Another post on inspirational photography.

A few of my friends and family know that I sing on the worship team at church. It’s payback for how much I used to tease the kids in choir.

Back to the present.

I was at rehearsal the night before Thanksgiving, singing background which means I’m supposed to sing into the directional microphone. I usually end up straining my voice because I have to sing way too loud to let the tenor part be heard. So, I’m feeling sorry for my voice instead of being thankful for all the things I have to be thankful for. Including the ability to sing and sing the tenor part which used to elude me!

Typical!

That’s when clarity hit me and I started looking around like a photographer instead of a selfish dork. I saw the lights and the other singers and bam! Inspiration.

I’ve talked about how much I’m loving flares and J.J. Abrams and all of that stuff.

I actually didn’t have my phone in my pocket. I left the stage and grabbed it out of my seat and started framing this first image.

It ended up looking like the top photo. I backed off a bit and let the flare wash over a couple of the singers.

I had my image and my clarity of mind and thought. If only for the moment.

See you all soon. Happy shooting!

Laguna Beach engagement session
In this entry I’d like to talk a bit about personal style. I recently did this engagement session of this fabulous couple, Christin and Jarret, in Laguna Beach.
At the very end of the session, I walked around the backside of this couple. I always try to take one last look opposite of where I’ve been photographing. You never know what you might find. Today, I found a very cool silhouette just waiting to be captured.

Beyond that, one of my favorite television shows on right now is, “Fringe,” it is directed by J.J. Abrams. He is the director on, “Lost, Alias, Mission Impossible and the latest remake of the movie, Star Trek.” His vision is amazing! He adds flares, lights, reflections and movement into almost every frame of the movie and it gives it his signature style. You see a clip and you just know it’s J.J.’s style.

I’ve been trying to incorporate flares into a lot of my work to give it some life. Not to directly steal from J.J.’s work but to honor it and make it my own.
When you see something you admire, take a look at it and try to figure out how to make it your own. Think American Idol and how the judges are always telling the poor contestants to sing a song and make it their own. Don’t just karaoke it, give it some personality from your soul.

Change it and make it yours. Now go out and try that and enjoy!!!