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    • Chelsey MachChelsey Mach

    Session Share | Tristan at 6 months

    November 17, 2010 | Posted by Chelsey Mach

    One of my absolute favorite ages to photograph is in that 6-9 month range. And meeting up with Tristan & his mom in our first few blustery days of winter did not disappoint! We chose an indoor location and mom brought lots of outfits and “favorites” (like cuddly Mickey that Tristan goes everywhere with). Our goal was simple: to capture this moment in time.

    Inspiration: A wonderful age coupled with what mom loves most about her family: “That I have one.”

    Favorite Element: The little touches: his favorite stuffed animal, a bear rug (we used something similar in his newborn shoot), his “Alaska Grown” shirt, a ‘cow hoodie’ from grandma & Carhartts – an Alaskan boy tradition. All the little things that matter.

    What Client Said: “I think I will need to rob a bank! The pictures are awesome, you made me cry in my coffee – nothing like a good cry to go with your coffee to make your day!!! Thank you very much have a wonderful day!!!”

    Photographers Final Words: I bet you would never guess that Tristan had a double ear infection that day! And within a week to 10 days – two teeth popped up! Yes, he is quite the loving, charming, happy boy. I feel blessed that we are capturing his every move from newborn to six months and now his one year session in the spring! These are great milestones in your child’s life. They grow & change so much in such a short time – it’s worth capturing every minute!

    Tamara LackeyTamara Lackey

    Lindsay, Steve, Jack, Charlie .. and Kobe

    November 15, 2010 | Posted by Tamara Lackey

    Life kinda sped up for Lindsay Wojciechowski this past summer.

    She was nine months pregnant with her second child right around the time her husband, Steve (“Wojo”), was fully engaged with the ACC Tournament. Steve is the Associate Head Coach for Duke University’s basketball team – and, as the ACC Tournament was ending on Sunday, they learned that he’d be leaving for the NCAA tournament on Thursday.

    So they did what any self-respecting diehard basketball family would do: they induced Lindsay’s labor so that little Charlie was born right in the middle of the four days Steve would be home, on a Tuesday.

    What followed next was a series of big ups and big downs. First of all, Duke won the 2010 National Championship – resulting in happy chaos, tons of media and a whirlwind trip to visit the White House to meet the President. Lindsay socialized with the jubilant team and then returned home for what was supposed to be her normal life. Normal life included her 6-week postpartum checkup.

    It was there that she received some concerning news. Initial tests proved troublesome. But nothing was conclusive yet.

    It would take another two months before there was an official diagnosis: Lindsay, age 33, had cervical cancer.
    She also had infant. And a 2 year-old. And a husband. And a dog. And a medical career.
    And, of course, a bevy of friends and a full, very close family who loved her dearly.

    Things moved even more quickly after that. Within two weeks, she was checked into Duke University Hospital and undergoing a extensive, radical surgery to remove the tumor. She went into the hospital buoyed by prayers and pep talks. And then there were all the notes and cards – Steve had asked friends and family to pick one word that exemplified what they hoped Lindsay would focus on, what she could hold dear throughout this process.

    HOPE
    BELIEVE
    FAMILY
    FAITH
    STRENGTH
    WILL
    LAUGHTER

    Sweet two year-old Jack had his own contribution. AIRPLANE.

    Ten days after surgery, they received their pathology report. And it was bad news. She was told to start chemotherapy and radiation immediately.

    She didn’t. Because something didn’t make sense. They weren’t sure yet, but they consulted with several pathologists – and, then, unbelievably: another twist. This time a thrillingly happy one. Two days later they found out that there had been some mix-up with the initial pathology report. There had been a mistake. The new results were very different from the first set of results and exceptionally more optimistic.

    Lindsay is a friend of mine. When she emailed me and her friends and family with this new update, the uproar of thrilled relief was palpable. A number of emails flew back and forth and several of them included not-for-TV language that you wouldn’t have expected with a mass email but that so encapsulated the joy and relief that everyone felt.

    Only days later, we did this shoot. On a sun-washed Carolina morning, we all got together to showcase this stronger and more committed family. And Lindsay and Steve looked even more beautiful than I’d ever seen them. Which is saying a lot.

    This shoot was a joy and a treat, and I’m reminded again and again why photography matters. Why crystallizing moments and experiences and growth and life is so compelling and emotional.

    And why love always comes first.

    (Such love to you, Lindsay :)

    You’ll see why Kobe was exiting the water so fast …

    He saw THIS!

    Sweet Jack encountering a bit of wardrobe malfunction…

    I wasn’t kidding about the good lookin’ness, huh?

    Even as everything in the world changes, some things never do.

    I caught a random candid of Jack (on left) during the shoot but didn’t realize until I was editing the shoot that I had caught a very similar moment two years ago, when Jack was just a baby (on right). I love how photographing children over time are full of finds like this.

    Kristen the designerKristen the designer

    Happy Fridays: 3 Reasons to start Knitting!

