I ♥ Faces Week #13: Dramatic B&W

This week's theme is Dramatic Black and Whites and I thought it was a perfect opportunity to introduce some thing to my blog readers, all 2 of you. This year I want to not only share my sessions with you but some of my personal photographs both recent and from the past. This one was taken after summiting Mt. Kinabalu in Malaysian Borneo in September 2003. Can't wait to share more photos that inspire me with all of you.



see more black and whites with drama over at I heart faces.

I ♥ Faces Week #12: Focusing On Angles

Ok I don't know how often I'll enter the weekly challenges over at I Heart Faces in the future, but I have to admit I am having fun re-visiting pictures I have already taken. This week's theme is "Focusing on Angles" either in the angle you are in for photographing or by tilting the camera or cropping. I'm a huge fan of angles, sometimes I angle too much. I do encourage all of you mom-tographers out there, experiment with angles, get up high, get down low, lean the camera, don't allow yourself to be confined to straight on head and shoulders shots. Angles can provide so much depth and character to an image. Go forth and experiment!

Anyway, when I read about getting a new angle on a pose, I immediately thought of this photo. You have to understand this is a boardwalk at the top of a rather small hill in a local metropark, but there is still a painful drop to the left of this photo.

My gorgeously pregnant friend joined me with her 4 year old on a blistering 90 degree day (for central Ohio, that's uncomfortable, stagnant and muggy). Before I got in position for this photo we both looked at her 4 year old and said a few things to the effect of, "You are never to do this." And then I climbed on the railing, which as you can see is about 4 feet high and only a few inches wide. I am 5'10" and with a 50mm lens I still was on my tiptoes trying to get as far above her as possible.

I actually came closest to falling off trying to hold the camera up and get more in the frame with some blind aiming. So I stuck to what I could fit in, and I love how it turned out, both my perspective angle and the angle the railing and walkway planks takes through the photo. Need to find a higher wall next time, or buy some of those lenses on my wish list! Baby girl was born about 6 weeks later.

See more angles here at I ♥ Faces.

I ♥ Faces Week #11: Bundled Up

Oh I debated a number of adorable in the snow pictures of my own kids (Josh's were all dominated by the eyes on his favorite lightning mcqueen hat), but they just couldn't beat out this all time favorite photo of niece during her 18 Month Photo Session. It may have been blistering cold in the wind that day, but that doesn't stop snack time! As my brother says, "We have personally kept graham cracker makers everywhere in business."

and no I did not boost the color on this photo, her coat is that fuschia.

Check out more Bundled Up pictures over here at I ♥ Faces, and say goodbye winter, hello spring!

In Charge

Jake was short and in charge at Franklin Park Conservatory! He was beside himself that he was in charge of exploring this whole new place. We could barely get his attention, he was having way too much fun investigating every path. It was just joy to watch him run around, and at right above, lick water from the fountain off his hands. . . "Who me? I'm not licking the water you told me not to lick?"



And yes this little guy was just full of expressions and moods (all of them fun!). He was everywhere (even out in the snow on the roof, see the gallery) and even showed off that he totally knows how to quickly go up and down stairs, he just needed some that were interesting!







And for the next month you can view their whole gallery here:

Mr. Man

Oh Evan, I've known you since before your mama took the pregnancy test to confirm you were on your way. How can you not be head over heels for those chubba cheeks? We tried out a little session in the bay window of their front room under the careful supervision of Charlie the dog. You'll have to watch the slideshow below to see his trust for me did not increase when we moved to the nursery. Big sister Avery, loves to help take care of her little bubba. The two of them are just precious together.





You can view the entire gallery here for the next month:

I ♥ Faces Week #10: Jump for Joy!

(click on photo to view larger)

Things are crazy busy right now with my son Josh this week, and I wasn't going to enter a photo this week, then I remembered about the most joy-filled jumping photos there are out there, the Fisher Five Puddle Jump Session. We were trying to squeeze a family session but the threat of rain loomed, and then mom decided to embrace it and have a rainy wet and wild session.

In the this shot, sister had gotten huge air on this jump and is almost back on her feet as she makes the most amazing splash. You can see how impressed her little brother's expression is in the background. There were so many jumping shots from this session to choose from, but this has always been in my top 2 of the whole gallery even if you can only see the aftershock of her jump for splashing joy. You can see more of the session here.



head on over to i ♥ faces to find some more jumping joy.