shadows

Header Challenge:shadows

July 17, 2013

Today's challenge is shadows.  Lew picked the theme for this week. Check out my  pals for their interpretations on this theme: Fishing  Guy, Katney, Imac and Lew.

This was another crazy-busy week. The wedding that I had been preparing for took place on Sunday.  Now I get to pour through a bazillion images to select and edit and finish the work.  I honestly do not know how long it will take me to get it all done.  I'm guessing two or three weeks.  I was going to have one assistant (Mrs. Craver) to help organize poses and another assistant to shoot photos.  Unexpectedly, my wife overcame her shyness of DSLRs and used my backup Pentax (borrowed) to snap some excellent photographs!  While I formally get credit for today's header, it was technically my wife who pressed the shutter button.

Normally, when I think of our themes, I look for photographs that view the theme from a favorable position.  This was not the case for a wedding shoot.  The strong shadows, seen below the gazebo made it tricky to get a good shot during the actual ceremony.

If you're wondering why I didn't take this picture myself, it's because I'm IN the picture.  You'll find me shooting in stealth mode as unobtrusively as possible between some columns on the bridesmaids' side.

that's strange

That's Strange

April 17, 2013

Fishing Guy chose "That's Strange" for this week's Headbanger's theme.  This is sure to be a whacky kind of fun!  Check out my  pals for their interpretations on this theme: Fishing  Guy, Katney, Imac and Lew.

What's the story behind this week's header?  Well, we had cookies at the office, and some of the brown sprinkles fell off.  I couldn't resist drawing on the napkin to share this twisted imagination with my cubicle mates.

She's perfect, but the expression tells you she thinks her grandpa is strange.

Some of us swim in the pool; others just take pictures of their feet.

A dragon on top to go with a Buddha hood ornament... perfectly normal, right?

I painted this in '82.  What can I say... I love surrealism!

Spilled coffee at work is the perfect excuse for staging a crime scene photo.

Does anyone else have a pet bee?

How about pet "goldfish?"

Awww.... now who doesn't love a good kung-fu fight at a wedding?

fold

Header Challenge: fold

May 6, 2013

Katney picked "fold" for today's challenge. I was afraid it would be tricky, but once I started looking, I found it wasn't too hard to find good folds to use. Check out my  pals for their interpretations on this theme: Fishing  Guy, Katney, Imac and Lew.

This week I picked African headwraps from Sierra Leone for my header.  It's like one long satin scarf that they wind and fold to create a distinguished and ornate, flower-like flare to their attire.  I do not remember the women's exact title, but these ladies were like the "Aunties," or esteemed friends of the Mother-in-Law.  Trying to photograph a wedding from another culture can have its challenges, but I was honored that they asked me.

folding and stretching homemade taffy  (Mrs. Craver snapped this shot.)
Yes, that's me on the left.  My good friend Sharon is on the right.

little girl in a giant pile of folded paper flowers

African headwraps from Sierra Leone

topper

Best wishes to Rachel and Randy, who were married this weekend. While sitting at with new friends at the reception, Marilyn got up to take pictures of the wedding cake. When she returned, she commented how often the cake goes relatively unnoticed at wedding receptions. With all the time and money that is put into the cake, it's a shame that most of us do not give it much attention. Truth be told, I confess that I am more interested in eating it than gazing upon it.

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After the reception, I helped a little as we prepared the room for the next morning's church service. Then I saw the cake topper being stored away. Now that I could have more control of the background, the idea of a picture was more enticing. I took my wife's camera and got one very simple picture. Then she and Agnes had some ideas for the background. I liked their input, and here's what we came up with:

wedding photographer

People pics have been the most challenging for me. There are so many variables... so many plates to keep spinning, do you know what I mean? It is complicated sometimes to get them to be comfortable, natural and keep a warm, genuine smile. There is an aspect of timing for the expressions, and coaching them to show them the best way possible.

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I was asked to photograph a wedding. The couple (pictured below) will be married in August, so I have plenty of time to prepare. Rather than just wing it in August, I have begun looking for volunteers to take pictures of, and even have a makeshift portrait studio. A friend gave me a backdrop and light stands, and I can set these up in one of the classrooms at church. I was surprised at how much space is needed, when you don't want to cast a shadow on the backdrop!

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Anyway, we were at a wedding reception on Saturday, and I got a few friends to come and get free pictures. This is the best (photography) of the bunch. I need a faster shutter time, because most of the pictures came out blurry from (the subject's) movement. But there was one more problem that makes me a little scared...

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Most of the pics were slightly out of focus. It is difficult to see that in the viewfinder, but it was most annoyingly obvious when I reviewed the images later on the computer. I'll have to work on that diligently for the next three months!

special moment

Last weekend, there was a wedding at my church, and I was asked to run sound. The family hired a professional photographer, so I paid attention to the professional picture taking as much as possible. They had two photographers to shoot the wedding, and I am sure they got fantastic pictures. But since I was already there, I went ahead and set up my camera on a tripod in the sound booth. (I knew it would be alright, but I asked the professional team anyway if it would be okay with them - as a courtesy.) And they snapped a few shots from my perch as well.

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When the couple said their vows, the bride sniffled a little, and a tear or two flowed down her face. Then I saw the most touching thing... the groom reached up and wiped her tears away.

