Frozen In Time



I recently had the awesome opportunity to visit and photograph the old Johnson's Farm, located in the Johnson's Branch Recreation area of Lake Ray Roberts.  This farmstead, closed to the public, has been left almost un-touched for the past 40+ years.  The house which was originally built in the late 1800's remains standing, along with a couple barns, chicken house and storm cellar.  All the original windows are intact and there is no graffiti covering the walls, thanks to the state park keeping this historic site off limits to the public.  I was able to gain access to this location through the Denton Camera Club.  It was a planned field trip, arranged through the park service. We had 3 hours to freely roam the property, photographing and documenting the grounds.

The house and the barn were my primary points of interest.  The barn was still full of turn of the century era farm machinery and farm tack hanging on the walls.  It was like the people living there just walked away!  So many antiques, just sitting around.  So many photo ops everywhere I looked.  I'll admit it was a bit of sensory overload as far as taking pictures is concerned.  I didn't know where to point my camera first.  Three hours to shoot??  I could have spent 3 days in just the barn!

I finally worked my way to the old farm house.  Again, I could have spent all day shooting just this building.  One of the techniques I'd been wanting to toy with is using my speedlights off camera with gels to create a mood in old buildings such as this one.  So while the rest of the photo club photographed the more traditional scenes in the house, I setup my flashes and had fun creating a different type of image.  This photo was one of my favorites of the day.

I hope to get the chance to return to the Johnson's Farm.  So many more possibilities await there.

Fun With the Walking Dead!



I'm finally getting around to blogging about this event.  Which is surprising since it was one of the more fun events of the year to attend.  The Dallas Zombie Walk is definitely an interesting place to be if you enjoy people watching, or in my case, people photography.  All of the zombies and zombie hunters love getting their photo taken.  There are interesting costumes everywhere you look, which makes for great photos.  Access to the event is free, I just had to park a couple blocks away and walk in.  There was live music as well and the Dallas Derby Devils roller derby league put on a small demonstration on the street for all to see.  The event was basically a 2 block street party with bloodied people walking around, most staying in-character.  By the end of the day I came home with some really fun and interesting photo's of the walking dead.  I ran into a lot of friends while down there shooting and had an over all great time.   I'm already looking forward to next years Zombie Walk!

Christopher



I recently had the honor of meeting and photographing Christopher.  This casual looking young man is a high school senior and wasn't exactly excited to get his photo taken.  But after a few minutes of shooting he warmed up to the lens... and my cheesy jokes. :)  It was tricky finding a look that fit him best for his photo shoot.  His mom was quick to tell me he really didn't have a lot of traditional hobbies.  So incorporating what he likes into his photos would be difficult.  So, I decided to have them just meet me in a local park in the evening and we'd start shooting to see what we came up with.  Overall everyone was happy with the final product.... including Christopher!  

Trip of a Lifetime




This iconic photo is of the famous Moulton Barn.  It's probably one of the most photographed barns in the world.  It's been used in commercials and in print Ads and is kind of the postcard for the Great American Frontier.  And for years it had been high on my photography bucket list.  But I had no idea where to go, who to go with or where to really start.  Do I talk friends into going to Wyoming with me?  And if I do, where do I go once I'm there?  A bit overwhelming.  So I began looking for photography based tours, although I knew they were usually the more expensive route.  But I decided if I'm going to go all the way up there to see the sights, I'll need a guide to find the best places.  I began researching photo tours in the Jackson Wyoming area.  I had found a couple, but they were both over $1000.  Outside my budget.  I just needed to get there and to find someone who knew their way around and could show me where all the best places to take photos are.  I didn't need half days of photo critiquing or Photoshop learning sessions.  I just wanted to get out there and shoot some really cool stuff with other photographers.

Then I remembered a Flickr contact of mine, Mr. Jeff Clow.  He had once mentioned he and his wife started the photography tour company Dirt Cheap Photo Tours.  I decided to check out his website and read up on what his tour offered.  Now, some people might be thrown off by the term "dirt cheap".  I think a more accurate description might be "Nicely Affordable photo tours".  But that sounds weird.  Jeff's philosophy is rather simple... "if you want to take better photo's, stand in front of better things".  I sent him an email asking a few questions to make sure this was the kind of tour I was looking for.  Turns out, it was EXACTLY what I was looking for.  First off, the price was right.  While most the tours I found were $1000+, Jeff's tour was a flat $500.  Now that didn't cover air fare and hotel, but neither did the more expensive tours.  I'm a good travel deal hunter so I wasn't worried.  Secondly, Jeff informed me we would be shooting 10 to 12 hours a day.  We would be out on location before sunrise to get the best shots, then out again at night.  No classroom critiques or anything to keep me away from my camera.  I was sold so I sent in my down payment, bought my flight and reserved my hotel in Jackson Hole.  I hadn't had a real vacation in quite some time so I was beyond excited for this adventure.

