Dulce

This past weekends shoot was another quinceanera with Dulce. She had a great smile with pink braces which made it look like she just got through drinking red punch.

I have been working lately on my flash skills by using different zoom techniques. Here I throw a narrow beam of light on the face lighting it up just enough to bring out some color. I like this technique a lot and have been using it often.

Carefree

This evening me and a friend decided to head out and shoot the changing weather and sunset up in Carefree, AZ.

After getting there and traveling many miles down some old dirt roads we cam a long this spot.

It was a spot that my friend had shot at once before and it is a beautiful spot but maybe it was the weather but after spending some time there it just wasn't doing it for me until finally the sun started to set and then it all came alive.

Spring Is In The Air

Ah, Spring is in the air here in Phoenix and it was about 90 degrees today which I am sure is much hotter than many of you get mid summer.

Here are three shots that I took at the Phoenix Botanical Gardens which is a great place this time of year.

I took a group of eleven photographers on a little get together through the gardens to photograph the many sites from cactus blooms to lizards.

If you are local and haven't been there I suggest you take a day and go and enjoy.

A Few More

As this week has moved forward so has my progress in my post production work for Michael and Natalie's wedding last Saturday.

Here I have pulled three more images to show that I found myself drawn to.

The top image of the bride going out the tall iron scrolled doors to her awaiting limo is really my favorite of all these images from this shoot. I shot about five images of this with varying stages of exposure and found this one to be the one I preferred.

Tomorrow morning back to the Botanical Gardens to shoot more cactus blooms.

Michael & Natalie

Here is a shot that I just pulled from my wedding shoot yesterday of Michael and Natalie.

This was shot at one of the most popular places in the Phoenix East Valley area called Freestone Park in Gilbert.

One of the downfalls of living in Phoenix is the harsh sun. In this image I placed them in the shade of a tree with the sun behind them then add a little fill flash to lighten up the face a little.

Many photographers would just use all natural light but I think you loose the glow of the brides face and much of the brightness of the eyes by doing it that way.

I think many new photographers feel intimidated by flash so it is one of the workshops I teach at Photography Workshops of Arizona. Flash is our friend I teach so don't be afraid of it.

Sedona

Yesterday I spent some time in Sedona checking out a couple of new spots. It was a great day about 75 degrees though I wish there was a few clouds in the sky but you can't ask for everything and expect to get it.

The first image on top was of a washed out bridge that I have seen off the main road year after year always thinking that I needed to get down there one day and check it out. As you can see, water was flowing very well that day from all the rain and snow this year and really added to this shot.

The image at the bottom was at a popular photography site called Crescent Moon which is south out of Sedona several miles on 89a. The sun was a little harsh this day and you really needed to try and tone it down but this shot was approaching sunset which made it a little easier to capture it well.

Desert Blooms

I look forward every year to spring time and the coming of the desert blooms. Today I spent some time at the Phoenix Botanical Gardens checking out the start of the bloom season.

It was looking pretty good so far and with all the rain we had this winter it should be a great year for them.

I try and go every week for the next several weeks catching it at all stages. What I find is that one type of cactus may be in bloom while others need a little more time and heat before they finally erupt.