Brenda Smith Photography

Bree and Dennis Wedding

2012-01-04T10:15:00.000-08:00

I'm a geek. One of my favorite past times is to play a game called Magic: The Gathering. On a trip to Toronto to participate in a tournament, I happened to meet a couple from Michigan. We kept in touch and just over a year later I was photographing their wedding. It was a beautiful event.

It was an outdoor wedding during a great warm fall day. I as so glad to be a part of the event. It was really nice to see my different worlds of photography and magic to combine. I wish the two of them the best in the future, including when we play at the next tournament.

Strobist Food Challenge

2011-12-23T10:02:00.000-08:00

I am a huge fan of Strobist so when the first food photography challenge was presented, I had to jump in. I'd never done anything like this before, so I attempted a few different set ups.

In the spirit of DIY, everything for the shoot was either purchased at the dollar store or what I had around the house.

Caramel Apple

Then I got hungry...

Setup Shot for the above photos...

Humus

Don't mind the mess of my old apartment. As you can clearly see, a "good" studio isn't needed for good photography...

I also decided to challenge myself with food that didn't automatically look nice. This was my dinner that night from a local Chinese take out place...

Setup shot (say hi to Shiny...he was entertained by my running around that day)...

Final Products...

Fireworks in Riverview

2011-12-18T09:47:00.000-08:00

While the weather turns colder, it's nice to remember some of the warmer days. I traveled down to Riverview with some friends last year to watch the fireworks. For the first time ever, I decided to try my hand at long exposure firework photography. These are my favorites from that batch.

Glowstick Portrait

2011-12-14T09:46:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when friends are bored late at night with just a camera to entertain them. Combine a fan, glow sticks and a flash...and get this. It was a little experiment in flash plus long shutter speeds that came out fabulously.

Rochester Michigan Photowalk

2011-12-10T09:45:00.000-08:00

Another photowalk I took part in located in Rochester Michigan. I'd never spent time in the area so grabbing my camera and just making my way around was an adventure. Partway through the day it started raining, but that definitely didn't damper the spirits...it just provided some nice dimensions to the shooting.

Henry Ford Museum Photowalk

2011-12-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

The Henry Ford Museum is an amazing place to spend a day. A while ago I was lucky enough to participate in a photowalk there. It was a great way to spend a day. There's no way to see everything in one trip, I can't wait to go back.

Butch Walker at the Magic Bag

2011-12-04T09:42:00.000-08:00

Getting my name out there

2011-10-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

Hello all!

It's been a crazy few months, but I'm finally getting back to updating my blog. And to encourage myself and get my name out there more, I've just listed my photography online:

Professional Personable Photographer

More coming soon!

Laura's Social Media Portrait

2011-06-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

One of my great friends, Laura, has recently started her own blog and wanted some portrait photos for her new Guilty Fabulous Blog.

Being a social media venture, we could be a little more adventurous with the photos. She was a great sport and we had a great time with this photo shoot.

Dragon*Con

2011-05-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

You may not know this..but I'm a geek. A really big geek.

There's an event in Atlanta every year over Labor Day weekend called Dragon*Con...it's a geek heaven. I've been able to attend for the last two years and see some of my favorite actors talk about their experiences.

Prayer Portraits

2011-05-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine let me do a study of her doing something very close to her heart - praying. We spent a few hours traveling to different locations that mean a lot to her. It was a great experience and I'm really lucky she let me into this part of her life.

Detroit Zoo

2011-05-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

With the weather slowly turning towards summer, I'm getting the itch to head to the zoo again. The Detroit Zoo is a short drive from where I live and always provides a day full of entertainment.

The photos below were taken last year on a trip at the zoo. I definitely need to get back soon.

Friendly Portraits

2011-05-17T22:43:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I was able spend a great weekend with friends in a hotel in Philly just relaxing and hanging out. Of course my camera came out and photos were taken.

It was a great exercise to see what kind of photo shoot locations I could come up with in a limited space with limited lighting. Below are some of my favorites from the weekend.

My Happy Place

2011-05-15T20:40:00.000-07:00

I'm almost fully recovered from my surgery and life is getting back to normal. To celebrate, let me show you my happy place.

