It is that time of year again…

The days are getting shorter. The air has a crispness that takes your breath away. The landscape has transformed from brown to a dazzling sparkly white. It has been a regular winter wonderland out there and I am relishing in its beauty!

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

Exhibit D:

Exhibit E:


Exhibit F:

Exhibit G:

Exhibit H:

 And with snow there also comes the holiday season. If you don’t know what to get that special someone or that person that is impossible to buy for, please check out my new shop on Etsy. Spread that holiday cheer!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CaptivatebyErica

All the Moving Parts

The other week I was asked by a family who is practically family, if I could take pictures of them for this year’s Christmas card. I was honored.

I went right to work planning a Christmassy scene. I looted Christmas decorations from my mother’s vast collection and made some props. I did photo testing inside and outside my house to check the light situation. After my prep work, I felt confident and ready for the Christmas photo shoot.

When taking pictures of a family of six with four kiddos 1^st grade and under, one challenge is capturing “all the moving parts”. However, they were champs. The family did an excellent job of keeping smiles on their faces and focusing on the camera. Not to fail the mention that I had the advantage of knowing the children well and of course I had my trusty shutter.

I believe that the shoot was not just a great time, but a great success! Check out these adorable smiling happy faces!

 

                                

Friendenemy

Good news everyone, my business cards are in and looking good! Phew! The time has come to pass those puppies out! Watch out because here they come!!!

Prints… Sigh… It is amazing how much trial and error is involved with getting a stellar photograph from the computer screen to a tangible print. At the moment I am at the mercy of the fine retail establishments in the area. It is like that prophet Forrest Gump and his box of chocolates, you never know what you are gonna get.

Here are some of the hurdles…

Computer screens are illuminated that in itself can represent an image falsely. Not to fail to mention that computer screen settings and calibration can vary.

Printers can also read color differently. One photo lab can create a blown out print that is overexposed, while another lab can produce prints that are too dark. An overly dark image has most likely fell victim to my archnemesis dot gain.

I love that term dot gain! Now I have a name for my friendenemy. I used to battle with dot gain all the time when I was making maps for the Town of Davidson, NC. I could never figure out what happened to my beautiful vibrant colored map from my computer screen to the printer. The map would print out way too dark and the bright vibrant colors were no longer.

Turns out, I was a victim of dot gain! With time and wise words from a professor, I realized what I needed to do to defeat my enemy! I must lighten the image before printing to avoid the oversaturation of printer ink, aka the infamous dot gain! After trial and error and defeating my nemesis, my beautiful prints and I can now live happily ever after!

Other Exciting News:

I have placed new pictures on my website and Facebook page. Check, check, check, check them out!

http://www.captivatebyerica.com/services/scenes/

https://www.facebook.com/captivatebyerica

Next stop, Etsy! Stay Tuned!

Here is a little photo gem for you all…

Life is a comedy, not a tragedy...

So, you know how I was all excited about getting my business cards? The cards look better than I could imagine, they are crisp and have great color. However, there is ONE minor setback…

Take a close look at the slogan…

Yep! Let me CAPTIVE you! Captive!? What am I a pirate!?! Yaaaaarrrrrr!!!

I promise I checked the card over a thousand times. Turns out I am not perfect…  At least I didn't order extras! Back to the drawing board…

But, I got this… This is good!

Life is a comedy, not a tragedy... 

Beta Testing

My website www.captivatebyerica.com is up and running! I am so pumped! I welcome and summon the masses to beta test my site. Please feel free to send me comments on my website, Facebook, or shoot me an e-mail at captivatebyerica@gmail.com. I await your feedback! Bring it on!

In addition to my website beta test, I had a little beta test of my own. Yesterday, I went to visit a little local art scene. I wanted to check out the galleries and maybe get my foot in the door and photos on the wall.

