Emily & Dan

Had a great time photographing Emily and Dan last week.

The weather held  up nicely and we were able to create some beautiful shots outside at the country club.

Jason & Danielle Wedding May 22. 2010

We had a great time at the wedding in Iowa City!
The weather was perfect for the outdoor wedding and we even had a chance to run down on the field at Kinnick Stadium!
Jason and Danielle were a joy to work with and they had a ball with all their friends long into the night.
I've never seen a reception with so many people dancing the entire evening!
Best of luck to you both and I hope you enjoy the video!

Daniel & Amy

Congratulations to Dr. Daniel and Amy Berman on their August 15th wedding in Des Moines.

I met Daniel and Amy at a bridal show in Des Moines however, they live in Elmhurst, Il. It was more than convenient when I moved to the Chicago area and was able to shoot the engagement shots in their favorite local park!

Their wedding day was full of laughter in spite of the rain that kept us indoors for all the photos with the exception of the one displayed above. They were one of the most relaxed couples I have ever worked with on a wedding day, in fact I think I even caught Daniel taking a brief nap just before we started the formal photos!

The reception was held at the Temple for the Performing Arts and was a spectacular backdrop for the posh gala that evening. I really enjoyed photographing at that location. The dramatic lighting is very romantic. The lighting combined with the elegant stone pillars creates an almost etherial setting.

Daniel and Amy are currently enjoying their honeymoon in Greece.

Moving Pictures From a "Still" Camera

This video is one of my first using my new Canon SLR camera. It was fun playing around making this video clip taken in downtown Crystal Lake. I am excited to figure out how to incorporate the amazing HD video capabilities of this camera into my wedding photography!    

    This new camera has a whopping 21 megapixels and is the finest camera I have ever owned for wedding photography. As you can see from the video example, this camera performs excellently in low light which makes it perfect for shooting in dark churches.  I have photographed a few weddings with it this year and the quality is just astounding!

Last Engagement Shoot In Iowa

Josh and Tara met with me for a great day of shooting in Greenwood Park located behind the Art Center. I made the trip in from Chicago to photograph their engagement photos. I had been photographing couples at the park for a few years and this was to be my last photo shoot there. I was very fond of the park and all of its diversity as far as photography settings, from the stone pillers to the pond down the hill from the gardens. I will also miss teaching at the Art Center with its state-of-the-art projector system.

Josh and Tara were a great couple to photograph on my last shoot at the gardens. I am looking forward to shooting their wedding this September.

Glacial Park and Nippersink Creek

Darcy and I spent a recent saturday exploring Glacial Park that is rich in geological artifacts. One pleasant discovery while hiking there was the Nippersink Creek. This winding and intimate stream flows through Glacial Park and continues for about 12 miles to the south.  Darcy and I are planning a canoe trip on Nippersink Creek sometime in August.  We hope to camp along the creek at a camp site that is only accessible from a canoe.  

Glacial Park is a beautiful area with remnants from the last glacial period roughly 12,000 years ago.  The park has a peat bog created from the melting glacial ice as well as interesting ground swells known as "kames".  A kame is a ridge of silt and gravel that juts up from the surrounding flat terrain.  The kames were formed when the silt and gravel pushed along melting ice rivers, fell into fissures in the ice on which the river flowed.  The park is located only five miles from the Wisconsin border and the glacial ice didn't move much further south than Wisconsin.

It was a great hike through the park although the mosquitos were ravenous along the bog area and I think we lost a couple of pints of blood along the way.

WPPI Convention in Las Vegas

I have just returned from a week spent at the Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI) convention in Las Vegas.
It was an incredible experience meeting the best wedding photographers in the world! I attended many lectures by the most renowned wedding photographers in the industry. I also explored the trade show, looking for the latest and coolest products to help my wedding photography look as modern and professional as possible. It is an exciting time to be a wedding photographer! I have found some new products that will dazzle the eye and truly make each wedding that I shoot a work of art to be cherished by brides for years to come.
The convention really has me "jazzed" and I can't wait to incorporate some new techniques at weddings this year!

I was able to get a photo of Bally's where the convention was held, by using a tripod that I stowed in my check-on luggage. Vegas is a fun place to shoot at night and a tripod is essential.

Paul's New Digital SLR Class Starting Jan. 24

If you just received a new full sized digital SLR camera (not a point and shoot) for the Holidays, then you may be interested in my Digital SLR class starting Jan 24 at the Des Moines Art Center.

The class is six weeks long and will cover all the basics of camera operation including shutter speed, aperture, and manual exposure as well as white balance and the all important histogram.
Imagaes will be projected onto a 30 foot screen in a multi-media presentation.

The class will begin on Weds. Jan 24 from 7-9pm. The Art Center is located at 4700 Grand Ave.

Hope to see you there!

