Portraits and the challenges

We had the chance to shoot 3 fine families at our last workshop.  It was such a fun experience, but challenging on so many levels I didn't expect!  First off, it was so difficult trying to get that perfect shot with 12 other photographers trying to achieve the same thing!  I also had troubles keeping up with the kids!  They always seemed to move the second I clicked, leaving my photo out of focus, eyes closed, looking the wrong way... you get the idea.  All in all though, it was a fantastic day full of laughing, crying, and a whole lot of clicking. 

Catch up!

Man o man, I am so far behind.

Project In Someone Else's Shoes wasn't much of a success for me.  This was my target image:

The artist of this photograph is the Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn.  He's an absolutely brilliant artist all around.  He has done an insane number of music videos for artists such as The Killers, Coldplay, and even U2.  He mainly shoots in monochrome and I absolutely adore his style in every single way.  I can't exactly pinpoint what I love about him.  I'm extremely drawn to the dark shadows often seen in his photos, and I love  the "rough around the edges" feel I get.  I find a lot of the photos dark, leaving me wanting to hear some crazy story about it.

Anyway, I would love to live a day in Anton's shoes, but instead I attempted to recreate his image.  First off, it's impossible to find a perfect spot in Edmonton for this shot.  We have many beautiful areas to capture the skyline, but unfortunately they lack the essential light post.  In the end, I settled for a spot with chain-link fence and some tall apartment buildings.  Obviously it wasn't exactly like the photo, but I felt it captured the urban  feel quite well, and it had great light in order to capture a silhouette.  Unfortunately, the light is only perfect early in the morning, as it is rising.  Having class everyday, and a model that didn't want to wake up at the crack of dawn for a photoshoot (not to mention the serious cloudiness we've had every time I have a chance to grab my camera and click), I never did manage to get out there and attempt the recreation at this location.  I had many other attempts at other places, and none turned out the way I wanted.  So, this project will be placed on hold.  One day, I will get that image, and I will be sure to share.

After finally accepting the fact that it wasn't time to recreate Anton Corbijn, I decided to get crackin' on the self portraits.  I didn't have a chance to get a nice shadow one being that it's often cloudy when I'm out taking pictures, but here's what I got!

Self portrait in the mirror.

Me without me.  I love scarves.