April DeBord is one-of-a-kind.  Adventurous, charismatic, intelligent, passionate and ridiculously creative are just a few ways of describing the artist I was sitting across from over our dinner interview.  To be honest, when I first scheduled our chat, I thought I was only going to be talking with DeBord about her firedancing.  Granted, that would have been plenty enough to keep me intrigued; however, it was just the tip of the iceberg.

Originally born in Akron, Ohio, DeBord is an artist who has dabbled in a variety of mediums.  “I tend to get bored easily,” explains Debord over her linguine alfredo.  “I like to try out a little of everything.”  DeBord is a painter, professional photographer and has even published a book.  She is also an avid traveler, with her great love being road trips.   ”I love to travel all around the U.S. and outside of the country.  And I love to document my travels through photography and my writings.  While I’m in different places, even some as extreme as the South American jungles, I will stop and do a fire dance,” states DeBord.  Her goal, in fact,  is to travel to every continent and fire dance.  And I do believe, DeBord will achieve this.

DeBord combined her love for traveling with photography through a book she published in January of 2011.  “Heads Toward the River!” is a visually stunning and beautifully written volume of DeBord’s adventures through the jungles of Columbia.  This self-proclaimed adrenalin junky spent ten days sleeping in hammocks admist oversized insects and venomous snakes.  DeBord joined an adventure/travel group out of Tampa and quickly made friends with folks she had never met.  The gregarious and cordial artist also met with another interesting group while on her travels.  The Kogi Indian tribe was a significant part of DeBord’s South American excursion.  “I loved the Indians.  We sat around in huts with them and got to learn their culture,” reflects DeBord.  One of the adventurist’s favorite memories of her trip was being able to climb all 1200 steps to “The Lost City,” or Ciudad Perdida.  The location is considered to be quite magical in many respects.  However, DeBord’s journey offered a lot more than just enchanting jungle sites or sacred Indian villages.  “We had to trek through the jungles by mules.  It wasn’t always easy,” explains DeBord.  She also recalls having a couple very close encounters with snakes and enduring a painful knee injury.  “I was thankful for our travel guides.  They were amazing, always there to help us in a difficult or scary situation,” remembers DeBord. One of DeBord’s most daunting moments was while walking through a river.  “We often had to trek through rivers, but none were very deep.  However, there was one river that nearly swept me away.  It was treacherous and we had to hold on to each other to pass it.  There was a spot in the river that took a sudden drop and it was very deep.  I was in shock, as the water was freezing cold.  My guide was there to save me.  He really took hold of me and grabbed me,” recalls DeBord.

Personally, I was rather amazed at this young woman’s Columbian adventure.  It was all very Romancing the Stone-from Indians and snakes to dangerous rivers and mysterious jungle destinations.  And if you don’t think you have what it takes to trek through the jungles, but would love to visit vicariously through DeBord, simply check out her book.  It can be found at http://www.blurb.com/user/store/Apryl00.

Though DeBord’s travels may seem extreme, she also likes to just jump in her car and drive around from city to city, state to state.  Recently, the road tripper drove solo to all the New England states, minus Connecticut.  “All the states were so beautiful, but I really loved Maine,” states DeBord.  The daredevil naturalist even climbed Mount Katahdin, the highest peak in Maine. “I love to hike and climb mountains.”

So, was DeBord born with wanderlust, or did she somehow acquire the love of traveling as she got older?  “I lived in Alaska for a while and it changed me.  It made me really want to explore the world.  I loved it.  Somehow, living there, opened me up; it freed my spirit.  I was born in Ohio, moved to Florida when I was eight, and then years later in July of 2000, I got myself a one-way ticket to Alaska.  I was with a man at the time who was in the Coast Guard.  We had to live there.  I was worried about moving there initially, but I ended up loving it.  It was incredible.  I developed a love for exploration during this time, as well as for photography.  I felt creative,” fondly remembers DeBord.  The beauty of the rugged Alaskan wilderness was breathtaking and inspirational for the emerging artist.  Then, just two years later, DeBord packed up whatever she could fit into her car and took off on a road trip with a couple of her friends.  First, they went to New York, then to Florida, camping and making other fun stops along the way.  In the end, they finished their venture at DeBord’s home state of Ohio.

I had to ask DeBord, if she could go to one dream destination in her travels, where would it be.  “Oh, I have so many places yet that I would love to discover, but if I had to narrow down my list it would be New Zealand or maybe Africa for a safari.  Another place I have to go one day would be Bali,” answered DeBord.

If the artist isn’t on one of her many adventures, she may very well be taking pictures.  DeBord is a professional photographer, after all.  She earned a BFA in Photography at the University of Akron, along with a minor in Professional Photography and Computer Graphics.  Today, DeBord owns Inner Sanctum Photography and specializes in unique portraits, fine art nudes, wildlife/nature and pet photography.  She also does amazing black and whites, in addition to her color shots.  DeBord further mentions that she does hand coloring, upon request, for any of her black and white photos.  The photographer came up with the name, Inner Sanctum, because for her it means a place of calmness and peace inside the mind and soul.  DeBord explains that the words translate roughly into “mind den.”  For more information on DeBord’s photography, or to schedule a sitting, visit her website at www.innersanctumphotography.com.

DeBord also keeps busy with her everyday job, which is working at HSN, here in Tampa Bay.  For all of you home shoppers, HSN is your one and only go-to place.  At DeBord’s “day” job, she works as a freelance post-production artist- just something else the artist can do to spark her creativity and keep herself from getting bored.

To me, DeBord is synonymous with an onion; peel and onion and you will find lots of layers.  This fascinating thirty-something may indeed, wear a lot of hats; however, her most well-known hat is perhaps the one she wears during fire dancing, symbolically speaking.

DeBord began fire dancing in 2004.  “ I took a trip to Key West with a friend of mine and we went to Mallory Square at sunset to watch the street performers.  I saw a couple doing fire dancing and said to my friend, ‘I have to do this!’  After the two were finished dancing, I approached them and asked them about it.  When I returned home, I went online.  I learned a lot about fire dancing just by watching YouTube videos for six months.  Then, I started practicing with my roommate at the time.  When I first started, I used glow sticks so I wouldn’t hurt myself.  I eventually began using fire once I became more comfortable,” explains DeBord.  “The second time I did fire dancing was at my family’s annual Halloween party in Ohio.  Contrary to what people think, I don’t spend all my time fire dancing.  I’m afraid I would get too burnt out!  I like to keep things fresh.  I do love fire dancing though.”

Fire dancing is an ancient performance art.  For those who are not familiar, it is a beautiful and creative way of manipulating fire, and more specifically, objects set on fire through dance.  Objects, such as fans and staffs have wicks, which are soaked in fuel and then ignited.  The art form, obviously, is quite dangerous so it is crucial to take precautions while dancing.  Poi is fire dancing performed with a ball in each hand, suspended by a plaited cord (or chain).  It is then spun in circular and other acrobatic patterns.  Poi is also a traditional art performance of the Maori people who live in New Zealand, a group that DeBord would love to one day meet in person.  The Maori, however, never used fire while dancing; instead, the Americans were the first to light the match.

Poi began many years ago in New Zealand and for the purpose of increasing flexibility and strength in the hands and arms of the Maori people.  It was also excellent for improving coordination.  Poi dance was originally used by the Maori women for keeping their hands flexible for tasks such as weaving.

