Creativity and Photography

Keeping our creativity alive and motivated is the most exciting challenge for an artist. There are days that everything just flows in the most wonderful way and there are days that ... well... nothing seems to move. That goes for everything in our lives.
When I feel that the energy around me isn't moving I take a camera, any camera (phone, plastic, DSLR) and I go for a walk. I photograph every 5 minutes. I move around in a small circle and photograph what is close to me from all angles. After a few hours I have an amazing collection of thoughts and pieces of information. I put all images up on my site and look at them. I move them around and create another thought by changing their order.
All this helps me see and think in a different way. I don't go out worried about what to photograph nor how to use the best technique. I go out thinking about something and then my mind wonders as I'm looking for the objects or pieces of information in my circle of 2 feet every 5 minuts. It's fantastic to see how many pieces of visual things we can turn into images. It's meditative and it takes me to another realm.
Crea8fotos is doing a workshop tomorrow. It will be about creativity and all and any cameras are welcome.
Mariana Ferrari, expert in Innovation will be coming to speak about creativity. I can hardly wait to see what ideas she will have for all of us. She has an amazing outlook on life and will be sharing some thoughts with us that will surely take our creativity to another level.
Go to Crea8fotos for more information.

Valentina's First Year!

Valentina's portraits by Marguerite.
Video by Marguerite.

Valentina had her first birthday one week after the photo session. It was also the first time she got in the water. We had a lovely sunset on Miami Beach.

Susan G Komen at the Fountainebleau Marguerite

Photography and video by Marguerite

The Pink Fire Trucks at Fountainebleau for the event Bleau goes Pink.
Benefit against breast cancer held on September 22, 2010.
DJ K-Razor.
Fantastic food from the Fountainebleau restaurants.
Amazing people.

using small strobes and where to get some help

I have been looking at a site that has wonderful information about working with small strobes.
The Strobist is one that EVERYONE knows, and an incredible site!
They have a group on flickr
http://www.flickr.com/groups/strobist

Recently I was on a photo shoot and found out that I did not have enough lights. I used the small hand held strobes to light up the small dark corners and used the larger light for bigger spaces. The two lights complemented each other and the shoot was a success.

I also use the smaller strobes for outdoor portraits. They are perfect because you can take 3 or 4 and not be overwhelmed with heavy cases..... yes, there is still the issue of caring the stands. I figure that I can put 2 flashes on one regular stand. The other flashes go on small light weight stands.

So, this got a bit technical. I have learned so much from the http://strobist.blogspot.com

What I really liked about this blog is that they talk about different equipment and so it is possible to find out how to do all this on a budget. Great for the times!

I'm looking for a site that is similar and has information on videography. If anyone knows of any please send me a note!

http://www.primoliphoto.com

Photoshop classes and Photography classes

We will be teaching Photoshop classes and Photography classes in July. Visit our website for more information and join us!
www.primoliphoto.com

Photoshop is an exciting software that allows you to do infinite possibilities to your images.

Imagine being able to create anything you want!

New Competition coming up!

Photographers:The Environmental Photographer of the Year photographic competitions go to http://www.ciwem.org/arts/photographer

Sunrise in Portland Oregon

I just came back from my Thanksgiving dinner...... well week. Portland Or has the most beautiful views by the river and the morning has the greatest light.
The blue really makes it look so much colder than it was and gives the river a mysterious look. As time went by the light changed and details and forms began to appear. It also got a lot warmer. I have been living in Miami for a long time and therefore am much more sensitive to the changes in the temperature. But, back to photography.... The more you wait the more things will change in front of you and every shot will have a very different mood!