Christmas Wreath

Christmas Wreath, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

I was given this as a gift by one of my patients. Carrie, my sister, requested that I take a picture and post it so she can see. As you can see, my children have already been eating away a portion of the candy! There go the teeth!

sam and jody

sam and jody, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Sam and his fiance Jody spent the weekend with us with Mom and Dad as well.

Natalie Sabbath Morning

Natalie Sabbath Morning, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

10 minutes before leaving for church, I had Natalie sit down for a few photos. Becky had curled her hair gently, and I thought it looked beautiful. She is growing up.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Strobist info: SB-600 at manual 1/1 triggered via Nikon CLS into white satin 43" umbrella at camera left at 7-8 oclock position (camera at 6). 2x3' white poster board at 3 oclock at 45 degree angle for fill and hair light. Light ratio determined by moving umbrella back until it wasn't overexposed. Goal was bright shining clean face.

Brent, Danielle and Natalie quick candid

Brent, Danielle and Natalie quick candid, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

I hollered at them to stand shoulder to shoulder for a quick shot after opening presents. Danielle is holding up her Carhart bib coverals that she got.

This and some below are from Christmas this year. Hello to those new to visiting my photoblog. Hello to the returning. Sorry we didn't get out Christmas cards this year. Will have to be on the agenda for next year. If you know anyone I should include on my email updates, send me their email address please. I know I don't have a lot of people's email address that I'd like to include in updates.

Carl

Danielle - Candid

Danielle Candid, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Danielle was commenting on her new Carhart coveral bibs. A candid shot of her.

Natalie and horses

Natalie and horses, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

So... Natalie has a love affair with horses. She know we will *never* buy her a horse, but that doesn't stop her dreams and fancies. The shirt is quite correct ... "Here is one little girl who would rather clean a stall than her own room" She received a couple other shirts with appropos sayings on them as well

Spiderman Brent

Spiderman Brent, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Brent's Christmas presents were spiderman themed. Here he is demonstrating how he shoots his web. This was a hit with him. I managed to capture it mid motion using a shutter speed of 1/200 sec.

Brent in John Deere Green

Brent in John Deere Green, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Brent loves his new hooded sweats shirt.

Strobist info: SB-600 at 1/2 power in 43" Wescott Umbrella camera right with 2x3' white posterboard camera left. Black backdrop.

Coins by Brent

Coins by Brent, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

I came downstairs and discovered why Brent had been so quiet. How long must this have taken??? And since then, this not the only formation I have seen him make. BTW, love the Bokeh and DOF generated with this Nikon 85mm f/1.4D AF IF lens.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/1.4
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 200
SB-600 Flash into umbrella camera right

Dad and Mom

Dad and Mom, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Carl and Dad

Carl and Dad, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Mom and Carl

Mom and Carl, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Brent headshot

Brent headshot, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 85 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Strobist: SB-600 at 1/2 power fired into 43" Wescott White umbrella with removable black back on. Umbrella camera right as can be seen in this setup shot. 2x3' White posterboard for fill at camera left. Black backdrop moved back about 8' to avoid light spill.
Lens:Shot with my new Nikon 85mm f/1.4D AF IF Lens.
Processing: Adobe Lightroom for cropping, blemish control and levels manipulation.

I finally have got around to hanging some pictures in our house. The girls' pictures are fairly recent, but Brent's is over a year old! Time for a new headshot to go on the wall. I spent about 10 minutes with setup and another 20 minutes taking a few shots. Invariably, I prefer the close up shots like this. I did shoot some from further back, but I like the detail of the face to fill the frame.

I like the catchlights in the eyes. But you can clearly see that my flash mount is high in the umbrella which results in an uneven catchlight with the top part of the umbrella being more illuminated than the bottom.

God's Brilliant painting of the evening sky

God's Brilliant painting of the evening, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Photographed just as the sun was set. The sun was still illuminating the underbellies of the clouds.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 130 mm
ISO Speed: 400

A trace of warmth in the sky

A trace of warmth in the sky, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

The sun had set. Every moment you could see the color pulling back from the clouds. In 1-2 minutes all the warmth of the sky would be gone.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 26 mm
ISO Speed: 400

Brent against window for backdrop

Brent against window for backdrop, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 170 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Strobist: SB-600 into 43" umbrella at 1/1 manual triggered via Nikon CLS. At camera left with posterboard camera right for fill.

Sabbath morning, I had Brent sit in front of the window. I chose aperture and max synch of 1/250 sec and then ISO of 400 to expose the outside correctly. Then I lit Brent with the strobe as above.

