Amber...'before'

OK, a few people obviously aware that some techniques were used to enhance the image, wanted to see a ‘before’ image of Amber…before being dropped into some photoshop manuvering…here it is.

Amber

I photographed 'Amber' this weekend at the Radisson in Saint Cloud, MN. I was one of the invited vendors, to a bridal fair, that they host every year.

Amber was not a bride, she was one of the wait-staff that was hastily talked into being a model for a photgraphy seminar I hosted, as our original models never showed.

Not toobad for no hair and make-up five minutes prior to being asked. Thanks to Katie Graham at the Radisson for inviting our studio.

Your time will come

I was drawn to watching Joel Osteen on TV this morning. There was just so much power coming off the screen that despite the pull of the computer in the other room, his words seemed so much more important.Over and over again he emphasized saying to yourself "my time will come!" Now usually someone says that meaning "you're gonna get yours sucka!" but he meant really "you are going to get yours... as long as you believe you will."It's actually in the most trying times that you have to believe that.Believe that the BEST is yet to come... that the next shoe to drop is to complete a brand new pair, not to trample you down.That's the funny thing about faith... you actually have to take that step BEFORE you know if it's going to be alright. (Why else do you need that other shoe, if not to take a step with?)So often people hold off, waiting for a sign that it will be successful before they even try... yet history will tell you that it was those that stepped out in blind faith that journeyed the farthest.I needed that message more than anyone today. My breath has been too shallow lately, my steps too small. I've had guilty moments where I thought of loss; even when I know how powerful positive thoughts can be. I have felt the power of thinking big, and the loneliness of thinking small.I know what it feels like to be knocked down, only to be knocked down again... but I remember what it feels like to stand tall... and to step out blindly... not into the darkness, but the light.And the light can hurt too, when you first step into it... but once you feel the warmth, you don't let the cold keep you down.My time will come.It's about time.

A teen with taste

This Saint Cloud Times report was about my beautiful daughter, who recently developed and published herown cookbook. You can find the article here.. http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/LIFE/103220012

Below is the article...

ST. JOSEPH — Candyce Thompson created almost 100 original recipes for her new cookbook, “Candyce B’s Cookbook.”
The eighth-grader tested every recipe. She scoured stores for colorful dishes and took photographs of every recipe. Now, after almost two years of work, Thompson is looking to promote the book everywhere from her neighborhood to (hopefully) national food television shows.
Not bad for a 13-year-old busy with classes at Mississippi Heights Middle School.
“She has a talent for it,” said Thompson’s mother, Renee Symanietz of St. Joseph. “That is her love.”
The family self-published 500 cookbooks, Symanietz said.
Thompson will sell the books to raise money for a summer trip to Australia and New Zealand. She hopes to earn $3,000 for the journey.
Thompson started cooking at age 2 and when she “could stir the cookie dough,” Symanietz said. At 10, she opened a business, Candyce B’s Bakery, specializing in cakes and pies.
She now makes dishes such as chicken Parmesan and fettuccine Alfredo. That’s good news for her mother, who doesn’t cook much.
“I do most of it now,” Thompson said. “I actually enjoy it.”
Soups are among Thompson’s favorites. Her grandmother always asks for her bean-dill soup.
“A lot of people like the dill,” Thompson said. “It’s very good.”
Thompson relied on friends and family to taste test the recipes. Her 17-year-old brother tried many of them. After all, teen boys can eat — a lot.
The aspiring cook has ambitious plans, including opening a five-star restaurant. But she’s starting small, thinking about selling premade cookie dough for her trip and maybe creating a Web site.
Symanietz has another idea.
“I said cookbook No. 2,” she said.
Thompson is open to it.
“I might try another cookbook. It depends on how this (one) sells,” she said.

Rich & Katie, Sacramento, CA

Captured this series of images a Rich & Katie's Wedding. Kind of fun, they tied the knot at a local Bible Camp and a reception at a nlake conference center.

Calendar Says Spring is Here!

Calendar says so....but this image created just weeks ago conveys a different message.

Created on Madeline Island, WI in mid-February by my lovely Bride, Linda.

