Lauren Harper Collection | Jewelry Photography

Even knowing full well that I don't get to keep them, I can't helping feeling like a kid on Christmas morning every time I open a new package of jewelry when I prepare for a photo session of Lauren's work.  The quality of each hand chosen precious stone; the vibrance of the facets and colors; the strong and still beautifully feminine designs... it has been fascinating to watch her work evolve over the years, and quite an honor to capture the journey!

Please visit Lauren Harper Collection for more information!

Jewelry Photography | Lauren Harper Collection (new)

Photographing precious gemstones and couture jewelry presents a unique set of challenges.  This most recent shoot for the Lauren Harper Collection was highly satisfying; even more satisfying was hearing joy from an ecstatic client!

Capture Philosophy | Photo Tip 04: Finding Portrait Light on Location

A week or so ago, I had the opportunity to work with talented Denver studio portrait photographer, Mark Pells, on an ambitious headshot project for the theatre department at my son's school.  

As a completely self-taught photographer and a HUGE fan of natural light, it was fascinating to watch Mark create magic with his studio lights.  I found it most interesting to learn that I am often drawn to or actively seeking out  the very conditions in the field, which he sought to create in the studio.

Thought I'd share a few of my personal favorite conditions through examples, in case you're curious to experiment the next time you're out photographing your family and friends.  

These are all photos I took on a single walk with my son on a bright, sunny afternoon in Denver (as you can see in the first photo below).  These photos were all taken with a 100mm macro lens with a Canon 5D, set on aperture priority (all shots are between apertures of 2.8 and 4.5).

Often, it is instinct for us to want to place our subjects in the sun.  But beware!  Direct sunlight can be a great dramatic tool when used intentionally, or with reflectors, fill light, etc., but if you are out with your camera and don't have such accessories (which I did not use for the shot above), not only will your subject likely be squinting, direct sunlight will create harsh shadows that generally aren't as flattering for skin tones, facial features, etc.  Thus, it is usually better to take the subject out of direct sunlight...

Once you take your subject out of the direct light, you'll have better luck getting even skin tones.  In this photo, light bouncing around from north and east facing windows at a coffee shop provided gorgeous, flattering conditions in the afternoon.  I simply exposed the shot to feature the correct amount of light in his eye and let the camera and natural light do the rest.  You can actually see the north facing windows reflected in his eye. 

In this shot, I asked my subject to stand in a spot of reflected light -- sunlight that was bouncing off the windows of a building across from us.  Beams of reflected light are fun to experiment with, and are a bit easier on the subject's gaze.  As you can see, while it still casts some dramatic shadows, it also can create fun magic in the eyes.

One of my favorite things to look for is nice, subtle bouncing light that is slightly weighted in its direction.  By that I mean that the light is essentially coming more from one side than the other creating a nice broad highlight on one side of the face, in this case, the side towards camera.  A darker background pops his face as the main focus of the composition.

These last two photos are shot on the same long wooden bench, but facing opposite directions.  In this first one, there is only indirect light on my subject, but an open area of VERY bright light behind him.  I exposed for his face (so essentially you'd need to OVERexpose if you were using a camera that meters for an overall scene), and I let the background go white.

For this photo, we switched positions so that the brighter area is now behind me (the camera), and it's a little easier to get a traditional photo with a nice tonal range, great skin tones and no hot spots.
And of course it never hurts to capture an impish grin :)
Happy shooting!!

Jewelry Photography | Lauren Harper Collection

Some of my favorites from a recent fun photography shoot of the Fall Collection for the absolutely gorgeous Lauren Harper Collection...

One Architects | Ad Campaign in Luxe magazine

Excited to share this beautiful ad campaign I have been designing for One Architects to run in Luxe magazine:

Winter (l) and Spring (r) full page ads in Luxe

The conceptual goal was to use the full page in an eye-catching way that would drive curiosity to visit their website.  We strived to achieve this by highlighting an unusual crop of an architectural detail in the keyhole of their logo, with a different seasonal background for each corresponding issue in Luxe magazine.

