Wedding Day

Week 3

Wedding Day

January 16, 2011

Photographing weddings is a unique experience for many reasons. As I was reminded by a gifted wedding photographer just last night, this day quite possibly holds the most meaning of any day to come, (perhaps next only to the birth of their children) in the lives of the couple being joined together. It is unique because of this significance, and it is unique because often it is one of a very few times when all or near all of these two peoples' family and friends are gathered together in one place. It is unique because it is not only a milestone in the lives of the bride and groom, but also in the lives of their parents, their siblings and loved ones.... Even for their friends, both new and old, it helps shape the contours of their own stories as they look back at their respective lives and place this wedding squarely in that river of memories.

It's a beautiful thing to be included in the process, an honor to be asked to capture that important day, to tell a visual story that will last for the lives of the couple, and into the generations to follow. There is only one chance at it, there is no re-shoot opportunity, no do-over... and for that, it is a privilege.

I was given this privilege last week by a dear friend of mine, and during the joyful whirlwind of her making her bridal preparations, I took the time to make the above image. It's one of my favorites from that part of the day -  I like the continuity of the dress with the fabric of the canopy and window dressing, as well as the subtle shadows in the dress and the overall brightness of the photograph. For me, knowing what surrounded this scene, it is like watching a solemn moment of calm amidst the slightly controlled chaos of a wedding day. I dig it. Hope you do too.

image taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-70 2.8L lens, 1/250 sec @f2.8, ISO 400

Time Flies...

Week 2

Time Flies... 

January 7, 2011

I don't know about you, but I couldn't tell you half of the things I did last week. If I thought about it long and hard I bet I couldn't hit 75%. Maybe it's my questionable memory faculties, I tell you the truth when I say I forget stuff constantly. Where was I? Oh yeah... last week. While I couldn't tell you what I did with some of my time, I know that none of it involved taking pictures. I'd know... I'd have the proof on my hard drive or in a film canister as evidence. The above image was actually taken at the end of the prior week. "Really? Aren't you, like, a photographer and stuff?" Well, yes I am. I apparently got caught up in other aspects of my business. Things like preparing for shoots, marketing, networking and communicating with clients, editing, etc... and before you know it, it's next week. Well, this week. Anyway, there is a substantial amount of time that seems to have just vanished. Some of it was probably following some random link on Facebook, or reading that extra chapter in the mystery novel, or dinner at a friends house, but some of it is just... gone. I can't account for it.

Which leads me to this week's blog topic. I know, I know - you look at the image above and say "really?"... gravesite... time... you think I'm gonna go into a depressing essay on death. Well lucky you, I'm doing no such thing. I did think it was a nice image, though. Plus it got me thinking about how all these people were put on this earth for a given amount of time, and now they are not here. There is a definitive, non-negotiable amount of time we have, and none of us are given a glimpse into what that allowance is.

If you were given a sealed envelope, and told it was all the money you had to spend at the grocery store, or farmer's market, or some other place you could find things you needed or wanted, what would you buy first? Remember, this is a sealed envelope that you can't peek into. Would you start off with some staples like bread, rice and milk? Or would you go straight to the ice cream aisle and take the gamble that you'd have enough to get the things you needed to be nourished?

Money in this example (albeit an oversimplified one) is of course the time we are given here on this planet. Where are you spending yours? I know I've spent WAY too much time over the decades stocking up on ice cream instead of cruising the organic veggies section, and would like to re-assess the risks I'm taking. I'm positive that my shopping cart will find its way to the candy aisle from time to time, and I think that's ok, even healthy. For me, though, I'm going to try to remember that the only resource I'm given each day I wake up is the time I have that day. I can choose to use it by building people up or tearing them down. I can take care of my body with exercise and nourishing food, or give it quick-fixes like caffeine and hamburgers. I can be disciplined about my business or just do the things I enjoy about it. In short, I can make an effort to be purposeful in everything that I do, or I can allow distractions to keep me from staying on the course I've set.  I think there is joy and satisfaction in choosing the former in each case, and after all, we have no idea when our allowance will be up.

image taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-70 2.8L lens, 1/200sec @f2.8, ISO 100

Golden Gate

Week 1

Golden Gate

January 3, 2010

I started out 2010's 52 Photos with an image of the San Francisco skyline as shot from Bernal Hill on the south side of the city. I thought it would be fun to again start off the year with a San Francisco scene, and so I give you... the Golden Gate Bridge. Also shot at night, this image was taken from a few steps off of the pathway that runs between Fort Point and up to the bridge itself.

I love the glow that the bridge gets just after sunset, the purplish-blue sky and the Marin Headlands silhouetted in the background. It's a beautiful sight. I can see why this vantage point has been used to photograph the bridge so often, it truly is breathtaking, an iconic image to say the least.

As I review this and many other images I made in San Francisco last week, I can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at my growth as a photographer over the last year. Please don't misunderstand me, I am under no delusion that I don't have exponentially more to learn than I have learned thus far. I do, however feel good about the few things I have learned, grateful to those that have taken time to teach me, and excited for what this next year will hold for dgP. 

Enjoy this image, and the many more to come this year! I hope to keep you eagerly following along and engaged each week, and enthusiastically sharing with your friends and family the images and topics you encounter here.

Here's to a great start to 2011!

image taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-70 2.8L lens, 49 seconds @f22, ISO 100

Danger!

Week 52

Danger!

December 30, 2010

There is certainly wisdom in heeding signs, though sometimes I believe we need to push on despite what others are telling us. Now it is not advised to ignore this particular sign, as there is a very tall cliff a very short distance behind it. It does, however bring up thoughts of risks and fear, and of fulfillment. 

