Event: Islamic Relief Canada benefit concert featuring Raef and Maher Zain

So, earlier this month, I went to this benefit concert at the very BEAUTIFUL Rose Theatre in Brampton and took pictures from where I was sitting, in the balcony. If I had actually been shooting the event, I would have more access, and would have moved around the theatre. Here are a few of my favourites... tell me what you think!

Raef starting his set.

Raef

Raef again...

Drummer

Keyboardist

Raef.... never noticed he had a dimple.

Almost done his set... yes, stage lights are really that hot!

Taking a picture of the crowd.

Thanking the crowd... It was a great set... even if we didn't hear "Dream".

The illustrious Maher Zain...

Maher Zain

More Maher Zain

Now in purple. The stage lights were pretty cool.

Feeling the music

Listening to the crowd singing.

Now in blue-green.

Interacting with the crowd... who is loving it.

Taking a video selfie with the crowd.

Final song of the night.

Getting a shot from above.

It was a fun night, and for a really great cause.

Article: Pro-Tips for the Best Children Photographs

I once took a course online by Tamara Lackey. I think it was a course on portraiture, and I just loved her work. I follow her on Facebook and read all the tips and suggestions she offers.  This article (link below) is an interview/article she did for Nikon's Learn & Explore website.

Hope you find it as helpful as I did.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Learn-And-Explore/Article/hv6ehqiy/a-pro-s-tips-for-the-best-children-s-photos.html

Day 345 - Using obstructions

So, I was at a concert last night, and wanted to take some pictures, but my camera cooperates less and less with me.  I have a lot of very blurry pictures of my friend performing.  I realized how I would be able to take a half decent picture after much fiddling, the only thing is I kept getting peoples head in my shot.  It wasn't artistic in the least. At one point the person in front of me turned to the left, and I thought maybe I could use that.  This is the result.

Day 235 - Peeking through the crystal curtain

Working on photos from my friend's brother's wedding, and I really liked this one.  I took a lot of atypical pov photos that day.  I had to try this one a couple times before I was happy with it.  First, there were too many of the crystals in the shot, and then the focus was not to my liking, etc.  I would have loved this one more if the bride was visible, and looking over her shoulder towards me... that would have been the shot!

Day 224 - Edited Ferris Wheel

This picture might look somewhat familiar.  This was a picture that I also took at the CNE in late August. I like the picture enough to want to post it, but I really didn't like that the lights were missing on the ferris wheel, so I spent some time editing it to add the lights where they were missing.  I have to say, I like this shot a lot more now, but it has made me very weary of what you can do with just a little knowledge and the ability to Photoshop!

Day 220 - Happiness of being with those you love

Taken at a friend's brother's wedding.  I love these girls!  They have been the best of friends for ages, and whenever they are together, you can feel there is something special about their friendship.  I was mourning the fact that I would soon have to return my brother's camera to him, and so they humoured me with taking photos... or allowing me to capture some images at the wedding.

Doesn't this just scream happiness to you?

Day 215 - Naturally

Here is a picture of one of my hosts/guides while in Morocco.  I haven't posted many (if any) pictures of people from Morocco, because I didn't have permission.  You have seen this person a couple times before in the post that had me reflective post about seeing the world from the back seat of a car, and where I talked about telling a story with photography.

So, why did I want to post this picture? Some of my favourite portraiture are photos where the subjects are not posed or are taken by surprise. I've talked about this a bit before, and this shot reiterates my sentiments. Have you ever noticed when there is a camera around people start acting different -- unnaturally, even? Some people are good at posing; others, not so much.  I find I really like the photos when people are caught off guard, even when they are good at posing. There is something a little more intimate about capturing that moment when they have let their guard down, and the image looks and feel more natural.  Isn't that what photography is all about?

In this case, I can't remember if I even had to call my friend to get his attention for this shot, or he had just turned to look at me at an opportune moment... whichever, it is one of the photos I love from my trip.

Day 187 - Enough already! (Photographing babies)

I was hanging out with a friend and her baby the other night, and as per my usual, I was taking pictures of them.  My friend welcomes it, since she doesn't really have any pictures with her little angel!  Every time I found a place that had either good lighting or a nice background we would stop to take pictures.  The thing with photographing children you just have no idea what they will do... They definitely keep you entertained!

This picture was the last one I took of the night.  I think little one had enough of the camera being in her face!

Day 173 - "Am I ready?"

Final picture/entry I'm going to post from the contest I had intended to enter.  This photo was supposed to tell the story of a girl contemplating wearing the hijab. I wasn't able to capture the exact images I wanted, so I just didn't bother entering the contest.  Next time, I have to bring a tripod to set up my camera and leave it!

Am I ready?

NOTE: I actually recall, I did enter the contest, they just never accepted the entry.  I guess I didn't submit what they were seeking, OR I wasn't up to par.

Day 65 - Enjoying the veiw

Was on the lake shore the other day, doing an activity with a friend, and happened along this couple who were just enjoying the view.  Couples like this make me happy; though I don't know their story, there is something inspiring about older couples.

Day 61 - Colour everywhere

Something about the bright orange cart and the green trees compelled me to take this picture.  I also love the little pops of fun colour from the umbrellas and bistro tables and chairs.  Learning that the city can be an interesting place to photograph. 

Day 60 - Water Feature wading pool

I was dropping off a payment, and stopped to enjoy the view of this City Square.  It was a hot day so there were kids and youth all playing in the water feature at the Square.  I'd always wanted to photograph the fountain on a slow exposure with someone going down the centre... this was as close as I got that day.  I couldn't do a slow exposure because of the lens and the amount of light at that time of day... maybe that is something I need to learn more about. I also couldn't do the shot straight on, as I had envisioned, because a family had planted themselves right on the spot I needed to be for a shot straight on.

Will try again some time.

Day 50 - Relaxing

This is from a few weeks ago.  I like the two sets of couples in the photo.  The one thing I wish I did was get the top of the tree on the left, and not have the lens flare on the picture.  I did crop this one, to take some of the grass out of the picture, so I most definitely could have had more of the tree in the shot.

Day 40 - Ceremony

I figure this is a safe image to post.  This is the ceremony... I think I really would have liked the image if it was straight on, and not take from the side.  Straight on, I would have had all the horizontal lines, but not the vertical ones, which is what I don't like.  I would have stood in the aisle to take pictures, but I felt a little self conscious moving around, since I didn't actually know the couple, or anyone at the wedding, except the person who invited me.  

I really do love the black and white.  I have a few pictures in colour at the church, but really don't like the way the colours looked in them.

Day 39 - Thirsty?

So, I was taking a picture of the head table, and, the bride turned away, and apparently I was focussed on the glasses on the table... I guess, I was thirsty!.

Yes, you can see that I blurred it out, since I didn't get permission to post their images online, but you get the idea... the glasses were in focus, and the people were fuzzy, albeit not this much.  I don't know where those other weird lines came from... they are not on the original.