Photo of the Day - Into the clouds:



Welcome back! I swear I had a post ready to go for yesterday but it has somehow disappeared into the blogosphere. Can't find it anywhere. Really weird I know. Today was another full day with our last doctor appointment before the due date. Man time has flown! Feels like just yesterday we were hearing his heartbeat for the very first time. Everything looked good and we may be ahead of schedule but you never know with these things! I'll keep you posted!

I'm back today with another Pacific Northwest themed shot. I promise I didn't just take shots of sea planes while on our trip and hopefully I will be able to show off some other shots from the region that don't have a plane in them soon. The above shot was taken as we were heading out to sea. It may not be the best shot but I think it has a cool feel to it with the mountain and active clouds in the distance. Weather can change in a split second up there and it is a really interesting thing to watch (and sometimes dangerous). Though I did fly in one later in the trip I was glad I wasn't on this one flying directly into the weather!

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you are having a great week. Tomorrow is Friday and then the weekend! Have a great day & see you tomorrow!

Photo of the Day - Atkinson Lighthouse:



Whew crazy busy day today and I am just eeking this post in but wanted to do it before Thursday! The above shots is one of my favorites that I took while cruising just outside of Vancouver of Atkinson Lighthouse. I saw the sailboat approaching as we were cruising out and managed to time it just right and work both subjects in. One of my favorites of the trip and I took it 30 minutes into the cruise! Sometimes that's the way it shakes out! Sorry for such a late Wednesday post but be sure to check in again on Thursday. See you then!

Photo of the Day - One year ago...



There are certain times of the year in my life that I will remember. Most are important family dates, birthdays, and holidays but there are a few other dates that always bring back memories each year. The last Tuesday and Wednesday of February each year will always bring back interesting memories and strong emotions since a year ago today (and tomorrow) was when I sat for the Florida Bar Exam. I won't get into all of the trials and tribulations of the preparation and stress I went through from December 2008 to February 2009 but it is a period in my life that I will never forget. No matter how much stress I may be going through I can look back to these two months and know that if I made it through that and managed to pass, I should be able to fight through just about anything.

If you're interested in reading my blog posts about the bar exam it is a 5 part series Part 1,Part 2,Part 3,Part 4,andPart 5. That should keep you busy for a while!

The above scene greeted me when I arrived in Lakeland before heading to Tampa for the test. My mom always has a way to help lighten the mood and this was just what I needed! The below shot is of my survival kit that I brought with me to have in the hotel room in Tampa to bring a smile to my face and help cut the stress just a bit.



Well all the preparation and rubber chickens must have worked because here I am a year later as a member of the Florida Bar. I know I couldn't have done it without my great family and friends and I am so thankful for you all! I do know some sitting for the bar tomorrow and I wish you all the best of luck and know that if you have put in your time preparing you will pass with flying colors! If you're not sitting for the bar today and tomorrow be thankful and chances are regardless of how bad/stressful your day may be, there are 5,000+ others who are having an even more stressful day.

Thanks for stopping by today and be sure to stop by again tomorrow for Wednesday's photo of the day! See you then!

Photo of the Day - Canadian Lighthouse



Had a great weekend but as usual it was too short. One thing that was nice about this weekend was that I didn't have any big plans at all so I just went with the flow and for the most part relaxed. One of the things I did this weekend was work on some questions for another upcoming guest blogger while also making contact with some possible future guest bloggers. It's really exciting to know that it was interesting and more photographers and others are interested in contributing. I also made time to re-read Thursday's guest blog entry and if you missed it be sure to click here and check it out!

The big news from last night is USA Hockey's victory over the home team Canada last night! What a game! Watching these elite athletes on this stage is really what the Olympics is all about. As I mentioned a few posts ago I love Vancouver and we had the chance to leave from Vancouver on our northbound cruise to Anchorage. I have yet to share many of the photos from that unbelievable trip here so I figured I would do so during the Olympics to show how amazing that area of the world truly is. The above photo was taken from the top deck of our ship as we traveled out of Vancouver on our way north to our first stop in Alaska. I loved the small lighthouses and other scenery that was there for us every day as we cruised north. Even in the cold it was hard to go inside with the constant beautiful views.

In one final bit of news, our son, Riley is due ONE WEEK from TODAY! Wow. That's crazy to type but I know we are as ready as we can be which in reality, isn't that ready. Either way we are excited and cannot wait to welcome him into the world. Hopefully sooner than later! Thanks for stopping by today. We have a big week in store here and I hope you stick around. Have a great day and hope to see you tomorrow!

Wow what a great guest blog yesterday! Thanks to Doug for being our first guest blogger and thanks to everyone who stopped by. Hopefully some of my new readers will stick around for a while! Last night was a busy one as we headed to Gainesville for the UF basketball game vs. Auburn. It was a great game but kind of sad since it may be my last of the season. Whether it is my last game or not isn't up to me, but is up to this guy:







We had another ultrasound to check up on things earlier this week and everything came back looking great and we even got a couple more 4d shots to add to our disc. Can't believe he is due a week from Monday! Thanks for stopping by for such a busy week here at the blog and if you missed the guest blog entry yesterday be sure to check it out in the post just below this one on the main page. Have a fun and relaxing weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!

Photo of the Day - Guest Blogger #1:

Above image by Jessica Acox, Art by Emmie Duval

Welcome back and happy Thursday! Today I welcome one of my great friends and an amazing photographer Doug Levy as my very first guest blogger. I can't wait to share the interview with all of my readers (and some of his)! Doug is one of my best friends that I have never officially met. We crossed paths a few times while I was living in Jacksonville while he was in town for work. I will leave the rest of that explanation for him in some of the questions below. I was bouncing around ideas to increase the blog readership and my photography web presence and Doug helped me with this idea and what direction to take so it is fitting he is my very first guest blogger!

