The Fastest Growing City

This is where I live. Well, not downtown, but this is nearby. I've been overdue for a while in going out to do the skyline, but I still want to try some other angles and atmospheric conditions. I won't rest until it's and AWESOME shot of downtown...

In other news, I'm not dead. In spite of not posting recently, I've actually done photography for a hot air balloon festival and behind-the-scenes coverage for a national ad campaign contest. Some of that should end up on this blog soon, eh?

Head Shots - David

Just some quick portfolio shots from the past week.  Might recognize this dashing individual from some of my previous work with local short films.  If you need a producer, call this guy.  Seriously.  He gets things done.

Find out more at www.linkedin.com/pub/david-estrada/61/905/215

More Camera Exercises

Asparagus was on sale this week.  Sweet, sweet asparagus.

I feel the need to shoot things.

... but not in a disconcerting way.

Since I've gone a fairly long time without doing regular photography experiments, I thought it was high time I started enforcing a shooting regimen.  So, I now have to upload at least one thing - something, anything - for stock photography every week.  I'm going to start out by playing around with food related items.  Even just playing with arrangement and textures.

Yup.  At least one thing a week.  Even if it's not all that impressive.  Like garlic cloves on my fireplace hearth.

Boom.  Weekly goal realized.

What I Do All Day

You may wonder, "Andrea, you're a photographer, you currently work in the photography field, and you never update your blog EVER.  What do you do with your time?"

I'll tell you what, I do lots and lots of editing!

I have been working for another photographer for a while doing primarily editing - and BOY is it time-consuming!  The process he chooses to use brings in a lot of lost detail in post-production, so I spend hours painting windows and other details back into images of buildings.  Below is a before and after example of one instance where I both shot and edited for one of his clients.

This is one of the less dramatic examples (some images have such extremes between light and dark that once I pull the detail back in, the two images look starkly different), but the amount of time it can take to accurately trace around windows and objects is exhausting.  Note all of the bright window spaces that are completely blown out in the original image on the left - it's my job to make those visible again, then make sure all the colors are accurate and pretty, contrast is nice, the image is sharp... yeah.  Every single one of those tiny, bright windows and lights and bright patches of sidewalk.

So, now you know.  Instead of pursuing art projects, I've been painting windows.

On the bright side - I've gotten SO good at painting windows, and being that far up in a highrise for a shoot was terrifyingly cool.

Merry Christmas - Family Head Shots

I can't remember the last time we had formal pictures done of family members, aside from my college graduation (workin' the silly hat like a boss and all).  When I updated my head shot, I got a request from my mother to get a similar shot of my brother and send prints for Christmas.  Done and done... although I suppose I could have smiled better.

Katie & Brock Wedding

December weddings are so much less... snowy and unpredictable in Texas.  This wedding was down in Houston, in a really lovely area, I might add.  The couple was adorable and their family was a lot of fun.  It was an all-around good day.  Now to catch up on editing...