Feature Saturday with Amy Booker Photography!

Amy Booker of Amy Booker Photography was the winner of our 'imagination' challenge and has graciously shared some more of her amazing work with us <3

1. Please tell us about yourself...

My names Amy Booker, I am located within Oregon. I have a 3 year old daughter and I love creating meaningful art together.

2. Can you describe your style in 3 words? Why those words?

Colorful, Unique, and Fine Art.

I use a lot of different vibrant colors in my work, and I feel like I have a unique style. I create a lot of Fine Art/Digitally Manipulated pieces.

3. What sparked your passion for photography?

I started 6 years ago when I was a freshman in high school. It was just fun to take pictures but I was more into the editing side of photography. Right now my passion is sparked by a lot of movies, music, and emotions.

4. What's in your camera bag right now?

Canon 6d, 85mm 1.8, 50mm 1.4

5. What is your dream shoot or project?

I have had an idea in my head for awhile but I want it to be a surprise. I think my next project is to do something inspired by the movie Maleficent with levitation photography and big wings.

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 would always doubt myself but I kept on pushing myself to keep at it and not give up on projects which helped me learn a lot of new skills. Now if I have a project I will make sure to view the vision in my head and brainstorm how I will make the piece happen.

7. What advice would you give to newbie photographers? What advice do you wish you'd been given at the very beginning?

Don't ever doubt yourself. Value your work!

Find more of Amy's work here:

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Meet This Week's Judge: Lori Dozier!

This week, we have Lori of Lori Dozier Photography judging the "simplicity" theme. Enjoy some of her beautiful photos and learn a little about what indpires her! 

1. Tell us about yourself...

I think the first thing I tell *everyone* about myself is that I’m Texan. I was born and raised there and had never even seen accumulating snow until I moved to Minnesota eight years ago on New Years day. I live here in MN with my husband and our two energetic pre-school daughters. I have a masters in speech-language pathology, but I’ve been home with my girls for the last three years. I am emotional and passionate and dramatic and talkative. I make friends quickly, but am close friends to only a few. I am incredibly honest (to a fault), and loyal. I love coffee and red wine and warm days. And of course, I love creating photos! 

2. What ignited your passion for photography, and what fuels it now?

I have been drawn to visual art for as long as I can remember. I guess I’d say that I was influenced by the people around me. My grandpa painted and my dad was always a bit of a shutterbug. I can remember doing styled photo sessions with my younger brother with my polaroid as a pre-teen. Then later, I remember being made fun of for lugging around my dad’s old Pentax film SLR when everyone else had cameras that fit into their purses or pockets. I got my first DSLR about 6 years ago, before I had kids. I took a lot of pet, nature and food photos then :).

Most recently, I’m inspired by my children and love to capture them as they are. I am drawn to simplicity and details, especially when those elements inspire a more complex story. I also infuse a lot of symmetry into my images. My girls are very active, as am I, and I find symmetry to be calming and therapeutic. Finally, I am inspired by connection and emotion. If I can look at one of my images and and it makes me smile or my heart ache, I feel like it’s a successful image.  

3. What's in your camera bag right now, what do use the most? the least?

I’m a Nikon girl. I shoot with the D600. In my bag I have the 28, 50 and 85mm 1.8, the 105 mm 2.8 macro, the 135mm 2.0DF and the lens baby sweet 35. I also have a 50mm 1.8D that I purchased to try freelensing. I use my 85mm if at all possible. It’s fast, sharp, consistent and I love the focal length when I’m outdoors. But, since the cold winter months are upon us here in MN, I’ll be using a lot more of my 28mm indoors and working with the macro. Since I’ve been so busy with client work the last couple months, I haven’t really used the lens baby or my 50 1.8D (for freelensing) as much. I use those more in my personal work.

4. What's your dream project or shoot?

Hmmm, that’s a tough one! I get inspired by new and different surroundings. So, I think I’d love photographing a new (to me) place and the details that tell that location’s story. Even though it’s a little out of my comfort zone, it’d be awesome to do a little travel photography all by myself. So much of my work is people- and family-focused, which I love, but I think I would embrace the challenge of telling the story of a place through photos. Stay tuned, I have the opportunity to make this a reality in 2015!

5. What is the biggest challenge you face as a photographer?

The biggest challenge for me is probably the continuous search for inspiration and constantly trying to be creative. It is exhausting, and some days I feel like everything I create is junk! So, I have a handful of tricks that I use to inspire creativity, like trying out new places, searching for new light sources, attaching a lens I haven’t used recently, or just taking a day off from shooting.

6.  If you had $500 to spend on photography...

How should you spend it? 

How do you wish you could spend it?

How would you really spend it?

