Friday, November 23, 2012

Authenticity

au·then·tic·i·ty
The DICTIONARY defines authenticity as
NOUN
1. genuineness: the genuineness or truth of something
 
AUTHENTICITY... one of my favorite things in a photo.  
 
OK I admit it!!  I am not a Photoshop or any other heavy photo editing software fan.  Please don't misunderstand, I think PS is incredible at retouching, removing a blemish, power line, or for intended special effects.  My hat is off to those who have mastered PS, it requires a great deal of skill. 
 
In the last several years, there has been a trend towards "perfection and over processing" in photography.  Perfectly shaped models with perfectly clear (plastic) skin and perfect teeth under perfect blue skies that didn't start that way, THEY were created! Some people want "created perfection" and in that case I acknowledge from the beginning I am not the photographer for them.
 
Why the aversion to "perfection" in my photography?   When I first started taking portraits I was approached by an older woman who's grandchild had been born with only one hand.  She asked me if I could just "Photoshop a little hand on for him".  I was horrified and deeply saddened by every part of that request,  I declined the portrait session and vowed to always keep it  real
 
This morning, while surfing through a couple of the photo blogs I follow, I was SO thrilled to come across this article on The Digital School of Photography blog.  It is a guest post by Rebecca Lily  She discusses the trend toward authenticity in photography. (woohoo)   
 
My favorite quote from that post
 
"So where does this trend lead us in the world of photography? Someplace better, I believe. As the trend towards authenticity evolves, it inevitably changes the mindset of society for the better. This is part of the influence that we have as photographers, and part of our responsibility. I am always delighted to see wedding and portrait photographers that spend more time learning how to capture a person’s real, natural beauty with good light and a flattering angle – rather than liquefying and plasticizing them in Photoshop. How we as photographers approach our subjects tells a story to the world – and to ourselves – about what we perceive as beautiful and acceptable, and sets a standard to those who are watching us.
I am hopeful when I stand on my tiptoes and look ahead to where the photography industry is going. I see this trend developing into a new and better way of thinking, of seeing. Publications begin to celebrate the everyday and the common in favor of the glossy. Models begin to look like real people. Homes begin to look lived-in rather than like museums. Nature begins to look like nature and not like Super Mario-world. Authenticity begins to shine.
And it’s about time"

When I read Rebeeca's post my heart smiled. I LOVE real and  I feel like I have done my job when I can capture someone or something in the most natural authentic way possible. A photo that shows who they are and possibly what is going on in their life at the time, not how well they have been posed.  
This is one of my favorite photos, and for me,  proves the beauty of authenticity, the beauty of real.  This sweet little girl's daddy was leaving town on a business trip the day after our photo session and she was a just a little out of sorts about him being gone.  A couple of times during the session the poor little thing just needed a "posing break".  This is one of those breaks and what turned out to be one of my favorite pictures, it touches my heart every time I look at it.    
 
Woohoo for authenticity,  woohoo for real,  and woohoo for embracing what God has given us and accepting ouselves for who and what we are.  
"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken" Oscar Wilde
 
Jeanne

Saturday, November 17, 2012

It's a sign

It's a sign!! Or a tag in this case. After my week of being reminded about the rules of photography (and how I break them) I was happy to see this little beauty hanging from a pair of Dockers pants I purchased yesterday. IT. IS. A. SIGN. And a good one. Thank you Levi Strauss!



Enjoy a beautiful fall weekend, break some rules and keep snappin'
Jeanne
~~All of the photos on this blog are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road Photo. Thank you for not reproducing them without permission.~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

Friday, November 16, 2012

Whoops! Not again

Well, I did it again. I broke one of the many "rules" of photography. Sigh..

