Moving On

So this blog has been missing in action for a while now. To many different projects are pulling me in too many different ways, so for now I will be concentrating on our Facebook page.

Please visit us there for the most current information!

Shooting Fireworks

The sites, sounds, and smells of a fireworks display is always a joy to behold. With the 4th just a few days away, here are a few tips to help you bring back better images.

First, get a tripod. Ok, I know that not everyone wants to lug on around, but a stable platform is essential. If you don't have a tripod or your point-and-shoot can't be attached to one, try to find a way to brace the camera on a towel, stroller, or whatever is handy. A steady camera will mean the difference between beautiful trails of light and a glowing plate of spaghetti.

Most point-and-shoots have a preset shooting mode for fireworks. On the Canon G9 for example, select the "SCN" mode and turn the thumbwheel to "Fireworks". Some of the things that you may notice is that the shutter speed will get longer, probably around 2 seconds or more (thus the reason for a tripod) and the white balance will change.

If you have a DSLR or are comfortable with manually setting your camera, you can have more control. It image above was set at f/10.0 for 6 seconds, at ISO 200 - long enough to capture the rising trail and the explosion. A certain amount of experimentation is in order, both for individual conditions and taste. (Shorter than 2 seconds and they may not look much like fireworks.)

I hope that you all have good weather and enjoy the show this year!

-DG

Thank you...

...to everyone who came out to support Charlotte at the Business Bazaar this past weekend. Please keep watching her CaringBridge site for information on upcoming events.

Business Expo to Benefit Charlotte Reynolds

For those who follow us on Facebook, you've already met Charlotte. We are excited to be participating in a business expo to benefit Charlotte on Saturday June 27th. The expo will be held at St. Ann's Church in Ashland, Virginia from 10am - 2pm.

We will have a portrait set onsite, so it's a great opportunity to have a quick portrait made and help with a good cause at the same time.

Can't make it to the expo and want to help? No problem! From now until the end of September, we will donate 10% of any session (including weddings!) to Charlotte. All you have to do is mention the coupon code "bald chicks rock" when you schedule your session!

-DG

All's Not Quiet

I know that I haven't posted much recently, but we have a lot of great things coming up this year. Some of it will be great for our clients, and some will be geared more towards the professional photographer's community. You'll just have to wait and see what the year brings!

-DG

Class of 2010 Model Search

Calling all high school students in the Class of 2010! We are looking for fresh faces to be our Senior Models for this year. Participating in the program is a great way to gain experience while saving some cash at the same time.

School picture vs. Portraits
You are about to hit one of those BIG MILESTONES in your life. You're young, full of energy and attitude, and the world is out there at your feet just waiting to be conquered. Do you really want your memories of this time to be centered around a yearbook snapshot from that day you were shuffled through the school picture line, just like everyone else?

Portrait sessions allow us to capture not just what you look like but some of who you are. They can be with your favorite outfits, car, pet, friends, or whatever! They can be in a studio setting or at the river, fields, or other favorite location.

So what's in it for me?
Being a Senior Model with David Godwin Photography has a lot of benefits: a free session, additional session discounts, and discounts on your final order. Plus you'll get a unique promo code to record your referrals...and those pay cash!

We will be accepting applications until the end of April. For all the details and an application, email us at: models@davidgodwinphoto.com.

A New Home for SSG Cole

We are very pleased to announce our involvement with a Homes For Our Troops project in Henrico. This organization adapts an existing home or builds a new one for servicemembers who have returned with serious disabilities and injuries.

We will be assisting with the construction of a new home for SSG Dwayne A. Cole. He was severely injured while deployed to Iraq in early 2007. A bullet that entered his neck at extremely close range lodged near his spinal column, leaving him a quadriplegic.

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering or donating to this or another HFOT project, your support would be greatly appreciated!

Live on Facebook

Continuing with our expanding web presence, I'm please to announce that our new Facebook page is now live. Visit us there

Snow!

I hope that everyone had the chance to get out and enjoy the snow for the past few days. It's the most snow I think we've gotten in over a decade. This pic isn't anything profound - it's just what happens when you mix 8 inches of smooth, soft snow with a boy, a dog, and a dad.

If the snow isn't your thing it's not a problem, since it will be in the 70s in 3 days!

Best,
David

VPPA Convention 2009

Our state association's annual convention wrapped up this week in Portsmouth. As always, there were good speakers, good friends, and the print competition. I always come back full of ideas, and this year was no different. More to follow on that later. The party Saturday night was a lot of fun, and a great time to hang out with people I don't get to see that often (hopefully all the incriminating pictures of me playing Twister have been destroyed).

I have been working on scoring software for print judging, and a beta version was used this year. It was a very successful test, and I'll be working on making some more improvements. Look for more on that later.

Print competition this year was tough, with the judges focussed on the technical aspects of each image a bit more than last year. I was satisfied with my results: two blue ribbons and one red. Blue ribbons indicate a merit-worthy print scoring 80 or above, and are difficult to achieve. (The average score for all the entered prints was only 79, so a lot of people went home unhappy.) To the right is "Love Completed", one of my blue-ribbon images.

Best,
David

Blog Layout Update

You've probably noticed the new look and feel for the blog. This is a follow on to the changes on our homepage. If you have a chance please visit and let us know what you think!

There will be a few more changes as we add features, so keep checking back for the latest.

Best,
David