I learned - 090811

I have an affinity for plants. DUH. I take countless useless photos of leaves and tree bark and never really use them. I always try so hard to take photos of people or actions, but I always find myself snapping a photo of a Japanese Maple or the trunk of a Bur Oak. So sometime I go to the botanical gardens here in STL and photograph just plants. Shoot what you love! (well dont shoot it, well you know what i meant) I didnt get a chance to edit this one.

A Little Central West End

I was out photographing a project in my neighborhood and I rediscovered these amazing ornate light fixtures that are the symbol of my neighborhood. They are gorgeous. The lighting was just right for some dramatic shots, and I probably looked like an idiot taking them, but they are so beautiful and the building behind them is historic, and was recently renovated (my firms's project) so take a look. I did the little plaza in the background, not the crazy wild plantings by the base of the light. Such cool historic fixtures.

I added a few pics of my plaza at the end. it still is a work in progress, furniture will be coming soon.

soSTL

My Friends Kristen and Jolene, and I are starting a new review blog called soSTL

http://sostl.blogspot.com/

Check it out and follow it if you want, its still in progress but we would love feedback and comments as we get started. Once we feel its ready we will try and push it to be a little more mainstream. We will be reviewing restaurants, concerts, movies, music and anything STL related. We may even be asking you to be a guest poster! Keep an eye out for more to come!

Iphone to the rescue!

SO Kristen and Chris got engaged (awesomeness) but they wanted to wait a bit for making it facebook official. They also wanted to make it more subtle and just post a pic showing the ring. SO i stole an idea from my sister in law Courtney and used my phone, and a little quick photoshop action to create this!

Congrats to two of my favorite people! and remember. Good photography doesnt have to come from a good camera, it comes from capturing good moments.

I learned 7-22

Sometimes you have to let photos just happen. You can plan out all the poses and settings you want but the personality of the subject will come through when you least expect it!

The Miesners

I was asked by my long time friend Jolene to take some photos of her parents in preparation or thier vow renewal ceremony.  It seemed like a huge responsibility, as they are going to be using these photos for their table settings and in various other things. SO I met them in the park one day, a ver hot, 95 degree day, and we shot for about an hour and ended up with some great ones. They are a really fun couple and are laughing almost constantly. Let me know what you think! I went a little crazy with the sepia.

I learned - 6-15-11

I tried making a round photo. I had a lot of old shots from the Great Balloon Race here in St.Louis, and I though they would make a cool round photo. I think it turned out pretty well.

NeoCon

My friend and Co-worker Troy is a very talented graphic designer. He has created  a lot of images and logo around St.Louis and the country that you may know, like Lion's Choice, Great Rivers Greenway, and many others. Recently, at the NeoCon Trade Show in Chicago, he was given an award from one of the Signage Fabricators and he was honored with some sweet cash, and a huge graphic that the many thousands of attendees were greeted with at the trade show. Troy needed a photo that featured a design or graphic element, so he asked if i could do a quick photo shoot over lunch one day. We hit up CityGarden downtown (which if you haven't seen yet, you HAVE to. Its amazing) and I took about 100 shots of him in different positions and in front of the different architectural and sculptural elements. We got a shot we were happy with and I did some quick editing and we submitted it in hopes he would win, When he found out he did, he went to the event and there was my photograph on a massive graphic panel! and its featured on their website. I am really proud of Troy because he is incredibly talented, but I am a little proud of myself too! haha. Here is the original shot , and a photo that was taken at NeoCon. Sweet!

I learned

This week I was out on a site visit for a potential work project and we were taking photos of this public square that has this amazing bell tower (carillon). I was trying to get all of the existing conditions (curbs, plants, cracking pavement, furniture, and all that. I was looking at the carillon from its base and loved this angle, the play on the slight variants of the sandstone panels, the sky, and the one open window. I learned that you can always find interesting angles. And its ok to take credit for something that you stumbled upon.

Some new music

YOu all may remember massive attack from thier big song teardrop that has been covered 8 billion times. Here is some new stuff that I heard on Trueblood and LOVED

BEST NEW SHOW !

This new show "Happy Endings" is my absolute favorite. Please give it a shot, check it out on hulu, or something. Its seriously hilarious and is completely my kind of humor. I promise you will love it! Great characters, and quick, witty humor that keeps you thinking. Love it.

Nikki and Jeff's Wedding Reception Part 2, back in the STL

Some more pics of the Wedding in NOLA.

NOLA Wedding!

I realized I never posted my NOLA pics from Nikki's Wedding. Here are a few, more to come!