I arrived at the Jackson airport around noon on Thursday.  The tour didn't officially start until later that evening.  But I wanted to get in early, find my hotel and walk around the town a bit.  As my plane banks and lines up for it's landing approach, I look out the window and my jaw just dropped.  We were cresting the mountain range and almost even with my window outside was the Grand Teton, the tallest peak of the Tetons.  It was incredible! We landed and de-boarded down a ramp onto the tarmac.  Once off the plane I began making my way towards the small terminal building.  I turned and looked behind me and had to stop and take in the view.  The mountain range running parallel to the airport looks surreal.  I must have been standing there a bit too long because an airport guy told me to keep moving. hah  I grabbed my suitcase and caught the shuttle into Jackson Hole.  During the ride I was looking out the window thinking, this might not be a bad place to live.  It was right about that moment the shuttle driver tells me each winter they get about 300 inches of snow.  Never mind, Texas works for me!

Around 6pm I met up with Jeff and the rest of the tour group in front of the hotel and we departed to do some evening shooting and get to know each other.  I liked that we weren't wasting the first evening in town.  We were out shooting our camera's from the first night.  I got back to the hotel about 9pm and as I sat reviewing my shots from the evening, I knew this was going to be an incredible trip.  I went to bed early because I knew it would be an early morning.

Our shooting schedule for the next 3 days was roughly the same.  I'd wake up at 5:30am, be downstairs by 6am so we could hit the road.  Jeff had us on location, ready to shoot the sunrise at an amazing location by 6:45.   After shooting the sunrise and that location for about an hour, we'd pack up and hit a long list of scenic stops.  Jeff knows about a few places that are not in any tour brochure or book.  Places which require a bumpy ride down jeep trails, but will reward you with some breathtaking scenery!  Along the way we would pull over and get out of the van if we saw any good wildlife.  During the trip we saw buffalo, beaver, elk, moose and deer.  Towards the end of the trip a few members even saw a bear!  Each day we'd shoot until lunch, then take a break to eat somewhere.  After lunch we'd resume shooting until about 5pm before heading back to the hotel.  We then get a couple hours to eat, freshen up, charge batteries and relax before meeting out front again at 7pm for some night photography.  The night sky in Jackson Wyoming is nothing short of breath taking.  With no major city for at least a 5 hour drive in every direction, you get practically zero light pollution and the stars are incredible!  We spent each evening under this star lit sky shooting the heavens and light painting barns.  A perfect evening for a photographer!

Ok so to wrap up this long post with a conclusion.  If Jackson Hole Wyoming and the Grand Tetons are something you've always wanted to see, I can honestly highly recommend Dirt Cheap Photo Tours lead by Jeff Clow.  As far as photography tours go, its affordable and you'll make some really good friends by the time you get on your plane to head home.  Jeff is a super nice guy and has been to the Tetons over 30 times.  He really knows his way around the area and has no shortage of information and places to help you get great photos.  No matter what level of photographer you are, this trip has something to offer.  For beginners, you'll be put in what Jeff likes to call, "A target rich environment".  Everywhere you look there's something to point your camera at and scenes to hone your skills.  If you have questions, there are more advanced photogs around you who are willing to offer their help.  You WILL come home a better photographer.  If you're an advanced or pro shooter, you'll meet some great folks and come home with some really nice landscape and wildlife portfolio material.  So visit Jeff's site at http://dirtcheapphototours.com/ and read up on what he offers.

To see more of my work from this incredible adventure, check out the gallery I've posted over at my WEBSITE.

Dismount!

Dismount!, a photo by Thorpeland on Flickr.

Each August Denton hosts the North Texas State Fair. While not much of a cowboy & rodeo person... I still enjoy this event from a photographers standpoint. Because it's a smaller event and venue than the huge State Fair of Texas, I can get incredibly good access for taking photos. It makes shooting action photos of the calf roping events really fun and allows me to capture the speed and power of the animals involved. This is also an excellent venue to hone camera skills, as the lighting in the area is horrible. So you really have to have a firm grasp of your camera's abilities and functions to come home with a usable photo. This years was another fun event and I got to spend the evening with a bunch of other photographer friends. Can't beat that!

