Eclectic Exposures

Too Many Favorites to Pick!!

2009-11-12T15:02:00.000-08:00

What a LOVELY problem to have, eh? There were simply too many FAVES in this batch of photos to pick just one or two to post! I did narrow it down from a mere dozen or so... :D And what better subjects, eh? Kiddos and their families on a sunny Autumn afternoon as the golden hour of light approaches....ahhhhhh.....

Playing around in Lightroom with several of these. Love to play with the "American Eagle" look--high contrast, decreased saturation. Also enjoying playing around with the clarity slider. Doesn't take much to put a smile on my face!

2009-11-10T07:11:00.000-08:00

Who says guys are NOT as photogenic as girls?? Stuff, nonsense and poppycock!

Great job, Adam!

Happy Hallowe'en--a couple of days early!

2009-10-27T20:50:00.001-07:00

IMG_9538, originally uploaded by tsgentuso.

Intense concentration is required for little fellows to carve their pumpkin JUST RIGHT. No time to look up and have your photo taken, and no time for conversation, either. Maybe time for a roasted marshmallow or....

Isn't this fellow adorable? He slaved away on that pumpkin. Way to go!

Teen Hay Ride

2009-10-26T18:24:00.001-07:00

IMG_9070, originally uploaded by tsgentuso.

Yes, it is finally Autumn, and with the change in the weather comes the annual Mayo Hay Ride! Lots of fun, food, frolicking (spelling??), football and fellowship for all--as well as all the hot dogs and roasted marshmallows a stomach can hold....

If you didn't make it, so sorry. You missed an incredible afternoon and evening. Mark it down for next year--it is THAT good!

Our thanks to the Mayos--for patience and hospitality beyond all expectations!

Happily Ever After

2009-08-31T07:35:00.000-07:00

I am thinking of offering "Happily Ever After" photo sessions as an option to my wedding packages. It would be a more relaxed photo shoot anytime AFTER the wedding (maybe even on the first anniversary?)....

These images are of some precious friends who were married in January of this year. I've shared just a few today, and will put up more over the next bit of time.

Enjoy!

Titans' Training Camp

2009-08-21T18:55:00.001-07:00

Okay, so WHO KNEW you could go and watch the Titans at their training camp???

Anyway, my fourteen year old son and I went to the Titans' training camp this week, and had an absolute blast photographing. With two big "L" series lenses, we were both able to get good photos. One of those afternoons we won't forget!

Ridiculously--I MEAN Absolutely Ridiculously--Photogenic!

2009-08-13T20:58:00.001-07:00

There are some people--incredibly photogenic, comfortable with themselves and with being in front of a camera--who make you feel like a FANTASTIC photographer. In reality, though, these kind of people could make the photo booth at the mall seem like a master photographer!

Last week's senior photo shoot was one of those occasions....

>>sigh of happiness<<

Glimpses of Good Ole Nashville

2009-08-09T19:21:00.000-07:00

At a loss as to what to post tonight...then I remembered some photos I've been working a bit with and thought I'd share them with you. I have a whole series of downtown Nashville architecture shots, and have them in a nice collage frame in my living room. Something about those old buildings, and especially on a hot Summer day with the clouds just scudding by, the heat and humidity rising. Yup, it is back to "real" Nashville Summer weather, isn't it? Those cool nights and warm days last month spoiled us, methinks.

Hey, grab a camera and call me--a field trip or a camera safari downtown are always in order!

Knoxville in a Hurry

2009-08-04T07:09:00.000-07:00

On what ended up being an abbreviated vacation, my family and I spent two days in Knoxville. What a great little zoo! Above are my three favorites--that bamboo tunnel was just beautiful. Wish I'd had a tripod.... Almost eerie the way the light filtered in at the end of the tunnel.

Not all of the wildlife was behind bars or glass. These little birds were soooo curious, chittering and bouncing from pillar to post all the while--I was lucky to get them both still for a split second to snap the center photo.

