LET THERE BE LIGHT - It is all about Natural Light...

Yes I believe it is all in the LIGHT..  Light is a key factor in getting a great shot when shooting(with a camera) for me.
Fortunately Bend Oregon gets very little rain and many bright sunny blue days. Great for most but not the best for photographers!
Bright sun means head for shade for my camera and I, which can be limiting when trying to be creative. Direct sun causes shadowing  - raccoon eyes and squinting.
The best time for photos is either early morning or in the evening when the sun is low in the sky and less intense.
The best days believe it or not are cloudy ones. The photos captured below were taken mid afternoon with the sun behind clouds the majority of the time. The clouds act as a diffusor and can give amazing results. Often I will need to bounce some needed light with a variety of reflectors. Getting that catch light in a persons eyes really makes a difference.

Anyway meet the lovely 'Derosier Family' from Portland Oregon, they visit here often and now have special photographs of themselves taken in Drake Park last weekend.

Perfect light, perfect subjects and I hope they think perfectly captured!

Thank you Derosier Family!

mommy

Love this one!

not sure which one is the happiest

reality!

precious

sibling fun

a love squeeze

in the moment

race to the leave pile

A WEEKEND AT KEVIN KUBOTA'S 'SUMMIT' UP WORKSHOP IN SISTERS OREGON

Last weekend I was fortunate to attend the Summit Up workshop at the beautiful Five Pine Lodge in Sisters Oregon just 20 minutes from Bend.
Locally known and respected Kevin Kubota and his team organized this fantastic event, an event I  would have never missed. As well as hosting the event,  Kevin shared his wisdom and knowledge to inspire us to become more creative.
The talented  Doug Gordon,  Dane Sanders, the Joy and Jules Bianchi sisters and Bend's Benjamin Edwards  also shared from the heart their experiences and knowledge.
On Sunday we got to photograph with Kevin, Doug and Benjamin in the Shibui Spa. Below you will see a little of what we were working on.
Thanks Lauren Edwards for freezing yourself for us all!
By the time Sunday afternoon rolled around my head was overloaded with ideas to bring home and work on. What a great feeling! An even greater feeling is knowing inside that you are on that journey in life that you have spent most of your life looking for. The best thing about my journey is I know can create it exactly the way I want it to go. I truly believe we can create whatever we wish!
At events like Summit Up you always get to meet others who are like yourself - doing what they are passionate about. I look forward to growing relationships with those who I connected with over the weekend.

Thank you all of those who were involved for making this event possible and I am excited for Summit Up 2011!

Jill

tethering from the camera and viewing images in lightroom on the ceiling

a between Kevin Kubota's legs shot..

Lauren getting really wet

soaking in the hot tub after the cold pool

yes she is in water.

A Touching Senior Portrait Session with Kyeli, Bend Oregon

It is always a special time for a high school senior when it comes to 'Senior Portrait Season'.
Recently I got to capture a young woman called Kyeli Eastland. It was extra special for me because her mom came along. I have a 9 year old daughter and watching Kyli and her mom together during the session took my mind into the future and made me realize this moment won't be too far away for my Sophie.. already half way there!
I don't usually show the images on the back of my camera but this day I did show one special shot to Kyeli, while she was sitting against an iron fence with autumn colors as a backdrop. She truly was amazed how she appeared. But an even more surprising response was the touching reaction from her mom. Tears were soon streaming down her checks as she held the reflector and directed the light onto her beautiful child.  I thought to myself is this what all mom's do? what is she thinking right now? and will this be me in 9 years?  I hope it is because I want to see my daughter confident and happy like Kyeli  and to have this captured in her senior portrait session - hopefully it will be me capturing the images too.
My goal as a mother is to teach my children the skills to be a joyful confident and happy soul and who can make a difference and be an inspiration in other people's lives and in this world.
I am excited for my daughters next nine years and I can't wait to see who she will be on the day of her senior portrait session. I know I will be proud and happy just like I was the day she got on the school bus all alone at the beginning of first grade.. Maybe I will have tears, but my tears will be of joy and happiness.
I am excited to share below some of the special moments I captured of Kyeli....

A cute family session in Drake Park, Bend Oregon.

Last week I had a great afternoon amongst the many different scenes in Drake Park with the Dedrick Family. They were so great and captivating that we even had a family of swans come over to say hi.