For the last six years I've been spending a week of January on The Rock Boat. It's a great trip with an amazing group of friends listening to some good music. Of course my camera is usually attached at my hip. Below are some of my favorite concert shots from the most recent Rock Boat.

Kitties

2011-05-08T22:09:00.000-07:00

I had to have surgery on Friday, so I'm still a bit out of it. However, one thing that will always make me smile...my kitties...

Costa Maya

2011-05-02T18:47:00.000-07:00

On the most recent Rock Boat, we stopped at Costa Maya and I had an amazing experience seeing the ruins.

Florida Everglades

2011-04-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

Since the last post was from Florida, I figured I'd stick with the trend and finally put up some of the photos I took in the Everglades.

My only regret is that I haven't been able to explore more of the Everglades. There is so much to see and I've only touched a part of it. Hopefully I'll be able to get back there soon.

West Palm Beach

2011-04-16T15:58:00.000-07:00

I'm hanging out with some friends in Philadelphia and the weather here is horrible. To make up for it, here are some photos I took on my most recent trip to Florida...

West Palm Beach

Stuart

Harry Potter at Universal Orlando

2011-04-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

In January I was lucky enough to be able to join my friend Jamie on a trip to Orlando. As super geek fans, we had to stop at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. The level of detail was amazing. Thankfully I brought my camera with me and was able to capture some of the atmosphere.

Jamie experiencing Butterbeer. By the way, it's amazing. I might actually go back just for that.

The shops had plenty of neat little trinkets to buy and just even check out.

And of all the shops, I couldn't help but stop in Honeydukes. Jamie bought several chocolate frogs but I saved my money for a cauldron cake.

Even the bathrooms looked cool.

While you couldn't ride the Hogwarts Express, the conductor was there welcoming everyone to Hogsmede.

I'm Back!

2011-04-09T15:55:00.000-07:00

Real life is the beast that just doesn't stop. I've been continuing to do photography, but haven't been updating the blog.

Until now.

At least once a week I'll be updating the blog with photos I've taken recently. Expect a range of shots from trips around the world (well mostly North America right now) to portait shoots to weddings to my kitties.

Photography is something I love to do. Join me in exploring my passion as I continue to grow and learn more about the world around me through my lens.

Lorene's Portrait shoot

2009-07-06T08:17:00.001-07:00

Lorene 03 copy, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

When doing a portrait shoot, I have the most fun when the person getting their photo taken is having a good time and is open to ideas. Lorene was exactly that. We had a blast moving around Mill Race Village in Northville looking for interesting places to take photos.

The only bad thing is that it was sweltering out. Not only was it the hottest it has been so far this summer, it was also humid as heck. I was drenched in sweat by the end but Lorene looked just radiant as ever. This is why I'm behind the camera.

This was also my first official shoot with my 5d Mark II. Love it. I can't wait to do more shoots with it. I've done several already that I need to post here. I just can't get enough of it.

US-Mattress hosts Michigan Humane Soceity

2009-06-30T07:08:00.001-07:00

Plymouth MHS Event24, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

The US-Mattress.com store in Plymouth hosted the Michigan Humane Society's Mobile Adoption Unit last week. It was a beautiful day with cute puppies and kittens everywhere.

I'm lucky enough to work for US-Mattress and am proud to be the main contact for our work with the Michigan Humane Society. Seeing all of the people at this event looking to help was awesome. It was also great to hear from MHS after the event that all of the pets were adopted within the week.

If you want to learn more about our work with the Michigan Humane Society, read about our Sleep Well program.

The entire set of USM & MHS photos can be seen on Flickr but I've included a couple more of my favorites as well.

Camera Change

2009-06-19T14:12:00.001-07:00

IMG_6343, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

This is an older photo. In fact, it's one of the very first ones I took with my first digital camera, the Canon 20D. Before that I'd been shooting film exclusively and moving to digital was a fairly large step.

I just made my newest camera purchase...the Canon 5D Mark ii. I've started shooting with it and am in love. Soon I'll be adding photos I've taken with it. Until then, I decided to go back and revisit some of my old favorite photos. The next two photos were shot on my first film camera.