And the zebra. Well, let's just say that this particular one was rather photogenic, and seemed to be posing long enough to snap a photo of each face he made! The faces he made!! Yawning, twisting his mouth around, curling his lips, screwing up his entire face....makes you wonder to what degree he was aware of all of the cameras and people!

Good time, short and sweet and definitely memorable.

Amanda and Kenneth

2009-07-27T20:27:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed photographing a wedding recently for a lovely young couple. As many of the weddings I shoot are those of friends, friends of friends, someone who went to church with me, a co-worker's cousin, etc., usually I know SOMEONE in the crowd. This wedding was different in that I'd met the bride only once over coffee at Starbucks; had never met the groom; had never been in that particular church before this wedding; and didn't know a soul in the building!

Nervous? Difficult? No way! In fact, if anything, being simply the photographer made for a much easier, much more relaxed wedding--at least, from my perspective it was!

I have several other weddings coming up in the next few months that will be much like this, and I'm looking forward to each one. Watching the personalities of both bride and groom slowly reveal themselves throughout a wedding day is a most fascinating past-time--hard to believe that I am getting paid for something so incredible.

Blue Bird Babies

2009-07-11T19:46:00.001-07:00

IMG_8527 copy3, originally uploaded by tsgentuso.

Ms. Mary's bluebird houses have seen constant activity this year--in spite of swooping attacks from the local Red Tailed Hawk. This picture was taken in Spring of 2007 in my neighbor's backyard. Fascinating to watch how diligent both the momma and daddy birds were--watching out for their babes, scouring for grubs for those insatiable little beaks...

Think I am going to have to set aside a morning to see what I can see of these lovely feathered friends again! Life has been just too busy of late, and this sounds like a perfect remedy.

What's for Dinner?--My Morbid Macro Fascination

2009-07-09T11:03:00.001-07:00

What's for Dinner?--IMG_1410 copy2, originally uploaded by tsgentuso.

These spiders are just fascinating. We usually have one or more weaving their gorgeous webs in the front bushes every Summer. Orb Web Weavers is what we call them. The boys have spent entire afternoons tossing ants into the center of the web just to watch the spider in action. Don't you love the way they put a "no fly zone" sign up by weaving an easily-seen white zigzag down the center of their webs? The insects don't get it, but the birds sure do.

I am playing around with the idea of getting a dedicated macro lens--you know, one of those lenses that does ONLY macros, and extreme macros, at that. Those creepy crawlies just keep calling my name! I want to count the hairs on the little stick-like legs, the facets in their incredible eyes, the...

Maybe another day. Hey, how long until Mother's Day--oops, too late. What about Labor Day--I labor, I work hard, I don't think that one will float. Oh, well, Christmas will be here before you know it!

Alabama Roads

2009-07-06T08:42:00.001-07:00

There was a time--not so long ago, actually--when I made many trips through parts of northern Alabama. This little farm was one I enjoyed each time I drove past it, no matter what season it was. The horses were always there, grazing, playing, drinking. The creek was almost always bubbling and gurgling along, even in drought time. But the flowers--well, they made their appearance each year in the Spring and stayed until Summer rolled in...lovely, like a yellow carpet. I would have loved to walk through them, I think, wouldn't you?

Technically, the focus is a little soft...no tripod. I had to take it standing on the side of the road, and it seems like every time I pressed the shutter button, a semi would roar by! Oh, well. It is a more than adequate reminder of a lovely spot and a sweet time and a good visit.

Happy Fourth of July!

2009-07-04T14:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Fourth from hot but not quite humid Nashville!

What a great time to be alive--economy and other nagging issues aside! Truly we are blessed in this nation. What a GREAT time to be alive!

Okay, on to some of my latest forays into the world of still slices of life. Spent a week on the beach with a BUNCH of teenagers from my home church. Really neat time together--don't know who enjoyed themselves more, me or the kids!

