Lynaye

Recently took shots of my good friend Lynaye before she moved back to Michigan. She's always on the go, so I figured slowing down my shutter speed would catch her movement and personality.  

A Challenge

So, a good friend of mine is always posting pictures of himself on his Facebook page... So one day I suggested we do a photoshoot, and let me tell you... He was all for it! However, I've never shot anyone like him. (You'll see what I mean) So, on Tuesday, we hung out at his house and we started taking pictures. I wasn't sure how to approach it at first, but then... It just started working.

You see... He has this very laid back attitude. I wanted to capture that, so I put them in black and white. You can focus on his eyes and how expressive they are. All in all... I think this challenge was a success.

Smiles

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.
.Mother Teresa.

Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.
.Mark Twain.

Beauty is power; a smile is its sword.
.Charles Reade.

All the statistics in the world can't measure the warmth of a smile.

.Chris Hart.

A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give. .Author Unknown.

Portraits

Here are some of the portraits that I've taken of my nephews and one of my little sister. I love having color in the background, like the purple petunias or the water. It really helps bring out the subject in each picture.





Black and white pictures are a little bit harder to really 'pop' out the subject. I try to select a background that really contrasts with the character of the subject, so if the subject has dark hair, and I'm taking a close-up, I would choose a really light background. Contrast can really make a picture spectacular.