Photo Stories

Pelican in the Matrix

in

Brown Pelican - Nikon D300 Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D @ f/4 ISO 200 1/800thVarious quotes from songs, movies, books, etc. get stuck, or rather burned into my mind and float to the forefront of my visual cortex at their leisure.  One such quote is, "It's the question that brought you here.  You know the question, just as I did."  "What is the Matrix?"  Since 1999 those four words spoken by my boy Keanu have become like canon to me.  Perhaps I have not revealed before my true desired profession, that being:  philosopher-poet.  The matrix itself appeals to me because of the ability to alter the perception of time within it . . . time being another obsession of mine (example time essay).  

In my mind the physics of the true Matrix exist, and I burn energy in attempt to project that reality onto the common world.  

Photography helps show evidence of the Matrix, as seen above.

Madeira Beach St Petersburg Candid Portrait Family Photography at Sunset

in

Madeira Beach St. Petersburg Florida - Bliss Family watches the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico

Over the winter I made a couple of visits to the section of Madeira Beach across from John's Pass Village.  I noted that it may make a good location for a future family beach portrait session because of its long stretch of empty beach, seawall and most of all the newly completed drawbridge.  Well, now that temps are in the high 70s the beach was no longer deserted and the seawall was covered with anglers.  However, it remained a good location as the drawbridge was mostly free of people.  

Carie recently took a DSLR Photography Lesson and said how she was also interested in family portraits.  I am always very pleased to be able to provide multiple services to the same client.  I met Carie and her family (three kids, one husband) on a warm Saturday evening at the aforementioned Madeira Beach spot.  Carie herself ended up suggesting what turned out to be my favorite shot of the evening (see above).  This is the second family portrait session in a row where this has happened (see first here).

I was very conscious of reflections during this candid family portrait session.In a candid family beach portrait session I take a few photos of the whole family together, stationary first, then set everyone loose to do what they like on the beach.  Carie's daughters took up a fascination with sailing a leaf down a tidal pool.  Decades ago I first learned how to skimboard in such a section of water.  

Nikon D300 Nikkor AF ED 80-200mm f/2.8D @ f/4 ISO 200 1/1600th natural light - Madeira BeachCarie's family were great shoreline walkers maintaining a nice even plane (important for keeping everyone in focus) and perfect spacing between each other.  I told them to walk at a good pace too, as it would make for a more natural positioning and final image.  If one walks slowly, motion gets more deliberate and less pleasing to freeze in a frame.

I wanted a turn myself! -- natural light Madeira Beach 15 minutes before sunsetThere has to be no greater joy for a child than to be tossed up into the air by their father!  Florida's pale blue evening sky always provides a pleasing background for a photo of any subject matter.  

Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ f/5.6 ISO 200 1/125th Strobist: SB-800 @ 1/4th power on light stand to frame rightI always like to get one photo of just the parents, which was a quick operation this time as Carie's son is very active and would not stay long in the care of his two big sisters.  The Gulf of Mexico was its typically calm self that evening.

Up on the drawbridge over John's Pass!Above is the very last shot of the portrait session.  I saved the drawbridge for last, after sunset, thinking the sky will then produce some great color and Mother Nature cooperated with a range of purples to oranges.  

I had a very good time photographing Carie and her family and trying out a new beach location.  Thanks Carie!

Street Portrait Series 03 - Downtown St. Petersburg

in

Model: Savannah -- Nikon D300 Nikkor AF-S 105mm VR micro f/2.8G natural lightAfter a long absence, my Street Portrait Series continued this time in downtown St. Petersburg.  I met up with some fellow local photographers, including Michael Thompson of lightenupandshoot.com fame.  I first learned the street portrait approach technique from Michael last year.  I always have a lot of funning doing street portraits so I hope not to take as long for the next entry in the series as I did this time.

Pictured above is Savannah who volunteered to be a model before heading to a concert at Jannus Live.  Savannah said she had never done anything like this before, so to make her feel more relaxed I had her swing around the stop sign post and do a little leg keep to encourage a more natural, and more fun pose.  I think she did a great job!

Model: Clare -- Nikon D300 Nikkor AF-S 105 mm VR micro f/2.8G natural lightClare was the first person photographed that evening and a super good sport as several people gathered around her shooting away.  With more than one lens around, you definitely need to feel comfortable giving the person/model instruction to get a shot you want.  Someone had already asked Clare for an angry look, then I asked her to look at my lens so I did not have to settle for just a profile shot.  She works at Frankie D's Tattoo on 1st Ave North in downtown St. Pete.

Models: Rob & Ashley -- Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 lens Strobist: SB-800 on light stand to frame leftThere is often a great purple toned twilight sky backlighting the buildings of downtown St. Petersburg, and that evening was no exception.  I asked Rob and Ashley to stand on the corner so I could include as much of that purple twilight sky as possible in the shot.  I chose to shoot off level horizon to avoid some obstructions in the shot.  Even with that, I had to delete a building from the right side of the frame.  

Thanks again to all the volunteer models.  I have already sent them all a copy of the photos I took of them, which is proper street portrait etiquette.  I hope to be back out making street portraits again soon.  If you want to learn more about DSLR Photography and combine that with doing street portraits, I have 1-on-1 photography lessons available!

"Why is this bride smiling?" New Tampa Clearwater St. Petersburg wedding photography campaign

in

The new look & slogan for Tampa Clearwater St. Petersburg wedding photography promotionsFor Spring 2011 I am launching the "Why is this bride smiling?" promotional campaign for St. Petersburg, Tampa and Clearwater wedding photography.  The ads themselves are more colorful using the same tone of blue found in my logo and feature a floating circles design theme.