The wicks used in fire poi come in a variety of materials, most commonly, KEVLAR.  The material is a man-made organic fiber.  If used correctly and is well taken care of, KEVLAR will last and can then be used numerous times.  According to DeBord, it is also the same stuff that firemen’s suits are made out of.

DeBord performs wherever and whenever.  In fact, she has a few YouTube videos of herself performing at an old, abandoned Orlando amusement park called Splendid China.  DeBord felt inspired while inside the park, and even though she didn’t have music, she often would just dance to the sound of the wind.  Splendid China has since been razed, but DeBord still cherishes many of her memories performing there inside the cracked and decaying walls and corridors.  Over time, DeBord has danced at proms, private Halloween events and birthday parties.  She was once asked to lead the very famous Guavaween parade in Ybor City, Florida.  In addition, DeBord performs at her favorite venue, her family’s Ohio Halloween party.  “I’ve been asked to do many events, but unfortunately, there are a lot of fire restrictions that do not allow me to participate.  Fire codes are tough.  When I was asked to do Guavaween, I had to have a Fire Marshall on each side of me at all times.  It was pretty expensive in the end to hire all three of us, so I ended up not walking in the parade.  I really regret that,” states DeBord.

DeBord generally goes by the name RED, especially when she is fire dancing.  It is a nickname that she acquired while visiting New York years ago.  “While I was there, a group of obnoxious New Yorkers kept screaming out to me, ‘Hey Red!’ It was because of my bright red hair.  This was while I was in college, and now years later, I still go by the name.  It’s perfect for my fire dancing.”

When DeBord fire dances, she captivates.  “I use belly dancing with the element of fire.  I also like to experiment with objects such as fans.  I would like to get a fire jump rope to use in my routine.  I would use it to swirl around me, not to jump over.  I think it would look very cool,” explains the fire goddess .

Since fire dancing is considered to be such an intense performance art, I couldn’t help but wonder, has DeBord ever been burned?  Well, as the old adage goes, if you play with fire, you get burned.  “I usually don’t get hurt too badly, but once I got badly burned when a Poi wrapped around my arm and got stuck.  I actually could feel my skin melting off of my arm until I was able to pull it off.  It happened during a performance, but I just kept on going and played it off like nothing was wrong.  Everyone thought it was just part of my act.  Today, I will just get the occasional superficial burn, which tends to heal pretty quickly.  When I first started my fire dancing, I used to frequently singe my hair.  Now I use a scarf or put in dreads!”

DeBord brings her fire dancing along with her on many travels, as stated previously.  Her most beloved fire destination, thus far, being the DeBord Halloween Party.  The annual event just celebrated its 16th successful year and now has over 150 special guests.  It all started back in 1995 in the backyard of  DeBord’s brother’s house.  The party was modest and only a few family members and close friends were invited.  “My brother started it as a family thing.  It started in the backyard and then migrated all over the house and past it.  It just kept getting bigger and better with each year.  It became a street party,” states DeBord. “It then got so big, the police told us we had to stop it as a street party and move it to a bigger location.  What once started out with just a few people, soon had become an event of over a thousand.”  The party takes place typically the first or second weekend in October and there is always plenty to see while there.  An extravagant list of vendors and performers are on hand to entertain the crowds.  “We have jugglers, bellydancers, hearses, paranormal investigation groups, bands, costumed characters and so much more,” DeBord proudly tells me.  DeBord performs her fire dance at sunset.  And although the party is great fun, there is quite a bit involved.  “My brother and I are in charge of it and there are a lot of responsiblities for us.  I do the fire dancing, but also take many of the photos. I have to worry about putting things out, such as decorations, and taking it all down in the end.  We had to move it from the street to the VFW.”  All the hard work that the DeBords put into their party, sure is apparent in the end.  It is, by far, one of the most outstanding and elaborate of its kind.  If in the Akron, Ohio area next October, make sure you stop by.  It’s a great way to celebrate the bewitching season; the party is safe, family-friendly and best of all, free.

There is no doubt that DeBord is a stand-out kind of gal.  She knows what she wants in life and is not afraid to go after it.  She is strong and ambitious; kind and lovable.  DeBord is, indeed, unique and I mean that in the very best of ways.  A creative and free spirit that inspires and encourages everyone she meets.  A most talented artist and a most caring friend.

After our meal, I realized that our interview never really was one in the first place.  It was more like a dinner with a long lost buddy.  Or, maybe it was like some sort of self-reflection. Perhaps DeBord represents a small part which exists deep within each and every one of us- our adventurous side, our risk taking side, our creativity. Talking with this amazing artist was an awakening.  Life is far too short.  We need to live each day to its fullest; try new experiences and to not be afraid to learn something new.  Don’t just add on to your Bucket List- start scratching things off!  Not surprisingly, DeBord is doing just that…and more.

For more information on the annual DeBord Halloween party, please visit www.debordhalloweenparty.com.  The next party is scheduled for Oct. 13, 2012 in Akron, Ohio from 1 pm-11:30 pm.

To see DeBord performing some of her fire dancing routines, including those done at Splendid China, please visit her YouTube channel found at www.youtube.com/AprylRED

If interested in learning more about DeBord, please “like” her at www.facebook.com/FANSofRED. 

As most people say, there is no greater threat than a gun in the wrong hands.  Well, the same proves true for photographers and cameras, only their weapon scars the soul and looks harmless.  Cameras, these days, are quite affordable and versatile.  In addition, you don’t need a concealed weapons permit to purchase one.  Most who have these high tech SDR cameras automatically consider themselves “pro” photographers, and with the “automated” settings, they can achieve a decent photo with little to no skill.

That causes concern because that kind of camera could trick many women.  Women who are looking for nothing more than to be the center of attention, flaunting their beauty to the world as an innocent dream, thinking the photographer is for real.

Unfortunately, when people with cameras use their piece of art equipment to lure these beauties, strip them down and photograph them for their own sexual pleasure, it creates a bad name for those who are “real” photographers.

These deceptive photographers are easy to spot, but can be quite convincing.  They will say or do anything to get these women out of their clothes.  They will make them sign their lives away, throw them empty promises, and in the end, the innocent will be taken advantage of and visually raped.

Working with models most of my professional career, I’ve heard horror stories from other photographers.  In some cases, these freaks actually gave them their pictures – which I got a chance to look at – and saw nothing more than a point and shoot version of what they called “art”.

I’ve known models who performed implied and full nudity with the promise these photographers would break them into the “big leagues.”  They tricked women by saying  ad companies and modeling agents require a full nude photo to gain the aspect of their body structure.  In the end, the photos were less than amateur at best, and many ended up online somewhere.

In some cases the women never received their copies and the photographer is no longer around… surprised?

I also know some models that refused to do nudes or implied nude photography, but the photographer didn’t care.  The photographer actually decided that the model was going to pose nude, and took it upon himself to try and strip her.

As I said earlier, there are certain signs these photographers will throw off and they are easy to spot if you know what to look for.  I suggest that all models or any female who wants to do any kind of modeling shoot, follow my advice.

Sign 1 – The first question out of the mouth of these photographers when setting up a shoot is, “Will you pose nude or implied nude?”  In the aspect of nude or implied nude there is no difference, except that an implied nude shoot won’t expose a fully naked body; the photographer will see you nude but will pose you in such a way that doesn’t allow full exposure on film.

Sign 2 – The photographer wants to do this shoot TFP (time for photos) and promises the moon to these models.  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  “Time for photos” is when the model trades their time to the photographer for photos.

