I'm back

Haven't posted in a long time due to the photography group at Manna no longer happening due to my schedule being hectic with school and coaching soccer.

I miss the group dearly. I love getting together with local Fayetteville, NC photographers and collaborating on edits, ideas and just shooting.

Keep up with the blog and enjoy what comes your way.

RJ

August 15th meeting "Motion"

Car moving by while couple kisses.
Fan moving with backlight CD's cases for the color
Trick skier (Drew) on the downside of a backflip.
Hey all,

I haven't posted in the last week so I hope your photography adventures have as good as mine and you are taking some great pictures.

This week's meeting will be on August 15th at Manna Church at 12pm or noon. We won't be meeting in the classroom but rather in the 1st floor lobby of the education building next to the elevators. We will be working on "Motion" and we will be using our own cars and moving bodies to get some great effects.

It will likely be a little hot so bring a water bottle, wear shorts and come prepared to take some very interesting pictures with "Motion"

See you all on saturday,

Ryan

July 25th - No meeting

Softbox image using one SB600 speedlight right side at 1/4 power.

No meeting on July 25th. I will be gone for the week camping in WV and SC. I hope everyone has a great time shooting photos, hanging with family and relaxing from a tough work week.

I am excited to see everyone's photos on flickr from the past two meetings of "portraits." and any pictures we take between now and August 1st (next meeting) Even if it's just one or two pictures post them. I love seeing other's photos. Try to post some humorous photos on flickr as an assignment. Whether they are from a while ago or recently shot, post some humorous photos in the Manna group.

For our next meeting on August 1st we will be building a DIY (do it yourself) "softbox" or "lightbox". If you are unfamiliar with a softbox it is used for macro photography (a.k.a. close up photography) and it gives even lighting for subjects.

A short video on what we will be building:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt-vYW4Psm8

Copy and paste the link then watch the video.

Materials needed:

Cardboard box with size range of 12 x 12 x 12 to 24 x 24 x 24

White tissue paper (what you fill presents with)

Duct tape

White poster board and/or black poster board

Exacto knife or tool to cut cardboard

If you have time to build the box before August 1st then build it and he will come. Who precisely?

I don't know but I wanted to use the famous line by James Earl Jones. If you don't have the time bring the materials

to build on Aug 1st or ask to share with others as we were taught in elementary school.

I highly recommend you make this $5 piece of photography equipment because you will get some

amazing shots from something so cheap and you will want it to take home and keep using it.

On August 1st bring a few items to take pictures of that are laying around your house.

Time of that meeting is TBD. Check back on the blog for that.

July 18th meeting

We had a great time at our portrait session on the 11th. A few new folks showed up and we talked about the exposure triangle a bit and then used two models for portraits. I didn't snap any photos,but a few, so I want to see everyone else's pics on flickr. That way we all can see the beauty of Diane and Mia (the models).

We finished around 11 and then ventured into the lobby area to use the window light to get more pics. We were having so much fun that we shot for another hour and got some great photos using the reflector as a fill light and the sun as our main light. We even got a few unexpecting models (yours truly and Rich) to get in front of the camera. Scary!

I was going to change the topic for the 18th meeting to Macro photography but I know we will benefit a lot more from one more week of portraits so the 18th will be portraits again. Lets meet at 9:30 instead of 9 to give those late birds a change to find those dwindling worms.

July 11th meeting - Portraits

Evidence of a family outing (yes, that is my father) that was titled "Dress a family member for $7 at Goodwill" then go out and putt putt in the outfits. Luckily we were on vacation and we didn't see anybody we will ever see again.

The July 11th meeting will be "Portraits". We will be meeting in Rm 213 at Manna Church at 9am.

I want to set up the room with some lights and work on lighting portraits and posing/different set ups. I'm gonna bring in some of the church chairs and couches to help us get different looks/props. So if you have any lights please bring them. Also, bring some random props that could be used as well. Use your imagination. Props like hats, fashion accessories, random items in the house, etc. can make great pictures.

Lets bring something to share for breakfast as well. Donuts, fruit, bagels, OJ, breakfast bread, etc. I'll bring some breakfast cinnamon cake.

Comment back or email me back you what you can bring.

