My Past Weekend (Part 3)

Part 3: The Lake Norman Bike Excursion or Fast Bikes, Old Men, and Tight Shorts.

On Saturday in Lake Norman the American Red Cross and Mooresville Fire Department help set up for the annual Bike Excursion where hundreds of bikers of all shapes, sizes, ages, and locations come and participate to raise money! (On Friday, Emily and I helped register, but that wasn't really photo-worthy.)

We woke up early on Saturday (6 AM- anyone who thinks that's not early need not respond!) and drove out to Lake Norman to watch the festivities. There we saw seas of bright colors and lots of wheels.

So we walk around and see all of the bikers getting ready to go, and then take pictures of the heading off.
(P.S. That wasn't all the exciting since there were HUNDREDS of them so the take off was actually really slow. Like... REALLY SLOW. Most of them were just like... barely pedaling!)

The ONLY way to travel!

(Those Old Men I mentioned earlier.)

So, as exciting as that is, it didn't really show a lot of good action shots. So, what do you do?

FOLLOW THEM- In a car of course!

But biking can be troublesome. And bikes can break.

And it can be awfully tiring!

But, hey! It looks like a lot of fun- for them!

For These and MANY more photos, take a look here: http://ksjphotography.smugmug.com/

and if you want to have your photos taken or have questions, please email me here: ksjphoto@carolina.rr.com

-KSJ

My Past Weekend (Part 2)

Part 2: Charlotte Night Time

Ah, the city at night. It's nice and peaceful.  And with the help of Emily, it makes it a little funnier.

(But you have to admit, that is one awesome pic!)

Well, here's a little story you really need to hear:

While out snapping pictures all over the city [my mother driving so that we don't have to park(!), and Emily there for entertainment purposes] we took photos of the city at night. 

While on a bridge, Emily and I were greeted by a couple. They seemed very nice and in a very good mood. Yes, they were happy. They were in their own little high as a kite world.

Then the girl came up and saw me with a big camera and asked if she could be on camera. Being a nice person, and not knowing if she was a violent drunk, I agreed and turned my camera towards her, and she begins talking to my camera. As if it were taping her. 

Her dialogue goes as follows, "Hi, My name is Sparkles. And I really love this city. It's so nice. And I love the colors. And I love being on camera, so I'm glad I could get on camera!"

(I didn't get a chance to set up my camera and she was constantly moving, but I figure that's how Sparkles saw the world.)

Once I filled her in that it's a "film" camera, she then goes, "OH TAKE ME AND MY BOYFRIEND!"

So, I did.

P.S. Neither of them were wearing shoes. 

Good Luck out there Sparkles and Boyfriend!

For These and MANY more photos, take a look here: http://ksjphotography.smugmug.com/

and if you want to have your photos taken or have questions, please email me here: ksjphoto@carolina.rr.com

-KSJ

My Past Weekend (Part 1)

Why Hello There!

Let me just tell you, rather SHOW you, about how exciting my past weekend has been. (And be sure to check out the other parts to this exciting weekend!)

PART 1: The City in the Day Time

As most/all of you know I am an inhabitant of Charlotte, NC. And let me tell you, I love my city. I think it's gorgeous, so I take a lot of pictures!!

On Friday, I started off taking some pictures in Davidson and then moved to Charlotte in the late afternoon. Here's what I got.

Holland? No. Just an awesome Windmill in Davidson, NC. 

I also found this creepy house, but it doesn't look as creepy as it did in my imagination.

That's better. 

Now to Charlotte.

Haha, I was playing with "Depth of Field". 

Em can make a solid model, yeah?

The Return of the Fish-Eye

(Actually, it's basically the only reason I got the lens, for this shot right here.)

(Nice, huh? Minus the dead grass. PHOTOSHOP!)

Next up, Part 2: Charlotte Night Time

For These and MANY more photos, take a look here: http://ksjphotography.smugmug.com/

and if you want to have your photos taken or have questions, please email me here: ksjphoto@carolina.rr.com

-KSJ

Fun with FishEyes (Cont'd)

Okay, so the following photos are mostly from boredom.

A lot of boredom.

And I look like that because it's a FishEye Lens... therefor I was a fish.

Get it?

Thanks for sticking around!

-KSJ

Fun with FishEyes

The Lens, of course!

I just played around with it, and was so thrilled that I decided to immediately share some photos. (More to come, naturally!)

My models are two of my cats, Fritz (black) and Simon (Gold). They work for treats.

Thanks again!!

-KSJ

Update!

Hello Followers,

Just a little update, my cousin's wedding is coming up VERY soon, less than a month! Myself and my Mother will be taking the photos, it's more of a learning experience for me, since my mom has shot at many a wedding and I'm nervous!

