This shot melts my heart. There is absolutely nothing like the grin on a baby's face because he or she is getting love from a sibling, nothing. So so sweet.
The water gives such a fabulous sense of movement, and I love the conversion with the deep, deep blacks. Most of all I love the expression on the girl's face, and her goggles.
The expression on this little girl's face totally makes this shot for me. The frame is fairly clean, leaving the focus on her, with her arms stretched up and the excitement in her smile.
This week, we have the talented Sarah Cornish of My Four Hens Photography. In addition to her enviable skills as an artist, she works hard to inspire and support others. So read, and be inspired!
1.Tell us about yourself...
I am a lover of light, childhood, and Jesus. I am
an introverted people person. I am a mother of five in a growing family,
striving to make the most of the chaos and imperfection. I embrace the “real.”
I find beauty in all things, especially those that others may not find
beautiful. I aspire to inspire. :)
2.What ignited your passion for photography, and
what fuels it now?
I began in my teens but I remember wanting a
polaroid camera for my 10th birthday. I had the chance to road trip
all over the USA and use a film camera of my aunt's to capture our journey. I
sadly have no clue what happened to all the film, but something profound bloomed
and took root then. It never left me. Now I strive to capture moments and snap
shots of our life as well as help preserve memories for my clients.
3.What's in your camera bag right now, what do use
the most? the least?
I am a Canon and shoot with bevy of Canon L Prime
lenses. I keep a full gear list here: http://myfourhensphotography.com/about/whats-in-my-camera-bag/ But I
am finding my favorite lens is probably my 24L and ironically the least used is
my 35L. Not sure why though. I just haven't picked it up as much. That can
change next week though. I am all over the place lol!
4.What's your dream project or shoot?
You know, years a go I might have thought something stylized. I have done a ton
of photography projects. I am still knee deep in many. My favorite thing to
shoot in my children. I love being in the mountains and outdoors (being in
Colorado it is hard not to right?!) But I honestly think I would love to
photograph homeless women and children. Maybe even share awareness. I know many
do it well and I wouldn't be the first but we all have a story to tell and our
perspectives. It is a goal for when my children are a bit older since it is
dangerous work I would assume.
5.What is the biggest challenge you face as a
photographer?
There are so many. Time management is certainly a
big one. Even carving time out to shower is tough some days. If I were to dig
deep though I would say I hate conformity. I don't want my work to really look
like anyone else's either though. I want people to feel something.. anything
when they see my work. I am terrified at some point my work will be normalized.
6.If you had $500 to spend on photography...
How should you spend it?
I would probably spend it on marketing or
something business related.
How do you wish you could spend it?
I would give it to someone that needed it more.
How would you really spend it?
See the first answer ha! Or probably a
photography related bill.
7.Is there any one thing you wish someone had told
you at the very beginning of your photography journey?
It's okay to be different. Embrace it. Your voice
is your biggest asset. I never really tried to fit in but I maybe would have
put myself out there more. I also wish I would have disregarded more of the nay
sayers. Not the people that had a genuine constructive bit of advice but those
that were nasty for the sake of being nasty. Not everyone has to like you.
\ Thanks so much, Sarah, for being with us this week!
Ann Thompson of Ann Thompson Photography is the winner of last week's 'femininity' challenge, and she has graciously shared a bit about herself with us. Grab a cup of coffee (or tea, or whatever you love!) and read on!
1. 1. Please tell us about yourself...
My name is Ann and I am a stay at home mom, and I've been married for 21 years. I live in Washington state on a small hobby farm with horses, dogs, cats, chickens and a mini donkey. I am a lover of animals of all kinds. I love to take pictures of my human children and animal children daily and combine it into an album at the end of each year. I started my photography business one year ago.
2. Can you describe your style in 3 words? Why those words?
I feel like these words are ever changing, but right now I would say that they are emotive, honest and natural. I love to capture emotion and evoke emotion while looking at my photographs. My goal in my sessions is capture someone's true personality, a look or a moment that will always be a special memory. I love the interaction in families and that special way they act around each other.
3. What sparked your passion for photography?
I've always loved photography. I think my first camera was a Polaroid and I took pictures of absolutely everything. I took classes in high school and college as well, but got serious about it two years ago. I spent a year really learning my camera and how to process images before I started my business.
4. What's in your camera bag right now?
I shoot with a Nikon D800 and a variety of lenses. I have a 135, 85, 70-200, 35, 105 macro, lens baby composer pro sweet 35 and my newest is the Sigma Art 50 1.4 which is super, super sharp and I love it. Most of the time my 85 or 70-200 is on my camera. There is also some gum in there, memory cards, and a spare battery.
5. What is your dream shoot or project?
I have a photographer friend and we met online in a class, but have never met in person. My dream shoot would be to meet up with her and shoot together. We have really hit it off and I know we would have so much fun together, but we live clear across the country from each other so hopefully someday that can become a reality.
6. What are some of the misconceptions you had about photography and photographers at the beginning of your photography journey? Have they changed, and how?
I think my biggest misconception is I thought I could learn it all and master it. I've realized that learning photography is a lifelong process and I will always be learning and pushing myself to learn new things.
7. What advice would you give to newbie photographers? What advice do you wish you'd been given at the very beginning?
My advice for newbie photographers is that this isn't a race, there isn't a finish line and only compare yourself to you and your progress. This is a journey and we all travel on our own road at our own pace. Find your inner voice and let that shine in your photographs. I also wish someone would have told me how expensive lenses are. That is where I would spend my money. I am somewhat of a lens junkie and want to try them all.
“As for girls, they must risk everything for freedom, and give everything for passion... loving everything that their hearts and their bodies love. The only thing higher for a girl and more sacred for a young woman than her freedom and her passion should be her desire to make her life into poetry, surrendering everything she has to create a life as beautiful as the dreams that dance in her imagination.” ― Roman Payne
Flowers have always struck me as incredibly feminine, not only because they are sweetly scented and beautiful, but because even when they age, and their petals fall, they hang on to that beauty.
Thank you to Snap Maven for having me as a guest judge this week. I really enjoyed seeing everyone's submissions for the theme femininity. It was very hard to only pick ten!
