Pinhole photography is just tons of fun.  If you’ve never checked it out before google it.  I think it just gives such a mysterious feel to your photographs.  I’m having a little trouble adjusting to doing it digitally though.  For whatever reason it seems harder to wrap my mind around, which is silly since it involves no going into the darkroom and seeing what you’ve got.   You see it on your screen and can take more if the exposure isn’t right.  And apparently I need to clean my camera because I have dust spots on my sensor, whoops!

Anyways, I plan to make my pinhole photographs into a series here on the blog, so stay tuned for more weird and mysterious photos from yours truly.

For Christmas, I bought myself this book by Chris Orwig, “People Pictures: 30 Exercises for Creating Authentic Photographs.”  (Side note: I am not getting paid in anyway to talk about or advertise this book, sheesh!)  As a photographer, I am always looking to improve myself and I thought having a simple guide of exercises to try might be fun.

I especially liked that the title already told you that this was not merely a book about taking people pictures.  But that the book strives to help you create authentic people pictures.  This is always a struggle for me.  I want more than anything to create authentic, real, insightful photographs of my subjects.  Why?  Well, because photography is not only my business, it’s my passion, my thing I do for fun, the way I record my own history as well as others, and its my job.  And I think that is where the conflict lies.   With photography being our job and bread and butter, it’s easy as a beginner to do a photo session without really getting to know your subject first.  I’m sure I am not the only photographer that struggles with this.  But how do you introduce yourself to a subject so that they feel truly comfortable, maybe even intimate with you and your camera?  What creates those photographs of people where you feel like you are seeing that persons soul?  Their true self.

These are questions I hope to face and challenge myself to accomplish as I go through the exercises in this book.  I’m sure some of these exercises will be quite simple, normal, but I think they are all important.  I hope you will continue to check in on my progress and please comment!  Let me know what you think, if I’m falling short or have hit the mark.  We’ll all learn together.

Last Saturday I made this Oatmeal Casserole.  Now, I know I don’t normally think, “Wow Oatmeal Casserole, my favorite!!!”  I don’t normally put the words OATMEAL and CASSEROLE in the same sentence to be honest.  But this recipe looked so yummy I just couldn’t resist trying it out.

I originally got this recipe via Pinterest from inspired taste check them out for the full recipe!  After it was all said and done, I have to admit, I was a little disappointed.  Both Speed Racer and I agreed that it was missing something.  Now, I did not add the orange zest or the Chinses five spice, so that could have been it.  Speed Racer suggested perhaps adding butterscotch chips next time, so that might be an option.

Here is what I did.

• 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
• 1/3 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup walnut pieces, chopped (as a side note I think walnuts sometimes make things taste weird, maybe next time pecans?)
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups milk
• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 ripe banana, peeled, 1/2-inch slices

Preheat oven to 375 and spray your baking dish. I used 91/2 by 11.  Mix together the oats, sugar, baking powder, salt, half the walnuts, half the strawberries and half the chocolate (don’t be ashamed if you eat some of the chocolate morsels before they get to the bowl, you’re only human).  In another bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, butter and vanilla extract.  Add the oat mixture to the baking dish.  Arrange the remaining strawberries, walnuts, and chocolate on top into a beautiful mural representing your interpretation of “nature.”  I mean, if you want.  Add the banana slices and then pour the milk mixture over everything.  Shimmy and shake to your favorite song while you shimmy the dish to get the milk mixture into every little inch.  Bake for 30-40 minutes until it is golden brown and tasty.  A word of caution: the texture is way different than normal oatmeal, so that may throw you off at first.  Enjoy!

My brother Ben has been tutoring since 2008 and just graduated with a Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing.  He recently launched this website Orangehat-Online Tutoring and Creative Editing.  As a proud undergraduate of the University of Virginia, you will always see my brother wearing his orange UVA hat.  Thus, the name of his website and company was born.

For years, my brother has helped me become a better writer.  There were many late nights where he would get a call from me saying, “Ben? Can you help me with something…”  But he was always there to help.  He is a patient, empowering, and encouraging tutor.  He’s even made selection and ordering easy!  And you get Ben’s words of wisdom from anywhere since it’s all online.  On his website you have the ability to purchase different packages to suit your need.  AND right now he is having a limited time Tutoring Special.  Ordering is through Paypal which makes it easy, but you don’t need a Paypal account to order.  Just a debit or credit card.

