Just having some fun!

On a more serious note, I will be posting some real content shortly. Been pretty busy and hopefully it isn’t slowing down!

And her personality shines…while taking a break, Sophia started to play with my kids’ drum set.  Her spontaneity gave me the idea to incorporate some fun shots at the end of the session.

Overall, it was an enjoyable day for both of us.  More pictures to come.

Take for example, a recent shoot I did for one of my clients, Jaime.   She had submitted an article to Women’s Running, a magazine that focuses on—you guessed it—women who run.  The magazine requested that a variety of shots accompany the text:  running, stretching, lacing up, etc.  Emily was there to help me out, plus I had done some major pre-planning for this shoot, so I was pretty sure it would go smoothly and according to plan.  And it did, don’t get me wrong.  It’s just that there were some things I didn’t really take into consideration when I strategically planned the day.

Like the 30 degree temperatures that felt closer to 22 when the wind chill was factored in.  Or the wind taking (and busting) my strobe on the very first shot of the day.  Or the dirt and mud that was caked on the bottom of Jaime’s shoe—dirt and mud that would completely kill the last the shot I knew I wanted to get.   Detecting this gunk the very second I looked through my lens, I did what any earnest, hardworking photographer would do:  I snapped up my glove and began diligently wiping away the grime from the sole of her sneaker.  Only that didn’t really work.  I tried adding some of the bottled water she had been drinking to the mix.

Wash, wipe.  Wipe, wash.

But that still didn’t work.  I knew I had to be more deliberate in my approach.  Luckily,  I’m quick on my feet, and without even thinking, I grabbed the multi-purpose pocketknife that’s always nestled in my bag between my camera and my 70/200 mm lens.

Wipe, wash, dig, scrape.  Wipe, wash, dig, scrape.

And wouldn’t you know?  It worked!  Clearly, photography is not for the weak of heart or stomach.  It’s a dirty, dirty job, but the pay off is always well worth it in the end.  Take a look at the end result and some of that behind-the-scenes madness…

Here are some behind the scenes shots.

Emily battling the cold!

Yes I was digging mud out of the bottom of the shoe...at least I hope it was mud! (photo by Emily Rose Mcgonigle)

Lots of work going into 1 shot! (photo by Emily Rose Mcgonigle)

Here is a sneak peek at the images for the article

For the most part...a clean shoe and a happy client!

I was energized. I knew traveling from New Tripoli to Harrisburg with Emily was going to be an adventure.  First of all, I wasn’t going to be the one behind the camera this time; I was assisting her.  Secondly, we were heading to a city and a park we weren’t all that familiar with.  So, when I strolled into the McDonald’s off Route 78, I really didn’t anticipate any problems. After all, how hard could it be to order some coffee and a breakfast sandwich? I just needed some fuel to get me through the day–a productive day that would consist of shooting model, Jill Darr, despite the sudden frigid, windy, and blustery conditions in Reservoir Park.

So my good mood got me over the fact that I was about to consume food and beverage from the very bottom of the fast food chain, and I smiled at the cashier and gave her my order. ”Can I have a large coffee with cream and sugar and an Egg McMuffin, please.”  (Even though I hated the fact I was in this place, I was still able to keep my manners in tact.)

She looked flustered.

“I-I don’t know how to order that”, she spat.

Now, what I really wanted to do was shake her and scream, “Hit the damn preset button on the register that clearly says “EGG MCMUFFIN!”, but I refrained.

Still flustered and nervous, the girl decided to call on her supervisor to help her place this apparently complex breakfast.  And my patience waned.

I don’t know anything about the McDonald’s training programs–or if they even have one–but I can’t imagine it’s that hard to punch in a breakfast sandwich that has been around since 1972.  My irritation grew as the McDonald’s employees gave me attitude instead of the coffee I requested (again) ever so nicely.

But I got my food and my coffee, consumed it quickly, and we were on our way.  I was pretty excited for this shoot to really see Emily in action and to help her experiment with the aspects of lighting.  We picked up Jill, headed the park, and began to set up all the equipment.  It was freezing.  And the wind was ripping through the trees. Emily and I were bundled up, but Jill was, well, not dressed for the weather.  Striking pose after pose in a slinky cocktail dress was probably not her idea of fun, but I must say she handled each gust of icy cold wind with grace and poise.  After 3 1/2 hours and a few hundred pictures, we called it.

And despite the Egg McMuffin, the less than ideal weather conditions, and 300+ miles I put on my truck that day, it was a productive day for all. I can’t wait to see the images!

playing the dual role - photographer and helper

Yes I got the “look away”. The look translated – “Geeze it’s hard to find good help!” I was slacking…I should have been putting the 70- 200 on the camera and setting up the ladder.

Here is my submission.

Week 3 post has been delayed a week due to preparation for shoot in Harrisburg, PA.

Thanks for stopping.

Thanks for stopping by. Comments are greatly appreciated.

Here is my image for week 1 – Night Shot

Early 80's image of my grandparents (sorry about the coloring).

I’m going to dedicate this blog post to my late grandfather, Russell Kent (known as pop-pop to all his grandchildren), who was a Veteran, retired fireman, photographer, loving grandfather and devoted husband for over 50 years. Although my grandmother was an important person in my life as well, I’m focusing on my grandpop because I attribute my current passion for photography to his enduring presence in my life.  As I mentioned in my bio, he was an inspiration to me and deeply affected my life at an early age. And not only with photography, but life in general.

My parents divorced when I was pretty young, so by default he became a father figure to me. We spent a lot of time together. One of the most lasting memories I have of him is spending time in his garage–both with and without him. He was super meticulous about the garage and how it was set up; the drawers, cabinets, and shelves very neatly organized. It was a requirement that he be present if I was looking at anything in that garage. I’m not sure why. What damage could I have done?!?  I loved going through drawers of pictures, the endless amount of tools, equipment from his days as a firefighter, Pearl Harbor memorabilia, and various other items he collected throughout  his life. As a kid, I thought these things were cool.  As an adult, I realize how important they really were to both of us.  What bothers me most is that I don’t have any of these material things to call my own.  Except one. When my grandfather passed away, I made sure I got his baseball, a ball that I’m pretty sure dates back to the early 1900s.  I can’t tell you why I wanted that ball over all his other stuff, but I can tell you that it sits in a protective case in my office as we speak.

My office, a place where I spend a vast amount of my time, is home to this baseball. It’s the only physical object I have that connects me to my grandfather. Sure it reminds me of the long walks we used to take in the park every Thanksgiving and fishing during summer vacations at the mountain house.  But first and foremost, it connects me to my photography. The ball was a big part of his life, and it has certainly become a big part of mine. In the years growing up both with and without him, I couldn’t have guessed what an impact he would have on my life. As I sit here writing this blog, I know he’s watching over me; and, more than ever, I wish he was here so I could share my successes, my failures, and most of all my passion for photography with him.

Fishing at Locust Lake in the Poconos

This is a caption.