All Swaddled Up

I'm so lucky to LOVE photographing infants! There's not a session that isn't filled with laughs and when you laugh, the infant laughs. What a great way to spend the day!

My nephew's baby is pictured here and I have to share it with all of you. It was nap time and mom got him all swaddled up and looking like a fine cigar. So there he was, this little blob of protoplasm, just lying in this large sea of space known as his crib.

I saw the image and moved to be where I wanted to be and his eyes followed me. I couldn't believe it! I felt like I was being watched by a guard dog. It was if he was saying, "don't you get to close to my crib." The shadows of the crib bars gives it a little something extra.

Click! I had the image. An infant cigar!

My Family of Feet

Two year old Addie arrived with her three "siblings" to the Creative Session. All were excited to have their portraits made! I was excited to photograph them as I had a couple of ideas I wanted to try out. Addie was well behaved for a 2 year old and we kept her busy with treats and sniffing around the studio yard.

After a while, I decided to test the "feet" shot with the kids that I had in mind. Then it hit me - "bring in Addie!!" Oh my God - I could hardly contain myself because I could visualize how it would look with her in the image. She gave me a nice sit-stay to tell the story of her family of feet. You should have heard the kids laughing! Wait until the see the final result!!

So I'm asking for input on titles for this image - something along the "smell/scent" line. Pitch your ideas my way and we all can enjoy them!

"Pay Attention to the Small Pictures"

A few days ago I had the fun role of photographing a young girl for her First Holy Communion. "It's a lot different than your school pictures, isn't it," I said. She nodded "yes" and off we went to have fun!

A dress and veil always give you some nice details to bring out and then suddenly I heard the voice, "Photograph her shoes!" I followed that intuitive voice and this is what what resulted.

The funny thing is that the next day I started reading Joe McNally's new book, "The Moment It Clicks." He's a gifted photographer and his work has enlightened the pages of National Geographic and many others magazines. (www.joemcnally.com) I came across one little chapter where he talked about rounding out a pictorial story with "something small, intimate, telling." It didn't need to be "the best, nor the prettiest picture of the take, just the most important."

I thought back to this image and smiled. I had done it!

Gone Fishing!

Today found me doing some "cleaning" of files. It's sooo important to manage all those digital images we shoot these days. I came across some images I made last May in Cape May, while at a Professional Photographers of America week long school. It was great to get to see them again!

I've uploaded 4 of them onto the "Outside" portfolio on my website but here's one that I think most of us Wisconsinites can relate to in late March! As we now await yet another snowstorm (I"m NOT making this up!) that could give us 6 more inches of the white, wet stuff, I thought you'd all like putting yourself in this photo. Add a beer and I think you'll forget all about the weather forecast. Can't you feel those fish nibbling??

Wanna Play?

While it snowed just another 16" here yesterday on the second day of Spring, I got to work on a line of Note Cards that will soon be released to local retail outlets. When I came across this image, I felt removed from the shackels of the snow shovel. Nothing like some warm sun and sand to take you to a place far away - even if it's in your mind!

There, on that Hawaiin sand, laid the most handsome Chocolate Lab I've ever seen! Looking like a little sugar cookie, with the dusting of sand across his nose, he waited for me to make the image and then throw the ball back into the ocean for yet another bound into the waves. Catch, release. Catch, release. His owner, a bartender in Honolulu, was giving him his daily workout prior to leaving for work and he was digging it.

As he laid there patiently, I couldn't help but think that the little twinkle in his eye seemed to say, "Wanna Play?" You bet!

Self Portrait

A group of photographers that I know, recently were challenged to make a new self-portrait. Yes, every once in a while, we photographers need to step around IN FRONT of the camera, just so we can experience what our clients feel like. Since I'm not one to back down from the challenge, I began to plan my portrait.

I was in Hawaii when the "challenge" came through so a tropical theme sprang into my grey matter. I took one look at the snorkel equipment and a portrait was born! But I needed help to pull this one off. Timing an elevator door to open at just the right time that your self-timer on the camera goes off, seemed to be a mountain too big to climb.

I gave the camera to Kathy and invited this couple to ride along for the fun. You should have seen the look on their face when the elevator door opened and there I stood in my snorkel gear!! I'm sure they wondered if they should get on. But they played along with the crazy lady and another self-portrait was made.

The icing on the cake was when I emailed it to my mom and sister, they cracked up over it. Then I KNEW it was a hit! Enjoy!

RE-Creation

Time off is always good! It's good for nothing short of a big brain dump! Separating from one's usual schedule (phone, emails, and everyday tasks ) provides me with a fresh way to perceive and generate the energy that fuels my creativity.