Winter and Spring (running in the current issue) are shown above, and we just finished up summer, which will be a double page spread:

Summer double page spread in Luxe

Springtime in the City

Rushing water is the hallmark of springtime in the mountains.  Rivers burst at the seams and ponds emerge in the valleys as snow melts and rages on its annual springtime descent. 

After a dozen or so of these high alpine springs, I had completely forgotten how abundantly beautiful this season can be at a slightly lower elevation!

It is April and already neighborhoods in Denver are bursting with color and new life.  And I, of course, as my eyes are on overdrive, I can't help myself but try to capture the new season in its birth.

I photograph because I have to.  Just ask my son, it's a compulsion over which I have surprisingly little control.  Compositions present themselves constantly, frozen moments of time, light and expression frame up in my view, even when I am not actively pressing a shutter.

As such, my camera often feels like an extension of my self; it is the tool through which, when I use it well, I am able to communicate my vision of the art and beauty that I see in my surroundings with the rest of the world.  The creative process drives me to the art of capture; the ability to share my work and evoke emotion from others is the inspiration.

Favorite Photos from 2010 | Part 1: Scenic + Macro

(click and zoom in to see images larger)

Newsletter: Happy New Year!! | Issue 02

Delicious Panzano's...

Hungry??  So was I when photographing these culinary works of art!!  See more of Chef Elise Wiggins' impossibly delicious creations at Panzano Restaurant in the gorgeous Hotel Monaco, right in the heart of downtown Denver.

Cheers!!

Macro Food Photography

Denver architect Gosia Kung of Kung Architecture, recently commissioned me after seeing some of my macro floral work, for a super fun (and educational) assignment, to create artwork for the walls of a Vietnamese restaurant she is designing.
Every part of this project was fun for me, from shopping the Asian market, to composing and shooting, to getting creative in the kitchen with the "leftovers" (food which did not wilt under the heat of the lights).  These ingredients are so luscious and sensual... I had no idea there was a natural edible color such as the hot pink of a gorgeous Dragon Fruit, nor did I realize you could cook with fresh turmeric (quite tasty).  My cutting boards will never be the same!
Pho-natic is scheduled to open early August at Colfax and Grant, across from the Capitol Building in Denver.  I can't wait to check it out!

Urban Spring (with tunes!)

I've lived in the mountains for long enough that I forgot that spring was more than just mud and melting snow at a lower altitude.  Colors, trees, bees - couldn't get enough of it!
Here is a sampling of what I've tried to capture of urban spring set to "Dueling Guitars" from the August Rush soundtrack.  Enjoy in HD (full screen) for best experience!

More Goodies from the Gardens

My last post was rather monochromatic, so I thought I'd share some of the colors of spring in Denver... Enjoy!

To Specialize... or NOT?!

Years ago I listened as Director, Robert Altman accepted a lifetime achievement award and said that he never took a job that he knew, at the outset, how to do...

I always loved that, and would say that while I am fairly knowledgeable about the workings of my camera, lenses, light, etc., I STILL get nervous before every single shoot.

It is one of the things that keeps me fresh and passionate about my work - the fact that every shoot provides a new opportunity to learn, to compose, to work with unique light, color and subject matter - and I almost never know how I'll approach these unique conditions until I'm there.

This commission, though, really threw me for a loop as I've never shot food! Through twitter, I have been introduced to work of some incredible culinary photographers, such as NY based Adriana Mullen - LOVE her work - and have been curious to try.

I met Elise Wiggins, Executive Chef at Panzano Restaurant in Denver, while shooting the Telluride Festival of the Arts a few years back and we have been in touch ever since. When she asked me to shoot a few lamb dishes for a client of hers, I was quite nervous (even reluctant!) but excited!

Watching her prepare these dishes I couldn't help but see her as an artist sculpting works of fine art (only these sculptures taste divine), and immediately I was excited to capture whatever essence of these dishes I possibly could. My hope is that these photos make you feel perhaps a bit hungry... If so, be sure to check out her incredible creations next time you are in Denver!