Doug is my one stop encyclopedia when it comes to photography. Just last night I shot off an email asking for advice on what ball head to buy for my tripod and within 10 minutes he was already back with an answer and guidance. He's such a great resource and friend and at times I hope that I am somehow doing my part to reciprocate as a friend. Either way Doug has stuck around and put up with me and I couldn't be more thankful. We'll see how long he sticks around once I'm done assaulting him with questions. Welcome Doug! I know I would not be the photographer I am today without his help and guidance and I am so honored and happy to have him as my first guest blogger! Enough with the soft stuff...on with the interview!

The Basics:

How do I know you?

I met you in 2007. I was umpiring professional baseball (in the Southern League) in Jacksonville and you'd seen some of my photos and hit me up for some tickets (and got some sweet shots of me working).

Where are you from?

Sharon, MA - about halfway between Boston and Providence.

Something or some things that most people don’t know about you?

Hmmm. Photographically? I've never used a meter, never owned a "real" film camera (my girlfriend bought me an antique Brownie for my birthday last year), and really think if I had to shoot film I'd find a new job.

Where’d ya go to school?

Syracuse - graduated in '03 with degrees in Finance and Journalism.

When I met you, you were doing something COMPLETELY different, what made you decide to make the big leap into professional photography?

The move toward working professionally for me began in the fall of 2007 when I shot my first wedding. I look back on those images now and wince - I want to call the couple and give them a full refund! They paid me $800 to shoot and give them a disc, and I cringe now at the quality of work I was doing at the time - John and Min, I'm sorry!
I can't believe I'm sharing this, but here's one of the terribly over-Photoshopped images from that first wedding. (I think I applied about a dozen actions. Seriously.)


Did you go to school to become a photographer?

Nope.

How long have you been shooting?

In 2006 I was umpiring in the Florida State League, and before the season began there was a bit of a labor issue between baseball and our umpire union. To make a long story short, baseball was threatening to cut off our health insurance and I had started saving money to pay for coverage. Two days before the bill was due the strike was resolved and I had an "extra" $1k in the bank. I promptly spent it on a Nikon D70s and 18-70mm lens.

Why did you get into photography?

I've always had an interest electronic toys, and at the time I just saw a nice camera as another fun toy to play with.


What do you shoot most? What kind of photographer are you? Feel free to add photographic evidence as you see fit!

I think it's really difficult (and dangerous) to pigeon hole oneself as a photographer. That said, a lot of clients like to hire photographers who have a specialty. Think about it - are you more likely to hire a dedicated basketweaving photographer for your homemade wicker baskets? Or someone who shoots NFL football? For me (someone with the attention span of "a flea" as a friend likes to put it, I shoot people, and I'm always trying to capture expression. I think my twitter profile is basically my elevator/napkin pitch. "Moments + vision + emotion = photos"

How often do you shoot?

Weekly, if not daily. If I'm not shooting for a client I'm shooting for myself. I very much subscribe to Nick Onken's ABS theory of things, "Always be shooting."

Show me your top 3 favorite photos of all time and explain to us why you like them so much:

First I have to say that this changes weekly, if not daily. And second I assume you mean photographs I've taken, because it would be impossible to narrow down all the photos I love so much to 3. But here's a few of my personal faves.





Lets see some more of your work!















Whose photography inspires you?

I'm a big fan of both Nick Onken and recently, music photographer Danny Clinch, both of their work is both inspirational and inspiring.

What event or person have you not yet photographed that you really want to shoot soon?

As for what I want to shoot soon..."I'd love to shoot Boston from a helicopter, and I also hope to have some more time this summer to do more street portraits, like I did when I was in LA this past fall (http://www.dougblogs.com/2009/10/13/los-angeles-street-portraits-in-santa-monica-venice/). I'm not sure how that might play out on the East Coast, but I think it will be cool to find out. I think people on this side of the country are a bit more reserved, so it will certainly be a challenge. In LA, I think only 3 people said no when I asked if I could take their picture - I think the numbers will be significantly more against me on the East Coast."

How do you learn while you shoot?

When I started it was all trial and error (the beauty of digital, no cost per click). Now it's a matter of building an ever-expanding library in my head of what works and what doesn't and being able to quickly apply what works best in varied situations, quickly.

The Equipment:

Nikon/Canon/Something else?!?!?

Ah, the list. Here goes:

Nikon D700 and D300 bodies

Nikon SB-800 and SB-600 flashes (I also have one Alien Bee 800)

Lenses (all nikon): 10.5mm fisheye, 14-24mm, 24-70mm, 50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.4, 70-200mm VR1

Random accessories: Pocketwizard Plus II's, remote camera cable (used most on the D300 at events), tons of color correction and effect gels for the flashes, Honl grids, Lastolite Tri-Grip reflector, Lastolite Ezybox (looooove this), and a ton of random umbrellas, brolly boxes and other light modifiers.

Are you a gear hound? What's on your photo gear wish list?

Honestly? Not much on the wishlist at the moment. I'd love a set of Elinchrome Ranger lights, but I'm really trying to push myself creatively, and I think if I can't make awesome images with the gear I have it's my brain's fault, not my gear's.

What is your favorite piece of photography gear other than your camera?

This is a toss-up between the Lastolite Tri-Grip and Ezybox, both are so portable and versatile - I never leave home without either.

Like the golf challenge where you're only allowed to use one club in your bag, if you could only use one lens for a shoot which one would it be and why?

I guess this really depends on the job. I could shoot an entire wedding with the 24-70 if I had to, but in terms of which lens do I love the most? Definitely the 85 1.4.

How do you light? Au naturale? Artificial light? On camera or off? Big strobes?