Someone I respect a great deal once told me one of few regrets he had as he looked back was the handful of decisions in his life that were made out of fear. That surprised me at the time because this is a man I always viewed as confident, steady, and a man that was and is greatly respected in his community. All these things are true, and this man has shown to me and many others a tremendous amount of courage and leadership. I believe, though, he was referring to some life choices that perhaps he would have made differently. 

All of us can look back and wish we had made different decisions... I know I certainly can. All of us, with hindsight, can see a different path and imagine where it might have taken us. I believe this is a useless, and destructive way to live.  I don't mean thoughtful reflection, mind you. That's how we recall what has shaped us, and serves as a reminder to why we make the decisions in front of us. Rather, it's that pining over what could have been and despairing where we are, wishing we had taken different paths that erodes peace and confidence and can rob joy from your life. My college fraternity had a saying we all had to learn as pledges:  

Yesterday is gone forever. Tomorrow is yet to be. The destiny of [the fraternity] rests today with Thee. 

I think there is wisdom in this idea far beyond a social fraternity's well being. It's the idea that yesterday's choices can't be changed. Tomorrow is impossible to project, and the only influence you have on that future is the decisions you make today, right now.

I think this is where fear comes in. Fear has it's place, and keeps us from reckless abandon, and a life full of poor decisions and hurt for ourselves and more importantly, other people. But often, we look for signs of danger in an almost obsessive desire to avoid pain or hardship, when sometimes it's the thoughtful and deliberate pushing past these signs that results in peace and growth and fulfillment. Who is it you want to be, follow, or represent in this life? What are your dreams and the gifts you have to offer?

May 2011 be one of joy, and of peace, and of courageous decisions to shape your life and bless those around you. Happy New Year everyone!

image taken with Canon 5DMII, 50mm 1.8 lens, 1/5000 sec @ f1.8, ISO 400

Gingerbread Man

Week 51

Gingerbread Man

December 22, 2010

Half-eaten, you can still see the care that was taken in creating this festive gingerbread man I've decided to call Ralph. I met Ralph last week as I was shooting the Christmas parties at two group homes of a Bay Area recovery program, Advent Group Ministries. Ralph initially had bite-marks where his ears belonged, and by the end of the party, had been eaten along the edges, just a chomp away from becoming Ralph the ginger-bread torso.

I can imagine that some of the kids at these homes feel the same way that Ralph does. Created with care and beauty, a one of a kind, each one of them; life had bit and nibbled away at the edges to the point where they didn't feel whole, and needed to escape their reality.

It was an honor to be able to photograph the celebrations; to watch and capture the surprise and laughter as they opened an abundance of gifts, donated by local businesses and philanthropists to bless these kids, many of whom have rarely if ever known a "normal" Christmas experience.

I don't know every kid's story, and don't pretend to be able to understand the complexity of their lives up to now, nor the paths that lay ahead of them. I do know that there is a big difference between Ralph and each one of these kids. Ralph will never be whole again. These kids have a chance to rebuild and work through the troubles they've encountered and the decisions they've made, and emerge not only healed and whole, but with a chance to build amazing lives and make choices toward that end.

One of the more beautiful things that I was privileged to see this Christmas season, the staff and leaders of this program have humbly dedicated their lives to picking up, dusting off and firmly but lovingly setting these kids on a path to sobriety and wholeness. Truly, noble calling.

image taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-105 4L lens, 1/30sec @f4, ISO 800

'Tis the Season

Week 50

'Tis the Season

December 18, 2010

In this holiday season, its easy to see the ways people celebrate, often because it's on display on their lawn. Some do it with candlelit bags or nativity scenes, others with neon santas, reindeer, and apparently, pinwheels. I'm not being critical of the home above, mind you. I actually admire the clear dedication, time and energy it must have taken to construct such a display. I don't share the sense of style, but the sheer volume of lights is impressive.

I wonder what would happen if most of us dedicated the same time, energy, and money that it took to put on this array to finding ways of giving to those in need? A blanket drive for the homeless. Putting a couple dates on the calendar to serve in a shelter, or volunteering for a day with an organization fighting injustice here or abroad....

There are many reasons people celebrate this season. For me, it is the birth of Jesus. For you, maybe a significant event in history, your heritage and culture, or simply a time to be with and appreciate family.  Whatever you are celebrating, may it be joyful, may it be peaceful, and may you take some time to think about and serve someone next to you. You'll both be blessed by it.

image above taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-105 4L lens, 1 sec @ f11, ISO 100

Explore!

Week 49

Explore!

December 7, 2010

These days, when I make plans to go and see some spectacular aspect of nature, I generally have some photography-related goal in mind. Every time I go though,  I'm reminded that just being there is its own reward, that the experience of seeing and exploring is worth the trip on its own accord, even without a single photo. I'm simply fortunate enough to have a camera I can bring along....

On a recent trip to Natural Bridges SB, I captured incredible photographs of this last standing bridge at the beach, as well as some truly humbling sunset images. The image above, however was one that especially struck me. This man was showing his little daughter of 4 or 5 around the beach, exploring the rocks, and no doubt, the sea life to be found in tide pools in the nooks and crannies of this giant formation. They were out there to share an adventure, explore and experience the creation they are a part of.

I've nudged you in prior weeks to get out and enjoy the world around you, to find adventure in your surroundings, and I'd like to say again... GO! There is so much out there, and it's not far. You may be in your living room right now reading this post, and I can guarantee you that within 30 minutes or less of where you sit is something incredible to see. Maybe it's a forest, maybe it's a beach or an old farm or park. Perhaps it's an urban discovery waiting for you to stumble across. Either way, I urge you to stand up, put on a jacket if it's cold outside, find someone to share the adventure, and put one foot in front of the other to see what you can find. 

Image taken with Canon 5DMII, 24-105 4L lens, 1/25sec @ f5.6, ISO 400