Epic Journey: Part 6

Keep your fingers crossed for me - I applied for the Houston Zoo Photographer Internship today. If I get that it will mean long hours of driving from downtown again, but that's ok, it'll be worth it!! The last person to have the position did an amazing job and I would LOVE to do that!! She got to go to a lot of the events, take pictures for their website, brochures, and catalog. There was a lot of interaction with the staff and animals, too, on occasion. I would really like to take pics of all their bugs - how awesome would THAT be?!?! I think it would be a great opportunity as well, because one of the long-term things I'd like to do is to get my images published in text books and field guides and stuff... Even if they won't let me use the images for that, it'd still be a good experience and I could always try going through pet stores for some of the exotic animals if I can't get them at the zoo =D That's not a bad idea either... Yay for good ideas!!

Here's the pics I plan to send with my application to the Zoo. They wanted three images taken in available light. At least one of them needed to be of an animal. I over-chose so I can have some to take with me in case they want to see more... that is, provided I am granted an interview. Like I said **fingers crossed**


****EDIT**** March 29, 2011 9:30pm I GOT THE INTERVIEW!!  Now just keep those fingers crossed  - you're not done yet! Next Ima need your good luck for the position! ****END EDIT****

Event Photography - Performing Arts

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A few weeks ago a friend gave me tickets to go see Blue Man Group. That was a great time and I got a few good shots from where we were seated. If you ever get the opportunity to see them live DO IT!! Mostly because I think they'd look awesome against this nifty black background - here's a few of the better shots

Epic Journey: Part 5

Don't you just love that moment when you FINALLY figure out that you have COMPLETELY over-thought or over-worked something and you SOOOOOO didn't have to?
You know, that one particular second when the realization washes over you and you finally see all the extra stuff you didn't NEED to do but borderline panicked to get done?

Really?
You like that!?

Freak.  o.0

That is so NOT my favorite moment. I had that moment on Monday during my final presentation for my Business class. I started talking and going through my report and the teacher tells me "You can just skim it. I just wanted to make sure you thought it out." OMG really?!?!? I spent most of the night working on the outline and part of the morning putting together the report and it turns out all he wanted was a summary and some pretty pictures *facepalm*
That's ok - a little over-achieving never hurt anybody. I think I did pretty well seeing as how I had LOTS of pretty pictures to share! Plus now I have some nifty business cards to get printed :) Super cool!!

Check out my new cards (I feel all official n stuff haa haa)

I think ima change the yellow one though, it's a little hard to read. Can't have THAT now can we?!?


Moving on...

Last time I was looking to get a few antique images so I could fatten up my portfolio on those... Well, I put out a call on my FB page and a few people responded. Sometimes you get what you ask for!!! I had three people send like 6-10 images each the first day :) Needless to say I think I've gotten enough to work on for a while. Here's a couple that I've worked on already:

Epic Journey: Part 4

Admittedly, there was much trepidation at posting my website live online for the first time yesterday... I didn't expect that the hoards were waiting to ambush me, nor did I anticipate instant fame... Which turned out to be a good thing because neither happened. Nonetheless, there was still that anticipatory "what if...?" I mean, what if the music plays too loudly, or what if people hate it entirely? What if no one likes the pictures I posted on the home page? Will they still take the time to look through the galleries? Why am I being so namby-pamby about this?!?
Well, I'll tell ya... I'm all "namby-pamby" because that is something that it supposed to represent me as an artist, as a photographer, as someone whom you want to have do a project (or two!!) for you, someone whom you trust to do a job you will love when it's done... Worried about the images on the home page - I tried to pick some of my strongest images.... **fingers crossed** I tried to pick some of my current best for the other galleries.
I already have in plan to make another few pages.... One specifically for Digital Enhancements and Restorations. I had a LOT of fun doing that in class a couple years ago and I have learned a LOT since then!  I totally intend on hitting up the local antique stores to see if perhaps they happen to have someone's old family photos I can scan and fix! That would be a GREAT addition to my shiny new website, no?

