Project 365: #260 - The Gerbers

260 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

I had an absolute blast shooting my first wedding last Saturday. I cannot thank Sara and Josh enough for giving me the opportunity to capture their beautiful wedding. I learned A LOT, and I will be better for it. This is one iof my favorite photos from the day. Sara was so stunning in her dress and both of them were giddy with excitement. It is their joy I wanted to capture more than anything and this photo does that so well. I have a ton of photos to sift through and sort but I can't wait to give them their finished product. So now that I have one under my belt as lead photographer, who is looking for a photographer for their wedding? I have a few spots open!

Project 365: #259 - Cold Little Bear

259 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

On the night of the wedding rehearsal dinner, this little one captured my attention. She was so adorable in her fleece coat. She is at that ideal age to where she is mesmerized by the camera, so getting her to look into the lens couldn't be easier. It was a mighty cold night for this time of year so she soon grew tired and ready to be in where it was warm and comfortable. Before she went in I captured this shot. Kids are still my favorite to photograph, because of the authenticity of the photos you get. I can't pose them even if I wanted to, but who needs to when you get expressions like this without any work.

Project 365: #258 - Leaving Summer Behind

258 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

It is inevitable, but still a sad day. That day is the day you see a dying leaf who has parted from the branch of a tree. Here in Minnesota that is one of the easiest ways to know fall is here and winter is not far behind. You can also see in this photo that the grass is dying, yet another sign. Rather than try to fight it, I have chosen to embrace autumn in my photography. Even the small leaf in this composition is pretty amazing. So intricately detailed with veins and texture. I will long for summer again, but not before I find all the beauty in fall and even winter this year into next.

Project 365: #257 - The Rock



257 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.



As I drove by Orono High School one day, I spotted this painted rock. It so reminded me of our rocks at Pacific. Similarly, sports teams paint them but obviously the 24/7 competition is not as fierce in high school as it is on a university campus. The bright, vibrant colors had to be a part of my photo project, especially after days of black and white images being processed. As I see this image now, I wish I had taken more time to compose it. The angle is a bit awkward and it's lacking that "X" factor I go after. Even in the photos I don't think of the highest quality, I learn how to make them better.

Project 365: #256 - Black Balled

256 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

Ok. Even I am starting to get mildy tired of my use of monochromatic images. But c'mon, how could I not do this photo in black and white?! It is an 8-ball and lacks any color itself. I think the mood of this photo is spot on with my though process that night. I looked at my table with gray slate and mourned that I had not yet placed the beautiful green felt down to enjoy the entire billiard set. It left me a tad bit empty and desolate, very much like this 8-ball must feel. Wow, that was a touch more dramatic than I intended. But I really do want to get my felt laid so I can play some pool. The time is coming soon!

Project 365: #255 - Field of Golden

255 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

Ah, the golden hour, that hour before sunset that produces the most pleasing light for photographs. As I've stated many times before, this time of day is my favorite for photo shoots. I also try to take my daily photos as close to this point as possible, which soon will not be an option as 4pm will be ideal and I'll still be in an office. That is why I have made such an effort this summer to use it to my advantage. It allows for silhouettes, even of blades of grass. I just think that these shots are incredible and would love to JUST shoot during these times, but that would leave 23 perfectly good hours to go to waste. Unacceptable! If only 23 hours a day could look like this.

Project 365: #254 - Pepper 'n' Salt

254 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

Sometimes the simplest and most unexciting objects can hold inspiration for a photo. I mean, really, who thinks, "Wow, salt and pepper shakers could be a cool photo." Me, apparently! This shot, although looking like there was special setup involved, required no backdrop or lighting apart from that in my kitchen already. Seriously, nothing special. I was blown away how clearly this came out with just one shot. I think that black and white is the only way too shoot this. After all, salt is white and pepper is a blackish tint to it. Boring objects can make for some intriguing subjects to photograph!

