tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576Tue, 08 Dec 2009 06:46:43 +0000Pictures, stories and general ramblings from Charles P. Allen, Photographer.http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Chuck)Blogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-6119415707788302202Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:01:00 +00002009-07-19T14:16:35.074-04:00So I know why the cobblers whole family doesnt have shoes. The same reason why I dont have many family pictures at all. In fact, I have more pictures of Noah and his mom than I do of Amy and the kids. Not because I'd rather shoot her than my wife, but that I'd rather spend time with my wife than take pictures when we're together. Anyway, I knew I NEEDED to take some pictures while I had all http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2009/07/shoes-and-cobblers-kids.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-1723680333531237679Wed, 15 Jul 2009 01:04:00 +00002009-07-14T21:30:53.962-04:00Last time I was in Lens Crafters picking out some glasses, I happened to notice the mirrors the have on the walls are posted a little high. Now I'm not a short guy at 5'11" and 3/4, and I still noticed the height. I thought "What about the poor short people of the world", then the song about "Short people got no reason to live" popped into my head and I thought about the show "Little People Bighttp://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2009/07/posing-tip-from-lens-crafters-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-4942697000730960607Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:29:00 +00002009-07-13T08:38:41.734-04:00I didn't know my friend Ashley was pregnant until I saw something about it on Facebook. I contacted her and told her she needed pictures done. She was already in her 8th month. By the time we got around to taking these pictures she was 13 days out from her due date. She was a trooper though! I kept saying "Are you comfortable?" as we hiked up to the waterfall. I really didn't want to deal http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2009/07/ashley-before-she-pops.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-78721940679307479Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:52:00 +00002009-07-12T15:05:34.613-04:00Here's a few of my favorites from Amy's cousin Shannon and her new husband Anthony's wedding. They are such a great, fun loving couple. They are my first couple that opted for the "first look" so we could get a few extra shots before the ceremony. It was the first wedding that I took the time to incorporate off camera flash in most of the staged shots. I was super pleased with the results. http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2009/07/shannon-and-anthonys-wedding.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-3993319728677013095Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:54:00 +00002009-07-09T14:25:06.281-04:00I was strolling through some pictures the other day and thought "Man, these look different to me than they used to" I'm not talking about editing style or anything. These were straight out of the camera. The tones were much smoother and colors more pleasant. I cant think of anything that I've changed about my approach towards taking pictures. It seems almost like something about my camera http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2009/07/weirdness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-1174937382248112514Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:39:00 +00002009-07-07T12:48:37.582-04:00I had the privilege of shooting a co-workers wedding. Natasha is something of a photographer herself and working in a Visual Information shop, there are a handfull of others she could have asked. But she asked me. Thanks Nattie! Here are a couple from her day:http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2009/07/natasha-and-torries-wedding.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-2643693552444956407Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:53:00 +00002009-07-06T16:10:48.294-04:00Well, not really a relationship. David Hobby of Strobist featured a series of behind the scenes videos on Dave Hill in a recent blog post. So I watched the videos and was curious as to the result, so I peeked over to Dave Hill's website. I can't stand that over produced, comic book, fake as all getout style! I throw up a little bit when i see stuff like that. I saw him using a Mamiya 7, http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2009/07/lovehate-relationship.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-5744857149126586091Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:25:00 +00002009-07-02T11:25:05.869-04:00 DC Drive HDOriginally uploaded by Charles AllenI read this post the other day about carrying a camera all the time. I dont know why I thought I was the only one that thought like that. He took the words out of my mouth. Especially with this: "...when I am driving around, such as when I am coming home from work, I will try to compose photos of what I am seeing out of my window in my mind."http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2009/07/on-carrying-camera.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-6806847957864773688Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:03:00 +00002009-07-01T10:03:39.946-04:00Natasha EricsonOriginally uploaded by Charles AllenI took the time to experiment a little with the antique 4x5 camera I have. It takes forever to set up and the results are a little unpredictable with such an old camera, but this is also my first print from it. It's like a large format Holga, a nice effect when it works out, but not commercially viable. I'm looking to buy a modern large formathttp://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2009/07/natasha-ericson.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-5160644818033528254Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:33:00 +00002009-01-12T12:58:00.994-05:00So I've been a little conflicted about photography as art. I subscribe to too many photography blogs and some of them lean towards the "artsy" side of photography. While I appreciate some pictures I see classified as "Fine Art" others I think are just bad pictures. Jackson Pollock famously splattered paint and called it art. I think some of these photographers whimsically snap pictures and http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2009/01/art.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-81731718157804798Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:41:00 +00002008-09-23T11:02:14.033-04:00I'm constantly trying to justify why I insist on doing some things the hard way. Like black and white photography. My friend/co-worker and fellow serious photographer Joe Brygadier insists he can do anything digitally that can be done "the old fashioned way" and I have to agree with him on so many levels. In fact he agrees with me on most levels too, but we have a healthy film/digital dialoguehttp://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/09/justification.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-94199134863932495Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:16:00 +00002008-09-23T10:41:17.100-04:00There are some great photographers out there who blog. David Hobby AKA "Strobist" has a world famous tutorial blog that will make any novice photographer an advanced amateur. Chase Jarvis is one of my favorite current commercial photographers and is on the cutting edge of the industry. But Joe McNally is one of the best storytellers in the business. He's been there and done that. He http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/09/masters.