Sign 3 – Thier portfolio is filled with nudes or implied nudes with little to nothing else.  Examine these photos and see if the models have anything in common such as ethnicity, length or color of hair, and how they are posed.  Then look at yourself.  If you have the same qualities, you may be the prospective victim of this “legal” sexual predator.  If you don’t like their work or it’s just not what you want to shoot, then simply leave.

Sign 4 – Tell the photographer you are bringing an escort with you.  Most will object to the heavens, convincing you everything will be fine.  They might even get in the way and mess up the photo shoot.  If you still insist, you may not hear from them again.

Another tall tale sign comes when you first show up to the shoot.  If you are posing nude, even implied, the photographer should ask you for your identification, and make record of it.  The Federal Government states that nobody under the age of 18 can pose nude for the camera, implied or otherwise.  Regardless of the law, it’s a moral issue not to photograph someone nude under 18.

Unfortunately, these photographers exist and with more and more of them acquiring mobile studios and working out of their homes, the chances for this disgusting activity increases.

Always meet with the photographer prior to the shoot in a public area.  Be sure to bring an escort with you; that reduces the chance of something happening.  Tell another person where you will be at, how long you should be there and who is shooting the photos.

I also suggest obtaining references from the photographer and calling them, especially if nudity is in play.  I also think it’s a good idea to look them up on the local database for sexual predators prior to shooting.

If you arrive at the photo shoot and you feel uncomfortable, you don’t have to do the shoot at all.  It is your right to say no.  Any serious photographer will respect that and work around the issue, and will still be able to create a masterpiece for you.

The best advice is be vigilant, listen to your instincts and play it safe even if you’re shooting simple head shots.  Also, glamour shots don’t necessarily mean stripping!

Unfortunately, even if you fall victim, there are no laws that will put the photographer into jail for sexual abuse.  At most, you could sue for the pictures and maybe for pain and suffering.   However, conditions become much different if the model is underage, or has been physically assaulted.  If this should happen, it then transposes into physical sexual abuse and/or rape.

For more about Jason Dowd or Dowd Studios visit http://dowdstudios.com

Some of those people block out and forget the entire dream; they don’t want to remember it so they stuff it back into the archives of their mind never to be touched again.  Others, like Stephen King, face their fears and nightmares head on and have found a way to profit from them, while chilling others to the bone.  That is the case for Jason Dowd, the founder of Dowd Studios and artist in the new series “Dreams, Nightmares, Fears and Fantasy.”

Ever since he was a boy, Jason has been tormented in the night with night terrors.  He recalls dreams where he’s free falling through the sky, looking down at the solid mass that will surely take his life when he hits; but he never hit, instead he woke up before touchdown.  He also recalls one of the longest running nightmares that still haunts him today. It’s where he wakes up in a coffin, mistaken as dead; he smells death and sees the solitude of the metal box he lays in.  The horrific sound of the earth being thrown in, covering the coffin and the final pitch dark and forever silence that he is forced to live until the remaining oxygen is depleted.

He also recalls some of his biggest fears, which are spiders and clowns.  He states clowns are just evil; they are dirty and look like a dead corpse that put on some makeup to make their pasty skin look worse than it already is.  After seeing the movie, It, he became fully convinced that these fun-loving, carefree hobos are really a disguise for the evil that lies beneath the layered thick paint.  The yellow jaundiced eyes that glow when provoked, and teeth that turn razor sharp to take your soul.  Yes, that is what he thinks of clowns, and he has no problem stating that fact.  Then there are spiders, and who isn’t scared of them.  They are eight legged, multi-eyed little nasties whose whole purpose in life is to freak you out.

So what do these fears and nightmares mean?  Why are we telling you this?  Quite simply, one day after telling a story, one of the listeners asked Jason, “What the hell goes on in your head?”  Jason has always said he wouldn’t wish his mind on anyone, especially someone he loved; but that one question did spark a interest, an idea if you will.  He decided words weren’t powerful enough to express the horror of those nightmares, the sense of fear when he sees the very things that scare him the most.  The comfort with some of the greatest dreams he’s ever dreamed.  So he decided to create his own art series depicting his dreams, nightmares, and fears, and for fun, he threw in his twisted views on fantasy creatures and fairy tales.

In less than one month of planning and shooting, with the help of some very beautiful and talented models willing to step foot into the artist’s mind and face the very objects he fears most, Jason gave birth to this series, “Dreams, Nightmares, Fears and Fantasy” and was able to achieve his vision and confront his own fears.

The collection is guaranteed to shock, horrify, gross out and disgust you.  It will surely inspire and capture your heart and emotions and it will make you see the world through the eyes of Jason himself.  He’s fully aware some of the pictures will invoke some controversy, but he says it’s “no holds barred, anything goes.”  Despite some of the more disturbing pictures, you will probably notice that they are still beautiful and will capture your eye despite the graphic nature of the piece.

Right now the collection contains: Sugar Plum Fairies, Woodland Fairies, Gothic Little Red Riding Hood, Angel vs. Demon, Isolated and Insane, Trapped, But Not Dead, Remember When, Death To Yesterday, and Please Help Me.

“Trapped But Not Dead” is the reenactment of his nightmare of being buried alive.  The coffin used is a real vintage child’s coffin, and a real mortician gave the makeup tips to him.  “Details make the picture; it’s what helps to create the emotion and ambiance of the piece.  When I shoot these, I strive for authenticity.”

“Death To Yesterday” and “Angel vs. Demon” are darker pictures that still inspire.  For instance, the “Demon vs. Angel” series is a collection of twelve pieces that tell a story of the battle between good and evil.  In the end, good triumphs and peace will live again.  “Death To Yesterday” is the artist’s way of saying, don’t cry over the past, you can’t change it and you can’t live in it.  It’s there so you don’t repeat your mistakes and will be there to make you smile in the future.  These were both actual pleasant dreams Jason has had throughout the years.

Despite the month long shooting spree, Jason was asked to show this collection in Hong Kong come August at “THAT GALLERY,” a new art gallery that shows art from artists from around the world.  “It’s an honor and a dream come true to be asked to be a part of this show,” Jason states. “All I ever wanted was to be in a gallery somewhere. I figured it would be here first, but heck, I’ll take Hong Kong!”

The series has received rave reviews and comments, and I see it going very far.  Soon, Dowd Studios hopes to be able to place the pieces up for sale in small print and collectors’ limited editions in the studios online store.  He also hopes to be able to do some live shows around the country.

To see the collection, go to www.dowdstudios.com and click the gallery link.  If you are a Facebook user, follow him and his art there at www.facebook.com/pages/Dowd-Studios/371707221418

Photography, however, was a trade and wasn’t cheap so photos, though abundant, were still scarce for portraiture.  Being a photographer myself, I am fascinated with the skills these tradesmen had to learn such as taking photos without flash, on archiac equipment.  I often browse the Internet looking for great old shots, and I study these old portraits and appreciate the beauty and time it took to capture the images.  In doing so, I ran across something that intrigued me.  In Google Images, stood a picture of a man laying erect on a wall in his coffin.  How could I not click on that and view it?

What I came across was a website for mourning photography, but there was more.  There is an actual museum in the Illinois area owned by Anthony Vizzari.  His museum is absoulutely fascinating.  It opens up a concept photography was used for that many wouldn’t even consider.

