Tag / Rain

When approached about doing a shoot of promo images for a fitness instructor, I was quite happy to break out the lights and really give him a modern and edgy look.  As well toned as he is on the outside, he is also a wonderful person inside – it was a pleasure to work with such a gentleman.

The greatest gift I’ve received as a photographer is the ability to travel around the world to photograph fascinating people.  This particular family, photographed outside of the Gig Harbor area of Tacoma, Washington, have been known by me for over six years.  It was both a pleasure and and honor to come photograph them in such a beautiful location.

Our luck would have it that although it was a park next to the kids’ school, it would also rain nearly the whole day.  Such is the weather in the Seattle/Tacoma area, however, and the children were great sports despite soggy logs and wet shoes!

We had to wait in the car until the storm passed – but definitely worth it after the sun came out in full effect.  Autumn always brings showers in Finland and I admit I welcome them.  There’s a reason why movie set decorators water down the streets before a shoot – all those spectral highlights, reflections, and especially rich bokeh that comes from water can make an image rich and lush.

This shoot was all about using a longer focal length lens to let background compression retain the far background in the bokeh or to overcome height issues due to the perfect spot being atop a large mound.   We had only a few minutes here before the sun disappeared and rain threatened again.  But oh how I love the color and feel of Autumn in Finland.

These were all shot with natural light and no reflectors or modifiers.  The light was just so sweet at this particular moment and I am so grateful for the time I spent learning how to read that light and shoot it to its best.

And how could I resist a portrait from the reflections in a puddle.

Still raining constantly – but nothing that can’t be solved by a good umbrella.

It’s rained nearly constantly for three weeks now – but even on the rainiest days, there are 10-15 minutes when the sky momentarily stops pouring and we can run out and do quick pictures and feed the ducks.  For this little session, we shot in 10 minute bursts and then ran madly back to the safety of the car when the rain returned!

Autumn is approaching in Finland and the colors in my yard are changing into the beautiful colors of the season.