Christopher Bloor Photography

It Was a Sari Night..............

2009-07-16T11:31:00.000-04:00

It was hot, there were a ton of bugs and to say it was humid would be an understatement. But there we were at almost pitch dark still shooting away.

2 sisters wanting to get some fun shots in their saris. Who am I to say no to that? We spent about an hour and in a half in an open field (with the bugs and thorns) working with an abandoned barn in the background. Not a bad place to work (even with the bugs).

National Archives Guard

2009-07-13T09:14:00.000-04:00

When I was in DC last week, I went to the National Archives with my son to check out all cool stuff. As we were looking around, I turned and saw this. How could I not shoot it? I wish the scene lasted for a bit longer but as soon as I took the she, the guard moved away. I would have tried to frame it a bit differently.

Wow!

2009-07-11T08:51:00.001-04:00

It was close to 2am and we were still at it; Still shooting, still trying to learn. My brain had turned to mush a long time before that but the adrenaline was clearly rushing through my veins. How do we make this better? What can we do differently? Moving, changing, trying to keep going.

By this time, we were on our own. No more being told what or how to do it; we should know it. Sure we could ask questions, but the expectation was for us to be able to set up and go for it.

This was one of my last shots for the night. And it is one of my favorites. The color in her hair, how her earrings are blown out from the light forcing you to focus on her face. To say the model was a trooper would be an understatement. She was simply awesome; full of energy and patience. She kept asking if that was good, or if we wanted more.

I know I have said this before but if you ever get the chance to take a class with Zack Arias, do it. It is well worth it.

OneLight Follow Up

2009-07-09T12:14:00.001-04:00

Boy was yesterday a long day. We started at about 10:30am. From there we talked about lighting, and off we went. We shot, talked about lighting, shot, talked about lighting and shot some more. Buy a little after 3am, we had wrapped up. I am not sure how many shots I took yesterday; but it was a lot. But more than the quantity, it was what I learned! Do I now have lighting mastered? Not by a long shot. But what I do have is information and skills that I didn't have before yesterday.

If you ever get the chance to take a workshop with Zack Arias, I encourage you to do it. Zack is down to earth, easy going and willing to do what he needs to so that you become a better photographer. Simply said, he is awesome.

At first glance, these are a few of my favorites from yesterday. But I am not exactly awake right now.

One Light

2009-07-08T07:20:00.000-04:00

I am off to a seminar with Zack Arias today. This is really the first photo workshop that I have ever done. Sure, I have been to a seminar here and there; Maybe even a few lectures, but this is a workshop! What do I mean by that? Well, last night, Zack had a mixer last night to introduce everyone to each other. One of the things he said was to get ready to go to 1am. Yes, 1am! So I think it is going to be a long (good) day!

While I knew Zack beforehand, I first really started to follow him with the below video. I am sure many of you have seen it; I think I may have even posted it beforehand. While the first minute or two are a bit odd, the message is really for everyone.

Good stuff. Go grab your coffee and watch. It is worth it!

Does This Say July 4th or What?

2009-07-06T12:41:00.001-04:00

I took a ton of shots at our local July 4th parade here in the wonderful City of Milton. I will post some more shots later this week, but I could not help but start with this one. This little girl was all decked out and clearly ready to celebrate!

Happy 4th!

2009-07-04T07:59:00.001-04:00

What I love about July 4th is some of the trivia that comes along with it. Yes, I also love family time, fireworks, parades etc. But sine I am one of those odd people that like historical trivia, the 4th has a ton of it.

Here are a few fun facts for you:

Only 2 people actually signed the Declaration on July 4th
56 people signed it in total
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (both whom signed the Declaration) died on July 4th of the same year within hours of one another
In 1776 Independence Day was actually celebrated on July 8th
It became a legal holiday in 1941
George Washington did not sign the Delaeration

Not sure what you can do with that knowledge, but maybe you can use these fun facts at a party tonight.

This is a shot I took last year while we were in DC. I took a lot that night, but this was one of my favorite.

Thomas Jefferson

2009-07-02T09:40:00.000-04:00

I had the chance to walk around and shoot the monuments one night last weekend in DC. In doing so, I was shocked to find how many people had the same idea. It was 11pm at night and there were still tons of people out there. I was also surprised to find out that I can not bring a tripod onto the monuments. They view it as a danger and risk. In talking to the Park Ranger, it is because they think that someone can bring a long rifle and get a shot off towards the White House or Capital (I am not joking). So I had to stand a bit away and get my "shots".

Even with that, it was still cool. My 8 year old came with me and he had an awesome time. I guess any 8 year old that can do whatever till 11pm is going to have an awesome time. The Jefferson memorial is by far my favorite. By far..................