Anthony stumbled across these mourning photos when visiting a flea market.  He told me he found a box of old photos which had many variety of subjects inside.  He purchased the box of photos for $30.00, which today is a steal.  When he got home, he took a good look at the box and found it had a mourning photo inside.  Like me, he was intrigued and started a collection of these photos.

Today, the museum has around 1200 pieces portraying a variety of mourning concepts.  In addition, there are about 300 non- photographic mourning pieces such as lockets and cards, making the collection diverse and interesting.  The museum is open for the public, but remains at a private residence so you must make an appointment to see the collection.

MoMP’s Digital Archive Project was created to help educate the public on the practice of memorial photography, both past and present. This free archive is intended to aid collectors, historians and anthropologists with their research on the subject. Included in the archive are images from public and private collections throughout the world.  At this time no such free public database dedicated to memorial photography exists.

The collection is definitely worth seeing. It will give you a new appreciation for the generally unknown, and make you realize it’s not morbid at all; in fact, it’s quite peaceful.  When I see these pictures, I see people resting… knowing they don’t hurt anymore, they aren’t hungry anymore, and they are free!

One of the prominent pieces you’ll see in the collection is a book from a pre-teen, who passed away in the early 1900s.  The book contains records of her life, and her death photo.  It also includes a sympathy card to the parents and a lock of her hair from the funeral home.

The reason behind mourning photos is quite abundant.  People have their reasoning for it; my family did it too with the death of their first daughter in 1920.  Despite the various reasons, two seem to come to mind more often than others.  One reason is to help soothe the soul over their loss.  These photos were a form of closure for the departed’s loved ones.  Also, like I said before, photos back in the day were very expensive; many people didn’t get a photo of their loved one in life and this was their last chance.  This was particularly true for children.  I have seen more children photos than adults.  Some are posed with their other sisters and brothers for a group shot, the only one that will ever be.

This practice goes back before photography came about, and still goes on today.  It just made it more real with the invention of the camera.  Mourning photography comes in different expressions too, says Anthony.  Some don’t contain a body at all, instead the widow of the loved one would photograph herself in a black dress, showing her loss.  Some are quaint expressions showing nothing more than a wreath of flowers, maybe with an empty coffin or no coffin at all, giving the impression someone died.

If you never have seen these type of photos, don’t feel bad.  They are out there but not plentiful in the marketplace.  Anthony says that like anything there needs to be a market for something.  Many of the photos you see are older because the family is gone, and nobody wants the photos so they end up in estate sales.  Some exist but the family hands them down through generations, and still keeps them dear to their hearts, even if they never met them in person.  Some of the newer photos are still with the family, because many still know the relative depicted in the photo so it means more.  As the years go on you may see the photos from the 1940s to today start to emerge in the marketplace.  However, if someone knows what they have with mourning photos, the price is almost doubled.

For now, just enjoy Anthony’s collection online or visit him in his studio.  There is no charge to view the pieces, and he is glad to give insight to his collection.  Right now, only a few photos are online from his collection, however, he tries to get it updated as much as possible.

Mourning photography is definitely misunderstood, and I guarantee you will see why when you view his amazing collection at The Museum of Mourning Photography.  Also, check out his main web site that gives you access to his other wonderful photography collection.

For Sarah Jordan, photography has always been a passion and a part of her life.  Jordan says she started the art as a just a past time and was never trained.  This amateur picture taker simply follows online forums and tip pages to get ideas on how to better her skills.  Without a mentor, Jordan also uses the Internet for inspirational and educational sites such as Picasa and Flickr.  She says she likes to see what others take pictures of and then learns how to find her own subjects.

The St. Petersburg, Florida resident got her first “nice” 35 mm camera when she was about twelve or thirteen.  It was at this time Jordan really started taking photographs.  Today, she uses a Kodak Easy Share C813, which she considers to be “a very simple digital camera.”  According to Jordan, her lack of equipment is a major limitation.  ”With a basic camera, it is difficult to capture certain angles and compensate for poor lighting, etc.”  Although she admits she wouldn’t mind upgrading, Jordan is happy with the results she has achieved with her Kodak.

So, why did Jordan choose this hobby?  ”Photography is fun for a lot of reasons.  It is rewarding to find beauty in things that people may otherwise take for granted, and capturing a moment on film allows you to go back and look at it and interpret it in many different ways,” explains Jordan.  Although the photographer has been interested in using a camera for most of her life, she has gotten much more involved with her hobby in just the last couple of years.  Jordan, in addition to being an amateur photographer, is also a paranormal investigator.  While out on ghost hunts, she would take pictures in the hope of capturing evidence of the spirit world.  ”I noticed that I took some interesting pictures while gathering information for future investigations and just expanded on that- taking pictures wherever something caught my eye,” states Jordan.

Jordan’s inspiration is not just in the paranormal, but is found in natural Florida beauty, specifically in Tampa Bay.  She is drawn to St. Petersburg’s history and its beautiful landmarks such as the Skyway Bridge and Fort DeSoto.  However, Jordan also enjoys candid photography taken of her family and friends at places like Disney World or while out fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. “Anywhere memorable,” sums up Jordan.  Florida’s landscapes and pristine beaches always make for inspiring canvases.  Jordan believes inspiration is all around us in the “Sunshine State” and photographic opportunities are abundant in beautiful Florida.  ”I was born and raised here so it has been easy to take the things we see everyday for granted.  By taking pictures of these things, I can go back and look at the landscapes that surround me everyday and appreciate them more fully,” says Jordan. It is this kind of reflection that makes for an outstanding photograph.  Jordan believes this her strength in photography- the ability to find beauty in everyday things.  But with a strength, can come a weakness.

So, what’s the hardest thing right now for Jordan when it comes to taking pictures?  That’s an easy answer for this beginning photographer.  ”Forgetting to take my camera with me everywhere I go!”  With the ability to see beauty in all aspects of life, one must be prepared for those unexpected and awe-inspiring moments.

Jordan says that when it comes to photography her favorite part is scouting out new subjects for her photos.  But even better than that? Being able to review the photos when she gets home.  It’s almost like unwrapping gifts; you’re excited to see what is inside each one. “All parts of photography are fun,” claims Jordan.

So, with that said, is Jordan planning on changing her amateur status to professional anytime soon?  ”I would like to learn more about the technical aspects and maybe even pursue it as a career.  I can’t imagine being lucky enough to get paid for doing this,” admits Jordan.  For this talented beginner, her dream job doesn’t seem too far from grasp.

To contact Sarah Jordan regarding her photography, please e-mail her at sarahmarie315@hotmail.com, or you can find a sampling of her beautiful work on Flickr under the username, sarahmarie315.

First, before we get to the nitty gritty, we feel that it’s important to point out that a photo can’t be fixed, at least an original.  The best we can do, should damage occur, is to photograph it and reproduce it fixing the damage through photoshop and hours of painstaking precision work.  A good habit to fall into, especially with old photos, is to take a scanned copy of your photo at your local Walgreens, Ritz Camera, or where ever you get your photos developed. Make a copy print of the photo and use that one in the frame or album, just in case damage occurs. That way, you have the original.

Storage: Storage of your photos is very important.  If you use a box, we suggest placing them neatly flat and never stacking them vertically.  Make sure they are nice and even so the corners don’t get bent.  Before actually placing them in a box, get some non- acidic styrafoam packing wrap and line the box with it.  This will allow seperation between the acidic box and your memories.

