behind the lens

Fresh Ideas

Sheila — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:13:13 +0000

When I announced in a blog post that I’d be dissolving my photography business at the beginning of 2012, I also mentioned that I had an idea…

“I have an idea in my head that my heart completely agrees with, but that’s for another post some other time. You’ll just have to wait!”

Unbeknownst to me, a great photographer friend of mine in Wyoming had a similar idea. They have a husband & wife photography business, Ardent Photography, and they started The Lord’s Lens. This is exactly what I had stirring around in my head! I can’t officially sign up with them because I’m no longer “professional” having dissolved my business. However, as a “semi-pro” now, I’m free to do things like this any time!

I’ve already done some work on a volunteer basis before I even had the idea. Maybe this had something to do with that seed planted in my head. I want to do more than events and small weddings like this, though. I want to do “photomentaries” … document important life events through photography. Childbirth, milestones, even birthday parties so that the parents can be free to enjoy their child(ren) on the day of the party and not worry about missing any shots.

My first unofficial booking in this capacity may be a small wedding! We’re just starting to discuss it now. I’m excited to do this! It’s just as much a work of heart as a work of art this way. It wouldn’t be only for the glory of the clients … it would be for His glory!

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
~1 Peter 4:10

Week 5 – White | Self Assignments

Sheila — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:12:07 +0000

For those keeping track, there was no “Week 4″ assignment.

Greg asked if there was anything special I might want from the liqueur store if he stopped on his way home from work yesterday. I’ve been wanting to start stocking up on various things for a martini bar, so this required some thought. I was browsing the interwebs for martini recipes and this Snow Storm Martini caught my eye on this site. How appropriate in this February 2012 blizzard in Colorado! What better place to photograph it but in the snow?!

“White” can be a hard assignment, but I think this does it justice. Yes, it is in color, not black & white.

Week 3 – Animals | Self Assignments

Sheila — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:10:31 +0000

Knowing that the Denver Zoo had a free day this week, I assigned myself the task of ~~shooting~~ photographing animals!

Because it’s just funny…

Remember Alice the Goon?

Whoa!

How cute is this?

Squirrel!

Week 2 – Black & White | Self Assignments

Sheila — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:16:19 +0000

I also pulled from an idea I saw online that was an exercise in observing – really seeing the things around you and planning exactly what you will shoot. The exercise has you sit on the ground with your camera without shooting for ten minutes. During that ten minutes, you are to simply observe everything around you and see the shots in your mind before you take them. Since I worked another 50-hour week, I didn’t have time to shoot anything through the week, so I did this today – in my living room. I know. I’m a loser. But I made it work!

You’ve seen this guy before, but not from this angle…

Since it’s winter, and there’s snow and slush on the ground, we have quite a shoe party happening in our living room. I wince and try to look the other way as I pass by because any attempt to keep that floor clean right now would be futile!

Then I went outside and found a dry little spot on the deck to park my butt and try the same exercise. I’m excited that I got this…

[click to enlarge]

No backyard shoot would be complete without a couple of the dogs…

And just for chuckles and ha-ha’s, I caught my own reflection in our patio door…

Yes, those are my PJ pants. I told you! I’m a loser!

Week 1 – Pink | Self Assignments

Sheila — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:00:29 +0000

One of my goals for 2012 is to give myself weekly photo assignments. This week I chose the color pink for a self assignment when my husband surprised me after work with flowers.

Happy New Year!

Sheila — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:19:38 +0000

Out with the old, and in with the new!

Some things are changing, but many are staying the same. I talked about knowing when to hold ‘em when to fold ‘em back in August. Well, sometimes it’s okay to just exchange a few cards before making that decision. That’s what I’m doing. Consider it downsizing. The seldom seen flash website is going away (you’ll get everything you need right here), and the registered business is being dissolved.

So I wish you all a happy new year with a fresh start!

Customize a digital greeting card

’tis the Season…

Sheila — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:25:08 +0000

…to bake cookies! I debated on where to blog this. I already have a photo & recipe on my food blog, Bonne Cuisine! Since I combined some photography with baking, I decided to blog it here! Let’s see how many exclamation points I can use today!!!

To start things off, I forgot to take the butter out of the fridge first thing in the morning again! When I bake, I want to gather everything all at once and get started right away. Well, I pulled out the butter and found only two sticks left! That just wouldn’t do. So I turned the oven back off and drove to the store for more. On my way out, I found a small wad of money folded in half and held together with a paperclip (aka: poor man’s money clip). So I turned that in and hopped in Fiona (yep, the green Soul has a name now) to return to my adventures in baking.

The Peanut Butter Sammies are very good. Crumbly, but good! The Snickerdoodles are thinner and crisper than I prefer, but also good. The Russian Teacakes have been a favorite of mine for a very long time. Betty Crocker tells me they are 80 calories each. I’m definitely in trouble now!

I still have one candy to make, which is a layered peppermint bark. I decided to hold off on the peppermint patties. I’m not so great at long-term planning and waited too long to get too much started as usual. Immediate family first! And on that note, I should probably go make sure lights are even on the Christmas tree that my husband and daughters are working on now.

…be jolly!

A Christmas Carol | Theater

Sheila — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:50:28 +0000

Forgive me readers, for I have slipped. It’s been almost two months since my last post. I am ashamed!

After being terribly sidetracked and not doing anything I had actually planned to do today (Christmas cards, cookies, and candy), I ended up working on theater photos again. Don’t ask me how the chain of events strayed from baking to photos, but it didn’t stop there! Oh no… I went on to grab my notebook and plan the deconstruction of my .com website and the continued revamping of this blog to be used as the sole hub of information for my soon-to-be semi-professional photography services. First order of business was to get rid of the clunky URL by chopping off the “wordpress.com” and shortening it to “.me”. I love WordPress and don’t see any need for a fancy Flash site. So unnecessary expense necessarily cut.

Before I stray any further off the main subject of this post, here are some favorites from Eaglecrest High School’s production of “A Christmas Carol”…

See more at A Christmas Carol Album.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Sheila — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:42:17 +0000

I posted many photos from this trip to the mountains in a Facebook album if you want to see more (the first three photos were from our own backyard). For just a handful of my favorites, enjoy this collage!

This free picture collage created with Smilebox

It’s Snow Time!

Sheila — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:05:05 +0000

Autumn in Colorado. What an interesting and beautiful season. To see the changing leaves (mostly golden here with just a little red and orange sprinkled in here and there) mixed with dark green pines and white snow is pretty cool.

See more photos in this album (starting with photo #4).