I'm the kind of guy who walks into a room and my first thought tends to be, "Where should I put the lights." It's a mindset I'm trying to move away from actually to focus more on things like moments and expression in favor of letting the light accentuate the subject, instead of the reverse.

What digital darkroom software do you use? Any other software important in your work flow?

Nothing fancy here, just Lightroom 2 and Photoshop CS4.

What digital darkroom tools, plug ins or presets do you use the most?

For Photoshop I use a small number of homemade presets, including one I wrote for LAB color (for more info check out this guest blog I wrote for my friends at LensProToGo). I also do occasionally use the "Pro Retouch" action from Totally Rad Actions.

Have you ever had any disasters while shooting? Lose or have equipment break? What happened?

I've been pretty lucky in this regard. Nothing too horrible has happened to me on a shoot. The most common "problem" if you can call it that is that 30 minute shoots turn into 15 minutes, and 10 minute shoots turn into 3 minutes. That seems to happen weekly!

Dreamland:

If you could shoot with any professional photographer dead or alive who would it be and why?

Oh man, not a short list. At the moment I'd love to just follow Dan Winters, Sam Jones and Platon around for a month (or longer if they'd have me). Each have such unique ways in which they use light to communicate with their subject and viewer

Where would be your dream shoot?

I've had an image of a ballerina at sunrise in front of this background in my head for a year and a half, I just haven't had things come together yet where I can pull it off.

If not a photographer or umpire, I would have liked to be…

I am what I want to be. It'd always be nice to be busier and tackling more expansive and comprehensive projects, but I wouldn't change a thing otherwise.

First thing you would do if you found $10 million dollars?

After the boring stuff like paying off college and my car? Sign up for one of Andy Biggs' African photo safari's (andybiggs.com) and take and invest in a medium format system to take with me.

Movies, TV, Music, Books & Mags (oh my!):

Favorite movie?

So cliche, I know, but probably "Field of Dreams."

Favorite TV Show(s)?

24 - I'm totally an addict. I think my dad and I watched the first 3 seasons on DVD in about 2 weeks.

Photography publications you subscribe to?

Oh man. There's a ton (but I think I get the most inspiration out of GQ and Esquire - amazing images every month). I have a thumbtack board with clippings from magazines, most of them are from GQ and Esquire. But I subscribe to: Digital Photo Pro, Photoshop User Magazine, Rangefinder and American Photo.

Other Magazines you subscribe to or get on the newsstand:

GQ, Esquire, MensHealth.

Best photography book you’ve read?

The Moment It Clicks by Joe McNally

Best non photography book you’ve read?

There are a bunch, but I'm partial to anything by Jeffrey Archer.

What’s next in your book queue?

I should probably get one...

Favorite kind of music?

Springsteen - though I've been on a country kick of late, especially Randy Rogers and the Zac Brown Band.

Favorite musician or group right now?

New music? Haha. I think my Ipod is full of old rockers - Springsteen, Tom Petty, Zepplin, I'm boring, I don't have many new artists on my playlists.

What's playing on your iTunes right now?

Digital Photo Radio (I know, I'm a dork.)

Websites, Blogs, Tweets & Tips:

Have any favorite websites or blogs that you check regularly?

My Google Reader tells me I'm currently subscribed to 155 blogs and I've read 908 items in the last 30 days. That said, I do have a "Favorites" folder including the following blogs: Strobist.com, Chase Jarvis's blog, Vincent LaForet's blog, and Joe McNally's blog.

Belong to any professional photography associations/groups?

I'm a NAPP member (www.photoshopuser.com) as well as a member of a local group of photographers, the Boston Photographer's Guild

How do you market yourself and your work?

I make liberal (I think my girlfriend would say too much) use of my Facebook page, my Twitter page(@douglevy) and my blog

Do you advertise?

Not beyond social media. 90+% of my business comes via word of mouth from other photographers and past clients.

Do you have a website or a blog? Hit me with some links!

My Website

My Blog

Any must follow twitter accounts?

@nickonken
@emilieinc
@asmp

Is your website/blog a big part of you getting clients/meeting other photographers?

Having a web presence is so so so important. Having a consistent one even moreso. That's why you won't find me blogging about babies and maternity shoots or tweeting about my favorite restaurant.

What is the best way to get more people to view/talk about your work?

Shoot better photos, and show more people. Seriously. Think about it, if you're not getting enough work it's because either your images aren't good enough or they're not being seen by enough (and the right) people.

The Future:

What goals do you have as a photographer?

I think if I keep on the path I'm on, things will work out. What does that mean? I think building a brand and a business is such a linear process - you have to walk before you can run. Goal-wise I'm just trying to make better images than I made yesterday (and to spend more time behind the camera and less in front of the computer).

5 years from now I will be...
Making better images than I am today. Not to sound overly simplistic, but if I can make more complex, more meaningful images the rest will take care of itself.

10 years from now...

Maybe I need a 10 year plan, but 10 years ago if you told me I'd be doing this today I'd have said you were crazy. I think I'll just enjoy the ride.

#1 on your bucket list?

I should probably start a list so there could be a #1...

Wrapping things up:

Is there anything you would have done differently during your photographic career?

I wish I'd owned a camera before I was 25, but that's not so much something I'd change than a bit of a regret.

Is there anything you are still learning either in your profession or in life?

Always. Small steps. I'm just trying to make better images than I made yesterday.

Which five words or phrases would your friends likely use to describe you?

Loyal. Inspiring. Motivated. Tireless. Persistent.

Any advice for fellow photographers that we haven't already discussed?

I think we've just about covered it. Shoot more. Show more people.

I’ve learned the most from…screwing things up and trying to avoid making the same mistakes twice.

