Tuesday, April 26, 2016

{intuition and luck)



This was so much fun! I loved seeing all of the submissions and the moments that were captured. It was so difficult to narrow it down to just 11!

What a great angle, I love that the entire plane is in the frame mid-flight and that we are able to see the look of determination on his face and his body in post-throw position. I am just as curious as he is to see where the plane goes next!








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I almost missed this image the first time around. Upon taking a closer look, I can't stop looking at it - the way her hair is whipping around, her outstretched arm and twirling skirt, the perfect double reflection in the mirror, and the quote about true selves in between. All of the repeating elements work so well together and keep my eye wandering throughout the frame.






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I love everything about this image! What a serendipitous bathing suit choice and a perfect composition. The high contrast conversion makes it really popl






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The curve, his body position, that shadow and the bright blue - oh my!






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What a sweet sibling moment! Perfect framing of the crib and big sister between the slats, I don't know if baby is looking at her big sister but I like to think that she is!






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Oh my goodness, that hair! And that trampoline makes a wonderful background! Another lucky wardrobe choice here, and your feet in the image and how he is grabbing them completely makes this image for me.







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Maybe because I have boys, but I can't imagine either one of them (or my dog for that matter) sitting still long enough to take a photo like this! The intense look of concentration from both subjects is adorable, and they are both positioned perfectly in that pocket of light.







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Every single line in this frame leads perfectly to this little boy and his reflection. Nicely done!







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This image made me smile, I feel as if I am right there in the water fight with them. With her arched back and tousled hair, I can almost feel just how invested she is in hitting her target, but it is the little boy's impish grin, with the leading lines of the handrails continuing to draw me back to him, that makes me want to root for him. The conversion keeps the focus on the water and the dynamic between the two of them.







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I just love the near-synchronization of these two; their body language is perfect. The conversion emphasizes all of the repeating elements in the frame and appeals to my sense of symmetry!







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and the winner is ........




Wendy Alweyn Photography
This image of a girl with windblown hair standing by the ocean would have been beautiful regardless, but the story completely changes and becomes much more compelling with her looking back at the seagull gliding in the sky. The blurred effect and low contrast conversion only adds to the dreamlike quality. Gorgeous!



Thank you to everyone who participated!

Monday, April 25, 2016

The Maven Flyer Vol. 17

Welcome to 
 The Maven Flyer
Vol. 17
For the week of April 25, 2016


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 ~ 2016 favorite so far
Clicking Moms ~ Light
In Beauty & Chaos~ Honest self portrait
The Dark Room~ Weekly faves
 Fantastically Flawed~ Double exposure
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)
Photographer's Connection~  Weekly favorite
Photo Artistry~  Weekly favorite
Light Inspired~ Reflections
Journey to Artist~ Awaken (your art)
Reflections~ Breaking the rules
Little Bellows Weekly favorite
Life's Experience p52~ Faceless portrait
The Monochromatic Lens~Weekly Favorite
SHOTMagazine~ open, one photo per day
Minimalist Mondays ~Weekly fave
Euphoric CaptureHair
The Snappy Mama~ Soul mates
In shadow of life~BW weekly favorites
The Snap Society ~ Weekly favorite
Life UnscriptedSports and after school activities
Project:life your way: weekly favorites
The Artistic Tog: Artistic evolution
Dear Photographer~Wild and free
Sham of the Perfectfamily documentary favorites
Fearless and Framed~ Honestly documented
Inspire me, Inspired be.- Let them play
Soul Focus - Leave the world behind
By HeArtRocks
Our Weekend Stories ~ Bubbles



<<<>>>

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.




Saturday, April 23, 2016

Meet This Week's Judge: Julie Mak!

This week, Julie of Julie Mak Photography wants to see the decisive moments in your world. She has shared some of her fabulous images, and words about her journey. Enjoy! 



1. Tell us about yourself...

I am a lifestyle photographer living in NYC with my husband, two sons (ages 7.5 and almost 10), a dog and a sick Betta fish. I majored in International Relations in college and also have an MBA. My professional background is in marketing, consumer insights and branding, all of which have an influence on my approach to visual storytelling.



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

I remember getting my first camera at a fairly young age, and at risk of dating myself, remember the excitement of receiving my photos in the mail after sending my film away to be developed. I had a strong desire to document what was happening around me. But it wasn’t until after the birth of my boys that I learned more about the artistry of photography and inserting more of myself and my voice into the process. I don’t think I realized starting out how much I would learn about myself in this process. Photography is now a much-needed creative outlet for me.


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

I mainly shoot with a Nikon D600 but recently acquired a Nikon F100 and have begun shooting film again. I’m still trying to figure out a balance between the two. Of all my lenses, I tend to gravitate toward my 24mm or 24-70mm the most since I like including the environment in the frame. I love my 70-200mm but rarely have the room to use it (or the arm strength!). What I use the least is my flash, I’m not sure why I keep carrying it around in my bag!


4. What’s your dream project or shoot?

This is completely random, but I would love to go on a set of a movie, theater or TV set and document behind the scenes. Or be able to shoot on-location with Annie Leibowitz! A girl can dream, right? But more realistically, I am trying to come up with a project to document an aspect of my parents’ experience immigrating to the US. I feel as if there are many important stories in that collective experience that I would like to capture before they are gone forever.


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

Getting myself out of creative ruts – I don’t do much client work so I need to find ways to keep things new and fresh for myself in my day-to-day life. Continuing to try new things while staying true to myself and my style. Figuring out other subjects that I feel passionate about now that my boys are getting older and not as cooperative!


