Friday 30 October 2009

Falling Behind!

October is always a busy month and this one is not exception. I want to be sure to post about my weddings, but I find myself not having time. Well, I go through A LOT of effort to create really cool slideshows for my couples. I spend a lot more time color correcting and artworking, syncing music etc, than almost any other photographer in the STL, so I might as well show them off a bit.

Here is Jana and Brian's show. They were such a sweet couple, so obviously in love, from the moment you met them. But it's only reiterated over and over again when you meeet their familes and hear them sharing stories about how they met and the romantic gestures Brian showed. Truly a gentleman!

Allow pop ups to see... click image to see show


Enjoy!

Tuesday 27 October 2009

Featured Artist in Season's Magazine

Just a quick post to let you all know my work has been featured in Seasons Magazine this issue. Check out the link to see the bigger view.

Danielle and Ben just picked up their beautiful album recently and they loved it! I'm looking forward to getting some great shots with Ben's sister, Amanda, and her fiance, Ian, next year.

Thanks to Frankie at Festive atmospheres for submitting the article.





Timothy Pastor
32 33
Artisan Photography

Thursday 22 October 2009

South Carolina PART 2

Heather, Madalynn, Jennavieve and I had a great time on Hilton Head. I already told you how cool Mindy and Dustin were, and about their day a bit (see below). Now for a little about our trip

I was blown away by the nature down there. you had Savannah oaks, with Spanish moss hanging down. Alligators at every other pond. All kinds of birds. We saw dolphins jumping nearly every day. And 2 worthwhile experiences to relay.

One - while Heather and I were eating dinner, at an ocean view cafe one night, just before dusk the dolphins started jumping. Probably a dozen, here and there. I had a feeling they were going to get more energetic and get their last hurrahs in, before the sun retired for the night. Just as we were watching them, one (with 2 others close by) jumped clear out the water, and then ended up doing a back flip! Very cool to see. I've never really seen them in their natural environment acting so playful.

The second really memory etching experience, was when Madalynn and I were at the beach. The life guard had run down and whistled us all out of the water. Said he had seen sharks. I ask the early 20's blond hair, tanned bod, tough guy life guard, if he saw sharks. "Yep", was his nonchalant reply. "....Sand Sharks."

"Are they aggressive?" I ask.
"Yes.".

Ok, I could see I wasn't going to get much out of him. So, he leaves. I guess the life guards clock out at 5. He didn't post a sign, nor tell people to stay out, or stick around. So either it wasn't that big of a deal, or he just didn't care.

About a 1/2 hour later, Madalynn and I are playing at the waters edge, as I and some other beach goers, begin to witness, hundreds of fish (literally), popping out of the water like corn kernels popping, all in a confined spot. Then, you begin to see dorsal fins. Not the concave-curved friendly appearing fins of dolphins, but angular, seemingly razor sharp fins you think of sharks. 3, 4, eventually 6-10 of them. Then some thrashing at the water. It becomes clear the fish were being rounded up and now are being munched for dinner. then one jumps CLEAR out of the water. Probably 3-4' out, with a size of about 5-6ft.

The dolphins join in the fun, and for 15-20 minutes you see sharks and dolphins alike gorging themselves on this feast.

This all occurred about 300ft from the beach, and knowing that I was swimming at least 100 ft out, if not a bit further, it makes you second guess what you were swimming with.

Sorry, no pics of that, as I only had my point and shoot. That wasn't going to do much at 300 ft away, and needing the timing of a professional athlete to capture it (and the camera lag time of a pre school soccer game).

Here are some other photos around the island to enjoy. Hope you enjoyed my story :) I enjoyed witnessing it!

Oh yeah, I went parasailing with Madalynn. Had a BLAST! never done that before, but it was very cool. I'd love to try that over a clear blue ocaen sometime. The atlantic is a little murky, and nutrient rich, hence, all the wildlife.











South Carolina Wedding with Mindy and Dustin

So Minday and Dustin loved my work enough to fly me down to Hilton Head, S.C. to photography their beautiful wedding. Thank you Liz and Alan for spreading the good word of my photography to them.

It was a great time. Heather, Madalynn, Jennavieve (our new 4 month old baby) and I all went down. Along with my mother in law! Not as bad as it sounds :) she's actually really cool, and helped out with Jennavieve so Heather and I could have some time together too.



The day was beautiful! Can't say enough about them, how hospitable and cute they are! We got some stunning shots. the day got cloudy, and then RIGHT at their ceremony, the sun busted through for these spectaculor colors you see. It does take a good photographer to know how to react right as the light is changing and be able to capture it with the mood that was there. And a litlte photoshop to help me show it the way I saw it.



The golf shot... Sorry Dustin! :) Had to through that in there. As you see, his 2 groomsmen swinging, as their balls are taking off, meanwhile, poor Dustins' trickled off. I quick hit the ground to get the shot you see, and his best man, tauntingly, gets down low to "check out" his shot. In all fairness I think I made him nervous sitting there with a camera.



Here's some shots from their day. I'll save part 2 for our adventures while we were down there!












Monday 12 October 2009

Alicia and Chris at Lumen with Proposing Dreams

Alicia and Chris were a very fun couple to work with. I think Chris was disappointed that I didn't get a hot shoe puppet to help make him smile (Only Chris will get that), but they seemed to have a good time in front of the camera.

Sabrina, with Proposing_Dreams was the day of coordinator, and, as usual, did a great job. She helped keep me on time, as she knows I like to shoot, and shoot, and shoot.

We got some beautiful images (see below). For the first time in about 2 years, I did a "selective coloring" of an image. It is usually hokey as hell when I see it done (I hate when everything is BW but some non relevant part of the photo, like a red shirt), but this image it just worked, AND when I put their slideshow together, I used the song ColdPlay "Green Eyes" and JUST as they sing that lyric this image pops up. Not sure if you guys noticed that Alicia and Chris? You'll have to let me know.

OH! And I almost forgot to put these last 2 images in!! Chris is a talented percussionist, and ROCKED THE (#*$% HOUSE with his skills. Nice Job.

Oh, and Lastly,
Please keep CHRIS in mind for all of your Auto, Home, Life, Health and BusinessInsurance needs.......Regards,Christopher M. Behnen, CLCSConsumers First / Innovative Financial Solutions PC. :)
Chris you have a website link?