Gestures Photography

2011 Calendars are Ready

2010-12-06T10:57:00.004-07:00

I'm offering a selection of calendars for 2011 - in a couple formats and several themes. The calendars are available at the Idaho Indie Works Boutique in downtown Boise, as well as online in my Etsy shop and Artfire shop.

Collections of Lilies

2010-07-17T16:21:00.002-06:00

Lilies

2010-07-17T16:15:00.004-06:00

After several months' absence from my blog, I'm glad to welcome our new daughter to the family, and also happily announce my return to the land of the living. :-)

My favorite flowers are lilies. I love this time of year when they're all blooming, and one more fantastic than the next....

Operation: Love ReUnited

2010-01-29T16:44:00.004-07:00

One of the greatest honors I'm allowed in my job is to be involved with Operation:Love ReUnited. We are an organization of photographers who volunteer to take family portraits with deployed and deploying soldiers and their families. The soldiers are then given a set of the prints to have with them during their deployment.

One soldier recently deployed to Afghanistan was allowed a few days leave to come home to Idaho for a visit before her deployment. I got to meet she and her family during her brief visit, and create some beautiful family portraits for them to share.

Sneak Peek: Baby Caleb

2009-11-06T15:47:00.004-07:00

I recently took a little trip to Star, ID to meet Baby Caleb. He's three months old, and the most happy baby I've seen in quite some time, and had so much to say! Watch out when he learns actual words, Mom.... So - here's a sneak of a couple of my favorites of this beautiful little family:

Best Friends

2009-09-03T19:37:00.005-06:00

I recently took fun portraits with best friends "A" and "S". Even though it was 102 degrees when we started the shoot, we had lots of fun, and had some fantastic results:

Little Baby "C" isn't so little anymore....

2009-09-03T18:57:00.002-06:00

Little Baby "C" is growing so fast, as they are prone to do, I guess. Even though she's only two, her speech and vocabulary is amazingly advanced. Her Momma' must be so proud.

Beautiful Girls

2009-09-03T18:40:00.005-06:00

A few more pictures of Nikki's daughter and a friend. I love the simplicity of kids playing in the park... what a great way to bring out the sincerity and beauty of childhood.

Mom and daughter... such a CUTE family!!

2009-09-03T17:35:00.004-06:00

I recently had the opportunity to photograph Nikki of Nikki Rose Photography - and her beautiful daughter. They were in Boise for the weekend, and were able to squeeze in a few minutes at the park to create some beautiful little family portraits:

Lake in the Mountains

2009-08-12T14:53:00.002-06:00

I'm out of the studio for a couple weeks - spending time with the family at the lake in the mountains.... Here's a peek:

Clouds

2009-07-29T18:42:00.002-06:00

The skies above Idaho have been beautiful lately. I find myself often with my camera pointed skyward....

Final Presentation

2009-07-28T20:25:00.002-06:00

Following "S's" portrait session, I thought I'd show some examples of final presentations that I love for fresh, contemporary portraits like these. Whether framed with a bright metal molding or on canvas gallery-wrap style, these fun modern "memories" deserve a very special treatment.

Special "collage" presentations like these are available for all portrait sittings, and will be custom-designed to fit the subject and look amazing.

Little "S" is not so little, anymore

2009-07-27T22:24:00.004-06:00

Little "S" is turning four next week - we got together today to take some pictures, to document this special time in her life.... What a beautiful girl!

Beautiful Babies!!

2009-07-24T12:50:00.003-06:00

New from the Art of Being Series - Baby Squares. They're presented in square formats in a few sizes - printed with a white border, ready to be framed and hung in your nursery.

California, Nevada, Oregon....

2009-06-25T15:43:00.004-06:00

The first in a potentially long line of images from a recent road trip around California, Nevada, and Oregon. More on the way, as they're finished. Proof that we live in a lovely, varied world. Enjoy!

Brave and Valiant Soldier

2009-06-04T12:21:00.002-06:00

For Memorial Day this year, the city of Eagle, ID erected this temporary display. A field of flags, each with the name of a fallen soldier. What a beautiful and moving scene.

More Stacked Rocks

2009-06-04T12:19:00.001-06:00

More of the rocks - from the previous post:

Stacked Rocks

2009-06-04T12:09:00.003-06:00

On a recent weekend trip through with the family through the mountains of Idaho, we found ourselves on a gravel and dirt road, heading to the small town of Yellow Pine. The river was running very high along the road, and occasionally we came upon these rocks, stacked by the road and in the fields. They vary in scale - some only tiny pebbles, some so large that I think they must have been placed using equipment.

I was not successful in discovering how they'd come to be there or when, but thought they were beautiful, anyway!