The Rider

Kyle, a photo by Thorpeland on Flickr.

The end of August means the start of many Seniors starting their final year in High School.  Kyle and his mother contacted me about shooting some senior portraits.  When I asked her what kind of hobbies he enjoys, she said he likes to ride his dirt bike.  Right then I knew we had some great material for a fun shoot.  I told him to show up with his dirt bike, dressed ready to ride!  At first he wasn't sure what to really do.  After all, he'd never had anyone really take his photo when he wasn't riding by the camera.  Posing with his bike as a prop seemed foreign to him.  I told him to imagine being on the cover of a Dirt Bike magazine.  Or imagine he had just won a big race.  How would he look at the camera?  He stood straight and gave me this direct, confident look.  I started shooting knowing we had some real keepers.
His mother also wanted some more normal photos.  So he changed outfits and wore a more contemporary western look.  Classic Texan, really.  Both looks turned out great and everyone was really happy with the photos.  And despite the temps that evening being over 100f, I had a blast shooting.  

Be There!!


Those who follow me on Facebook or Google+ have seen me post a few times about this event.  Well, the date is quickly upon us and if you live in the Dallas area and are looking for something fun to do on the night of Saturday August 27th, please come out and join the fun.  If you enjoy music, art and an energetic atmosphere then you'll have a good time.

A few people have asked me what this event is really all about.  In short, its an art/gallery night with live music.  I am one of the league photographers for the Dallas Derby Devils, the woman's flat-track roller derby league.  Gallery Night is the opportunity for myself and other derby photographers and artists to display their roller derby related work from the past year.  Of course this isn't an event limited to people in the derby community.  Its open to everyone and anyone who wants to come out and it's free to attend.  There will be live music from a band called "We're Not Dudes"...  which you really just have to see to believe.  I'm not going to spoil it, but they're good!! There will be snack foods and drinks and lots of very friendly folks to meet and talk to.  And of course all the art is for sale.  So if you see something you really like, you can make it yours!

So there you go.  Mark your calenders and clear your schedules.  If you have any questions about this event feel free to contact me.  I'll be there all evening and I hope everyone stops by my wall to view my derby photos and say hello.

See you this Saturday night!

Model Mayhem


I recently had a great "vintage" session with a model name Sarah.  Long ago I created a profile on the site Model Mayhem.  This is a place where photographers, models and touch up artists can find each other for work or to build their portfolios.  Shortly after updating my profile, I was contacted by Sarah saying she wanted to get some updated shots for her modeling portfolio.  We met on a rather hot evening near the new rail station in town and walked around using whichever locations we found interesting as a back drop.  I brought along fellow photog friend Greg Scott to assist me with lighting and holding the reflector.  Even though the light was a little harsher than I would have preferred, I felt we still got some nice images.  It helped that Sarah was comfortable in front of the lens.  I look forward to shooting with her again in the future.  

River Adventures


This was taken on my recent adventure, a 20 mile canoe trip down the Brazos river here in Texas.  When I signed up for this group trip, I didn't know I would be the odd numbered person in the group and the only one going solo.  So this meant I had to paddle my own canoe alone for the 20 miles.  At first I wasn't sure if I'd be up to the task.  But once I got out on the river, my canoe skills of years ago came back to me.  By the end of the first day I was efficient and keeping up with the group.  This photo is of our campsite on one of the sand islands on the river.  Its was a really cool campsite.  We cooked our dinner down by the shoreline, enjoying a nice evening breeze.  But as night fell, the breeze stopped and the heat was rather smothering.  We also had the amusement of two raccoon's swimming out to the island at night and going through our trash and canoes.  Hah!  One got into my canoe to look around.  But he knocked an ore down, which scared him and sent him running.  By the end of the trip we were hot, tired and hungry.  But it was a really fun experience and I hope to return with some of my good friends to take them down the river.  Perhaps in the fall... when its NOT 105f!

Derby Time!

This is my friend and one tough derby fanatical chica, Sarah "E-Lemmonator" Lemmons.  She plays the position of Jammer in Roller Derby.  Which means it's her job to go really fast, get around the opposition and score points.  She does this very well.  I felt this action shot really shows the speed she exhibits during a bout.  One of the things I like most about Sarah is how before a derby match starts she's all laughs, smiles and jokes.  But once the whistle blows and she's on the oval track... look out because she's all business.  She plays the game with passion and lots of emotion.  I admire her for that.  