This photo has a lot to do with me getting into photography. There's a long back story here that I won't bore you with now...but this shot means a lot to me:

This photo was my first still life. It features an owl that my grandma had before she passed away. It's a tiny little thing and I'll always think of her when I see it.

A lot of firsts in this post. Hopefully a lot more will follow in the coming years as I continue to grow and expand my photography.

Carbon Leaf and Alternate Routes in A2

2009-06-15T09:36:00.001-07:00

Carbon Leaf and Alternate Routes - 041 - LOW, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

Two of my favorite bands recently came to town on tour: Carbon Leaf and The Alternate Routes. I had an amazing time at their show, they know how to rock your face off.

My only regret was not catching their show another time. It was a long night but totally worth it. If either of these bands show up in your city, don't hesitate going.

On a side note, they were playing the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. Normally the lighting at there is less than ideal for shooting a concert. Carbon Leaf brought their own lighting and made my day. While the stage is tiny so all of Carbon Leaf's lighting was a little scary looking coming from underneath them, it totally made the show a lot more fun to shoot.

Niagara Memorial Weekend 2009

2009-06-08T04:26:00.001-07:00

Niagara Memorial Weekend 2009 - 006, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

Not content to actually just relax for a weekend, I decided on a last second trip to Niagara Falls. I had never been before and was excited to see such an amazing natural phenomenon.

Of course I took my camera and had an excellent time shooting. I can't wait to go back and visit again. There were some great places that I didn't get to go but will definitely not miss next time.

Andrew's Graduation Shots

2009-06-05T14:03:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of taking some photos of Andrew commemorating his graduation from UMD. He's a pretty smart guy and knows how to laugh...a great combination.

We kept the shoot really simple and we were done in less than 2 hours. Overall I think everyone had a great time and the photos show it.

Damien's Photoshoot

2009-03-16T17:03:00.001-07:00

Damien 3-09 - 016, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

Damien has been subject many times to my wanting to try some new things with photography. Thankfully, he's a great subject that doesn't mind sitting there while I play with my lighting or try moving things around.

Recently I was able to do this session with him and, once again, he was a great sport. We started off inside my apartment just shooting around. Eventually we decided to move outside. Even though it was well below freezing, you'd never be able to tell. He was a trooper and we got some great shots out of it.

Don's Wedding

2009-03-05T08:13:00.001-08:00

Don's Wedding, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

This photo is actually from a couple of years ago but I recently started revisiting some of my old favorites and giving them new life in Photoshop.
My friend Don was the first of my high school friends to get married. I think that was the first time after graduating that I actually started to think, "Crap! I'm getting old!"
I wasn't the official photographer for the wedding, but I was able to grab some great shots that they ended up using in their album. I'm glad I was able to help capture their special day, even if it was a stark realization that I am, in fact, growing up.

TRB IX Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers - 016

2009-02-08T15:14:00.000-08:00

Every year I go on The Rock Boat and every year it seems to get more and more amazing.

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers put on on hell of a show normally, but get them on TRB and they seem to explode. The performance from this shot was probably my favorite on the boat this year.

The place was packed. They had the crowd on their feet, singing with every ounce of energy they had. On TRB...that's a lot of energy.

Everglades National Park Sunrise

2009-02-02T04:18:00.001-08:00

Everglades National Park - 014, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

Sorry for the lack of updating. I took my annual vacation on The Rock Boat and am finally catching up on things.

After TRB this year, my friend Jenn and I went and did some shooting in Everglades National Park. We had a wonderful time and I was able to get some great shots. I'll be posting several here that are my favorites.

Of all of the photos I took, this one is in my top three (I don't know i I could pick just one favorite from this trip).

Jenn and I woke up before the crack of dawn and drove an hour and a half to the very "bottom" of Florida and the Park so we could see the sunrise over the ocean. It was an amazing experience.

Robbie's Portrait

2008-12-09T06:31:00.001-08:00

Robbie Portait, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

Rob's another great friend of mine that doesn't mind my crazy playing with light. A couple of months ago he let me come over and set some lights up at his house to try some new stuff out.

This was one of my first shoots with both flashes off camera triggered wirelessly.

It's a simple portrait, but I think it fits well.

