Friday, April 23, 2010

Pittsburgh - beautiful lines part 2

























How often do you hear that (fill in the blank) isn't a beautiful city. There isn't anything to photograph in it. I challenge each of you to begin looking at your city in a different manner. Look for the strong lines and contrasts that exist in many different scenes. Challenge yourself to get up earlier than normal and take a photo of a sunrise. Stay up later at night and capture the sunset. Go out on a dreary day and notice the beauty in the scene. I shot this photo on a very dreary rainy day. The sun would peak through every so often but never long enough to cast any defining shadows.

Take one lens and start walking around looking for photos you see and feel in your heart and mind. Before you snap the shutter, know what you want the image to look like.

This image was shot in manual mode.

Have fun and enjoy the beauty of life!



Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Pittsburgh - beautiful lines

Photo by:
Frank Kendralla
Wedding Photographer
www.kendrallaphotography.com

www.kendralla.com


I was walking to my car from photographing a bridal shower and noticed the beautiful lines and great saturation of color from the light coming through the wild looking sky.  I grabbed a few shots from different angles and this is one of my favorites.  I processed it in Lightroom and Topaz adjust to bring out the colors and lines. 


The second image is near where I was standing when I shot the first image.  All the lines from the railings and the climbing vines immediately caught my attention.  I couldn't pass this shot up.  In my mind, I imagined a couple standing near the opening, enjoying the view of the city.  No doubt, many couples stood in this same spot laughing and enjoying the time together.  Maybe they hid under the bridge just out of the view to sneak a quick kiss or stay dry from a hard rain. I can hear the laughter of little children as a brother hid around the opening waiting to scare his little sister as she passed by him crouched down hiding from her view. 



Life passes us by very quickly.   Each day we drive or walk by beautiful scenes, buildings, and amazing looking settings.  However, since we passed by them hundreds or even thousands of times, we fail to notice the beauty of the scene.  It is critical that each day we work on gaining a vision and not worrying about obtaining all the latest and greatest gear.  Each day, I am working on stopping and looking at the scenes around me.  These two images are part of a few fun images that I took from Station Square while walking to my car after photographing a bridal (wedding) shower.

Yes, obtaining the newest gear might be critical to obtain certain images.  However, there is no doubt in my mind that these two images are possible with minimal equipment.  Just as many others stated before me; it’s not about the camera, it is about obtaining a vision and learning to see the beauty of life.  Years ago, I read the book by Lance Armstrong, “It’s not about the bike”.  Without going into details about the book and its content, the title makes a great statement.  The same holds true with photography.  We see a beautiful image and want to know everything about the camera.  However, when we read a good book, do we ask what word processor was used to type the original document or the type of pen that was used when the author scratched down their notes?  No, we ask them what inspired them to write the book.  The same principal holds true with photography, before snapping a shot, think in your mind what do you want the image to look like. 

Look around, what do you see today that has been there for years but you never noticed?


The adventure begins

The second image is what visitors see at the entrance of one of the theme parks in Orlando, Florida.

Each day we are given a new day to enjoy life and live it to its fullest.


One of the most amazing things that I find with photography is that with a simple item (camera), we can capture life's memories. Last week I spent time in Orlando, Florida on a business trip and was amazed and awe struck with all the photo possibilities. There is no doubt that I could spend years in this one area and never portray all the beauty and excitement that is contained in and around Universal Studios. The hotels, shops, rides, and most of all, people. People from all walks of life traveled and no doubt spent hundreds and thousands of dollars to take in as much of this excitement as possible.
I wonder how many 'local's realize and truly appreciate the beauty of their surroundings. I am sure many do and live in the area because of the climate and the beautiful landscapes, cityscapes, and people. All of this brings me to my main point; how many of us appreciate and enjoy the area we live in and its surroundings. Many live in or near major cities, but I wonder how many spend time in their city soaking up its beauty and culture. How many of us take the time to photograph the beauty of everything around us. Too often, we wait for the perfect time and miss many almost perfect opportunities. We become more interested in the next camera or lens but forget that it is all about the vision and utilizing our photographic eye to capture life.
Last week continued to confirm in my heart that there is so much beauty in the world and as a photographer; it is my role to capture it and share it with others.
I plan to post more and more fun shots that I capture not only in Pittsburgh but other cities that I visit in my travels. The time is NOW to get out and enjoy the beauty of life!
Photo by Frank Kendralla
Wedding and Portrait photographer
www.kendrallaphotography.com
www.kendralla.com



