My best of 2009

l.k.madison

Ok, so I'm a week late, but I thought I'd just jump on the bandwagon anyway.

2009 was the year that I realized "oh wow, I could do this, I could take more than just snapshots" so after many field trips and many, many, many shots of my husband and son, I've realized that yes, I can do this - and I will. Now, to get rid of that darn day job....

So here goes, my personal favorite (while not always the best) of 2009.

*These are my favorite "leisure" shots, none of which I was paid to do.

1. Back off, boys, she's not legal yet
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lkmadison/3926579567/&quot; title="Breathless by L.K.Madison, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3510/3926579567_365c1964a7.jpg&quot; width="500" height="333" alt="Breathless" /></a>

2. Spin
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lkmadison/3927362456/&quot; title="Spin! by L.K.Madison, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3927362456_7e2a6123fb.jpg&quot; width="333" height="500" alt="Spin!" /></a>

3. Monkey
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lkmadison/3863202149/&quot; title="Connor in B&W by L.K.Madison, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2564/3863202149_7a69cc8a27.jpg&quot; width="500" height="333" alt="Connor in B&W" /></a>

4. Adrian
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lkmadison/3813516064/&quot; title="Adrian by L.K.Madison, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/3813516064_898e74cb78.jpg&quot; width="497" height="500" alt="Adrian" /></a>

5. Stringin' them along
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lkmadison/3813386956/&quot; title="Stringin' them along by L.K.Madison, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2558/3813386956_8231e0d570.jpg&quot; width="500" height="500" alt="Stringin' them along" /></a>

6. Dance with me
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lkmadison/3685995504/&quot; title="D and R by L.K.Madison, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2629/3685995504_396405ac01.jpg&quot; width="500" height="332" alt="D and R " /></a>

7. Walking and Waiting (taken for a photo class - assignment was "direct lighting")
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lkmadison/3670510239/&quot; title="walking by L.K.Madison, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2440/3670510239_9fe55c1b62.jpg&quot; width="332" height="500" alt="walking" /></a>

8. I had a bad day and slaughtered fruit as therapy
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lkmadison/3567188096/&quot; title="Lime in a flute. by L.K.Madison, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3346/3567188096_0e7caf6304.jpg&quot; width="332" height="500" alt="Lime in a flute. " /></a>

9. Yes No Maybe (and also my submission for "Textures" that Jeffreaux2 has tortured me with :rofl) *Taken 1/2/10, but I'm counting it anyway.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lkmadison/4247179640/&quot; title="Yes No Maybe Textured by L.K.Madison, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2728/4247179640_d9f6a4ce0e.jpg&quot; width="333" height="500" alt="Yes No Maybe Textured" /></a>

Last but not least...

10. Oakleigh (attended this wedding as a guest and it's one of my all-time favorites)
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lkmadison/4206622876/&quot; title="Oakleigh by L.K.Madison, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4011/4206622876_f626b638df.jpg&quot; width="500" height="333" alt="Oakleigh" /></a>

That's the first top ten that came to mind, little bit of everything but nothing in particular.

Thanks for looking!

FlyNavy

Very nice!!

l.k.madison

FlyNavy wrote:

Very nice!!

Thanks!!

adbsgicom

Very nice series. I like your lighting in most of them (not wild about the direct light exercise, but I get it). I really like the angle you shot of the music shots -- it's a different sort of vibe. Nicely done.

l.k.madison

adbsgicom wrote:

Very nice series. I like your lighting in most of them (not wild about the direct light exercise, but I get it). I really like the angle you shot of the music shots -- it's a different sort of vibe. Nicely done.

Thanks!! I'll admit I cheated on some of the music shots, I'm usually shooting from beside the drum set most of the time, I like to include the crowd so you can actually tell it's at a concert.

adbsgicom

How's that cheating? It's called getting a shot opportunity.

l.k.madison

adbsgicom wrote:

How's that cheating? It's called getting a shot opportunity.

It's cheating when your husband's one of the ones onstage

I may or may not abuse my backstage pass at every gig I go to.

Gary752

l.k.madison wrote:

It's cheating when your husband's one of the ones onstage

I may or may not abuse my backstage pass at every gig I go to.

