{environmental portrait}

I am so honored to be guest judging this week! All your images were SO amazing!!  I looked for elements of environmental portraiture and images that made me want to know more of the story!  Thank you so much for sharing your images with me.

I love the bold bright colors here and that sweet baby!

Such is Life Photography with Lisa R. Howeler

...................................

The connection here is amazing and he looks so happy! 

One 33 Photography

...................................

I can feel the tension and this image leaves me wondering what she is thinking!

Chrissy Sandifer Photography

...................................

This composition is great!  I really get a sense that this little boy is part of a serious game!

mQn Photography

...................................

This image takes me back to childhood!  I love that this is such a powerful portrait without even showing her face.  

Melissa Glynn Photography

...................................

I love this portrait!  There are so many strong elements here around the main subject.

Soul Threading

...................................

What a unique take on environmental portraiture!  The composition is amazing and a great use of reflections.

Melissa Butler Photography

...................................

I love self portraits and the location and connection here is amazing!  

Alec Mills Photography

...................................

This is so sweet!  I feel like these two were out for a walk and stopped for a moment and it makes me wonder what the little boy is thinking!

Rachele Frickey Photography

...................................

I love the light pouring in on her feet and the creative choice that the artist made to make it the primary subject!  

image421

...................................

And the winner is...

WOW!  Everything about this image is amazing!  The composition of the image, his hands and body language, the location, the colors and the smoke are all so powerful!  Even though I can not see his face I feel a connection to him.  This is a wonderful portrait of a Firefighter in his true environment.    

Crystal Raynard Photography

The Maven Flyer Vol. 27

Welcome to 

 The Maven Flyer

Vol. 27

For the week of June 29, 2015

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
Include "Please Add This Page to the Flyer"
in the subject line so we won't miss it.

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 ~ Lifestyle light
Clicking Moms ~ Childhood

Distorted Beauty~ Self portrait

In Beauty & Chaos~ Laughter, Weekly Favorites

Evoking You~ ?, weekly favorite

The Dark Room~  Flare, Weekly Favorites

The Gratitude Collaborative ~ ?

                                             Fantastically Flawed~ Father (until Tuesday)

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)

Measure In Love~ Hearts

Photographer's Connection~Weekly Favorite

Photo Artistry~Movement, Weekly favorite

EX.OH Blog ~ Weekly favorite

Light Inspired~ Evening, weekly favorite

M4HP~ Magic

30 Minutes in the Life~ Ordinary moment, extraordinary light, Create from the heart (July)

Reflections~ This wild like, this freedom

Sweet Little Muse~ (on a break- no theme)

Little Bellows~  Celebration, Weekly favorite

Photo Corner~ weekly favorite

By The Light~   Early morning
Life's Experience p52~ Childhood
The Monochromatic Lens~Weekly Favorite
My Beautifully Chaotic Lifestyle~ Beautifully Chaotic
Let the Kids Dress Themselves~ June fave
SHOTMagazine~ open, one photo per day
The Organic PhotograpHERS~ Double (women only)
Honestly, Photography  ~ Full circle

Minimalist Mondays ~Sun

Euphoric Capture~ Makes me happy
CLICK STYLE~ Vintage
The Snappy Mama~ "Kids:they dance before they learn there is anything that isn't music."
Photographer Obsessed~ Monochrome
In shadow of life~BW weekly favorites
The Creativity Project- Pastel (all June)
Poétique~ I need to touch your life and leave a joy ..,.... 
an inspiration ...So you will love me soon in reality ...
... not imagination ...
Boys Will Be Boys~Weekly Favorite
The Snap Society ~ Weekly favorite
Life Unscripted- Water's edge
Project:life your way: weekly favorites
The Artistic Tog: Freestyle
Pearls and Roses: Stuffed loves
The Thrifty Tog Blog~Summer love (all June)
The Photo Nook ~ Sunflare (all June)
Sham of the Perfect~ Our day at 4 o'clock
Life In Loud~ Weekly favorites shot from the heart
Fearless and Framed~ Honestly documented
Inspire me, Inspired be.- ?
The Red Cape Project~ Don a Red Cape, superhero pose and tell us your superpower

<<<>>>

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
Include "Please Add This Page to the Flyer"
in the subject line so we won't miss it.

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 Karey Nobles Photography!

Karey of Karey Nobles Photography was the winner of last week's 'superhero' challenge.  Read on to find out what kind of gear she uses, how she describes her own work, and how she got started.  Of course, we've included some more of her gorgeous work to look at too!