The simple things like reading a book, listening to waves break on the shore, or watching the sun go down are just what I needed to break the humdrum of winter and get ready for another great year of recording family histories.

Put yourself into this image for about 5 minutes! Can't you hear the waves, feel the sun on your body, hear the voices of people having fun, and smell the sunscreen? Don't you feel better already? And it came without airfare! Aloha!

Father & Son

One of the humbling things about being a photographer is that people allow me into their lives to witness and record special moments in their lives. What's more special to a family than their first child! Not much!

In this moment, a calm father provides the comfort for his equally calm son. I chuckle every time I see the shape of his cheeks and the look of "infant confidence" as he engages with me. I love that dad looks away as if to say, "I'm so lucky!" as he touches his tiny feet.

As he's only 3 months old, I look forward to photographing him throughout his life and be allowed to witness more of those moments that make up his life!

Grand Canyon of the Pacific

Who doesn't love a vacation? Especially in the winter when you have a hankering for sun and warmth! You've got to check out the island of Kaua'i, Hawaii. It should be the ONLY winter destination place but what would the Florida tourism department think about that?

One of Kaua'i's most noted destinations is Waimea Canyon. WOW! I've been to the Grand Canyon but when you add in the lush, rain infused vegetation, the color just screams back at you. I spent 2 hours at the lookout, watching the light change and hoping that the haze would burn off. It didn't and I got a sunburn! A volcano on another island erupted so the particles were in the air. This image is 3 images merged together to form a panorama. Awesome!

Stay tuned here because I'm going to post images from my open cockpit helicopter tour of this canyon and the Na Pali coast. It's the ONLY way to see the remote areas of the island unless you want to play "Lost."

The Big Dig

Groundhog day came and that half-asleep woodchuck told us we could expect 6 more weeks of winter in Wisconsin. Never one to doubt nature, that furry mammal was right! Not even a week passed and we were hit with 16", yes I measured them; 16" of snow.

Let's just say I found a way to combine my weight and cardio training into one LONG workout yesterday! The dogs played and I labored to clear the way for my young 2 year old client and his mom, who were soon to arrive for their Creative Session.

Snow blower, you suggest? We had one of those huge, steroid-enhanced snow blowers that used to kick some serious butt blowing out the whole street! Eight horses to hold back while it ate 16" like it was a snack! But when our winters went the way of global warming and that serious athlete saw little action, it had to be traded to a new owner.

Yesterday, the muscles in this older athlete missed the powerful blowing action of the 8 HP Simplicity. Can you say "ALEVE?"

The Deep Freeze

For those of us that live far north of the equator, adapting to the words "zero" and "temperature" in the same sentence is just a way of life. Dealing with the cold indoors is one thing, but heading outside with your camera gear and 2-3 extra layers is a whole new adventure!

After being inspired by images made by another Milwaukee photographer, I ventured out recently when the temps went south of zero. Destination: Lake Michigan at sunrise. Did I mention the wind chill???

I LOVE this image! It screams cold! With Lake Michigan giving up its warmth in the form of water vapor, I find myself grounded by the roundness of the ice and the opening of the water. A tiny bit of necessary warmth is added with the glow of a rising sun in the eastern sky.

After an hour in the great outdoors, the hot chocolate provided the necessary inner resuscitation!

Four is a great age!

Working with children is such a pleasure! It reminds me of when I did my student teaching with the middle schoolers. You never knew what personalities would emerge from day to day. It keeps you laughing and on your toes!

Photographing kids is much the same! Ask them to do something silly, sing a song, or get them talking about their favorite story and you never know what will happen. So if you're the one behind the camera, like me, be prepared!

Four year olds can be concrete in their thinking, so when I asked Joe to do something that didn't make sense to him for great picture making, he shot me this look. Write you own caption for this one! Frankly, I think it would make a great GAP Kids ad!

Dance, Dance, Dance!

Sometimes it's a blessing to be oblivious to what's going on around you. My 2 1/2 year old niece has this technique down pat! She spent a week with me recently, while her 4 year old brother underwent heart surgery to correct a congenital defect. Her parents and grandmother stayed with us and it was a difficult time during the early days of recovery.

But for Ella, it was all about singing songs, making up funny phrases, taking bubble baths and dancing in the studio! I danced with her, sang with her and made up funny phrases too. All the while her "live in the moment" lessons were relieving the stress everyone was feeling. If it was a long day at the hospital, you could always look forward to fun time with Ella when you got home.

