24 Hour Update

Well, I’ve been delayed again because of my own fault, but thought I’d post the last 24 hour assignment I did in December. I went and spent some time with a maintenance worker at a retirement center named Gary Mason. My original intention was to get someone who worked at a care facility. Then I remembered there are all the HIPAA laws. I at least asked one of the facilities in town and they said there was just no good way of doing it because they felt I’d have to have a release form each time the worker went into a new room or worked with a new patient.

So I did the next best thing. Mason has worked at the facility part-time for a few years and helps maintain the living facilities. The day I was with him he was installing a new handrail for an elderly lady. I think I’m going to use the first photo, but I’ve thought about using a group of photos for this one. The one of him at the hardware store and one of these other two. Thoughts?

Hopefully I’ll get things rolling with this again very soon. And maybe eventually work on a new story just about Hand in Hand Community Service here in town that I last blogged about.

Show stoppers

Last Thursday was the Merchants of Rochelle’s 2nd annual Grand Giveaway event in the Stillman Room. For those of you who have never been, it’s a pretty simple premise.  For about a month, local residents can sign up for a chance to win a big screen television at any number of the participating merchants. Once a week, there is a drawing to see who is eligible for the television.

It all culminates into one big event where the winners and the public are invited for free. There is food, prizes and anyone in the audience is eligible for the $1000. Stephanie and I joined the Merchants of Rochelle last month and love being part of this unique group. This was the first time we were actually merchants at one of the events too.

Well after this year, we’re going to have a hard time topping any of our events thanks to Kenny and Marilou. Kenny gave Marilou the surprise of her life by proposing to her in the middle of the event. On top of that, she also one the $100 giveaway among the merchants. Imagine her fortune, huh?

So here’s a bit of background on it. Kenny was last year’s winner of the big screen television during MOR’s first Grand Giveaway. Marilou is an employee of Holcomb State Bank, one of the banks that’s a member. While working her booth last year the couple met and hit it off. One year later, Kenny was ready to propose. It was quite an awesome event to watch and photograph.

What would a proposal be without a few happy tears here or there.

I think the kiss means she said ‘yes.’

Friends and family were all on hand to give their congratulations and a mini photo shoot ensued.

I’m going to be burning a few disks and dropping off the originals to the couple and his and her family. We’re so glad we were able to help capture their once-in-a-lifetime moment. I sometimes wish I’d had some there to photograph my proposal, but I did it my, privately and in a special place. If you ever want to hear the story, I’d love to tell it again. As anyone from EIU will tell you, nothing beats a ‘Danny Williams story.’

Reflections

I had some weird obsession with reflections on the court at the game the other night. Sometimes I get bored at games and just look for stuff to shoot like this. Although last night’s game was pretty fun to watch.

Lady Hubs drop another one to Batavia

Just got back from a disappointing varsity loss at RTHS. The girls played really good in my opinion. One of the fastest paced girls basketball games I’ve seen in awhile. I just really wanted to share a few photos from the game. Had a lot of fun and even got to shoot some of the sophomore game. Leave if a comment if you wish.

Photoshop gimmick

Since I was a little bored during my substitute teaching today, I learned a new gimmick with photos. Normally I avoid gimmicky things, but when they can be made to look natural, I’m not so against them. This one was really easy.

I promise not to use it all the time, but felt it went nicely with these two photos. I definitely think it worked a lot better with the senior portrait of Amy, but also worked nicely with the engagement photo of Brandy and Jeff.

Thoughts anyone?

Stockin up

I’m going to start compiling a bunch of stock photos that I may or may not put for sale in the future. I haven’t exactly decided if I want to do that yet. I’m mostly just using it as a good way to learn studio lighting, but figured if someone wants to buy them, then great. I’m looking back at my  mistakes on this one and I see a ton. First off, the camera right light was way too bright. I should’ve used a scrim to reduce the intensity. Secondly, I should have lowered the backlight so it was below the table, not even with the ball. This would’ve prevented the little blast of yell from the bottm and allowed me to get the entire ball in the picture. I’m also not so sure I even needed the second light from the right. I could utilized my reflector a bit more to get the desired fill.

Oh well, there’s always today I guess.

Top shelf

Sad that this is sometimes my idea of top shelf and not this.

Under construction

We’ve been under construction in the studio the past week or so, so I thought a throw a few “surgery” photos. I didn’t take many because I was working with my grandpa and if it’s one thing I’ve learned from working with him, is that you better not be messing around when it’s time to work.

I kind of like that theory of thought though. I think I’m going to try and incorporate that into my photography. I love to have fun and I love to joke around. Hell, if I could get away with it, I’d spend my entire life playing games and having fun. Unfortunately playing games rarely pays off and for some reason people want you to pay the bills they’ve sent you. Huh, go figure.

Anyway, I’m trying to make a more conscious effort of not messing around when I’m working. When I’m shooting, I want to be 100 percent in work mode. Not saying don’t have fun. That take away from why I photograph in the first place, just be serious about what I’m doing though.

Anyway, feel free to stop in and check out our studio if you get the chance. I’m only there every once in awhile, but if you call, I’d love to show you around.

Once my work station is complete I’ll post final photos. Thanks for looking.

Bowl me over

I took the opportunity to shoot a little bowling yesterday. If you thought high school gyms were bad, you’ve apparently never shot in a bowling alley. I’m not sure who the original designer of the bowling alley was, but apparently it was mandated from the start that you must keep the lights as dim as possible where the bowlers sit and spend 80% of their time and then make sure it’s really crappy nasty lights that lay over the lanes them selves. Regardless, I did my best with what I was given and thought I’d throw up a few examples of my work. I kept them mostly in black and white because of the horrid color temperature of the lights.

Wish I could’ve stayed the entire time, but just couldn’t with other time restraints.

Happy New Year

I don’t make resolutions, at least not anymore, but if I was to make one, it would be to be more diligent with our blog. I can’t make any promises, but did want to wish you all great luck in the upcoming year. I also wanted to post this Save the Date that one of our wedding clients did with the engagement photos that I took. They turned out great. We love working with talented and created clients for reasons just like this.

Trina is also a fellow journalist, so bonus points for that. I’ll post the other design they have just as soon as I convert it from it’s pdf form. Off to recover some more files until then though. More on that later.