Just a Snake in the... Mud...?

I have often risked my own well being for the sake of a photo.  I have climbed up on places that were not only probably not safe, but certainly not allowed by the venue's rules.  I have gotten myself knee deep stuck in mud, water, or plants I'm allergic to.  I have almost fallen into lakes, oceans, fires, off ladders, buildings, out of trees... if I see a shot I want, I become pretty much fearless.

This shot was taken this past April on a walk with my husband on a friend's property down in Kentucky.  We had *just* finished a conversation in which I stated I really hoped we didn't come across any snakes on our walk because I was sure it would freak me out a bit (we had just been told a pretty graphic story about a turkey destroying a huge snake and I was all paranoid.  I'm not afraid of snakes, I just know that I would never be able to tell you if one I came across was poisonous or not, and that doesn't sit well with me.  Not 5 minutes after we stopped talking about snakes, I almost stepped on this one in the mud on our way back to the house.  Instead of freaking out, I leaned in closer to shoot as many frames as I could get before he skittered away.  This snake was more fearless than I was.  In fact, I have an incredible frame (that is unfortunately not in focus) of this guy lunging at my lens with his mouth wide open.  He was pretty sure he was gonna take me down.  I like this shot the best of the ones I got because of the shadow under him.  Adds drama, and I love me some dramatic shadows!

Babies R Us

I love kids.  I love babies.  I very much look forward to motherhood someday, but in the meantime I content myself with taking photos of other people's kids.  Recently I did a giveaway on my Shutterbug Facebook page for a couple of people to get free baby photos.  This was mostly to help me expand my portfolio in that particular genre, but I ended up having so much fun with it I may have to do a similar giveaway again in the future!  One of the winners was a girl I used to go to high school with.  She is now mother of two, and wanted to get some updated photos of her youngest (8 months).  This shot was one of my favourites of the day.  I had a lot of fun, but the shoot was also a challenge since the baby had recently learned to crawl and was far more interested in showing off how fast she could move out of the frame :o)  I learned a lot for future shoots, and enjoyed doing it.  This shot makes me smile though because it has got to be one of the most adorable facial expressions I've seen in a very long time.  I also really liked how the backdrop split really worked with the photo so I didn't have to re-edit the entire background like with some of the frames from the shoot (note to self, buy bigger backdrop to use when photographing small and mobile children! lol)

If you need baby or kid photos, send us a note to book a session (Rachel@ShutterbugDesign.com) or if you have a great baby or kid photo you'd like to share please send us a link!

Oscar Nod #4

So not a whole lot of people I know seem to agree with me yet, but I LOVED "How to Train Your Dragon" it was AWESOME.  The whole time I kept thinking of my kitty, Simon, who has so many of the same facial expressions as the Night Fury.  It was great.
Animals are so interesting to me (especially kitties - I'm obsessed), how expressive they are and how they can have such different personalities.  How to Train Your Dragon is definitely my pick for animated films so far... way better than Toy Story 3.

Oscar Nod #3

I finally got to see the newest Harry Potter flick in theatres before it was gone so I was excited.  This photo came to mind as I was thinking about the movie today, as it reminds me a little of the cemetery that Harry visits at Godric's Hollow.  Being so old and creepy, there is something serene about it.  My husband and I stumbled across this cemetery while we were exploring some woods on our honeymoon in Nova Scotia.  I love cemeteries anyway, so I couldn't believe my luck. There was such a strong spirit there, of calm grief.  It was beautiful.

Oscar Nod #2

Alice in Wonderland is a great story, for kids and for adults.  When Tim Burton got his hands on it, it became a phenomenal piece of art.  I shot this photo last summer doing a portrait sitting at the Detroit Zoo for a little girl.  When she showed up in her blue and white polka dot dress with her long blond curls the first thing I thought was Alice.  This image for me captured the idea of Alice entering Wonderland - a place that may seem unattainable to some (hence the chains) but that can also be easily entered by those who choose (as she easily pushes the chains aside).  The lushness of the plants through the chains also invoked that sense of richness and colour that Wonderland is so often captured by filmmakers.