1. Please tell us about yourself…
I’m Karey and I live in Virginia with my husband and our three kids, ages 5, 4, and 2. I love my family, my faith, and I'm living my dream as a stay-at-home mom. Our youngest and oldest (the girls) came to us through adoption and I’m passionate about all things having to do with adoption and infertility. In what seems like a former life I was a TV news anchor, but now I’m lucky if I get to wash my hair. If you ask my kids, they say my ”job" is taking pictures, although it’s actually just my hobby. But they know my camera is never far from me.

2. Can you describe your style in 3 words? Why those words?
Journalistic, relational, emotional
As a former reporter, I definitely approach photography with a journalist's eye. My kids are my subjects 99% of the time and I really try to document our lives in a real way (even though I’m a sucker for a good posed shot too). I’m finding it also means capturing their relationships, whether it’s my daughter playing with my son’s ear as they read a book, or jumping on their father when he comes home from work. How people connect with each other in that split second can evoke so much emotion. 

3. What sparked your passion for photography?
I discovered a love of painting as a child, and for years my “thing" was creating detailed paintings from photographs. The whole time I was secretly jealous of photographers - they didn’t have to deal with a mess or clean-up, and while it took me days or weeks to finish a painting, they could create beautiful art in just seconds (little did I know what actually went into it before and after the shutter was pressed). Once babies were in the picture, painting just became too difficult. But I still needed an artistic outlet, and I knew I wanted pictures of my kids. So I bought my first DSLR, and learned it wasn’t as easy as I had thought! 

4. What's in your camera bag right now?
Although it’s on my kitchen counter and not in my bag, I shoot with my Nikon D610, which lately has a Tamron 28-75 on it at all times. An 85mm 1.8 and a 35mm 1.8 (which I used with my old cropped sensor for years) are actually in my bag. 

5. What is your dream shoot or project?
My dream shoot would be one where my kids are cooperating (even my rambunctious two-year-old!) and the lighting is perfect. We'd be surrounded by beauty, maybe a field of wildflowers with mountains in the distance. And I'd have some of my wish-list lenses to play around with. But, really, it's all about the happy kids.

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?
As I mentioned earlier, I thought it was going to be so much easier than painting. It’s different, but not easy! I had no idea how much was involved from the technical side.

7. What advice would you give to newbie photographers? What advice do you wish you'd been given at the very beginning? 
The best thing I ever did was to find a community. I’m blessed to be part of a small group of photographers who are all moms and friends and we learn and grow together. I can't recommend it highly enough. So join a group, or start one yourself, and ask lots of questions.

Follow Karey's beautiful work here:

Facebook 

This week's judge is Karen of Karen Osdieck Photography. She has chosen "environmental portrait" for the theme this week, and has shared some of her beautiful photos and thoughts. Enjoy!

1. Tell us about yourself...

I am a wife to my college sweetheart and a mother of two sweet little boys (14 months apart) that keep us extremely busy.  I have had a love for documenting life for as long as I can remember which I owe all to my dad.  He passed his love for photography on to me and I am happy to pass it on to my boys.  They love finding light streaming into our house and looking for shadows!  I took a black and white film photography class in college and learned how to develop and print images in a dark room.  That was an amazing experience which only furthered my love for photography.  

I purchased my first dslr in 2011 when my first son was born.  After that I was on a mission to learn everything I needed to know to create images that matched my vision!  I've taken a few workshops and grew so much after each one.  I never imagined I would be where I am today!

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

My main inspiration comes from my boys.  I am inspired by real emotions and connections, by dramatic and interesting light and by creating images that make my viewer feel something.  Once I learned how to see light it opened endless possibilities for my images.  One of my goals is to find beauty in my everyday.

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

Nikon d610, 24-70mm 2.8, 35mm 1.8mm, 50mm 1.8, an external flash. I use my 35mm the most and I use my external flash the least!

4. What's your dream project or shoot?

I want to shoot my kids at Lake Vermillion in Minnesota. It's a special place for my family and one of the most beautiful lakes in the country!

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

My biggest challenge is getting the cooperation of my kids! I'm sure all you ladies can relate! I have learned some really good tricks along the way that work well with each of my boy's personalities.

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?

I would spend it on a workshop or mentoring!

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

Do not get overwhelmed and learning takes time and practice!

Thank you for joining us this week, Karen!

