Best in Show

They announced the winners of the Texas Photo Festival 2009 - and guess who was the winner of the "Best in Show" Category? Yours truly! Here's my winning photo. The set was of an old antique clothing store with lots of old time hats and shawls. The kids were Smithville's residences and were being models for a day. "Derek" is the boy in the photo, and he was had a very intense gaze and was able to be confident enough to look straight in to the lens. The girls had lots of beautiful big hats and boas and shawls to decorate themselves with, but the boys only had the hat and black jacket and the cigar! The character of this young man is all in his eyes. I loved to photograph him.

"Little Hawk" a Cherokee

It was true. I had not ever personally met an American Indian before. As I told him that I shook his hand and he was happy to tell me a little bit more about himself. He was adopted by his parents. They were not from the same tribe. He was a Cherokee.
"I am the black sheep of the family you know". He pointed out all of his tattoos that covered both forearms.
He also told me how proudly he served in the Marines as a Gunnery Sergeant for 22 years. He had patches of honor all over his leather vest. He pointed them all to me. He said he wants to go back to serve but they won't take him since he's 57.
Why are you named Little Hawk, I asked. "Because I fly high and protect the young", he said very quickly. "I am the elder, the kids respect me". As he stood by the table where he laid all of the skulls and bones he sold, I took a few photographs.



Photo Tip: People and their stories are inspiring. I wouldn't have been able to take "Little Hawk's" photo effectively if I hadn't listened to his story first. That's why in order to capture the essence of your subject in a photograph you need to get to know them. Case and pointe : Moms and Dads take some of the best photos of their kids, simply because they know them the most.

Kids. Little, medium, and big

After all that I photograph, I still come back to the subject of children. They possess a freshness and innocence that begs you to document its rarity. All body parts are brand new and shiny. Free smiles all around and when tears come, they are as pure as rain water. It amazes me always, how we are touched by children every time we are in contact with them . Photographing children can tell so many stories. With no preconceived notions, they make the best subjects. No wonder some of the most powerful photographs of all times are of children.

Photo Tip:

In taking photographs, try to capture the emotion rather than just the aesthetics. It comes with practice. You can sense a moment before it happens sometimes. You can have your camera ready and capture a few shots before and after just to make sure you get that one special one. In other words, shoot in burst.