Back to my roots.

Well it's been awhile (almost 2 years) since I last posted on this blog. So I decided it is time to return. I'm going to switch up the format a little and get back to my roots. Let me explain. In the beginning I discovered my love for photography by just exploring the world around me and attempting to capture it in a way most people had not seen or noticed before. I could spend hours just wandering through the woods, fields, or streets looking for something to fill my frame with. This is where I came alive. While other people may have lost interest after a few minutes, I could easily wait an hour for just the perfect shot to happen by. I didn't like being constrained by time - I just liked shooting, and I didn't care how long it took. Sometimes that meant spending 45 minutes outside in the dark trying to get the best lightning picture or other times it meant shooting the same shot dozens (or in some cases even hundreds) of times experimenting with the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO until I got it just right. This all became so much easier with my family's first digital camera. Before that I had to write down what all my settings were for each picture, wait 'till I finished the roll, and then wait weeks for the film to be developed and returned in the mail to see the effect of each different f-stop, or filter. Anyways, I have digressed. When I started out, I was just doing what I enjoyed. I wasn't trying to meet anyone else's expectations. Through photography classes and being hired for specific shoots, I have had to try to meet other's expectations and in doing so I have been challenged and have learned much more about the art. I feel this has made me a better photographer, but I don't necessarily LOVE every minute of it. And I wouldn't expect to get better doing only things I already love, but I want to go back now and focus on my original passion.

What does this mean? Well, I plan to use this blog mostly for expressing that passion. It will focus more on the shots where I got the settings just perfect after hours of experimentation, or the shots that I just really enjoy even though others may not like them at all. I don't plan to post any more photos from specific shoots (this includes weddings, engagements, family photos, etc). To see those pictures check out ReubenAnne photography. ReubenAnne will be the new home for all hired work and it is the joint effort of both Laura and I. For now you can visit our facebook page and in time we will have a website. I also want to encourage you check out Laura Fry Photography (yes that would be my amazingly talented and beautiful wife). It will be a similar format to this blog in that it will have a sample of the things she really enjoyes to photograph and wants to share with the world. I hope to post one photo at a time and tell a little bit of the story behind it or the process in capturing it. I hope you like the change. Please leave me comments and let me know what you think.

I thought it was appropriate to start this new format with an old picture that represents a "return to my roots." This is of course the world famous (pretty much anyway) falls in Elk Falls, Kansas. This is where I grew up and developed my love for photography. This is where I experimented and this is where I learned. This particular picture is one of those times where shot hundreds of similar photos trying to get it just right. It was around dusk and seemed much too dark to be out taking pictures, but of course this is why I was out. I wanted to capture the falls in a new way. So I set up my tripod and began trying different shutter speeds. I actually can't find the original file to check the metadata, but if I recall correctly, I kept the shutter open for about 30 seconds to get just the right amount of motion blur. Although this produced some undesirable grain, I was quite happy with the finished product. I was happy to have this photo win several awards in 4-H at the local and state level, get published in a calendar and our local phonebook, and I think it got something at the Kansas Scholastic Arts Competition, but I can't remember for sure. Anyway, I hope you like it.


Oh, and another new change to this blog... I hope to update it more frequently than every two years. I would love to do a photo a day, but I gotta be realistic. Check back often though for a new photo and story.

