[ a little help please ]

So a friend I met through LWL has offered to print me a sample of her product. She wants to start a printing business, focusing mainly on large scale photographs printed on canvas. I am having trouble deciding what image I want printed. I know I want it to be one of my Waterform images, and I know I want it to act as a headboard above my bed, but I can't decide which image I should use. It's gonna be big, so I have to be sure I'm going to like it.

Therefore, would you mind taking a quick second a voting for one? I'd really really appreciate it!

Option One:
This one would add some contrast to my apartment. The blueish-greens go really well with orange.


Option Two:
This is the most abstract of the options. It has tons of colors, including oranges and yellows, so it definitely works with the rest of the room.


Option Three:
This is the warmest of the images. Goes well, interesting shapes.


Gah! I can't pick. Which one do you like best?

[ holy moly mother of beautifulness ]

Just go look at these amazing photographs based on Alfred Hitchcock's amazingness in Vanity Fair March 2008:

http://up.youngruffians.com/vanityfair/

[ photography secrets ]

So I'm watching 'The Shot' on VH1. And it's extremely interesting to a photographer who doesn't work in the fashion industry at all. And it reminded me of a website I found a while ago, about images taken of some celebrity women without makeup or retouching. The women still look beautiful, but then you read the descriptions of the images, and you see why they still look perfect.

Check it out: "Look Ma, No Photoshop."

And it's so true. I know that when I'm editing images, one way to instantly make someone look younger is to brighten the entire image. If the entire image is bright, blemishes and wrinkles fade. It's rather incredible.

Anyway, I hope you find this interesting. You too can take model-esque images of people, just by bumping up your exposure.


Also, I've been meaning to ask if anyone would appreciate small photography lessons here on the blog. I'd totally be up for compiling some tips and reviewing some basics for anyone who wanted them. Let me know!


TIATF:

Shows like The Shot. They are incredibly interesting to me. I love to watch shows like this and America's Next Top Model. The drama completely bores me and is annoying. But the behind the scenes of photo shoots is completely and totally fascinating. I love watching how shots are made, how amazing photos are made. Awesome.

[ what a weekend ]

Holy moly. It's the beginning of the week, and I'm already exhausted. I had a hell of a weekend. Three weddings in three days, and some frantic editing to get caught up on some stuff for Brenda.

Friday, we shot at the Japanese Friendship Garden in downtown Phoenix. Holy beautiful. The landscape was amazing. The wedding was very small & intimate, maybe 50 or 60 people. The reception was at the Boojum Tree - funky and fun, but oh-so-very humid in the building. We were sweating like crazy in there!

Saturday, we shot at a small church in Scottsdale. Again, a pretty small wedding. The reception was at the couple's house, and it was absolutely beautiful! Twinkle lights wrapped around trees and bushes. Little paper bags with heart stencils lit from the inside with candles lining the pool. Crisp white linens on the tables. It was really spectacular looking.

Sunday, we shot at the Sanctuary on Camelback. Now that is a place where you can relax. Absolutely beautiful, overlooking Camelback Mountain. I definitely didn't want to leave.

Shooting wise, I had an okay day Friday, a total off day on Saturday, and I think a really good day on Sunday.

In semi-related news, I have an official client! Christine in November. I'm so excited! And I have a meeting with Cynthia, a potential client on Tuesday. Woooooooooohoo!

[ arizona has the best skies ]

I've been a lot of places - New Zealand, Italy, Paris, London - and I can honestly say I have never seen skies as beautiful as the ones in Arizona. Almost everyday, the sky is just breath-taking.

Driving home from work one day.

Driving to the airport in the early AM.

Also driving to the airport.

[ fruity delicious ]

I put a few photographs up for sale on my website. As the rest of my website is completely under construction, please go directly here to check out the available images.

[ gift to myself ]

After much debate and research, I bought myself a present. My next photo-related purchase was going to be a new printer (I even know which one), and then a new scanner (again, I know which one), but these just called to me.

The Plastic Fantastic box set from Lomography.com.


Five freakin' kickingly cool plastic cameras. Four of which take regular old 35mm film.

Five to ten business days, and I'll have my new babies!

[ image from Lomography.com ]