Navy Aircraft Pilots and NASCAR Drivers - a lesson learned?

This week had me recalling a now humorous event from my days in the Navy. I was an aircraft electrician returning to the aircraft carrier aboard a S-3 Viking aircraft. After many sudden jerking moves to test me, the pilot asked me how I was doing. "I'm just fine! You can't scare me!" The two pilots turned and looked at each other with wide grins. In an instant we were flying sideways with one wing straight up in the air pulling some serious G's!

I dug up a photo from the Navy days. That's me walking on the left in my "Old Navy" garb aboard the USS America somewhere in the Indian Ocean. Fearless, but isn't everyone at 20 years old?

This week had me shooting at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bob Bailin, a New York Director of Photography and the CEO of Feature Systems Inc., brought his new street legal NASCAR to drive on the track along with some friends taking the SpeedTech Racing School.

Bob Bailin #13

This car is impressive. Jeff Lyman of Jeffrey's Auto Body, Inc. has delivered a drivable work of art! What attention to detail! A brilliant idea for advertising Feature Systems lighting equipment and grip on a street legal head-turner. Nice work!

What fun I had following the guys around and photographing them driving the SpeedTech cars. They insisted that racing instructor and former NASCAR driver Randy Baker take me around for a few hot laps. "Sure," I said, "that would be great!" Then something was said about me being scared and needing a diaper. Ha! You guessed it. I said it. "You can't scare me!" The next few minutes I will relive for all of my days to come. My words can't bring me close to describing the exhilaration and excitement of riding in a NASCAR around AMS several feet from the wall at 175mph! I didn't get scared, in fact, I was yelling at the top of my lungs for joy! After the ride, I asked Randy just how fast we were going. "About 175 mph," he said.

I can still close my eyes and feel the ride in the S-3 aircraft as we landed on the carrier catching the wire with the tailhook and my body still shakes from the ride with Randy Baker in the #3 Dale Earnhardt car. But there is something that I will forget and I have erased from my vocabulary - something about "can't scare me!"

Thanks Bob Bailin for an unforgettable weekend!

Randy

A Week of Variety

Saturday, a week ago, Lisa and I were chosen to photograph Strong Rock Christian School's Spring Dance. Since the theme was "Star's Night Out" we chose one of the new 3-D system muslins with an Oscar setting. We had lots of fun and hope to work more of these events. Here is a photograph from the dance. The 3-D muslin was nice to work with!

Earlier that day, we had another wonderful portrait session with Gina and Scott and their beautiful family. Their children's eyes are so blue! I should have had the video camera rolling to capture all of the laughter we had.

































Later in the week, I was at the Gresham Motorsports Garage photographing Max and Charlie Gresham. I have been following these guys since the Legend Series at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2006 and I was always impressed with their driving skills. I had lots of fun working in their garage with some edgy lighting for their "Hero" shoot.

Max Gresham

























































Charlie Gresham


































Last Saturday, the 28th, 15 year-old Max became the youngest driver ever to win an ASA Southeast Tour main event by winning in Mobile and then placing a solid top ten finish in Pensacola on Sunday. What a way to start the season! I look for big things coming from this top notch team. Max had jokingly said that he was blind from the photoshoot, so I was relieved to learn that his sight was just fine on Saturday!

We do take lots of photographs on our sessions. It is our goal to deliver images above and beyond your expectations.

Randy

Spring!

Once again, I write this entry from our patio because it is Spring! The sounds of the birds combined with the splashing and gurgling of the garden pond waterfall makes a very relaxing place to work. If there is a negative to it, then it would be the urge to close my eyes and relax even more! Here is an early morning view from where I sit.

It is still a work in progress as I continue to add plants and flowers. All of the work throughout the winter will soon be awakening to a new life. I have forgotten where some of the bulbs were planted, so it's always a pleasant surprise to see them poke through the soil during my daily stroll. We usually see deer back here 3 or 4 days a week; in fact, we get many visitors such as rabbits, squirrels, turtles, cats, dogs, lizards, hawks, owls, many song birds, and even a lost pet goat one time.

