emotion

What makes a picture meaningful? Is it the composition, the way that it is lit, or something else? I know for me personally, I am drawn to images that I feel like I can fall into, that evoke something inside of me that is beyond words. It is a hunger in my heart, and aching that doesn't make sense and that can't be defined. But, somehow, that image made me feel something.

Something I have been trying to learn lately as I delve further and further into the study of photography is putting emotion into the images I create. Much like how a filmmaker will use certain camera angles to create a feeling, I can do the same. How do I use light, depth of field, or perspective in order to leave my viewer feeling something? This is not something I have mastered by any means, but yesterday I had an impromptu shoot that allowed me to explore the concept more fully than I had before. I was experimenting with the monochrome setting on my camera (I hadn't shot in-camera black and white prior to then), and suddenly I noticed the images I was capturing were conveying an emotion that has been plaguing me for a while. I then became more purposeful and focused on learning instead of just playing, and strove to make what I was feeling alive in my pictures. I don't know if I succeeded, but it was a good learning experience.

Below are a few of the images I captured, ones I feel communicate my feeling the most clearly. I am not going to say what the feeling is, I think it would be more fun to test how well I managed to do this. So, I am asking my readers to post a comment and say what emotion they think I was trying to communicate. There are no wrong answers, after all, this is art (loosely applied term, I don't consider what I do an art, per say; but that is a post for another time), and therefore an experiment. While I was creating these images with a certain feeling, they might communicate something completely different to someone else. So please, post and tell me what you think it was, I can't wait to read your ideas!

dreaming of a white christmas

Merry Christmas!

'Tis the season, and all that =) I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas tomorrow, no matter what version of the holiday you are celebrating. Here, we are expecting snow for the second time this month - something quite unusual for Georgia. We are usually lucky to have one snow a winter. I can't ever remember having snow on Christmas, so here is hoping that we have one this year! *crosses fingers*

Have a lovely day with your families and your friends! =) Merry Christmas!

dear blog,

The holidays seem to have eaten me alive. I am busy visiting relatives, buying and wrapping presents, decorating fiendishly, and baking Christmas cookies. I fear I am having too much fun to spend time on the internet, which explains the horrible lack of posts. I expect to have one up this week, but, dear blog, don't expect too much attention the next week or so. I have not forgotten you, I merely am conveniently ignoring you for a time.

~Laura

rachel's headshot and portrait session | atlanta & north georgia photographer

There aren't words to describe how much fun I had shooting Rachel. I have known this wonderful girl for almost a year, and she never ceases to make me smile. The day that we headed out to take pictures was no exception. I loved shooting her, and can't wait to do so again the next time she is brave enough to hold still for more of my experimenting and attempts at getting us arrested. "Do not trespass? Surely they don't mean here..." (I'm just kidding... sorta...).

Our goal for the day was to get some workable headshots that she could use for auditions and to just have some fun as well =)






Poor thing, I think I almost killed her with the posing on the caboose. "No, I mean, half off, half on. With one foot. Kinda jumping. Uh... like you are holding onto the pole and leaning off? Yikes, nevermind! That was a bit too dangerous! I don't know how to describe it... um... streetcars! Streetcars in San Fransisco! Ah, there we go!"

...evidently I need to work on my articulation =P

the importance of dedication to documentation

Usually, I plug links that I find inspirational over on my Twitter. That is the best place to find out what I am thinking moment to moment. Or hour to hour; I am not a chronic updater.... yet ;)

Today though, I feel compelled to put these two links on the blog. Why I find them meaningful is not something I can actually articulate. I just know that they are resonating with something inside of me that is beyond words. The first is an article from Lens, on the recovery of war photographer Joao Silva, who gave up both his legs for the sake of the story in October. I have been fascinated by stories of this man's courage and dedication ever since Lens first announced his grievous injury.

The second link is on Joe McNally's blog, concerning the shooting of John Lennon. I will be the first to say I am not a Beatles fanatic... though Yellow Submarine and Here Comes the Sun are always enjoyed. Nevertheless, there is something in that article which I find deeply moving.

I can't articulate what these stories are making me think and feel. Maybe it has something to do with where I am in my life right now, maybe it has something to do with where I want to be. Maybe I am finally grasping the sense that what we do, as photographers, is possibly the most important job ever. That might seem a bit strong, but two hundred years from now, a lot of things aren't going to matter. Yet, perhaps someone will pull out a dusty old box of photos, and see what history was. Our documentation of our world is priceless, and once a moment or opportunity is gone, you never have a second chance at that shot.

My grandpa taking a picture of my grandma, circa 1945

news and another video

This is a holder post of sorts, a mini-update, an attempt at being punctual and failing... I am expecting to have a new post up with photos from my latest session in the next few days. For right now though, I wanted to quickly share some news.

I quit my job at the daycare this weekend, taking a wild jump into photography *gulps*. It was a decision that was a while in coming and wasn't anything spur of the moment, but nevertheless, it has thrown off my normally productive rhythm just a bit (hence the delay in getting pictures up).

Anyway, until the post with pictures is finished, here is another video made by my brother. Once again, I was an actor in it, but this time one of my friends was able to do it with me! It was so fun to be able to act with him again, and I am counting down the minutes till the next time. I didn't take any pictures of this set or the acting, mostly because I was in the whole thing and it would have been an inconvenience.

As usual, you can click here to view more behind-the-scenes info... and I think this time he actually has a video showing how parts of the final product were made. Or, for those who don't want all that, the video itself is posted below. Be sure to view in high definition, with the screen enlarged =)



I hope everyone is having a nice week! (and that everyone is warmer than I am right now. It is cold here!)

film noir | north georgia & atlanta production stills photographer

Another film project.








Thomas posted the video and information here. Or, the video is viewable below (I have a fairly big role in this one ^^). Thomas rigged together a very impressive set, and the light was lovely. I am quickly becoming a fan of controlled light, I never saw that coming! =P


(for best quality, view in HD)