NEVER SAY NEVER

NEVER SAY NEVER

There is no such thing as no chance. Don't think about the things you can't do. Think about the things you can do. No matter what the level of your ability is, you have more potential than you can ever develop in a lifetime. You have powers you never dreamed of. You can do things you never thought you could do. There are no limitations to what you can do except the limitations of your own mind. Your range of available choices right now is limitless. Look at things as they can be.

Christa & Dan, Bayfield, WI

“FOCUS ON YOUR FUTURE NOT YOUR PAST”

Your future is a big adventure. Prepare for your future don’t live in the past. Savor your good memories,use any bad ones as lessons in life.
Carve out a niche for yourself in your imagined future. Think, feel and see yourself as successful. To achieve any goal in life, you need to project your end result. Think of the elation, the satisfaction, the joy you’ll feel. Carry these ecstatic feelings with you every dayand they’ll bring your desired goals into view.
Sooner or later, you can win if you think you can. The cards you are dealt in lifeare less important than the way you play them. Everyday you’re offered a new deal and new cards.

Attitude

Seems to me that business success – or any success – is determined principally by one thing – your attitude to what is happening around you. Life is, after all, what happens while you’re making other plans. I clearly remember seeing the following on someone’s cubicle wall, which captured exactly what I thought:
ATTITUDE
by: Charles Swindoll (www.insightforliving.org)

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home.The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude... I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.

Kamini & Daryl, Duluth, MN

Kamini & Daryl were married ain Superior, WI and reception was at Canal Park in Duluth, MN. A Beautiful Bride made every image a ‘Winner’. Thanks You Daryl and Kamini.

Brad & Sue, Duluth, MN

An example of our "Page Design" service that is available on all of our wedding albums we produce.

Sue and Brad were married in Duluth, MN. THis was a fun wedding with lots of great ops to capture images, especially along Duluth's waterfront at Canal Park.

Mike & Melissa, Sanibel Island, FL

Was fortunate recently to capture a couple od engagement's while vacationing on Florida's Gulf Coast.
We created this image on Sanibel Island early one morning; having to decided to photograph's in Florida before their summer, Minnesota Wedding.

Sue & Brad

Brad and Sue, married in Duluth on a nice warm August Day. Resulting iamges and album are quite beautiful and it turns out Sue is a pretty good sailor! http://www.thompsonportraitdesign.net/gallery/suebrad/pages/A.html

"Sunset On North Bay, Oak Island"

Taken Fourth of July Weekend, while on the hook with Friends Bob & Eileen, Geno and his pooch Franc. Looking toward the west towards Duluth. Later that night we sat on the beach and enjoyed a campfire and watched the lightning storm over the Canadien Border, several miles to the north.

"Last Morning at the Marina"

We moved our sailboat from Buffalo Bay to Roy's Point the night before...waited till morning to fuel-up and do the last minute winterizing work...Haul-out is always a sad time....meaning the season is over.

The sky looked like it might show some interesting color, so I grabbed my Canon and waited...watched the early morning show and captured images like this one.

"If They Knew"

Created this image for a mom's Day gift...we included images that were with her sister (Post Later).

But this image really caught our eye, since his smirk told us the story...

Forest Sentinel

I photographed this Grey Owl on my way home to Bayfield. This graceful creature flew across the road in front of me and I decidfed, since I’ve got a camera with me, to turn around and attempt a shot. After what seemed like an hour, it finally posed for and flew off about three minutes later.
My friend Harvey Schafer took advantage of a painting technique and finished this image for me. Thanks Harv!!

Spring Fawn

This poor little girl was photographed near the marina at the Buffalo Bay Yacht Club, Bayfield, WI. We’re not sure what happened with her, but she never moved far from this tall grassy area….seemed to be looking for mom. Was taken with a long lense to prevent getting to close.

Jaimee & Alex, February 23, 2008

This was an image from last weeks wedding at Saint Joseph's Catholic Church.

Photographed from a low angle help to add dimension to the image while keeping it balanced with the Bride and Groom.

Jaimee & Alex were super to photograph and the resulting images helped set the tone for the upcoming wedding season.