Afternoon Nap Light

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Spring Flowers

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How it all went down.

So I’m trying to practice the mantra: Feel the fear and do it anyway.  I’m a bit afraid to do what I’m about to do and share my processes (neuroses), but here goes the so-called anyway.

Ever since I found out I made it into The Great Engagement Shoot, I became a scribbly ball of nerves.  My hands trembled.  My palms went perma-clam.  I smiled extra wide.

During the shoot, I felt natural.  My shoulders eased and I ‘just had fun’ like everyone told me to.  I could see the other photographers, with their balloons and umbrellas and big cameras and bigger lenses — and I still felt fine with what I had.

I told myself: This is how I do. And I was fine.

But when it came to the editing, I needed help.  I was unsure and uncertain.  But with the minutes ticking away, I didn’t have time to run out and seek a second opinion.  I even thought about asking another photographer for theirs but decided against it.

In the end, I impulsively went with a safe choice and went for something that my couple (who I had just met and had no idea what their tastes were) might like.  Because I didn’t know what else to do.

And in those moments is where I think I went astray.

It’s not that I don’t like the shot because I do.

What I didn’t like is how I didn’t want to tell anyone which shot was mine.

But now I’ll let you be the judge.  Here’s the story.

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Meet David and Lindsay

David and Lindsay are a lovely lovely couple.  Very nice and very funny.

And to my delight, totally spontaneous and open to whatever half-witted suggestion I threw out at them.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that, wow, these two people are in love.

And they were willing to run and jump and skip along Queen St like teenagers.

David kept saying they weren’t naturals at this — but it didn’t look like it to me.

They laughed and smiled biggest when they were looking at each other.  It was really beautiful to see.

By this time, my minutes were slipping away.  I had allotted myself 20 minutes to shoot and, at the 20 mark, we started to head back.  Not feeling like I had enough, I continued to shoot.  More “safe” shots, thinking I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know did I get it?  Did I?  Did I?  Shoot more shoot more.  Okay what else, let’s try this…

Right before heading in to do the post-production in the 20-odd minutes I had left, I shot this:

And this is the shot I entered.

The End Result.

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So I didn’t win.  But I liked the shots that did.  And I’m pretty happy with what I did too, so I guess that’s all I can ask.

It was an interesting experience for sure.  I met a lot of nice photographers and even saw some familiar faces.  It’s been a long time since I was in a room full of photographers at the ready.  Kinda felt like being in school again and that was really cool.  Nerve-wracking and gut-wrenching and blood-pulsing — but also very very fun.

If I made any mistakes, it would be that I didn’t enter the above photo.  It was my fave of the lot but, for some reason, I thought it was “too out there” for the competition.  And I was afraid that my couple wouldn’t be happy with it.  I just liked them so much that I wanted them to go home with a shot they would like.  It was a shot that I liked too… but mostly because I could see their love.

But this is the shot that I love.  And maybe that would’ve been the better choice?  Who knows.

Anyway, there’s always next year.

Checking things out.

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I’ve got a kinda big day tomorrow.  Tomorrow is The Great Engagement Shoot Challenge.

I heard about this late but figured maybe it’s not too late.  So I threw my hat into the ring and found out just yesterday that I am IN.

Here’s the deal: 20 couples randomly paired with 20 photographers with 1 hour to shoot and produce 1 photograph, which will be judged that same night.  The parameters are a bit strict in that not only is the time limited but you also have a pretty well-defined area in which you must shoot.

I’m not going to lie: my heart has been pumping up a storm, ever since I made the cut.

Just hope my hands don’t shake this much tomorrow.

Man of Peace

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First Communion

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It’s a special day today.

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Happy 13th Birthday, Kuya D.  🙂

Friday Night Lights

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Gliding along Queen street, at five-thirty this morning.

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