $1 to Feeding America, the largest hunger relief organization in the U.S. And that $1 will go much further than you'd think. In fact, Feeding America turns every dollar received into 10 pounds of grocery products for deserving men, women and children. And with food banks experiencing a 30% increase in demand since this time last year, there's never been a better time to support this important cause. With your help, we're on our way to providing 1 million pounds of groceries to hungry Americans.

Simply Angelic

This little girl has what it takes to run the world someday. She is smart and funny and has a spirited twinkle in her eyes that lets you know she can keep up with pretty much anyone, at anything. This weekend, the angels were smiling and she was dancing in the glow. Even on a cloudy day, there is sunlight in a beautiful smile and I loved catching a little of that sparkle. Em, thank you for letting me share a bit of your morning. I hope the rest of your day was just as lovely.

Sunshine Girls

Another fun day in the sun with wonderful people, exploring the Wildlife Center. It always makes me smile. I hope you both had fun playing together that day. You are so adorable together. Our favorite critic had just two words for these images, ‘CUTIE CUTE’. Thanks for spending time with me. Enjoy!