Christmas 08

2008-12-06T14:00:00.001-08:00

Christmas 2008 - 006, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

So for the first time ever, I decided to do all of a kid's shoot in studio. Most of the time I prefer to let them play outside and I snap shots. It seems much more real and spontaneous that way.

But, Chloe wanted some Christmas dress photos for this year and I decided I was up to the challenge.

We had a great time decorating the tree, throwing stuff around and just generally causing mayhem. There were some blips throughout the shoot (refusing to look at the camera, having to build the set once they got there, etc) but over all it was a lot of fun.

And, best of all, I learned a lot and will be much more prepared next time I have a two year old in studio.

Laura Outside

2008-12-03T06:26:00.001-08:00

Laura02, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I'm really lucky that my friends indulge my photography habit. Laura often comes to my rescue when I have some crazy photo ideas that I want to shoot.

This was my first attempt at lighting outdoors. We found a nice little spot just outside of my apartment. It was freezing out, so I could only convince her to stay out for a few minutes. But the photo came out great!

European Hair Design

2008-11-19T09:27:00.001-08:00

European Hair Design - 048, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

Last week I got the opportunity to work with my friend and fellow photographer Miya on a shoot.

We were photographing models for European Hair and Makeup Design in Dearborn. It was a long shoot (almost 9 hours from start to finish) but we got through a lot of models.

This was my first time doing an on-location shoot that involved a lighting setup. I used both of my flashes to get it more of a professional studio look. I'm quite happy with how everything came out.

I've uploaded some of my favorite shots to flickr

SK6ers 2008 @ The Ark

2008-11-18T09:52:00.001-08:00

SK6ers 2008 The Ark - 10, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I love live music. I love photographing live music even more. There's just something about being able to capture that moment of energy that happens on stage.

Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers is a band that is amazing to photograph for that reason specifically. Each and every concert feels like the band and fans have connected and are happy to spending time with each other.

The Ark is a tiny venue with not so great lighting. For this show, I wasn't even able to get great seats. But I was able to grab a couple of shots I really liked. The first one is just Stephen Kellogg jamming out. It's a simple shot but you can feel the energy he brings to each and every song.

The second one is this shot:

Again, it doesn't have the best lighting...but I love the crowd shot. Hands in the air, dancing around and even those people that are sitting can't help but grin.

Ruthie and Brad

2008-11-05T06:38:00.001-08:00

Ruthie and Brad 07 Texture, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I've known Ruthie for a few years now. She weathered the storm of being both my debate partner and roommate. When she asked if I could take some photos of her and her fiance, I was ecstatic.

We did the shoot at Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum which is a really interesting place. I'd love to try another shoot there in the future. Plenty of interesting things to look at and play with!

Kacey 2008

2008-11-01T18:24:00.001-07:00

Kacey 2008 - 11 copy, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I love photographing kids completely free style. Just let them run and do what they normally do and the best photos will come out. This is the second time I've been able to photograph Kacey and it's always a blast. She loves smiling for the camera and just playing around. We got some great shots on the trip to the apple orchard and this is one of my favorites.

Project 365

2008-10-06T12:07:00.000-07:00

60/365 - Kim's Garden in Novi has excellent food. I snapped this while waiting for my order.

53/365 - Driving home and playing with long exposures = Weird Photos
54/365 - Late night Shot of Kitty.
58/365 - Bryan asked the waitress what a "Sloppy Joe was because he was confused by the ice cream (it didn't occur to him that they sold "real food" instead of just desserts).
59/365 - Damien, Bryan, Aaron and I went Geocaching and came across a large stand alone fireplace.
61/365 - The cats are confused. This is not unusual for them

The days that are missed here weren't actually skipped, they're on my other camera. I'll upload them next time

Project 365

2008-09-30T11:02:00.000-07:00

I've been without internet for a few days, so I'm still struggling to catch up.

My favorite from this bunch...

52/365 - Every year for the last three years around his birthday, I get to take photos of Braeden. He's adorable and I love getting to hang out with Renee for a bit.