If I had $500 to spend on photography, I should spend it on education! I wish I could spend it on new gear, but, I probably really would spend it on education :) 

7. Is there any one thing you wish someone had told you at the very beginning of your photography journey?

Another tough question! I guess I wish someone would have said, “this is a personal journey, create art that you love.” Art is so subjective and there is just no way to please everyone. I think that if you love what you create and create what you love, it will probably make the journey a much more positive one.  

{imagination}

This was seriously ridiculously hard to judge. I had 29 images that were strong contenders. 

What a talented group of photographers that follow this page!

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Carol Lynn Photography

I love this. Even without the added Photoshopped magic, just the image with the magnifying glass alone is very intriguing. It's beautifully lit and reminds us of the imagination that books can bring to life. I also love that it's an older child. Imagination happens at any age.

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HCS Photography

My son just finished the Harry Potter series, and I love the creativity of this image. I love the owl and the glow of the magic wand. The boy's suspenders are too much cuteness. I'm so curious about what's on his tummy. My son read the books, but I didn't, so I'm left wondering what happened to this little Harry Potter.

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Melina Nastazia Photography

Melina had several images that I loved, but this was my favorite. I remember the days of my children being absolutely entranced by water. I would put a stool by the sink and just let my son play with the water in the kitchen sink so I could get something done. Love the window light, the pose, the wings, the water... Love it all.

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Rubylee Photography

The innocence of this image makes me happy. The sweet kiss to a toy just reminds me how young kids can imagine that their toys are real and deserving of their love and kisses. I adore the light.

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KnicKKnacK Photography

This is so well done. The grain of the wood perfectly matches the lines of the face. It's cartoony and realistic at the same time. Plus, the sign is hilarious. Really really wonderful.

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Lisa Bruins Photography

The treatment on this image is fantastic. The painterly feeling really lends itself to the interest of this image. Is she taller than a house? Is it a doll house? I'm not really sure, and I love that this image has me wondering what's going on.

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Kathleen Weibel Photography

I love the golden hues in the sky that match the golden light of the treasure box. I love the light on his quietly delighted face. This is so well done.

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Crystal Raynard Photography

I LOVE this image. LOVE the reflection of the snail. Love that a little girl is holding the snail. Love the snow. Love her intent expression. Fantastic.

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Heather Robinson Photography

I adore the interesting light in this image. Her pose is unexpected for a princess and something about it just has me wondering what is going on in her head? I love it. It's very dramatic.

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Brittany Blake Photography

I love the composition of this image. The expression and lighting on the girl is superb. I've never read this book, but ya know, this image makes me want to.

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Stacie Turner Photography

I love the colors of this image and pretty much everything about it, from the clothing, the pose, the composition, and even the little leaf on the ground. Something about it is extremely captivating to me.

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And the winner is ........

Amy Booker Photography

I love everything about this image. While obviously a composite, it doesn't look like a composite. It flows well with the rest of the image, and the tiger doesn't look pasted in. The entire image is just dreamy and beautiful. It definitely makes me think of the movie Life of Pi which was such a visual delight. If you haven't seen that movie, I highly recommend it.

What an amazing compilation of images.

Thank you for the opportunity. So amazed at the talent. xoxo

Laura Morita Photography

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Shine Workshop

The Maven Flyer Vol. 39

Welcome to 

 The Maven Flyer

Vol. 39

For the week of November 24, 2014

Here we will offer suggestions for places for you to submit your images

for sharing and competition.

If you have or know of a sharing community or theme, please let us know

by emailing the name, link, and specifics to 

snapmaven.info @gmail.com

At this time you will need to visit each page to learn the specifics of the pages 

rules and deadlines for sharing images.

Happy Sharing Everyone!

Snap Maven ~ Simplicity  , Weekly favorite, Experiments
Clicking Moms ~ Thankful

Distorted Beauty~ Imperfect

In Beauty & Chaos~ Grace, Weekly Favorites

Evoking You~ Together

The Dark Room~ Simplicity , Weekly Favorites

The Gratitude Collaborative ~ Thankful

Fantastically Flawed~ Whitin (until Tuesday)

Spark~ Together

Giggles&Goldfish~Everyday Favorites

Picture Me Project~Include yourself in the image somehow!

We Were There Too~ Get in the photo with your kids!

Lemonade and Lenses~Weekly Favorite

Mozi Magazine~Weekly Favorite

Seniorologie~ Weekly Favorite(senior)

Love Photographs Beautifully~Urban
Measure In Love~ Hearts

Photographer's Connection~Weekly Favorite

Privizzini's Passion Photography~?

Photo Artistry~Furry friends (all November), Weekly favorite

Angie Marie Photography~ November Favorite

Light Inspired~ Thankful for..., weekly favorite

M4HP~?