Well, that finishes things up for our first guest blog ever! I've learned a ton and I am sure you have too! Thank you so much to Doug for putting up with me and my questions and for joining me as a guest blogger. If you know Doug be sure to make a comment and give him a hard time and if you don't know him still feel free to leave a comment and either give him a hard time or show your appreciation for his posting a blog entry instead of me. I imagine all of my regular readers were pleased to have a break! Thanks to all of my new readers that stopped by today to check out Doug's entry as well as my regulars. If you're new here I hope to get to know you all better and hope that you stick around for a while! If you're still wondering who the hell I am and why I am doing this check out my interview and be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter and check out my web page! Hope to see you again tomorrow for Friday's edition of the photo of the day and be sure to stay tuned for more guest blog interviews in the coming weeks. See you tomorrow!

Photo of the Day - Havin' a Ball:



Monday night I had a ball and I mean that figuratively and literally! Admittedly we have not been the best at taking maternity photos to document the progression and changes in Britt's body as we move further into her pregnancy. I blame myself for most of that because I am really not that great of a portrait photographer, I am still learning to work with multiple off camera flashes, and I'm really not that hot on the genre of maternity photography in general. With that said however, a lot of that changes when it is your wife, and your baby on the way but even then I can't make myself a better photographer. Finally it hit both of us that time is running out for maternity shots and it occurred to me that if she's willing to be in front of the camera (which she normally NEVER is) then I need to be willing to come out of my comfort zone of landscapes, wildlife and sports and take some portraits.

We both really went into it with the right mindset and really had fun with the whole shoot. Some of the outtakes are so funny that I may share some with you all once I finish editing the set of keepers. All in all I had a great time and our relaxed and happy mood really set the tone for a great night. It's hard not to be happy with all that we have to look forward to!

Here are a few more from Monday night:





Speaking of things to look forward to, tomorrow is the big day, and we have our first guest blogger EVER! Tomorrow I will welcome, and relentlessly question my good friend and fellow photographer Doug Levy. Be sure to check in and read what he has to say. It will be an interesting and informative read and I can't wait to share it with you all! See you tomorrow for the big day!

Photo of the Day - Family Tradition:



Sorry for the late Tuesday post! I will have Wednesday's post up and ready to go for you all bright and early tomorrow so be sure to check it out! Busy night last night full of getting caught up as well as a special photo shoot but that's reserved for tomorrow's post!

The above photo is one of the few that I have managed to edit so far from this year's Daytona 500. Once I got home I was so wiped out I didn't even have the energy to import the shots from my memory card and Monday wasn't much better so hopefully I will get around to working through some tonight. If I do I'll update this entry with a link to the gallery.

Anyway, as the title of the photo indicates, the Daytona 500 has kind of become a family tradition for me and dad over the years and honestly I don't even remember how many we've been to. I know we've been going for well over 10 years and have always sat in the same seats. We've had some amazing experiences (meeting Dale Earnhardt after he won), seen some unbelievable tragedies (watching Dale Earnhardt's final lap), and some unbelievable racing. It's always an adventure and something we have always enjoyed doing together. I even went last year with less than 2 weeks left before the bar exam - brought my books with me to the track and everything but the best part of that day was just getting away from it all and being with Dad. A year later, not much has changed and as always the race (even with all of the delays for track maintenance and crazy traffic) was a blast!





Thanks for stopping by today and like I said I will update with a link to the gallery as soon as I get through the shots but will try to hold off on making it another NASCAR photo of the day. Speaking of upcoming photos of the day you can't miss the rest of this week! Tomorrow I'll have a few shots from last night's photo shoot and then on Thursday you've gotta stop by for our first ever guest blog entry! I'll announce who it is tomorrow so stay tuned! See you then!

Photo of the Day - 500 miles and 17 hours:



That was the total amount of time from door to door yesterday for our trip to the Daytona 500. What a whirlwind! I'm STILL tired! Traffic is always tough getting back from the race and unfortunately there were some major delays during the race due to the condition of the track. Still, it's always a great time and worth the long day! The above photo is of the 2010 logo. Haven't had time to go through the rest of my shots but will as soon as possible. Have a special photo shoot tonight so not sure when we'll get to them. Be sure to keep checking in this week - lots of big things coming up including our first REAL guest blogger, I swear it's not me this time! See you tomorrow and have a great day!

Photo of the Day - Let's Go Racin!



It's that time of the year again and that time isn't Valentine's Day. It's time to go racing! As you read this I am either on my way to or already watching the 52nd running of the Daytona 500. I'm not sure exactly how long I have been going but I know my dad and I have been going well over a decade and it is always a blast. We have some amazing seats and have seen some amazing races. The concert before the race, the fly over and everything else that goes on during this action packed day. Since I have been shooting I always have a great time getting a few shots during the race as well. Though I don't have the best vantage point like some of the photographers that are credentialed but I do pretty well from the seats (and get to drink beer with dad). If you haven't ever watched it's definitely more exciting than it usually gets credit for. Here are a few more shots from last year's 500 and expect more after Sunday!







Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you back here tomorrow for our regularly scheduled weekly photo of the day programming!

Happy Valentine's Day!



Thank you to all of my followers who check in and help me make this blog what it is! Hope to keep it going in the right direction. Love ya all!

Photo of the Day - Vancouver:



Welcome back! Like I said yesterday I decided to make a couple of weekend posts since this is a pretty full weekend. As we all know the Olympics is just now cranking up and whether it is a Winter or Summer Olympics I love watching all that goes on. It's really an amazing thing to imagine these athletes training so hard for so long to only have the opportunity to participate on this stage once every 4 years and usually no more than 2 or 3 times in their lives. To be able to perform at that level with that kind of pressure is amazing and makes for a great couple of weeks of sports viewing!