Skies Overhead

2009-06-04T12:03:00.002-06:00

I recently took a little road trip across Idaho, and was thrilled to have beautiful skies for the drive. It took a little longer than it should have, though, what with all the stopping and detours to admire the scenery.

Art of Being Series - Baby Art

2009-05-19T10:08:00.004-06:00

I've started a new project in my studio - the "Baby Art" is the first to debut. This line represents the combination of my two photographic loves - people and things. B&W photos of some of the most precious parts of our teeny-tinys. They're presented backed by saturated color in abstract patterns and embellished with swirls and flowers for a modern and fresh design.

They're available right now in small notebooks - 4"x6" - which is a perfect size for purse or car, or by the phone or bedside table.

Soon they'll be available in canvas gallery wraps - to be used as nursery decor. These designs are square, and meant to be displayed as is, with no frame.

I've offered designs like this to my portrait clients for a long time, and am very excited to be expanding the offering. If you're thinking of having baby portraits done, these are a wonderful way to display the portraits of your own teeny-tiny!

Everything is available for purchase through my Etsy shop, or directly from me if you're in the Boise area.

my Etsy shop

Back in the Studio

2009-05-01T16:09:00.004-06:00

With the beautiful weather lately, I've been spending a lot of time outside enjoying the spring weather. Today, though, I invited one of my favorite models back into my small studio to experiment with some new backgrounds. I'm so thrilled with this new style of portraits, and am excited to offer them to my portrait clients.

More Sunshine and Flowers!!

2009-04-22T18:59:00.002-06:00

The sun is out again today! It's so beautiful here in Boise, I can't stand it! The trees are blooming and the earth is coming back to life. It's such a grand time of year!

Display Multiples - More Bang for your Buck!

2009-04-20T20:59:00.005-06:00

Starting today - I'm offering a multiple-image discount - buy three prints of your choice and save at least 15%! Mix and match to your heart's content!

Click here to go to my Etsy shop and see all the details.

Here are some display samples - some that I display in my own home, some that I've put together to display next time I'm ready for a change.

Red White and Blue

2009-04-20T10:34:00.002-06:00

Okay - I know it's a little early for the reference to the 4th of July, but the colors in these two are so lovely - how could I resist?

Red and Blue

2009-04-20T09:55:00.002-06:00

With spring comes beautiful blue skies. Even though the winters here in the desert of Boise are not all that harsh, the sunshine and blue skies of spring are certainly a welcome reprieve from the gray light that comes with the cooler temperatures.

The wonderful weather and sunshine only serves to make Spring's color show that much more lovely.

Spring is Here!!!

2009-04-20T09:15:00.002-06:00

Spring has finally arrived in the west, and with it brings displays of beautiful flowering trees. These trees sit quietly through the year, some bearing fruit, some only shade. They provide taller elements in our landscape, but we often take them for granted - they're just there..... until Spring comes and they awaken for their summer's work - and signal that with these gorgeous flowers.

They explode into color almost overnight - pink, white, green, red, yellow - an amazing display.

More Barns

2009-04-07T12:57:00.001-06:00

More barns from Idaho and Montana - this time one red, one white, one brown....

Tree Bark

2009-04-06T18:27:00.003-06:00

When was the last time you looked at the trees around you? Especially in the spring, I think we're all more likely to notice the trees around us - the beautiful cherry blossoms, the wonderful apple orchards... the blooms that lead to the fruits of summer are always an eye-catcher. But... how often do we look at the trees themselves? Some of them are so beautiful....

Here are a few I noticed on my recent road trip through Idaho and Montana.

Rivers in Montana

2009-04-01T15:25:00.004-06:00

One of the things I'm always amazed by are the rivers in Montana. Most people think of mountains when they conjure Montana, and I'm no exception. I remember the mountains and the trees, but I forget the rivers... in places such a bright turquoise green from natural minerals it's hard to believe what you're seeing is real.

More from the Road

2009-04-01T15:17:00.002-06:00

More buildings from my current road trip. Another old red barn - this one home to two horses in Idaho...

...this one, also in Idaho, home to commercial offices...

... and this one the windows of an old white barn in Idaho - now home to old motorcycles and tools, and lots of pigeons...

Beautiful Red Barn

2009-03-31T21:48:00.002-06:00

On a recent road trip through Montana, I saw this beautiful old barn. It's no longer in active use, but is such a lovely old building that I couldn't help but stop and admire it for a few minutes.

Coming Right Up... Baby C

2009-03-10T15:59:00.003-06:00

Baby C came to see me in the cutest little jumper - with bright, big polka dots. She was happy to look around, happy to see what was to see.

What a little cutie!