More to come in the next few days!

13 Star Flag

2009-06-26T11:54:00.000-04:00

I am back home for 7 hours. Got up @ 3:30 am, 6am flight, landed at 8:30, home @ 10, need to leave for the airport again @ 2pm; 2nd flight is @ 4pm, land in DC @ 6pm. It is going to be a long day! Getting up again @ 4am to go shoot the monuments @ sunrise.

Just a quick post as we get ready for July 4th next week. Happy Weekend.

150 Year Old Door Bell

2009-06-24T08:00:00.001-04:00

Sometimes it is the small things that make you take notice. Wondering around Charleston last weekend, I stopped to look a very old house that had been converted into a museum. It was still early, around 8am, so it was not open and I just stood out in front looking at the building. As I was looking at the house, I saw this door bell by the front gate. It was somewhat hard to see as the house was so large and almost overbearing in its detail. But once I saw it, I was immediately fascinated by the detail of it and wondered how many times it had been rung over it's life time.

As a PS: I am off to Toronto today and then to DC on Friday. I am not back at my desk till next Tuesday. Not sure how much time I will have to post. So please forgive me in advance in I don't have many updates between now and then.

Old Movie Theater

2009-06-23T10:35:00.001-04:00

Last week, we took a quick, spur of the moment trip, over to Charleston. We had never been there before and we spent the day just walking around.

Just as we were wrapping up our day, I saw this movie theater and it quickly reminded me of those old movie reels from the 1940's or so. When I took this shot, I knew that is the look that I wanted. The first shot is the "finished product"; The 2nd one is the untouched original. I wanted to get rid of any modern references: I took out the cars, signs, names on the buildings etc.

And this is the final result.............

Belly Dancing

2009-06-22T07:42:00.000-04:00

On a spur of the moment last night, my wife told me that we were going to do to dinner with some friends to a local persian restaurant. She had decided to spruce things up and ask for a "bed" for dinner. What is a bed you ask? Well, it is a bed, made for eating. You sit on a firm platform, topped with ornate rugs with pillows and simply enjoy the evening.

We had been to this place once before and I knew they would have belly dancers. So before we left, I grabbed my D300, 50mm 1.4 lens and off we went. When we go there I quickly saw two things: there was almost no light and what little light was there was red. But I didn't want to use a flash, so I figured what the hey. I pumped up the ISO to 1600 and shot @ wide open all night (f1.4).

While I took a lot of shots, this is by far my favorite. What I like about it is that it leaves a lot of the imagination; you don't have to see everything to know what is going on. The blur gives you a sense of movement and you feel involved in the scene. The depth of field( DOF) forces you to focus on the subject and not what is behind her. And I ended up loving the red lights!

At least that is what I think......................

I Got the Best Fathers Day Present Ever

2009-06-21T10:16:00.000-04:00

For those of you that have been following my blog, you know that for the past year we have been working on adopting a wonderful little girl! On Friday it all come together and I could not have asked for better present for Fathers Day.

It all started last summer on a soccer field. We met her with her foster family on the side lines of a soccer game and were told that she needed a permeant home. It was just a comment, just a statement of fact, just conversation. But that brief conversation began a process that took us to a place we never thought we end up.

After months of classes, multiple interviews, tons of forms and lot of stress, she came to live with us at the beginning part of the year. After we were "monitored" for a few months, the State gave us permission to finalize the adoption. And last Friday it all come together; we had our hearing and the final order was signed. All the paperwork is done, no more forms, no more interviews. The Judge was so cool that at the end of the hearing, he gave her his gavel. She could have not have been more thrilled!

She is now 100% mine, all mine; and we are now officially a family of 5!

Old Building Details

2009-06-16T12:20:00.003-04:00

Last night we had our monthly photo contest/review at the Roswell Photo Society. The topic was "Old Building Details. I submitted a photo that I really liked and thought I might do well. Long story short, I did not.

But what I learned was awesome. The judge that we had was a gentleman named Stanley Leary. What I liked about him was that he gave you good, constructive feedback on what he liked and didn't like. When he got to my photo, he quickly pointed out issues with it on items that I had considered attributes. But he followed up with ideas and suggestions on how to improve the image.

After the review (no, I didn't even come close to wining) I asked if I could make the changes that he suggested and show them to him and see what he thought. Not only did he say yes, but when I shot him an email this morning with the update, he wrote back within 5 minutes with his feedback.

The photo that I submitted was one that I took last month while I was in England. I know that I had posted one version of it before, but I thought I would share not only the original raw shot, but what I submitted last night and the changes that Stanley suggested!