Here are some visual highlights of the week:

Doesn't get much better than this! By the way, the beach was like sugar--that's the tide line above. Great for seashell hunting!

Fourteen....

2009-06-04T15:22:00.001-07:00

Life has its seasons, doesn't it? It seems that one stage scarcely slips away before another hits you full in the face--like catching a wave unawares, eh? (Waves are on my mind as I am packing for a week at the beach with sixty teenagers....).

Anyway, my baby turned 14 today. Old enough to get a Facebook account (I've been putting him off for years). Old enough to stay up later. Old enough for a great deal of things I am not quite ready for!

Anyway, rather than mourning the fact, let's rejoice in a pictoral way, shall we? So here you have it--pics of my youngest through the years (all taken by me--couldn't put someone else's photos on my photo blog--oh, wait! There ARE no other photos taken by other photographers, are there?!? Ha!).

Time flies when you are having fun...or when your three sons are having fun! It's been an awfully neat thing to get to record my boys' growing-up years--and what great models they've each been. :D

Love in Black and White

2009-05-15T05:57:00.000-07:00

An absolutely lovely--in attitude, action and physical presence--couple got married in a fairytale wedding recently. These are a small sampling of some of my favorite shots on this magical night.

What a perfect wedding--perfect in that it was such a clear and fun expression of who this couple is! My prayers are with them both as they find their way now as one.

Selection of Images to be on Display in Nashville

2009-05-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

Good whatever part of the day you are experiencing! It is late afternoon now, and as I am awfully excited about a new exhibition of prints, I thought I would share it with you.

My son attends the Donelson Christian Academy, and in an effort to further educate our children in the arts, the school has instituted a hallway gallery of works by local artists. The exhibited works range from oils and watercolors to fine art prints and even mixed media offerings.

The following are a couple of the thirteen framed works that will hang there this month and next. Hope you enjoy them!

The first image is of a little girl and her older brother, both of whom suffer from the stigma attached to facial deformities--little sis has a cleft lip and big brother has bilateral cleft lip and palate. Both children were operated on during the February 2009 Hanna Project medical and humanitarian aid trip...and if you check back, I'll post their "after" pictures. Just incredible!

This second image is of a young hunter who has found a spot up in the upper branches of an old cashew tree--see his slingshot on his forearm? Friendly kid--loved having his photo taken!

Another Test-Taste from Doropo

2009-03-03T07:14:00.000-08:00

Give me a bit of time--days? weeks? I dunno!--and I really will move onto another subject... honestly, though, for the present, my heart and mind are still in Africa. So, here is another sampling of some of the sights that were seen--I just wish I could throw in the sounds ("Tibaboo! Tibaboo!" cried out at the top of their little lungs, or just chanted softly...it is the Djoula word for "white skin"). Or the smells--I cannot smell wood smoke without being instantly transported to a place much hotter that Nashville...

Anyway, for today I want to share a couple of my favorites (yes, I have MANY favorites, but that is allowed when you take more than a couple thousand photos!). The photo above was taken from inside the Hopital Baptiste Libre (the HBL on the door) in the early morning before the crowds have started to gather.

The rest of the photos are of little boys--I've got a soft spot for tykes, comes from having three of my own--with the first one taken while driving slowly through some rather deep sand. Yes, we got stuck. Four times. Only one man in the car, two if you count my 13-year old son--strong as an ox, so we probably ought to count him--make that two men. All of the women in sandals or flip flops...

We DID eventually make it through the sandy part of the path (you cannot really call it a road) and on to the village where we held a free, outdoor medical clinic. Dressed wounds, gave out some meds, and rewarded all of the children with their first lollipops! We packed up and headed back to Doropo with Clint expertly making new paths around the sand traps.

