I am headed out tomorrow to Dallas to something called the Foundation Workshop.  This is a hands on workshop conducted by some of the top photojournalists and documentary wedding photographers in the country.  Unlike any other photography workshop I’ve ever been to, this workshop I shoot a story assignment, and the instructors/mentors critique.

When I signed up for this thing, nearly a year ago, this sounded like the greatest idea ever.  The closer the workshop has come, the more I’ve questioned my decision-making ability.   The last couple of days, I’ve more or less classed myself as insane.  I think this might be anxiety, but the jury is still out on that. 

At this point, all I really know is that these people, apart from being excellent, are also nice.   They mean well.  They believe, passionately, in what they are doing.    I’m going to have to repeat this to myself like Dorothy chanting, “There is no place like home.”

I also know that once I’m there, I’ll be fine, relieved actually.  I’ll be free from imagining every possible bad and boring photo I might possibly take and have the liberty to just SHOOT the bad and boring photos and move on to something possibly more interesting.   The power of positive thinking!

So, who are these people, my wedding photography heroes?  The first is a list of the teams and a bit about the workshop.  The second link is a website of several wedding photographers I admire, many of whom will be there.

Wish me luck and vision.  I’ll have to provide my own courage.  And the best part of all of this is that I’ll come back a better photographer.

www.fworkshop.com

www.bluelistphotographers.com

I just found out last week that I could use my pocket wizards to fire my camera remotely.  This may be old news to most, but I haven’t had a remote for my camera for a couple of years and several camera upgrades, so this is big for me.  (And no, that self-timer business just doesn’t work for me.)  Those of you with digital slr’s and pocket wizards and an alarmingly small number of photos of you with your kids (you know who you are) get a pre-release cable, if you don’t already have one.   I bought mine for under $30 from flashzebra.  It works like a charm.

So, I took the camera out on a tripod and went tromping up and down the snowy lane next to our yard with my daughter, Ada.  I was amazed how well the trigger worked, since pocket wizards do not require line of sight like infrared triggers.  And why am I not posting said pictures?  Well, because the first thing I thought looking at my five pictures (about the time it took before Ada got cold and had a meltdown and wanted to be carried home) was that who knew, but those jeans I was wearing made my butt look big.   And that hat I was wearing, while warm, should probably never be seen beyond the outskirts of Bunnyville.

Good to know!    I will try again.  If not for me, for Ada.

It’s such a treat to have some snow on the ground.  Many winters, we get only one token snow, maybe a couple of inches.  This year, we have a “real” snow.  I went out and took some pictures of our house to celebrate.  I feel like I need to go out again this evening and try to take some really INTERESTING pictures of the place, but well, here you have it.

I realized, looking through the lens of the camera, that I let the wisteria go totally wild and unruly this year on the pergola.  I need to give it a haircut.  The sticks poking up in the foreground are some tree limbs in the firepit.  And the peacock is in his favorite spot just in front of the windows.  He likes it because it is warm, and he can study his reflection in the glass.

And this is our house and the main studio/painting studio/garage, etc. from the road. The natural light studio is in a separate building behind the big studio.

With the big snow due in tonight, I thought I should post a couple of pics of Grant in his snow hat.   He looks like a Gap baby to me.  Such a doll!

Here are some pics of Ada from late this summer.  I start missing warm weather about this time of year.  Who am I kidding?  I start missing warm weather by about November.  These images are all shot in either the woods behind our house or down at the pond.

And a completely silly one of Zoe about to give Ada a big wet dog kiss.

I just got home from the 2009 SPA Event in Vegas.  SPA stands for Senior Portrait Artists, and let me just say that these people rock.  Part of the event included going around to see different shooters setups and to shoot some images with different lighting styles, etc.  using SPA models who are highschool seniors.

I loved the lighting setup on Sean’s image on the right and hope to incorporate it this year.   And Whitney, on the left, as a dancer modelled beautifully.

Overall, I got to see a range of shooting styles that I love, and it was fun to be around other photographers who are not willing to settle for boring.  It is going to be a great and very fun year for area seniors.  I can’t wait!  Watch for details on my 2010 model search which I will be launching very soon on Facebook.

I’m behind on posting images on the blog.  Here’s one image for now from one of my new favorite places, the City Museum, in St. Louis. We’ve been there twice in the past few weeks, and I hope to go there frequently in the coming year.  I officially think it’s the coolest place EVER for kids.

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years.