Little signs of Spring

I stopped by the Grapevine Botanic Gardens last week to take a few quick snaps of Spring. It's a nice respite from traffic nearby, along Ball Street not far from the city's historic downtown. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area. The coming season promises a good blooming time, but there is already some color to see.

Apparently, although signs are still posted, there is no longer a professional photography fee. That means clients who are seeking a park-like experience (the gardens) and a classic downtown/urban/train depot feel (downtown) can now be conveniently photographed in Grapevine without costs above my fee. The area offers fantastic variety in a setting that is easier to navigate than, say, downtown Fort Worth or Dallas. Let's do it: todd@toddovermanphoto.com.

Melanie-Class of 2010

On Friday, I met Melanie and her dad in the Fort Worth Stockyards for a fun senior portrait session. We had a breeze to contend with, and the afternoon sun made western-facing shots a little tricky, but we made it happen. Above are just a few samples from a ton of great images from the session (click on each image for a slightly larger view). I didn't check her driver's license photo, but I have a feeling it's hard to take a bad picture of Melanie!

Schedule your own portrait session today – children, family, high school senior, engagement – to take advantage of our much nicer weather! Shout out to todd@toddovermanphoto.com.

Fueling Up!

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Bradie James visited Grapevine Middle School on Thursday, March 25, 2010, to celebrate the school's top earnings among area schools in the Fuel Up To Play program. I took these photos (and many others) for the school district. The Fuel Up initiative is a partnership between the NFL and the National Dairy Council, which reminds you: "What a friend we have in cheeses." :-)

Enjoying your vacation photos

Spring Break is winding down (cue kids booing here). If you traveled during the week, chances are you have some photos of the good times. Before digital photography became the standard, we'd come home, drop off the rolls of film at the store and have an envelope full of 4x6 prints. To get the most out of our digital files, we at least have to get them off the camera. Sometimes they'll languish untouched on the computer until we forget about them. I urge you ... break the cycle!

My wife has a lengthy slideshow of her favorite images on her computer at work (and her work laptop). That's a great way to enjoy the photos, for sure. She also has some on her cell phone (me, too), and that allows us to see vacation pics at the touch of a button. The problem with leaving precious memories solely to electronic devices is that they all fail eventually. Besides backing up photos you care about to disc, consider these options:

• Have a favorite photo blown up and framed to use as wall art. The photograph of the sandals was an impromptu moment almost seven years ago when we took our oldest son to the beach for the first time. It was taken with my film SLR and enlarged from a 35 mm negative. I consider it an alternative family portrait, and it reminds us of the time and place every time we look at it. With effective algorithm interpolation programs (software that enlarges digital photos by boosting pixel size mathematically), even shots from small-sensor point-and-shoot cameras can be brought to poster size.

• Print out photos in a normal size and put them in a collage frame. The montage pictured above comprises images from several trips and vacations. The frame is actually the front of my wife's jewelry box, so she sees the images every day. We'll swap them out over time as we collect updated pictures, saving the prints in an album to view at other times.

• Build a photo album. If you're into scrapbooking, turning your vacation photos and souvenirs into a fun book is a no-brainer. For the rest of us, there are myriad options in uploading photos, using a quick and easy service and creating a printed album of photos worthy of any bookshelf.

• Use the image on personalized greeting cards. Like photo albums, there are a ton of services out there for easy creation of postcards and greeting cards. Not only does that let you enjoy a special photo, but you can share it with friends and family via snail-mail. Uploading to a social networking site such as Facebook is a good start, but Aunt Hilda can't put those on her refrigerator. In addition, many services offer you the chance to add your photo to gift products (think T-shirts, mugs, calendars, jigsaw puzzles).

• Create a DVD slideshow of images set to music. This keeps the files on electronic media for posterity and easy viewing on a DVD player. Downside: it hearkens to the days when Grandma would pull out the slide projector and show off 3,000 images from her cruise to Italy. Or worse: the same number of slides of random, ho-hum family moments. Upside: your DVD of images can be viewed by large groups at one time and, most likely, won't have 3,000 images in it.

These are just a few possibilities to what you can do with vacation (or any favorite) photos. The sky is the limit, as new and innovative products become available often. Some exciting examples are available only to professional photographers, however. If you'd like to learn more about those, give me a shout at todd@toddovermanphoto.com.

J's final basketball game

J takes some practice shots before the game starts.


Protecting the ball!


Getting ready to pass.

Having a little snack.

We wondered if letting J play basketball would be worth it (for reasons that constitute a long story, for another time). The verdict? Even with a few struggles along the way, it was a growth experience for all of us. I would say that when he let himself have fun, he had a lot of fun. When we let ourselves relax, we had a lot of fun, too. Anyone with young kids considering a youth sport, check out Upward if it's available in your area. A great program!

Keeping your vacation alive!

Going somewhere on Spring Break or later this summer? Taking photographs is a great way to document your trip, your family's growth and can serve as a visual reminder of all the fun long after it's over. At the end of this post are 10 tips for having fun while taking pictures on vacation.








Ten Vacation Photography Tips

1. Before you leave home, check that your camera is functioning and that you've got plenty of spare batteries/memory cards/film (if that's how you roll). Take any accessories you enjoy using, including a flash or tripod, different lenses if your camera takes more than one, and a comfortable way to carry it all on your travels.

2. Don't forget to use your camera, but don't let it spoil your fun. A vacation is about relaxing and interacting with your family or friends. Know when to put the thing down, too!