Vance and Samantha: Wedding

For those of you anticipating these photos, I apologize for the delay in the post, but I thank you for the anticipation. It has been a crazy few weeks. I have been quite busy with life in general and took a four day hiatus to climb a fourteener in the Front Range of the Rockies (Pikes Peak). It was a nice break from everything; I didn't even take my camera. Just myself and three other individuals hiking in the magnificent Colorado mountains. Since then Laura and I have been busy preparing for the 4th and family. Now, I have a few days to try to work on my existing projects before another busy weekend, followed by two more weddings!
Thursday, the 18th of June, after work, Laura and I hopped in the car and headed to Missouri. That night we arrived in Adrian and stayed with Laura's parents. It was an enjoyable visit. Friday around noon we set out for Hermann, MO (between Columbia and St. Louis). We arrived just in time to check in to our beautiful B&B (Wine Valley Inn) and get to the rehearsal. I was blown away by the amazing live plant decor. There were so many plants in the building including live cut trees; it was incredible. The rehearsal went well and the dinner was great. I did forget to take nice shoes for the wedding so we had to make a late night run to WalMart in the rain... it took about 45 min each way. The next morning started early with the hair appointments and makeup. It was then off to the church to take pictures of the guys. As always, my favorite part of the whole thing was getting to know the people in the wedding. The wedding party and family were great. The wedding was beautiful, and went very smoothly. Vance and Samantha are a great couple, and I am glad I have gotten to know them since their engagement session this spring. I wish them all the best, and I know they will be very happy together.

Laura and I had to leave shortly after the reception to get down to Branson for Seth and Kristen's wedding the following day. It was also a beautiful wedding, however I didn't take any pictures but will post a link to Alec's site once he has them done. (Here are Alec Vanderboom's awesome photos of that wonderful day!) It was so exciting to see those two finally together; we've all hoped for so long. The reception was at the Tea Room at Branson Meadows and was amazing. After the reception we hung out at Steve and Faith's (Seth's parents) condo and spent the night. It was great to spend more time with Nathan and Bethany before they headed back down to Georgia. We had a lot to catch up on and ended up talking late into the night. It was a great end to a great weekend.

Well, I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Backyard Photography

This past weekend was an enjoyable break from work and a chance to spend some time with Laura, my family, and also my camera. My sister and my two nephews came for a visit, which is always a fun time. Laura and I have a pretty lame house for a 4 yr. old and a 1 yr. old so went outside and drew on the sidewalk with some awesome 3D chalk! I was impressed; it actually looked 3 dimensional. The cooler colors appeared sunken and the warmer colors appeared raised. Both boys seemed to enjoy it, though Colton was more interested in eating the chalk than drawing with it.




Saturday morning, I awoke to another thunderstorm (we've been having a lot lately) and decided I could sleep in a bit longer. By mid morning the rain had stopped and the sun had come out. I decided to walk to the west side of town to get some pictures of the wildflowers, but got sidetracked along the way. I think it was probably 30 - 40 minutes before I even left the yard. Sometimes it amazes me of all the beauty and diversity in our own backyard.






Finally I set out down the road to get to my original purpose. I stopped several more times along the way to capture a few glimpses of nature that caught my eye. It occurred to me that this little photo excursion was a lot like life - often times the journey, the process, is more important/meaningful than the destination. Even though I was on a time schedule, I wasn't going to pass up these shots in exchange for the expectations I had for the final destination. For all I knew, the journey's end would be a fruitless endeavor. I was reminded to look for meaning and significance in the everyday, the commonplace. For without the process, without the mission of seeking the destination, or even without the mundane along the way, the final goal would not be as fulfilling. It is the journey, not the end, that defines the experience. On the other hand, depending on how you look at it, the end of the line is ultimately what matters. And in that sense, it truly is our final destination that defines us.








Hope you enjoyed the view through my lens!

Steph and Casey

Here are a few photos from Steph and Casey's Engagement session. Visit my picasa album to view the rest. It was a fun session, even though it was very last minute and I didn't have a clue what I was going to do. Click here to read about the weekend. Hope you enjoy the view through my lens.

The Bright's Stellar Wedding - Jordon and Leah

Here are a few of the shots taken at Jordon and Leah's beautiful wedding. Click here to read about this amazing weekend.

This was Alec's schedule of pictures. When it came right down to it, we didn't follow it very much.
The most Beautiful wedding dress. I'm probably a little biased though since it was the same dress that Laura had.










The reception was at the Keeter Center, and it was amazing.