Here's the sneak peek:

Next in Line... Baby L

2009-03-09T13:09:00.002-06:00

I got to meet baby L this weekend (along with his mother, who was kind enough to drive him...) and he's the most delightful little thing!

He was so busy looking around at everything, so interested in all the new things... and so happy to look at Mommy. :-)

Now - the sneak peek:

Moving on to... Baby S and her sister, S the Super!

2009-03-08T22:52:00.002-06:00

Baby S brought her big sister along to her photoshoot this weekend, and they were both such cute little girls! Baby S was happy to have her turn, but then was more than happy to take a break and let "S the Super" step up. It didn't take long to figure out why she's called S the Super - what an expressive little face, and such a sweetheart.

Then, back to Baby S, who would rather have been talking to Daddy, but was a good sport for us, anyway.

Both girls have such big, bright eyes... so pretty!

And now... the sneak peek:

And Now.... Baby R !!

2009-03-07T20:17:00.002-07:00

Next up in the series of babies this week - baby "R". She was such a good sport while at the studio - she didn't really want to be on the table, but was trying really hard to be happy about it. She was very busy trying to understand what was going on around her - such a curious baby!

What an adorable little girl! And now, the sneak peek:

Next up - Baby C

2009-03-06T15:51:00.003-07:00

Next in the series of babies this week - baby C. He's nine months old and has the best giggle I've ever heard. We thought he would roll off the table laughing.

Talk about ROFLOL!! :-)

Here's the sneak peek:

Baby H

2009-03-06T15:36:00.003-07:00

Doesn't spring make you think of babies? Maybe it's just me.... :-) I'm working on a new project, and baby H is the first of lots of babies I'll meet this week. He's ten weeks old, and is so adorable!!

Here's a sneak peek:

Blog Feature!

2009-03-04T14:02:00.002-07:00

I'm so excited to let everyone know that my Etsy shop: www.GesturesPhoto.Etsy.com has been featured on the Made For You Blog.

Here's the link: http://madeforyoublog.blogspot.com/search/label/Shop%20Idaho

Check this fantastic blog for lots of specially-selected handmade items, and check out my Etsy shop, also!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Women are Wonderful!

2009-02-28T10:10:00.002-07:00

So - about a year ago I met a wonderful woman in Boise who's a business owner, mom, wife, and all-around fantastic person. I did pictures with her and her son, and I took pictures at her store The Painted Chair, for her grand opening. Well, Ember is again stepping out into new ventures, and I'm so thrilled to have the opportunity to work with her once again.

I'll share more details of her newest "fabulousness" when it gets closer - it's going to be very exciting. :-)

Today, I wanted to repost from her blog about a women's networking party she recently put together, under the theory that women together can do anything. I totally agree! So - without further ado - here's the link to Ember's blog, where she's done a wonderful job of describing the women who were there, and helping us all further share our dreams....

http://mypaintedchair.blogspot.com/2009/02/women-are-wonderful.html

Thanks, Ember!!

Early Spring at Lucky Peak

2009-02-25T17:05:00.004-07:00

It was cloudy and gray in Boise today, but was warm enough to hint at the return of spring. I took a drive out of town, to see what I could see, and I sure found it!

Lucky Peak Reservoir is very low, which makes for poor boating, I suppose, but it sure looks cool that way. The lines in the banks clearly show the varying water levels as the reservoir is raised and lowered.

Ivy

2009-02-24T21:27:00.002-07:00

And yet more from the garden - this a lovely ivy growing up the side of the house. Reaching across to the window - maybe peeking in to see what's for dinner???

Branches

2009-02-24T21:02:00.004-07:00

More from my visit to "My Secret Garden" in Boise - here are buds sprouting on a lovely tree.

Spring in the Garden

2009-02-20T19:20:00.002-07:00

As promised, more pictures from "My Secret Garden" before the majority of the work begins for the season. Margi is an organic gardener, so is a big proponent of compost and returning things to the earth.

In one area are these gourds - leftovers from seasons prior that she wasn't able to use for rattles and other fun things. Now they here, enjoying the sun among the leaves, ready to help keep the weeds down for next season.

My Secret Garden...

2009-02-17T11:38:00.003-07:00

I've just started working with a new client - My Secret Garden.

Margi broke ground on the 2009 season of her market garden this week, and has big plans. She's on the bench in Boise - near Franklin and Orchard, and will be offering many new things this season.

I'll be following her progress throughout this season, and providing sneak peeks into the garden and it's beautiful owner as they grow.

So,these - the first peeks of the season:

I love daisies!!

2009-02-05T21:50:00.003-07:00

I love daisies! The colors, the combinations, the textures, the variety - I could go on and on.....

