Little Boys

(yes, the pumpkin boards are pretty much my favorite place to pose people)

At the beginning of the summer I benefited tremendously from the shoot and post everyday challenge I made for myself. That was, I believe, a huge turning point in my photography and I am so pleased with what I am learning and practicing. At one point I remember posting about all of the specific photographic topics I want to focus on and learn about. The list is overwhelming!
One of those topics was portraiture. If you asked me what kind of photographer I am I would tell you that I am a photojournalist. I love to document events and details! I do not consider myself a portrait artist. That is not what I wanted to do. I felt a need to be proficient in that area but I didn't particularly like my classes on it and therefore thought I didn't like that type of photography. The thing is, portrait tend to be profitable. Hmmmm? I have been pondering my reasons for disliking portraiture today and I have come to some interesting conclusions:
The perfection required in my classes was not appealing to me...I felt like I couldn't really succeed
Reflectors, tripods and stuff just get in my way and tie me down...and I thought they were required to take a decent portrait
Flash...no thanks!
Comparing myself with portrait artists whose styles I dislike
Photoshop...overwhelming and supposedly required (not to mention expensive)

All that said I am sure that anyone who follows my online life has noticed a serious amount of portrait shoots lately. And you know what? I have loved every minute of it! I am completely passionate about pictures and my favorite thing to do is look through them. I also LOVE it when people like my work and are affected by it. images of people they love are THE most emotionally impacting on this earth!

I have discovered in these past few weeks that I can break the rules. I can combine photojournalism and capturing the details with portraiture. I can relax and shoot fast instead of attempting to control every aspect of my environment. I can make others happy and loved by bringing out my camera and computer to show off their lives. I can take great images and not even touch photoshop. I can get paid for something I LOVE doing.

Okay, its getting late and I don't even know if this makes sense. This particular group of pictures were shot today just before the rain started to fall. I have been begging the guys at work to bring their families by the barn for pictures and today one of them did! I was thrilled, it completely made my day!

He has gotten so big since I last saw him...on the move constantly and not very interested in the girl with the camera. The parking lot was far more appealing to this guy.

He is only three and yet it took him about 1 second to figure out what button to push on the back of my camera to see the different pictures. He would pose and then run to me so he could see the picture. He pointed and told me (in different languages) who was in the picture. So fun.

The shirt says it all! Notice the little brother running through the background.

Ah, my friend! I am so thankful for the friendship of this man. He is so kind and I respect him greatly. Not to mention he has an amazingly adorable family!

~farming and photographing