See you all saturday

4th of July pictures

The 4th was tiring but enjoyable. Here are a few snap shots of my adventures in Hope Mills. I joined Manna Church in the annual "4th of July Water Giveaway" at the Hope Mills Fireworks. There were so many volunteers from Manna that I eventually just took out my camera and starting walking around. I had some great conversations with many people I knew and some I got to know.

4th of July thoughts

I hope everyone had a blast on the birthday of our free country. Living in Fayetteville gives me an appreciation of our freedom and the costs, both in life and distance relationships, that are sacrifices of immense portion. Thank you to all who serve, have served, and will serve to protect our country against all enemies, both domestic and abroad.

Our freedom gives us the ability to celebrate it's glorious occurrence each year and each day. In addition, our freedom to live a life of glory each day is because of Christ. I find myself in awe EVERY day of how God sent His only son on earth to die so that I can be set free from the sins I have and will commit. It's a little tangent but I imagine the conflict Abraham dealt with in Genesis. Think about this:

In Genesis 22 Abraham was willing (v 3-6) to sacrifice his son who was promised to him, by God, to be the start of the family line of the messiah. When God called Abraham Abraham said "Here I am". That reads with such force and will of your life to trust God's every call. Abraham's response showed his reverence for Him and he took God's directions and followed them to a "T". He saddled the donkey, cut the wood with his servants, traveled 60 miles on foot to Moriah, and brought his one and only son with him to be the sacrifice. Take a deeper look (reading between the lines) and imagine the turmoil of the heart Abraham was likely wrestling. God promised that his one and only son after years of waiting would be the father of fathers of fathers to the messiah. And an only son! I can't imagine the thoughts he had when saddling the donkey and cutting the wood with the servants. Thoughts that likely brought him to tears along the 3 day journey.

This can seem necessary and faithful when looking hindsight but put your child in the story. That means go in the woods and cut down a lot of wood. Pack it in the back of your car with a cooler and books on tape to listen to for the long 3 day journey to California. It will be just you and your son or daughter going with you. While you are preparing for this your first born son or daughter is helping you with all the necessary tasks and is very willing to take a trip with mom or dad. You mention you want to worship God when you get there and want to build an altar for Him when you get there. He or she is so excited to help mom or dad in this adventure. When you get to your destination you build the altar with you son or daughter and they ask you "Mommy(Daddy), where is the sacrifice?" You say "God will provide us the lamb" As you say this waterfalls and body jolting tears are held back because you know what God has asked you to do. Then comes the time where you have to physically tie up your child and place them on the alter. Could you imagine? Could you imagine the look of their face and seeing their eyes? Could you imagine the shaking of your hands? Could you imagine the struggle they may give you? And then the knife. You pull out a knife and hold it above the body of your precious first born. "OH MY GOD, WHY ME?" would be a prayer at the top of your lungs with tears drenching your shirt and hands shaking so vigorously that you can barely hold the knife. You know the story of the angel bring the ram caught in the bush but what if that wasn't the case? What if God really did ask you to drive that knife into the chest of your son? It is vulgar but that was what Abraham was ready to do. Are you?

Abraham was so free in the presence/connection/relationship with God that he was willing to give his promised son up for God.

Thoughts? Additions?

July 4th meeting "Fireworks & Festivities"

Our July 4th meeting will be "Fireworks and Festivities" I know many of us will be venturing off to bbq's, gatherings, parties, boats and more both in and out of town. I didn't want us to miss out on the assingment so I altered it a bit for this week. Therefore, let's take advantage of the country's birthday and make some photos.

We won't be meeting at Manna at 9 am (woohoo for the night owls) but rather be on our own for the day and post our pictures on flickr.com/groups/mannaphotography for the others to see them. The assignment is "Fireworks and Festivities". Get some great shots of friends, family, others, fireworks, ice cream, swimming, boating, messy faces, etc. Whatever you are doing on this day will be great. But keep portraits and the rule of thirds in mind. If you are unfamiliar with the rule of thirds check out this video:

Remember, rules are made to be broken (don't tell my 8th graders). A lot of pictures are spectacular when obeying the rule of thirds and a lot of pictures are spectacular without obeying the rule of thirds. Play around with the rule and get some great photos. I look forward to seeing your photos.

Also, take the holiday opportunity to share Christ with someone. You will likely be around both Christians and non-Christians. Take a small step out of your normal conversation with a non-Christian and ask them a question about Christ or church or mention a story in the bible that seemed interesting to you and ask for their opinion. A small change in conversational direction can be used in a large way by the Holy Spirit.

