Where’s Wendy? Lakeview Stables!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears. ~Arabian Proverb~

I don’t usually shoot animals (in any sense of the word), but when the photographer that I would call for such a mission is actually the person in the photographs it’s a bit difficult to do… Especially on a horse. It’s not like she could mount her camera to a tripod and use a remote in this instance!

When my daughter called me to take portraits of her and her new horse, I was apprehensive yet anxious all at the same time. I’m not much of a horse person since I grew up with a sister who was an avid rider, and still has horses and her own ranch with a multitude of animals, I have spent a little time around them. It used to be that whenever she would talk me into riding with her, I didn’t fare very well… either I would be thrown, stuck in a pond, scraped off on a fence, etc. etc. Horses knew that I was not clever enough or powerful enough to outwit them. So they knew they were in control! Horse back riding was just not my thing. Now that’s not to say I don’t have a great affinity towards horses… I think they are the most beautiful and the most majestic creatures on the planet, I just believe they should be left to those who know what their doing. I love to watch them, and I love to watch humans interact with them. I truly believe that some people are just connected. So… photographing them is a delight for me! Riding them… not so much!

 When photographing an animal of this magnitude you cant just throw caution to the wind… you have to be careful where you’re standing when they are lead around, when they are being climb on by their rider, and when they show any type of fear (such as water, birds, cars, etc.). As far as lighting goes… I think natural lighting is the best you’re going to get with a horse. You aren’t going to be able to set up any kind of soft box, and a flash is apt to scare the bah-Jesus out of them… so yea… natural light. In fact finding a nice shaded area with the sunlight filtered through some trees would be perfect.
 

I’m glad I got to shoot my daughter, her friend and their horses out at Lakeview Stables in Pinellas Park… We got some very loving shots between horse and rider. My portfolio and I will be forever grateful!


Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy



All images captured with the Olympus E500 on Lexar digital media.

Project 365

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

It's weird that photographers spend years or even a whole lifetime, trying to capture moments that added together, doesn’t even amount to a couple of hours.  

~James Lalropui Keivom~

I’ve decided to make this quote untrue… I’ve decided that this year I will capture the entire year, one day at a time by doing my own Project 365.  Now, I’ve tried this project before, but it didn’t work out so well.  My life was a bit crazy, and without going into long detail… I gave up on the project after a month!

You might ask yourself, “Why would you want to do such a thing?”  Well, actually there are several reasons for taking on such a venture…

First of all, if you are a photographer, it helps stimulate your creativity, and this is one mission that will keep you at least thinking creatively.  Whether or not you’re a photographer taking at least one picture a day and posting it somewhere (visible to the public or not) will help you remember what you’ve done all year long.  It will also help you remember special events, important dates, and great accomplishments.  Something you may otherwise have forgotten.

Even if you don’t do something exciting every day the photo’s you take will tell something about the way things played out on a day-to-day basis.  You will know if you were too busy to go out and capture something unusual.  In my case I like to decorate for the holidays… and I mean every holiday!  So I capture the little things around the house that I do for the holidays, if I have a day when I don't get out.  When I look back on those images next year I will either say, “I need to do something different,” or “I really like the way that turned out!” 

It will also be a way of keeping a record of where you’ve been, places you would like to revisit, and give you ideas of places you would like to visit next.  In other words it will be a documentation of everything you’ve done for a whole year.  You’ll know the boring times of year, and the exciting ones.  You’ll know when someone got married, someone had a baby, first day of school, holidays and family gatherings! 

Most people post their 365 Project on Flickr… I’ve decided to put mine right on my website, and I post a link to it on my networking sites like Facebook, and Twitter… and now on my Blog! :)  I’ve added music, and a comment box, so you have something to listen to while your scrolling through my daily life, and you can leave me a comment and tell me what you think when you’re done!

In conclusion I think everyone should start a 365 Project!  It’s a Great way to be creative while capturing the important moments in your life!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

All images captured with the Olympus E500 on Lexar Digital media.

Where’s Wendy? Becoming A Better Person!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

Does the thought of going back to school scare you?

