Those (“Any Way You Bless Me; I’ll be satisfied) are the lyrics to a very popular gospel song that hit home for me last weekend. When I got back into photography I didn’t think far enough out as to where it would lead or some of the venues I would have the opportunity to shoot at. Last weekend I had a chance to shoot with my mentor in Chicago at a book signing party for Elle Bailey. Ross is always teaching and I was more than obliged to soak up every bit of advice, techniques, etc. I had a tremendous time with Ross catching up and also learned how to use that thing that sits on the top of my camera called the flash. I am not claiming expertise at this point but I do know more about manipulating the power output, using my Omni-bounce, etc then I did coming into the shoot.
Ok. The very next day, I was shooting at Eastview Christian Church to help capture shots for the start of a new series called THEX. When I re-entered photography just over a year ago, I never dreamed I would be assisting with a professional shoot nor shooting in a church while service was going on. In both cases (Ross’ Book Signing Party shoot and Eastview’s program) I felt very blessed and honored to be part of what I believe is a beginning for the author and a new series at church that will have a substantial impact on people's lives. It was a surreal weekend and I am just coming off some of the high but am forever changed. I firmly believe things don’t just happen but are ordered. I have served in the church before as a trustee and I am blessed that God has chosen to use me, behind the lens, at Eastview. Be Ye Ready and I am willing and able for whatever he calls me to do.
Here’s a link to Ross' Post from the Book Signing Party Shoot and a few shots of my own below from the weekend. The shoot at Eastview was fun because of the honor obviously and the awesome colors and props used for the THEX series. My challenges were to be inconspicuous, get some clean shots which I had to do at extremely high ISOs to stop the action giving the lighting and watch the strobe lights and spotlights to keep my pictures from getting blown out. It was pretty funny at times watching the light come after me via my viewfinder (I had one eye composing the shot and the other watching the light come after me). I felt like Clint Eastwood in the movie Alcatraz.
So this past weekend was packed with blessings on all sides:
1. Friday evening - assisted my mentor on a professional shoot (7:00pm to midnight)
2. Early Saturday morning - Saw my best friend for 3 hours (played scrabble until 4:00am) and was back on the road to Bloomington by 7:30am for an Open House
3. Sunday - Did my first shoot at church
We’ll see where we go from here. “Any way you bless me Lord, I’ll be satisfied”!!!. Oh to do something that you enjoy doing, are passionate about and where you have the opportunity to capture, touch and influence others in a HUGE blessing. I didn't know I was going to be where I am today with all of this but "Any Way You Bless Me" is sort of my motto for the rest of 2008.
Ok. The very next day, I was shooting at Eastview Christian Church to help capture shots for the start of a new series called THEX. When I re-entered photography just over a year ago, I never dreamed I would be assisting with a professional shoot nor shooting in a church while service was going on. In both cases (Ross’ Book Signing Party shoot and Eastview’s program) I felt very blessed and honored to be part of what I believe is a beginning for the author and a new series at church that will have a substantial impact on people's lives. It was a surreal weekend and I am just coming off some of the high but am forever changed. I firmly believe things don’t just happen but are ordered. I have served in the church before as a trustee and I am blessed that God has chosen to use me, behind the lens, at Eastview. Be Ye Ready and I am willing and able for whatever he calls me to do.
Here’s a link to Ross' Post from the Book Signing Party Shoot and a few shots of my own below from the weekend. The shoot at Eastview was fun because of the honor obviously and the awesome colors and props used for the THEX series. My challenges were to be inconspicuous, get some clean shots which I had to do at extremely high ISOs to stop the action giving the lighting and watch the strobe lights and spotlights to keep my pictures from getting blown out. It was pretty funny at times watching the light come after me via my viewfinder (I had one eye composing the shot and the other watching the light come after me). I felt like Clint Eastwood in the movie Alcatraz.
So this past weekend was packed with blessings on all sides:
1. Friday evening - assisted my mentor on a professional shoot (7:00pm to midnight)
2. Early Saturday morning - Saw my best friend for 3 hours (played scrabble until 4:00am) and was back on the road to Bloomington by 7:30am for an Open House
3. Sunday - Did my first shoot at church
We’ll see where we go from here. “Any way you bless me Lord, I’ll be satisfied”!!!. Oh to do something that you enjoy doing, are passionate about and where you have the opportunity to capture, touch and influence others in a HUGE blessing. I didn't know I was going to be where I am today with all of this but "Any Way You Bless Me" is sort of my motto for the rest of 2008.
Btw Ross, I have my flashes back in my camera bag and I also made a couple of snoots for them this weekend.
Shots from Book Signing Party
This lady was funny, she wanted to make sure she got her "pose on" before I took her picture.
Elle Bailey with some of her friends and supporters.
Eastview Christian Church