30 Minutes in the Life~ Macro

Reflections~ Cozy

Sweet Little Muse~ Recent Fave

Little Bellows~ Winter, Weekly favorite

Photo Corner~ weekly favorite

In Your Own Light~ closed for Holidays

By The Light~   Morning Light
Life's Experience p52~?
 Fleeting Lights ~ Peaceful
The Monochromatic Lens~Weekly Favorite
My Beautifully Chaotic Lifestyle~ Beautifully Chaotic
Let the Kids Dress Themselves~ Family
SHOTMagazine~ open, one photo per day
Faradiddles~ On Hiatus (No theme)
The Organic PhotograpHERS~ Side dish (foodie week)
A Day in the Life~ At the end of the day
Honestly, Photography  ~ Recent favorite

M.O.O.D. ~ Mysterious (all of November)

Minimalist Mondays ~Minimalist
Euphoric Capture~ Night
CLICK STYLE~ Freelensed/lensbaby/OOF
Yip Yap Girl~ I added that
The Inner Lens~Satisfied
Chasing Sunflares ~ On hiatus
The Masterpiece~What are you thankful for, Weekly favorite
Stand Alone Magazine~ On hold till the end of the month
The Snappy Mama~Window light
Photographer Obsessed~Thankful for (no top ten)
In shadow of life~BW weekly favorites
The Creativity Project- Art (all of November)
Poétique~ Hope
Boys Will Be Boys~Monochrome
<<<>>>

That concludes the links for this week!

If there is a link you'd like to see here, please let us know at

snapmaven.info@gmail.com

Please allow 2-3 weeks for addition to The Maven Flyer

Same goes for errors, though we hope to get those fixed right away.
Future issues of The Maven Flyer will be posted on Monday evenings.

You can't get featured if you don't submit!!

Go for it!

If you would like to receive
The Maven Flyer
in your inbox each week
please sign up
HERE.

Feature Friday with Photography by JW

Last week's 'showing motion' challenge winner is the talented Jamie of Photography by JW.  She has shared a bit about her life with us, and of course some more eye candy!

1. Please tell us about yourself...

I am 35 years old and a former elementary teacher. I'm married & have two girls, ages 2 and 4. I quit my job as a teacher when I found out I was pregnant with my youngest and began my photography business to earn some money here and there. I live in Heber Springs, Arkansas and enjoy spending time in the beautiful outdoors. Arkansas has the most beautiful scenery, particularly in the fall. I've been an artist most of my life. I paint, sculpt, and enjoy working with a variety of media.

2. Can you describe your style in 3 words? Why those words? emotional, artistic, & evolving. emotional- I am always looking for an emotion. I love to focus on things that will evoke emotion... particularly the eyes. I also love to back away and create emotion through scale. Particularly with children. I love to see this tiny person standing next to something large...like a tree that's been around for hundreds of years. It's a beautiful mix of the old and the new that stirs something inside of our humanity.

artistic- I never have as much time as I would like to further develop my artistic style in photography. As an artist, however, I take great pleasure in taking what is real and we wish were real and melting them into one reality. I love the fact that imagination has no limit and I can bring that freedom to my photos.

evolving- in the grand scheme of things, I am very new at this photography thing. I've been taking photos since I was a young teen but I've only recently learned about the technical side of everything. As with any artist (or human being for that matter) I am always learning and always discovering new things that will make me better. I think my "style" is not locked into any one category. I'm sort of all over the map and frankly, I like it that way. I want to be versatile and never afraid to try new and scary things.

3. What sparked your passion for photography? My father. He had an old canon camera that he used to take pictures when I was a child and he loved to experiment with composition. He was never a professional photographer, but he certainly had a natural "eye" for what would make a great photo. When I was a young girl, I got my first camera for Christmas and couldn't stop taking pictures. When my father passed away, I inherited his camera. Since then, I've done quite a bit of upgrading but my Dad's old 35mm Canon will always be my most prized piece of equipment.

4. What's in your camera bag right now? My (new and improved) Canon, of course. I also have my 85mm fixed lens, my "nifty fifty" 50mm, and 75-300mm zoom lens. I also carry extra cards, extra batteries, business cards, and what photographer doesn't carry bubbles and lollypops in their bag?! ;P

5. What is your dream shoot or project?

I would love to do a big styled fantasy shoot. One where I could have a huge wardrobe to choose from and be able to create fantastic art pieces from the photos. I'm a big fan of Jessica Drossin and her artistic photo creations. Oh what fun!

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?

My biggest misconception was concerning pricing. I thought photographers made an exorbitant amount of money based on my experiences with professional photos. It seemed so expensive and I couldn't see why. Now I certainly do! I have noticed how quickly things add up, how quickly you can lose profit, and how much time it can take to complete the entire process. 

7. What advice would you give to newbie photographers? What advice do you wish you'd been given at the very beginning?

I really don't feel qualified to give anyone advice. Lol. The biggest thing I've learned is accept constructive criticism with grace. Look at the work of others and pick out what it is you like about it. Experiment. Take risks. And don't do it for the money. Do it for the art.

Find more of Jamie's gorgeous work here:

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