Photography | The Beauty Around Us

New Camera Accessory

I purchased a new accessory for my camera, a RPS Studio Mini Soft Box.

a RPS Studio Mini Soft Box

I purchased the mini soft box from Amazon.com. I was going to build a do-it-yourself diffuser but thought for the price I would try the RPS Studio Mini Soft Box.

I took a self portrait, without the mini soft box (left) and with the mini soft box. I used the exact same camera / flash settings and post processing edits for both photographs. What a difference! The RPS Studio Mini Soft Box is an excellent addition in my camera bag.

The Beauty Around Us

I have been busy. For the past few weeks I have been working on the creation of a new website. “The Beauty Around Us” is that new website. It went live last night. “The Beauty Around Us” will showcase scenic photographs taken during my travels. In addition, my website will showcase nature photographs. My goal is to display these photographs in an organized manner via photo galleries. “The Beauty Around Us” includes a blog, which I plan to utilize on a weekly basis. I envision my blog posts taking the shape of one photograph accompanied by a pertinent quotation, saying or poem.

Whenever a new blog website is announced, the question always comes up whether or not the blogger will maintain two blogs. I intend to continue the “Days to Remember” blog, which I began in March 2009. “Days to Remember” is a photo journal blog that provides a glimpse into my life both at home and on the road. “Days to Remember” is a much more verbose blog website than “The Beauty Around Us”. I hope that each of you will follow both of my blog websites.

UPDATE: When I wrote this blog post, I did intend to maintain two blogs. Somewhere along the way that intent changed because maintaining two blogs just wasn’t working. I moved the “Days to Remember” blog, as an integral part of the “The Beauty Around Us” website.

My Stepdaughter and Her Family

Yesterday I took photographs of my stepdaughter and her family at a park in our hometown.

Family Photo Session at Betts Park

I am so very happy that our granddaughters live close by so that we are able to see them in person, as they grow up!

A Walk in the Park

I conducted a family photo session at Crescent Park in my hometown of Warren PA late yesterday morning and into the early afternoon. The photo session lasted about 1 ¼ hours.

The photo session was easy going, little more than a walk in the park.

The main subjects for yesterday’s photo session were my friend Mandy and her son Addison, along with Mandy’s cousin and her cousin’s daughter. Accompanying Mandy and her cousin were Shawn (Mandy’s boyfriend), Mandy’s mother and Mandy’s aunt.

After our walk in the park, we went to the playground where I took even more pictures.

As you probably noticed in the photographs that I shared, sweater weather has returned!

Beartown Rocks with Amber and Johnny

Amber and John at Beartown Rocks

This past Saturday Bob and I visited Beartown Rocks at Clear Creek State Park, near Sigel PA, with Amber and Johnny. We didn’t meet only for a walk through the woods. Amber and Johnny asked me to be their photographer for an engagement photo session.

Amber and Johnny are long-time friends with my brother and his family. Bob and I see Amber and Johnny sometimes when we spend the day at Jim and Judy’s camp and often at family weddings, birthdays and other family-type celebrations. John proposed to Amber in May this year on top of the Beartown Rocks Overlook. What an excellent choice of location for their engagement photo session!

I had John recreate the proposal.

Amber’s beautiful engagement ring

The happily engaged couple
and the lovely view from the Beartown Rocks Overlook.

Thank you for choosing me as your photographer for your engagement photo session, Amber and Johnny, and congratulations once again to you both!

Donna and Scott Get Married

Our friends Donna and Scott got married on Saturday, August 30th.

I met Donna and Scott on July 17, 2013 when Bob and I went on our first Wednesday night ice cream ride together with the 2 Scoop CycleTherapy Group. In June 2014 Donna asked if I would photograph her and Scott’s wedding. After being together for a dozen years, Donna and Scott were excitedly making wedding plans. At first I declined Donna’s request because they were going to be married on Labor Day weekend, and we might make plans for a weekend getaway. In addition I had decided last year that I would no longer photograph weddings. Well, so much for saying no. One week later I accepted Donna’s request to be the official photographer at her and Scott’s wedding. Donna and Scott were thrilled that I agreed to photograph their wedding. I was happy, too, that I made the decision to do so. Even though I was “working” I had a good time at the wedding, as Bob and I shared this special day with Donna and Scott and with our other motorcycle-riding friends.

Donna and Scott were married in Warren PA at St. John’s Lutheran Church, followed by a wedding reception at North Warren Volunteer Fire Department’s social hall. In addition to taking photographs at the church and social hall, I photographed the happy couple at Crescent Park.

Donna and her Parents

The Wedding Ceremony

The Wedding Party

This family photograph is of Donna and Scott with Donna’s son and Scott’s daughter and Donna’s father, mother and stepmother. Unfortunately, Scott’s mother was not able to attend Donna and Scott’s wedding. We did, however, stop by the nursing home, where Scott’s mother lives, on our way to the reception.

Donna, Scott and Scott’s mother

The Wedding Reception

Have you heard of the ALS ice bucket challenge? The ice bucket challenge is an activity involving dumping a bucket of ice water on someone’s head to promote awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and encourage donations to research. The challenge encourages nominated participants to be filmed having a bucket of ice water poured on their heads and then nominating others to do the same. A common stipulation is that nominated participants have 24 hours to comply or forfeit by way of a charitable financial donation. While others filmed Donna and Scott’s ALS ice bucket challenge, I captured the activity as still photographs.

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Congratulations Donna and Scott! I wish you a lifetime of the greatest joy, love and happiness!

A Mommy and Me Photo Session

On the morning of July 25th I met our friend, Mandy, and her 17-month-old son at Pioneer Arboretum for a mommy and me photo session. The arboretum is located at the northern end of the Warren-North Warren Bike/Hike Trail in Warren PA.