Pleased as punch with himself, this young boy scaled a cashew tree in order to get a good view of the slight-of-hand tricks that Dr. Mike was showing a mesmerized group of youngsters. Boys are boys the world round, aren't they?! ;D

Oh, alright, so I've been a bit invisible of late....

2009-03-02T14:18:00.000-08:00

Well, there really is no excuse for my absence, so we'll just drop it here and now and never mention it again, shall we?

My latest visual wanderings took place over a two-week time span in Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa. This was very much like going home for me, and this year I was blessed to be able to take my youngest son along, too.

Our time in Doropo, the small village where we were stationed, was consumed with the tasks at hand. As part of theNGO, the Hanna Project (http://www.hannaproject.com/) Save-A-Life IV team, I wore several hats--why, we all did! Team photographer, to be sure, but also translator (it is an amazing thing that my brain can recall those long-ago learned phrases and conjugations) and nurse.

My son, Andrew, was privileged to be part of the construction crew--pouring cement, painting, whatever!--as well as part of the "Village People" (open-air medical clinics doing mostly wound care).

All in all, it was one of the best two weeks in our lives, and that sums it up quite well.

If you are interested in seeing more photos, jump on over to my Flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tsgentuso

If you are interested in buying prints, you can check out this site:

http://pa.photoshelter.com/c/tsgentuso

Back in the Saddle again!

2009-01-19T21:28:00.000-08:00

Well, here it is mid-January and I'm posting for the first time in what? SIX WEEKS?!? Yikes!

With out two older sons back in college at both ends of the state and our youngest back in school, you'd think "mom" would have all sorts of spare time, eh? Somehow, that just isn't working out--anybody else in the same boat? Ha!

Just a peek at a couple of fun photo ops this last month--the first set are from a Christmas party at the Sudanese refugee center here in Nashville. What a precious bunch of people, and some of the most lovable little ones on Earth, I promise you.

I've also taken a few minutes to drive through and snap some shots of one of my favorite haunts--pardon the pun!!--Mount Olivet and Calvary Cemeteries.

Enough rambling--it is bedtime. Have a great rest of your week--and hopefully I'll get some precious wedding shots up this week. I had the great blessing of being able to photograph a friend's wedding this last weekend. WOW! What an honor.

See you soon--same Bat time, same Bat channel!

Lovely Time Had by All

2008-12-04T20:12:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all who were able to make it out for my third anual Photography Exhibit Artist's Reception at the local eatery Phat Bites. What a fantastic mix of friends, family, acquaintances and complete strangers! Thank you.

My thanks, especially, for the hard work and creativity and cheerful spirit of my dear friend, Maria. She's one of those people who just has a way with whatever needs being done--whether that be costumes or cornbread, table arrangements or teaching. Gifted/talented/just plain good at so many things, Maria's creativity is only matched by her willing and helpful spirit. THANK YOU, my friend!

Here are a couple of pics from Christmas at Maria's, circa 2006. Enjoy!

Life's a Whirwind, eh?! But if you're free tomorrow afternoon....

2008-12-03T10:58:00.000-08:00

Whew! Life is a whirlwind lately, isn't it--and it isn't just the holiday season merrily marching its way all over my calendar....

Kids, laundry, meals, hobbies, work, hubby, kids, laundry... You can add your special time-takers into the mix, too! Maybe it is just the age, the stage, the...culture--yeah, that IS it! Busy equals important and good and smart nowadays, methinks. Ahhh, for those long, quiet, hot afternoons back in Doropo...

Well, anyway, in YOUR FREE TIME tomorrow, drop by Phat Bites Cafe in the Donelson neighborhood of Nashville (940 Allen Road) between the hours of 4 and 6 pm. We're having an Artist's Reception for my fine art photography that is being exhibited there this month. Got some Christmas shopping left to do, don't you? The crowd is nothing like Wal-Mart, the food is fantastic, and a framed fine art print might just be more appreciated than another poinsettia or a fifth pair of gold earrings.....

