“In the spring, I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.” ~ Mark Twain
I think you will agree with me that this is the perfect quote to describe the not so “spring-like” Spring of 2013! What a roller coaster ride it has been – winter one day, summer the next.
But Spring finally arrived in Southeastern Michigan, just yesterday. I have photographic proof - our Japanese Cherry Tree has FINALLY bloomed!
Can Autumn be far behind?
It is April 19, 2013 and I want to wish my “day job”employer of almost 29 years a Happy 96th Birthday.
This awesome collage photo as it was posted to the MSP Facebook page. I believe it was designed by some of our dedicated Department members and is a great representation of the past 96 years. Only four more years until MSP turns 100 and a little more than one year until I reach my 30th anniversary as. A civilian member of this Department.
A Simple Question: Why do I like photography?
The Host of one of my ”Meet Up” photography groups (www.meetup.com) received a complimentary pass to an upcoming coveted workshop and offered it as a “free giveaway” to group members. To enter the giveaway, he challenged members to make a comment about why they like photography. As much as I wanted to enter and win, I won’t be available to attend the workshop, so I refrained from commenting.
However, the challenge made me pause for a moment, reflect, and ask myself “Why do I like photography”? Such a simple question, but one I thought would be difficult to answer. My first reaction was that I don’t just like photography, I love photography. But again, I have to ask, why? Why do I love photography? What is it about this seemingly simple ”art of drawing with light” that consumes me? Surprisingly, it didn’t take me very long to figure out why.
A Simple (not Difficult) Answer: The ability to keep the window open to the past by CAPTURING a moment in time, PRESERVING a fleeting memory, and SHARING meaningful, emotional stories without the need for words.
That is why!
“Cancer is not a death sentence, but rather it is a life sentence; it pushes one to live.” ~ Marcia Smith ~
A cousin recently asked if I would photograph a family friend who wanted a portrait of herself while she still had her beautiful, thick head of silver-grey hair — hair that she would likely lose due to the aggressive chemo and radiation being planned to treat her recently diagnosed Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC). My answer was an absolute and resounding YES.
Not only did I schedule the portrait session to take place in her home within a couple of days, but I also waived the sitting fee. I probably would have done the same for anyone battling a life threatening illness, but those patients fighting this particular disease (SCLC) are especially near and dear to my heart. You see, my father was diagnosed with Small Cell Lung Cancer nearly 2 1/2 years ago and after six months of treatment, he has been cancer free for nearly two years. For that, I am very grateful.
I am thankful that my cousin thought to ask me to photograph her friend. I am just hopeful that I captured her strength, her courage, and her beautiful hair through these images and that she can stand proud as she prepares to do battle with “The Big C”. Whether standing or sitting, she will also have her trusty little sidekick, her Jack Russell Terrier named Bailey, by her side.
Here are a few memorable shots from our session.
“Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art.” ~ Ambrose Bierce
It has been more than a year since I made the decision to pursue my lifelong dream of becoming a professional photographer, to share a passionate hobby with the world! It has been quite challenging but also very rewarding. I created a business name and website, printed the business cards, bought more equipment, started this blog and started marketing myself through social media. I have continued my education through books, magazines, classes, workshops, etc. More importantly, I have continue photograph, using my camera to capture images and preserve memories. I’ve photographed, family, friends, strangers, newborns, senior citizens, my first wedding, a number of other events, landscapes, wildlife, etc. One could say that I have a “wide angle” view of photography.
Well, today, I had someewhat of an epiphany! I attended the inaugural “Day of Photography” organized by Midwest Photography Workshops (www.mpw.com), and held locally at Schoolcraft College in Livonia, Michigan. Although I attended a variety of sessions from technical to creative and listened to many well-known and established professional photographers of all generes, the recurring theme and primary advice was that to succeed as a professional photographer, one must narrow their focus to one type of photography. In other words, I need to FIND MY NICHE!
Most definitely easier said than done, at least for me! I like it all. I want to, and love to, photograph just about everything, anything, anyone, anywhere, at anytime! Quite honestly, I believe all photographers, amateurs and professionals alike, have the same broad interest that I have. But I have come to the realization that the most successful have learned to identify their strengths, hone their skills and market themselves accordingly.
That will be my goal this next year.
You’ve seen my work! What do you think? Where are my strengths, my weaknesses? What area of photography should I focus in on (in no particular order):
1. Travel/Scenic
2. Weddings/Events
3. All Portraiture
4. Specific Portraiture (ie. adults, families, children, newborn, or maternity)
5. Nature/Wildlife
6. Architecture
7. Product/Advertising
8. Sports/Action
Thanks for your input!
Winter Morning Poem ~ by Ogden Nash
Winter is the king of showmen, Turning tree stumps into snow men, And houses into birthday cakes, And spreading sugar over lakes, Smooth and clean and frosty white, The world looks good enough to bite, That’s the season to be young, Catching snowflakes on your tongue, Snow is snowy when it’s snowing, I’m sorry it’s slushy when it’s going.
I discovered this poem while researching quotes and sayings about winter to go along with the below photos. Needless to say, the poem spoke to me and accurately describes my feelings about winter, esepcially “A Winter Morning in Michigan“!
These photos were shot during a recent winter morning in Northern Michigan while my husband and I were visiting family. We took a drive into Manistee, a small harbor community nestled along the shores of Lake Michigan, and walked along the pier. We realized this was a first for us, that we had never visited Lake Michigan in the winter, in all the years we have been going up north! Although it was cloudy and overcast, it was a breathtaking site.
The return trip found us taking a detour to check out the Tippy Dam Recreation Area along the Manistee River. You can imagine our surprise when we actually found fishermen casting their lines in search of their trophy fish! Then we drove by our hunting property, which by the way is for sale! My only regret was that during our weekend visit, it didn’t snow!!!. Not at all! There was a snowstorm the day before our arrival, and, of course, the day after we came home!
“A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words” ~ Author Unknown
Pricing for “Memories Preserved by Linda” photography services has been updated.
Details are available through the Menu Links at the top of this page.
Wedding Packages starting at $250
Portrait Packages starting at $50
Event Photography ~ $75 per hour
Scenic / Travel Photography – Negotiated on an individual basis
Don’t delay ~ schedule my services today!