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I was ready, so I got it. I hope the same for the groom.

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What I mean is that I captured the moment, but I hope he understands his role. That he should protect her emotions, and provide for what she needs most. That he would be there for her, and whether there be tears of joy or sadness, that he stand together with her in all of those times. That he would continually be ready, and that he gets it.

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I think he does, and I expect to see good things from these two. :-)

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Heavenly Father, bless this union, and fill their home with your grace. Lord, would you bring good counsel into the foundational years of their marriage, and keep them together in such a way that their matrimony would bring glory to Your Name. Amen.

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Hey folks, I'll be incommunicado for a few days on account of our big annual homeschool convention. Have a blessed weekend!

clepto clickery

I wonder how paid wedding photographers deal with other people taking pictures while they are on the job. This guy didn't seem to mind it. I wanted to capture a photo of the photographer, and so I approached them. He assumed I wanted to take a picture of the couple as he posed them, and told me it was okay. No; I just wanted his permission to take a picture of him taking a picture of them.

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I could not presume to interfere with this person's work and snap a shot that he hopes to sell. That smacks of thievery to me. Any thoughts from you on this?

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On the other hand, I am not at all opposed to the wedding guests bringing their own cameras to click away at whatever else captures their attention. After all, we use this time to catch up with friends and relatives who we might not have seen in a while. Those mini reunions may merit a megabyte here and there, but can't expect to be included in the formal wedding album.

degrees of learning

While attending a wedding, one of the guests talked about how he just returned from a trip to Hawaii. There, he came across some honeymooners and asked the man, "Have you ever asked her what makes her feel loved?" This couple was astonished that they had gotten married without investigating such an important piece of information. How many people have been married for years and still cannot answer that question?

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(The source escapes me now, but please forgive me that I do not give proper credit on account of a lapse in memory... but) I seem to recall a recent discussion about marriage, and someone left an impression on me about "studying" their spouse. When we go into a vocation, job, or hobby, we pour lots of time and effort into manuals or textbooks or whatever. For me, it could be fishing, theology, or photography. I have been married over 20 years. If I had given that kind of attention to studying my own wife... learning what makes her tick, asking her to tell me what she's thinking and how she feels about stuff... and then really listening, because I want to know... Man, I'd have the equivalent of several PhD's about her today!

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If you are married, here's what I want to say to you: Today's honeymooners may be having a wonderful time together, and I don't take any of that away from them. But marriage is not just a "long-term relationship," it's a "life-time covenant." If we practice continuing education, living for our mate and intentionally growing in our expertise... the result will be a level of maturity and intimacy that honeymooners could only wish for! Stuff of dreams, I tell you! Study your spouse.

white wedding

Some of you will know my friend Susan. Her daughter just got married. What a beautiful couple these two make! They're great folks, and I imagine Susan must be quite happy. Not only for these youngens, but also that the nuptial busy-ness is over.

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The groom is not originally from Bolingbrook, but I would like to see them stick around, because I really like this guy. He is a godly man and has a good head on his shoulders.

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I was careful to avoid getting in the photographer's way, and still came away with a few shots I liked. After they lit the unity candle, they paused to pray together. I zoomed in and held my breath... click. Later, as all the people filed out of the church, I went for something different. I held my camera above the crowd, aimed and shot. The good doctor (Susan) looks amazing, don't you think? It's certain that the professional will have better photos, but I like these, because they are of my own dear friends, and the pictures were taken by my own hand.

21st anniversary

My beloved bride and I were married 21 years ago today. It was a fairly simple wedding. We had a brief, low budget reception in our church's gymnasium, and quickly flew off to Pennsylvania for our honeymoon in the Pocono mountains. It snowed so hard that day, the airports were shutting all flights down behind us, and we just barely made it out.

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You guys only get the best side here at the blog, but that woman has stood by me through all the depths of my depravity and imperfections. Occasionally, she forces herself to laugh at my jokes... even though she's heard the same ones over, and over, and over again.

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clicketty cliques

[Mrs. Craver (with her "new" camera) and two of our children.]

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Some of the Craver clan attended a wedding this weekend. It was beautiful; profoundly so. We have known the bride's family for a number of years.

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Lots of people were taking pictures. Now that we're in the digital (and disposable) camera age, are more guests toting cameras at weddings than there used to be? Probably.

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Does this (the plethora of cameras) interfere with the business of the professional who is hired to record the event? I hope not, but from my own perspective, It was nice to get reunited with some of my old buds and get each other's pictures at our table.

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I even got an interesting sunset shot from the reception hall. You can see it in two weeks. (I have one more moon shot to post this Friday.)

twenty somethings

Twenty years is not a long time to be married. It's like they say: "Time flies when you're having fun." Mrs. Craver and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday.

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The conversations with the men goes something like this: "Craver, I hope you remembered." I did. "Good."

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But the ladies ask about all the details. "Did you sprinkle flower petals all over the floor? Did you rent a yacht? Did you make a sappy poem and then cry as you read it to her?"

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Okay, nobody really said that, but I felt like some people were asking sensible questions, and others were projecting their own standards on my marriage. A couple times, I felt a little creeped out and intruded upon, but at the end of the day, I go home to my beloved.

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The big day. We were planning to go out for the evening, but had to change our plans. That's okay. I love her; she loves me, and after 20 years, we're still just getting started...