This session was nice and cold, nice with Gabi. Look at her earnest beauty. So deep is she. We share a lot of commonality both in history and emotion. I’d like to think myself like her I guess. I wanted to communicate loss and letting go in these images. I like what happened with that in mind.
These images were all taken near the Lindon boat harbor at Utah lake. Each image was taken on Portra 400 film with a Bronica medium format camera. I can’t explain the light leaks. Is there a science for such things? Anyhow, I like the effects. I did a lot of brainstorming for this session. Spent a few hours gathering supplies that we didn’t use much. No problem. Initially I get angry at the time “wasted” but it was really just a chance to remember that preparation is essential. Even the preparations that don’t make their way to the final product/portrait/image. Time to think and invest.
Working with models (someone confident enough to be photographed) is interesting. Posing is not an easy thing. I’ve got some concepts down alright but I get really stuck and overuse what I know. In the last year I’ve become a huge fan of two photographers.
First Lars Wästfelt. I admire the nostalgic in Lars’ work. His commitment to capture something natural that accentuates the power of light in storytelling is unmatched. It’s easy to find direct inspiration for my work with children but working with adult models is more difficult. What I felt to extract was his use of exploration. Exploring our environment, exploring the known and mundane.
Second is Parker Fitzgerald. Parker’s posing is phenomenal and certainly leaves the viewer with a wanting of more. More views, more answers to the question of who the subject is, where such beautiful places and how the image was taken. I especially love his use of the arms and hands. Since everything is stolen, borrowed and reworked in all creative works I felt to borrow heavily from these two inspirations. I’m very happy with the results here.
I’m also getting better at focus. Focus and aperture are different with film/medium format. It’s an adjustment and I’m getting the swing of it.
Ashley, these are beautiful! Love them!
Heather,
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!
These are so good. I love the one on the edge of the water and the eyes closed with snow in action, actually all of them.
Charlotte, I am so grateful for your comment! Thank you!
Disclaimer: The Russells have had their family portraits for months and months- I’m just catching up on my blog sharing!
There are few things more assuring and encouraging as having repeat clients. Year after year I have been invited to photograph the Russells. Their energy and total trust of me in their home, in their favorite places and with their kids makes my work with them a total joy. Last year as we were finishing up our session I did my best to ignore some aural migraine symptoms. “Not today, not now.” As if encouragement and positive thinking could dam the wall of pulsing pain that was knocking down my professional door. We finished the session (which was one of my happiest yet) and drove together down Sundance canyon when all at once I was no longer able to push against the tide- I burst into tears. “I have a migraine! I’m going to barf. ” Shelby kicked her heart into high gear as Jon pulled the car over time after time, dry heave after gag. Oh to just throw up!
After a nap in their cool, quiet basement, essential oils, tea, water, “it’s okay”, “you can stay as long as you want” I felt well enough to drive home. From then on I have considered Shelby a friend. Since our latest Autumn session, I now call her a close friend. I could rave on and on about Shelby and I realize that this whole, “I took their family photos and now we’re friends” thing is becoming thematic but how could I quiet the warmth of support and love that I’ve inherited from this “job”? I can’t. Sometimes God gifts us just the things we need through our work and our passions. Tonight I feel right that this is my life. A life filled with the fact that it’s okay to let the dam break because behind it is a good that no effort can hold back. Even when it hurts, even when we want other things.
Wow. Ashley, thank you for capturing so well this moment of our life. And although we have these pics, it’s so nice to see it presented in “blog” format. We will cherish these photos forever and they will be an incredible vehicle in the future to time travel back to this period of time and accurately remember how great this stage of our life truly was. You’ve given us a flux capacitor and a Delorean. 
Thank you.
Jon, This is by far the best comment ever! Thanks for jumping through the technological hoops to send me such love. Win!
Ashley-these are some of my very favorites yet. May have to do with knowing Shelby’s goodness inside and out. You captured both beautifully!
Leah, thank you so!
Ashley T… oh my… I LOVE everything about this session… every photo, the story, the play, the light, the love… I want you here at my home now more than ever.. I dislike the distance between our homes…
Tosh, You are too nice! I can’t wait to come and play this Summer!