so its been official for a few weeks now, but ImageWise Photography now has a new phone with some fancy new digs!  we now have full studio services at 608 North 2nd Street in Lawrence, Kansas!  the energy here is amazing and there is tons of room for senior portraits, family shots and even action based dance photography!

i cannot wait for all of my amazing clients to come on over and check it out!!!  i am sharing space over here with another amazing photographer, John Gladman, and Bombshell!  i will still be doing outdoor sessions, but you now can come over here to view your images and order in the studio!

We have had a fabulous time the past few weeks promoting the ballet Giselle for Ballet Midwest.  If you are not familiar, it is one of the most classical ballet produced.  What a fabulous thing to be able to have it here in Topeka!

Through all of the promotions we have gone into various businesses and thanked them for supporting the arts!  That is where these pictures are from!

From flower stores to old historic buildings to the statehouse to Jazzercize, they sure did have fun!

And acted like teenagers!

meet miss astra.  she has a special heritage you know.   there are a lot of us around here that are very very proud kansans.  i know that i am one of them.  but this little girl, she’s different.

to start with her name is astra.  the state motto for kansas is “Ad Astra Per Aspera”.  to the starts through difficulty.  what an amazing name to have!  and to make it more special she is a seventh, yes SEVENTH generation kansan.  not to mention one of the sweetest newborns i have ever seen.  welcome to the world miss astra!

the past few weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. i decided to enter prints in HOA this year. that is the heart of america print competition held through PPA (professional photographers of america). that competition is on april 1 and 2. but this past weekend the kppa (kansas professional photographers of america) had their winter seminar. one of the big draws for this is the print judging and critique that mirrors the print judging for hoa. i was hoping for a decent showing. i got more than i hoped for. the above print received the highest score out of all submitted. much to my shock and excitement.

even though i have had a camera in my hands as long as i can remember, i have a hard time believing in my own ability. i know my clients love my work. i know that i get an immense amount of joy out of shooting and editing. and that is honestly enough.

but i have learned so much the past few weeks. i have had the chance to learn from amazing photographers who have been around the block a few times with this competition stuff. their wisdom and experience has made my photography and my life richer indeed. so wish me luck. competition is coming on quickly!

so it really happened.  i enrolled my oldest daughter into high school.  this plus getting her driver’s permit has about put me over the edge.  i’m not old enough to have a kid in HIGH SCHOOL!  not to mention this has all gone far too fast for my taste.  it seems like just a few minutes ago i was watching over her little premature body in the hospital wondering if she would be ok.  wondering what kind of a person she would become.  i feel like between the fits of being a teenager, i do get glimpses of that person.  she is sweet and tender and caring.  so very self disciplined.  she is quick to laugh and has a serious smart ass sense of humor.  wonder where she got that from?

i remember the days of all of the kids being so small and thinking that it would all get easier as they got older.  easier no.  different yes.  i spend more time in my car now than anywhere else.  god love my ipad.  no more diapers and bottles.  now we just have drama and hormones.  i think i want the bottles and diapers back!  but every so often i get this lanky girl to snuggle in bed with me and watch a movie.  and i will take that any day.

this could possibly be one of my favorite images from this entire year.  it was such a blessing to have the privilege to shoot for Ballet Magnificat! while they were in kansas this year.  they were open to new and exciting angles and ideas.  i loved the ability to mix the classical with the urban.  the black and white with the color.  grace and strength and beauty.  not to mention they were a joy to be around!  topeka kansas seldomly hosts a professional ballet company (first time in 20 plus years).  still working on a name for this one, but it is probably the most likely to go in for print competition at this point!  and what is print competition you may ask?   prints are judged on 12 elements:

The Twelve elements listed below are in accordance to their importance.

Impact is the sense one gets upon viewing an image for the first time. Compelling images evoke laughter, sadness, anger, pride, wonder or another intense emotion. There can be impact in any of these twelve elements.

Creativity is the original, fresh, and external expression of the imagination of the maker by using the medium to convey an idea, message or thought.