Well regardless, here's a couple-few shiny new images that probably don't suck.

Epic Journey: Part 3

A couple days ago I was working on my "photographer's ego". Today I am working on my "webmaster patience"!! One of the exercises I am doing now is called "related procrastination". I should be working on my portfolio website now, but I've decided that since I've hit a block I will distract myself and exhale while writing on my new bloggity blog! It's related, right? I mean, it's essentially just another website about me and my photography, right? There's certainly a LOT less to worry about and I can just chatter away and no harm done, right? We'll see if i come up with something interesting to say!

Hhhmmm.... OOH! Update on that photographer's ego I'm working on - I was inducted Wednesday to the National Technical Honor's Society! I have worked very hard to maintain a high GPA and now it is starting to pay off. I am eligible for more scholarships now and that could be VERY useful!! Either way, I am going by the philosophy that FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION! Nonetheless, it was still SUPER good for my ego!!

I keep thinking about the term "biting off more than you can chew". I do that sometimes... I think I may be doing it this weekend. I will be doing some event photography and some fun portraits at the event. I have volunteered to do the editing for these images and those that the other photographers take at the portrait studio. Mostly it will just be some quick cropping and adding a frame over-lay and I'm done, but if it's like last year there will be at least a few hundred to do! Plus I, also, have offered to help a friend with her "editing big bite" as she has several thousand images to go through for a project she is working on. I like helping people and I like big jobs. Mostly, I think I like AFTER better... It's nice to see when hard work pays off and I like the moment of realization when after working for hours and hours the end comes and the project is done.

I think that may be one of my current frustrations with my website project. This is actually going to be a 3 month project. I have just started putting it together, and next quarter I will be continuing the work. I do not see the end being anywhere near and that makes the steps I'm taking now seem like trudging through it instead of plowing ahead and getting it done. In reality I AM making progress and the end will come when it comes. If I do this right it will be an ongoing thing and will grow with me! I guess it's kinda like birth... I'm going through all these trials and tribulations just to make this thing, but it will go nowhere if I don't nurture it after it's born. I need to not hate it now so I don't hate it later.
Everything in moderation.


Here's some things I don't hate <3

Epic Journey: Part 2

Well, I've been learning. It's fun! One of the things I've learned is that starting a business is hard. There are so many things you gotta think about, can't forget, must do to C-Y-A. It's almost overwhelming! I'll get it, though. FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION.
Another thing I have learned is that I can actually do some cool stuff and I need to recognize that if I am going to be successful in a business. Nobody wants to hire a pessimistic self-loathing photographer! I wouldn't... I need to work on my "photographer ego". A fun thing I heard one time was that "it's not bragging if you can do it!" Well, I CAN DO IT! Like the little engine who could :) ithinkican ithinkican ithinkican

In the pursuit of that photographer ego here's a few shots I think I did ok with

Epic Journey: Part 1

I suppose it seems appropriate to start this ball rolling with a little bit of background. I am a part-time student, full-time wife, and part-time superhero. I love baking and cooking, and ESPECIALLY sharing! I also like to take pictures of what I cook. Photography has been an interest of mine for many many years, though I've only recently decided that it's what I want to do as a career. While cooking and photography are two of my biggest interests, there are a myriad of others that keep me busy. A variety of animals share my house and heart and frequently end up captured in a shot or two. I have no children so they are my "fur-babies". I guess they would also be my "feather-babies" and "scale-babies", but you know what I mean. Nature in general holds a great fascination for me. Hours can be spent just walking around looking at trees and bugs and clouds and such. MUCH of my photography centers on this subject. Truth be told, I'm not certain there is a subject I don't want to take pictures of.

My purpose for starting this blog is to document my education and progress as I try to become the super awesomestest photographer super hero I want to be. Maybe when I look back on it someday I will have learned something!

Ok, now some photography!