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

How should you spend it?! Toward a new computer. I am long overdue for an upgrade!
How do you wish you could spend it?! Going on a photography workshop/retreat with some girlfriends at an exotic locale with an amazing guest speaker or two!
How would you really spend it?! Probably renting a Fuji X-T1 or XT100, not that I need another camera, but after coming back from vacation where I lugged my DSLR around, I’m dying to try something lighter!


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

Look within, not at others. Your journey is your own, and while you want to constantly be improving, don’t forget to feel good about where you are. That goes for equipment as well – while I absolutely agree with investing in quality gear, just because something works for someone else doesn’t mean it is right for you. There is no “best” camera or lens – understand how you want to shoot and go from there.




Friday, April 22, 2016

Feature Friday with Vicki Winston Photography!

Vicki Winston Photography was the winner of last week's 'epic story' challenge!  Read on to find out how she describes her style, and what advice she offers to new photographers...



1. Please tell us about yourself...

I am 30 years old, I have been with my husband for more than half my life, 16 years this June, married for 12 years, I have four children with my eldest being 13 and youngest being 7. I love being in the countryside and long walks with my family walking our dog Hugo!  I love reading and can be found most days with my head in my kindle.  




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

 Emotive, Soulful and Real I love to capture connection. You can capture connection with people, the elements,Places. I like a good stare in to the camera, My tutor said to me which kinda stuck in my head "eyes are the windows to the soul" You know when you'll get one of these images, I get goosebumps when I see it! and real, I love to get out and find new places, I also love watching my children explore, I want to photograph THEIR personalities, even if the photograph is posed. 



3. What sparked your passion for photography?

I took far too many pictures when given my first ever camera as a child but I feel it really became a passion when I had my digital compact, I used to take far too many photos on days out and sometimes I would get the odd couple of candid ones that made me want to capture more of that, then my husband bought me my first DSLR three years ago, a Nikon D3100 and since then been hooked!



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

My Nikon D3100, it is STILL going strong, and attached to it is my 35mm 1.8 lens.



5. What is your dream shoot or project?

The beach! that is my favourite place to shoot and I get so inspired by the sounds of the waves and hearing my children laughing and playing doing their own thing whilst i capture it.I love it even more especially if it a windy day, I love photographing my daughters hair flying about. Ooh and there has to be clouds, I love a good sky in my pictures!




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?

The camera thing definitely, I thought the fancier your camera was the better your images would be! Yep I was one of those! My views have completely changed now, It is the photographer holding the camera that makes the photograph what it is! YOUR vision, the camera is just the instrument.



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

Comparison is a joy killer, and will leave you feeling uninspired and not good enough.try not to compare yourself, every artist is different, everyone has their way of doing things.So what I am saying is the only person you need to compare yourself to is you.

Find your style, shoot what YOU like to shoot! If you're not excited with what you are producing then are you shooting what YOU want to shoot?


Find more of Vicki's gorgeous work here:

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

{epic story}



The unique angle and posture of the subjects just adds to the epic mood of this capture!





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I love that everything about this capture just fits in with the kids' imagination! From the building to the edit, it all helps to tell the story of some epic imaginations!





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The vines covering the building and the fact that the girl is turned away, while the doll is staring at the camera all contribute to a more anxious mood, but it makes me want to know more about what the girl will discover inside. And how she will tackle her story!






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This moment is hilariously epic! And I love how the unconventional comp brings your attention to the girl's eyes!





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Now it seems so obvious that an apple orchard is the perfect place for a horse mask! And the posing in this image is completely perfect, too!





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The way dads play with their kids always seems to end in an epic story! And the bit of imagination in this shot just elevates it even more!!





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I definitely think the story of siblings is an epic one! I love how the kids are following the leader away from the camera while balancing on the log together! Totally brings me back to childhood!!





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Wow that epic moment when a dad is meeting his new baby! And I can feel the start of many adventures together!!





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I think the scale of the subjects to the surroundings is a big part of what makes this so epic!





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I love that not only are there two siblings making a huge mess, but the older one is lost in a book and her imagination!





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And the winner is......








I love some awesome shadows, and it's definitely the shadow in this image that makes this story so epic! I also love that the girl played along for it!!




Melissa Hines Photography


Monday, April 18, 2016

The Maven Flyer Vol. 16

Welcome to 
 The Maven Flyer
Vol. 16
For the week of April 11, 2016


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 ~ Intuition and luck
Clicking Moms ~ Light
In Beauty & Chaos~ Belly laughs
The Dark Room~ Weekly faves
 Fantastically Flawed~ Double exposure
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)
Photographer's Connection~  Weekly favorite
Photo Artistry~  Weekly favorite
Light Inspired~ My muse
Journey to Artist~ Awaken (with me)
Reflections~ Breaking the rules
Little Bellows Weekly favorite
The Monochromatic Lens~Weekly Favorite
SHOTMagazine~ open, one photo per day
Minimalist Mondays ~Weekly fave
Euphoric CaptureApril Showers Brings May Flowers
The Snappy Mama~ Soul mates
In shadow of life~BW weekly favorites
The Snap Society ~ Weekly favorite
Life UnscriptedMeraki
Project:life your way: weekly favorites
Sham of the Perfectfamily documentary favorites
Fearless and Framed~ Honestly documented
Inspire me, Inspired be.- Beyond the surface
Soul Focus - Self portrait
By HeArtRoads
Our Weekend Stories ~ Unusual focus



<<<>>>

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.



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