See you in Hope Mills (I'll be there for the day and night) or see your pictures on flickr.

Next week, July 11th, we will be meeting at Manna Church in Rm 213 to finish our Portrait series (that sounds like a pastor thing).

Shine in the Dark Music Fest - Pictures

Here are a few pictures from the Shine in the Dark Music Fest with Shine Models, Paul Mitchell, Rush skaters, Kutless & Abbi Walker to name a few.

Kutless

Rush Skate Ministries

Shine Model (make up by Paul Mitchell)

Yellow Cavalier

Abbi Walker

Bruce, Rachel (from Cameron, NC) and I had a great time shooting all night. Some more pictures can be seen here:

http://vantagepointphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/8699280_QipPK#575022592_WSrfA

&

http://vantagepointphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/8701179_VS67v#575061242_HFSxD

Concert Opportunity & June 27th

Join me at the Shine in the Dark Music Fest. If you reply to RDJ413@gmail.com or comment back on this blog ASAP you may be able to get a press pass and join me for the event. I'm not too sure how many press passes will be given out but as many as I can retrieve will be given out. First come, first serve.

Shine in the Dark Music Fest: FEED ME. IM HUNGRY

featuring: merra

Abbi walker

Yellow Cavalier

Chasen

Krystal Meyers (with Shine Models)

Kutless

Only $12 + a can of food

When: Thursday June 25, 2009 6pm at the Crown Coliseum

Buy your tickets at ticketmaster.com

www.shineinthedarkmusicfest.webs.com

Also,

Jun27Sat 3:00 PM

3 pm - 6 pmWhere?

Trade Street Brews (Coffee House)

5444 Trade Street

Hope Mills, NC 28348

(910) 425-5600

Who’s

The Fayetteville Photography Club on meetup.com will be setting up a studio environment to get some experience shooting portraits in a studio setting.

The cost is $10 so bring cash, cameras, and remote triggers (Pocket Wizards or Alien Bees or similar) if you have them. If you don't have remote triggers don't worry, you can borrow mine or I am sure just learning how to use them may persuade you to buy them.

I put 2 guests down when I RSVP'd for this event so if you want to join me please comment on this blog or email me at RDJ413@gmail.com.

2nd meeting and our next meeting

We had a great time in the heat on Saturday working on "Lines, Textures and Patterns." There was a mix up on my part about where to meet (I blame it on Rich, he was my navigator) but we all made it.

I loved how we all just went out and started shooting. The enthusiasm is contagious. And the people you meet along the way is great as well. I met a few folks hanging out in the heat and hope to meet more on assignments like these. I'm excited to hear stories about our time and see your pictures on flickr.

If you haven't joined the flickr group go to www.flickr.com/groups/mannaphotography. Sign up! It's free. That is the best way to share photos among our group and comment on them. I have seen some great photos and I can't wait to see more uploaded this week. Flickr is also a great way to see photos from photogs around the world. And a reminder that facebook is free and a great way to share photos and keep in touch with friends.

If you didn't make it to our group this week (June 20) or to our first meeting (June 13) we still would like to see photos whether they are part of the assignments or not. It's just great to see photos of others and get ideas, see other's art and spread God's glory in this format. And speaking of spreading God's glory I missed a golden opportunity on Saturday to share the gospel. I was talking to a gentlemen and I felt the urge to share the gospel with him but I was distracted by my desire to take some photos and talk to others I ran into that I knew from the Fayetteville Photography group on meetup.com. I was kicking myself in the face (that steering wheel kept blocking it) while driving home because all I had to do was ask him two simple questions. A lesson learned.

Our next group will be Saturday June 27th at the Arts Council Building at 9am to work on "Portraits." Don't come to Manna because we won't be there (weather permitting of course and I would send an email if that was the case). If unfamiliar where the arts council building is comment on this blog or email me. We'll cover "Portraits" for the next few meetings because there is a lot of interest in portraits and a lot goes into making a good portrait. Lighting. Angle. Catch light. Photographer/subject interaction. Location. Lens/camera settings. And more.

Comment or email me whether you can make it or not on the 27th. And don't forget to post your pictures on flickr or facebook whether you have been to a meeting or not.