Danielle with a sunset for backdrop

Danielle with a sunset for backdrop, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 46 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Strobist info: SB-600 fired at 1/2 power into 43" Wescott white umbrella with black backing on. Umbrella camera left and above. Exposed for sunset and then positioned the umbrella for correct exposure at 1/2 power.

I took each of them out in front of the setting sun on Friday night. Wish I had been about 10 minutes earlier to get a stronger backlight.

Natalie with a sunset for backdrop

Natalie with a sunset for backdrop, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 112 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Strobist info: SB-600 fired at 1/2 power into 43" Wescott white umbrella with black backing on. Umbrella camera left and above. Exposed for sunset and then positioned the umbrella for correct exposure at 1/2 power.

I took each of them out in front of the setting sun on Friday night. Wish I had been about 10 minutes earlier to get a stronger backlight.

Brent with a sunset for backdrop

Brent with a sunset for backdrop, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/7.1
Focal Length: 82 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Strobist info: SB-600 fired at 1/2 power into 43" Wescott white umbrella with black backing on. Umbrella camera left and above. Exposed for sunset and then positioned the umbrella for correct exposure at 1/2 power.

I took each of them out in front of the setting sun on Friday night. Wish I had been about 10 minutes earlier to get a stronger backlight.

Brent wide eyed confidence

Brent wide eyed confidence, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Strobist info: 43" Wescott white umbrella with black backing on. Umbrella to camera slight left and up just a bit. 2x3' White posterboard camera right clamped to stand for reflective fill. SB-600 shooting into umbrella at manual 1/2 power. Trigger from pop flash via commander mode.
Processing: Adobe Lightroom - cropped, a bit of clarity, devibrance, and strong contrast curve.

So tonight, we were working on spelling with the kids. When I was done with Brent and Natalie, Becky started working with Natalie on spelling on the bed. I setup to take Brent's picture. After a few frames I got the look I wanted. He takes direction great. It actually seems difficult to get people's eyes looking appropriate when using the umbrella with the Nikon CLS mode as people tend to blink too quick and then they have these part closed eyes in the picture. Brent managed in this one to have his eyes open appropriately.

Snow time in Minnesota

Snow time in Minnesota, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

This is how the snow started. Now most of the field is white. I hear that today we are supposed to get more snow. It is -4F as I write this. The fire is cranked up on high and the house is toasty.

Brent under the new umbrella

Brent under the new umbrella, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Strobist info: SB-600 into 43" Wescott umbrella reflecting back on him. Umbrella camera left and up over shoulder. Holding a 2x3' white posterboard reflector in his lap. Strobe at 1/2 power.

So, my new umbrella came. A 43" Wescott white brolly with removable black outer coat. Produces such a nice soft light. After supper, I had Brent be a patient model as ever. As you can see in this and the other pics, he had patience but then had to recruit some support to be with him in the pictures. The brolly makes for nice catch lights in the eyes.

Brent and Bob the Builder

Brent and Bob the Builder, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Brent and Twinkletoes

Brent and Twinkletoes, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Roses for my wife

Roses for my wife, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

I bought Becky some roses and had them delivered to her work. Just because. :-)

Cold Winter Sunrise

Cold Winter Sunrise, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Let there be light

Let there be light, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

I woke up before sunrise. From beyond the horizon, the sun was illuminating the clouds in the sky. The sky was brilliant for about 10 minutes. It was then cloudy for the rest of the day.

Danielle and Becky's Roses

Danielle and Becky's Roses, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

I bought a bouquet of roses for Becky and had them delivered to her work. They smell wonderful!

Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Strobist: SB-600 at 1/4 power triggered via Nikon CLS in my left hand above my head and slight to the left.

Brent and Becky's Roses

Brent and Becky's Roses, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

I bought a bouquet of roses for Becky and had them delivered to her work. They smell wonderful! Brent is as usual, an agreeable model.

Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Strobist info: SB-600 flash in my left hand at 1/4 power camera left and above.

Evening at the Lake

Evening at the Lake, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

When we were at Alexandria, Mn for the weekend, I took some time to photograph the sights. The sun was setting, casting the warm yellow light on the area. I used my circular polarizer to help trim some of the refractions as well.

Exposure: 0.2 sec (1/5)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 90 mm
ISO Speed: 200

A Placid Lake in Alexandria, Mn

A Placid Lake in Alexandria, Mn, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

We stayed at the Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria, Mn for my CME conference (MAPA). Out the back of the resort, I set up my camera and photographed the sunset on the water. Here is one result.