I have been taking some Webinar classes on correct posing for portraits. Although I am not a big fan of "posed" pictures and I don't do in-studio portraits, I have realized I need to pay a little more attention to "fine tune posing". Simple things like what are the subjects feet doing, are they standing at a flattering angle and what to do with their chins, hair, hands.
SO when the subject of hands came up I was pretty excited. You see I love hands. I assume you already know that since I have done two full blog posts on hands. You can only imagine how disappointed I was to have the instructor say "NEVER photograph the back of someone's hands, especially a woman's hands, NEVER"!

Well great! This rates right up there with the NEVER take TILTED pictures (see blog post Tilted) mistake...and guess what??? I am STILL going to DO IT! I love hands! (I know I said that already) I think our hands say so much about us. I understand the premise, just not the "rule".


I do promise to not let any subject put their hands under their chins or over their faces or chest but you can expect more photos of every hand I come into contact with. I think I just felt the instructor shudder. Oh my....poor guy I take comfort in knowing he doesn't read my blog and is therefor protected from the horror of the hands.

Always remember to use your creative license and keep snappin'
Jeanne

Side note: Some of the very beautiful hands I feature belong to a good friend and her beautiful family. (She loves hands to) Visit her new fun blog when you get a chance www.suchbeautifuldoubt.blogspot.com.

~~All of the photos on this blog are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road Photo. Thank you for not reproducing them without permission.~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

Thursday, November 15, 2012

A reminder

Took a drive through East Texas today. I have passed this building so many times but today it looked different
A reminder....a suggestion....a sign


Note to self ... Avoid this road from now on *wink*

Keep snappin'
Jeanne

~~All of the photos on this blog are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road Photo. Thank you for not reproducing them without permission.~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

A little tilted

Hi all!
Fall is shaping up to be A.Mazing in East Texas!  I have had a few great fall photo sessions.  I have shared a few of them on my facebook page if you would like to check them out.

                                      This is one of my favorite pictures from a fall session.
 
Why? Well first there are the three stunning models I had, they made things so much fun, and of course I love the setting.  However, the primary reason I love this is because it is different.  It makes you look, I mean really look at the picture.

I adore photography (obviously) I love capturing a moment,  LOVE sharing the images I have taken, trying new things.  I abhor the "technical" side of photography.  I can't hardly stand the know it all discussions online and in classes about how a camera works and why one brand is better than another and why we should never take "tilted" shots.....  oh pullease.....  even my camera is against tilted shots.  I have a level indicator in my camera that was screaming the entire time I took this, and I STILL love it!  

Sometimes this "stretch" of the rules works, sometimes it doesn't.....that my friends is why they invented the delete button!  It is also why I LOVE LOVE LOVE digital!  When I am feeling a bit "tilted" and want to try something new I don't have to think about the price of film and developing, I simply find  myself some willing practice subjects and spray and pray.  In other words I take a ton of test drive pictures and pray my creative license pays off.  I plan on wearing out that delete button until I get the shot that makes my client happy, the shot that doesn't look like everyone else's.
Sometimes a break is required during all of that spraying and praying, but eventually we will get the shot that makes you go "yup, that's my family".

Stay tilted and keep snappin'
Jeanne

~~All photos on this blog are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road Photo.  Thank you for not reproducing them without permission~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

 


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Hands Part 2

Hi y'all!
As I was composing last weeks blog about hands and the pictures we take of them.  I realized that I seem to have focused (so to speak) on more hands than I realized over the past couple of years.  I want to share a few of them I left off last time
                                         Sweet baby hand
                                          Hearts and Hands
                       OK so I really got hung up on the heart hand thing, BUT it's SO cute!
When someones hands are this beautiful, not to mention the bling, how could I not take a picture?
My all time favorite hands picture is this one. 
This couple has a gorgeous black lab named Widgi.  He is one of the family, it only seemed fitting his "hand" was in the picture to!
This is Widgi~~ Isn't he a beautiful boy?  See how he is  posing AND smiling? Such a good boy

Thanks for letting me share.  Give the hands a hand  (sorry that was so bad, couldn't resist)

