Self Portraits

I've been questioning why I'm doing this blog and why I've committed to doing this every day for a year.  Honestly blogging is cool, but photography, good photography is what this should all be about.  So I was looking for some inspiration and I found it in a big way.  I'll share that inspiration on another night, but what it did was make me get off my behind and make some images.  Here they are.

Yeah...I just want to make good photographs, and I have a long ways to go.  That's all.

Church Creative Team

I was asked to join the creative team at church this week and I had my first meeting tonight.  Looks like I'm going to be shooting a whole lot of video now...super excited about that actually.  Its something I've been wanting to do for a while.  The really cool thing is, in a sense, its no pressure.  I'm not going to epically fail a client if something goes wrong, there's no money involved, just free creativity.  That gets me really excited.  And being part of a team all of the creative ideas don't fully rest on me so that's nice too.

I'm  going to be sharing those videos as they are made from now on, but tonight I wanted to share a video that really inspired me.  It was done for a sermon that my brother in law, Brandon Miraflor, was preaching at a youth conference.  Brandon and a creative by the name of Josh Rivas developed, wrote, shot and edited this piece and I think its amazing.

Photo Products

With my birthday on the horizon in the next few weeks, I wanted to share some photo related items that are on my wish list with you.  Some are more like novelties and some are legit camera gear items, but they are all fun.

The iPhone Rangefinder: turns the phone into a legitimate vintage looking camera...insane!

Wood Camera iPhone Case

Handy Dandy Hand Strap: I always wrap my camera strap around my hand like this and I have a bunch of extra strap hanging around...this would be nice.  And it looks beautiful.

Fuji Instax Wide Instant Camera: Similar to the Polaroids of the same style only much larger.

Nikon 35mm F2 Lens: I've been wanting this lens for years I've just never splurged to get it.  The angle of view is perfect, nice large aperture and compact size make this a huge winner in my book.

Nikon D800: Completely out of reach but here goes anyways.  36 megapixel full frame sensor, currently ranking as the greatest sensor ever, 1080 HD video and a built in flash...I'm in love.

So if any of you are interested in surprising me for my birthday, go ahead here's a list to help you in your shopping adventure!

Underground Photography

I found this article fascinating.  These are beautiful photographs of rivers that, over long periods of time have been covered up with construction.  I really wish that National Geographic had shown us what the rivers looked like before with some vintage photographs.  Here's the link, I think you'll like this:

Lincoln's Birthday - Part 2 - The Rest

Here is the last installment of all the posts for Lincoln's birthday.  I know it was a lot but I really love this boy and I took a lot of pictures on his 2nd birthday.  So in part one we left off when he fell asleep on the way to the restaurant.

Waiting impatiently for a table.  Luckily there weren't a whole lot of people here, because he was loud.

Probably my favorite photograph of the day.

Sissy's gonna get you bubba!

and Momma's gonna kiss you.

Aunty came to the party looking beautiful.

8 eyeballs and they still couldn't get through the menu.

He thought eating a lemon would be fun and he tried for a while...then he decided it wasn't.

Glad to be with Grammy and Poppy.

Literally horrified that someone would bring him ice cream and sing him happy birthday...totally freaked him out.

So much so that he gave it to his sister to eat.

And she did...quickly!

Skyping with Nana and Papa.

Yeah I see them bubba.

They wanted to see him open his gift from them.  They bought him a Little Tykes basketball goal and Superman pajamas.  He plays with that basketball goal every day.

Handing daddy screws to put it together with.

Score!!!!!!!

Still chatting.  I love that they get to do this.  They get to put a face to Papa and Nana, because they rarely get to see them.  Technology has made out lives better.

You would have thought he just won the NBA Championship.

She watches TV the same way; all up in it.

More toys from mommy and daddy.

So cool.

And happy.

Grammy bought him a life vest for summer.

Mommy and aunty made him a cake.  It was delicious and rich and chocolaty inside there.

He blew the candles out before the cake ever hit his high chair.

We relit and tried again.

Scout thought she was getting this ice cream too.

Not this time!

And this would be the moment he realized that there was ice cream inside.  Jubilation.

Can't believe my baby is 2 and so thankful that both of my kids are healthy and happy.  Thank you Jesus. I can wait for the 3rd, I'm not in that big of a hurry, but I promise you I will document every one of your special days just like this.  I love you Lincoln Emory James Sowers.