48/365 - My To Do Board at work. Yes, my handwriting really is that bad.
49/365 - Jill and I went to the Michigan Theater and saw the world Premiere of Slacker Uprising.
50/365 - It was International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so of course I had to wear my Go Pirates shirt.
51/365 - Don had a BBQ and I had a lot of fun. My friend Joe joined me along with several other friends.

Catchup not Ketchup

2008-09-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

Still working on catching up on project365.

My favorite of this bunch...

46/365 - The view outside my office. Such a beautiful day.

The rest
40/365 - The view out my bedroom window at about quarter to midnight.
41/365 - I got to see Great Big Sea but had to take my PS.
42/365 - Cell phone shot of Ben and Chelsey after watching ANTM,
43/365 - Gaelic Storm came to town. I have a ton of photos to post from the show later.
44/365 - I was using the board but Wee Seamus decided it was a good napping spot
45/365 - My poor dining room table has become just storage space.
47/365 - The longest day I've worked in a while. Started at 6am and left at 11pm.

Almost Caught Up

2008-09-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

Still working my way through all the photos I took for the project365 that I haven't posted.

This is my favorite from this bunch:

Bryan is a good sport and lets me use him as a model (noticed I didn't call him a dummy) when I want to play with lighting. I pulled out my studio stuff and tried out my homemade snoot. I think it worked really well.

33/365 - The sunrise on the drive from my parents' place into work.
34/365 - Sour Gummy Popcorn in four flavors: watermelon, strawberry, apple and popcorn. Sour. Gummy. Fruit Flavored. Popcorn. Yes, I tried it. Yes, it's disgusting as it sounds.
36/365 - Robbie waiting to play games.
37/365 - Damien and I met at Big Boys to go over his designing of my website.
38/365 - Very dark, late night shot of Bryan looking at something on his phone.
39/365 - Me, an orange and my Say No to Scurvy Tshirt...also known as my PSA for the Day

Another Project365 Catch Up

2008-09-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

Here is another continuation of my catch up on project 365.

My Favorite of this bunch: 30/365

The view from the dock in northern Michigan where I got to hang out with some old friends and meet some new ones. I took this with my cell phone, I'm happy with how well it came out.

26/365 - Unfortunately, I missed day 26. Very sick. Wanted to die. No photo (First and hopefully last one missed)
27/365 - Was consious enough to take a photo of the one thing that I was able to consume - Gatorade
28/365 - Rehearsal for the wedding I was shooting the next day. This was one of the favors they had.
29/365 - The lovely couple. Still need to go through the photos and fix the shots.
31/365 - A bit of rope from the sailing ship I got to go on. It was beautiful.
32/365 - I stayed at my parents' place. This is the end table of the guest room where I stayed (my laptop, wallet and key are all there)

Catch Up on Project 365

2008-09-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

I've still been taking the photos for Project 365 but have been a slacker when it comes to posting them. I'll be playing catch up over the next few postings.

My favorite photo from the bunch:

23/365 - Joe and his puppies at his grandparents' 50th anniversary party.

The Rest
19/365 - My Geocaching Duckie
20/365 - I made corn for dinner
21/365 - The current state of my hair
22/365 - I spent the day in a movie theater and this sign was there.
24/265 - A Tshirt that Probie designed for everyone (our site is US-Mattress.com...hence the tats on the knuckles)
25/365 - This little bugger was waiting for me when I came home.

More catching up later. :)

Dollar Store Lighting AKA 17/365

2008-08-18T21:15:00.000-07:00

I decided to use Project 365 as an excuse to get more adventurous with my lighting. However, lack of funds keeps me from getting the newest and coolest gadgets. So, off to the dollar store I went.

I bought $12 worth of stuff:

Silver burner plate, plastic basket, clouded pitcher, large tupperware bowl, silver ashtrays, silver napkin holder, black square plate and random toys.

I started on Sunday by making the dollar store lightsphere. It consists of the clouded pitcher and the silver burner plate.

Side View and Rear View

This is one of the photos I took with the it:

You can see more photos, including a different set up using the ashtrays that were purchased, in my flickr pool.

I'll be posting more photos over the coming week as I experiment with the stuff I bought.

Project 365 - Weekly Recap

2008-08-18T06:51:00.000-07:00

So I've been taking photos, but just real behind in uploading them. This has been a pretty busy week, so all of these shots are from either my cell phone or little point and shoot camera. I did some actual photography last night, I'll post those either tonight or tomorrow.

