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.

Facebook & Flickr group

The little girl is the daughter of the CEO of Shine International Ministries. This was taken at the fundraiser car wash for their Fashion show with Krystal Meyers and Kutless on June 26th (see previous post for more information).

I created a Facebook group for our Manna Photography Small Group but I'm having trouble inviting you to join. I know I can organize my profile so you are in that group but I spent a half hour trying to figure it out how to give you an invite and can't find the means. If you know how to make a Facebook group for others to join please let me know.

If you don't have a Facebook account you should get one. It is free, a great way to keep in touch with our group and other friends and there is an easy format for uploading photos for others to view.

I started a flickr group as well. Flickr is free up to a certain amount of storage space. After that initial free space I believe you pay 29.99 for a year's prescription of the Pro version. If you just upload a few photos here and there, and keep the file size small, you shouldn't have to pay the $30 unless you want unlimited access.

The flickr group is http://www.flickr.com/groups/mannaphotography/

I put a few pictures from the Shine Mary Kay day on there to start. Let's start uploading photos from our times in the group and on our own. Flickr is the best quality, easiest format, and free tool for us to use to share our photos. Also, flickr is the craze for photographers around the world to share photos, ideas and network. Start a free account and start sharing photos.

Let's use flickr as our main source of sharing and facebook as a secondary.

"There are 10 great photos 10 meters from you right now"

We are "Still" in Christ's image

If you like cheezyness then check out the blog title. It will make since as you read on.

Our first Manna Photography Group on Saturday 6/13 was awesome. We meet in Room 213 (sorry for those who didn't get the room assignment on time) in the education building and had a great time talking "How to use our cameras." We have a variety of experience levels, styles and personalities that will make this group significantly better. I say this because we all like a different aspect of photography. Some like shooting concerts, some like shooting models, some like shooting sports, some like shooting stills and some like shooting portraits. I am stoked about this variety because we have experts in different areas and we can help everyone become well rounded photographers. In addition, I can't wait to see what variety is brought to the table when those who couldn't make the first meeting join us. It will be a plethora (nice word hugh? ..........It was on sale at Walmart. .........$1) of knowledge.

If you missed the meeting we exchanged information, talked about how we grew a passion for photography, helped each other understand how our cameras work and then went on a mini shoot in the Manna parking lot shooting "Stills." In a RJ (my nickname) definition stills are pictures you make that are "still" or not moving.

When talking about how to use our cameras we focused on the Exposure Triangle. The exposure triangle is the balance between the 3 basic aspects of light that exposure a picture. The three aspects are shutter speed, aperture (or f-stops) and ISO. The balance between these either produce a great photo or produce an "educational" photo that will help you expose a better picture the next time. Check out The Art of Photography podcast on itunes for free video tutorials on these plus more basic aspects of photography. I tried to download those vidoes but they would not download. Check them out!!

Next meeting is Saturday, June 20th at 9am in Rm 213 of Manna Church's education building. We will meet briefly there to join up with those who didn't get a chance to attend the first time then were off to Downtown Fayetteville to work on "Textures, Lines and Patterns."

Check the blog periodically this week for a Facebook and/or Flickr group link to share our photos with each other.

Remember, photographers don't take photos we make them!

Shine in the Dark Music Fest

Join me at the Shine in the Dark Music Fest. Bring your camera to take some candid photos with me. The models working with Krystal Meyers will be the models that will periodically volunteer their time to help us in our photography group.

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

Car Wash

Also, Shine Magazine (girlsthatshine.com, a christian magazine going into national production this summer) will be holding a carwash at the Hardees on McPherson Church Road starting at 10 am on June 13th to raise money for the magazine's debut. Get your car washed to help the models that will be helping us in our photography group.

1st Manna Photography Small Group

I can't claim this photo but I think it's hilarious!!

Our first meeting for the Manna Photography Small Group with be in Rm 213 in the Education building at 9am. If you are unfamiliar with the layout of Manna here is the best description I can give (don't criticize me for it):

When you pull into the parking lot in your fantasy Beamer like mine (yeah right) the education building is the 3 story brick building built by Moses himself. Enter the crystal doors and use the elevator on the right or stairs on the left to the 2nd floor. Room 213 is down the hallway on the right. It's hard to miss since there are only 3 rooms in the middle of the hallway. If you get lost for any reason don't call me because you were probably the one I didn't like at the My Manna Connection.

Agenda: Meet, exchange information, "Learn to use the camera we have", next meeting date and time, then go out and shoot

What to bring: your camera (any type), camera manual if you desire, willingness to learn, and creativity to shoot

Time: 9am until around 11am

Where: Manna Church Rm 213

If you have any questions email Ryan at RDJ413@gmail.com

Can't wait to meet and shoot with you all!!

Ryan

Shrader Wedding

I was not the official photographer at the wedding but I did snap a few shots. Nothing fantasy just a camera and some good times capturing friends and their family on their amazing day. It was a blast and the road trip to PA was gorgeous. I plan on stopping at a lot of locations next time I drive up 52 and 77.

While at the wedding I met up with the photographer and I am going to collaborate with them on a few weddings this summer in PA. All it takes is some initiative, good communication skills, a smile, and just having fun. The rest is up to God.

A mini vacation

I will be heading to PA for a mini vacation and some good friends getting married. I hope I will get some good pictures from the wedding, even though I am not the official photographer. I can't really dance at the rehearsal due to my arm still directed to be in a sling until Monday therefore my object is opening the shutter and hanging with great friends.

A little sidenote: if you talk to anyone who wants to join the group direct them to the blog or my email. I'll put them on the email list and get their informtion.

Find your niche

I have been searching for a lot of inspirational photographers on the web through twitter, facebook and meet and greet groups. I found out that my sister's wedding photographer has really advanced his line of work. The reason: he found his niche in Detroit. He puts a bit of an edge on his pictures and makes his work stand out versus the other photographers in Detroit. In addition, he uses his passion of fine art photography to entice others on his great eye for a great picture.

Check out his website. His name is Prem. His business is Arising Images.

Website www.arisingimages.com

Do you have a niche of photography that you thoroughly enjoy? Do you find yourself taking a certain type of picture all the time? Write or comment back on this.