"Why is this bride smiling?" -- The intention behind this question is to promote the emotional aspect of my wedding photography for Florida brides-to-be (and grooms too!).  Instead of initially focusing on specific package details, pricing, etc., I first want the engaged couple to think of the emotion they want from their wedding photography, what they want the experience to be and how to capture those emotions and experiences.  If the engaged couple feels connected to the emotions of my wedding photogrpahs and wishes to experience and preserve what I have done for others on their wedding day also, then the time for discussing package details & pricing can follow.

I realize price is a strong factor in purchasing decisions, but wedding photography is not like buying a refrigerator.  

For all of the above reasons I offer a free, in-person wedding photography consultation to determine if my wedding photography philosophy matches with a specific couple's wishes.  Even if someone looks through my full online portfolio, downloads and reads my Wedding FAQ, reads all the raves and reviews, I will always highly encourage meeting in person before the couple decides on myself or another photographer for their wedding so I can in my own words answer the question, "Why is this bride smiling?"

Thank you . . . 

  • Reserve your free wedding photography consultation with Jason today!
  • Learn more about candid wedding photography packages
  • Why choose Jason to be your wedding photographer?  Read the Wedding FAQ 

    • Published in 2011 Metropolis Japan Calendar

    in ,

    I became more serious about photography in August 2008.  I already had plans to leave Japan in February 2009.  In that six month period I had a goal of getting a photograph published in the "Photo of the Week" section of Metropolis, the #1 English magazine in Japan.  To my great surprise I reached that goal on October the 24th.  Though no money was involved, for a few minutes it felt like I had won the lottery.  

    Then almost two years out of Japan, Metropolis contacted me for permission to have one of my photographs considered for their 2011 calendar.  I had originally submitted it in January 2009.  I said, "sure."  I was then told it was selected for the month of January and the copies they mailed to me across the sea arrived this afternoon.  I was also happy to find out I was sharing space with two other old Japan photographer friends, Vladimir and Alfie.  I was with Vladimir when I made the above photograph, and really only went out shooting that day because of his invitation.  So I guess I have him to thank most!  The photograph is in fact, one of my own top five all-time personal favorites, and a shot I am rather proud of.

    Getting a photograph published in Metropolis I feel is still a sort of right of passage for a photographer in Japan, and perhaps Tokyo especially.  It results in a sort of Who's Who of photographers.  A small, but nice honor.

    This got me to thinking this afternoon about where my photographer career would be if I had stayed in Japan.  Alfie is a true professional photographer with many connections and he was starting to appreciate my work.  Could I have gone on to be more of a photojournalist like he is?  Would I still have pursued lifestyle photography in Tokyo as well?  I can imagine wedding shots with Mt. Fuji as the background, or family portraits taken under the cherry blossom trees in full bloom.  Who knows . . .

    Warm Pass-A-Grille Florida Winter Sunset HDR

    in ,

    Pass-A-Grille Beach Florida sunset - Nikon D300 f/11 ISO 200 5-bracket HDRAs I sit here in shorts & a t-shirt with all the windows of my apartment open, and the ceiling fan on, let me extend a welcome to everyone who is perhaps suffering from a less palatable winter to visit the tranquil & warm Pass-A-Grille Beach at the very tip of St. Petersburg, Florida.  This beach is a great escape, with just the right mix of available entertainment and solitude.  Plus, how cool will it be to tell your friends & family you visited a place called "Pass-A-Grille?"

    If you do visit this lovely place, please consider preserving your memories with professional beach photography.  I offer several candid portrait packages for families or individuals.  What would look better than a photo of you (and your family/friends) printed on a beautiful canvas gallery wrap hanging on your wall to remind you of Florida's warmth the next time a snow storm makes going outside just an impossible thought. 

    Sunset Beach Wedding on Treasure Island St Petersburg Florida

    in

    Relaxing on Sunset Beach for their wedding - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 @ f/11 ISO 200 1/200th SB-800 off camera

    It was a very intimate affair for Shannon and Jim's beach wedding on Treasure Island's Sunset Beach in St. Petersburg, Florida.  It was just me and Shannon and Jim (and an officiant).  There were not even that many other passersby on the beach itself.  The only company we had were a few birds.  This was all fine by me.  An empty beach means nice clean backgrounds.

    The sand ceremony is the main feature of many Florida beach weddingsYou may be surprised to learn that most beach wedding ceremonies are about five minutes.  When you are photographing such a ceremony that five minutes seems to go by almost instantly.  Needless to say the first time I photographed one I was quite surprised and I quickly learned to shoot many more shots per minute than I normally do.  The highlight shot of the ceremony itself is often the "sand ceremony" where the couple simultaneously pours sand from the very beach they are getting married on into a glass vessel of sometimes, in the above case a heart-shaped vase.

    One of my signature beach wedding shots is the couple walking along the shore - Sunset Beach Treasure Island FloridaThat evening was clear and cloudless, allowing the sun to be seen right until the edge of the horizon itself.  Time again passes very quickly with the sun that close to setting, thus it is a great advantage to have the experience I now have with sunset photography.  The above semi-complicated walking shot can usually be satisfactorily captured by the second take.  

    The wedding couple splashing in the Gulf of Mexico itself on Sunset Beach Treasure Island FloridaOnce the sun did go down, Shannon and Jim said they were up for a bit of a swim and took to the gentle waves of the Gulf of Mexico.  Thus, their beach wedding came to frolicking close.   

  • Reserve your Florida beach wedding in St. Petersburg or Clearwater with Jason today!
  • Learn more about Candid Beach Wedding Photography packages
  • Not getting married but want Candid Family Beach Portraits?
    •