I'm especially excited about this Olympics since it is taking place in one of my favorite cities! During the summer of 2008 my wife and I flew into Vancouver which was the starting point of our cruise to (and around) Alaska. We got to Vancouver a few days early to make sure that if there were any travel issues we would still have a buffer before the time the boat was scheduled to leave and we wanted a few days to be able to explore Vancouver. What a beautiful place! It was definitely a great start to our trip and we really wanted to make the trip back up to Vancouver this year for the Olympics but we've got bigger things on the way. Besides it will probably be a much more fun visit without all those crowds!

The above photo was taken from our cruise ship as we made our way out to sea. I loved watching all of the Sea Plane action in and out of the area and it was fun to shoot from the deck of the ship. During this Olympics I may post a few more shots of Vancouver and Alaska to commemorate this amazing trip:



Thanks for stopping by for a special Saturday edition of the photo of the day and be sure to check in AGAIN tomorrow for another special weekend edition of the photo of the day!

Photo of the Day - Father Daughter Dance:



Welcome back! Like I said in yesterday's post I am sorry that I wasn't able to post a photo of the day for Thursday but it was a full day and when I got home I had the chance to talk to and work with our first guest blogger. We are really close to finishing up the first real guest blog entry and after reading it all I can say is WOW! Totally impressed and I am so pumped up to share it with the rest of the world! Be ready because next week that's exactly what is going to happen.

The above photo is one of my all time favorites from the professional golf events I have had the opportunity to shoot. When you assist other photographers in this kind of setting your focus for the majority of the time must be on assisting the photographer you are working with and your shots are way down the priority list. Towards the end of the tournament last year that focus completely changed when the tournament was coming to an end. There were assigned positions on the 18th hole which restricted the number of photographers allowed in each area and the angles of the shots that we were able to get so it was key to get the best shot from each angle to bring back to the media room. Unfortunately we didn't have enough people working the event to have a photographer at each location so after some strategy it was determined that I would be manning one of the spots near the green to try to get the best shot possible.

Wow - my first sports assignment when I least expected it and when I was the most fatigued after walking mile after mile for the first 3.75 rounds in the summer heat and now I was going to have to gather it all up and find a way to make it happen. I was also pretty fired up that day because there was a stock of loaner equipment that the Times-Union was given for this event and there just so happened to be an extra D3 lying around. Once everyone had headed out it was still there and one of our editors offered it to me. I tried to act casual and paused a bit before answering with a resounding "OH YES!" So this is one of my favorite shots since I had the opportunity to use some amazing and very expensive gear that is not my own.

As the champion Henrik Stenson's group made it down the fairway I was in my assigned area ready to go with some amazing sports photographers from all over the country. After he had finished his round and began to celebrate his daughter ran out to him and that amazing moment happened while they were celebrating such a special moment. Her hair was lit up by the setting sun and their expressions say it all about a father and his child's relationship. Definitely one of my favorites and one that I think back to and smile about often. I'm lucky enough to work with my dad and see him every day and we often have these kind of moments but I'm just a bit too heavy to pick up these days :-)

Thanks for stopping by on your Friday morning for this edition of the photo of the day. Like I said big things are happening and our first real guest blogger and one of my great friends Doug Levy will be stopping by for his interview next week! Stay tuned and have a GREAT weekend! If you are around tomorrow and want to stop by there may even be a special Saturday edition of the photo of the day. Happy Friday!

Photo of the Day:



Oops, almost missed today's post and it's so late that I figured I should just hold off on a huge post and give you one of my favorite pictures for tomorrow's post. Had a busy day and finished it off by heading out to an Emerge Lakeland speed networking event. It was kind of funny since I am a photographer and volunteered my services to take a few shots at any Emerge event that I am at I was holding it while participating in the "speed networking." A lot of first comments to me were "oh so you're a professional photographer" and I would have to let everyone know that I have more than one profession. I seemed much less interesting to everyone once I started talking about being an attorney. Oh well :-) What a great time and what great people - I met so many! I'm really proud to be a part of this group and the events committee.

Sorry if I let you down with a no picture Thursday post but be sure to stay tuned for Friday's post! Big things are happening!

Photo of the Day - Near Miss:



Hello again! yesterday was another work day and the above photo is kind of fitting and since I was working with it last night so I figured I'd post it! The day wasn't THAT bad, but it did feel like a near miss. Just a lot of potential to be really great and get a lot done but just didn't get there. The good news is even though yesterday was a near miss there's always hope for tomorrow (the next hole in the round).

The above shot was taken during the third round of at last year's Players Championship. Kevin Na had a birdie putt on the 7th green and his reaction says it all. I had a great time following his group for a bit during this round and he is an exceptional professional golfer! I love the shot and it really sums up some of the emotions involved in the game of golf at any level. This shot is also an interesting lesson in sports photography - sometimes the best shots come after the action when the athletes react either positively or negatively based on the result. Never chimp too soon, the shots that have already been taken aren't going anywhere but the action or reaction in this case will pass you by if you're checking to see what you got too soon.

Here's hoping today is the exact opposite of a near miss! Thanks for stopping by today and if you missed it - be sure to check back to Monday's post for my very first "guest" blogger! Be sure to stay tuned for another guest blog entry soon! See you tomorrow!

Photo of the Day - Back again:



Welcome back! What a long Monday! Wow. The good news is it's over! This afternoon I finally had the chance to do a little work on my web page and re-opened the "UF" section. I had to add a password prompt on the front page of the gallery to protect some sports photos and I finally got around to moving those to a better area. I frequently got questions and emails from people asking me why they couldn't access the gallery and for those who asked - now you can! :-) If you aren't a graduate of the University of Florida or a fan of the Gators you may not be interested but as long as you aren't a rival I am sure you will enjoy some of the shots of our beautiful campus. I truly miss it and love driving and walking around it while I am in town. If you'd like to see the UF Gallery click here!