NIKE Missile Base


One of the benefits of joining a group with a similar interest is sometimes you get access to things you might not on your own.  This would be the case in me getting access to the now abandoned NIKE Missile Base.  I was able to get this access along with the rest of the Denton Camera Club.  Someone in the club somehow met the current owner of the property.  We all met out at the base on a warm, humid Saturday morning at 7am.  We had free roam of the property, which was once the barracks and administrative offices.  About a mile away was the part of the base I really wanted to see... the launch pads and underground control center.  But, I was happy to be shooting this part as well.  Our club spent about 3 hours wandering around, snapping photos of anything of interest.  It was a really fun time and I could feel the photo-mojo flowing!  I felt I came away was some very interesting images. I hope to one day return to this location.  Or perhaps visit the other part of the old base.  

Ryli Dylan

This is singer/song writer Ryli Dylan.  Interesting story on this shoot.  I happen to be perusing Craigslist looking for used camera gear I might need, when I came across a posting by Ryli.  She said she was rebuilding her website and needed new quality photos taken.  Id never done a portrait session for a music talent before, so I quickly fired off an email volunteering my services.  I felt it would make some nice portfolio filling.  The next day Ryli replied and notified me she was looking at me and 3 other photographers and would discuss with her family and then let us know.  A day later she called to notify me everyone she showed my website to liked my photography the best and she wanted to do a shoot.  It didn't take long to set things up.  She had a location picked out and friends ready to assist us.  Ryli was a natural in front of the camera.  She better be since she performs on stage on a regular basis!  Both her and I were really happy with the images from the session.  I hope to I get a chance to work with her again.  It was a lot of fun.

BOOM!!

Ah 4th of July in America.  Wouldn't be complete without a nice fireworks show.  Just like the past few years I headed down to the local large college with friends and family to watch the show.  UNT puts on a nice one each year.  I went there wanting to capture something a little different than the normal fireworks photo's you see everywhere.   During the explosions, a couple stood in front of me, partially blocking my view.  At first I was a little frustrated over it.  But I kept shooting.  I then looked at my LCD screen to see I had caught them moving back and forth during the long exposure.  This looked very cool to me!  Something I hadn't quite seen before in a fireworks shot.  Exactly what I was going for.  Again proving my theory, no matter what happens... just keep shooting.

Hanging Out

Yes, even when I go out with friends to just shoot some pool and have fun... my camera isn't far from me. When Brian invited me out to shoot some pool at a dark, local hole in the wall bar, I knew that would be the perfect setting for the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 lens.  Oddly enough no one even batted at eye at me walking around shooting photos while playing pool.  I like that.  I tried to capture the feeling of night life in these photos.  Either way, they were fun to shoot.

The 13th Stranger

Despite putting it on the back burner I am still working on my 100 Strangers Project.  This is Candie.  She had come to town along with The Done Deals (the band from the previous post) to support them.  I saw her sitting there talking to just about anyone and being the opportunist I am, explained my project and took her portrait.  As you can see, she was more than willing to strike a pose for the camera.  I really loved her smile and tattoos.  She really had a lot of character which made for the perfect subject for this project.  Thank you Candie for playing along! 

The Done Deals


Doing a little blog catch up here.  Back in June I got the chance to setup a Canon Speedlight inside a local bar called Banter and shoot the band of the evening.  The Done Deals come from Paris Texas and came to Denton for the evening to perform.  They're a really good band if you are ever in the North Texas area and get the chance to see them.  From a technical aspect, these are probably the best photos I've ever captured inside Banter, which is known for its cave-like lighting.  I hope to shoot there again in the near future.

Officially Summer!

For me, the official start of summer always seems to correspond with the Denton Air Show in early June. I guess its because its just the first event of many throughout the summer months. For a photographer, this is a golden opportunity. Everywhere you look is a photo waiting to be taken. Aircraft sit, lined up on the tarmac. People roaming around, looking at the details of these great machines. And a chance to get up close and personal with the aircraft.

Later in the day the real airshow gets started. Formation flying, aerial acrobatics and military aircraft demonstrations fill the afternoon skies.

This years airshow was a hot but fun day. I was able to get about a dozen photos I was truly happy with.

So... onward to summer!!