What images invoke wonder for you?

Oscar Nod #1

I am a movie nut.  I love watching movies at home, in the theatre... I just love movies!  The past few years I have tried to view as many Oscar nominees as possible between the time they are nominated and the time the winners are announced.  This year I am working on my annual quest, but as I was watching Toy Story 3, I was inspired to shoot some photos in tribute to it.  I had so much fun with it, I've decided to try and shoot a tribute shot to each of the nominees I watch, so be on the lookout for my photo-interpretations of each film!  What has inspired some of your own works?

Hey Jude

My husband and I recently adopted two kittens... which means the subject of 98% of my photography this month has been... the kittens :o)  I will try to refrain from posting exclusively kitty shots for the next few weeks, but this one was just too precious not to share.  I usually have a tough time catching them with open eyes because of my flash, especially up close like this, and yet here we have a beautiful portrait of Jude showing off his awesome eyes.  We've had a blast watching them grow and they are now about halfway through their first round of vet trips and shots... at the moment they're driving me crazy running around and clawing up my hands, but they're still adorable ;o)

on a wire

There is a little grocery store at the end of our street.  Austin and I walk to it occasionally when we need to get something for dinner (they are a bit pricier than the local chains, so while we can't afford to shop there as much as we'd like we do still try to support their business).  On one of our walks this fall I decided on a whim to bring my camera along.  I was sure glad I did as I've often wanted to capture an image similar to this and wouldn't ya know when we walked out of the store there was a whole mess of birds hanging out on the wires.  Looking at the image now evokes feelings of comfort for me.  Some people might find it a lonely scene but I see the multitude of birds huddled together, finding comfort in each others' presence.  I love the drama of the multiple power lines underneath them as well.

Arctic Freeze

It snowed again in Detroit today.  A lot.  I'm actually really hoping that my husband ends up getting the day off, since he's only supposed to work a half day anyhow and I'm sure he'll spend it ALL on the road it he has to go in.  We shall see.  The weather tonight inspired me to share this photo I shot last year at the Detroit Zoo (which I love).  I was actually there to do a portrait shoot for a client and of course took advantage and shot quite a few for my own collection while I was at it :o)

Polar bears make me homesick.  Those of you who know me may be making Canadian jokes now, but I'm not kidding... I was born in Thompson, Manitoba, which is at the end of the treeline... a couple of hours north of me? Polar bears.  No joke.

The polar bears at the Detroit zoo aren't always easy to see, and usually less easy to photograph.  The good reason is because they've done a really good job creating a natural and LARGE habitat for them.  The downside of course, is that I rarely get an opportunity to get shots like this one.  I love the icy feel of this shot, and how the bear is looking off to the side, almost casually... like he sees something interesting but wants to play it cool.

Stay warm out there dear readers... hope you've enjoyed my tangent into my own history ;o)

where is the love?

Happy New Year, dear readers!  Since my last post, we've celebrated a wonderful Christmas season and rung in the new year (who ever thought 2011 could come so quickly?!) we've also adopted two adorable kittens to add to our family (making us a 3 cat home with a dog who comes to visit occasionally)

I am not one for new years' resolutions, however I do often spend the holiday season reflecting on life, on the past, on the future, and this year is no exception.  I have spent a lot of time considering just how much love is my life and being supremely grateful for that.  There have been many many many trials in my life the last couple of years, but love and support from friends and family have gotten me through, and I am so thankful that they have been there for me!

Today's photo reflects that warm fuzzy feeling love gives me, as I was in Traverse City this summer, and found this heart randomly painted on a bridge.  The sight of it not only made me smile, but made me instantly think about the intent someone may have in painting a heart on a bridge in the middle of the city.  It made me think of the times in our lives when we just need to be reminded that we are loved.  I hope this image brings a smile to your face as well today, and that you can be reminded that YOU ARE LOVED!! :o)  Happy Monday all!