Are Professional Business Portraits Important?

2009-02-02T16:16:00.001-07:00

Gestures Photography is a contemporary natural-light portrait and photographic art studio in Boise, ID.

Is it important to have professional business portraits?

When times are tough, people naturally tend to turn inward, to stick closer to home and return to the people they know and trust. For business professionals, that means that your relationship with your clients is more important than ever. It's important that you establish and maintain the relationship, so when your clients are looking for your service, they naturally look to you - their trusted partner.

One of the best ways to maintain that personal professional relationship is with professional business portraits on your correspondence - on your website, on your business card, on your newsletters and notes. People want to know who they're doing business with, and your business portraits say you're a true professional, and a face they can trust.

Your professional portraits will help you gain trust from clients and prospects, increase your sales with a professional image, and make a great first impression that lasts a lifetime.

Our business portrait sitting fee is $150, which includes travel to a location we decide on together and about 45 minutes of shooting time, time and talent for touch-up and finishing of each final portrait, and full license to one high-resolution image which will be delivered in all appropriate file formats.

Gestures Photography is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau, and we offer a satisfaction guarantee. If you're not satisfied with your final portraits, we'll either re-shoot or refund your sitting fee. Period.

You can find more about the studio on our website: www.GesturesPhoto.com, or you can e-mail me directly at marnie@gesturesphoto.com

My New Etsy Shop is Open!

2009-01-28T17:58:00.006-07:00

The photographic art pieces are now available for sale in my Etsy shop. All the pieces are hand-made in my studio, from artwork in my portfolio.

I've started with 5x7 greeting cards that also make wonderful art for office, cubicle, locker or other small spaces.

Find out what's new in my Etsy Shop:
http://www.GesturesPhoto.etsy.com, and be sure to tell your friends. :-)

More about Etsy, from their main website:
Etsy is an online marketplace for buying & selling all things handmade. Our mission is to enable people to make a living making things, and to reconnect makers with buyers. Our vision is to build a new economy and present a better choice.

Memories of Summer

2009-01-23T21:12:00.002-07:00

Boise has been under an inversion for several days and we've not seen the sun in over a week. As an antidote to the fog and gray skies, I'm posting some of the "sunshine-iest" pictures in my portfolio - from the Sunflowers and Tractors series.

Happy January, everyone!

2009 Calendars Available!

2009-01-08T16:43:00.005-07:00

I know, it's a little late, but the 2009 calendars are ready! I've designed two this year - the Beauty of Nature features works showcasing the natural environment that is the Northwest US - Idaho and Montana, to be specific.

The second is the first in a series featuring works from the Cars in the Field series, and showcases classic/vintage/old cars in the environments they now call home.

Calendars are printed on high quality, high density paper that’s easy to write on, and come bound and ready for hanging on your wall. Each page is a matte coated print. It has a hanger and white wire binding, are satin-coated prints on high quality art paper, and sized 11.69" x 16.54".

1950 Cadillac Sedan

2009-01-06T18:51:00.003-07:00

The latest addition to the Cars in the Field series - a 1950 Cadillac 4-door sedan. One interesting note about this car - the fuel door is under a flip-up hatch behind the left-rear tail light. You can see the button to release the latc in picture #3. Very intersting!

Operation: Love Reunited

2009-01-03T23:32:00.004-07:00

As part of my involvement with Operation:Love Reunited, I donate my time to deployed or deploying soldiers and their families so they have nice family portraits during the deployment.

J is returning to complete his training, then he's headed to Korea for his first overseas deployment. He and his family got together in downtown Boise the day before his return to duty.

It's such an honor for me to be able to say "thank you" in this small way to the soldiers for all they do for us, and to their families for their support of their soldiers.

Thank you, J, for your service.

1948 Buick Super Convertible

2009-01-01T16:43:00.005-07:00

Yet another in the Cars in the Field series - a 1948 Buick Super Convertible.

The current owner, "J", was fortunate to meet the original owner after his father bought it from a junkyard. The original owner heard J's father talking in a truck stop about the "new" car he just bought, and struck up a conversation. He then joined J's father in a short trip to see the car, and confirmed it was the one he had purchased new.

The story went that shortly after he and his wife purchased it in 1948, their marriage hit a rough spot and they divorced. She was awarded the car in the divorce settlement, so when he delivered it to her to take possession, he left it running in her driveway - with a brick on the accelerator. The engine threw a rod and was sent to the junkyard shortly thereafter, where it lived until J's father purchased it as a project car.

The car is now back on stage as a project car. Recently moved into this cozy shop where it'll get a complete restoration, with ultimate plans of taking J on a cross-country road trip to see the sights of America.

