Keeping Family Close

I was standing next to a Dad I know at one of the basketball games last week. I was photographing the game and he was making a video with one of those new cameras that looks like a SLR but it actually does both still and video. He made a joke saying that he was making some video clips to send to relatives so they wouldn't come to visit. Of course he was only kidding but it made me start to think about how we keep in contact with our families and how things have changed dramatically since my mother's time.

Every single Sunday was spent with the family when Mom was growing up. The entire family met at her grandparent's house and there was a large meal prepared while all the kids played. It was that way when I was growing up as well. It was a routine and a ritual that made us all feel like we were a part of something bigger than ourselves.

Skip ahead and our families can be all spread out. Mine are all in Texas but they are in Houston, Pflugerville, Gunter and Van Alstyne. When my children were little I faithfully mailed envelopes of photographs to show my relatives how much the children were growing. Now I text, email, blog, send video clips, links and Facebook posts. But we're really trying to do the same thing they did when my mother was little, and that is to keep the family close.

If you haven't shared my website or my Facebook page with your out of town relatives, please do. It's a way your family can keep close and enjoy looking at the latest games or portraits. As far as whether they will still visit or not...that's up to you.

Lubbock Weekend

I just returned from a short but wonderful weekend in Lubbock (wait, there's more) with my son Clay. See - you knew it couldn't just be about Lubbock. Clay throws for the Texas Tech Track team. He throws weight this time of year at their Indoor Meets and discus, hammer and maybe javelin in the springtime at their Outdoor Meets. It was cold, windy and dusty in Lubbock but gratefully this was the Indoor Meet.

I always try very hard to be in the perfect spot to take the perfect photograph. The bubble at Tech gives you no such 'perfect' vantage-point. The weight ring has net all around it and there's no good shot. The stands are above looking down. And it's not close at all. It's frustrating but it's Clay so I do my best.

As I started my editing this morning of the several hundred photos I took of Clay I began my usual "out of focus"... "not interesting" deleting but then I started thinking. These are my son's memories. Is it more important that every single one is perfect or that we have the memories? The answer was obvious.

I can't tell you the number of people who come up to me apologizing about the Christmas card they sent to me because the photo isn't as good (in their opinion) as I would have taken. Or complaining that they can't take photographs at all so they don't even try. I absolutely love that you love my work (I really do) and I wouldn't have my job if you didn't. But I want you to try to enjoy your own photographs more. Ask me questions about what you did wrong (and right). I'm always happy to help. Relax...take more photographs and enjoy what you get. When you do, you'll take better photographs without even trying.

I enjoyed every minute of my time in Lubbock (how often do you hear that?) and I especially loved spending time with Clay and capturing this wonderful time in his life. He's going to have some wonderful memories.

Denver January 2011

I love to travel! I wish I could go more often but I enjoy each and every trip (big or small) that I take. This past weekend I had an opportunity to go to Denver for a few days visiting friends. Daughter Ashley used to live there so I have traveled there often. Usually I don't work while I'm away but this time I had so much to catch up on I actually took my laptop and put three events online (while on vacation). Is that dedication or what?

When I travel on short trips I usually only take my little point and shoot. I shoot with a Lumix DMC-ZS3. I'm a huge fan of that little camera and it takes high-def movies as well. One evening we were all having dinner in a quirky part of downtown. If you're ever in Denver you have to eat at Rioja. Absolutely the most amazing pan roasted chicken ever! There were lights strung through the trees and across the street and it was really pretty. I've never played with all the little settings on my camera (thinking, of course, that I'm way too cool for them) but I remembered a setting on the camera called "Night Scenery" so I thought I would give it a try. The end result was great! I love the photos taken that night.

So....take a few minutes from time to time and play with the settings on your camera. Use them all, just to see what they will do. It could turn out to be great fun and you will probably get some images you didn't expect to get. And as far as the ones that don't turn out, there is another great setting that I use all the time....it's called "Trash".

Happy New Year!

Is it just me or is anyone else having a hard time believing it's 2011. 2011? As a child the new year only meant I was a year older (a good thing back then). And it meant I got to move into the next grade in school - another good thing. It also meant that my pants would be too short yet again, which was a problem I had until the age of 17.

But now that I'm 37 years old (I've been 37 for many years and plan to stay there many more) the new year means something different. It gives me the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and start another year. A new year to become more organized, more thoughtful, more patient. A new year to be grateful for family and friends and grateful for my life in Fredericksburg. And another year to learn as much as I can about photography which teaches me about myself as well.

Have you heard about the 365 project? I just read about it the other day. The challenge is to take one photograph every day. It can be family, a self-portrait or even the family pet. It can be your breakfast, your car or the clothes you plan to wear that day. It can be anything. You label each of these photos with the date taken and at the end of 2011 you will have 365 photographs of your life that year. We photograph the important things in life but not so much our everyday life. And isn't the everyday what is really important? The purpose of this 'study' is not only documenting your life but also improving your photography. The more photographs you take the better you will be. Your compositions will be better as you see what works for you and what doesn't. If you are interested you can read about it at (sorry, it's not a link, you will have to copy and paste):

http://content.photojojo.com/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/

I started it January 1st 2011. I have to admit the photographs aren't very exciting yet but I can't wait to see what the end of Rhonda's 2011 Project looks like. I may even post these on the website.

If any of you are dedicated and plan to do the same thing, let me know. I'll be happy to post your year in pictures on my website as well.

As always if you have any questions I'm happy to help! Happy New Year!