This is one small reason why I love to photograph children. Like dogs, they live in the moment and that's such a sweet space to be in!

Good things come in small packages!

Babies, babies, babies! There's been a mini baby boom in my neighborhood this summer! Lots of new cute faces and the sound of a new baby's cry eminating from the neighborhood when I'm walking the dogs.

With new babies comes new children to photograph and new ways to present the newest member of the family. It's always fun for me to think about how to show off this precious new gift and so with great enthusiasm, I went to work with my neighbor's newborn. A peaceful child from day one, George Andrew made my role easy!

As I always go to the newborn's home, I could right away see that the couch was the perfect backdrop. We found a suitable window for the best light and after a quick meal, he was ready for a nap. A little bow tying and positioning and for a moment, I felt like Anne Geddes!

I combined the photo with my card (front) template and it fit the image to a "T." He's all wrapped up for his big presentation to the world! Welcome!

Mental Maps

My summer reading has included the book "DEEP SURVIVAL" by Laurence Gonzales which is a dissection of the characteristics of survivors. Centered mostly on surviving wilderness situations, Gonzales talks about "updating" your mental maps and changing plans according to the information before you. (Non-survivors actually ignore this info!)

So last night I went out to photograph the full moon. My mental map imagined it coming up over Lake Michigan with some rocks in the foreground. Guess what? I missed the best night to photograph the full moon by 2 days (check the calendar Peg!). So I changed my "mental map" and started looking around and I quickly found it!

I set up the camera/tripod and waited for the light to fall off even more so that the lights in the buildings were brighter. I made one image every minute. It was a nice summer night hanging out by the lake with the water splashing against the rocks and muted sounds of the city. All because I changed my mental map!

Senior Summers

Wow - I can't believe it's August! Long days of sun make the Senior season go fast but it's not over yet. These days find me still having fun photographing high school senors. I've always enjoyed this age group! From teaching at the high school level to coaching them in Track and Field, I love their perspective on life - the glass is half full.

With that in mind, I head outdoors at this time of year to make portraits that show who these young people really are. In an hour and half, we come away with some "storytelling" images of who they are. Parents express their awe in how natural their senior seems in their portraits and how real they appear.

So what if it's August then! I'll be photographing Seniors into the fall so you need to get in gear and check this off your list, give me a call - 414.550.5340

Lean Into the Corners . . .

The dogs days of summer are here and that means hot day on the bicycle! You know, the kind of day when you have to make your own wind by going faster on the bike. The only problem with that solution for cooling is when you stop, the sweat flows and makes one's clothes "stick," even after you've stopped sweating!

Although it wasn't quite as hot for the Downer Ave. Bike race, these guys were generating lots of heat. This racer was caught on "Collision Corner", for which I have coined the name, due to the high number of accidents each year. I'm always amazed at their muscle memory and ability to keep the bikes so close together and still upright. The concentration and hand-eye-foot coordination must be just right.

But this guy had found a little "pedal room" and was clicking into a higher gear. So I thought of the metaphor found in this image: just lean into the corner and all will be alright!

Stylin' at the Race

Good times happen on the East Side of Milwaukee, the last weekend of every July! It's called the Downer Ave. Bike Race, which is part of the International Cycling Classic. Cyclists compete in this challenging urban race while locals and out-of-towners alike gather to watch them cruise past - pulling wind along with them. Treacherous corners and downhill straight-a-ways make for some dramatic action.

Even if you aren't a fan of bicycling, you've got to walk around and enjoy the people watching. This young man got a close up feel for the wind blowing through, or should I say by, his hair as the cyclists zoomed by.

See you at GALLERY NIGHT/DAY!

Hey everybody! When you get done having fun down on Bradford Beach, head on over to the Third Ward for Gallery Night festivities! Be sure to check out the Light Ideas Gallery in the Marshall Building (corner of Water St. and Buffalo St.) in the Lower Level. (A parking structure is at the corner of Chicago and Water and parking is free on Gallery Night!)

I'm showing 8 spectacular images from Alaska, North Dakota, Wisconsin and Montana! You can preview the show by going to the "outside" portfolio on www.peggymorsch.com Most of these images were made while on solo trips, including a drive to Alaska and back with my two dogs. I'll be at the Gallery from 6 - 10:00 p.m. on Friday, July 27 and 10:00 - 3:00 on Saturday, July 28.

In addition, check out the awesome, framed portraits of kids, dogs, and families that grace the other side of the gallery! It's is been a while since your family has had a portrait, now's the time. The first 5 people to ask me about photograping their family will receive a $100 Gift Card! See you there!