Expressing yourself can sometimes include a can of Root Beer...

Portraits

Love the 1940's era. I always have. A dream is to do fashion photography now that this style is becoming vogue again. We'll see what happens. Regardless, here is the latest addition to my collection of photos to make an art gallery of my room...Bought it after work, just minutes before the store closed. Paid $20 for it. I think it's priceless. :-)

July 4th Pictures

I spent Independence Day doing a photoshoot for a family reunion (up to four generations, how cool is that!). Here is just one picture, but I thought it summarized the tone of the reunion ( a child and his grandfather).

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=210672678976132&set=a.155845207792213.30093.143524005691000&type=1&theater

I didn't think the photo would turn out, but I'm delighted...I think it's charming (consequently, it came from Charming Charlie's)

Portrait of Words

I'm a photographer, I am also a writer.

I love the comparison between the two.
Read this excerpt from a book I am writing:

Her eyes were not a stellar hazel, but just the same as a thousand other English girls. Peculiarly, her teeth were straight and white, rather than crooked and yellow like so many others. Even this was not enough to mark her as a beauty. Dimpling when she smiled, Sarah still didn't seem to have a strong feature which impressed one to think of her as a striking girl.

But she was, Ginger knew it. Unlike most girls, it wasn't the dainty mouth or the wide eyes which made Sarah appealing. It was her whole face; her expression and her mannerisms.

It's an interesting comparison, I just gave a vivid description of a girl.
However, if I were to show you a portrait, you would have a different impression entirely.
You would look at the expression of the face, you wouldn't be thinking of whether or not they had a Grecian nose...the role pictures play on the senses is much more subtle, but occasionally much more moving than any word description because humans are visual.
Here's an exercise for you; find a description in a book character, and see if you can find a portrait ot fit the description. It's fun to see how the words match the characteristics.

Because it's summer...

I thought I would post a picture of snow ;-)
That's my dog Violet (Vi) last year around Christmas time. She's a faithful dog, she followed me hiking in the snow for two hours.

Stay posted, I hope to take some "summer pictures" soon.

The Lens

I want to take drawing lessons.

I want to sketch and watercolor. I wish I was more musical. Although slowly, I am learning the piano. I absolutely love it. When I'm playing, something resonates...

I love art and the aesthetic side of life. Photography requires less skill than sketching and watercolor, although it requires just as much effort.

Photography relies more on ingenuity and eye for detail than anything with a paintbrush does.

You learn how to manipulate lighting, creatively find an angle that makes for a fantastic photo, and you work with some incredible people.

So, go for it. I'm always saying that, aren't I? Well, I mean it. Take your camera and find your inner "artist."