K's Blog

The Gulf Coast has been in the news a lot this year.  Unfortunately all of the publicity was due to a tragic event that threatened to destroy the beaches, wildlife and livelihood of the people who live there.  With a broken heart, I watched the horrific images of the oil spill seeping through the water like a big black cloud creeping closer and closer to destroy everything I love about the Gulf.  While the oil did manage to intrude on and do significant damage to some of the beaches and marshlands in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, it did not reach the one place that I cherish and visit regularly – the barrier island of St George, located off of the coast of Apalachicola Florida.

I visited St George several times this year — the latest visit being just a couple of weeks ago.  The beaches were thankfully oil free.  However, while we were there, other dark clouds prevented us from spending each day playing in the sand and surf.  But these clouds were natural.  And unbelievably beautiful.  You see,  a tropical storm was brewing off of the coast causing some pretty wild weather.  The whipping winds and wild waves kept us off of the beach but the intense dark storm clouds mixed with periods of bright blue sky and sun provided some very dramatic sights — from dark foreboding storm clouds with driving rain visible over the water, to beautiful rainbows and the most incredible sunsets I have ever seen.    Of course I had my camera with me and on one particularly beautiful evening, I grabbed some of the best sunset shots I have ever taken.  Check them out.

I shot these photographs over the course of about 25 minutes and as the sun got lower and lower off to the right, the colors and intensity became brighter and brighter.  At one point, a rainbow appeared in a small portion of the rain clouds.

The clouds were so thick and layered that they reflected the bright orange setting sun so brightly that it appeared as if the sun was setting over the Gulf.  Obviously it was not, but look at the color and brightness of these clouds and even the orange reflection on the water.  It looks more like I was shooting a beach in California than the Gulf.

Last bit of daylight

I hope these photos help to remind people how beautiful the Gulf Coast is and inspire everyone to pay a visit to the region.  We are all hopeful that  things will return to normal in the areas that were hit hard now that the oil has stopped gushing and the beaches and waters are being cleaned.   Thanks to everyone who has volunteered and is helping with the cleanup.

If you would like to order any of these photographs, please visit www.ddkportraits.zenfolio.com and click on the sunset gallery.

Okay, I have officially caught baby fever!!  I recently held a “Casting Call” in order to find some newborn babies in the Atlanta area to help me test out some new ideas and, WOW, what a response!!  Working with fellow photographer, Mary Ann Pegg, I have done several shoots both at my studio and at clients’ homes photographing some very adorable and sweet babies in Alpharetta.  Here are some images from these shoots…..

An idea we had been dying to try involved wrapping the baby securely and suspending him in a stork-like bundle from a branch or just from our firm grasp.  While this idea has been denounced by some photographers as “unsafe” and “irresponsible”, I can assure you that I would never attempt any pose unless the baby was completely secure, safe and comfortable.   Mary Ann and I are both experienced photographers but first and foremost we are also both mothers and we would never, ever compromise the safety or comfort of a new baby for the sake of getting a picture.  Our set-up is very carefully thought through and we involve the mother and/or father in the shoot so that at least two people are attending to the baby while one photographer shoots the portrait.  We use beanbags, pillows and blankets to ensure soft, cushy settings.  While we realize that these poses are not for everyone, we have received a wonderful response to these pictures and have found that several of our clients appreciate the artistic nature of these creative photos.

Of course I have not abandoned my journalistic roots and still prefer shots that show the love a new family experiences at the miracle of a new baby.  The following shots are some of my absolute favorites

I would like to thank all of the patient moms who participated in my Casting Call.  Congratulations on your beautiful babies!