Reading is Fundamental

"Reading is Fundamental" We have being hearing that phrase I guess since grade school, but it is almost as if no one understands it. I am no exception for a while there I always looked for information the easy way or so I thought at the time. The easiest way to gather information is to read it, but in today's fast paced world reading has become defined as a slow annoying process, to which we cannot be bothered. Thus the invention of cliff notes and other such summarizing tools. 

Here is my point READ!!! now since this is a photography blog let relate it back. Alot of people ask me how I make my images so colorful, detailed, clear. And my usual response is I know my camera; thereafter I am followed by the question? how did you get to know about your camera, and I simply reply, I read the manual. 

Yes folks that is it, Read your manual, and not just once, keep reading it over and over again. Your manual is not a novel you do not have to read it in order. Use the table of contents find the information you want, camera in one hand manual in the other, and read; and as you read test what you have read with your camera, take test shots explore your camera, so that you can use it better. I always pick up my manual every once in a while and relearn some old settings and try out new ones, this is fun to me. Before I use any new equipment, I like to sit down with the manual and just teach myself, check out tutorials etc...  

So all who seek to better themselves and find information, you have heard it once, and you will continue to hear it "Reading is Fundamental" so read.

Thinking...

I woke up today in a thinking mood today... Really do not know what to think of, I mean going down the list it would be relationships, Finding something in marketing, my future, getting into Grad school, stuff like that. After a while of thinking, did some house cleaning, then sat down at my desk and started looking at my old pics. The pictures that I took with my Canon AE-1, which I still have, and some friends. Back before everything was so complicated. Back then all I cared about was taking a good picture, there was no politics, nobody beating down my door to get a pic, just fun. I remember I used to charge $70 plus the price of the film and developing. I did not have to worry about a make up artist, Hair stylist, stylist... it was just fun.

But the more I think about it, the more I realize how fun I am having now, sure back in the beginning it was simple and great, but I have grown from that, it is more, now as I continue to grow I can express myself better, I can do way more than I used to in tons of different ways; and I love that. I woke up this morning feeling like I had the weight of the world on me, which lead me to feeling nostalgic, but the thing about nostalgia is that when you look back things always seemed better back then than they were.

So like many other recent college graduates in this economy I look forward and see and uncertain future. I do not know what tomorrow or the next holds. What ever it is though, I am def ready...

Which brings me to the two pictures I posted on this blog. The one above to the left, I took it in an airport in Barcelona, as I waited for my plane to Zurich. The man in it seems so deep in thought, he looks like I felt this morning. As I look at it, I wonder what he was thinking about, if anything. The top picture on the right was my first paid photoshoot, back in The University of West Georgia. The final picture is special to me because it was from my first ever photoshoot, it was not paid, but got me started in the right direction. It also represents were I am in my life, starting a new journey...

Hair

This past weekend, I did a hair shoot for Miss Briana Hickman. The shoot was relatively simple just you basic glam our shots focusing on hair. I decided to shoot with a black background because I thought it would bring out the hair better especially if there was color in the hair and I would like to think that I was right, you be the judge.

I used a to light set up with my WL x1600s and I had my AB's for back up just in case something went wrong with my white-lighting. For my main light I used a beauty dish with the diffuser sock, and for my hair light i just used a white diffuser umbrella. I had my Trusty canon 30d, My work horse, with a 17-85mm lens.

Now for the hair, I was very impressed, Briana did a great job, The hair photographed excellently and had an excellent shine to it. I do not know much about hair, but I do know about what looks good and her stuff works of art were great!

As a photographer in my images and hopefully in yours as well, or what ever your craft is, the key word is 'details' in alot of my images especially my commercial projects every detail is looked at twice. Everything has a meaning every letter, every syllable, every color, even the placing I love going over details in ads, and appreciate it more when I meet someone who shows the same detail in their work. And Briana showed the highest detail in their work and I appreciated that from them and enjoyed the full 4 hour shoot. If you are interested in having your hair styled by Briana Hickman, or for your next shoot you can email Briana at bxquisit@yahoo.com

Briana Hickman is pictured on the right in the middle. bxquisit@yahoo.com

Weddings

Everyone always asks me if I shoot weddings, so I made this blog to answer that question. And the answer is... yes I do... I love weddings, love shooting them and making the client happy. I offer 4 distinct packages that are sure to carter to any wallet size. My Goal when I shoot a wedding is to have the pictures tell a story...

With the story my images will tell you will be able to relive every minute of your special day, even the ones that you were not present for...

The featured pictures are from a wedding I shot a while back. These images are some of my favorite because they capture the emotion of the moment. The one above was taken as bride was getting ready, love the smile on her face. To the left were the brides maids goofing around, the beautiful blonde was playing for the camera and I did not mind she photographs well!







I know that your special day can sometimes be one of your most stressful. My job as your photographer is to ease that stress, at-least in one aspect. So take ease with PMK Photography at the helm your special day is sure to be one that you will always remember each time you open your wedding book!





Schedule your special day, Today!!!

A Homeless Face...

A while back I was in Canada I went to with a group of friends, we visited 5 cities in one week, two of which stuck out the most to me were Montreal, or as I call it the Amsterdam of the west and Toronto, which reminded me of a larger more spread out new york, less friendly though, seriously some of the people I met in this city were pricks! There are a few things that stuck to me the most in this two cities, in montreal was that there seemed to be a strip club at ever corner and they were open 24/7. In Toronto was the beauty in some areas, but most apparent was the number of homeless in this city. I mean I have seen most of the world and not just the first worlds, and I have to say this city has the largest number of homeless I have ever seen. At times I felt guilty enjoying my sights because they were everywhere out in the cold, and it was very cold.

Which brings me to this picture, my group had stopped to stretch out legs and take a couple of pictures and that is when I met this gentleman. I kinda feel sad that I did not give him any money but Looking at this picture I kinda wonder what his story is. He seems to be at the very bottom with his luck but he has such a kind face and his eyes are very warm. I wonder how he ended up homeless, I wish could find out, see how his life is on a daily basis.

I know how we are all trained in regards to the homeless. And you who read this and think I can never do that are just in denial. We all know what we say when we see a homeless person infront us when we are walking down the street...

"ignore,
Just keep walking...
Look straight, do not make eye contact...
if you do not acknowledge him,
then he is not there..."

sound familiar?? I am in no way trying to be high and mighty, I do the same thing at times. Not every homeless person is a good person down on there luck, but still... Hopefully we can find a better way that a one way ticket so that we do not have to look at them.

The picture to the right I also took in Toronto, the person walking past is probably thinking what I stated above, this does not make them a bad person, he represents us all, but I also found it funny that he/she sleeps infront of of HnR Block lol...

Summer Days...

Now that it is getting cold, it reminds me of slow summer days. I love the days that time stood still when the humidity was not 100 and you did not have to do anything but just sit and watch the clouds pass by. As we grow older we have less and less days like these. we have become so accustomed to working that we even work on vacations, life is funny...

I do not know what life holds for me, but I will do my best everyday to live, i mean truly live. I want to fall in love, I want to have my heart broken, I want to travel with someone I love. Money would be great in today's world money is important, it helps us live well and comfortable. Currently I love my life, it is not perfect not by a long shot but I love it.

Which brings us to this picture. In it is a very beautiful friend and model of mine, in this image she captures what I see in summer days the passion in her eyes, sun bouncing off her skin, I love this picture. She did a great job!

Cool pics

These are some of my favorite images that i have take to date!

If you like these wait until you see the new ones!

Engagement Party

The pictures above are from this past weekend, it was a friends engagement party. I was very impressed the set up was amazing food was great and the bar was open :-)