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04.30.13

Through the glass- Monthly Creative Exercise

This month’s creative exercise was definitely a challenge for me since shooting through glass is not something that I have done a lot of. It was a lot of fun though and I certainly learned a couple of very important things. The first being that if it is too bright outside, there is too much glare and reflection in the glass. The second, and I think the most important, is that manual focus is a must. It allows you to focus on exactly what you are intending to.  This month’s challenge has definitely opened up a whole new creative area for me and I look forward to incorporating this into my images more often.


For more images on shooting through glass, please visit Carrie’s blog @ Carrie Ayn Photography.

Thanks for reading,


Donna
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Becky - Love all of these!

Keri W. - That dog spa one is so adorable. I love how you captured his/her paw up on the glass. I love the direction you went with this month’s theme. Great Job!

lea smith - Donna, love the paw on the window photo of the dog at the spa. So cute! I am a big fan of bokeh so I also really love the last image!

Barrett - Great job! I love the dog at the Spa picture! Very cute!

kayla - Great Job, Donna I enjoyed looking at all these. However, the two dog images are my favorites, especially the dog spa!

Jamie Loomis - Aww Donna – I think you nailed it this month. Great shots. The dog spa pic could not be anymore perfect!

04.01.13

Perspective- Monthly Creative Exercise

This month’s creative exercise has been my favourite so far. On a recent family vacation, I had the opportunity to photograph a very friendly pelican. In the first image my boys were about to start their Snuba lesson, which is a mix between scuba diving and snorkelling. While they were waiting, a pelican landed on a post nearby. It was probably in search of the fish-filled cooler a few feet away. While the boys had their lesson, I photographed the pelican. And yes, I was thrilled! Perspective is “the art of representing three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface so as to give the right impression of their height, width, depth, and position in relation to each other.” Check out this sweet bird.

For more images on perspective, please visit Carrie’s blog @ Carrie Ayn Photography.

Thanks for reading,


Donna
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Andee - Excellent angles and perspective Donna! Interesting indeed!!!

Keri W. - Beautiful! I think the one of the pelican with it’s mouth open and the one directly below it are my two favorites. They are all wonderful photos and it is so neat that you were able to get close enough to get all these great shots.

Angela - What a unique friend! I can actually imagine drawing this guy/gal using your perspective cues – being the angles and shading you captured. I love all of the pics; can’t even pick out a favourite. :)

Katie W - These are awesome Donna! The last one is stunning :)

Rockie - Wow, those are gorgeous. Love the close up on the feathers.

CarrieAyn - These images rock! What a cool subject. I cannot believe that pelican just hung out there. So cool!

Becky - Awesome! Beautiful images!

Pam - WOW….these are awesome. I really like the color in all these….and the close up of the feathers!

Jamie Loomis - Love these Donna! He looks like he was posing just for you! Great capture – subject, angles, and color!

Sarah - Every one of these are super awesome! That bird looked like he was digging his photo session, too :)

Sue - These are all just beautiful! You’ve captured wonderful detail!

Indira - These are beautiful! I LOVE the close up of the feathers. Amazing

Heidi Howard - VERY cool!!! It so neat how you managed to get so close!

lea smith - Donna, these are stunning! love the vibrant colors and how tack sharp they are and i totally dig the down low perspective of the pelican!

03.02.13

Food Photography- Monthly Creative Exercise

This months Creative Exercise on Food Photography was definitely more challenging than I initially thought.  How hard can it be to photograph food when you are used to photographing children? Well, it’s not as easy as it looks. My biggest challenge was the light. Since it has been so gloomy & grey here lately, my first few attempts brought less than appetizing photographs. Finally though, we had a nice afternoon with some beautiful light. For this exercise I chose to document the process of making one of our family favourites, Lemon Blueberry Muffins. If you are a blueberry muffin fan, this recipe is fantastic!