Believe me… being a middle-aged woman and going back to school is not an easy task!  Especially with so much commotion in my life!  I have put the first week of classes (both online and on campus) behind me.  I was terrified each and every time I attended a new class and each and every time I opened my lessons on the school website!  You may even say it was a bit confusing.  Speech was probably the most frightening for me, as I’m so uncomfortable standing up and presenting myself.  Always afraid I’m just not as good as the next guy.  I’ve jumped more than a few hurdles this week… I actually stood in front of a class of about 25 students and told them three things about myself.  I read, and read, and read… vocabulary, art, and public speaking books!  I have done assignments in all 5 subjects, and have written a speech for this week’s class.  In the midst of all this I made sure there were meals on the table, laundry was done, and the house was straightened.  I listen to people yak, yak, yak, while I trudged through a math test!  I made sure the kids were off to school and off to work on time (driving one of them to and from every morning and afternoon).  I scrounged up an old copy of Microsoft office and installed it… since that is the preferred word processing program for St. Petersburg College. 

At the end of last week I did take a bit of a brake, and headed over to Ybor city in Tampa. I checked out an old building that needs restoring, with my honey (he may be doing the electrical work on that project).  I was amazed with the detail that this wonderful piece of architecture held!  I was so glad I put down the books and made the escape to the Cuban Club!  The ballroom was beautiful, the cantina was quaint, and the theatre brought tears to my eyes!  I felt so much exciting energy in this building that I couldn’t stop taking pictures.  We met with the executor, Allen, a very nice man indeed!  I think he’s going to like what I’ve captured.   

Learning is a wonderful thing… and I’m glad that I have the opportunity to go back to school, however… sometimes you just have to say enough is enough and go do something enjoyable.  That brake gave me a moment to direct my attention elsewhere so when I did hit the books again I was refreshed and my head was empty from all the former chaos.   I was much more relaxed…. Afterwards I wrote my speech without much trouble, put together a power point presentation (a new learning curve), took a couple quizzes and finished up my lessons.  Now I’m ready to begin a new week!  Plus I was very satisfied with the feedback I received this morning from my professors… my grades were not perfect, but acceptable at 80% and above.  

Here's to a Great Week!

Love, Laughs, and Photographs,

Wendy

All images captured with the Olympus E500 on Lexar digital media.

Where's Wendy? Creating!!

© Spellbound Images by Wendy - All Rights Reserved

Everyone knows that I love being creative. I love post editing, and creating images with an edge. I love Dave Hill's work with that funky LucisArt effect that make his images appear very surreal. If you've never seen his work please click the link and check it out! Now I know that everyone cant afford the LucisArt program, it is a little pricy... however you can get a similar effect by making a few adjustments to your images. I do all my initial work flow in Lightroom, and sometimes I do a little creative stuff there too. By adjusting your recovery, fill light, vibrancy, clarity, and black sliders you can obtain a similar effect right there in Lightroom. There are some great tutorials over at the onOne University, and some great video's on Youtube. Also check out Scott Kelby's blog on the subject, he always explains things nicely, and I love the Photoshop guys!

Since most of my work is Portraiture it takes a little tweaking to get some of the images just right, but if you play with it long enough you'll come up with some very unique images. Some of them don't work out... so I scrap the idea and move onto the next photo. Some people think I spend too much time on post editing, however I find being digitally creative very relaxing and satisfying. This is not something that I do for my clients, it is something I do for myself after all client work is done, and uploaded for their viewing. However... if I think my client will like what I've created I show it to them, to see how they feel about it, but for the most part producing intense, dreamlike images is very gratifying to me, and may not be for everyone.

With thoughts of school running through my head, organizing files, and making sure everything is backed up for the year, I've spent some time this week going through my 2010 images, as well as others from several years ago. I've taken some of them and added different effects to achieve some cool results. Go ahead... read some tutorials, watch some videos and give it a try!


Love, Laughs, and Photographs,
Wendy

All images captured with the Olympus E500 on Lexar digital media.