As Andrew stated, it's not cheating, and I wouldn't concider it abusing your backstage pass as long as the band & venue doesn't mind. I shoot for an Elvis impersonator, and only time I get to shoot from the stage is before and after the show. If you are allowed to shoot from the stage during their performance, concider yourself lucky, and take advantage of it every chance you get.

GaryB

l.k.madison

BroPhoto wrote:

As Andrew stated, it's not cheating, and I wouldn't concider it abusing your backstage pass as long as the band & venue doesn't mind. I shoot for an Elvis impersonator, and only time I get to shoot from the stage is before and after the show. If you are allowed to shoot from the stage during their performance, concider yourself lucky, and take advantage of it every chance you get.

GaryB

The band doesn't mind - at ALL. It's either sell merch (yuck) or take pictures. If the venue is too small, they of course have first dibs on the stage, but both of those band shots were in the same tent on the same night (two different bands, actually) and there was PLENTY of room.

They performed at a gig in Houston (no names on the gig) that had a HUGE big sign basically stating that photos were only allowed during the first song of each set (outside, middle of the day so it's not like flashes would be a problem). I looked at the sign, looked at the guys and the manager said "if they have a problem with it, they can take it up with me" and that was that. Got some of the best pictures (prior to those night shots) that I'd ever gotten that day. I never said I followed rules

Gary752

Click Here to view some of the shots I got this past Friday. That venue was awesome, and can't wait to go back there again. I was middle, front row, tight up against the stage. After checking out the stage lighting before the show, I decided to leave the flash in the bag, and go for available light. I really liked the effect it had on his leather outfit he wore for the opening numbers.

I liked your band shots! I really like the over the shoulder view! I can't wait to see what you come up with next.

GaryB

l.k.madison

BroPhoto wrote:

Click Here to view some of the shots I got this past Friday. That venue was awesome, and can't wait to go back there again. I was middle, front row, tight up against the stage. After checking out the stage lighting before the show, I decided to leave the flash in the bag, and go for available light. I really liked the effect it had on his leather outfit he wore for the opening numbers.

I liked your band shots! I really like the over the shoulder view! I can't wait to see what you come up with next.

GaryB

I LOVE the blue leather one, that's just awesome.

I have a few more band shots on my flickr, feel free to go look around, I've obviously gotten WAY better since a year ago this time when I *really* started shooting them.

divamum

l.k.madison wrote:

It's cheating when your husband's one of the ones onstage

I may or may not abuse my backstage pass at every gig I go to.

I certainly hope so! That's not "abuse" it's called "using what ya gotz" . I do the same with dress rehearsal access to productions where I know folks involved ... which in one case has now turned into a modest, repeat, paying gig.

Love #2 - use of light is fantastic!!!

lilmomma

l.k.madison wrote:

2009 was the year that I realized "oh wow, I could do this, I could take more than just snapshots" so after many field trips and many, many, many shots of my husband and son, I've realized that yes, I can do this - and I will. Now, to get rid of that darn day job....

Great shots, I particularly like 4, 6, and 9. That realization is a great feeling, had one of those myself this year

l.k.madison

divamum wrote:

Love #2 - use of light is fantastic!!!

That light is actually a home-made ring light my husband made me for my birthday last year. Basically, six bulbs arranged in a circle on a tripod.

Shots 1 and 2 are my little cousin, she wanted me to shoot her senior pictures (knowing the photographers in the area aside from a few are just downright awful) but the catch was that she wanted it in her dance studio - where she's danced since she was 2. We only brought the ring light and the flash (which we only used on ones when she was actually leaping or flipping). Her mom's already claimed that one on canvas, and when she orders, we're getting a second one for us. There's more from her set on my flickr. If you EVER get the chance to shoot in a dance studio, take it - that mirror reflects some amazing light around the room.

FlyNavy

#2 is my favorite!! Reminds me of my kids while they were in college. I thought they were in the library studying..........But they were out on the town.

l.k.madison

FlyNavy wrote:

#2 is my favorite!! Reminds me of my kids while they were in college. I thought they were in the library studying..........But they were out on the town.

Ha! That's what college kids do!

The shot before this is her texting, with just the side of her face and her hair lit, she didn't think we were still clicking, I saw the shot in the camera and made her spin a few times. She got dizzy but it was so worth it.