Connie & Daniel

This morning I met with Connie & Daniel at one of my all-time favorite spots (except for the bugs) - Big Talbot Island! We hung out there for about an hour laughing and giggling (Connie does a lot of laughing...and that's a good thing!!!). After shooting there we worked our way down Heckscher Drive to try out Steve's Famous Peanuts...and yes, they are good...get the cajun boiled peanuts...and much thanks to Connie and Daniel for the gift. 

Connie and Daniel have known each other since middle school - which I think is incredible (considering I have only talked to one person from my middle school days - thanks to Facebook). They will be getting married July 11th at the Mizell House - thanks Kaci ;)

Enjoy!

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Jayme and Wesley's Slideshow!

Katie & Jason...

Today I met with Katie and Jason in Fernandina Beach for a little fotoshoot.  Katie & Jason drove down from St. Louis to spend time with family...see, Jason is Edwin's brother...and Edwin and Jason are my cousin's wife's cousins...wow, that was confusing...on Valentine's Day I did a fotoshoot for Edwin and his wife, Shea...and they referred me to Katie & Jason...who are cousin's to my "cousin in-law."  Ha...I think that makes sense...maybe not?

Katie & Jason both served in the military...where they met.  (Jason is now in the reserves.) Jason is originally from TAMPA (and he's a die hard Bucs fan!!!) and Katie is from Rockford, Illinois (right outside of Chicago)...cool...right! 

Here's Edwin & Shea...thanks for the word of mouth!!!

And here's Katie & Jason...by the way, Katie is 7 months pregnant and expecting a boy...they are going to have their hands full!!!

Chicago Trip Video!

My trip to Chicago! from ezra ayala on Vimeo.

"The Rayshawn"

Do not attempt this in photoshop!  This is pure...natural...organic twist...we shall call it the Rayshawn.  Rayshawn was my roommate back in college - Valparaiso University.  On my recent trip to Chicago we hung-out quite a bit.  While walking back to the car, I decided to experiment...Rayshawn was willing to participate.  So in honor of him, we call this "The Rayshawn."

How did I do "The Rayshawn?"

I slowed my shutter speed to 1/25th....this seems to be the magic number...then I closed my aperture up a little to prevent any major "blowing out" - f/6.3

I was using my cheapo 17-50 Tamron 2.8 lens...I was at 32mm.

Twist rapidly, but smoothly...try to keep the focal point in the middle as you twist your camera...

If you pull out your shoulder doing this, I will not be held responsible!

Emily & Mike...slideshow!

I removed the slideshow b/c I accidentally put in on "automatic play" and it's interfering with the video above...so here's the link -  Emily & Mike.

Enjoy!

Chicago Teaser...

Here's a couple of montages...one of Chicago and one of my father's artwork...

The trip was awesome...it was a time of reconnecting with family and old friends...a time of touching some of my cultural roots...a time of making new friends...and a time of enjoying the city where I was born...oh, and I met with Fred Egan...

Montage 1:  Chicago

Montage 2:  My father's artwork - partials...not the full paintings...

Question for me #6

Actually this wasn't a question anyone asked me...I just felt like sharing.

Remember this foto.

Well...this is how it was done.  Yup, that's a wand...a wand for bubbles...My daughter was so kind to lend it to me for  a day.  

Originally, when I was messing with this wand at home, I had different results...but that's b/c I was using a wide angle lens....here, I'm using my favorite - 50mm.  

Thanks, Kaci for the shot!  And I hope this inspires everyone to experiment...you just never know what cool things you can do!

Food #10 - families

Today was Monday...hence the day I share some food for thought or something inspirational.

Well, here's my inspiration...I love working with families...family sessions have been some of the most fun forms of fotography that I do (say that 3 times really fast.).  Here's a collage from a recent shoot....see why I enjoy them so much!

Mac, Erica, Mychel, and Myles!

Stephanie showed me some serious love by referring me to the most awesome family ever...really!   By the way...this is  Stephanie... 

