Blog

Photo 52.2: Framed {Week 9}

For the month of December, we at P52.2: Framed will be concentrating on lines. Leading lines, lines that are horizontal, vertical and diagonal, lines that are real and implied - our goal is to use these lines to effectively lead the eye to our subjects, or into, out of or simply around the frame. 

I am a big fan of lines and try to incorporate them into my photography often. Our theme this week was leading lines, and I chose to take a step away from the big drama available in the city's architecture and instead turn my lens on a slightly smaller operation. Please pop over to our collective website, Who We Become, to see everyone's beautiful work. I can already see that December will not be a month to miss! 

One {November}

Of all the things I have to be thankful for - year round, not just during the holiday season - my family is at the top of my list. This guy especially. He is a laugher and a lover and, increasingly, a hot chocolate aficionado. 

However, this has not been the easiest month for some of my dear Once Circle friends. Please make your way around our small circle and leave some love if you have a moment. Next up is Krista, our gentle soul out in Seattle.  

Photo 52.2: Framed {week 8}

This week is something of a free for all as we wrap up our study on balance. Our goal is to balance objects, people, negative space or any combination thereof. This image lacks much in the way of negative space, but I liked the triangle created by the kids, the train worker and the incoming train and how the subjects span the depth of the frame. Please click over to Who We Become to see what my talented friends found this week. 

Photo 52.2: Framed {week 7}

This week on Photo 52.2 we went in search of negative space as a balancing element in our images. This could mean using negative space as the subject, or using the space in an image to otherwise balance the subject. Really, I think we all just had fun taking a step back and getting some extra room into the frame. 

My shots this week were taken on a trip up to East Aurora, NY - the soon-to-be permanent residence of certain grandparents we happen to be quite fond of. Small boy + big dog + nature = what's not to love? Here are a few of my favorites shot with negative space in mind. Please click over to Who We Become and see what the rest of my wonderful friends have found this week!

Photo 52.2: Framed {week 6}

It's week 6 at P52.2 and we continue our pursuit of balance, this time between our subject and an object. Though in this case, my subject and my object are one and the same, and the people simply balance out the frame. This is no masterpiece, but some members of our household regularly give high fives to the doorman of this neighborhood fixture (est. 1933) so it pleases me to have a reason to feature Rudy's Pig.

Please continue over to Who We Become, and see what the rest of P 52.2 found this week! 

Photo 52.2: Framed {week 5}

It's a balancing act over here in week 5 of P52.2: Framed. Our goal this week was to create balance in our images using people. In the first image below, part of the balance is simply the sense of symmetry of the image whereas the second uses the figures in the background as a counterweight to my son and all of his "en route to a birthday party" trappings in the very immediate foreground.  It would work better without the scooter but so it goes. This was a challenging topic and one I intend to practice more thoughtfully in the future. 

To see what balance everyone struck this week, please head over to Who We Become, our collective blog.  

One {October}

For my "One" shot this month, I am pleased to be able to share an image from a recent session I did for the Gold Hope Project. Please click on the link for more images as well as more information about my amazing subject.  

The beautiful Arianna has personality for miles and style to match. It was a true pleasure to meet this sweet girl and her mother while she was in town for treatment and learn about her life back home in St. Louis where her brothers and father awaited their return. Please keep Arianna and her family in your thoughts - she's a tough cookie but still has a ways to go in her second bout with cancer. 

Please take a spin around our wee circle and see what amazing work my dear friends have created this month. Next up is the amazing Kim Lane  in Georgia. 

Photo 52.2: Framed {week 4}

In our final week of geometric study, we at P.52.2 attempted to bring together as many of the techniques we have been practicing this month as possible: geometric framing, repeating elements and balance.   So it was with these goals in mind that I grabbed a few shots during our whirlwind weekend in D.C. Or "Washington, DeeDeeSee" as it was called by our small backseat driver. With a handful of others thrown in, just because. To see everyone's work this week, please click over to our collective blog, Who We Become. 

Photo 52.2: Framed {week 3}

This week's P52.2 theme: geometry and balance. Our goal was to balance the frame of our image using geometric shapes as opposing forces to our main subject. This week was a bit of a bust until today, when my family headed up to the Storm King Art Center - an annual pilgrimage to celebrate my mom's birthday. The warm, high sun was not ideal for photos, especially since I forgot my polarizer - but an abundance of geometric sculptures and a whole day spent with my favorite subjects most certainly made up for the challenging light. Below, my take on balance. To see everyone's work this week, please visit Who We Become!

Photo 52.2: Framed {week 1}

Why, hello. What's all this?  

Photo 52 is back! After a month's hiatus, I am excited to announce that our talented group is kicking off a new 52 week project that I am calling Photo 52.2: Framed. There are a few more participants this time around, so rather than require a pass through a circle in order to see everyone's work, I invite you to visit our new collective website: Who We Become.   

Last year we embarked on a study of light. This year, we are focusing on composition. What do we choose to include in the frame? Where do we put it and why? Geometry, colors, lines, positioning....the list goes on and we can't wait to begin.

 For our first week, we used geometric shapes as a framing element. I can't say I'm leaping with joy at my inaugural efforts but I look forward to wherever this project will take me. Please click here to check out everyone's work in this first week of Photo 52.2! 

 

One {September}

And here we are! Our One Circle met up in Denver mid-month for a wonderful weekend of love and laughter and tears and friendship. Since I have one of the only full group shots on my camera, I think it would be irresponsible of me not to post it this month. 

 

However, since I did not actually take that photo (thank you, Christina!), I am also including an image from a trip up to Ithaca this month. The look on his face cracks me up - despite the true beauty of the space, I'm fairly certain I wore the exact same expression during my hours spent at the Law School library.  Please continue around our little circle, starting with my dear friend Jessica Remus who is back in Chicago after yet another Denver adventure this weekend.

 

Photo 52: A Play on Light {The End}

One full year! We have officially made it to the end of Photo 52 and our exploration of light. I am so excited to say that I have not missed a week in this journey. Congratulations to my wonderful friends who have traveled with me on this journey. I think we have all come a long ways, but the photography is only secondary to the supportive friendships cemented over the course of this year of learning.

I had planned to use this final week to pick a favorite from the prior 51 weeks, but I got derailed by some new and very different favorites that I love and have to share. I had the honor of photographing an incredible dancer, choreographer and dear, dear friend: Catherine Cabeen. We met in elementary school and she is one of the few people I know who has successfully pursued and achieved her childhood dreams. I admire her more than she will likely ever know. And now you get to admire her too, because she is stunning and she makes magic with her graceful limbs. 

I will also note her patience: in honor of our light-inspired journey, I used her shoot to make my first foray into the world of off-camera flash. Always something new to learn.

Stay tuned for P52's next project which will debut in October. But before you go, please take a final spin around the circle, starting with my exceptional photographer and friend, Lisa Rigazio.  You can check out the very beginnings of the project here.

Stacey Leece VukeljLG2A9293008.jpg