More Cars in the Field

2009-01-01T16:28:00.004-07:00

Another addition to the Cars in the Field series - this one a parts car for a 1948 Buick Super. It was towed to this spot in the field more than 25 years ago after having been hit by a train.

Meet Mable

2008-12-30T16:40:00.004-07:00

As part of my Cars in the Field project, I met Mable today - a wonderful 1949 International KB2 flatbed pickup, that's just a starter away from hitting the Boise streets once again. She currently lives in the driveway of a family that loves her - starter or no.

Stay tuned for more in the series!

Cars in the Field Project

2008-12-29T18:04:00.005-07:00

I'm working for the next few weeks on the "Cars in the Field" project, this time in the Boise area. I'm interested in talking with people from around the valley who have or have access to interesting old vehicles. Junkyards, fields, driveways, garages, wherever these lovely old pieces of automobilic (?) art, I want to see them and share them with other lovers of what was once is now and could be again, beautiful and interesting in different ways.

If you have, or know someone who has anything that would make a nice addition to the collection, please contact me at marnie@gesturesphoto.com to arrange a time to come take a look.

Here are a few of my favorites from the collection so far - stay tuned as it grows!

2008-12-27T17:52:00.002-07:00

This month has been the snowiest December on record in the Boise area. For a couple weeks now, the weather has been disrupting plans and making things more difficult than usual. However, the departure from "the norm" here in the desert is so beautiful!!

Something a Little More Personal...

2008-12-23T19:39:00.004-07:00

A few days ago, I rounded up my own family and we trekked out into the snow to take some long-overdue family portraits. I also needed updated business portraits, so we decided to do both at once. Two birds and all that, you know...

One of my part-time assistants went with us to do the shooting, and she did such a great job! I could not be more happy with the results!

We opted for an urban setting, which I've been wanting to do for quite a while, and I'm so glad it worked out with the snow, because it was that much more fantastic for it!

Purple Reflections

2008-12-19T15:11:00.002-07:00

So, the snow we were expecting today didn't come, but the sky is a lovely silver color - perfect for looking at this tiny purple glass ball.

It's winter - finally!

2008-12-15T15:28:00.003-07:00

I never thought winter would come. Especially in the desert of Idaho, we don't get much snow and ice. The last few days, though, we've finally gotten some snow, and I'm so glad to see it!

Snow on a brick wall - love the textures!

Poinsettias

My favorite subject of all!

Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather - only five days left of autumn. :-)

Custom Holiday Cards!!

2008-11-16T11:16:00.003-07:00

It's coming up on that time very quickly! Custom-designed holiday cards are an easy way to share a little smile with your family and friends. Who doesn't love to see a new picture of your family??

For a limited time, I'm offering a special on a discounted-price sitting for family portraits that includes 25 custom-designed Christmas cards and an on-line gallery of all the finished portraits to share with family and friends.

Fine Art Prints

2008-11-06T09:20:00.002-07:00

I'm very excited to announce that the Fine Art side of my studio is open and thriving. It's a nice way to keep the creative juices simmering, and I'm always amazed at the beautiful things around us every day, if only we take the time to look.

This project has definitely gone a long way in teaching me to slow down and appreciate the world. As parents we're so often too busy to stop and look at and listen to our children. That's one of the best parts of my portrait work - it gives parents a reminder to stop and look at the little chaos generators that live in their homes.

The world around us is the same way - we so often look at the leaves in the yard as only a job to be done. If we slow down and take a minute to look at the leaves before raking them into a pile - it's surprising how lovely they are!

I've joined an industry-leading partner to display these works - please stop by to take a look, maybe pick up a piece for your home, and don't forget to slow down, take a moment to look at what's going on around you. You might be surprised!

Let's Get the Kids in on the Act!

2008-10-27T14:41:00.002-06:00

While taking business portraits w/ Brian recently, he brought his daughter along, so we decided to get her in on the act, too. (Like we had a choice...) What an adorable little girl!

Business Portraits w/ Brian

2008-10-27T14:37:00.002-06:00

With the weather being so nice and the beautiful light of fall, now is the perfect time to update business portraits to have the best possible impact on your clients and colleagues.

Brian wanted his updated business portraits to be fun and engaging. We met downtown so we could use the architecture to help set the mood, and they turned out wonderfully.

Portraits w/ Tola

2008-10-27T14:11:00.003-06:00

It was such a beautiful weekend! Tola and I met at the park, where we had so much fun - hanging out, looking at the colors, oh, and taking some pictures while we were there. Thanks, Tola!

More Fall Colors

2008-10-22T13:14:00.004-06:00

On a trip to shoot fall colors, I was a little surprised at how many "non-fall" colors I found. Pinks, purples, blues... all the more bright and lovely combined with the orange and browns and reds of fall.

