Playing with Light | Loving Photography

As I mentioned previously, for the first couple weeks of November, I took part in an online photography course, The Workshop by Marta Locklear. It was an incredible experience. We were given assignments every couple days to push our creative boundaries. Afterwards, we uploaded our images to the workshop site where they received critiques not only from Marta but also from the other 15 attendees. Our group was an amazingly talented group of female photographers literally from around the world – Holland, England, Australia, Canada, and the States. We had online chats almost every night, and video chats with Marta every few days. If you’re a photographer and looking to expand your creative horizons and to push you past any limits you may have placed on yourself and your art, I highly encourage you to take Marta’s Workshop.

Below are a few photos I took for one of our assignments on composition and perspective. The “subject” here is my wonderful (and cooperative!) neighbor. I needed someone who would follow direction and who could sit still for more than 10 minutes. Obviously, my kids were out. J “volunteered,” which went something like me saying, “are you doing anything right now?” (while our kids ran rampant through our backyards), and she saying, “no, what do you need?” (because she is always willing to help anytime for anything). Little did she know what she was getting in to! I plopped her over on our swingset and ran to get my camera. When she didn’t jump off the swing and run away, I figured we were good to go.

The day after I took the above photo, I decided to enter it into a photography contest on whim.  I was shocked when I found out this weekend that I received an Honorable Mention in the “Admired by Beckstead” contest run through the Pictage Blog by David Beckstead, a world renowned wedding photographer.  Check out the winning image.  Wow.  When I browsed through the entries before the contest ended, I just loved that shot.  The other winners are so talented as well.  I am humbled to be included amongst them.

Here J is with her daughter K, who ran over for a quick hug.  So cute.  I’ve known K since she was 4 months old.  She has been raised right along with my little girls and guy.  When I see her, it’s like looking at a member of my family.  She has a little sister A, who has been featured here before.  Adorable.

One last shot.  This one was my “artsy” shot and I hesitated on including it in my images for my assignment.  But I loved it, so I went with my gut.

Always go with your gut.

xo

A