When storing the photos, NEVER place them around high heat and humidity.  Garages and attics are absolutely off limits.  Place them in a cool dark place, preferably a closet or under your bed.

Displaying: Displaying your photos shows visitors how much you love your family, how proud you are of your little ones and it helps decorate your space.  However, displaying them can be costly especially if you are using originals.  Use these tips when displaying your photos to avoid damage.

1. Never hang or place your photos near a window. When that window is open, the humidity and damaging air comes through the window and touches every part of the surrounding wall closest to the window.  With your photo it is 90% more likely to sustain damage from heat, humidity or water damage.  If you have to hang your photo or place your photos on a window sill or wall, place them as far away as possible, at least 36″ away if you can.  Never place photos you are afraid to lose on a window sill.
2. Never allow direct sunlight to touch your photos.  Sunlight over time will destroy the composition of the picture paper, causing it to become frail and brittle.  In most cases, it will bleach the photo. Sometimes it’s clear that the photo is bleached, and sometimes you can’t tell till you take it out of the frame and see beautiful colored borders around the photo where the frame covered it.  Adjust your frames so that direct sun exposure is minimal or not at all.
3. Never hang photos you are afraid to lose in the bathroom.  The humidity will DESTROY them.  Use duplicates if at all possible and always use a mat board.

Frames are great, don’t get me wrong, but they can be more devastating to your photos and you may not even know it.  Most frames are packed with cardboard to make up for the space.  Cardboard is highly acidic and will destroy your picture in the same fashion as the sun.  We suggest that you get the styrafoam wrap and cut squares till it matches the width of the cardboard.  This will eliminate most of the de-comp from the acidic back.  Even if you put another piece of paper over the cardboard, the acid in the material will seep through the paper and touch the photo.

Also, to avoid the photo from sticking to the glass of the frame due to humidity, we suggest using a mat board, NON-ACIDIC.  Those are best found in Michaels and other fine craft stores.  Many of the mats from Walmart are from China and do carry acid in them.  The mat board gives a safe gap off the glass which also causes damage to the picture, while giving the photo something special.

Handling: There is nothing worse than touching a photo with your fingers, especially high gloss.  Those finger prints are full of oil and dare I say, acid.  Even wiping it off smears the spot away but leaves a larger surface of your acid that did not come up with the wiping.  Always handle your photos with clean hands, and hold them from the sides. To sort through them, grab the least amount of paper on the corner as you can to avoid large surface damage.

When transporting an album in the car, do NOT leave the photo album in the car for more than a half hour, especially in the dead of summer.  The car can get to over 150 degrees in the direct sun which will warp and start the decay process of your photos.  At night, even with the windows rolled up, humidity and dew can get into your car leaving condensation damage.  Take them with you and always carry them in a bag, or box the album came in.

Albums: Albums are fine as long as you get non-acidic archival sleeves.  The cheap sleves are great but will do more harm to your photos over time.

OOPS, I spilled soda on my picture….

1. Immediately grab the picture and tilt it on an angle to get rid of the excess soda or beverage.
2. Take the photo to the kitchen and put a double sheet of paper towels down; one to dry the excess beverage behind the paper, while ensuring no further contamination from stuff stuck to the counter below.  Don’t use a dish towel because it’s too heavy and the paper is now weakened; you can cause a tear in the photo.
3. With a lint free cloth (paper towel) DAB the surface of the photo gently, removing the liquid.  NEVER use a wet cloth, and NEVER ever WIPE; you can wipe the color right off the paper.
4. Once cleaned, let the picture sit in a cool, safe, dry area for 24 hours before attempting to put it away.
5. If there is damage to the photo, like water spots, it’s much easier to get it fixed now so take it to get it scanned and find someone to fix it.

Follow these steps and your photos can last you a long time.

As he got older, Mauricio started to focus more on abstract art in college, and he really embraced it by saying it was a great creative release.  He was born into a family of artists, specifically his mother who did a lot of painting and whose style mimicked her home country of Columbia.  Mauricio’s art went down a few different paths as he grew his talent; one of those paths took an urban feel.  He really enjoyed the raw but rough graffiti he found on walls and such.  He incorporated graffiti into his work, just not on walls unless someone would ask him to.  He still loves graffiti but it isn’t his true focus anymore. Mauricio is excited that some of his graffiti will be appearing in a new book titled “Label 228″ set to hit shelves in October of this year.  You can get your copy on Amazon.com.

Photography came to Mauricio a few years ago in 2007 by a complete accident.  He noticed an ad in the newspaper for Artsploration, sponsored by the United Arts of Central Florida.  They were looking for photographs of Orlando including the Central Florida area.  He looked through his bag of work and found a photo he loved called “Eden.”  He figured why not, so he sent his application and photo in, then waited for the results.  A few weeks later the results came in, shocking him a bit. He won first place and a prize of $2000.00, not bad for a picture taken on Hills Avenue in Orlando.  This win opened his eyes and his passion for photography.

Like his art, the urban style fits the inspiration for his work.  He really focuses on things that people would take for granted, or takes things that you wouldn’t think of walking by to be beautiful, and makes them into masterpieces through his eyes.  With photography, the art is truly seen through the eyes of the photographer.  It’s the job of the photographer to take what they see and change the mind of the people who view the piece.  This is the challenge that Mauricio loves to accomplish with each and every piece.  A good example of this is his photo of a New York alley.

Mauricio remembers that day, he was in New York during some crazy weather.  It was raining and cold, and he was walking past an alley that wasn’t pretty and definitely taken for granted.  Thousands of people passed this alley everyday, never taking a second look. Mauricio saw something special and took a photo.  The result is one of his most favorite pictures he has taken to date and one of his most requested pieces.

Art isn’t the only thing Mauricio is passionate about. One of his current projects is working with Icla Da Silva Foundation, whose purpose is to help minority and under privileged families with children who suffer with leukemia. Based out of New York, Mauricio is very passionate to lend his talents to help this wonderful organization.  To find out more, check out their web site www.icla.org

To have Mauricio do a commissioned piece for you, or to check out his work, or just contact him, please visit his web site at www.mauriciomurillo.com or his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/mauriciomurillo

Danny Fittro is an accomplished Tampa Bay photographer whose area of expertise is in fitness. Fittro developed a love for taking pictures as a child. “I have always loved photography. My dad had a nice 35 mm camera when I was little, about ten or twelve. One thing happened back then that changed my life forever. My sister was a ballerina. I asked my mom and dad if I could move up close at one of my sister’s performances and take a photo with my dad’s camera. They said yes. I moved up into the aisle, close to the stage. My sister did a running split-jump across the center of the stage. I snapped a photo and I caught her at the height of her jump in the perfect split! That photo was printed, enlarged, framed and placed in the house where everyone could see. It was something my sister was proud of, I was proud of and our parents were proud of.”

Fittro continued to take many more photographs over the years, just using basic cameras. Eventually, he got enough money to buy a digital single lens reflect camera. That was how it all started, four years ago. “I didn’t know what I was doing,” admits Fittro. Back then, Fittro posted his outdoor inspired photographs on the Internet. He attended seminars in Sarasota, Florida at a photography institute, but claims he got most of his knowledge simply by reading magazines and through trial and error. Fittro began taking pictures of his at the time girlfriend as a model and started to network with a photographer named Brian H. Williams of Manteca, California, whom he met through the Internet on a site called Ujena. The site connects photographers to models, offers competitions for both and is also a swimwear line. Fittro became friends with Williams just through e-mails and phone calls, but has never met him in person. In July of ’09, this will change as the two photographers will be able to meet for the first time in California. Fittro says Williams has been his mentor and photography critic over the years, giving him valuable insight.

