Chico CA. Honey Run Covered Bridge Environmental Portrait - Tell your own story
Hi all !
So excited to share these cool images of my very good friends Mike and Sue. They both grew up in the Chico CA. area. They wanted a large print to hang in their media room that has a country theme to it. (Michael is a hunter :)
The location was actually not my idea so I cannot take credit. I asked where would be someplace special to them. I think Mike actually came up with the idea of the covered bridge in Chico. Of course Sue took that idea and ran with it :)
So the plan was to go to the bar where they first met, the church where they were married – with a sideline trip to Durham (small town outside of Chico where Mike grew up). Anyway talk about a small town- where everyone knows everyone. While we were shooting in front of the church where they were married – who shows up for Saturday evening Mass? (Mike’s lovely mother Rita!) Talk about a perfect surprise for everyone :)
The place where they met is called Madison Bear Garden known as “The Bear” http://www.madisonbeargarden.com/ we took a few shots outside which was not an easy task with no one else in the shot (Think Octoberfest at a bar in Chico : ) I had to be quick to make it look like they were alone in the world!
Anyway – back to the Bridge ….The Bridge is actually called Honey Run Bridge. It was built in 1886 and then later covered in 1894. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. So bottom line - It is pretty cool !
Here are a few of my favorites! Would love to hear any comments you may have. Feel free to contact me if you would like to capture your own environmental portrait, anywhere in this big beautiful world that is important to you!
Reviewing SleekLens "Through The Woods" Lightroom preset bundle
Hi All,
Sorry for the long silence on this Blog … I promise I am going to try to post more regularly. ( Not committing to the regular cadence as I have no idea what I can do on a regular basis) But I will try to be more consistent.
So that being said, I am writing to share some information on a new Lightroom editing package I was introduced to recently called "Through The Woods Landscape Bundle" by SleekLens .
It was actually good timing as I had a batch of landscape photos from my recent Alaskan cruise to edit. (My Mom's 80th Birthday present -more on that in a later post : )
Anyway - I was very impressed with the available presets in this package. I mostly wanted to try the brush presets as most of the presets I see, aren't quite right for an entire image . I like to fine tune my images and modify or develop to put the final polishing touches on after some of the global adjustments. This is where I feel this package really shines.
Don’t get me wrong the presets are great but the customized brushes that are also included truly sets this package apart . The brushes I think are the key to really putting the polished final touches on my landscape photography.
Sleek lens has a great number of "how to" tutorials (including how to download and integrate in to Lightroom) They are easy to use and very intuitive.
Here are a few Before /After images to compare …Judge for yourself :)
Large Custom Lifestyle Portraits in San Francisco
Large Custom Lifestyle Portraits in San Francisco
Hi All !
I had to follow up my last Blog post on my custom Lifestyle portrait sessions in San Francisco. I am very pleased with the final product.
I have to give a big "Thank You" to Ann McKim of Q Interior. Ann has an awesome eye for style and very cool design.
Check out her website www.quintessentialsf.com for more of her stunning designs
If you are looking for help in design and decorating in the City. She is the definitely the person to call!
Additionally – I want to give a shout out to Joe Dellert of "the Artisans of San Francisco" He did a fabulous job on the matting and framing. www.artisansofSF.com. Check him out for any framing needs you may have.
I am continuing to book many more custom portrait sessions in and around this beautiful city. Give me a call if you are interested in booking a shoot to create your own custom image.
Stay tuned for my next shoot from Southpark San Francisco !
Shooting Lifestyle Portraits- China Town, San Francisco CA
So this idea started at lunch with my very good friend Ann McKim ( Q Interior Design ) who is an excellent interior designer based in San Francisco . She mentioned she was working on a client's San Francisco apartment and wanted to have an iconic photograph in a very large format to hang in his apartment . After more discussion we decided it would be cool to have her client in the photograph. Although we wanted him somewhat "incognito" . ( Think Where's Waldo")here … So the more we thought about it the more excited I became.
This was definitely something that would be unique. We wanted the image to stand on its own but to also have the client captured in it would be very cool !
So plans began for the shoot - Wardrobe , timing, schedule, location etc… Again the thought was for him to blend in to the environment with lots of people around him, so that anyone looking at the photo would take in the entire scene first and then recognize him secondarily.
Finally the day came for the shoot - I was a little nervous, as you never know what you might encounter on the streets of San Francisco. Luckily, we had good clear day so lighting was not an issue . The street in Chinatown in the afternoon is mostly in open shade, so harsh lighting was not an issue.
Okay now with all that said, we also got really lucky with the older automobile in the photo. It was parked in front of the "Old Shanghai restaurant " . Just as I got set up with my tripod and camera in the middle of the street ( Not an easy task ) It pulled in to the middle of the street .Also the guy with the rolled up jeans and the hat came out of the restaurant to help create the "old school" feel to the image . Talk about "capturing the moment" ! I was on cloud nine !
I am thrilled with the shot, and plan to do more of this type of photography. If you would like your own "iconic portrait" give me a call. We have so many fabulous locations here in the Bay Area - I would love to talk with you about the perfect environment to add something like this to your wall !
Melissa
Kauai - Jurrasic Park Tree
Loved this shot from our Kauai trip last week . Additionally in honor of the recent release of "Jurrasic World" I thought I would post it . I mean really, who could not fall in love with this beautiful island. Mike and I took a tour of the Allerton Gardens which is a part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden along the south shore of Kauai. - There is a reason why Hollywood has a love affair with this place. So many movies have been filmed over the years. It truly is a photographers paradise - Kauai should definitely be on your bucket list .... Come back to see more images of Hawaii in the coming weeks . http://mmphoto.net - More to come ! :)