winter loveliness

This week, Lincoln was graced with two separate snows.  The first storm was violent, sudden and windy -- blowing what felt like shattered glass into our faces and eyes as we leaned into it, hurrying to our cars and homes and workplaces.  The second snow day made each of us feel like we were living inside a snow globe.  Giant bits of fluff swirled from the sky in a slow, poetic descent, as if each flake danced to its own music.

Naturally, I chose the first day to go out shooting. If I'd known the second day would be like a fairy tale, I'd have waited. But noooo.  I spent a miserable half hour outside, my camera pathetically protected under a fabric grocery bag I'd found in my car (I was THAT prepared), and my glasses all watery and drippy. Not to mention I'd left my gloves at home, and my lens was alternately wet and foggy. Not great shooting circumstances. But I think it was worth it. Easy to say now, sitting here wrapped in a cozy wool blanket (the one Justin bought in Peru).

I've always loved photography that is abstract, or somewhat so. I love images that seem to change when you back up and look at them from a distance. And I love when everyone sees different things in an image, or has different opinions on how/why/where it was taken.  Here are my images of trees and snow.

 

 

I think the last one is my favorite. Thanks for looking!

p.s. hopefully my next blog post will be...VERY VERY different. You'll have to wait and find out what I mean! :)

Preview of Alexis and Corey's Engagement Shoot! -- Engagement Photography in Lincoln, Nebraska

I successfully braved the cold this past weekend to photograph Corey and Alexis for their recent engagement! We had a relatively warm day, but two hours outside standing in snow and ice will really chill you! The first set of photos is from the downtown area, and for our second half of shooting, we visited a frozen pond. The shoot was fun, easygoing, and relaxed. :) Thanks, Lex and Corey!

 

 

 

 

Couples Shoot with Parker and Lisa - Portrait Photography in Lincoln, Nebraska

When my brother-in-law Parker brought his girlfriend Lisa to Lincoln for a few days to Meet The Family, I jumped at the chance to take them out for a photo session with my new camera and lenses. They were kind enough to subject themselves to my whims for a couple of hours.  I was so very happy with the way these turned out. (I am loving my new glass and camera too!)

Oh...can you guess which photos were taken in a PUBLIC BATHROOM?? (Bonus points if you know where the bathroom is!)

Tips for Successful Cold-Weather Portrait Shoots - Photography in Lincoln, Nebraska

Maybe you're thinking that since winter's here, you have to wait until spring to have your portraits done.  This is not the case! We have lots of choices! First of all, we can take photos indoors, like at your home -- which often works better for small children. (I'll be writing about home photos sometime soon!) But I don't think we should discount winter outdoor photography either! (Not to mention I always love shooting outside the best.)  It does have its challenges, but as long as we have a plan, we can have a really beautiful and unique shoot. 

Here are some things to consider if you're considering having outdoor portraits taken this winter...or if you thought it could never work!

Sisters! Family Portraits in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska

This was my first shoot of this sort! A classmate asked me to take some fun photos of her and her two sisters, as kind of a gift to their parents for Christmas. Fun! We went to the Haymarket and train station in Lincoln and wandered around the area a bit before exploring the Creamery building.  The weather was very warm (yay!) and the snow was melting, so I wore my rubber rain boots so I could sludge around in the muddy slop without worrying about my feet.

Engagement Photography in Lincoln, Nebraska: Jim & Kelsey!

These are pictures of my brother and his now-wife, Jim and Kelsey. I took these shots back in March, as soon as it was (barely) warm enough to spend time outside. It was actually my first time doing engagement pictures, and looking back I wish I'd have done a lot of things differently. I didn't have a lot of creativity in the poses and prompts that I've become at least a little better at recently. Everything is a lesson, right?

The bench they're sitting on for some of the shots is the exact place they got engaged. :) It's in a park not too far from my parents' house.

new photos?

I need to post more often. I constantly find new photographs on my computer that I can ready for online debut in a matter of minutes...which is handy when I don't have time to take any new pictures. Hopefully I can get motivated to create some new art - but this year I've hardly taken any new photos of the wintry loveliness (that I hate driving in). I have, though, found some great winter oldies from last year's photo stash that I can share with you now.

This year's family Christmas present-opening photos were, for the most part, just as bad as last year's - except this year I condescended to use my built-in flash for many of the photos. I hate using the flash, but I also hate using ISO 1600 and still having to manually lighten every single photo because my parents still don't have enough lamps in the living room. Well, that is a lesson for everyone: Have enough lamps in your living room - at least enough light to appease your live-in photographer.

Oh yes. Old winter pictures. Here are a few for your delight.

Fence-ology

Taken a few hours into our journey back from Thanksgiving break....by this time we were still in northern Minnesota someplace...

I begged Johanna to stop driving so I could photograph this weathered fence!


Isn't it beautiful?