Ken Ross Gets "Honorable Mention" With His New 30d

Ken Ross is also one of those past students that I now call not only a good photographer, but a good friend. Ken Has just purchased a new Canon 30d and used it at the "Shoot the Hills" photo contest this past month.
It was a fitting tribute that the honorable Ken Ross was awarded an "Honorable Mention" in one of the largest categories— Digital flora. His photo shows that the 30d can produce sharp images with fine color when operated by a skilled photographer.
Great shot Ken and congratulations on your efforts during that rainy weekend.

Brad Thompson Takes 2nd Place in the "Shoot the Hills" Contest

Brad Thompson is a past student of mine and has become a good friend as well. He already had the "bug" when he took my class a couple of years back. His questions were to-the-point and very perceptive. I knew he was going to do well and he has since jumped into photography with both feet. Brad loves nature photography and is even selling his photos with stock agencies online!
Since its inception about 4 years ago, I had been a judge for the "Shoot the Hills" photo contest in southern Ohio. Every year, one of my students had placed in the contest. I have been proud to regale that fact to anyone unlucky enough to ask me about the contest. I think there were about 100 photographers this year! I did miss not being there this year, but, Brad was able to keep the tradition alive by winning 2nd place in the Digital Wildlife category! Thanks Brad and congratulations!
I believe Brad used his 600mm lens for this great shot of a heron. I am sure that patience was a large factor in getting a shot this spectacular.
I 'm sure Brad, along with any other photographers shown on this blog, would like a comment or question from you about their photos.

Clark Colby Wins Sierra Club Photo Contest

Clark Colby, who attended my first SLR Digital class in Iowa at the Des Moines Art Center, has won an impressive 3 first place prizes from the Sierra Club Photo Contest! Colby was even awarded a $1000 scholarship for his shot of downtown Des Moines. Clark's art classes and enthusiasm have really been an asset to his interest in photography. I can't wait to see what this talented young artist photographs next! Congratulations Clark!

Judee Lankenau Wins 3rd Place With Butterfly Photo!

Judee Lankenau took this great shot with an 8700 Nikon camera to win 3rd place in the Franklin Park Conservatory's annual photo contest in Columbus Ohio. If I were still judging this contest, there is no doubt that I would have given her photo high marks as well. The butterfly is sitting on a glass ball that really adds flair to the photo.
It was good to hear from you Judee, thanks for sharing your photo with me and thanks for the kind words about my classes.
Keep up the good work!

Paul's Photography Students Are Winning Big!

Teaching photography is a rewarding activity. Seeing people derive so much pleasure in their ability to take great photos is what teaching is all about for me. It was always gratifying to see them enter contests and to see many of them win. I do not take the credit for their great work, I was merely an instrument of inspiration. I hinted to the possibilities available with photography, pointing them to the proper use of buttons and dials, but it is up to them to figure out where to point the camera.

Moving to Iowa from Ohio last May was an exciting adventure. Leaving behind family and friends was the hardest part. I have met many people through teaching and have developed strong friendships with many past students. I have recently received a few e-mails from past students who are continuing to improve in their photography. They have sent me photos that have won contests! It was great to hear from them and I thought that I should give them recognition for their efforts. To that end, the concept for this blog was born. I will use this blog to highlight the works of past students for all to enjoy. This blog shall also be used to spotlight recent married couples that I have had the privilege of photographing.

I hope to post not only the beautiful brides I will be photographing this year, but also work from my students at the Des Moines Art Center.
Have fun!
Paul

Kevin Craiglow Wins The Columbus Dispatch Photo Contest!

Kevin is a proud father and now a proud photographer, with his winning of the Columbus Dispatch Photo Contest earlier this year. There were hundreds of entries for the contest this year and Kevin did a great job of capturing a candid moment of his son Nathan.
Kevin told me that he has ordered the new Canon D30 camera from Cord Camera. When someone has to have the latest digital SLR, you know they have been bitten by the shutterbug!
Congratulations Kevin, and remember the "Shoot the Hills" photo contest held in southern Ohio, is coming up next month. I need a former student to win, as one of my students has won an award during the contest each year it has been held.

Brian Boggess Earns Second Place Finish In The "Shoot The Hills" Photo Contest

Brian Boggess was awarded a second prize in the "Shoot the Hills" photo contest for his very unique shot of water and rocks along the trail to Old Man's Cave. The competition was even stiffer this year and Brian should be proud of his accomplishment!

Brian has really taken to photography and has put in many hours honing his skills.
When not suffering injuries from soccer mishaps, Brian often heads out for treks in nearby parks armed with his camera and tripod.

Don Stevenson wins the Grand Prize for the first ever "Shoot the Hills" contest

The Grand Prize winner for the first ever "Shoot the Hills" photo contest in 2002 was won by Don Stevenson. The inaugural event had a splendid turnout with over 60 photographers shooting it out.

Don was one of my first students and has taken many of my classes.
Don and I have come to be great friends and have gone on a few photo expeditions together. The most notable trip was to the "Ding Darling" bird sancuary in Florida.

Don now travels to art shows selling his stunning nature and wildlife photographs. He has recently switched to mostly digital photography and is now learning the ins and outs of Photoshop.