Monday, April 19, 2010

Workshops - Sandy Puc' Family Tour 2010



If you follow this blog, you realize that I am big on learning, studying and trying new items in all aspects of life.  Each year, I attend and watch (on DVD, webinars, etc) many hours of lectures and workshops.  Not only do I study countless hours on photography but many different aspects of life.  Over the weekend, I attended the "Sandy Puc' Family Tour 2010".   If you are a fan of Sandy Puc, you realize she puts on an amazing workshop and provides tremendous information to her audience.  I have two of her previous workshops on DVD and each workshop is tremendous and is well worth the money spent.  

Her workshops are filled with her passion and love for photography but more important they display her love for helping others.  Obviously, in her training other photographers but also in her desire to give back to life through her charitable work.  Many individuals in the photography world and in all walks of life are passionate about charity and community/church service.  However, the one item I noted about Sandy is that she doesn’t stop with one charitable effort.  She works with and supports many different charities and community efforts with her photography and marketing skills.  In addition, each effort she puts her hand to is blessed with tremendous results. 

She has an amazing ability to clearly state the techniques needed to create great looking images in many different types of situations.  One of the first items that I noticed is her transparency.  She is not afraid to show the audience her mistakes and she gives the attendees a peak into her personal life as well.  She tells the story about her trip with her daughter and son to China to photographer her daughter's senior portraits.  However, on the flight over to China they were exposed to a passenger with H1N1 and they ended up quarantined for days in a disgusting room.  The story is filled with graphic details of undesirable living conditions but it ends with images she took of her daughter while they spent time together talking and growing closer together.  (Yes, as a parent this is a very touching story.  :-D )


Below is a short You Tube video about the 'ordeal'. 
- - -



Her workshops are filled with both funny and other heart touching stories.  One minute laughter fills the audience and the next tears of compassion as she tells the story of how “Now I lay me down to sleep” began.

Her workshops cover many aspects of photography, lighting, posing, marketing, but the most important, passion and love for others.  If you didn’t attend any workshop on this tour, you can purchase previous workshops on DVD and other training seminars through her site.  She is also on You Tube and plans another tour in 2011.  It will be a wedding photography tour with Jerry Ghionis.  No doubt this will be a tremendous workshop.  (I plan to attend.)


I learned many different tips, tricks, and techniques during the workshop.  My notebook was filled with ideas that flowed from her which triggered other ideas in my mind.  One of the most important items conveyed during the workshop is the fact that what we do as photographers, is important.  We are capturing history, and the history we capture is very important and critical. There are many tremendous quotes illustrated throughout the workshop but one that sticks in my mind is, "Other things may change us, but we start and end with family." Anthony Brandt  

Which is one reason family portraits are a valuable service provided by photography. 

I will end with an excerpt from the workbook:

Remember, it's a privilege -

Regardless of how the family you shoot looks, acts, or sounds, remember it is a privilege to be chosen to capture their image..." Sandy Puc

Image by Frank Kendralla
Wedding and portrait photographer




Sunday, April 18, 2010

Another fun shot from Orlando Florida



I shot this with the Nikon 70-300VR and the D300. While I was taking a walk, I noticed this humorous photo. Although this was a staged prop in front of a miniature golf facility, it was very funny to me. I wonder how many times this happened in 'real life'.



Photo by Frank Kendralla
Wedding and Portrait photographer
www.kendrallaphotography.com
www.kendralla.com