I have never been certain about the whole "soulmate" concept until today.  Erica moved to Florida from Ohio just because she wanted a piece of our Sunshine...and Mac moved here from the East Coast because his job moved him.  On Mac's first night on the town he met Erica and that was it...he was taken off the market!  Soulmates indeed!

Here's a few fotos from our expedition to Guana River State Park...enjoy!

It's Family Time.

Fed Ex plug...did you notice?

Tidbits #5 & Naomi Williams...

The Tidbits return...after a two week break.

High school was awful for me...b/c I really hated the hours. I had to get up so early...and then after basketball practice, I was pulling 10-12 hour days. But I managed. Basketball was a big part of high school. It made me some good friends, but we lost a lot..almost everytime...for 3 years! I learned how to lose gracefully...it wasn't easy at first, but it was necessary...we just weren't good!

I was a "hip-hop head."  There was a few of us who really were loyal to hip-hop...a music that we never thought would ever get air time! We dressed the dress...yes, kiddos, I was sagging over 15 years ago...we started the trend...and we talked the talk! I had a pair of shell top Adidas...we wore sweaters with hoodies to look cool, even though it was like 85 degrees outside!

Through all of this, I managed to maintain a 3.3 GPA...and scored high enough on my SATs to get accepted into a few colleges...Northeastern (Boston), Wingate, Winthrop, USF, New Berry College, and Valparaiso University. I choose Valpo...b/c they gave me the most financial aid...and b/c it was far from home...and close to Chicago...where I was born and where my father lives...and where it would be cold enough to wear sweaters with hoodies and not bake!

College was awesome! But moving away had certain repercussions...I lost contact with some of my old friends, including my best friend, Sam. More on my college experience next post.

In the meantime readers, please visit www.fornaomi.com.
Naomi Williams is an awesome photographer that I look up to. I met with her two months ago while meeting with her about 2nd shooting for her. She has such an awesome spirit! So, please visit the site and help out. Naomi was recently diagnosed with cancer (it's still unconfirmed, which is just a technical term the doctors are using right now). Regardless, she has started her chemo treatment and really needs our help. Please visit that site...and help!

Questions for me #5...and Boogie Woogie Woogie...

Here are a couple more questions I have been asked:

Are you skilled in Photoshop?  What's that?  Photoshop...oh, I never use photoshop ;)

Are you available for surprise proposal occasions?  Yes...and I would be very flattered...and invisible!

Piece of advice for brides and grooms.  When all else fails, go with the Electric Slide...it always works...Boogie Woogie Woogie...

Electric Boogie (the Electric Slide) - Marcia Griffiths

Did you know Marcia Griffiths was an I-Three? What's that?  

She was one of the 3 back-up singers for Bob Marley!

Food # 9

Simple.

Oh my...another ridiculously awesome wedding - Adriane & Edward!

I couldn't think of anything more fun, exciting, and rewarding as wedding photography!  I have done a lot of exciting things in my life - buzzer beaters...win championships (nothing professional, but still meaningful), climb mountains, graduate from high school, college, etc...but wedding photography is just the greatest thing - outside of my own marriage...and my children.  There's nothing like a couple choosing you to photograph their most important day in their life because they like they way you do it!  That means so much to me...so here's a sneak peek...I mean, more like a gaping hole where you can get some serious insight to Adriane and Edward's wedding...along with some commentary...

This is a serious problem of  mine...cropping off peoples heads???

Hopefully Kaci sends me the foto of me doing this shot (hint, hint)...then I can tell you what I did...it's nothing revolutionary, but super fun!  

Hill Top...Orange Park...

Traditional...very nice...safe...

Off camera lighting...

And then comes the weirdness...off camera lighting...slow shutter...and some manual zooooom!

Oh...and rear sync flash...

Repeat.

Here's another problem of mine...where as most photographers use their flash by bouncing light off the ceiling, I'm on a crash course collision with light!  I love it...it came out of necessity...not every wedding can you bounce light...now I love it...I rarely bounce light, b/c shooting into the light or using it as side light adds a lot of drama to the foto...at least I think...

BANG!

BOOM...it's like an explosion!!!  

And then a little something extra...

Well, I hope you all enjoy the funky, fresh style now known as freewise!