I took the above photo of Century Tower, a well known UF landmark during a Lunar Eclipse after a basketball game in 2008. I read about the eclipse before we headed to town and I made sure to bring my gear so I could get a few shots before heading back home. I knew I wanted to work this famous landmark in with the eclipse if my timing was right and it worked out. I do wish the moon was a bit bigger but I can only control so much :-) Overall though I am pleased with all of the shots from that night.

Hope your Monday was a little better and more stress free than mine but hey, there's nothing we can do about it now, so here's hoping we all have a great Tuesday! Thanks for checking in and I hope to see you back tomorrow!

Photo of the Day - Guest Blogger #1:



Today I'm excited to have our very first guest blog here at Tim Darby Photography and that guest blogger is...........me! Man if you think you've been bamboozled by stopping in today, wait until you read the interview! A photographer friend of mine and I were discussing the best way to go about a possible guest blog entry and he suggested that I use a format similar to that of a very talented photographer - Crash Taylor who does a monthly interview of some amazing wedding, portrait, and fashion photographers. I loved the idea and although I'm not a wedding photographer I have had a blast reading some of his interviews. Admittedly I have adapted some of his questions for my first "interview" but the questions will change as the guest blogging moves on and new guest bloggers sign on. I figured I should put myself through this process before I actually cause any of my friends or other professional photographers through it sooooooooooooooo here we go:

The Basics:

Who are you and why are you here?

I'm Tim, and I'm here because this is my blog? I’m an attorney by day and a photographer by night (and weekends). I love both and don’t consider one more of a passion than another. One pays a bit more but like my pets, I love them all the same :-)

Where are you from?

Lakeland Florida.

Something or some things that most people don’t know about you?

I am 1/8 native American – Choctaw to be specific. I was a page in the House of Representatives for a summer in Washington D.C. and then an intern the next summer. I lettered in basketball at the University of Florida (as an equipment manager). I have seen a ghost. Those facts should confuse/amaze you for a bit haha.

Where’d ya go to school?

Lakeland Senior High School (Go Naughts) then went to undergrad at UF (Go Gators!) and then law school at Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville.

Did you go to school to become a photographer?

Haha, not even close but my majors were almost as useless. In all seriousness – no. I went to school for Political Science and finished in 3 years so I turned my minor of Criminology into a second bachelors. I have yet to take any structured class on photography.

How long have you been shooting?

All my life. I always used to follow my grandfather around as he took photos but I have been a serious photographer since 2006.

Why did you get into photography?

My grandfather was a huge influence on getting me started in photography. He was always the family photographer at events and I loved the Canon A-1 he always had strapped around his neck and the colorful strap. The older I got the more interested I became not just in his camera but what he was taking pictures of and how he was doing it. He gave me that Canon A-1 before he passed away and it is one of my most prized possessions. Still works and shoots great!

What do you shoot most? What kind of photographer are you? Feel free to add photographic evidence as you see fit!

1. Whatever is in front of me when I fire the shutter

2. Mediocre at best

Kidding, sort of. My photography has always been about what is going on in my life and the beauty/interesting things that I see or are going on around me. What I shoot most has taken quite a shift in the last year or so.

When I initially started taking photography seriously I focused on my surroundings in Jacksonville and shot a ton of landscape and wildlife.





I also did a few downtown shoots at night of the lights and buildings.





We had the opportunity to take some amazing trips (cross country road trip and then a trip to, Chicago and then Alaska) where I had a vacation within the vacation getting to shot in some amazing places all over the country.







I’ve always loved sports and had an interest in shooting sporting events but gaining access to the field or floor is always difficult for a new photographer to get a chance to gain that oh so valuable experience. I was blessed to have the opportunity to assist the Florida Times-Union and their photographers during the Players Championship for the last two years and I have learned SO much from working with them.







After shooting a sporting event at that level I was hooked and was again provided with the opportunity to help Gator Country and their photographer Tim Casey shoot some University of Florida baseball and basketball games. I even had the opportunity to shoot the NCAA Super Regional baseball series last year and have had a blast while gaining unbelievably valuable experience.





This summer another amazing opportunity arose and I was hired to work for the University of Florida to shoot the 2009 football season. I shot all home games, the UF/UGA game in Jacksonville, the SEC Championship and the Sugar Bowl. If it sounds awesome, it’s because it was awesome! :-) I learned a ton while enjoying the ride and I look forward to doing it all over again next year!

I also anticipate a shift to baby photography and portraiture in my very near future.

How often do you shoot?

Not as often as I would like. Since I started shooting football games almost every Saturday my weekend time to explore and find great new locales in and around Lakeland to shoot has been limited. Having a full time job also eats up a lot of my time to shoot but I like to try to get out the gear at least once or twice a week.

Lets see some of your work!

I share images on this blog Monday through Friday so I will spare you for today. For some of my most recent sports shots check out my member page on SportsShooter.com.

Who's sports photography inspires you?

Really too many to name that I really appreciate but Bob Rosato’s and Bill Frakes' sports photography is unreal. There are tons of photographers and friends who inspire me daily. Hopefully you will get to meet some of them as guest bloggers soon!

What sport have you not yet photographed that you really want to shoot soon?

It's probably a tie between hockey and bull riding (which just so happens to be on TV right now) with a Swimming event closely behind. All 3 would provide some really cool experiences and compelling shots.

Most challenging thing about photographing sports?

Getting everything 100% in focus with athletes running all over the place with 90,000+ fans screaming the whole time makes it pretty tough. Timing and being in the right place on the sidelines is also crucial. Being a fan of sports is tough too, sometimes you get caught up in the moment and forget you've got a job to do. There's a very fine and dangerous line between shooting and enjoying an event

Best feeling in the world as a sports photographer?
The absolute best feeling is seeing an amazing play through the viewfinder and then when it's all said and done looking at the shot in the LCD or on the computer and knowing you absolutely nailed it. All of this going on while all of the screaming fans are so loud that you can't hear your shutter firing even though it's inches from your ear and then seeing the shot used somewhere and that excitement and the chills come back like it's happening all over again.