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-7544115553142282995Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:09:00 +00002008-09-23T15:54:08.614-04:00Every once in a while people will ask me learn photography like me. Well, here's a good answer:No, but seriously, the Digital Photography School online has this tutorial today about 5 Elements of Composition in Photography. The author also defines the "Rules" of photography (like the rule of thirds) uniquely: "Instead of looking at composition as a set of ‘rules’ to follow - I tend to view it http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/09/photography-lesson.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-8664899814266239945Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:14:00 +00002008-09-19T14:13:36.290-04:00So I was pretty excited about selling stock pictures. That is until the agency I used decided to stop licensing pictures. Yea, Photoshelter had traditionally been a hosting service for photographers digital files, but decided to try to improve the photography market by charging a more reasonable price for photographers instead of the microstock agencies who undercut photographers. They also http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/09/economy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-2646508670506250472Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:14:00 +00002008-09-19T13:35:05.606-04:00So I've been seeing a lot of politics showing up in my photography blog reading and I don't like it. If I see a great photographer making a political statement I don"t really agree with, I feel like I cant like his/her work. If I wanted to talk politics, I'd tune into CSPAN. It started very subtle with a mention of this or that, but Photo District News ran a piece where famous photographer http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/09/politics.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-5929031128990741070Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:33:00 +00002008-08-28T19:43:39.514-04:00Aaron Johnson pens a cartoon called What the Duck about a Photographer who's a duck. Of course I have subscribed to the RSS feed so I can see his new strip everyday. The other day he illustrated something that I could relate to because of a recent shoot that I had. It was a cartoon about the creative cycle called "Bipoloroid":I recently did a newborn shoot at my home studio. I've never shot http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/08/personal-challenge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-2179366025066855461Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:33:00 +00002008-08-28T08:32:09.717-04:00I keep talking about shooting film. I like the fact that not many people shoot film anymore. I think that makes me more unique, even if I do have to work harder and spend more $$ to achieve something others can do magically on the computer. I found this wonderful tongue in cheek article on a blog: 10 Things I Hate About FilmIf you're too time constrained (or lazy) to hit the link I especiallyhttp://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-film-mumbo-jumbo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-5755778052419228832Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:40:00 +00002008-08-22T14:50:32.166-04:00I dont know when the phrase was coined, but I think it's plenty time to update the saying "I feel like a million bucks." I hereby declare the phrase updated to "I feel like a billion bucks." or any denomination seen fit for your current status. For example, I'm not feeling like I'm at my creative peak, so I feel less than perfect. So I might feel like about a hundred grand. If I were in alot http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/08/inflation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-7728474117934735127Tue, 19 Aug 2008 18:44:00 +00002008-08-26T15:45:46.392-04:00In another effort to raise college money for my kids. Shoot forget about college money, I'm worried about daycare tuition at this point! Just kidding. But seriously, so many people have said "You need to submit some of your stuff for stock!" I had heard of Photoshelter from some of my blogging peers and checked them out. After submitting some images, they accepted me as a photographer and amhttp://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/08/another-shameless-plug.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-4083537410634868856Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:44:00 +00002008-08-14T16:47:45.811-04:00Can you believe this?:http://www.sigmaphoto.com/lenses/lenses_all_details.asp?id=3349&navigator=3Who would buy such a thing? Did you see the pricetag? Most publications woul have to ax another photographer to get the lens!http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/08/wow.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-4682402496790065668Thu, 14 Aug 2008 19:57:00 +00002008-08-15T08:15:36.292-04:00I know it's been a while since I blogged, but my son Noah has been in town, then we went on vactation in conjunction with returning him to his mother. I'll write about that soon. Things up untill now have been pretty quiet on the pregnancy front. Untill yesterday. Yesterday was the "Official Anatomy Review". Sounds so, uh, official right? Anyway, we were both excited going in. The http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/08/scared-to-death.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-1007868293186562363Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:40:00 +00002008-07-14T14:42:20.115-04:00A co-worker of mine is getting married next year and asked me to shoot her wedding. Engagement sessions usually come with the package, so I was glad for the opportunity to shoot her and her fiance (who's a senior at a university in Montana) this week. What a great young couple. The seem perfect for eachother. So young with big lives ahead!http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/07/engagement-session.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-7294298730226738167Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:52:00 +00002008-07-09T14:22:07.912-04:00I love kids. I know that's not the manly thing to say, but I really do. They're such a blessing. They carry on our names and our traits. They're just amazing in so many ways. That's part of the reason I love maternity pictures too. It's such a happy time in a new parents life. This young couple go to our church and I asked them if I could shoot some pictures of the belly. I wanted to tryhttp://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/07/maternity-pictures.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-6788841571642506688Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:59:00 +00002008-06-27T00:05:23.696-04:00...The boys play. I wish I could say he asked for this. Then I might be in a little less trouble. She said he could have a mohawk if he asked for it. Mommy's in Dallas for the last part of this week for a church food service conference. She seems like she's having a good time. She'll think twice about leaving the boys at home alone again. Next time I might use our savings for a motorcycle. http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/06/when-mommas-away.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5758817304182638576.post-1952107361560459483Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:52:00 +00002008-12-11T16:40:34.979-05:00Amy just went to her 10 week appointment and we have our pictures of the baby.Here's Pat:Amy hates me calling him/her Pat. She says it reminds her of the Saturday Night Live skit. The baby's real name will be Caroline (middle name to be determined, either Marie or Grace. My vote's for Marie) or Charles Jackson (C.J. or Jack).Anyway, Pat and Amy are doing well. Amy's still tired all the time, http://chuckskicksnpics.blogspot.com/2008/06/10-weeks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Chuck)3