Take Care and Keep Snappin"
Jeanne

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Auto Love

It's no secret I LOVE CARS! Actually all kinds of automobiles,  large, small, truck, car, sporty...oh my!  Last weekend was The Iron Horse Festival Car Show in Mineola, TX.  It was a gorgeous day with 200+ gorgeous auto's, all shapes and sizes.
Having done a frame up restoration on a 1968 VW bug about 6 years ago I have a huge appreciation for the amount of work and money that goes into each and every one of these beauties.  Now I realize my little VW project was tiny, (as was the motor), compared to these incredible cars, but it was a fun project and I was able to mark #6 off of my bucket list.  Besides, it was bright red and cute as a .....well BUG!  HA!    Anyway.....
Hope you enjoy a few of my favorites from this weekend.




The absolute highlight of the car show???  While walking through the car show we overheard one of the car owners telling someone "I am on my 6th car and my 4th wife, they just don't get this (stuff)."  I must admit we kind of giggled about it the whole day!



           Aren't the reflections amazing?  LOVE shiny paint!



                  Check out the hubcap on this little beauty.
OK now might be good time to mention that I don't take "traditional" photographs.  I LOVE the details, and this car show was loaded with them!  Heaven!





 
Oh be still my heart......
                         Gotta love a Mustang

        No car show would be complete without a pair of fuzzy dice


The Steering wheel of a 1932 Ford LOVE the color combination

            Can't leave out Chevrolet




 Amazing Texture!!





Hope you enjoyed a little sneak peak of the Iron Horse Car Show. I will be posting more on my website soon.


If you see a photo that you love and would like a copy without the brickroadphoto watermark, please contact me through my website www.brickroadphoto.com





Take care and keep snappin'!


Jeanne








Friday, November 2, 2012

Hands

Look at your hands, amazing aren't they? Our hands are a reflection of our life.
Our ancestors built this nation with their hard working hands, they raised generations of children with a gentle but firm hand. Their hands, and ours, show the effects of real life.
A couple years ago I looked down and realized my hands looked like my Grandmother's hands, and of course my mothers hands. What a wonderful gift, and wonderful memory of two incredible women.

Here are some of the hands I have had the pleasure of spending time with lately.


Three generations


Mother, daughters and grand daughters


Big sisters~little sisters


Sisters


Mom and Dad

Not every special photo needs a big smile or matching clothes. Sometimes we just need to capture a bit of real life, real memories, real people.

Capture a memory today
Jeanne


~~All of the photos on this blog are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road Photo. Thank you for not reproducing them without permission.~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

MSA kind of...

This was laying in the alley next to a Verizon Wireless store in downtown Plymouth, MA. I know Metal Street Art is typically...well... in the street, but I just couldn't pass this up. Is it an alarm or an old phone box?


Isn't rust amazing? Just amazing! SO much depth and character.

Keep your eyes open.....treasures are everywhere!
Jeanne

~~All of the photos on this blog are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road Photo. Thank you for not reproducing them without permission.~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

Sunday, September 30, 2012

MSA The Gate to the Beach

The Gate to the Beach is located in Plymouth, MA. The iron work is everywhere here and I LOVE it!


I can't help but wonder what the pilgrims would have thought if they had seen "The Gate to the Beach", or the sign to clean up after our dogs, or not swim at night....


Or the parking lot and parking meters....

Things change, places change, people change, pictures don't change
Get out there and capture a moment today. It may not be the same tomorrow.

Jeanne
~~All of the photos on this blog are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road Photo. Thank you for not reproducing them without permission.~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

Friday, September 28, 2012

MSA Mineola, TX

My Metal Street Art entry today comes from downtown Mineola, TX. LOVE this water meter cover. In Mineola you take a pretty good step up from the roadway to the sidewalk. This cover is in the sidewalk and looks like it has been extended to meet the sidewalk level and then "patched" into the concrete OR maybe the road was lowered and new sidewalk poured around the meter cover and bricks that surrounded it. Either way...very cool... Mineola has great history


~~All of the photos on this blog are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road Photo. Thank you for not reproducing them without permission.~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

Metal Deposits

This is on the outside wall of the building that currently houses The Mineola Chamber of Commerce, Mineola, TX. This beautiful historical building was obviously a bank at one time. I am so glad that the building owners have decided to keep this little treasure in place.