Our photography bookings are increasing and I am very excited for what the future holds in store for us.

When is the last time you have had your portrait taken? Give us a call or email to schedule your session.

Randy

I have become "That" parent

I have always said that I was not going to be the type of parent who dresses up their child in silly outfits and then parade them around the town.

It all started when Grand-Ma-Ma bought our daughter, Riley, a really nice rocking horse for Christmas. Riley looks so cute on "Blaze". She hugs her and smiles all around her. And what do I do but suggest a cowboy hat for some photos. Only problem was when we got the hat, Lisa and I thought we would just go to the boot section of the store and have a look. Well, there they were the perfect matching boots and it didn't help that all who saw her stopped, stared, and commented on her cuteness. Riley loved her boots and even made extra steps to hear the clicking of her heels on the wooden floor. Okay maybe we'll buy big and she'll get extra use from them? Either way she wasn't taking them off that night. So we left the store now proud owners of a cowgirl hat and cowgirl boots.

Which leads me to today with the afternoon free and Riley happily awakening from her afternoon nap. We donned her new cowgirl garb and setup Blaze for some photos.







































In less than 10 minutes we were satisfied with our little cowgirl's photos. I wish it was always that easy.

So as I edit the photos from the shoot, I then realized than I have become "that" parent. What next I ask? Bunnies? Fairies? And it was then that I thought that I am just a normal parent enjoying the gift of our precious little girl and soaking in every day of this experience...and it is okay to be "that" parent.

Randy

Cheerleading and a Bridal show

We were once again contracted by American Cheerleader Magazine to cover the CHEERSPORT Nationals at the World Congress Center in Atlanta a week ago. In this highly competitive business of photography, we are always grateful for repeat business from clients. This marks the 6th year of working with them and we highly respect their staff. But due to our contract obligations, we will not post any of the photos from the event. Throughout the year, it still is nice to see our images published in both American Cheerleader Magazine and CheerBiz Magazine.

This past weekend was highlighted by the Bridal show at the new Locust Grove Conference Center. Lisa and I had the pleasure to meet many brides, moms and grooms. I am impressed with the conference center and I look forward to shooting some weddings there. I see many great possibilities for photos both inside and outside. If you haven't found a venue for your day, take a look at this new center.


We are booking our portrait sessions along with engagements and weddings. Let us know if we can be of assistance.


Randy

Southern Atlanta Bridal Event

We are honored to be a part of the 1st annual Southern Atlanta Bridal event sponsored by the new Locust Grove Conference Center, Sassy Southern Brides, and Atlanta Occasions.com.

The event we be held this Sunday, February 22, 2009 from 1PM to 5PM at the all new Locust Grove Conference Center in Locust Grove, Georgia.

Come out to meet us and see some examples of our photography as well as our custom album designs. We would love to help you with your wedding day photography plans and to discuss how we can capture your day for generations to come.

Randy

When There is Love

Outdoor location photography is special, but it can be very challenging. The flowers are not always blooming, the grass is not always green, and the trees are sometimes just bare. Not to mention the temperature and the wind can blow the hair to no end. But through all of this, nothing seems to matter when there is love.

This was the case this week when I met Tiffany and Salvatore at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. On the drive into the city, I heard the radio saying it was 33 degrees with a 16 degree windchill. I had my doubts about getting this session in let alone even having a meeting.

But when we met, they were full of smiles and eager to go. As we discussed their wedding plans, I knew we had to work quickly, but I also I wanted them to be relaxed. I saw how the sun backlit their hair and I simply asked them to kiss. This was my first frame of the day and I knew this was going to be fun!

This was all taking place while construction workers jackhammered the concrete and ran the leafblowers. Even the loud noises could not break the connection between client and photographer on this February afternoon.

I couldn't have a session in the city without some background buildings and they didn't complain about the walk further into the park.




















I had a wonderful time in the subpar conditions, thanks to two people with great attitudes. I am so looking forward to photographing their wedding. I love my job!

Randy