Starting and completing something

{Note to self}:

It's important to be doing something...

Working, problem solving and practicing what you love to create.

Without that, evolution doesn't take place.

Use what you have at hand, to start something, take pictures with your phone, draw, sketch.
Plan and carry out, or simply carry out;
Ask, without fear.
Your prosperity and that of your loved ones depends on it.

If you keep working at it, only good can come of it.
It will seem as if by chance or accident, but it won't be coincidence.
That you complete something, that is beautiful.

Use Instagram to discover your highest values

It is Photoweek at CreativeLive and as usual it has been an amazing outpouring of inspirational information.
My favourite so far being Sue Bryce's session on empowering and energising your business. Her discussion on discovering your highest values is an eye opener. It's something that I 'sort of' knew and 'kind of' felt throughout the span of my life when making choices and taking decisions.

Playing around with an Instagram widget, it dawned on me that I could use this tool to discover these values; what I like to talk about and do. It can also help you see a detailed insight in what you do: the colours you like, the settings and compositions.
Try it! Your collage of images might tell you more about yourself than what you know! :)

From 'ones and zeros' to print

Our digital world makes it easy to create content on the go, but turning digital to print is where your work really comes alive.
I started creating photobooks for my family a few years ago, and they make such unique gifts that everyone enjoys. I will be working on story books for my little one which she can later read and even pass on to her children.

As we begin to decorate our house, we will be mixing in some of my work so I can't wait to create some more :). The opportunities are endless once you start adding your own unique touches to your photography work and I'm thinking of extending these options in photo shoots.

My progress so far

I've been going through my Photo library from the past 2 years to check on my photography development. I can definitely see progress in all areas: composition, technical, story telling and post processing.

21/10/2012

10/01/2013

26/05/2013

My family have been very cooperative through my learning process and have made the time to do these photo shoots. It's great, as you get to document different stages in their lives and these photographs make great gifts! :)

It's a good idea to go back through your work and sometimes re-work your images, as with time you're able to see where things need to improve and you have a digital journal of your progress.

I will hopefully be doing more baby shoots in the near future and have been watching the latest Sue Bryce/ Kelly Brown CreativeLive workshop 'Bumps to Babies', which will help me a lot through these shoots.

Thank you for our fathers

On the eve of Father's day here in Australia, let's pray for those men who are lost, for those who cause grief and pain to our world, so that they may find sanity and once again become human.
Let's pray for our young men, growing up the midst of war, poverty and abuse. May they heal and bring about change in their worlds.

Let's give thanks for all the men in our families and around the globe for they complete our family circles and work hard to support their partners and children. Lastly, let's give thanks for those who have gone beyond this world, for they are in our hearts, immortalised in future generations.

Frijolito - part II

Introducing Leonardo Antonio!

I was lucky to capture the following images of Sofia and Benjamin's little frijolito.
He was a wonderful model and was alert throughout the whole shoot. Wishing them all the best in raising this wonderful gift from God.

My first Sue Bryce inspired photoshoot

I set up the room as follows: using the backlight coming from the glass double doors, the wall on the left of the image and the cube/ couch for a staggered pose.
I softened the light with a sheer curtain, using pegs to hold it together as we are yet to furnish this room.
The ladder in the background came in handy, and I think I will need to carry one if I ever go on-site :P

I was quite nervous when we first started, my mind seemed to shut down my creative side, even though I had already planned the session. It is the feeling you have when you are going to a job interview!
But once the girls arrived and we got started, it became easier and I was able to create quite nice images, that my clients and I were very happy with.
I was also happy with the fact that I was able to create these photographs in just this space!

I shot with my only camera body which is Canon 550D, and Canon 50mm 1.8. I don't have any big reflectors, so I bounced the light off the ceiling using a Metz 44 AF-1.