How do you learn while you shoot?

I have a few tricks I use to make sure that I am learning something new on every shoot. I obviously blog about some of my experiences but I also keep a journal where I put more candid thoughts (curse words and incoherent rambling) of things that I have learned or experienced while shooting. From lighting conditions in different stadiums to camera settings, to small things like the most comfortable way to sit or what to do when it rains I write it all. I write about things that went right but more importantly what went wrong, how I can fix it, and things I need to work on. If you write it down and check back on the journal often you'll be amazed how much improvement you will see.

Another great way to learn is to talk to the other pros doing it and ask questions. Don't go crazy and hit them with a 1,000 question guest blog entry on the sidelines because that will prevent both of you from doing your job and annoy the other photographer but if you are wondering about something or have a question, ask. What's the worst that can happen? Most of the time you can tell who is interested, or at least ok with talking and who is not (headphones in). The photographer community in most areas is really kind and always willing to help and educate.

Read sports publications and look at the photos and see who's work is making the front page/big mags. Sooner than later you'll recognize names and then pay attention to who is at the event. If you get to talking with another photographer you can ask if certain photographers are there and if they are pay attention to what they're doing. It's amazing how much I have learned by just watching. Also when you're looking at the photos that are getting used/published pay attention to the composition, sharpness, and how things are framed/cropped. Compare some of your shots from the event to others you see and see what is different. One last tidbit in the stalk the pro sports shooter paragraph - look to see where everyone is positioned on the field. If you are all alone on the sideline during the action and everyone is gathering somewhere else (and you didn't just fart) there may be a reason for it. This isn't always true and amazing shots can come from anywhere at any time but there are also some pretty prized pieces of real estate on the sidelines and you need to keep an eye on where those tend to be and try to figure out why. Refs positioning as well as players/coaches on the sidelines have a lot to do with where the best angles to shoot from are. Never forget though, if you're shooting from the same vantage point of the same subjects, you've got to find a way to make your work stand out.


The Equipment:

Nikon/Canon/Something else?!?!?

All of my digital gear is Nikon and I shoot with a D300 and D80 with a plethora of lenses.

Are you a gear hound? What's on your photo gear wish list?

If you don’t have eyes on new equipment you’re not a photographer. That’s not 100% true and I’m no gear hound but with the advances they are making in camera bodies and lenses it’s hard not to have your eye on something. I’m looking at a Nikon D3 or D3sfor next season and if the right opportunity arises for a 400 2.8 I may jump on that as well. Fingers crossed!

What is your favorite piece of photography gear other than your camera?

I’m a huge fan of my Think Tank Speedfreak for shooting sports and hiking with photo gear. They have an unbelievable line of gear so check them out!

Like the golf challenge where you're only allowed to use one club in your bag, if you could only use one lens for a shoot which one would it be and why?

Really depends on the situation since I shoot so many different things but I’d have to go with my 300mm f/2.8. I LOVE it.

Favorite specialty lens or effect?

I really have a good time shooting with my 10.5 fisheye but don't use it enough. I need to make that change.

How do you light? Au naturale? Artificial light? On camera or off? Big strobes?

For sports stuff I usually go au naturale but will carry an SB-900 with me for post game activities and it'll have to be on camera. Not much other than that unless I’m doing a scheduled shoot or I’m at home. I do my best to get the flash off camera as long as I'm not running around on a football field. No big strobes b/c no big money and that's not my full time gig. Maybe someday.

What digital darkroom software do you use? Any other software important in your work flow?

I’m a huge fan of Lightroom and I’m looking forward to the release of Lightroom 3. I also use the LR Morgify plugin and GIMP to help with watermarking (still no idea why this isn't part of the Lightroom software). iTunes is also essential to get me going and help creativity while I am stuck in the office editing. Foo Fighters, Lightroom and some coffee can help me get through any 1,000 image editing session.

What digital darkroom tools, plug ins or presets do you use the most?

Honestly probably just exposure and lighting adjustments for sports stuff. I did just get some amazing new custom presets from my buddy Doug Levy that I have been checking out and I love them!

War Stories:

Most memorable project or shoot you've been involved with?

Definitely shooting this past football season for UF and being able to document Tim Tebow’s senior season from the sidelines. The SEC Championship in Atlanta and the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans have been the biggest stages I have gotten to shoot and it was AWESOME!

Have you ever had any disasters while shooting? Lose or have equipment break? What happened?

Nothing too big. I’ve lost lens hoods and front caps for my camera bodies during scrums on the field post game – that stuff can get crazy, especially for a short guy! I've donated lens hoods to the St. John's River, a lens hood and lens cap to a customs line in Vancouver, Canada, a top LCD was cracked when I accidentally dropped my D300 back in the bag, donated a front cap to the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana during a post game scrum and an LCD protector to Tim Tebow's cleat (also during the post game circus). Haven't been completely run over on a football sideline but I have been next to guys who have been cleaned out and it doesn't seem terribly pleasant.

Missing a shot of a good play during a game stings but it's not a disaster and if you worry about that then you’re certain to miss the next one. So I handle that by forgetting about it and focusing even more without forcing the issue.


Dreamland:

If you could shoot with any professional photographer dead or alive who would it be and why?

Can't pick just one so I'll start with the living.
Joe McNally. He’s brilliant, has had some unbelievable experiences during his photography career, and has an awesome sense of humor, he's a great writer and blogger, and I think we’d both have a fun day. YOU HEAR THAT JOE? CALL ME! Haha, seriously though, one of these days when the schedule is right and I actually have some money I plan on going to one of his workshops. I can't just pick one so I'll pick a dead one as well - definitely Ansel Adams. I'd love to just sit and watch him and see where he would take me to shoot. What a thrill!