There was one gallery in particular that I was excited about, it is a co-op gallery, where artists can display their art in exchange for working there. I went up to the person behind the counter and inquired about the co-op. They asked me what kind of art I do, I told them I take photographs. They asked me what kind of photographs, I told them nature with a rural feel. The person cut me off there, stated that they already have a nature photographer, and then with a curt smile they told me to feel free to look around. Put off, I wandered through the gallery. I came across the sole photographer’s work and you will never guess whose art it was! If you guessed the person behind the counter, you are right. They have a completely different eye for a picture and focus on completely different subject matter. Although art is subjective, in my humble opinion, their art was mediocre at best.

This experience reminded me how competitive artists can be and made me realize it might take some work to get my photos out locally.

On the upside, my businesses cards are in! Psyched!!! Can’t wait to start passing those puppies out! I am going to use them like they are confetti! 

Traditions at the Glen Part II

As stated previously, it has been a pleasure capturing Traditions' beauty. Yesterday, the light was much more favorable on the golf course and the autumn leaves have really popped. The glen was just enchanting. Traditions' Spalding Dining Room was setup for a meeting with a welcoming and elegant touch.

As promised, more pictures for your viewing pleasure:

Golf Course:

 

 

 The Glen:

Spalding Dining Room:

 

Traditions at the Glen Part I

Recently, I have had the honor to work with Traditions at the Glen in Johnson City, NY. Traditions is a local hotel, spa, golf course, and event venue. I had the pleasure of photographing their ballroom, grounds, and golf course. One hi-light was driving a golf cart all over the beautiful golf course! Plus, I couldn’t have asked for better weather! The fall is absolutely breathtaking in upstate New York. Last week, I photographed the pictures below. I returned today to take more pictures. I will post them shortly.

Traditions is posting my pictures on Facebook, you can find them here:

https://www.facebook.com/TraditionsAtTheGlen

Photo shoot #1:

Grounds:

Ballroom:

Golf Course:

 

 

To be continued...

Little Triumphs...

Little Triumph #1: I purchased a used digital lens. Taking photo gold now, if I do say myself...

Little Triumph #2: I officially have a P.O. Box and captivatebyerica.com domain. Next on the agenda, business cards!

Little Triumph #3: I went to take pictures this evening as the sun was setting. I found a marshy pond with a thin layer of fog that was being illuminated by the remaining light in the sky. As I was walking towards the pond I heard a dog bark and the barking turned into a howl, which turned into multiple howls. As I was adjusting the exposure, it occurred to me that those howls were coyotes and they were getting louder and closer. I grabbed onto my camera, fished my car keys out of my hoody pocket, and ran for my life to my car. I didn't get the shot, but what a fantastic adrenaline rush.

Photo Gold:

2 Week Review...

It is almost comical; well I think it is comical verses pitiful, that I have the silliest odds and ends of photography equipment. I have a respectable SLR that is over 10 years old with a nice simple lens and a fancy zoom lens. I have a basic DSLR that I use the simple and fancy lenses with. It is always a surprise how the pictures come out, sometimes spectacular and sometimes God-awful. It is like Russian roulette. I have a digital point and shoot that is 8 years old, the 3 megapixels is once again comical. However, I have acquired a rather lovely digital point and shoot with 12 megapixels and an appreciable zoom. Oh, and my beloved smartphone, it is just too handy.

So in conclusion, I am in need of some upgrades. First, I will hunt down an appropriate lens for my DSLR. I think that will discourage this risky Russian roulette business.

Aspiration: Someday I will look back at this post and admire how far I have come.  

Russian roulette:

 

 

The First Day of the Rest of my Life...

It has been a week and three days since I have lost my job. The thought of working in a cubicle and staring at a computer screen day after day gives me an undying energy that drives me to succeed on my own. I have forced myself to comply with "the real world" long enough. It is exhausting to throw on a smile day after day, not anymore. I don't need some big corporation that doesn't understand me and that I don't understand. I am not just a GIS analyst with a MA in Geography. I am a photographer, I am an artist.

I have acquired many skills over the years. I believe that if there is a desire, one can do anything. The possibilities are endless as long as you reach and strive. This is my challenge. This is all on me. I have an eye for a picture, I can draw, paint, design, and mold things out of clay. I can create beauty. I can conjure aesthetics. I can captivate and that is exactly what I am going to do.

Step One: