Context vs. Details - photography musings

Something I've been pondering lately is the balance in photography between capturing details of a given event, like intricate embroidery on a wedding gown, and seeing more context, like that gown hanging next to a group of bridesmaids primping at the mirror. Each type of photograph has its own strengths. But something I'm learning is that you need to have both, if you want to truly tell a story and help others visualize, or remember, the event.

When I first started on my photography journey, my photos were almost all details. This is because my emphasis was on bringing out the unnoticed and forgotten details of the world. If I could make someone amazed at the texture of a little leaf from their own garden, for example, I'd done my job. My perspective was tiny and focused: to diminish the context so little worlds of beauty could really shine.

Sneak Peek: a gorgeous engagement session with Sonny and Anika near Lincoln, Nebraska

I don't usually do these 'sneak peek' type of posts, but I'm so excited about this shoot I have to share it!

Anika and Sonny are getting married in October! They don't live in Lincoln, but she found me over the internet and asked me to shoot their engagement photos during a brief period when both she and Sonny were in town. The only time that worked for all three of us was early last Saturday morning. With the help of a coworker I found a killer photo location just for the occasion, and although we weren't out as early as sunrise, we were definitely able to take advantage of some amazing light! This is pretty much my dream shoot: a beautiful, affectionate couple who's up for anything; an obscure and gorgeous place, and the perfect time of day with magical light.

One thing I love about photography is the chance to meet new people (and engagement sessions are the best...fun, romantic, no pressure). From the interactions I had with Anika through the shoot and the weeks leading up to it, I became convinced that she and I could be great friends.  Their wedding will be full of personal, artistic touches. She's an artist too, and it shows through her great taste, and also her inspired photo ideas! We both love sunny, warm, vintage-ey photos.  She has the same Scandinavian name as several of my Swedish and Norwegian ancestors. And she has an awesome little tattoo on her ankle that reads "grace" in Hebrew (also the meaning of her name). While I don't have a tattoo, we have both been truly "saved by grace," her words during the shoot, and that might be the most beautiful connection of all.

I'll talk a little more about Sonny and Anika in a later blog.  In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these two photos from our magnificent shoot. Thanks so much for looking!

Vacation Photos from the Pacific Northwest

Whoo-hoo! We are so glad to be home after such a whirlwind trip! 11 days, 8 states, four national parks, one smelly cooler, and 4,250 miles, to be exact.

Photographically speaking, I was SO VERY GLAD for my circular polarizer on this trip! It is the one little gadget I've come to absolutely depend on for outdoor shooting (and even some indoor).  It's a little piece of magic that makes the clouds look 3-D, the grass look greener, and lets you look into water instead of seeing a reflection.  If you don't have one, they aren't super expensive but can really add a lot.

With so many landscapes on bright sunny days, I also felt very badly the need for a graduated neutral-density filter. The top part of the GND filter is dark, and the bottom is clear, with a very graduated level of darkness.  Very often when shooting landscapes, I just have to either underexpose the land or blow out the sky, or try to get something in-between. I don't do much landscape stuff around here and never thought to get that filter before I left. It was pretty tricky business without it.


But anyways...here are a few of the photos I took!  You can see some other ones on my personal blog, Moore Than Fine. 

The famous Tetons.

Here's Old Faithful. I loved how the clouds, far up in the sky, seemed to mirror the mist coming deep out of the earth.

"Please Let It Rain"

This photo was taken during my recent vacation with Justin's family in North Carolina's Outer Banks. This is Jockeys Ridge, a park of sand dunes near Kitty Hawk. My imagination paints this photo as one of a thirsty, parched tree longing for an outpouring of rain.
This photo is available for purchase here.

the world of dr. seuss (buckets)

taken at the Slowdown Theater when I went to a Jens Lekman concert last week.

today's picture is brought to you courtesy of the blue Morpho butterfly carcass that i purchased in Peru. it's one of the most beautiful things i own, and is accordingly one of my favorite possessions. i only hesitate to photograph it because it's difficult to do the butterfly justice. this butterfly is graceful and dramatic at the same time, like a ballet; and it's hard to capture movement and grace in a still photo. (also, the butterfly, being 100% dead, is as movement-free as they come.) anyways, the darkened background is the only adjustment i used... those glorious colors are 100% genuine. :)

holmes lake III

a trip to holmes lake with my new camera yielded some fun closeup shots! this is one of my favorite kinds of photography. anyways, enjoy (i know i did)! :)

a couple shots of the amazing sunset last night. anyone else see it, or take pictures? my entire house was bathed in pink light when i came home. after i grabbed my camera, justin and i went to holmes lake to watch it fade away.

some of my old, old photographs

a puddle outside my house

a leaf i found on my dewy windshield

oh, the blueberry picture. everyone makes fun of the blueberry picture. i just like the way the light is bent around, that's all.

a family feeding the ducks at holmes lake

some guy on a bus in the UK

a butterfly and some kind of sweet smelling white flower bush