Continuous Motion, Sun Flare, Oh My!

Well, this is a first for me!  This will actually be my second post regarding this session.  When I first posted my sneak peak of Samantha, Flip & Ryder I was rushing to get my favorite images of them posted so she could get that inkling of a sneak peak to hold her off while she waited patiently for me to finish post-processing the rest of her session.  There have been several cases where when I do this I come later to fall in love with other photos even more than those I chose for their initial sneak peek.  In this case, there were MANY images I came upon later that I LOVED more than her sneak peek.  You see, I took DOUBLE the images I usually do and also edited double my normal as well.  I don't know what it was that day...but for me, it was magic!

First of all, I think there were some stars aligning that day with my camera and the sun, sky and sun flare.  I often play with this as a photographer as far as getting gorgeous flare, blue skies and silhouettes, but man, these are my best to date. Seriously don't mean to brag, there were many forces at work here than just me, I was just blessed enough to be a part of it   :-).

I also have an affinity with continuous motion shots.  While they are extremely hard to get, I adore them when I do actually get them.  Maybe that's why I love them so much.  I never have been one to take the "easy" road, LOL.  I was hoping to get at least one of Flip that day and to my surprise, I got several.  For those of you that don't know what a "continuous motion" shot is, it is when the photographer wants to suggest motion without just turning out a blurry image (motion=blurry).  It's where part of the photo (people, trees, background, feet hands, surroundings) are blurry but the main subject is sharp and in focus.  I melt when I see them, I love them.  I was thrilled to see that these babies came from my camera.  Thank you Flip & Samantha.  I couldn't have asked for better images and a better experience.  Oh, Ryder too...even if you did eat all the hot dogs before I could really get to you, LOL.  :-)

Okay, photography lessons of the day...Sun flare and Continuous Motion shots + horse and girl = gorgeous.  Now moving beyond that, I just had to share a few more favorites that just make me warm and fuzzy when I see them.  

Annas Family

Here is Eliot, Kiernan, Ethan, Isaac and Wendy Annas. Wendy is one of my friends from 'way back when'. We grew up going to various church activities together like youth conferences, road shows and dances:). It was so much fun getting to know her darling little boys and her great husband(who by the way served part of his mission in my husbands hometown). It is such a small world.

We went up to Bridal Vale Falls for the family session and it was beautiful. The lighting was fantastic and the surrounding area was lit up with all the fall colors. We had a great time and the boys were so sweet. Thank you Annas family for letting me photograph your amazing little family! Love you all!

Hudson Family

My trip to Utah was such a Blast! I got to catch up with old friends and was able to see their darling children. Shannon and Duane were our friends while going through graduate school in Atlanta, GA. We went out to Utah lake to take these precious photo's. We drove up on a great spot for photo's, the only thing is it was kind of a restricted community...but we were fast and sneaky! Thanks you guys for having me in your home and for letting me capture such wonderful family memories.

Edwin and Caroline

Here is Edwin and Caroline! Just like out of a movie they wanted some romantic photo's on the beach:)! It was awesome to be able to capture such intimate and candid shots. They are engaged to be married sometime this coming year. They were wonderful to work with. I love you guys and wish you the best with your upcoming wedding:)!

Flip, Ryder and the One who Loves them...

Meet Samantha and her beautiful retired racing thoroughbred, "Flip of the Summer", better known as "Flip" and her adorable spoiled pooch "Ryder".  I cannot tell you how grateful I was to be given the opportunity for this shoot.  What a humbling experience I had.  I felt completely taken with the beauty this great beast had to offer my lens. This horse took my breath away.  And don't even get me talking about the sky.  WOW.  Superb.  As always, I aim to learn a lesson of some sort with each shoot.  This lesson taught me so much.  First, was how relevant it was to stand in front of the sky at varying angles.  I never knew just how blue the sky could get depending on where the sun was positioned according to the subject matter.  Let me just say again.  WOW.  Second, I was reminded of how deep a love can be between an animal and it's owner, like that of a parent and child.  It was so special to see the bond Samantha had with her four legged children.  I felt like such a "people watcher" as I absorbed her facial expressions change from huge grins, to gleaming eyes to serenity and peaceful sighs.  It was magical.  But the most important lesson of the day for me was that it wasn't at all about me.  Sometimes as the photographer we forget there is much more at play than simply our talent, our "eye" and our knowledge; there is the person or subject you are shooting and the true beauty that lies within, there is the one and only creator of such beauty.  That is who it really is all about.  For some reason I felt so close to Him that day.  Maybe it was the calm feeling the farm and fields gave to me, maybe it was the love that was felt, maybe it was the grandness in Knowing that ALL of this was here because HE gave it to us.  What  blessing.  What a beautiful thing.  If you like these images I am about to show you, give thanks to Him.  Samantha...thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful day with you and your gorgeous babies Flip and Ryder.

  
Kassi Clifford