shut up!!

I finally won a first place on WPJA!!!!! I have been a member of the Wedding Photojournalists Assoc. for a few years now and have placed many times, including a second place and a third place, but the elusive first place has never been captured. There are so many amazing photographers competeing from around the world, I honestly never thought I would win a first place...


This shot was taken right after the ceremony- this little girl and her sister would not stop spinning, they loved the way the dress flared out... lucky for me I got a few shots off before she stopped... I loved shooting the flags- they were all over the place (Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda).

JUDGES COMMENTS: This is an example of a picture that says what words cannot. But, I guess I’ll give it a try. This picture is all about energy. The photographer found the motion of the legs, the twirl of the white dress, in contrast to the earth-bound black legs in the background and the ceremonial severity of a line of flags. The result is that the dancing legs are even lighter, faster than they would be if the background were of other dancers.

free photoshop tutorials

I recently noticed a bunch of video podcasts in iTunes that subscribed to a some time back. Of course these were a surprise because I forgot that I subscribed!! I love having no memory- it's like getting Christmas presents from myself and not knowing what they are!!!

OK, I will get on with it.... the guy's website is www.photowalkthrough.com and has some pretty cool tutorials. Like any lesson, there will be some stuff you already know about but there will also be new ideas and techniques you can add to your arsenal.

Check it, watch it, try it.

new hats

bay and cayse got cool new hats from the OP Pro (or whatever they're calling it these days) and love wearing them... they are just too damn cute...

pizza party

Last night was our first night enjoying the Italian pizza oven my step-dad built... There were quite a few people there and I had to leave early so I didn't get to eat as much as I had hoped..... I got a few slices of the Italian style margehrita (sp) pizza (tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil....

recent baby shoot

I did this shoot a couple of weeks ago. Coolest little guy...


I don't think I have ever shot this much at a baby shoot: about 500 images!!

the latest slideshow

Another slideshow is now online. It is from my wedding last Friday at the Ritz Carlton, Dana Point. The Bride and Groom, Zipporah and Oliver (or Zippy and Ollie), were so cool and fun to work with.

There were five students from Ollie's school in Boston who gave him a plaque for his work in creating a summer program to pay high school students to study for SAT's etc.... $600 every two weeks! What a great idea- these kids started the program the summer after freshman year and are now graduating high school and all are going to college!!

We need more people like him in this world for sure- nice work Oliver.

The wedding went amazingly even though the ceremony was on the sand at Salt Creek... They had to shuttle 160 guests down a long ramp in a small bus.... and then back up again to the reception. Jill Watson (the coordinator) made it all very smooth.

Go to www.emausphoto.com/slideshows and enter 'zippy' as the password.

super wide angle

I shot some groups at my Friday wedding with the 12-24mm lens (one of my favorites) and got some cool stuff:


Also, this lens is soo wide, you don't have to look through the viewfinder when shooting, because you can't miss. Just get super close to the subject or it will be tiny in the photo. I like to hold it really low or over my head to get cool perspectives:

These images were from Friday's wedding- the ceremony was on the beach at Salt Creek and the reception was up on the bluff at the Ritz Carlton.

After the ceremony:

The New Site is Live!!

Yes, the newest, coolest Eckman Maus Photography site is now live for all to see!!! There is a crazy number of images on it as I couldn't throw any more out... they are like my children... OK FREAK! enough!!

I love how much information and how many images I can have on it. And I can change anything I want anytime I want- instantly! Very cool designers: www.bludomain.com. They did my old site also...

They are going to add a very cool slideshow feature too... I just upload the images and make a slideshow right online. I will try to do one for every wedding...

Leave a comment, let me know how you like it!

wedding websites

I know that everyone is offering wedding websites these days for the Bride and Groom. One of my new clients just emailed me a link to hers on Bed Bath and Beyond: http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/pwsLaunched.asp?ID=StevenandAngie2388610

It is a cool flash site but the text is a little small for this blind photographer....

If you are getting married, I think it is a great idea. One place to communicate with all your guests.... maybe put the url on the save the dates.....

joel

cool spot to shoot

I did an engagement shoot over the weekend and the B & G wanted to shoot at Yorba Regional park in.... you guessed it: Yorba Linda (or My Balinda as my daughter says- we don't correct her 'cause it's so cute). There is a little lake there with a bridge and mini docks around it...


We got so many good shots... I couldn't stop shooting!

It costs $5 to drive in the park and Pro's should get a one day photo permit (I noticed on my way in- there was noone there to help me get one.....).

check it...

keyboard shortcuts

yep, it's been a week or so...

I was speaking with a couple of photographers the other day and they didn't know a shortcut I use often so I thought I would share it:

Ctrl Alt M or (Cmnd Alt M on Mac) which brings up the last curve you used... no need to save it and load it!
I tried using this in an action but it didn't work :(

This also works with levels and hue adjustments as well as others..... get 'er done-- quickly!!

A few others:
-Ctrl (Cmnd) + and - to zoom
-[ and ] to change brush size
-Ctrl Alt S to save as a copy
-Ctrl O to fit image on screen (or double click the hand tool)

There are many more, go to Edit, then Keyboard Shortcuts to see them all... also, while there, make your own for tasks you do most often- big time saver!!

be back soon