Look up, look down, look all around, metal treasures aren't always on the ground
Keep snappin'
Jeanne

~~All of the photos on this blog are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road Photo. Thank you for not reproducing them without permission.~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Marking your territory

This is in the sidewalk in Plymouth, MA. I can a only assume it is the contractor(s) that did the construction or poured the concrete. I love the patina it has taken on over the years of weather and traffic.


Putting a nameplate on your work, to me says pride, quality and longevity. I have spent a great deal of my life in the west in and around the construction business. Contracting firms used to place bronze name plates on large buildings. It seems like now no one bothers. Is there no pride in their work? Or maybe they know it will be torn down, or up, in a few years anyway to make way for new. That is one of the things I love about the New England area. They cherish, protect, and have an incredible pride in the past.
Look up, look down, look all around, what are you missing on the ground?

Keep snappin'
Jeanne
~~All of the photos on this blog are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road Photo. Thank you for not reproducing them without permission.~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Drains to the Bay

Two weeks ago today I was in Plymouth, MA and I have to admit I am really missing the cool fall ocean breeze. It is just too warm and humid in Texas still!
**Sigh**......Lovely.......**Sigh**


This is my all time favorite utility cover. LOVE the color, LOVE the lobster, LOVE the sand on the sidewalk that surrounds it. **sigh** (again)


"Look up, look down, look all around, something interesting is on the ground"

Come on fall!
Jeanne


~~All of the photos on this blog are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road Photo. Thank you for not reproducing them without permission.~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

Friday, September 21, 2012

More Metal in the Street

This little beauty was in the sidewalk in Plymouth, MA. It is a water shut off valve. When I point the camera down for these metal beauties, my first impulse is to clear the garbage... love the leaves, hate the cigarette butts. BUTT for some reason I left them and I love the results. You don't really see them at first glance do you? BUTT if you will look closely... Ok ok I will stop...
Same picture, different filter. See those butts now? They add to it don't you think?
The thing that intrigues me about metal utility covers is that we spend most of our life walking or driving over them, not even noticing they are there. BUTT (sorry couldn't resist) without knowing it, we rely on them daily.
You should see the looks I get when when I position myself over one of them and take a picture. I have seen people walk over after I have walked away and look down and still can't figure out what I was taking a picture of. The evil part of me enjoys seeing people perplexed. The reality is they are thinking to themselves "what was that crazy girl doing?". That's ok with me, at least I made them look at something besides the obvious. It's all about perception.

Keep snappin', up down and all around
Jeanne

~~All of the photos on this blog are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road Photo. Thank you for not reproducing them without permission.~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Metal Street Art Day 4 & 5

Good morning!
Yesterday was a little crazy and I didn't get my daily photo in.  SO today you get two days at once, lucky you *wink*
I thought I would take a break from the "manhole cover" metal and share a few other metal utilty matkers I found in Plymouth, MA          Day 4



I am not really sure what this is.  Some kind of alarm maybe??  Any thoughts?




Day 5


Not sure what I like the most about this, the blue and rust contrast or the texture of the surrounding concrete. 