Here you go: an official web-invite! See you there---------Tammy

Busy Bees, Beautiful Couples, Foliage and Friends!

2008-11-20T13:52:00.000-08:00

Wow! It's been over two weeks since my last post--got some catching up to do, don't I?

Let's see, in the last two weeks--which, by the way, were the PEAK for Autumn foliage here in Tennessee--I've gotten to photograph quite a few things: four soccer games (one was in what felt like sub-zero weather!!); one engagement sitting; one wedding shower; one senior sitting; one three-day (add flying time and it was five days on their own for my fellows!!) convention in Virginia Beach that included more than 90 corporate headshots as well as a shoot with both George Barna and Cece Winans; three trips out to photograph foliage, and headshots for the cast of a Christmas play.... Yup, you guessed it! I've had a few late nights in Photoshop, what with contact sheets and making prints and burning CDs...Man, I have got myself a loving, patient and supportive hubby, too. My God-send.

Nope, I'm not ready to put the cameras away yet. If anything, all this busy-ness has whet my appetite--new ideas just keep popping into my head for the next time I'm out with my gear.

Autumn was a tad odd this year, wasn't it? Some trees haven't yet turned--the Bradford Pears, especially--and others did but went on quickly to brown and crispy. I guess it might get boring if every Fall was just like the last.....

The happy couple...The soon-to-be father-in-law, looking a little like he's in need of grand children....
The brother of the bride-to-be....Radnor Lake
Senior photos for a friend...

Anyway, enjoy these snaps and I'll have some favorite soccer shots next time!

Needed: Spectacular Colors

2008-11-04T08:01:00.000-08:00

October 30, 2006 October 2007

Okay, it is not a fixation, but it does fall into the realm of concern.....

Have you noticed the foliage? Well THERE! See what I'm talking about?! You haven't really noticed the foliage because it almost isn't there this year!! Maybe I'm sounding the alarm early, and maybe in two weeks I'll be happy as a clam, but honestly, are those trees ever gonna turn this year or not?!

Not a biggie, I know, but there is something soothing to my heart and mind when I drive down Lebanon Road past the Cloverbottom Mansion and feel like I've stepped into another world, one painted in golds and reds....

I kinda keep an eye on things like this because the photos taken when Autumn is glorious seem to speak to more than just my heart--these are often the big sellers within my fine art collection, so they must be whispering sweet words to someone else, too! So, I do this color check thing a couple of times a week throughout October and now into November. Some of the most spectacular color is usually in full swing by Hallowe'en....and this is the 4th of November...

Okay, at least there ARE leaves on some of the trees--some trees let their leaves just brown and fall crispy to the Earth in protest of drought or heat or whatnot. Hopefully we WILL still have a spectacular display of harvest colors in the next couple of weeks.... Hope springs ETERNAL; the world is still round; God is still in control; and the leaves will turn in His time.

Ahhhh, now I feel better!

Notice I didn't mention the election. On purpose. I'm just praying and applying lessons learned while looking for lovely leaves!

Lest Ye Think that the ONLY Thing I Ever Shoot Has Cleats for Feet...

2008-10-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

Lest you think that the only thing I shoot nowadays has cleats for feet, well, I also shoot (in the photographic, non-lethal sense of the word) feathered friends--be they Canadian Geese, Ducks, Pigeons, Hummingbirds or Bluebirds!

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (male)
Ruby-Throated Hummer (female)--no ruby red throat, eh?!
Eastern Bluebird (male)--helfpul fella, isn't he? He and the female were kept reallllllly busy feeding a birdhouse full of hungry bellies--I kinda understand what they were going through...

Can you see the water all beaded up on her chest? Her feather pattern is like the other female Mallards, but she is much more pale--anybody know what type of duck she is?

The humble Pigeon

Nuisance though they have become, especially in the northern states, Canadian Geese are stately and beautiful...then again, I haven't had to pick up truck-loads of leavings before my children could play at the playground....