Baby Portraits

When I get a call asking about new baby portraits, there's an excitement that shoots through me and my brain begins to see images from the voice and description of the child from the parent.  When I arrived at this client's home, I had a general idea of what I needed but my work really shines when I stay open to the moment, and what is shown to me.

This image is one of those that just developed and after the creative session, I knew there was a broad variety of images that would make a great newborn book for this family.  This image covers an entire page of their book and is accompanied by the words, "big shoes to fill."

Sometimes just paying attention, or a new phrase I learned, having "situational awareness." is the open door to some great images.

Ice Sculptures on Lake Michigan

Yesterday was the kind of day I'd been waiting for!  We'd had some cold nights that allowed things to freeze things up solid and then we were blessed with a clear, sunny day.  I loaded up my new Kata pack & tripod and headed out on the ice along the Lakefront.  Ever aware of the possibility of breaking through the ice, I picked my way out in a circuitous fashion, staying along ice ridge lines and testing the ice with my tripod.

I got a few images I had scouted out which were fairly close to edges, and then slowly walked around looking for other possibilities.  Then I broke through - slightly - just enough to cover the top of my boot.  And this was away from the edges.  Time to get out!  Stay aware and follow my tracks back to the shore.

Next destination - Big Bay Park in Whitefish Bay.  In January I had stopped to scout this location while doing an errand but I didn't have my camera then.  It was an awesome scene with lots of ice that spread far into Lake Michigan.  I made a mental note to return on another sunny day after a cold spell.

The ice was well formed but on this day, the slow waves were rolling in slushy ice.  As I photographed I was surrounded by that great "white noise" of the waves coming in.  You know, the kind that brings immediate relaxation to one's senses!  That's all I heard as I made a few different compositions and watched the sun move a little lower in the sky.  Besides one runner doing a hill workout, it was just me, the ice and the waves.