Fittro remembers back to the time when he received a very important phone call. “Soon after I began shooting models, a magazine publisher saw my photos on the Internet and e-mailed me to see if I wanted to shoot for their nationally published magazine. I was floored. I called them on the phone and said yes.” The magazine that contacted Fittro was called Real Gainz, which featured photographs of bodybuilders and other elements of fitness. So for the last three years now, Fittro’s photography has been based in that genre. Unfortunately, Real Gainz folded due to financial problems, but Fittro was able to make valuable connections in the six months prior to its closing. The photographer caught on with another fitness magazine called Natural Muscle, which is nationally published and is actually larger than the former Real Gainz. By shooting with Natural Muscle, Fittro has covered the Arnold Classic twice, which is an annual bodybuilding competition named after Arnold Schwarzenegger that takes place in Columbus, Ohio. It is considered to be one of the largest and most prestigious bodybuilding competitions in the nation. Fittro also has photographed Miami Universe, a large pageant competition in South Florida, as well as numerous Tampa Bay fitness events.

Fittro grew up in the small town of Olivet, Michigan and eventually moved to Nevada, near Las Vegas. It was there that Fittro landed a teaching job. He taught third graders for seven years and even coached fifth grade boys’ and girls’ basketball, leading them to four championships. In addition, Fittro coached fast pitch girls’ softball for two years, boasting two more championship wins. Despite his success as a coach, Fittro decided to pursue a career in educational counseling. After he got his Master’s degree, Fittro moved to Florida and got hired as an elementary school counselor. Fittro admits that at some point, he would like to give up counseling and commit to photography full time. “I can make more money being my own boss. Schools are taking a hard hit economically.” Fittro says it has been hard to keep both his job as a counselor and as a photographer, and considers his busy lifestyle to be “draining” at times. The fitness photographer continues on to say that there is a lot of traveling involved with photography and there are issues such as kennel boarding for his dog and jet lag. Once Fittro returns from a photography job, he has to go back to work as a school counselor, which can be difficult. “Full time photography would allow me to drive all over the country at a casual pace and I could bring my dog with me.” Fittro says he prefers the freedom of not having a studio. “The world is my studio; I shoot on location.”

As a skilled photographer, Fittro knows his cameras. He likes Nikons (he currently uses one), but would like to get a Pentax because of the preferred stabilization in the body of the camera. Fittro explains that Nikon cameras, as well as many others, have stabilization in the lens, which is important when using zoom or a slow shutter speed. “You don’t want blurry photos,” says Fittro. “Stabilization in the lens makes it cost more, so you can buy cheap or good lenses. With a Pentax, it’s controlled in the camera body.” Fittro further advises that in order to pursue photography, you need a camera that performs as a “workhorse.” A good recommendation is a D80, which is what he uses. However, the D200 and D300 are also good choices. In addition, the Pentax K10d is an amazing camera. “They make a new line, meaning you can get this one at a real deal,” claims Fittro. The newest Pentax camera is the K20d and according to Fittro, is “top of the line.” He also suggests that anyone who takes photography seriously should choose a camera that is a SLR (single lens reflex) with a detachable and interchangeable lens. Fittro says his biggest challenge when using a camera is light. “It’s necessary, but it’s not always friendly so you have to try and control it with reflectors, speed flashes, shutter speed, f-stop and ISO (denotes how sensitive the image sensor is to the amount of light present). Shadow and light can be positive or negative influences and they always need to be dealt with.”

On a not so technical note, Fittro says that the best part of his photography job is about making memories, traveling and developing friendships. “I will probably have doubled the amount of people I know in my life after shooting a few more years in photography. It’s a personal and close relationship you develop when you work as a team of two to three people with a model that is trusting you to capture her in a photo to share with the world while she wears just a bathing suit.” It’s the end result or the photograph itself which inspires Fittro, in addition to the traveling and relationships made along the way. “I like making people happy with my photos.”

Fittro says his photography is all about interesting compositions and how he shoots his camera. “I like to shoot things big, fill the frame, blow out the back and use the ‘rule of threes.’ I like that you find a good photo opportunity anywhere. I’ve had great shots taken where no one would ever know it. The end result only shows what’s in the frame… that’s the real magic of photography.” When it comes to photographing fitness models, Fittro says that everyone is different and you must develop a rapport in order to communicate successfully. In turn, this communication will bring return business. “The clock starts as soon as you meet them [the model] and you have to come up with a product by the time you’re done, which may be two to four hours later. In that time, hopefully you will have helped him/her achieve their goals and made a new friend who will recommend you to others.”

When Fittro is not behind the camera, he may be singing, playing the guitar and drums or even doing some piano. He also works out on a regular basis and plays on a tennis team in St. Petersburg. “I can’t hang around the fittest people in the world and be out of shape, ” laughs Fittro.

Through photography, Fittro says he would like to one day make a place for himself in the fitness industry where he can dictate which pieces of his work get published in various print outlets. After seeing Fittro’s amazing photographs, I have a feeling his dream is not far from reach.

Check out Danny Fittro’s work in Natural Muscle magazine. The magazine is a publication that is found in gyms across America. Please visit www.naturalmuscle.net for more information.

PHOTO CREDITS:

Top picture model is: Katka Kyptova (bodybuilder) from the Czech Republic, and the figure model is Chelsea Alexis from Hartford, CT.   Please check out Chelsea’s MySpace page at www.myspace.com/officialchelseaalexis

With extensive travel back to Springfield and having eleven open casket funerals, the elements were going to affect Lincoln’s body despite the embalming. They had embalmers that traveled on the train making sure the president looked his best, but that still did not change the fact Lincoln’s body would decay. By the time Abe made it to New York, the elements started to take a toll on his body; his lips were thinning and the trauma to his head started to have some effects as well.

Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton declared it “illegal” to take a photo of the president because of how his body was starting to look. He made that fact very clear, but you know that someone would try and smuggle their equipment in. They did just that in New York City. A man smuggled his equipment in, got to the top of the rotunda, where he snapped a bunch of photos of the president in his coffin. He was the only man that managed to get these photos over the eleven funeral stops.

When Stanton heard about this, he went to the residence of the photographer and ordered the plates and all copies destroyed. From that day on, all photo records of the journey were lost, despite the importance they played to the American people.

In 1952, a young teen by the name of Dr. Ronald Rietveld was searching through old documents in the town’s library records. To his surprise, he found a letter from Stanton and unfolded another piece of paper that was with it. A small photograph fell out, which actually was a saved print of Lincoln lying in state at the New York City funeral stop.

In the photo you can clearly see the deceased president’s face, and two guards standing watch over the corpse. It was actually a beautiful photo that went years without anyone ever knowing it existed. This photo was destroyed by Stanton and his men. However, Stanton didn’t have the heart to destroy all the photos, as he kept one. This one landed in the hands of the teenage Rietveld. He said it served the American people with history, but should not be displayed in public.

That has since been forgotten and now the photo appears on web sites, including this one and all over the world. It’s an amazing treasure of America’s past during one of its most horrific times.

Morbid in a way, but in another, it is therapeutic. It gives the younger generation a physical document that allows them to see and feel the reality of a tragic event, and brings it to life better than any document could ever accomplish. That’s the importance of photography.