Day 8/365 (8/8/08): Jason and I met up for Yummy Thai Food. This was him just after we ate (we were deciding between Coldstone and Starbucks for dessert).

Day 9/365 (8/9/08): Laura and I went to Chicago for a day to experience SocialDevCamp. Lots of fun and I took lots of photos. This is a seagull on top of the building the conference was held in. They'll be more photos of that day posted later. I took a ton and loved the scenery.

Day 10/365 (8/10/08): I made Chicken Chili to bring for lunch (trying to save money). It was really good. I'll definitely make it again.

Day 11/365 (8/11/08): Chloe at work. She, "has an idea." And no, this wasn't my idea...she did it on her own.

Day 12/365 (8/12/08): Connie at work brought in some home grown cucumbers. They were awesome.

Day 13/365 (8/13/08): I went to the dollar store and bought some stuff to use in photography. I'll be making a larger post on this subject later. Just over $12 and I've already been able to shoot two cool photos using this stuff.

Day 14/365 (8/14/08): Ben and Chelsey came over for Ben's birthday (which is the 13th, but we ended up hanging out until after 2am). The evening involved Taco Bell, watching the Olympics and Flavor Tripping. All and all, a lot of fun.

Day 15/365 (8/15/08): Jason and I ended up grabbing some ice cream and seeing a band perform at an outdoor venue. This was the sign for the weekly shows put on there. I took the photo because the band performing was "Klezmer-influenced" and I had no idea what that meant. According to Wikipedia, it's, "a musical tradition which parallels Hasidic and Ashkenazic Judaism."

Day 16/365 (8/16/08): Jason was supposed to have a game night, but it feel through. Fortunately though, Jason, Kevin and I still got to hang out and play some games. This was the second game of the night: Free Parking. I kicked their asses!

So, there you have it. All the photos from the last week or so that I hadn't put up. I'll try to be more on top of this. But, at least I'm remembering to take the photos! :)

Socialdevcamp Chicago

2008-08-09T09:12:00.001-07:00

Socialdevcampchicago 07, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

Laura and I are in Chicago hanging out with a bunch of people to chat about Web 2.0 stuff. I'm currently running on about 2 and a half hours of sleep and a lot of caffeine.

I'll be updating my devcamp flickr set with photos as I get a chance to upload them.

Disaster 6/365 and Shiny 7/365

2008-08-09T08:41:00.001-07:00

Disaster 6/365, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

This is the current state of my dining room table. Yes, it does look like a photo studio blew up. Click through to the Flickr photo to see everything labeled.

Also, here is Shiny late last night:

Straws 5/365

2008-08-05T22:11:00.001-07:00

Straws 5/365, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

This is what happens when 11:45pm rolls around and you still don't have a shot for the day. I spent a few minutes in the kitchen looking for inspiration and came across some bendy straws. Not to far from them were some red plastic cups. Viola! Still life!

Now it's bed time. :)

Beginning 4/365

2008-08-05T22:08:00.001-07:00

Beginning 4/365, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

This photo came from me trying to come up with an idea for the "beginning" theme. I had several ideas that I couldn't do (didn't have the supplies) and this came to me while digging around my junk drawer.

This is also the first shot with my new 24-70mm L lens. LOVE IT!

Flavor Tripping - 3/365

2008-08-03T20:22:00.001-07:00

Flavor Tripping03, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

One of my many adventures on the web led me to read about Miracle Fruit.

It's a berry that, when eaten, "turns off" your bitter and sour taste buds for a short time (anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours).

I bought some tablets and decided to try it out.

Surprisingly enough...it totally works.

Reefer Madness

2008-08-03T20:18:00.001-07:00

Reefer Madness, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

Laura and I have taken to seeing local theater whenever possible. It's an amusing way to pass some time. This was a poster for the show we saw this weekend.

Reefer Madness the Musical was interesting. I added the DVD to my netflix lineup so I can compare. I'm most amused by the face that the show started at 4:20 on Saturday. It's the little things.