{Superheroes}

I loved seeing all of your superheroes this week!

Thank you so much for sharing them with me.

<<>>

Crane & Co Photography

Oh the light in this image is just amazing! I love the way it creates a silhouette inside the cape.
He looks like he about to set off on an epic adventure.

<<>>

Jessica Chapman Photography

The angle, the expression!  A perfect superhero!

<<>>

Caitlin Murphy Photography

All moms are superheroes in my book, 

but add soldier to the mix and it's hard to find a bigger hero in comparison! 

<<>>

Summer Cates Photography

Not all superheroes fly, but thanks to this awesome superhero of a dad, this one sure does!

Great conversion and perfect moment captured.

<<>>

Meg Loeks Photography

I love the framing and composition here as well as that perfect sunset sky! 

<<>>

Khalilah Hall Photography

This, this right here is the expression of a true superhero! 

I love the depth and contrast of this conversion!

<<>>

Ekspresji Ekstrakt

I love this minimalist representation of a superhero. 

The imagination requires a very little seed in order to grow to amazing heights! 

<<>>

Jana Knupp Photography

Great expression, light and processing here!

<<>>

Kellie Pribbernow Photography

This is an everyday superhero at her finest!

<<>>

Holly Nicole Photography

I just love the lines and the pose in this image. 

And the winner is...

Karey Nobles Photography

I love the brightness and the colors in this image! Perfect timing, expression and composition!

<<>>

Thank you again for showing me your favorite superheroes this week, 

and if you are like me and can't get enough of them, please join me over at 

The Red Cape Project

where the focus is always on how everyday superheroes

and the positive impact they have on this world.

You can also find me here...

Julie Moses

FACEBOOK | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FLICKR 

The Maven Flyer Vol. 26

Welcome to 

 The Maven Flyer

Vol. 26

For the week of June 22, 2015

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
Include "Please Add This Page to the Flyer"
in the subject line so we won't miss it.

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 ~ Environmental portrait
Clicking Moms ~ Childhood

Distorted Beauty~ Grain

In Beauty & Chaos~ Technology, Weekly Favorites

Evoking You~ ?, weekly favorite

The Dark Room~  Pet, Weekly Favorites

The Gratitude Collaborative ~ ?

                                             Fantastically Flawed~ " I'm restless . Things are calling me away. My hair is being pulled by the stars again." (until Tuesday)

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)

Measure In Love~ Hearts

Photographer's Connection~Weekly Favorite

Photo Artistry~Movement, Weekly favorite

EX.OH Blog ~ Weekly favorite

Light Inspired~ Father, weekly favorite

M4HP~ Liquid 

30 Minutes in the Life~ New heights 

Reflections~ A day to remember

Sweet Little Muse~ (on a break- no theme)

Little Bellows~  Water, Weekly favorite

Photo Corner~ weekly favorite

By The Light~   Early morning
Life's Experience p52~ ?
The Monochromatic Lens~Weekly Favorite
My Beautifully Chaotic Lifestyle~ Beautifully Chaotic
Let the Kids Dress Themselves~ Leading lines
SHOTMagazine~ open, one photo per day
The Organic PhotograpHERS~ Double (women only)
A Day in the Life~ (no longer active-no theme)
Honestly, Photography  ~ Glow

Minimalist Mondays ~Sun

Euphoric Capture~ Rain drops
CLICK STYLE~ Vintage
The photo nook ~ Sun flare
The Snappy Mama~ Anonymous portrait
Photographer Obsessed~ Weekly favorites
In shadow of life~BW weekly favorites
The Creativity Project- Pastel (all June)
Poétique~ I need to touch your life and leave a joy ..,.... 
an inspiration ...So you will love me soon in reality ...
... not imagination ...
Boys Will Be Boys~Weekly Favorite
The Snap Society ~ Weekly favorite
Life Unscripted- Making time
Project:life your way: weekly favorites
The Artistic Tog: Up in the air
Pearls and Roses: These summer days
The Thrifty Tog Blog~Summer love (all June)
The Photo Nook ~ Sunflare (all June)
Sham of the Perfect~ Our day at 4 o'clock
Life In Loud~ Weekly favorites shot from the heart
Fearless and Framed~ Honestly documented
Inspire me, Inspired be.- Clouds
The Red Cape Project~ Don a Red Cape, superhero pose and tell us your superpower

<<<>>>

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
Include "Please Add This Page to the Flyer"
in the subject line so we won't miss it.

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.