Project 365: #253 - Fired Upon

253 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

Some of the single best photos I've taken are not staged. Nothing could be less planned out than a paintball to the face. The look on his face is one of humility, as he realized he is a beaten man. I shot the entire day with just the zoom lens so focus was my paramount concern. I really think the focus on the eye could not have been much better and was the proper spot to focus. I like the difference between his left and right eyes; one covered up by the paint and the other can be clearly seen. Perfect focus is tricky on an overcast day with a handheld camera and zoom lens, but if you can calm your hands and body, it is doable.

Project 365: #252 - Friday Pick-me-up

252 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

I am not a big coffee drinker, but it has its place and purpose. This was no truer the case than a couple of Fridays ago. I was dragging, I mean really dragging. If had not been for an infusion of a Venti Skinny Iced Caramel Macchiato I would have been a goner. Not to the extreme, but I would have been dozing. It was a slow day across the office, so Starbucks could be seen on every other desk. I had to show my thanks to the Evil Empire by including a product shot as part of my Project 365. For without them and there sinfully good addictive beverages, I might have missed a day's photo.

Project 365: #251 - Dinner Setup

251 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

Another very important prep shot is what you are seeing in this photo. I needed to practice shooting the kind of shots that inevitably would be included in the wedding photos. There are few shots that people almost always see in a wedding collection, but the table setups are constants. Now, this ended up not being the way I preferred to capture this sort of scene at the wedding reception, but I do think it has its place in a more formal collection. This is natural light, well "natural" in that I used no flash. It still amazes me what my 50mm lens can do. Soon, I hope to do a more elaborate setup like this. Once wedding season is over that is!

Project 365: #250 - Sprinkles

250 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

I am not sure when cupcakes became the big fad they are, but it seems like anywhere any kind of food is being served, they will be present. Not that I am complaining at all. not only are they my newest secret guilty pleasure, but they are also quite pleasant to photograph. This is especially so in the case of the ones in this photo. Anytime you can add multiple colors to a delicious treat, it's pure photo magic. Ok, maybe that's a bit of overkill, but at very least this shot does the cupcake justice. I am getting hungry just looking at it. Is it wrong that I would want to just eat off the frosting and sprinkles?!

Project 365: #249 - Favorite Landscape

249 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

Photos like this one are the reason I love landscape photography. It has such an epic feel and look to it. The lighting of the clouds and tall grass are EXACTLY what I wanted. There is literally nothing I would have done differently in taking this shot. There was some work in Lightroom I did (and as I look closer still need to do) to up the exposure on the grass that made this photo just pop. I don't always use my wide angle lens, but man, when I do, there is a possibility I will stun myself at the photos that can be made. Now that I know the capabilities of this lens with this camera, I need to use them more to get photos that I can place side-by-side with this in the "epic" category.

Project 365: #248 - Intersection

248 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

Road signs are all around us. So much so that I know I don't even think about what they say. Of course I know what they say but they are just so common place that I had never thought of them as something to photograph. This shot was taken one day as I was just walking around my house. There are SO many things that I take for granted because they are everywhere. Trees, cars, streets, Targets... you get the idea. I am really starting to understand though that there is nothing that can't make for a great subject in a photo. Challenge yourself to take an ordinary object and photograph it in a way that has that "X factor" to you. I guarantee you'll start seeing your world in a new way.

Project 365: #247 - New Moon

247 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

This title is not in reference to the movie nor the actual phase of the moon. Rather, I am referring to it being my next attempt at capturing the seemingly white orb in the sky. Although the moon doesn't change all that much month to month or year after year, I committed to myself to take another stab at photographing it. I spent quite a bit of time trying to get the exposure exactly as I wanted and then dedicated a bit of time to cropping and sharpening the image. It is amazing what a bit of fine tuning can do to turn an ok image into one that stands out just enough more to make the difference. Just look at the minute detail of the moon. I didn't do too much but what little I did makes it possible to see those details.