    November 11, 2010 | Posted by Kristen the designer

    I love this time of year for so many reasons: great clothes, great food and great weather :) But one of my absolute favorite things about Fall is I get to start knitting again! If  you really wanted to you could knit year round, but there is just something about scarves in the summer that seems a little out of place. Knitting has become one of my go to hobbies for those long stressful days. Plus there is always something new to create! Believe me, with the number of patterns out there you will be set for a very long time with new projects. Because I love knitting so much, I decided to share my top 3 reasons for becoming a knitter yourself.

    1) It’s Relaxing!

    Knitting has to be one of the most relaxing past times. It may be a little stressful in the beginning while you are learning, but once you catch on you are good to go. The rhythm of the motions while knitting can be very soothing. Plus it’s always nice to have a little “me time” during the day. Set aside some time once a day (or every other day) to sit down and knit and I promise you, stress will be a thing of the past!

    2) Great hobby to share with friends!

    Knitting is definitely an activity to do together! You can swap patterns, share advice, and get new tips and ideas. It’s a win-win for everyone! Some of my friends and I used to get together once a week, watch our favorite show on TV, cook dinner, and knit! It may sound silly but we always had such a good time. If not with friends share with your family. My grandmother was my original inspiration and she taught me to knit when I was quite young. I had so much fun learning, and she had a great time sharing.

    3) You can make great gifts!

    It is the perfect time of year to pick up knitting if you are a newbie because Christmas is around the corner. Knitting can provide you with so many different options for great holiday gifts! One of my favorite books, 101 Designer One Skein Wonders (pictured above), has some gorgeous ideas for everything from scarves and caps to purses and checkbook cases. Or another great resource is Vogue Knitting. Here are a few of my favorite features from their last few issues:

    Vogue Knitting has a great site as well with lots  of free patterns! Plus they give you great ways to make something different and challenging rather then a scarf. Scarves are great, don’t get me wrong, but after your 100th scarf you will want something new :)

    Good luck and happy knitting! And of course, happy Friday!

    Alice ParkAlice Park

    Adorama Book Giveaway!

    November 10, 2010 | Posted by Alice Park

    And just to show how truly AMAZING Adorama is, they are giving away 3 very special prizes to their new NAPCP twitter followers today!  Here are the details:

    ADORAMA GIVEAWAY!! 3 Books will be going to 3 lucky winners!

    This easy to understand and jargon free book is the antidote to confusing camera manuals. It’s pocket-sized and covers all digital cameras from point-and-shoot to more advanced DSLRs. Just want to learn the basics? This guide will explain the different buttons and settings on your camera. So no more photos that are too light, too dark, out of focus or blurry.

    You can also learn about the advanced camera settings. There are concise explanations of aperture, shutter speed and ISO. This book is all about putting you in control of your digital camera. So next time you’re out taking photos, bring along the Gadget Scientist guide – it will help make almost any photographer, a better photographer.

    RULES:

    1)  Follow adorama (@adorama) on Twitter.  Follow napcp (@napcp_tweets) on Twitter.

    2)  Tweet:  I want to win @adorama’s “The Gadget Scientist” book today from @napcp_tweets!

    3)  Post a comment on this post to let us know that you’ve done so!

    DEADLINE: Thursday, Nov 11th at 11:59pm EST

    Good Luck & Happy Wednesday!

    UPDATE:

    Congratulations to our 3 winners: Wendy Hunter, Whitney Elizabeth, Amy Hunsinger! Enjoy your new books :)

    Thank you again to everyone who entered!

    Alice ParkAlice Park

    Moms Buying Guide: Top 5 Point & Shoot Cameras!

    November 10, 2010 | Posted by Alice Park

    We are here with Adorama Learning Center today to bring you their list of the Top 5 Point & Shoot Cameras in season!  Perfect timing for your holiday gift giving.

    For those everyday moments you want to capture at home, on vacation, and just to document, check out these amazing cameras and the reasons why they made our Top 5 List!

    1) Olympus E-PL1
    Price: approximately $550 (body only).

    Micro Four Thirds lenses have a shorter flangeback (back of lens to sensor distance), allowing for camera makers to make both lenses and cameras smaller and lighter while using full-sized Four Thirds sensors—the same found in Olympus DSLRs.  With the E-PL1, however, Olympus focused on value, trimming away the less used features, simplifying the body build, and lowering the price without sacrificing image quality or performance. Our field test showed the image quality to be outstanding, with very little shutter lag time. In the lab, the Olympus EP1 delivered a very good overall performance for a camera its size and good overall image quality for a camera with a Four Thirds sensor

    The Juicy Details: 12.3 MP Four Thirds sensor, Micro Four Thirds lensmount, live view, 2.7-inch LCD monitor, built-in pop-up flash, 720p HD movie recording with high-quality audio, multiple exposure, art filters (Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film, Pinhole), mechanical and ISO boost image stabilization, digital leveler, dust reduction, face detection, shadow adjustment technology, 4 aspect ratios (4:3, 3:2, 16:9, 6:6), iAuto chooses best scene mode,. Shutter speeds 2-1/4000 sec, 3-inch LCD, Manual focus, ISO range 100-6400.