Hahn is a hunter in a sense, except he does not kill what he shoots. Yet, he still captures the body and soul of the prey he hunts. As a nature photographer, the artist needs strong patience. This is probably the most important part of his job, besides his equipment, for nature doesn’t jump on cue. A photographer of nature can sit all day and not get a bite, just like a hunter. When nature strikes, he must have split second reflexes and put his skills to the test because that one moment can change so quickly. This is something neither Hahn nor life can return because what he misses could be lost forever. Hahn doesn’t need to worry about that because he does it right the first time.

His photography is absolutely breathtaking, with birds in flight carrying their meal in perfect color and clarity. His sunsets captured at the right moment show the effervescence of orange, blue and yellow.  This heavenly vision fades to black in the tranquil death of a day in anticipation of the birth of a new day tomorrow. All these scenes are captured flawlessly on his photo paper canvas.

Hahn has shot around the United States, but now shoots in his home state of Florida mostly. This talented photographer is able to capture the rugged terrain this large beach has to offer. With the Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, miles of sandy beaches, bird aviaries and the massive reptiles we call gators, there is plenty of subject matter for Hahn to explore and capture.

Hahn’s photography has been included in magazines such as the Outdoor Photographer, Defenders Magazine, New Floridian and Kiteboarding just to name a few. Hahn’s work has also placed in the top 100 and helped him rank 4^th overall in the ICF-2008 Pro-Tour Competition. The award winning photo is called, “Damselflies Sharing A Stick.”

Artist’s Statement on “Damselflies Sharing A Stick:”

“I found a small pond on the ranch I was photographing for a few days, and it had hundreds of these damselflies flying around it. As they flew in search of mates, they would briefly land on small bits of grass poking out of the water. To capture this image I laid on the bank of the pond, in the shoreline mud with my elbows in the water; holding my camera just above the surface of the water to get a low angle on the flies. I prefocused on this small piece of straw poking out of the water and waited till damselflies landed. I was fortunate to have two land on the same piece of straw and had a few moments of them facing each other.”

Hahn’s love for nature and photography show as he has made himself into a published and award winning photographer, a hunter of nature without ever having to kill one animal or insect, and he can admire his capture with others for centuries to come. Hahn has one magnificent eye with an artistic touch that we know you will see once you set eyes on his gorgeous work.

Check him out at www.hahnnaturephotography.com . On Hahn’s website you can see many of his pieces and learn a bit more about this phenomenal artist.

Sometimes, you can get away with using a timed exposure which is where you would set your camera on a tri-pod and accurately white balance it for the yellow lighting it gives you.  Sometimes, however, where portraits are concerned, you don’t want that golden, ambient light but would rather have  your subject evenly lit. Sometimes your subject is moving, like at a wedding where low light will cause an acid trip effect.  The most logical solution is to use your flash.  

When you use your flash for any photo, you may get unwanted or unattractive outputs.  For example, you are in a low lit room with yellow, incandescent lights dimmed to half their power which, in turn, gives off an orange or yellow color.  In addition, people are dancing so the light is too low for a time release exposure.  Flash is your only option.  There are two things you may see with your flash.  

1. You take the photo farther away and realize there’s a half circle effect around the subject.  The subjects seem to have this yellow tint on them making them appear jaundice.  The whole photo has a “rising or setting sun” effect which is quite ugly.
2. Your subject is over exposed, you have “red eye,” and there are shadows around the subject.

There are solutions to this matter.  When using flash it is best to get an external flash with a swivel head.  The reason for this is simple.  You can angle the flash to bounce off a ceiling, a corner of a room or just soften the effects of the flash by diverting the path.  This will eliminate many of the harsh shadows, but you may still find some in your picture.  This will also help avoid over exposures as it evenly distributes the light.  When you bounce your flash, you evenly distribute the light and can create a 3D effect.

If you must take a photo farther away, you will still want to take the lowest possible setting so it doesn’t let too much light in, but make sure it doesn’t under expose the photo either.  Get as close as you can, because that will help eliminate the circular pattern on the wall, but bouncing the light will help to evenly distribute the light across the projected path.

You may also run into some other fun obstacles.  Those would be ”red eye” and bad color.  When using flash you must take into consideration, flash is a whitish-blue hue similar to a fluorescent bulb.  The yellow color comes from an incandescent bulb that actually acts like a fire.  It’s a warmer effect.  The trick is to balance it with both colors in mind.  Test your settings out and tweak when necessary.  Some digital cameras allow you to use factory white balancing settings, or to customize.  Some allow you to add the CMYK colors to help balance the color to reference the “true color” of the subject.  White balancing is very important for the true feel of the photo.  Sure you can use Photoshop to correct it, but it will never be the real color of the room.  It is best to get it right the first time with your camera or as close to perfect as you can get it. 

“Red eye” is a common occurrence that happens with the flash.  It happens when an object is under or over exposed.  The only “true” way to correct this is to evenly distribute the light, don’t shoot face on when using the flash and turn your “red eye” setting on.  Sometimes you can still do all those steps and still have “red eye,” but that’s just the nature of the eye and remember the eye is made up of many lenses that reflect.  It is a proven fact that some people will get “red eye” in the bright daylight sun, in the darkest of rooms or where ever they take a photo.  This could be a sign of anemia, lack of iron in the blood that can cause a high “red eye” rate.  Animals will always have spots in their eyes unless they are in an evenly lit area which is due to their eye structure and color.  One way to avoid this is to not shoot straight on with the flash.

Remember, flash does not come out in a box shape that fills the room.  Flash comes out circular, in a cone like fashion.  As the flash reaches farther and farther, the greater the circle and that is why you tend to have a circular pattern of flash when you are farther away from your subject.  Once the flash hits an object in its path, it returns to the camera in the same cone like fashion except the point of the cone is facing the object it bounced off.  That is why you get the shadow.

Flash is not easy to use because you have to know how to manipulate light  in order to get that beautiful photo successfully.  Sure, cameras are almost idiot proof nowadays, but they will forever have the problems I stated above without proper anticipation.  However,  they won’t be as prevalent with a self adjusting camera function to take the know how out.

Uses

• Softens age lines
• Adds an intimate effect to portraits or pictures
• Can be used to add effects to a photo

What Does It Do

We know the uses, but what does it do?  A soft focus filter takes the edges of a properly focused subject and softens the photo, including edges which can reduce the harsh age lines, skin blemishes etc.  To sum it up, it slightly blurs the picture.  When a soft focus picture is done correctly, it will look soft and intimate, when the picture was poorly executed it will look completely out of place and/or blurry.

Good Scenarios To Use Soft Focus

• Weddings (Formals)
• Engagement Photos
• Maternity Photos
• Some portraits
• Seasoned individuals
• Kids/adults with bad skin imperfections (Does not mask acne)

When you decide to do a soft focus filter, I suggest taking 2 pictures; one with and one without the filter so the client will be happy either way.  Some people don’t like the soft effect and if there are no other options you can lose a sale over it.  Some people on the other hand won’t take a photo without the filter.  Also, make sure that the filter will fit the situation.  If you use the photo for something like automobile photography, or something more intense it will look out of place and unprofessional.  As a professional photographer, know when to use it and don’t let the client dictate it for you.  If there is no compromise, do what I said and take 2 pictures 1 with and 1 without.

