Gertrude School Models

Last May, I joined the Yosemite Western Artists group in order to officially declare to myself that I am an artist. (We all have our doubts in our abilities, after all.) Every Friday of the week, YWA has someone model for the artists to paint and sketch at an old schoolhouse built in the 1890′s not very far from my ranch. It was a great opportunity to learn and refine the craft of taking good portraits.

Marissa

This was one of the first models I photographed at the schoolhouse. She had such an intense look upon her face that makes this photo one of my best.

Jack Lantz

Jack Lantz is a fine artist and print maker who modeled for us in his fencing gear.

Moriah

Moriah and her two sisters have been wonderful models for us all year. Even her mother has modeled for us.

Street Photography

Street photography is the art of taking photographs where the subjects are unaware that they are a subject. Street Photography presents candid slices of life.

Oceanside Sitter

This young man sat beside the Oceanside harbor as he sipped his soda through a straw.

Taxi

A taxi driver relaxes in the warm afternoon in downtown San Jose, California.

The Kindness of Strangers

These were the most difficult photos for me to take. I’m shy by nature, so going up to a total stranger and asking them to pose for me really forces me out of my comfort zone. I asked many strangers if I could take their photograph. Most were very happy to pose for me.

Farmer’s Market Man

This man worked a booth at the local farmer’s market. I loved his smile and his bushy beard.

Sheriff

The Sheriff is part of the “Coutlerville Cowslingers,” a western reenactment group that stages Gunfights.

Sassy

This girl has real sense of style and a great smile.

theReader

I saw this woman in a Fresno bookstore and the light on her face set off her beauty. I was honored when she let me take her photo.

Classic Hollywood

The thirties and forties were the heyday of the Hollywood look to photography. The lighting and camera positions gave depth to the black and white images of the stars and starlets of that era.

Michael

My son Michael posed for me to take this classical style photo. I think this really captures the mood of the classical style.

This year, I also have made the commitment to “365″ – to take photos every day of the year. This means I’m going to have even more photos to share with you this year. Hope you enjoy my collection from 2010.

Wild Animal Park

The Lioness

African Song

San Francisco

The Model in the Park

The Music Man

The Sphinx

San Francisco Dome

Renaissance Pleasure Faire

The Maiden

The Warrior

Lady Bountiful

Yosemite in the Fall

Fallen Leaf

Impressions of the Fall

I did a bit more traveling than previous years, which gave me a chance to do a lot of interesting photography.

One thing I discovered this year is that I really enjoy taking pictures of people. I’ve been rather shy to ask people before this, but most people actually like having their picture taken. It’s a good thing to keep in mind, and not let my hesitation prevent me from taking good pictures.

I got my first paid commission to photograph artist Carol Wagner’s horses. It was great fun working with her and her beautiful animals. The hardest part of this job was learning how to deal with the printing of the pictures. Before then, I just used my home printer if I needed a hard copy. Most of my art is purely virtual. The printed photos came out fine and it’s easy to do, now that I know what I’m doing.

This past summer, I entered a photo contest in Oceanside Magazine and won some prizes.

So over the course of this past year, I’ve earned the right to call myself a professional Photographer as well as a Photographic Artist.

Here are some more of the best photos I took last year.

People

Blues Wizard

This is a street performer at the Oceanside farmer’s market who played his bluesy numbers on his homemade guitar.

Beach Boy

This little lad with his jaunty hat and wagon was playing on the Oceanside beach.

Street Magician

This San Francisco street magician did card and ring tricks along the Fisherman’s Wharf.

Powwow Headdress

This gentleman was at the annual Chukchansi Powwow in Coarsegold, just south of Oakhurst California.

The Race

This was taken at the nearby Bass Lake this summer. I like the determination on the boy’s face as he raced his sister.

Animals

Meercat Smile

This charming little critter somehow reminds me of the Mona Lisa. Taken at the San Diego Zoo.

The Thinker

This adult male orangutan sprawled across the ground while another ape groomed him. He was the obvious king of his world at the San Diego Zoo.

Gorilla Beauty

At the San Diego Wild Animal Park, this gorilla seemed happy to pose for her pictures.

Macaw

Prize Winners

Here are the two photos that won in the Oceanside Magazine photography contest. I got a gift certificate for Mimi’s Restaurant and a one night’s stay at a resort hotel on Oceanside Harbor. Sadly, I never did redeem the certificates, but it was great to actually win.

Oceanside at Night

When I saw the contest in Oceanside Magazine, I knew that this picture would be perfect. It’s the marina harbor area, the heart of Oceanside.

Oceanside Rider

I saw this bicycler with his two puppies riding toward me and I couldn’t resist taking his picture. I didn’t know until later that I had captured the Oceanside sign directly behind him. This was the grand prize winner in the contest, a combination of luck and pluck.

So all in all, 2009 was a year in which my photography arts really start to shine. It’s up to me to make 2010 even better.

Happy New Year, everyone.