Wedding Photos by Casey McFarland

Thank God for photos.  It has been a little over two months since I got married, and thanks to photographs, I've been able to reflect on the day with fonder memories.  Not that I don't have fond memories.  I do, and the day was fantastic, but at the time I felt harried and stressed due to the intense thunderstorm that took place for roughly two hours before go time. Other stories about the wedding may eventually come, but for now, I am enjoying the photos from the day, even this:

Probably one of the things that have bound Tim and I together, is our hatred of wedding photography. These days, the industry is saturated with anyone who has a digital camera and photo editing software, which is all readily available. We both don't like to pose for photos so engagement and bridal shots were out of the "picture," but we did want the day documented. We knew we wanted film, and, genuine, in the moment-moments.  Not sure of who to trust, we turned to family.  Casey McFarland shot our wedding, and we're so glad he did.   We love our photos, the details captured, the action shots (even if I look like a laughing maniac in most). 

Casey has been shooting weddings for over 12 years, long before the convenience of digital cameras. Not that there is anything wrong with digital, but I think there is a difference when someone has experience in film photography. Casey touches on that notion here, and shares a few more photos.

While the rain thwarted my plans and made for a less than ideal situation, Casey was able to make everything look beautiful, even with the last minute tent and the tables on their sides.  In the face of my freaking out, he was calm, cool, and collected.  Hey, someone had to be... thanks Casey!! 

Last but not least, I'm not shamelessly promoting a new-to-me relative, I'm being sincere.  Regardless, his body of work speaks for itself.

xoxo stacey

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Bokeh Heaven

Sigh, like a hands together next to my cheek, head tilted like my tilt shift camera, eyes to the sky, sigh.  Photojojo, thanks for introducing me to my tilt-shift digital camera.  Tilt-shift camera, thanks for introducing me to some major bokeh.  Bokeh, just, thanks.  You put me in such a dreamy mood.

Here are the results from my first ever tilt-shift camera testing-out adventure.  The camera has four color settings:  Vivid, Sepia, Standard, and Monochrome.  Here you'll find some test shots that show off the different color options in the preceding order, clockwise from top left.

While shooting with the tilt-shift I became curious about how it would compare to a shot taken with my Canon, same scene same vantage point.  Here are two shots to show off the different effect each camera provided.  Canon left, tilt-shift right.

My tilt-shift camera took the tiniest bit of research and practice to realize how to best use it.  This camera offers its best performance when shooting from elevated locations.  This little fact has offered me a whole new perspective on the perspective of my photos. It's very small, so I've been keeping it in my bag on the off chance I'll be in a great place to utilize it to the best of its ability. I'm excited to report it has a video option, as well as a voice recorder. Up to this point I have used neither, but I'm growing quite excited at the option of some bokeh'd out video. I know this is the 'easy way out' when it comes to tilt-shift photography, but as an amateur who isn't ready to make a major lens investment, this is certainly doing the trick.   I am totally pleased with this purchase.

Any of you out there have experience with tilt-shift photography?  I'd love to see what you've done!

Forever yours,

Heather

P.S.  I can't wait to show you my Chicago tilt-shift shots!

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Tilt-Shift Camera

Well, I'm beginning to grow a bit concerned.  I am developing quite the talent, err, affinity for, err, habit of shopping online.  I love getting things in the mail.  Things like this, and these, and these, and these, and these...and a few things I'm still getting around to showing you.  But people, having something to look forward to beyond the predictable junk that mucks up my mailbox really seems to brighten my spirits.  And, Photojojo is amazing.  For these reasons and a few others, I don't intend on pulling myself from my mail order maelstrom anytime soon.

So, for this installment of "What did Heather get in the mail today?" I offer you my tilt-shift camera.  I had been thinking about it for a while, so when my Chicago trip was booked (and with visions of reaching heights my little city just can't provide) the camera was purchased.   

I've played around with it a bit, and am trying to put together a couple of comparison shots to really see the different things this little camera can provide which non tilt shifted lenses cannot.  I'll keep you posted!

Kisses,

-Eightch 

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Portraits

Kinda creepy but kind of awesome; the work of Brooklyn based photographer, Logan Crable.  I can't get over how you can see inside the entire mouth, to me a glimpse of what they might look like as a skeleton.

Or maybe it's just AHHHHHHH!
- Stacey

(photos via fecalface.com)

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