Our new shed

Our new shed, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

I photographed this at around 7:50 am this morning. The light was peeking through the clouds creating a 'glory' pattern. The concrete is poured and we inscribed our names in it (picture of that still to come). The shed has the lights installed. All that is left is for the excavator to do some smoothing up.

Greene Valley School group pic

Greene Valley School group pic, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Our children participated in a school project on 10/27/07 at Greene Valley Rochester SDA School. It was called a wax museum and they picked either famous historical figures (for the older children) or role models (for the younger children). They dressed up as them, wrote a report and made a poster board on it. When people came through, they would drop a ticket it and then the child would come to life and act out their part. Natalie was Abigail Adams. Danielle was Annie Oakely and Brent was Carl, a Urology Physician Assistant.

Brent's routine was to say that he told people to 'Turn around and drop your pants'. His get up included a plastic glove with a finger that was colored brown!

Carl's Self portrait - seeing the light

Carl's Self portrait - seeing the light, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Saturday night, I set up my camera for a bit.

Strobist info:

SB-600 on stand camera right, right in front of me on my left hand side. 'A better bounce card' attached. Foam board camera left on my right hand side just out of frame for some diffusion on the non lit side of my face. Used the concept of opposing lighting. Notice in the picture on the right the background is black and my face is bright. On the left hand side of the picture the background is a bit lighter and my face is correspondingly darker.

Triggered with handheld ir transmitter. Flash fired with iTTL triggered via onboard commander mode flash.

Take with my 18-200 mm Lens at 200 mm from about 10-12 feet away.

Camera: Nikon D80
Exposure: 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 200 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Christensen Children singing up front

Maple leaves in spring

Maple leaves in spring, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Our maple tree had vibrant maroon leaves. Using my 50mm f/1.8 prime lens at f/1.8 I photographed this. The quality of the blurriness of the background (Bokeh) is quite pleasing.

Burst of light at sunrise

Burst of light at sunrise, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

The sunrise was particularly vibrant for about 10 minutes

Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Our New shed going up

Our New shed going up, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

I looked out and there was just a wisp of orange starting to show. By the time (within 5 minutes) that I set up my camera and photographed it, the sky had flared wide with the hint of sunrise. The shed is going up quick. This week they will be done with metal etc. Next week the concrete will be poured.

Swimming in California

Swimming in California, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

In the fall of 2006 we were in Coronado, Ca for a CME conference I was attending. I dredged this up from the dusty corners of my hard drive. Danielle is playing in the pool of the Hotel del Coronado that is on the beach shore.

Church Children group

Church Children group, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

9/29/07 - Greene Valley School (affiliated with the Rochester Mn Seventh Day Adventist Church) stages a performance of readings and songs for our Sabbath worship service.

Brent

Brent, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Natalie

Natalie, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Danielle

Danielle, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Danielle

Danielle, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Children in Church Program

Children in Church Program, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Danielle

Danielle, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Pastel evening sky

Pastel evening sky, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

I saw the beautiful sky and ran in to get my camera. A few minutes and it was gone. The sun was shining through at enough of an oblique angle that it was lighting the underbellies of some of the clouds with a nice yellow/orange glaze.

Terry Kaiser

Terry Kaiser, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

My uncle Terry visited for the weekend. It was nice to have him up. He was able to see his son and daughter-in-law Stephen and Crystal Kaiser who were up from California.

Sunrise through the crack in the clouds

Sunrise through the crack in the clouds, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Ana, Venito Jr., and Venito

Ana, Venito Jr., and Venito, originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Dad and Mom, Ana, Venito Jr, Venito, Sonia, and Uncle Terry all visited this weekend. Stephen and Crystal Kaiser were visiting Crystal's Grandma Irlene Schauer for her 90th birthday. They had flown in from California. My Mom thought this was a great opportunity to get the family together since they were up. Dad picked Terry up in Anita, Ia and drove up.

Sonia and Venito Jr.

Sonia and Venito Jr., originally uploaded by carlcmc.

Dad and Mom, Ana, Venito Jr, Venito, Sonia, and Uncle Terry all visited this weekend. Stephen and Crystal Kaiser were visiting Crystal's Grandma Irlene Schauer for her 90th birthday. They had flown in from California. My Mom thought this was a great opportunity to get the family together since they were up. Dad picked Terry up in Anita, Ia and drove up.