 


Look up, look down, look all around....Interesting things lay on the
ground

Keep snappin'
Jeanne
~~All of the photos on this blog
are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road
Photo. Thank you for not reproducing them without permission.~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

 


 


Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Metal Street Art Day 3 Pymouth

Day three of sharing my latest obsession with metal objects found in the streets.  AKA Metal Street Art.
Todays Entry is from Plymouth, MA   Electric Service and more bricks yay!  Are you starting to see a pattern here?  *wink*

Look up, look down, look all around....Interesting things lay on the ground
Keep snappin'
Jeanne


~~All of the photos on this blog are protected by copyright and are the property of Jeanne May and Brick Road Photo. Thank you for not reproducing them without permission.~~ www.brickroadphoto.com

Monday, September 17, 2012

Street Art day 2

Metal Street Art is my latest photo a day Project. Day 2 gives us this very unique beauty from Boston, Beacon Hill, MA


Remember Mountain Bell? Ma Bell they called it. The government stepped in and decide they were too big, a monopoly, and broke them up. Hmmmm wonder what they would think of AT&T or Verizon?

Of course you know I love the "brick road" it is laid in to.
Great character!

What did you see today?
Posted by Jeanne from my iPad

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Boston Metal Street Art

My latest obsession is with what I call metal street art. Have you ever looked down at all of the utility covers in the street? They all have something to say, something individual about them. Very cool. I have decided as I travel I am going to collect digital metal street art. Unlike all those shot glass souvineers, you don't have to dust them and you can carry them anywhere!


Look through a camera lens, I promise you will see things differently. Light, depth, texture and personality are all different through a lens. It really makes you focus (pun intended) on the world in front of you.

Jeanne

- Posted by Jeanne from my iPad

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Mimi gets new clothes

I am loving my new mobile photo studio aka Mimi! It is so convenient to have all of my photo equipment and props with me ALL of the time. My new mobile PHOTO BOOTH with all of its boa's, hats, funky flowers and tiaras fit inside perfectly!

Even though there was NOTHING boring about Mimi the red van, I do think she needed a little bling. Some new clothes, if you will.


Isn't she purdy? Thanks to Mark at SignMart in Mineola, you rock!

The thing I love the most about location photography is all of the new beautiful places I get to explore and the incredible natural light. Now I get to explore those places from a pretty shiny red van AND yay now I get to take all of my stuff with me! I know I mentioned this already, but I am pretty darned excited.

I just got back from a trip to the Boston area. It was fabulous! The trip started with a crushed camera lens (thank you AAirlines) but ended with a new lens and some great photos. I will start posting soon.

Capture a memory
Jeanne


- Posted by Jeanne from my iPad

Friday, September 7, 2012

Frog reflections

Tree frogs are the most amazing little creatures. I had never come in contact with or even seen one until moving to East Texas.
After moving to the new property, we lived through the frog invasion and then the toad take over....FYI they may have been connected. Now we are getting to see the tree frogs. Yay!
This little guy was on the BBQ grill the other day.


We sat him on a mirror to try to get a picture of his underside and his amazing feet. He didn't seem to mind that we were interested in him, in fact I think he started to pose! Great personality!


Here he's sitting politely.
We never could get him to spread his toes, so we tried a different angle


Showing his good side!
Cool toes huh? Like little suction cups with big sticking power!


Preparing to leap! Immediately after I took this, he jumped on to my camera lens. Look closely, he is smiling, just waiting for the opportunity to startle me.
His color changed to the most amazing hues of bright green as the outside lighting conditions changed. SO many shades of brilliant green and wow can he sing!
He is still hanging out near the BBQ so I guess he has decided our back yard is home. The reality is we have put our back yard into his home. So glad he is willing to share.

Capture every moment
Jeanne


Posted by Brick Road Photo, Jeanne May

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Beauty everywhere

What do this......


And this.....


Have in Common????
Both were taken here....


People are usually surprised when I tell them both of these were taken 280 miles from the ocean in a junk store.....excuse me...a trading post in Noonday, Texas. Gotta love the red dirt dyed shells.
A good reminder that there is beauty everywhere, sometimes we just have to look harder for it.

“Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph."
– Matt Hardy

Did you notice the lawn mower and the birdcage on the roof? Every square inch holds a new treasure. Yikes!

Only in Texas
Jeanne



Posted by Brick Road Photo, Jeanne May