Technical excellence is the print quality of the image itself as it is presented for viewing. Retouching, manipulation, sharpness, exposure, printing, mounting, and correct color are some items that speak to the qualities of the physical print.

Composition is important to the design of an image, bringing all of the visual elements together in concert to express the purpose of the image. Proper composition holds the viewer in the image and prompts the viewer to look where the creator intends. Effective composition can be pleasing or disturbing, depending on the intent of the image maker.

Lighting—the use and control of light—refers to how dimension, shape and roundness are defined in an image. Whether the light applied to an image is manmade or natural, proper use of it should enhance an image.

Style is defined in a number of ways as it applies to a creative image. It might be defined by a specific genre or simply be recognizable as the characteristics of how a specific artist applies light to a subject. It can impact an image in a positive manner when the subject matter and the style are appropriate for each other, or it can have a negative effect when they are at odds.

Presentation affects an image by giving it a finished look. The mats and borders used, either physical or digital, should support and enhance the image, not distract from it.

Center of Interest is the point or points on the image where the maker wants the viewer to stop as they view the image. There can be primary and secondary centers of interest. Occasionally there will be no specific center of interest, when the entire scene collectively serves as the center of interest.

Subject Matter should always be appropriate to the story being told in an image.

Color Balance supplies harmony to an image. An image in which the tones work together, effectively supporting the image, can enhance its emotional appeal. Color balance is not always harmonious and can be used to evoke diverse feelings for effect.

Technique is the approach used to create the image. Printing, lighting, posing, capture, presentation media, and more are part of the technique applied to an image.

Story Telling refers to the image’s ability to evoke imagination. One beautiful thing about art is that each viewer might collect his own message or read her own story in an image.

so here we go.  working on images for the next few days getting ready!

miss ali wilson you are my winner!  totally sorta random.  by which i mean parker pulled your name out of a cereal bowl.  couldn’t find a hat!  i do believe a something sweet will be in your future!

the next few blog posts will likely be me trying to get a bit of feedback.  this blog is read by people i love and respect.  whether you are clients, family, or friends.  i am working on prints for competition this spring.  a big step to put myself out there!  hope you enjoy and would appreciate any and all comments of course!

i actually love this day.  valentines day.  some folks think its sappy and overly sweet.  a holiday for card companies and such.  i just like to think of it as a day of gratitude.  a day to remember the people and places we love.  i love that the weather is warmer today.  i love my family.  i love the fabulous friends i have from here on the blog, at church, and in every corner of my life.  i love my sweet clients who make my job a joy each and every day.  i love that we live in kansas.  i love that we live in a country that is free.  i love that Christ gives us his grace to get through each and every day.  i love my children.  my sweet sweet gifts.

what do you love?

i am ever so ready for this winter to be over.  i have done some fabulous sessions out in the snow.  drank plenty of hot chocolate.  had scads of time in my fuzzy socks.  cuddle time in front of the tv and fireplace.  hot soups and cinnamon rolls.  glistening snow on my porch.  snowmen and squeals of laughter and cute red noses.  but i am so ready for this winter to be over.  i have also had frozen fingers and toes.  too much snow to shovel.  cabin fever with the kiddos.  and did i mention that i do NOT like to be cold.  at all.

what i am ready for?  green grass between my toes.  the feel of the warm sun on my face.  cute spring and summer dresses.  opening the house up to smell the summer air.  and flowers…i cannot wait for flowers again.  so thank for a lovely winter with all of the fun that winter entails.  please send me summer now!

i love the fell of the different textures.  the hum of the machine.  watching a blanket come together piece by piece then seeing my kids wrap themselves up in the coziness.  or throw together a few neck warmers for photographer friends with strained necks and backs!

and more than all else i love getting back to a slower rhythm.  i thrive on the mock 3 rhythm of the summer and fall, but my body and mind and soul need this few weeks of the year when i can take a deep breath and truly appreciate all of the blessings in my life!  now back to the machine…