3. Take lots of photos! Just refer to No. 2 if you find yourself with a camera in your hand too often.

4. If you want to move beyond snapshots, buy a book on travel photography (or check one out from your library). Paying attention to backgrounds, composition and light will help you create images that stand out. Also, ensure you know how to operate the most important functions on your camera before your trip begins.

5. When taking photos of landmarks, include members of your traveling party. The porthole of the tall ship Elissa in Galveston, Texas, is an interesting photo subject. The historic ship came alive when my son poked his head through with a funny expression. The image is more meaningful because he's a part of it, too.

6. If you'll be at the beach, as we were for our trip last year to Surfside and Galveston, protect your gear from the elements as best as you can. If you have a camera with interchangeable lenses, I recommend NOT changing lenses outside. The slightest bit of sand on your digital sensor can spell disaster, as can saltwater.

7. Put your camera strap around your neck. Even if it's not something you normally do elsewhere, a strap is cheap insurance against dropping your rig in the water, on the beach, on the concrete, down a wishing well. You'll wish you'd been wearing your strap if that happens!

8. If you have a cell phone like an iPhone, you can actually get some decent snapshots with it in the right conditions. Consider downloading applications that aid you in the capture and editing of photos. Sometimes the right camera is the one you have with you.

9. Don't forget to include yourself in some of the photos, either by handing your camera to someone else for camera duty (someone you know, preferably), to using a tripod and employing the self-timer or a remote shutter release.

10. After all is said and done, view your photos, cull through the keepers and then pick your favorites. Do something with them rather than letting your images languish on your computer's hard drive or on DVDs/CDs. The point is enjoying your photos, right? Life was a little simpler when we shot a few rolls of film, had them processed and then got prints without having to do any extra work. With digital, the photos need a little push to paper to make them useful sometimes. If not printing your favorite images, load them onto a digital photo frame or mobile device for sharing. Viewing them, even on your phone was wallpaper, can take you back to that happy place.

Bluebonnets!

Bluebonnets are not only a harbinger of Spring, but also of Texas pride. They are the Texas state flower, and it's only natural that any native Texan (or "foreign"-born resident) should want to capture the blossoms along with their cute kids. I've photographed my niece around her birthday for the past two years in a secluded patch of the lovely flowers. See a few tips on capturing the moments at the end of this article.





Tips for photographing your family in bluebonnets:

• Safety first. Don't be tempted by patches of bluebonnets that are too close to roads and highways. If you can, find a more quiet area where there is no traffic. Also, be aware of fire ants, which come alive during wet spring weather and like bluebonnet fields, too.

• Wildflowers tend to grow best in bright, open fields where sunlight is abundant. If you come across a nice spot during mid-day, you're going to contend with bright sun. Bad thing: it can wash out the color of the flowers. If the light is bright, don't face your family into the sun, as the brightness will make them squint. Position your subjects so light falls to the side/slightly behind them. Focus on eyes and faces and fire away. The ultimate is to photograph in the early morning or early evening, when the sun is lower in the sky. This creates beautiful, directional light. But that's not always practical when you're traveling. Shooting directly into the sun will wash out the sky as well, so avoid that if you can. If your camera will allow you to use a flash in bright light, use it to add sparkle to the eyes and fill in some of the potential shadows.

• If a background is distracting or ugly, put the camera higher so you are photographing down onto the flowers. That way, you can hide the horizon if necessary. Your subjects, surrounded by flowers, will be the main subjects.

• Props can add a little punch to your photos. Above, my oldest son holds a picture frame. We were shooting at mid-day, and the colors aren't as rich as I'd like. The bluebonnet field was a little disappointing that year, too. Think about old chairs, or a special family blanket, etc. Adding an extra element can make your images that much more special and unique.

• Get into the flowers yourself. Invest in a cheap tripod, set up your camera (ensuring it's steady and won't tip in any wind) and use the self-timer (it delays the release of the shutter so that you can get into position).

For fellow Texans, the Texas Department of Transportation maintains a Web site this time of year that collects reports of wildflowers. You can find it here.

With lots of precipitation this winter, I'm hoping for a spectacular wildflower season. This is going to be the year I get some frame-worthy portraits of my sons – both of them native Texans – amid a field bursting with bluebonnets. I would love the opportunity to photograph your family among wildflowers this year. Give me a shout at todd@toddovermanphoto.com, and we'll keep an eye on the blooms and find the perfect time, date and place to create art worthy of your walls.

Keller Public Library grand reopening

A large group of community members christened the newly renovated and expanded Keller Public Library on Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Keller, Texas. Voters approved the $4 million expansion and renovation of the existing facility in November 2007. Bottom line? If you live near Keller and are looking for a cool library, check this one out. It is one of the few municipal libraries that is open on Sundays. Bonus: it's located next to a neat park for the kids. MAP IT: 640 Johnson Road, Keller, Texas 76248.

Mom Mom and Little Z

This is a shot I grabbed last Saturday of my mom and my youngest son. We were watching my oldest son's next-to-last basketball game. Because it was so dark, I was pushing my camera to suck in as much light as possible. That caused "noise," or the digital graininess that happens when a digital sensor is pushed to extremes. I desaturated the color a little to help hide some of that noise. I'd like to set up a few shots like this, where I've got more control of the lighting.

Remember the Alamo!

This is a recent photo of my 3-year-old son. However, it doesn't depict what he apparently did this evening while I was out of the house working. He stripped naked and ran through the house shouting, "Remember the Alamo!" Sounds like a sort of appropriate way to celebrate the anniversary of Texas Independence.