back on the blogging track.

busch gardens are totally fun on saturday, but so much fun that i felt like i was run over by a bus on sunday morning. so two days without blogging – ouch. :(

i spent yesterday practicing different lighting techniques and discussing wedding arrangements with a client. this upcoming weekend i have four shoots and am currently bouncing in between ideas of the absolute best place for two undecided ones. i’ve been going to shelley lake lately to see if it has any potential as a shooting location, but it’s usually dark by the time i get there.

beautiful views there at night:

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but the bugs are horrendous so we didn’t stay very long.

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patiently waiting to leave so he can stop being bitten alive.

shelley lake looks like an awesome place to go in the fall when all of the leaves have changed. they have a lot of great walking and bike trails. might be a little boring for pictures in the summer unless you want green leaves as your constant backdrop, but i think i’ll try it in the fall. i’d have to have a client who liked to walk – i made the mistake of thinking the trail would be short and ended up covered in sweat 2.5 miles later in 100 degree heat.

also, love the impromptu drawings on the exercise signs along the trail:

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happy standing still, very sad while doing any physical activity.

i also found a lovely little toad this past weekend. he reminded me of toad from the books frog and toad, but i guess i’m not very imaginative, am i? :) he was very cute. the last picture made it into my portfolio – i love it. it’s like the where’s waldo? of toad shots.

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bull durham.

i went to my first durham bull’s game on saturday night. and woah, is that crazy stuff. not only do they have fake sumo wrestling and ridiculous gimmicks about every 15 minutes or so, they have a fantastic game called “fish or no fish” where the contestants literally have to guess if a word on the screen is the name of a fish or not. then they shout out, “fish!” or … “no fish!” it is ridiculous and amazing. i was never so impressed at a baseball game… and the pittsburgh pirates have some pretty ridiculous gimmicks. come on, the perogie race?

i was also particularly impressed by the giant towering bull sign.

durham-015-copy“is he looking at me? i think he’s looking at me.”

the bulls played norfolk and lost, but it was a good (and quick) game. it was umbearable muggy and humid to begin with, but cooled down quickly. the stadium is awesome and reminds me of a (very) mini PNC park. i’m totally looking forward to going home to pittsburgh in september to get some good PNC park shots with my wide angle. pirates games are always fun no matter how boring they are. does that make sense?

landscape durham bull “goodmon field” shots:

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i’d love love love to do a photoshoot sometime in the old durham bull’s stadium of bull durham kevin costner fame. it’s still up and, well, sitting… somewhere in downtown durham. if anyone is up for that, please let me know. a bridal shoot even! we’ve gotta have some baseball couples around here, right?

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not so lazy sunday.

went to take photographs of various yummy-looking german food at the bavarian brathaus today in cary. it was fun! and when you get to eat the food afterwards, even better. :) their apple strudel is amazing! definitely recommended… but i’ll write about all that later this week.

gotta go do more work!

and hey, sean christensen! if you’re reading this, happy birthday! :)

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p.s. i wish i was still at the beach.