    2) Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
    Price: approximately $675 body only.

    Panasonic didn’t waste any time stealing Olympus’s thunder, introducing the GF1 as the smallest, lightest interchangeable-lens camera on the planet (so far). The third member of Panasonic’s growing micro-four-thirds camera family (the slightly larger G1 and GH1 have built-in EVF viewfinders), the GF1 is said to have a quick autofocus and a responsive shutter release, two big concerns for anyone interested in shooting active subjects. It also manages to squeeze in a small built-in flash. The camera will accept any Micro Four Thirds lens made by Panasonic or Olympus, plus it has a slip-on optional electronic viewfinder, and can record HD Video, allowing aperture adjustments so the shooter can control depth of field.

    The Juicy Details: 12 MP Micro Four Thirds Sensor, 720p HD video in AVCHD Lite, JPEG and RAW, Face detection, AF tracking, 23-area AF, shutter speeds 60 sec-1/4000 sec, ISO 100-3200, up to 7-frame auto bracketing, color temperature settings 2500-10000K in 100K increments, flash synch 1/160 sec, 460K dot LCD monitor, outlet for plug-in EVF finder with 1.4 Million dots. Pre-set color quality My Color modes, choice of manual or autoexposure, choice of manual or autofocus.

    3) Sony NEX-5
    Price: Approximately $650.

    Sony has just started shipping the NEX-5 and at the moment, it’s the lightest MILC on the market. And yet…it’s the first in its class to utilize the larger DSLR-sized APS image sensor, and Sony is promising an entirely new level of image quality and performance from this camera. A newly-designed NEX mount series of lenses will be introduced. The camera borrows high-end features from its DSLR siblings, plus ease-of-use controls from Sony’s extensive line of point-and-shoot cameras such as an on-screen Help guide.

    The Juicy Details: 14MP APS CMOS sensor, new E-Mount lens system. Records on Memory Stick and all SD cards. 1080p AVHD and MP4 HD video at 60 or 30p, respectively. 25-point contrast AF system; 80 expert advice shooting tips; sweep panorama up to 23MP; 3-inch, 920K LCD; 6-image layering anti-motion blur, auto HDR, 49 segment meter, Dynamic range optimizer, creative color filter, noise reduction can be manually controlled. Up to 7fps burst rate, shutter speeds 30 sec-1/4000, bulb. Flash sync 1/160 sec. JPEG & RAW image capture. Sony claims unlimited burst buffer capacity in JPEG.

    4) Canon Powershot G12
    Price: Approximately $500.

    Canon overhauled G11, and the new G12 represents a tweaking, relatively speaking. In the G11, Canon took the gutsy, marketing-unfriendly step of reducing the pixel count to 10MP instead of the 14 MP found on its predecessor, the G10, and that resolution carries over to the G12. Fewer pixels mean there’s more room on the sensor and the individual pixels can be made larger, making the camera better able to record low-noise images in low-light situations.  The camera is also said to be faster, with a reduced lag time. There are dials that control aperture and shutter speed that should be comfortable for traditionalists, as well as an optical viewfinder! The big news? Canon added 720p HD video to the G12!

    The Juicy Details: 10MP CCD sensor, 720p HD video and stereo on-board mic, image stabilization (optical and digital), 28-140mm (35mm equiv) f/2.8-4.5 optical zoom lens, 2.8-inch flip-out LCD with 461k dots resolution, focus to under an inch in Macro mode. Shutter speed range 15-1/4000 sec, ISO range 80-3200, RAW and JPEG image files, HDR scene mode combines multiple shots, manual exposure controls.

    5) Nikon P7000
    Price: Approximately $440.

    A full-featured, self-contained premium compact camera, the P7000 is designed to appeal to traditionalists and DSLR owners who want a small, near-pocket-sized alternative to their big rigs. The P7000 represents a major overhaul over its predecessor, the P6000, with redesigned controls and a look that echoes classic rangefinder cameras. However, it is up to date with full HD video recording capability (it even has an external microphone jack—a first for a camera in this range), and a hot shoe providing access to the entire lineup of Nikon strobes.

    The Juicy Details: 28-200mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.8-5.6 lens, 921k dot LCD monitor, optical viewfinder, 1/1.7-inch, 10MP CCD sensor, ISO range 100-6400, boostable to 12,800. RAW NRW file capture, macro focus to within and inch, horizon indicator, vibration reduction, subject tracking, in-camera image editing, auto scene selector, subject tracking, face-priority AF, 18 scene modes, . 720p HD video at 24 fps, external microphone jack.

    Thank you so much to Adorama’s terrific Learning Center for this great article!


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