Project 365: #246 - Sculpture

246 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

One thing I have not done enough shooting of since January is architecture or sculptures. The lines and detail of these two subjects is very intriguing to me though and yet it has not been what has caught my eye. However, on this day two weeks ago (yes, I am officially well behind on posting) I was drawn to this fountain. It reminded me of sculptures I had seen many times in my art history class I took my freshman year of college. Sadly, I cannot recall whether this is Roman or Greek in its style and form, but I wish more pieces of art like this were displayed in public. Quite obviously I utilized the shallowest depth of field, helping the figure to stand out that much more. Hopefully I will be able to incorporate this piece into the wedding shoot tomorrow!

Project 365: #245 - Saucy Design

245 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

While out last Friday I suddenly remembered that I had not yet taken my photo that day. Luckily, I had plenty of appealing potential subjects, one of which is in the photo in front of you. As you might have noticed from previous photos, I especially enjoy bright, vibrant colors in a lot of my photos. So, of course, the bright red sauce was all at once intriguing. Add a design, and there ya go. Again my cell phone comes through in the clutch, but I look at this and see so much more potential had I had more control that I would have with my 7D. If nothing else, shooting with the incredible makes me that much more appreciative of all my DSLR can do and do well.

Project 365: #244 - Sleepy Kitten

244 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

After a long day and night of playing, I finally wore him out. He sleeps so much more than I remember kittens doing. Usually when I come home in the evening, he's napping and he sleeps all night on my bed. What he does the rest of the day, I have no idea. But everything is mostly in tact when I get home so nothing too crazy. As you may have noticed, I've been focusing on doing more shots in black and white. The reason is to better understand how lighting and depth of field are impacted by removing color. I am envisioning a lot of photos for the upcoming wedding in black and white and want to ensure that I am doing everything the best way to get the ideal shot. Thank you Oliver for being such an awesome subject!

Project 365: #243 - Chip Model

243 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

I love photography (duh), but the moments I get a lot of joy out of are those where others get involved in the creative mix. Jesse presented just such an opportunity on this night. He was eating his chips and noticed the camera out. Honestly, when is it not?! He insisted I capture him eating a chip. Of course, I was more than happy to oblige. However, to my amusement he added his own twist to it making random faces. The mix of lighting and somewhat unsettling expression made for a photo that stood out. This has potential to make its way into a Mercy Hill caption contest and I guarantee there will be some timeless responses.

Project 365: #242 - Big Paws

242 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

So as I mentioned in the previous post, some days Oliver loves the camera and other days he could care less. I have mentioned to everybody how big his paws are so I thought, "Why not show just how big they are?" No, they are not freakishly large, yet, but they are oversized for the rest of his body. When you can really notice is when he spreads them. They cover a substantial portion of my palm. That can't be normal. I also took this opportunity to play around with controlling every aspect of exposure to see how dark I could get it with the photo still looking "normal". The camera if left to its own devices would have upped the ISO or dropped the shutter sped to unusable levels. I just need to keep playing around so I get quicker at recognizing the light and adjusting accordingly.

Project 365: #241 - Talker

241 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

So Oliver likes to talk. This is especially the case when I first get home or leave him behind in another room. He also has his random "meow" moments that I don't have any explanation for. This photo was taken during one of those random moments. I often think perhaps he knows when the camera is on him. Sometimes he plays the part of a kitten loving to be photographed and other times he wants nothing to do with it. I really should figure out some sort of bribery system so I can get him more consistently cooperative. I enjoy that he is a talker, just not before 6 in the morning.

Project 365: #240 - EB Sunset

240 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

This shot is undoubtedly one of my absolute favorites I've ever taken. I know my portfolio is still relatively thin, but this photo was the perfect combination of technical skill, knowing my equipment, picturing the shot beforehand, composing and execution. This shot is unedited, which is very rare for me, but why mess with a shot you already like. The secret to this photo is held in the use of a neutral density filter. By placing this nifty device over my lens, I was able to leave the shutter open for 2 minutes without overexposing the photo. It allowed me to capture the movement of the clouds and to smooth out the lake. I would love to seek out scenery like this every chance I get. Now if only I could find a way to make a good living doing this! Oh, and in case there is any question, I am looking and one day will find such an opportunity.

