Even though almost everything we do is digital it is so important to have the images that you cherish the most protected and shared from generation to generation.  Don’t leave those images sitting on your hard drive or on a cd.  Print them.  Share them.  Protect them.  And they will live forever…..

I remember spending a lot of time with my Mom’s parents and they lived out in the middle of no where near Potter Nebraska.  Farm land all around and usually filled with gorgeous gold wheat.  I also remember always having vanilla ice cream at their house and my Grandpa Ed would always stir it up for us so it was smooth and soup like.  My Grandfather passed away when I was around 7 years old (Mom correct me if I’m wrong) and no matter how hard I try this is the memory that I remember the most.  I have some very hazy memories of him in his last days but the ice cream stands out.

I also knew that I wanted to incorporate my Grandmother Neets (his wife) into this image and I had the perfect thing, her letters.  I had kept several of her letters that she wrote to me over the years after I was married.  We wrote each other from time to time which I loved and I am so glad that I kept some of those.  To see her handwriting instantly brings tears to my eyes but also a big smile.  She passed away in 2007 and I can still remember her voice and her touch.  (as you probably can imagine my laptop is covered in drops of tears while typing this)  Her letters were perfect to marry both of my memories of them in one image.

This image reminds me of the both of them.

Are you going to do the 30 Day Photo Challenge?  Read this post to find out more and I hope to see your pics soon!

I found this 30 Day Photo Challenge and I could not resist sharing it and wanting to do it myself.  So here’s the details.  The list below are the topics that will be for the next 30 days, one topic pr day in the order they are listed.  I have set up an album on my FACEBOOK FAN PAGE (do you ‘like’ me?) for all to upload your image for that day, including myself.  Just put the topic of that day in the description of your image.  This requires no fancy equipment!  I will use my iPhone and my DSLR, depending on what I’m trying to shoot.  All that matters is that it’s FUN!  I love photography and this exercise is to find beauty in our everyday lives and document it. I am so excited to see what we all come up with at the end of the 30 days!

Challenge starts OCTOBER 1st…..tomorrow!!

(image via pinterest)

I have been using the BlackRapid RS-W1 since May and I can not say enough good things about this camera strap.  Who else out there hates the manufacturers camera strap?  I DO!  The problem with the way the camera maker has their strap is that it’s always…ALWAYS…in your way.  I was always fumbling with the strap to keep it out of my way.  It was this never ending battle between me and my camera strap until I finally took the thing off and used my camera with no strap.  Now for some things I do not mind doing this because it really allows some freedom if you will.  The times this doesn’t work so well though are when I’m at an outdoor session standing in mud trying to get a great shot and then I find myself wanting to put my camera down to help my clients.  No way am I putting my camera on the ground.  Or I’m photographing a baby sitting on a chair and he lunges forward, I need my hands to catch him but I have to hold my camera.  I’m sure you can think of many other situations a camera strap is needed.  That is where the BlackRapid comes in.

With the BlackRapid strap it allows you to connect the strap to one spot and that is the threaded tripod mount on the bottom of the camera.  No more fumbling with the camera strap up by your face.

The round connector, called the FastenR-3, is solid and has a little rubber washer which really creates a tight and secure connection to the camera.  The ring connector, called the ConnectR-2, that connects the camera to the strap is simple but amazing.  Not only does it lock in place so you do not have to worry about it accidentally opening up and dropping your camera but it also swivels.  You will never have a twisted up camera strap ever again!

This is how it hangs on your body.  I wear mine on my right hip so that I can grab the camera very easily with my right hand.  The camera then simply slides up the strap so you can take your photo.  The strap does not move around too much while doing this which is so nice.  I do find that it slips back on me a bit but all I do is tug it forward and done.  Then you can let the camera hang back at your side again when you are done.  Or going back to when I was talking about  needing my hands, I can simply drop my camera down if needed and I know it is secure to my side.

I attempted to take a photo so you could see it on me but I found this to be a bit harder then it should be so please ignore the poor composition below.  You can see the strap coming up from under my shooting arm (the arm holding the camera) and the other side of the strap sitting on my shoulder.  Is it in my face?  No way!!  Another thing I want to mention about the RS-W1 specifically is that is is made for WOMEN.  Men do not fear they have straps made just for you. The very important detail about the woman’s strap is that the padding curves at just the right spot for our ‘girls’.  Ha ha ha!!  I can’t believe I just put that on my blog.  I highly recommend this camera strap and have even had strangers stop me to ask where I got it from.  I’m proud to say it’s a BlackRapid!!

BlackRapid‘s website is full of photos and videos of all their products so please head on over there to check out what they have to offer.

I do not get anything in return for this review of BlackRapid.

Color or Black and White?  This subject is asked all the time, “Why do you choose certain images to be color and some black and white?  Why can’t I choose which images I want black and white?”  My answer is simple, that is how I see it.  When I use to shoot film you had one choice, you either choose to shoot color film or you shot black and white film.  You had to choose the final outcome and there was no going back.  Sure you can covert a color film negative into and a black and white print (not a very good one) but there is no changing a black and white negative to a color print.  That still holds true for me today.  Even though I’m shooting digitally and it is all coming out as color images, as I am shooting I know exactly which images will be in color and which one’s will be in black and white.  It’s not decided when I get home, it is already seen as I am pushing the shutter button.

Here are two images that illustrate what I am talking about.  The first image is of Christin for the Luell Wedding Collection and it works perfectly in color.  It has such a warmth to it with the light coming from the sun setting behind her and her green eyes pulling you into the image.  This image in black and white would give you a more dramatic feeling instead of the romantic vibe it gives in color.

This image of Alecia is stunning in black and white.  You are instantly drawn into the dramatic feeling is gives with her eyes and the black accents.  In color this image has a completely different feeling, a more cheerful vibe but with the look that Alecia gave to the camera it was instantly a black and white image.  Would I change this image to a color print?  Heck no!  It doesn’t work in color.

Now as you look through my portfolio of images you can understand more of why I choose an image to be in color or black and white.  My film days (how I started in photography) will remain with me forever and one of these days I’m going to dust off my old film camera and give it a go again.