America's Next Top Model

America's Next Top Model ... well for a few days at least! To say I have enjoyed the week I spent with the Canon 5D Mark 2 would be an understatement. The same as in the quality of a hundred dollar tennis racket so is the quality of a $2500 camera. It's kind of like a dream finally come true to actually take pictures on a camera that good, where the images are so crisp. I really felt my photography skills and passion come alive this week. I had the best equipment at my fingertips and it allowed me to explore other things while shooting. For instance, anyone can take a picture but how do you make your picture unique and spectacular. You can use the sun and reflect it or you can grab an angle thats just right ... its all in how you set up and prepare ... much like an approach shot in tennis. The approach shot can be amazing or hit the fence ... all things have to fall into place ... your footwork, racket preparation, racket head speed, your head down ... same as in a great photograph. You can make it amazing or it can hit the fence. Another challenge for me is in front of the camera. I've read up a lot on photographers and many of them say the hardest part about shooting is making someone feel calm on the other side. Let's face it, 99% of the worlds population are not models. Making someone feel like a model, posing them, well thats a challenge in photography. Many websites found it helpful for photographers to be the subject. To try new poses and get comfortable in front of the camera and not always behind it. I had to subject myself to be a model this week while others took it for a test drive. It was fun at times and well here are a few of my favorites. And yes we did play a little dress up and frolick in the woods :)