Project 365: #239 - On the Green

239 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

As is customary at Eagle Beach, there is the annual Beached Eagle competition. A part of this year's iteration, teams had to select someone from their team to be blindfolded while they crawl around being directed by a teammate to push a golf ball into the hole just using their nose. It was entirely too entertaining to watch and looked beyond difficult for the brave contestants. Action shots are some of the most exciting to capture but also most challenging. All in all I love the composition of this photo and consider it quality photography.

Project 365: #238 - The Grizz

238 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

My first task up at Eagle Beach was to shoot the western-themed party to kickoff the weekend. I was so excited about the lighting that night. It was lacking any big, bright lights. Instead, there was a minimalistic approach taken relying solely on the light from inside. So, as I snapped away I spotted Ezra with the lighting as you see it here. If ever there was an ideal setup for a creepy photo, this was it. And no better a man for such a photo than The Grizz himself. You might never guess that he is actually just a big teddy bear. Ah, the magic of some cool lighting and a bit of camera work. I must start doing themed photo shoots. Who is up for a zombie/scary movie photo shoot?

Project 365: #237 - Clean Slate

237 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

I am so excited to have a pool table. However, as you can very plainly see in this photo, there is some work to be done before I can fully enjoy it. I really like how well it fits into my basement. The tile, which by itself might look strangely reminiscent of a 70's styled country bar, is a perfect fit for a pool table. I think what caught my eye most in this scene was how out of place the small level is. You might say another trip to Home Depot or Menard's will be in order before this project is finished.

Project 365: #236 - Target Run

236 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

I very much am grateful for Target, but I have seen more than enough of that place and Home Depot over the last couple weeks. So of course, if I was going to spend so much time at this oh so great of a place, I better be getting a photo. Well, look no further! This shot was taken around closing time. It was a darker night with just the bright light post in the lot. I was immediately drawn to the lone shopping cart on the island. It was that something interesting the photo needed to anchor an otherwise boring shot. Target, thank you. You have been so good to me and yet taken so much money from me.

Project 365: #235 - Birthday Boy



235 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.



One of the best places to take a picture is at a birthday party. I always enjoy looking at the many photos people take and really wanted to try my hand at capturing my favorite moment; when the candles are blown out. For this shot, I really had to know my camera and the settings needed. I couldn't rely on the camera to determine exposure because it would have overexposed the shot for the look I wanted. So manual mode it was. I also decided not to do burst shooting. I feel like I'm cheating a bit when I let the camera fire off 15 shots in 2 seconds. I want to get better, not get lucky. This photo is one of those that I look at and feel like I really am starting to combine the technical knowledge with the ability to see the shot I want before I take it. Now I just need to do it more often.

Project 365: #234 - Loungin'

234 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

Oliver might be the most chill kitten I know. He is very mild-mannered and sleeps well more than he plays. He definitely makes for a good subject to shoot as well. I know that it will be entirely too tempting every day just to capture a photo of him, so I will need to especially force myself out and about even on the days and nights I don't feel like it. It is really cool though when winter comes that I have a cat to inspire my photos. I think just maybe he will be let out in the snow once to capture his reaction to it. It may be cruel (not really) but I bet I get a cool photo.

Project 365: #233 - Cat and Mouse

233 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

I say "cat" because Oliver is a big kitten. I had to get a photo of him on his first day in the house. He went through the normal kitten things, exploring the house and running from room to room, but he finally settled down, relatively speaking, when I gave him a toy mouse. He loved it. The only problem is I think he actually ate it. Or he is just really good at hiding things. Regardless, his first night in the house he was really mellow apart from a few romps around the place. I got myself one good cat.

Project 365: #232 - Long Putt

232 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

Golf is a sport that I probably will never be good enough to enjoy as I really want to. However, I love the many opportunities it provides for some intriguing photos. This one was taken early on in the round a couple Saturday's ago at Dana's bachelor party. It really was a great second shot that set this beauty up. It was not at all a long putt, but that is the beauty of my 50mm. It makes it look much longer than it was by blurring the background so much. Ideally, I'd go back and not do quite as shallow depth of field so the flag was only a bit blurred, but that is all a part of this project. I want to continue to learn what settings and techniques get the exact photo I am aiming to capture. Still more to learn!