While I still am not sure I would have won last night, I am far more pleased with the end result than with what I submitted. Thanks Stanley for your help, suggestions and encouragement! Please make sure that you check out his website http://www.stanleyleary.com/, he has some great stuff that I think you will enjoy!

The Final Version with "fixes"

This is the original with no changes SOOC

This is what I submitted. Suggestions were to show the backside of the building, enhance the sky, crop in tighter on the left and get rid of contrast on the building (which I originally liked but now don't!)

Brothers

2009-06-15T15:26:00.001-04:00

My two older boys are walking their little sister out into the water being carful that she does not get scared or hurt. I could not believe it when I sat there and watched. This was all them. I had nothing to do with it at all.

Sometimes there are moments that make you proud to be a parent.........This was one of those times.

Water Ripples

2009-06-11T15:48:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we went to the High Museum here in Atlanta. The first Saturday of each month is free to Fulton County residents (Which we are one of). To be honest, we don't go there very much and really should do it more often.....but oh well, 3 kids kind of keep us busy and it is hard to make it as much as we should. We do need to show the little people who live in our house some culture, right??

While we were wondering around, I found an exhibit of Richard Misrach called "On The Beach".
He took some fantastic shots from a hotel using a full frame camera. What I found interesting is that he took these shots with a viewpoint that eliminates all reference to the horizon or sky.

When I was at the pool a few days later, I thought I would give it a try. As I look at this, what amazes me is that if I had not told you what this was, I am not sure you would know.

Smiles

2009-06-09T13:04:00.000-04:00

So how do you get kids to smile when they don't really want to have their picture taken? Tell them to stick out their tongue. Seems to work every time!

More in the next few days. But for now, a little sneak peak..............

Template

2009-06-08T17:03:00.000-04:00

OK, I am giving up on the new and going back to the told. At least for now. So put up with the old stuff for a bit and I will be back with some new stuff soon. Hopefully very soon!

Fingers crossed.

New Template/Issues

2009-06-07T17:15:00.000-04:00

Yep, went to a new template and yes I seem to have some issues. I need to edit some HTML and fix it. I hope all will be right with the world, or at least my blog, by Monday.

Keep your fingers crossed!

She is all mine............

2009-06-07T15:40:00.000-04:00

Just a quick post for today. And yes, a quick personal post.

We had the chance to visit a face booth yesterday, as you can no doubt tell. Lots of fun; just look at the smile on her face and you know just how the day went.

Beach Moon

2009-06-05T09:42:00.000-04:00

An evening stroll along the beach. Moon...beach....water. Not sure it gets much better than this.

Old Building

2009-06-02T09:22:00.001-04:00

An friend asked me to do a portrait shoot with him and his kids last week. As we were going back and forth on locations, I remembered an old building in a park that was abandoned a long time ago. The second I mentioned it, he jumped at it.

Here are a few of my favorites. I am not sure who liked this place more; me or the kids!

Doesn't every old building have red chairs in them?

How cute is she?

Red Flag Friday

2009-05-29T10:48:00.000-04:00

Ok, I didn't know what to call this one; so why not right?

I was looking for a post for today and came across this one. At first, I really did not like it. But I did a little bit of magic with photoshop and it popped.

This is a Jain temple in India. To be honest, I forget exactly where I was when I took (my bad), but I think I was in the northwest of the country.

Summer Is Here!

2009-05-26T09:03:00.000-04:00

And so begins summer.................

As a little aside, check out his brother on the left side and watch his reactions as all of this occurs.

Memorial Day

2009-05-24T11:22:00.001-04:00

About an hour before sunrise today, I woke up my boys for a bit of an adventure. I had been invited to go shoot the Marietta National Cemetery and the boys wanted to join me. I have to be honest, I was thrilled. Not as much as wanted to shoot the cemetery on such a fantastic weekend, but to have them with me. To see over 18,000 tombstones, each with it's own flag is breathtaking to say the least and I wanted them to see that for themselves. We had the place to ourselves, no one else was there; It was just fantastic.

I gave each of them a D80 with a couple of different lens (50mm and a 10-24mm). I told them to look for the emotion of the shot, not the detail. Each of us came back with such a different perspective.

After a bit, my older son put his camera down and started making sure that each tombstone had it's flag in place. If it had fallen over, he made sure it was put back up and properly recognized. I could not have been more proud.

I think the first shot is my favorite. It was taken by my 8 year old. Yes, a bit of post processing by dad, but the set up is all his.

Some of the tombs had no names. Just a number. Kind of sad to be honest. I sat there wondering who they were.