So are you are a college student needing help with a paper, an artist stuck on an artist statement, an author polishing up your book, or building a resume that will make you stand out?  Or are you a friend or parent who knows someone who needs help with their writing skills?  Then head over to Orangehat and check out your options.  I may be a little biased but having professional look at your work always helps.

Back in November, I had a very special date with a handsome young man.  This little guy above.  Adorable right?  I was honored to be present when he came into the world, see Meeting Orion, Part I and Meeting Orion, Part II for more on that story.  This time around though, our meeting was a little more, shall we say causal?

I was amazed at how much Orion had grown in such a short amount of time!  The last time he was smaller, and a lot more wrinkly.  He had a little time to fill out since our last meeting.  And what a personality!  Watch out ladies, he’s a charmer.  We had a lot of fun getting to know each other and even got some photos with Mom and Big Sister too.  It meant a lot to me to be present at Orion’s birth and capture that memory.  I hope I continue to get to know this little guy and document different stages of his life.

We had a great time tramping around the Gardens that day.  The two boys kept me busy with playing trucks, making cowboy faces, jumping off benches, and plenty of smiles to capture.  Thanks to everyone in the Mencer Family for being great subjects, I had a great time.  Check out the pictures in the gallery for a full view of the day.

1. Read more.  A lot more.  I’m a bit of a tv-aholic at times.  It’s relaxing, I get sucked into shows.  But does it better me?  Not always.  And I think I’m missing a lot of books that I would really love to read.  So there is one.

2. Plan a trip.  Whether or not I actually go on this trip is yet to be determined, but I love the excitement of hoping and planning for a trip.  Maps and all.

3. Write more on my blog.  Now I know what you’re thinking!  That sounds awfully like a New Year Resolution.  BUT I think I have gotten away from doing some of just the fun posts about life on my blog.  I really DO enjoy writing on it, I just sometimes let the business of life get in the way.

4. Photograph more.  Along with blog writing, and reading, I have forgotten to just go out and photograph for the heck of it!  Which is not only fun but also priceless to growing as a photographer.

5.  Be a better person.  Now this baby is a little broad.  I secretly have little mini goals within each of these broader goals to help keep me on task.  Last year I realized that I was so caught up and busy that sometimes I would forget to just listen to people or to do something small for someone.  I think we should always strive to better ourselves and I would like to continue to do so.

So that’s a start on my Non-New Years Non-Resolutions.  Have any that you’d like to share? Drop me a line.

I love the textures we got from the logs at one of the old cabins.

Just gorgeous.

The last place we photographed at, I made the girls trek out through this really long field.  Did I hear any complaining? No.  Okay, well maybe just a little bit about the thorns but I mean, that’s legit.  But it was completely worth it for the photos!  They are some of my favorites.  Thanks Amber and Tayler for being such willing subjects and for such a great day!

The first day we set out it was cold and misty.  We probably got on the trail around 9:30 once we drove the car to trail head.  We bundled up and headed off though.  There were a couple things that through us off right from the get go.  First, the bike I had didn’t have a place to attach saddle bags so I was carrying my camera in a pack on my back.  This soon became very heavy.  Second, my Aunt and Uncle forgot their water bottles in the car.  Not a big deal right?  This is a well maintained trail with lots of stops and places along the way.  There is bound to be water somewhere.  Well yes, at the end.

I also made the rookie move of not training for this little excursion.  I let work and life get in the way and thought, I’m a pretty fit person, won’t be a problem.  And in all honesty, I did just fine with the cardio and my muscles were tired but not giving out.  However, my tush, seat, dairy air, rear end, gluteus maximus will probably never forgive me.  Ever.  EVER.  Okay, well not for a long time.  All and all the first day we did 42 miles on the bike.

My Aunt had a flat so we stopped and changed it out with the help of this little guy.  He was very into helping us….helping us pet him and love on him.  But we got it straight, and were back on the road.  Needless to say, the first night I was exhausted.  I could barely sit down and I’m pretty sure I ate a whole pig at the barbeque place we went to.  I deserved that pig.

Day two was much calmer.  We did about 24 miles which seemed like a breeze compared to the day before.  I did not fall into an exhausted sleep at lunch but managed to actually hold a conversation.  With all my drama and grumbling aside, I had a spectacular time with my Aunt and Uncle.  We couldn’t have asked for better weather and the New River Trail was absolutely gorgeous.  Hopefully we’ll be able to do another trail next year, but next year I will actually train.  Until then, I’m just going to have to sit on some pillows.