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Kala and I had fun trying out some locations that are not just the same ol’ same ol’.  To make it even more special we shot these on her birthday!   See you soon Kala!

Shoulders are to photographers like skates are to ice skating.   I’ve not seen too many photographers hold the camera with their feet, compose, focus and shoot.  Friday before I was discharged after surgery on my injured shoulder I heard words falling on my awareness like, tear in tendon, rough spot in cartiledge, bone hook, sling, pain meds, and a lot more was being thrown at my foggy mind.  Oh yes, and there were instructions to start PT as early as Monday. (ps  this right hand only typoing….no complaints please).

Sunday was a senior shoot, and an engagement shoot.  No problem.  I get in my beautiful black sling, and I direct Lexie and Tony.   Gang! Let me tell you, they are saints!   They didn’t say bad words, shoot me dirty looks, nor throw cameras at me.   Directing is hard work.  I just wanted to do it myself.  It was really getting on my nerves to have to think of how to tell them what I wanted.

Gabby and her mother had waited patiently for the leaves to turn.  They found this cool place.   Problem? We couldn’t get to it. The leaves were not turning in this spot. The water was frigid.  The negatives were endless. There I stood being impatient trying to tell Lexie what to do.

Lexie rolled up her pants, without a word, stepped into the freezing cold stream, crouched down, and began to talk to Gabby while she shot.  It was magic for Lexie. She wasn’t rushing. She wasn’t complaining nor showing any signs of discomfort.  She wasn’t being a hero.   She went for the shot.  For the first time she had it right.  ISO, shutter speed, the right lens for what she was doing, and Lexie began moving Gabby through the poses Lexie envisioned.    For the very first time she found what she wanted and got right the settings she needed to produce it.  No help from Donna at all.

I got very quiet.   Suddenly I realized that “I” was not the word “I” had been struggling with all day. “WE” found a solution because Lexie was willing to be very quiet and not get upset with me being frustrated.  She went a step further and did what it took to make the location and Gabby’s idea work.

It’s Lexie’s first season.   She went through doing all the grunt work of carrying bags, fetching, etc.  Then she got to shoot a wee bit.   When you are new there is so little to praise and so much to critique.   There is no way around the manual for the camera.   Truthfully you really have to love it or you won’t survive.

And “I” re-learned a really important lesson.   Teamwork!

For the next few weeks I don’t have a left arm and hand to work with.   So!  To prepare for this momentous (not) few weeks I get to use Tony and Lexie as my stand in.  I get to play director.    For the very first assignment we shared photographing Angel.  I did her older brother’s senior pics a few years ago when he graduated.

Proofs  link later, Mom