Photo Handbags!

2008-10-13T21:16:00.008-06:00

I recently ordered a tote bag with my favorite pictures of my daughter on it, and I love it so much that I decided to offer the product line through my studio. These will make the most wonderful gifts, for yourself or even someone else. :-) Lead time is two to three weeks, so call me right away to orders yours.

Following are a few samples - contact the studio for complete details or to schedule your ordering session.

Photographers Tote ($115)
The structured box shape makes this an ideal bag for work documents or even a laptop. The Large Tote is ideal for everyday use or perfect for travel or carrying around town. The Large Tote features dual inside snaps and multiple interior pockets. The handles are attached to the bag with chrome-finish ring hardware making this bag a fashionable and functional choice. The bag can be constructed with a photo on one or both sides (added $15 charge for both sides) and has an option for a leather trim upgrade (added $25), which included leather handles, trim and bottom.
- Your favorite photo
- Elegant and durable microfiber material
- Dimensions are 18"H x 12"W x 5"D
- Interior zipper pocket, cell phone pocket, and mirror pocket
- Metal feet
- 24" Handles with heavy metal looper hardware
- Interior attached key fob

Clutch ($50)
The combination of wrist handle and zipper pocket make this versatile bag work alone when travelling light or as a companion bag for a trip.
- 10"W x 5.5"H x 1.75"D (at base)
- 6.5" microfiber wristband handle attached to zipper
- 6" interior zipper pocket
- Interior attached key fob

Dopp Kit ($50)
Perfect for the man on the move. The roomy interior makes this toiletry bag essential to carry all needed items for travel.
- Zipper Closure
- Durable microfiber material
- 10"W x 5.5"H x 4.5"D

Jackie & Jim's Business Portraits

2008-10-11T22:47:00.002-06:00

Jackie and Jim decided it was time to update their business image, and new business portraits was part of that. They understand that connecting with clients and partners is a vital piece of doing busines today. A portrait that is professional but not "stuffy" sends just the right message for their business.

After talking with them about the "feeling" they wanted from their portraits, we headed out, taking pictures in a few different spots - and ended up with just what they were looking for. Enjoy!

The Hand of Man ...

2008-10-05T22:29:00.002-06:00

So often I post about the beautiful things that occur naturally in the world around us. It's easy to overlook the beautiful man-made (or is it person-made??) things that we live with every day.

Today I spent a little time looking at the beautiful things some of our fellow humans have created. Stunning!

Idaho Falls, ID

2008-10-04T15:55:00.002-06:00

I've spent the last few days in Idaho Falls, ID - and had time to look around the yard a little. As you can see, mother nature has done her part to help out with the decoration. :-)

Wyoming

2008-09-22T16:19:00.005-06:00

...finally back home - drove almost through the night, then half the day, but am finally back among my own things. I do love a nice road trip, but I'm always glad to be back home at the end. At sunset we stopped in Wyoming for a bit - I was surprised to see a beautiful statue in honor of Abraham Lincoln. Enjoy!

A Walk in The Woods

2008-09-20T15:28:00.003-06:00

I had the good fortune to have time yesterday for a walk in the woods:

Visit to a Mining Hall of Fame

2008-09-20T15:06:00.002-06:00

I recently made a visit to a Mining Hall of Fame. Very interesting to see the things that were once put to such difficult use now so beautiful in their repose. My favorites were a set of gears - hanging beautifully on a brick wall, a piece of track from the mining trains, and a simple box.

More in Colorado

2008-09-17T16:45:00.002-06:00

I'm still in Colorado, spent part of the afternoon looking around these beautiful mountains. Still not a lot of fall colors in mid-September, but I still found beautiful year-round colors.

Divide, Colorado

2008-09-15T21:47:00.003-06:00

I'm in Colorado for a week, for both work and family time. We're in Divide, CO for a few days, so I thought I'd start posting as I shoot across the state. :-)

So - here are my favorites from a hike near Divide. An aspen tree reaching up to the beautiful sunshine, and wild strawberry plants.

Fine Art Pieces Now Available On-Line

2008-08-25T18:12:00.003-06:00

My fine art pieces are now available on-line via my gallery at http://gesturesphoto.redbubble.com/.

Some of my most recent pieces are available now, including "Sunflowers and Tractor" and the "Cars in a Field" series. The selection will change periodically, so check back and find the one that speaks to you, or that would be perfect as a gift for someone.

Custom pieces welcome - just drop me a note and we'll talk about exactly what you're looking for!