Name a photographer you would like to take a portrait of?

Might as well keep the Joe McNally lovefest alive…Joe! Some of his self portraits and updates that he posts on twitter are second to none.

Where would be your dream shoot?

For sports it would have to be the Super Bowl or a college Basketball or Football national championship game. If it was a travel or landscape shoot it would have to be in Glacier National Park or Antarctica. Two places I will go to before it is all said and done.

If not a photographer or lawyer, I would have liked to be…

A professional golfer.

First thing you would do if you found $10 million dollars?

Pay off all of my student loans. It’s not pretty. Then some photo gear of course.

If you could be any other kind of photographer what kind would you be?

I think it would be an amazing experience to shoot in a war zone and be a conflict photojournalist. These photographers are so brave and brilliant and are in a position to photograph the best and worst elements of humanity and share them with the world. If my wife wouldn't let me shoot in an environment where people tend to shoot back, I'd also love to explore underwater photography. As if photography wasn't expensive enough, imagine trying to waterproof everything. Ha.

Movies, TV, Music, Books & Mags (oh my!):

Favorite movie?

Caddyshack

Favorite TV Show(s)?

Oh man, this one may get some ridicule. I'm into some reality TV:

Survivor, American Idol, America's Got Talent, Amazing Race and many more.

And some of my favorite non reality shows are: Arrested Development (RIP), The Office, Mad Men.

Photography publications you subscribe to?

Digital Photo Pro
Popular Photography
Outdoor Photographer

(I have an addiction to magazines so there are a ton more that are non photography)

Other Magazines you subscribe to or get on the newsstand:

Sports Illustrated
ESPN The Magazine
National Geographic
Golf World

Best photography book you’ve read?

Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson.

Best non photography book you’ve read?

Oh man, too many to mention. I love to read when I have time.

What’s next in your book queue?

Lots of baby books.

Favorite kind of music?

I love it all from Gershwin to Foo Fighters I'm pretty open to great, creative, musicians.

Favorite musician or group right now?

Probably between the Foo Fighters and The Black Crowes - too hard to choose.

What's playing on your iTunes right now?

The Black Crowes - "Wounded Bird"

Websites, Blogs, Tweets & Tips:

Have any favorite websites or blogs that you check regularly?

Sports Shooter

Boston.com Big Picture

Doug Levy

Zach Ancell

Velvet on Holiday

Belong to any professional photography associations/groups?

I’m a sports shooter at SportsShooter.com. Need to join NAPP and really want to learn about any other organizations/groups I may be missing out on.

How do you market yourself and your work?

One of my employers does a really great job of helping me market by publishing a ton of my work! Other ways – my SportsShooter.com member page, facebook fan page, blog, etc. but I need to get better at marketing myself and my work.

Do you advertise?

Other than the above mentioned sites no not really.

Do you have a website or a blog? Hit me with some links!

Well, this is my blog so I don't need to link to that. Here are some others that you may be interested in:

My website
My Facebook profile
My Facebook Fan Page for photography
Follow me on Twitter
Follow my photography on Twitter

Whew, I think that's all for now.

Any must follow twitter accounts?

Joe McNally
Strobist
Doug Levy
Zach Ancell
Photo Attorney
Moose Peterson
Popular Photography
Photo District News
Nikon Rumors
Lens Pro To Go
Nikon USA

To name a few...haha.

Is your website/blog a big part of you getting clients/meeting other photographers?

Well, my real business is our law practice and we’re currently working on it. Once we get it up I’ll let you know. As far as photography, the web page and photo blog is key. The more exposure and more shots you have available for people to see the better.

What is the best way to get more people to view/talk about your work?

Well this is one way that I have considered doing it for a while - guest bloggers! The more people I get to know the better and will lead to great exposure for everyone involved. Social networking is a great way too (facebook, twitter). Finally - take awesome photos and do a great job for clients and people will talk about your work.

The Future:

What goals do you have as a photographer?

Get some shots in Sports Illustrated and other magazines/books.

5 years from now I will be...

Shooting more sports, (hopefully still) for UF and of my son doing whatever it is he chooses to do in his life (or at least as much of a choice he has as a 5 year old).

10 years from now...

I hope to be a much more experienced and well rounded attorney, photographer, and parent (wow that last part is crazy to say).

#1 on your bucket list?

Traveling to and shooting on every continent.

Wrapping things up:

Is there anything you would have done differently during your photographic career?

Started to take it seriously earlier in my life.

Is there anything you are still learning either in your profession or in life?

Patience and how to manage my time now that I’m in the “real world.” Neither are going to come easy.

Which five words or phrases would your friends likely use to describe you?

1. Happy
2. Laid back
3. Funny
4. Hard Worker
5. Fair

Any advice for fellow photographers that we haven't already discussed?

ALWAYS have an open mind and ask questions. Stick close to the photogs you know that they know what the heck they are doing but stay out of the way. Work your butt off and take any and every opportunity and make the absolute most of it. Get to know other photographers while shooting and on line – the good ones are always more than helpful. When you have success pay it forward to others trying to learn/be successful.

Who could you not live without?

My parents, my wife Brittany, and our son Riley who I will hopefully get to meet in less than a month.

What is your biggest fear in life?

Not doing my best at whatever it is I am doing.

I’ve learned the most from…

My family and friends.

Thanks for stopping by today and putting up with my first "guest blog" entry. Be sure to stay tuned for our non-Tim guest blogger and for some more photos of the day. I assure you the next guest bloggers will be much more interesting and more talented and I just can't wait! Have a great Monday and I hope to see you back here tomorrow!