Behind The Scenes

I photographed my nephew's baseball game about a month ago.

And while I was working hard to capture the action on the field, someone else was capturing me!

This was his shot.

This was my shot.

His shot:

My shots:

I love it when that happens.

Why I Wish Father's Day Was In May...

My theme this week is Motherhood, which, personally, I think is a week too early.  Mother's Day is next week.

Not that mothers don't deserve every opportunity for gratitude and praise and neon lights shining and blinking over their heads for all the work that they do.

The thankless work that they do.

The "Really, Mom?  Really?" work that they do.

The "You never want me to have any fun!" work that they do.

The "I know you got up at 6:00 to fold those clothes, but I really don't need to put them away because I'm fine living out of the laundry basket," work that they do.

The "I hate it when you come in here because you're always waking me up," work that they do.

The "No.  It wasn't me.  I swear.  I'm not lying.  It wasn't.  Okay, it was," work that they do.

The "Ummmm, yeah, I don't really feeeeeel like cleaning my room," work that they do.

The "Mom, stop.  Mom.  Stop.  MOM!  STOP!!  You don't have to kiss me all the time," work that they do.

The combination eye-roll, hair flip, stomp down the hall..."Don't you slam that door, young lady!" ...SLAM!... "UghAgghhhh!" work that they do.

But, I feel like I'm getting off track. 

What I'm trying to say is that this week's theme is Motherhood, but I really wish it was Fatherhood, because if it was, this is what I'd use....

Love,

Me.

The Art of Baseball

One of the dangerous things about photographing sports is that the game never really changes.  A hand-off is a hand-off.  A hit's a hit.  A run's a run.  Once you get a great capture of that kid standing at the bat, you've pretty much got the shot.  They're not going to change that much.

It can become kind of a boring trap if you're not careful.

Having the kind of itchy, artistic trigger finger that I do, I have often found myself wanting to make more out of what's happening on the field.

It's a technique that has not always been well received.

 
I've been lambasted for photographing too many feet and not enough touchdowns.

Shot down for shooting the the goalpost silhouetted in the sunset instead of the kick going through said goalpost.

Passed over for getting the number and not the face.

See, parents don't want artistic images of sports.  They want pictures of their kid playing ball.

The end.

Right up until the moment that the photographer becomes the parent.  And then.....she can pretty much do it however she wants.

I {heart} art.

I {heart} baseball.

I {heart} these two teams for letting me play around during their game, and Prince Charming for spending the game alone while I played around.

I just {heart} everything, including you!

~Lisa

Click to view the entire collection

Love Affair on 3rd Base

Their love affair began several years ago.  About five to be exact.

He was a chiseled Prince Charming.  She had red, curly hair.

He was quiet.  She made noise constantly.

He liked to sit and catch up on the game.  She wanted him to read all the Berenstain Bears books.

He was always making jokes.  She understood some of them.

He said things like, "Here, let me show you."  She said things like, "Gimme a kiss, Baby!"

He called her Red and Fireball and Stompy.  She called him Daddy.

And when she played ball, no one was more proud.

Rainiers v. Knights

Our little Rainiers played their first official game last weekend against their cross town rivals, the Knights.

I'm just kidding.  They'd never even met the Knights and didn't know any of the kids on that team.

They played their little petuties off, though.

Two things I love about this one. 

1.  The tongue sticking out.  So cute.
2.  What is she looking at?  We might have to work on following the ball.

Sometimes it helps to talk it over with the coach.  She always knows.

COACH:  Who's getting that ball?
HIM:  I am!
HER:  I am!
THE OTHER HER:  I am!
THE OTHER HIM:  Wait for me.  I'm on my way.  I can get it!

I'm telling you....it can get seriously rough out there.

Unless no balls are coming even remotely your way.  Then it can get kind of boring.

Playing 3rd base can also get a little.....tedious.

Sadly, the Little Miss won't get to play in this week's game.  Doctor's orders.

Don't know what we'll do instead.....Oh!  Wait.  I know!

BEACH!!!!!

Check ya' later.  Bye!

This Week In Baseball

Gearing for the big start of the season this weekend.  Everyone's in the full "swing" of practice.

 Such cuteness on the T-Ball field, I almost can't even stand it. 

They haven't quite learned yet how to stay in position.  Any time the ball gets hit, it's really just up for grabs...

Those older boys, though.  Jeez oh man!  They mean business.

There's nothing cute about it.

Except, of course, when it's my kid.  Then it's really cute.  I mean, isn't it sweet how he's running it out?

This kid, however cute, did, in fact, have some serious business with that T-Ball stand, though.  Serious business.

I really do love taking their pictures while they're working, but sometimes I just like to sit back and watch.  They do amaze me....

But, this was just too...well, you know....I mean a High-5 from someone's dad while you're rounding 3rd base?  Come on!  If they did that in the majors, I'll bet every team would have a lot more fun....

Happy Baseball, everyone!

Love, Love.

L.

Play Ball! {And Pink Sports Are Cool....}

You know, when I first started doing this whole camera and lens thing, people would ask me, "What's your favorite thing to photograph?"  Of course, I would always say, "My kids."

That's what the script says, right?

Truly, though, I enjoyed photographing anything that didn't move.  Gave me time to focus and compose and figure out what I wanted it to look like.  Although, back then, I really didn't know anything about focusing, other than it should be "in", and composition was something I'd handed into my English teacher about 20 years ago.  I just kind of took a picture.  And it was fun.

I've worked a few things out since then, and one thing I've discovered is that sports...are cool.

 That moment of action you freeze in time...

The body in motion....

That face in massive expression...

 
It's really doesn't matter if it's a high school football game, or a little kid playing ball for the first time. 

My kids always "let" me bring my camera to their practices and games, but they're always sure to remind that they won't be smiling for me.  "I'm going to be working".  They actually say that.  I'm not just making that up for creative purposes.  "I can't look at the camera, Mom.  I'm going to be working."  Hand to God.

They can say that all they want, but someone always looks.

It's kind of fun being the "Photography Mom".  People have started to recognize me.  "Hey!  I remember you from last season!"  It kind of makes me famous.

And when I say famous, I mean, in that "Whose mom are you again?" kind of way.

Fine.  Have it your way.  I'm not famous.

Okay, let's see.  In review ~sports are cool.

Photography Mom is fun.

I'm a legend in my own mind.

I can live with that.

XOXO!

L.