Project 365 First Photos

2008-08-03T20:09:00.001-07:00

1st Project 365 - Self Portrait, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

My first three days working on Project 365.

This self portrait was my first photo. I had planned on spending some time Friday night with my lighting and just playing around. But, my friend Joe called and invited me out to the casino. I snapped this photo around 9:30pm before I ran out the door. I figured (correctly) that I wouldn't be back before midnight.

Lots of fun at the casino though. And, hopefully, this will be the worst photo of the year :)

Alaska Trip 2008

2008-06-18T09:19:00.001-07:00

Alaska Trip 2008 - 066, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I had an amazing trip to Alaska in May. It was a short one, but I'm extremely glad I went. The scenery was beautiful and I was able to experience some things I never thought I'd get the chance to see.

I took quite a few photos while I was there. However, I think this one is my favorite. I took a day cruise to see some of the Kenai Fjords National Park. It was absolutely amazing.

We came upon an island full of Steller Sea Lions. This big guy was hanging out by himself and looked pretty content.

Strobist Kit - First Shoot

2008-05-09T04:29:00.001-07:00

Bryan Studio Shoot, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I mentioned Strobist in my last post. It's a great resource to start learning about off camera light. I purchased a kit offered by mpex to really get started and have been impressed.

This photo of Bryan was one of several I shot in the fifteen or so minutes I could get him to sit for me as I tried out my new kit for the first time. I had a blast and can't wait to start adding more lights and trying different things.

For those interested, the set up is quite simple. Just one flash shot through an umbrella at 1/4 power just outside the frame.

Michigan Strobist Photoshoot

2008-04-17T17:31:00.001-07:00

Michigan Strobist - 05, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

Last weekend I meet up with the West Michigan contingent from the Strobist blog. There were around 15 photographers and 5 models that basically spent the day shooting in an warehouse.

I had so much fun...although I caught a cold from running around in the damp, cold warehouse without a jacket (sorry mom!).

This is my favorite photo from the shoot. I had a great time and hope to see everyone again.

Meijer Gardens

2008-04-04T07:43:00.001-07:00

IMG_014, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

Every year I make a trip out to Grand Rapids and Meijer Gardens to see the butterflies. The best part of the trip is sharing it with friends.

This was a candid shot I got of Ben and Chelsey outside the green house. It wasn't planned, but I think it came out beautifully. One day I'd love to shoot a wedding there.

Did you wear green today?

2008-03-17T06:31:00.001-07:00

Wee Seamus 04, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day from Wee Seamus.

Studio Lighting Day 3

2008-02-18T08:57:00.001-08:00

Studio Lighting Day 3 - 4, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I've been taking a studio lighting class at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. It's been a lot of fun finally getting to try out lighting using actual equipment.

This photo is from last week's class. The only bad thing is that I really want to invest in some lights or, at least, some studio time.

Bryan in Scarf

2008-01-15T07:30:00.001-08:00

Bryan in Scarf, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I took this for my B&W film class as part of my final. Bryan hated posing for the photo, but I love the way it came out.

This was taken in my ghetto home studio, with a simple white back drop and two lights behind me.

Saint Andrews 12-26-07 - The Hard Lessons

2007-12-28T11:05:00.001-08:00

St. Andrews 12-26-07 The Hard Lessons, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I love concert photography. Everything about it is intense: You have a limited amount of time to get the shot. Lights are always changing. People are moving around. Things like stands and speakers block parts of the shots. You're battling people for a spot to get the right angle. There is never enough light.

But when you get that shot....it's an awesome feeling.

This week was my first opportunity to shoot from the photo pit at a concert. It was even more exciting than I could have imagined.

I can't wait to do it again.

Elizabeth Bridge

2007-12-04T06:40:00.001-08:00

Elizabeth Bridge, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I have to admit, I wasn't really struck by this picture when I first saw it on the screen. But, once I had it printed...it just seemed to pop. It's quickly moved up my list of top photos. It also seems to be a common favorite for other people looking at my work.
I took this downriver in Elizabeth Park. It was the only time I've been there, but I definitely need to get back. There were plenty of great areas to shoot.

