Fall Leaves!

The trees may have lost a lot of their leaves but they still make a great backdrop. I had such a great time with these kids and their Mom. It was just a wonderful day. I am so glad that we got to play in the leaves together.

Follow the Facebook link to the left to see even more photos from this event.

Family Time!

Sometimes it is all in the smile, sometimes the eyes tell you everything you need to know and sometimes it is all the little things rolled up together that make a great image. I feel so lucky that I get to meet and spend time with great families. Jen, thank you for letting me share a little time with you and your loves. I am looking forward to getting to see you all again. See 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.

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.