Are you familiar with the black and white portraits taken by Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai?  If you're searching for inspiration do take a look at her website.  I am in love with her soulful  view through the lens.  She seems to capture the very essence of being in each of her subjects. 

I've been too afraid to venture into portrait taking, except for the fly-by-the-seat-of-my pants moments that have happened on rare ocassions. I'm too timid to ask people if I might take their picture and too kind not to just snatch a shot when someone is not looking.  So I think I'm going to search for some subjects that wouldn't mind if I spent an hour with them and would overlook any screw-ups I might make.  I'd really like to try my hand at taking portraits, but mind you...none of that posing in a studio sort of thing...just raw, real and natural light photography. Before I can find my focus I must explore.   

A Few Favorites from 2010

 If I had to choose the one photo that I love the best from the hudreds I took in 2010, the photo I call Puddle Jumper comes in first hands down.  Yes, I wish I didn't have the brick buildings in the background, I wish it was just a bit sharper, but it tells a story that always makes me smile.  I captured my grandson in his rain boots just off the ground as he was jumping.  Even his shadow shows up ever so slightly in the puddle behind him. This is a happy photo of childhood glee. 

Coming in a close second is a photo I took of my daughter one evening.  I decided to tweak it and go the black and white route.

I don't take alot of photos of people or portraits.  I'm simply not good at capturing the character unique to each individual.  I'm not crazy about posed or staged photos of people, but prefer candid shots.  I'm finding that capturing those candid faces is a really tough task.  Once in a great while I luck out, but most of my people photos are mediocre at best. 

Tomorrow it's about nature in all it's wild and wonderful glory. 

Have a grand evening!