 

If you are interested, you can find the recipe here.  I usually double this recipe and it results in 2 dozen good sized muffins. I also substitute the white flour with whole wheat. And even though I attempt to hide the extras in the freezer, they are usually discovered and eaten within a few days. For more Food Photography, please visit the talented Carrie Ayn at Carrie Ayn Photography.

Thanks for visiting,


Donna
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Andee - Diggin all of your food shots. So clean!! Like the reflection on the countertops too. Muffins look yummaay.

CarrieAyn - I want to cook and take pictures in your kitchen! Beautiful shots. =)

kayla - Those look great, and you had such a fantastic helper!

Belinda - You may have had gloomy light but the results were still awesome, those muffins looks so yum!!

Barrett - Great food shots! My favorite one is the blueberries in the bowl, beautiful!

KatieW - I love these, especially the frosty blueberries! Pretty light too!

Jamie Loomis - Amazing shots! Love the storytelling approach. You created some amazing shots, yummy eats, and documented wonderful memory!

Angela Cowling - Thank you for posting the link to the recipe! There’s no way I could have looked at those yummy pictures without asking for it. Love the pics of the frosted blueberries and the sliced lemon. Ryan looks so much like a cross between Brad and Brian. I agree with Jamie…what a neat way to document a favourite family recipe. :)

Keri - Donna, your pictures are always lovely and you did a great job with this month’s theme. I really like how you documented the baking from the prep all the way to the finished product. The light in these pictures do not give any hint of it being grey and gloomy out.

02.02.13

Close Up Portraiture- Monthly Creative Exercise

I am very excited to be participating in this year’s CM Monthly Blog Challenge along with some amazing photographers from all over the world.  This months theme, Close-Up Portraiture, features my youngest child in his new room, which I have discovered has some pretty wonderful light. It wasn’t until I started editing this set of images that I became a little emotional. I could see in these “close-ups” of my son that he is not so little anymore and I was overwhelmed by how much he has changed in the last few years.

I love you my sweet boy, and I am thankful for many things: that you still hold my hand (even if it’s when no ones around), that you greet me with a hug every morning, that you can instantly “crack me up”, and that you let me pretend you still believe in the tooth fairy.

For more Close Up Portraiture, please visit the talented Carrie Ayn @ Carrie Ayn Photography.


Donna
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Keri - These are lovely images. Great job getting up close.

Katie W - What gorgeous eyes Donna! Great job!

Barrett - Beautiful pictures Donna! He does have nice light in his new room, love the dimension!

kayla - They do grow up so fast. He sounds like a real sweetheart! The 5th is my favorite!

Andee - Love the quiet nature of this series.

Amanda - Such emotion in those sweet eyes! Great lighting and beautiful composure. love these!

kerry - These are beautiful, Donna. I really love the lighting in all of them. My favorite is #2!

Jamie Loomis - Love the Black and white! The 6th one is my fav but I love the whole set. You have a very handsome son!

Belinda - Wow – great shots. Agree with Andee – these photos are so peaceful which is such a rarity for boys! I really like the fifth photo with a very cheeky smile going on – reminds me of my oldest :)

lea smith - your images are so tack sharp they are lovely! i’m jelly! i also love the lighting. beautiful just beautiful!

01.07.13

Top 10 of 2012 & update

Over the past couple of years I have had the incredible opportunity to photograph some wonderful babies, children, & families. It has truly been a dream come true for me. This post is bittersweet since after pursuing photography as a business, I have made the difficult decision to close my doors for now. While I love photography, I don’t necessarily enjoy the business aspect of it. I also was not fully prepared for the amount of time it would take away from my family and I have struggled to find a happy balance. So, for 2013, I am looking forward  to getting back to where I began in photography and just shooting & learning for the pure enjoyment of it.  I will also be involved in a few photography projects & workshops this year with some amazing fellow photographers. I am super excited about this.

I am forever thankful and grateful to all of my clients over the past couple of years. I have learned so much about photography from photographing your babies, children, and families. I am also grateful to my husband & children who supported me in this journey and I love you all like crazy.