The Land

2008-08-25T12:14:00.004-06:00

When I first moved to Idaho, I didn't find it all that beautiful. After having grown up in the mountains of Montana, "flat and brown" was my impression - and not in a good way. :-)

However, once I started to actually look at what's around me, I found that "flat and brown" was not at all accurate - there is so much texture and color amid all the brown - I'm amazed I didn't see it from the beginning.

It just goes to show, when we pay attention, it's amazing what we'll find. These fields are near Grangeville and New Meadows, ID.

Ed & Becky are Married!!

2008-08-22T17:46:00.004-06:00

Ed & Becky have the most beautiful family. They got married at Cottonwood City in Deer Lodge, MT. Despite a "tiny drizzle", it was a beautiful ceremony, and a lovely gathering of their friends and family.

I loved the silhouette against the sky from inside the white gazebo

This is their beautiful family - Hailee, Emily, Mikayla, Lizzie, and Wyatt.

... and of course, the cake!

Congratulations, guys!!

Cowboy Tim

2008-08-22T17:35:00.002-06:00

I met "Cowboy Tim" while in Montana last week. I loved his look and just couldn't resist putting him in front of the camera to show his personality!

Grapes....

2008-08-20T21:55:00.004-06:00

I'm not sure exactly what kind of grapes these are, but they're so pretty. I'm always amazed at the awesome things mother nature creates, if we just stay out of her way....

More in a Montana Field

2008-08-18T10:36:00.003-06:00

Beyond the landscaping at this beautiful home, there was other interesting "flora and fauna" as we ventured further away from the house:

A Montana Field

2008-08-18T10:15:00.003-06:00

I spent last weekend at a home in Montana, and was delighted by the beautiful, natural landscaping all around:

The Cox Kids

2008-07-31T12:18:00.005-06:00

I spent the evening with The Cox Kids recently in Star, ID. It was such a beautiful evening - the sunset, the view, the family - it was perfect. I had such a good time meeting the family and seeing them together. Here's a sneak peak of some of my favorites:

Fourth of July!!

2008-07-07T10:39:00.003-06:00

I spent the 4th of July this year in Idaho Falls, ID visiting family. They have a wonderful fireworks display on the river - here are a few of my favorite shots to share.

Why Pay For a Professional??

2008-06-12T10:45:00.004-06:00

This is a question I get a lot from family and friends: Why should I pay for professional portraits when I can get perfectly good photos from my own camera and the One-Hour Photo down the street for a fraction of the cost?

This is a question I asked myself when I opened my own studio - would it really be worth it to me and my clients to use professional equipment and a professional lab rather than the point and shoot camera one-hour photo down the street? After all, millions of people use that stuff all the time, and their pictures come out perfectly fine, right?

So - being the type-A, ex-engineer that I am, I decided to do a little research and run experiments of my own. I asked the various labs why I should use their lab vs. their competitor. At several of them, I got the answer I expected - because we're way cheaper. At the more expensive labs, I got answers like "trained technicians", "color-managed and density corrected output", "validated quality control standards", etc.... I wasn't sure this really answered my questions, because after all, that would be what they say, right? I mean, that's their job.

Ultimately I decided to do a little experiment. I sent the same set of seven prints to about a dozen different labs. When I got them back, I marked on the back which lab they came from, then mixed them all up and laid them out on my table. I then looked at them from a purely subjective perspective - which looked the best to me? Remember - these are exactly the same photo, from several different labs. I arranged them in order of my preference. After that was done, I turned them over and compared them based on price per print. The results were exactly what the more expensive labs said they'd be - theirs looked so much better it was almost unbelievable. So - I went down the list eliminating the "poor" prints, and set to further analyze the "best" ones. In the end, I chose a higher-end, but not top of the line lab.

The rest of the expense of the "professional" comes in paying for my time to process the final portraits. I personally process each and every one of the photographs that come out of my studio. This includes everything from croppping to make a more interesting composition to adjusting the very yellow color that comes from shooting under indoor light, to removing wrinkles, blemishes, telephone poles, power lines, and pretty much anything else that you don't want in your professional portraits. I've had a lot of training and experience that helps me translate what I see through the camera onto the paper that you see on your walls.

In the end - I guess my "short answer" to the question is - if you want "perfectly fine" photos - your sister-in-law could probably do that for you. If you want contemporary, professional, creative portraits, that's when you find a professional.

Senior Pictures

2008-06-11T14:45:00.003-06:00

I was finally able to catch up with the other senior on my books this year to finish his portraits. He's busily finishing this "check-mark" on his itinerary and looking forward to the next steps....

Here's a sample:

90th Birthday Party

2008-06-11T14:38:00.003-06:00

A wonderful woman who is a beacon to her family and everyone who knows her turned 90 years old last weekend. The entire town turned out, as well as family from at least four states attended a party to celebrate her life and acknowlege the impact she's had on all those who know her.