In my experience, I found the best way to use the soft focus filter is to

1. Place your camera firm on a tripod
2. Get your angles and settings correct
3. Focus your subject
4. Add the filter right before shooting the subject (to ensure the photo is properly focused)
5. Take the photo.

If you don’t focus the subject correctly the picture will be very blurry and unattractive.  Once the filter is on the camera, it’s very hard to focus correctly manually or automatically because it does slightly distort the photo.  By focusing the subject first, you eliminate the hassle of looking through a semi-blurry piece of glass to focus properly.  I suggest a tripod for these shots because any slight movement will only make the effect greater, its gonna be soft, you don’t want it worse with movement.

I immediately purchased this picture, despite its morbid content.  I purchased it because of how rare they are first of all, and second because it meant a lot to some family back then.  Even though mourning photography is morbid to us now, the reasoning is quite mis-understood, but I find it beautiful in its own right.

Back in the early 1800′s when photos first came around with Ambrose Type and Tin Type photographs, this specialty cost people a fortune to have done.  In those days, it was not uncommon for a person to pay up to $25.00.  With inflation, that could run you around $2500.00 today.  Life expectancy was not great back then, if we lived to 50 we were considered old men and women.

If you notice, when you look at photos back then there were not many of kids.  In fact most of the photographs you see were of adults.  This was because it required standing very still. They used posers to keep you still since they did not use flash. It was a timed exposure, so should you move at all, the photo would be blurry and ruin the picture.  Also, children simply did not grasp how expensive the process was, so it would be a waste of money to attempt to have one made of them till they got older and understood the importance of sitting still.  Most of the time when you see a child’s photo from the early 1800′s to early 1920′s they tend to be sleeping.  I hate to break it to you, but those children are “forever” sleeping because they are deceased.

The parents always expected to one day get a photo of them when they were older. Sometimes that did not happen, because they died at a young age. The parents would decide to take a photo of them anyway, and either take a photo of the child looking like they were asleep, or would take a photo of them in their coffins.  Parents would rush to get a photo taken, because this would be the child’s only photo, despite the fact they were dead; it was better than nothing at all.

Parents would not only take photos because it would be the child’s only picture, they also did it to help them mourn the loss of their beloved child.  Sometimes they took photos of deceased adults too, who more than likely had photos of them while alive. This was a common way to help mourn the loss of a loved one.

I know about this because it happened to my great aunt Emma.  In 1920, she broke her arm and died from blood poisoning.  Our family had two known photos of her, a small 2×4 that contained her, my aunt Adela and my uncle Wally.  The other was one of her by herself when she was maybe 7 or 8, and the last one was her in her coffin.  My aunt Adela, told me that it helped her parents mourn the loss, and since she was only 10, they didn’t have many photos of her, so the coffin photo was at least one more picture of their sweet Emma.

Today, we take for granted that our loved ones live long lives, that children or infant deaths are not as common today as they were back then, and that most of us have cameras so we take loads of photos of our children and family members.  We forget that this was not the case back in the early days in America and that it was quite expensive.  So before you decide this is all just morbid, think through why they did it and how they didn’t have the conveniences we have today; the luxury of our own personal cameras and how inexpensive they are, and you will see that mourning photography really isn’t as morbid as it first appears.

About Dowd Studios

Dowd Studios is a small company owned by Jason and his wife Fran. They are a home-based business whose mission is simply “to take a great photos and be affordable for all budgets.” Their studio not only offers portraits, but also photograph business and church events, school, modeling and maternity photos, passports, custom design graphics, and website design. If you want it photographed, they will do it… within the law of course. The studio has a website that allows you to get all the information you need about their services. You can order and proof your prints online and purchase stock photography from their online store.  To contact the studio simply go to www.dowdstudios.com

Recognition and Shows

Throughout the years Dowd Studios has had many accolades. He was the AmSouth Business of the Month for February 2005 and his work “Eyes of a Child” and “Candle Light” was published in a coffee table book called Endless Journeys. His work was featured in the local community newspaper The Laker and county wide papers The Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times. Jason’s picture “Jack Murphy Stadium” won first place in ArtFest 97.

Jason’s work is available for purchase and viewing at Fincher’s Barbecue Restaurant in Macon, GA on Houston Rd. The restaurant has twelve of his photos from his Georgia Collection. His photos are also available for purchase at Fast Frame in Tampa on Bruce B. Downs. Two of his pieces are on display at Beck Gallery in Lutz, FL. Jason is always looking for places to show his work and encourages anyone that knows or has a connection to please contact the studio.

Dowd Studios and the Community

Jason is dedicated to a business that benefits not only benefits his family, but his community as well.  He is proud to volunteer his services with the American Cancer Society. Dowd Studios has helped the ACS each year since 2005. They have donated time and materials with a photo booth at the Cattle Barrons Ball in Dade City where all sales go directly to the ACS. This year Jason and his wife did an overnight walk for the cure.  Dowd Studios makes regular contributions to the American Diabetes Foundation, and Jason and his wife volunteer with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Florida.

Prominent Clients

Dowd Studios has worked with some large names in the community. To date, the studio has worked with 16 Second Stare, HOK Architects, Johanson and Associates, The Academy of The Holy Name, Belks Department Store, and former Tampa Bay Lightning’s Dave Shaw. Most recently, he did a photo journalism piece for the San Diego Voice and Viewpoint of Senator Obama’s Florida campaign stop in Tampa.

Dowd Studios is here to stay… and when you have your portrait taken, look into the camera, and you will see why Jason says, “It’s all eyes on me.”

But this contest wasn’t just about the cutest kid, or the mom… no, according to Jason, it was about a little bit more. ” Mom’s are special, and so is every child.  Every child has the potential of being our next President, or the scientist who will cure A.I.D.S.  The source of that success is the mom who selflessly gave birth to that special little child, and gave all she had to ensure her child grew up full of love, healthy and educated.  It’s a special bond and all mother’s should get special recognition.  This contest was to give both, great recognition!”

The contest was judged by two ladies who had no affiliation with Dowd Studios, they were asked if they knew any of the children in the application.  None of them had any ties to either the studio or the children so there was no bias or favoritism.  ” I told my judges, that they can’t favor anyone if they used my photos, if they are older than anyone else, like a baby favors a 2 year old, and they could not judge on their story alone.  The judges could not discriminate between: race, sex or religion.  It was totally fair for anyone that entered, and that’s how I wanted it.”

In the first annual contest, Ashley Hamrick and her son Jimmy are the grand prize winners.  Their story was touching, the child adorable!  It was a great choice.  Jason talked to the judges after the judging ended and asked them if they all were in agreement with their choice, they said yes… “But it was a VERY tough decision, all the kids were adorable, all the stories touching.  They were all winners in our book.”  With that comment, Jason realized how true that statement was, and made sure all participants received a free sitting and 8×10 of their choice from Dowd Studios without any obligation for purchasing.

The grand prize was a:  Free sitting and 16×24 portrait from Dowd Studios, and a $25.00 Chili’s Gift Certificate donated by Dowd Studios.  A $25.00 gift certificate for custom framing from Alexandria Art Gallery, a Bath Gift Basket from Passion NV, and a free hair cut and wash from J. Joseph Salon in Land O Lakes.

“Next year we expect more participants, more prizes and an even harder choice.”  says Jason.  So if you are interested, keep checking the studio’s web page at www.dowdstudios.com.  To see the winner you can check the “Picture Of the Month” or see the Mother’s Day Contest Winner on the Gallery Link of the Dowd Studios web site.