I will continue to keep my website/blog up and active and will continue to share projects & images that inspire me. So, without further adieu, my top 10 of 2012.


Donna
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Angela Cowling - Well I love love love your photos, but don’t envy you for having to make such a difficult decision. But I knew you were in it for your photography passion (which was evident in your amazing photos and the experience you passed on to your clients), not as a primary income. I commend you for putting your family first. It says so much about you, and I love you. Enjoy your next chapter!

Mary - these are awesome! that smile in the first image just made me smile :)

Amber - That first picture is SOOOO cute! Glad you are trying to find a better balance for yourself! Good luck with everything!!! ♥

Trudie - Great shots and good for you for making a decision that’s in your and your family’s best interests.

Lerin - Feeling the same way, I closed “Lerin Photography” for over a year. I had time to regroup, explore & grow. Now that I have reopened, I am only STRICTLY doing one session per week as it allows me to keep my focus on my family but still have a scheduled time to get my camera out and play. ;) It is a hard decision, but you will NEVER regret putting family first! <3

Andrea - These are awesome! Such a variety, but they all show your creativity, expertise and vision ;)

Carrie P - I love the photo with the little teardrop. Oh so sweet. I understand your decision and look forward to seeing more family shares!

Marilyn - These are lovely shots.

Leina - Every one of these images are AMAZING! I especially love the the little baby with the tear :(

Leigh - The girl in the field is stunning!

Jackie - Lovely work , love the compositions!

Kirsty Mckay - Good for you to have made the decision that’s right for your family! All the very best in 2013.

Candice - Finding balance is hard, and I am glad you made the best choice for you. Nothing is forever :) Such a great Top 10!

Amber - Love the top images. Very cool! Great work!

Colie - great work!!!

Jamie Rubeis | Las Vegas Portrait Photographer - These are beautiful! You captured some amazing moments this past year. Love that baby smile!!

Rena Christine - Beautiful work! and good for you for doing what makes you happy!

Megan - Beautiful :) Its hard to find balance with a young family – good for you for doing whats best

Stephanie - Such a difficult decision! Your work is beautiful & I am so glad you will continue to share it! :)

BobbiJo - great images, love the shadow in the water!

Lisa D. - It is hard to find a balance, but family and happiness is always first. You have a wonderful talent of capturing beauty and emotion. Enjoy this new beautiful journey!

Jess - These are all so much fun! What great emotion! You did a great job, I really love these.

Jennifer - These are fantastic. So much emotion in all of them. Looks like a great year, can’t wait to see more in 2013.

Kellie - You got some awesome shots in the last year! Can’t wait to see what you do this year :)

Kim - Your post resonated with me. I feel like its so hard to find balance so much of the time. You’ve made a difficult decision and I’m happy to hear you are also going to keep shooting as a hobby! I look forward to seeing more photos from you. BTW – I LOVE the girl in the meadow photo. Breathtaking.

Anjuli Francois - Such lovely images. These are amazing.

Christy Harper - Love your images :) Thanks for sharing!

Megan - Gorgeous photos! And I know what you mean about a photography business keeping you busy. Just do what you love and the rest will follow! Enjoy your new journey!

Amber - These are great shots and that first one just melts my heart! SO cute!!!

Chavi - Gorgeous images!!

Beth Ross - You had an amazing year. Beautiful work. I especially love the silhouette and the fourth shot of the girl in the field with that gorgeous dress.

AshleyS - beautiful set of images–the girl in the field is by far my favorite. enjoy yourself as you get back to your original love of capturing images. :)

Zemya Photography - Bay Area Family Photographer - You’re right, this is such a hard decision to make, and as Kim said, it resonates with me too. I’ve been dancing around that choice as well over the past few months, but decided to take it one day/week/month at a time, and stay open for now.
I’m so excited that you’re going to keep following your love for this art, but invest yourself in a personal project way.
Good luck!

Robin - So sorry to see you close your doors, you have beautiful images. What a great year you had!