For the wedding we've rented some TOP DOLLAR equipment... and let me tell you, THEYRE SOOOOO NICE!

I've also added a fish-eye lens to my repertoire! Expect some cool looking shots in the future!

And, I start my class tonight! I'm really excited. I'll keep you guys updated as I get further along in it!

Keep following!

-KSJ

The Red Glaring Rockets with Some Southern Flair!

Well, as you all know this past weekend was July 4th, Independence Day, The 4th of July. The day where you feel proud to be an American, if not because we get to blow stuff up with bright colors.

And that's what me and my family, and friend, did! Yes, my friend Bianca was "lucky" enough to join in on my family's adventures. If you don't already know, my family is quite southern, with myself, mother, aunt, and cousin being from Southern Mississippi, and my uncle from Louisiana.

So in order to do the holiday right, we made a very Southern inspired dish: Seafood Etoufee (say Et-oo-Fay), Crab Legs, and Corn on the Cob. YUM!

I also was able to make a Holiday Jello- notice it's the flag and layered Red, White, and Blue!!

Then the "fireworks" began. In NC you have to have a permit in order to blow up the big fireworks- the ones in the sky- so all we had were the little ones that shoot like... 6 feet in the air. (For a few of the photos posted, I have to give credit to my mother, if not just because I'm in the photos, usually dancing around the fireworks.)

All in all it was a great night spent with Friends and Family. Hope ya'll's was just as good!

For These and MANY more photos, take a look here: http://ksjphotography.smugmug.com/

and if you want to have your photos taken or have questions, please email me here: ksjphoto@carolina.rr.com

-KSJ

Let's Take A Little Trip To The Country... sort of.

Recently, after looking at some of my photos and realizing that I don't have many involving something a little more country, I went on an adventure. 

I was looking for wide open fields (in my mind being covered in flowers, but alas, it is the middle of Summer), but ended up with some fields all right, I'm not really sure what they consisted of though.

However, I saw a few miles of it and decided to take some photos.

I found fences, and horses, and beautiful sunflowers.

So if you ever get a chance to go and take a day trip to the country to take some pictures or pick some vegetables, I say, GO FOR IT!

For These and MANY more photos, take a look here: http://ksjphotography.smugmug.com/

and if you want to have your photos taken or have questions, please email me here: ksjphoto@carolina.rr.com

-KSJ

Just for a Heads Up!

Yes, I updated the background... Needed a little newness in my life!

I just wanted you guys to know, I met with a new "teacher"/"mentor" person today to try to help me out with some the more technical jargin with all this new fangled equipment that I have gotten myself lately.

By jargin, I mean like, F-Stop, Aperature, ISO, Histogram, etc. Yes, I did know what they were before-hand, but this made it much more clear, so hopefully I can cut down on the tweaking and blurry pictures and take them right, the first time.

Also, this particular person has offered to help me (and my mother) in our attempts to take these upcoming wedding pictures by accompanying us to the chapel ahead of time and help us pick out like lighting and all before-hand- which is a life-saving!

Also, I have signed up for another photography class meeting once a week for 2 months starting next Tuesday. We'll have a professional photographer as a teacher who will help and critique our work. EXCITING!!

Well, that's all I have for right now. (Oh, I am currently looking at some new pictures I've taken from Uptown Charlotte, expect those soon-ish.)

Ta-Ta!
-KSJ

Beauty and the Greek

My cousin was recently engaged to her boyfriend and they are getting married VERY soon!! SO I got the chance to take some Engagement photos of them - and it was quite an adventure!

We first started off at a nearby lake... however there were some other visitors there who were a little hostile.

 

They definitely scared Emily!

But we got some good photos on the other side of the lake.

Then we moved our little party to a baseball field. (Where Nick, the groom, is quite accustomed to.)

(Charging the Mound.)

After that adventure, Emily - my other cousin, decided she wanted a slushy from Texaco.... 

Then we made our last trip to the UNCC Gardens. 

Where Emily was feeling left out for not being in pictures... or just mentally slow...

So I made her get in a picture...

Nick was jealous.

So we took more pictures.

And climbed on rocks.... even when we weren't supposed too...

However, as graceful as we all are... sometimes we take some spills...

 and take silly shots...

But look good doing it. 

So to this lovely couple, I wish them all the luck and happiness in the world- Not just because she's my cousin, and he's soon-to-be family, but because they are two great people who deserve greatness.

For These and MANY more photos, take a look here: http://ksjphotography.smugmug.com/

and if you want to have your photos taken or have questions, please email me here: ksjphoto@carolina.rr.com