Laura's Christmas Card

2007-11-27T06:39:00.001-08:00

Final Project39 copy, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I have some amazing friends. I put out a call for people to take photos of for my final photography class project and a few hours later I had a list of people willing to help out. Four of us went out and did some shooting in Brighton. Some of the photos came out great. This is one of my favorites. Laura's outfit looks straight out of A Christmas Carol. I can't wait to see how the B&W film ones turn out.

Iris Closeup

2007-11-24T20:37:00.001-08:00

Iris Closeup, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

One of my favorite people in the world to go out and shoot with is Jan. She loves find places to take Iris photos. This was one of the photos I took this summer with her. I have a ton of Iris photos that will probably never see the light of day. But, this is a favorite of mine.

Hailey's First Shoot

2007-11-19T13:35:00.001-08:00

Hailey First Shoot_40, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

Hailey was a very energetic little girl. We started shooting outside but decided to come inside as the temperatures dropped. Her mom wanted a cute Christmas shot and I came up with this.
This was shot in my apartment "studio" with one light on the background and a dim light off to her right and that's it. I'm really happy with how it came out. The entire shoot was a lot of fun.

Still Life

2007-11-07T08:35:00.001-08:00

Still Life Photos - October 2007 02, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

This was my first real attempt at a still life as well as my own lighting system.

I created a softbox from stuff I purchased at Home depot (500 watt clip lamp, silver metal duct collar and opaque ceiling lighting sheet). It works quite well. I placed it behind the glass so it would be back lit. The reflection is on my glass dining room table. Overall cost for this set up: about $35.

Gaelic Storm 5-31-07

2007-11-06T06:52:00.001-08:00

Gaelic Storm - 5-31-07056, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

There's just something great about seeing an amazing Irish band with a bunch of friends. This shot is of Gaelic Storm performing at The Magic Bag in Ferndale. I was able to get a lot of nice shots of the band, but this one with the bottle in focus is my favorite.

Kim and David

2007-11-02T14:37:00.001-07:00

Wedding Photos 118, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

My friend Meya asked me to come and help her shoot a friend's wedding. Never one to turn down the chance, I met up with her last weekend. It was a very small wedding, but beautiful.

While this isn't the most technically beautiful shot that I have from that night, the emotion on his face and the way she's leaning on him just tugs at my heart strings. I was so happy to be allowed to shoot their special day!

Concert Shot: Jon McLaughlin

2007-10-30T13:59:00.001-07:00

John Mcl at the Blind Big 11, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I love The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor as a music listener. However, as a photographer, it sometimes makes me want to pull my hair out. The lighting is often extremely red and limited. This shot was a combination of waiting for the lights to switch and being in the right place at the right time. It's now one of my favorites.

Oval Opus @ Nino's

2007-10-25T10:22:00.001-07:00

Ninos 9-21-07 026 half, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I love concert photography. It's such a challenge and when you get the shot...it looks awesome. There is a small bar in Findlay, OH called Nino's that has an amazing lighting set up. I have a lot of great photos from there, and this one of the lead singer from Scarlet Kings (previously known as Oval Opus) came out quite nicely.

Dominic's Senior Photos

2007-10-24T07:17:00.001-07:00

Fall Portrait 072, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I had a great time with Dominic and Rob in Ann Arbor doing photos to celebrate Dominic graduating from U of M. This is one of my favorites...but it was hard to chose just one!

Braeden's Fall Photo

2007-10-23T10:57:00.001-07:00

Fall Photos08, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

This was my second time shooting Braeden. He's such a cutie...it's impossible to take a bad photo of him...even if he won't stay still for more than two seconds.
The photos were taken at a local orchid. He was more interested in the large wooden train than anything else there. I just followed him around and grabbed shots as I could. It was a lot of fun!

Rocker

2007-10-22T12:54:00.001-07:00

Rocker, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

My friend Damien was kind enough to come over and look pretty while I tried out some new lighting. I loved taking this photo and was ecstatic with how it came out.

Jamie Closeup

2007-10-22T11:48:00.001-07:00

Jamie Closeup, originally uploaded by Brendaisbored.

I took this photo behind our warehouse at work. This is Jamie (AKA Bowman, AKA Skye, AKA Customer Service Manager)...she was kind enough to let me take the photo. It's one of my current favorites.