Project 365: #231 - Keys to the House

231 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

There was a time not that long ago that I really couldn't even see this moment in my future. I assumed it was there, but it was more of a "one day" sort of goal. Well thanks to a perfect storm of situations, I bought my first house. There is something pretty cool about holding a set of keys that belong to you, not your parents, not a landlord, but YOU. Well of course I had to capture the moment I opened the door to my house for the first time. This photo was begging to be stripped of color. It helps bring a sense of continuity to the photo to have a monochrome look. There is nothing quite like holding the keys and opening the door for the first time, relaizing it really is yours.

Project 365: #230 - Landscape Silhouette

230 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

Silhouettes are some of my favorite photos, especially when they are tack sharp. That is not something that just happens. There are a few techniques to accomplish it so I went and tried my hand at it on Thursday. That night the sunset created this cool transition from orange to blue so the goal was to catch the vibrant colors while just getting the silhouette of the trees. It ended up needing a 15 second exposure stopped down to a tight aperture of f/22. I am excited to take some more of these types of shots with a client for his senior photos on the lake. There is always something new to learn!

Project 365: #229 - Baptized

229 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

I must begin this by apologizing to Elisabeth. I know this is not a flattering photo with your face looking as if you were in agony. But it is the juxtaposition of your face with Drew's enormous smile that I especially enjoy and why this was chosen as my daily photo. This photo was taken with a bright yellow sunset behind it, so exposing was not as simple as setting it in Av mode and letting the camera do the rest. I had to experiment with all the setting do get the desired exposure. The sun can be a photographers best friend or nemesis depending on its positioning in relation to the camera and subject. It was fun though capturing the baptisms and was I ever thankful for my zoom lens.

Project 365: #228 - Downtown Up

228 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

I walk through this part of the skyway every day. It was catches my eye. It truly is a creative piece of architecture that allows pedestrians to enjoy a similar experience as to the one they would walking on the street. Being surrounded by towering buildings on either side gives a downtown area its distinct feel, and that can be lost in the maze of skyways linking the buildings. I sort of went back to the basic idea of my photo project with this shot. It was all about letting the viewer see what catches my eye, not just about practicing a technique or with a new lens. Enjoy!

Project 365: #227 - Fluffy Clouds

227 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

Monday saw one of the best days of the summer here in Minnesota. The clouds were sort of the icing on the cake. The deep blue sky and the white fluffy clouds made for a rare photo. There was just such a stark contrast and I love how those stand out far more than other cloudy scenes. It was a day I could have spent laying by the lake just watching the sky and nothing much else could make me more content. Unfortunately, this photo marks the only time I had a chance to admire the painted sky that day. Packing had to be done and I had to sleep.

Project 365: #226 - Slots

226 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

Waiting the airport can bring about some unique photo opportunities. However, the Vegas airport has one thing no other airport in the country does. Slot machines! As if most people hadn't already blown their mortgage, they can lose even more as they wait to be crammed into an airplane. Not all lose though. I for one experienced a weekend of nothing but wins. Not big wins, but I did not walk away from any machine or table without being at least where I was when I sat down. I don't think I'd have been able to take this photo had I seen all my cash sucked up by them.

Project 365: #225 - Ready to Go

225 of 365, a photo by caliguyinmn on Flickr.

This was a tough day for photos. In fact, this one of just three I took that day. I suppose that's a produxt of sleeping in, going to the pool and gambling the day away only to realize as we headed out for the evening that I had yet to pick up the camera. I knew I had to get some sort of photo before we went out because I was not carrying it with me up and down the strip. In this photo, Dusty seemed a new smile, that of a newlywed. Not my best but still captured the desired moment and feel. Man am I glad I didn't have the camera with me that night!