Clearwater Beach Sunset
Florida beaches are more than top vacation spots, they are among the world’s best beaches. Sparkling white sand contours the Gulf of Mexico out west while Atlantic waves crash along the coarser east coast beaches providing ample pleasure for sunbathers and surfers alike. While water temperatures on the Atlantic side drop significantly during winter months, the Gulf side remains warm enough for swimmers, wind surfers and other hardcore water sport enthusiasts.
Hectic, messy and often dawn right gross, summer on Florida beaches can be quite traumatic with temperatures flirting daily with the 100 degree mark. Add burning hot sand, profanity and under age alcohol consumption and you end up with a recipe for family disaster.
With the holiday break right around the corner, I plan on making the most of our beaches while we can. What’s to do in Central Florida during the winter? I like to go camping at many of the state parks, my favorite is Fort Desoto in St Petersburg, or attend beach worship services, run a 5K and even hit the theme parks at Disney World when attendance is at a minimum. Today, I enjoyed a most spectacular sunset over the very beach I was married on back in 2003, Clearwater Beach, FL.
Trinity on the Tree Swing
My entire life I dreamed of living here in Florida where I would go to the beach, hit the theme parks at Disney or enjoy long days with my Nikon shooting everything under the sun. I feel blessed to live that dream and then some…
Less than an hour from most Tampa Bay beaches, I think of our home as modest and well suited for our needs. The backyard is nicely shaded with a century old oak tree from which I hung a leftover swing. The result is a kid friendly tree swing that’s providing countless hours of fun for all our girls, specially Trinity…
Praise God for everything in our lives. The oak tree from which my girls swing almost every day, the house underneath the tree and all that’s in it. I offer it all as a sacrifice to God knowing it’s all His to begin with. My hope and prayer is that you too are living your dream or at the very least, still have a dream at all…
Binoculars Isolated Over White Background
I don’t get nearly enough time in the studio yet, when I do, I take time to setup shots I either dreamed about, or came up with somehow.
Today I completed a project involving binoculars isolated over a white background. The focus of the shots was, you guessed it the lenses…
Duplicate it in Less Than 5 Minutes!!!
I would simply place the binoculars on a piece of white poster board (22 inch x 28 inch) curved either on a chair, or any floor against the wall. Essentially you are looking for a seamless curve in the posted board onto which you place your subject, in this case binoculars. Play around with the light setting to get the best shot possible, than edit with your favorite software (I use Photoshop
The Cheap Way to Shoot Pro Stock Photos at Home
I would set my Nikon on a Full Size $10 Tripod
While you’re at it keep shooing objects and turn a couple hours of stock photography work into a few hundred bucks spread out over the next couple years.
Stock Photography is not complex. It’s just complicated. :)
Food & Wine Festival at EPCOT
I put in a half day today and took the fam to Disney on what turned out to be a most wonderful afternoon.
Doing Disney with 3 kids is both an art AND science. Today for example Elizabeth and I split up at TTC after a leisurely walk through EPCOT where we thoroughly enjoyed fish & chips and cold beer. this was my first taste of alcohol in over 6 monthe, wow that was some tasty beer…
There went Liz, Grace and Trinity on their way to the Magic Kingdom via ferry where they would fulfill our mission to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ by writing messages of love on the promenade with Disney chalk. Faith and I would stay on board the monorail and head back to EPCOT where after a brisk walk to the Boardwalk, I picked up the van and drove up to the Contemporary Resort where I jogged to the Magic Kingdom gate.
A few hours of awe inspiring joy passed, then we met up with mom and the girls in Tune Town. After a little play time we headed back home… Another wonderful day at Disney serving the Lord almighty!
Failed Swim Test for Grace – I’m So Proud!
It’s been a challenging week, with some work days starting as early as 3pm. Today when Elizabeth proposed we hit the water park after naps, I had no trouble saying “Yes!”
Grace has been working on completing laps in order to pass her swim test, which in turn leads to a bracelet that’s your ticket to the 3 huge water slides. Our 6 year old successfully completed the 30 second treading water test, and the jumping test, and blowing bubbles under water, but failed to complete her lap. Still I was so proud of her. She wasn’t so happy on her way back with the bad news about failing her test…
We didn’t get to ride the big slides together, but we still had a phenomenal day made possible by God almighty. Snapped over 100 shots, that’s certainly not the best but it is what I want to remember the most, a defeated yet persevering child.
Look for shots of Gracie shooting out of the slides soon… :)
Awesome Isolated Shots!
I wanted to share one of my favorite photos from this weekend’s shoot. I am blessed with photo opportunities most photographers dream of. For starters I live in one of the most beautiful states in the country, which features some of the world’s most spectacular beaches. Ass to the mix the happiest place on earth, which doubles as my mission field, and you get little ol’me.
This past weekend I was shooting isolated photographs in the studio and came up with amazing shots. This one just speaks to me…
Just because it’s stock doesn’t mean there can be no emotion! One of my passions is to add personality to stock photos otherwise lacking emotion, passion. In the series of shots featuring this model I captured a wide range of emotions which is highly in demand on stock photography websites.
When dealing with isolated shots over a white background, remember to think creatively! Models should not always be standing up…
Great Egret in Flight @ Disneyworld
Elizabeth, Grace, Trinity, Faith and I were blessed again today with another visit to Disneyworld where I captured action shots of the aquatic life around Bay Lake.
This Great Egret took flight as I attempted to get close enough for a closeup. Praise God my Nikon was in Sport mode and center weighed, the resulting action shot came out decent…
Moe the Iguana
We love the Tampa Zoo. for over 4 years we’ve had an annual pass for the entire family. for under $75.00, it’s among the best deals in central Florida. the crazy thing about the zoo is we’ve been enjoying its many features including the aviary, one of our favorite spots.
To our surprise during today’s visit i came face to face with a gigantic iguana named Moe. The moment I first saw the giant reptile I immediately laid down on my belly and started shooting in burst. This is the best of the sequence:
Any way you slice it, animals make great subject. The resulting shots’ quality is often in tune with the photographer’s patience. In this shot, I showed resourcefulness more so than patience, can’t you tell the difference?
Glorious Day at the Magic Kingdom Topped by Spectacular Fireworks
I put in a full day today, starting out with a Skype call from Australia at 4:00am. I wrapped things up @ work and we were on the road by 5:30pm on our way to a most spectacular evening at the Magic Kingdom, our first visit since the spring.
What made this outing unique, other than the time of day was our mission: Trinity had been talking about fireworks at Disney for what seems to be a year. For her birthday Elizabeth and I promised to take her to the Magic Kingdom to see fireworks. She’s turning 3 on the 11th, and last night was going to be the only fireworks display for the next 2 weeks so…. Enjoy!
This was only our second time staying at a theme park late with the girls, we typically leave Wesley Chapel around noon, and get to a Disney parking lot within 75 minutes, allowing ample driving time for both Trinity and Faith to nap. Elizabeth does school with Grace in the back of the van while I immerse myself in worship, prayer and a little solo brainstorming. Disney has always been a blessing in my life, I pray you will allow it to be in your life also. (more…)