Snow in Boise

2008-01-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

Those of you familiar with Boise know we rarely get a lot of snow. Normally, it's enough to color the grass, and is gone by noon. This week, though, we've actually gotten snow - and it's been here for several days. It was so beautiful sitting on these berries.

New Personal Project - Gestures 365

2008-01-03T12:14:00.000-07:00

With the new year I'm starting a new personal photographic project. Along with colleagues around the country, I'm shooting and posting a picture a day for a year. I've started a new blog for these pictures - http://gestures365.blogspot.com/. Feel free to take a look as the year goes on - literally to see what's in my world.

Here's one of the first photos:

Vicki & Nathan's Wedding

2007-10-23T14:44:00.001-06:00

I had the great honor recently to help a very dear friend of mine remember her wedding day with photography. Vicki is one of the most amazing people I know, and her wedding to Nathan was nothing short of perfectly representative of this wonderful couple and their life together. The day started off a little cold, since it was October in Montana, but they were prepared with heaters and a great bonfire by the lake, and it turned into a magical evening under the stars. Here are some of my favorite visual memories of the day.

Scenery in Montana and Northern Idaho

2007-10-21T20:02:00.000-06:00

I've been in Montana and Northern Idaho for the last couple weeks, and am always awed by te scenery there. The fall colors make it just that much more spectacular.

Angie

2007-10-17T09:23:00.000-06:00

This is Angie - she's a senior this year, and is enjoying (almost) every minute of it. What a beautiful combination - her obvious love of life, and the beautiful colors of the fall.

What About ?! Promotions - Golfing for Jackie

2007-09-26T10:09:00.000-06:00

The What About ?! Promotions Bikini Classic Golf Tournament was last weekend. If you remember the weather on Sunday, you know it was a very interesting afternoon. Needless to say, the W.A.P. Bikini Girls didn't spend much time in their bikinis... it was way too cold!

They did, however, assist the golfers during registration and throughout the tournament, and everyone had so much fun. Following the tournament, prizes were drawn for those participating in the tournament, as well as one for which raffle tickets were sold throughout the day.

All the proceeds went to benefit a local family whose beautiful daughter was released from the hospital just in time to visit the tournament to thank everyone for their participation and join in the prize drawings.

MACI Salon Stylists

2007-09-25T20:34:00.000-06:00

The stylists at MACI Salon & Spa needed some new photos for their marketing material. We met for a few minutes one evening this week, and came out with some beautiful contemporary business portaits.

I love that I can help fellow business owners in the area make sure their clients see "the vision" of their business. Every business has an image they hope to project to their clients - artistic, contemporary photography is a great way to help make sure that happens.

W.A.P. Bikini Girls at Dirty Little Roddy's

2007-09-16T10:12:00.000-06:00

Yes - they're out again! The What About?! Promotions Bikini Girls were at Dirty Little Roddy's in Boise promoting the Bikini Golf Classic. With all the people there, it was not hard finding interesting things to point the lens at!

W.A.P. Bikini Girls at Centennial Golf Course

2007-09-16T09:43:00.000-06:00

The What About?! Promotions Bikini Girls were at Centennial Golf Course getting ready for the Bikini Golf Classic the end of this month. It was late in the evening, so the light was very limited, but the pictures turned out to very interesting because of it.

Brian & Sydney

2007-09-16T09:26:00.000-06:00

Last week I went with Brian & Sydney to the park to do some casual, fun pictures of daddy and daughter together. It was such a fun time - playing in the water, finding the flowers, trying not to sit on Daddy's lap... "-)

Gail Jacobs

2007-09-16T09:09:00.000-06:00

This week I worked with a realtor in Boise to update the photo for her business cards, website, and other marketing materials. She wanted something very professional, but also warm and comfortable. We chose an outdoor location for the light and the color in the area.

W.A.P. Bikini Girls at Hannah's

2007-08-31T21:26:00.000-06:00

This week the What About?! Promotions Bikini Girls were at Hannah's downtown taking registrations for the What About?! Promotions Bikini Classic. What a fun group of girls!

Beautiful Family

2007-08-08T22:07:00.000-06:00

This week I spent some time with this beautiful family, for some pictures of them together, and pictures of the kids individually. They are such a fun family, from the little girls playing in the sprinkler with their toes, to the break-dancing moves of the older brother - what fantastic memories we captured this evening.

The Liddell Family

2007-08-06T17:48:00.000-06:00

The Liddells had a big birthday in the family this month, and their four generations came together from around the country to celebrate. It was such a joy to meet them all and spend a couple hours with this beautiful family!