David B Photography

The morning brings a new beginning every day.....its been said you should begin every day as if it were on purpose. I just got off the phone with a friend of mine and was told morning people should be shot. I love mornings, each day is filled with promise and hope of something amazing happening.

A few days ago I was wandering downtown Flint and found this old fire house built in 1927 it had the original pumper truck inside. I spoke with the owner and he allowed me in to photograph this scene. The scene is as I saw it, minus a large piece of plastic that was laying on the floor next to the fireman's pole.



And yes it was shot in the morning, the building points east, I would have preferred a stronger sun coming through the windows but I think this shot works none the less. The upside is that I can go back when I want to shoot again. I see a trip down the fire pole in my future, simply because I can.

I was in Flint last night at a bar called the Machine Shop and took a couple of band photos. I wanted to try something new, this is something I've never done before and I think it worked out well.



The guys at the bar were really great and I appreciate them allowing me in shoot, the mosh pit made me a little nervous but maybe I'm just to old. The band was really great, its a nice venue if you want to see a band up close and personal.

I had the opportunity to speak to a class at Lee High School in Wyoming the other day. It was the first meeting of Ms. Milanowski's yearbook class for 2010.




The key idea was to communicate through pictures, how it a single photograph can be worth a thousand words, let the pictures do the talking.

I had a lot of great feedback from the students. I think next years book is going to look great!

Thanks again for letting me speak

This past week has been a fog at best. There has been a lot of sadness, stress and uncertainty. On May 8th my Mom passed away, I was there when she took her last breath and it was very difficult but at the same time beautiful and peaceful. I'm not sure if that is the best way to describe it and nearly impossible to put into words but it was time I will never forget.




I hear things all the time about not letting a moment go by and cherish what you have; I believe that to be true but it doesn't really set in until that someone or something is no longer there. If you were to close your eyes and think of the person who has made the biggest impression on your life whether it was a parent, a friend or a lover, let your mind wander and go back to a place and time where things seemed simpler. The place your mind takes you is not a grand event it takes you back to a specific moment in time where you hear every sound, smell every scent and see amazing colors as the warm breeze or a soft touch brushes against your skin.

I think we as a people often overlook the little things but it really is, the little things that seem to matter the most. Whether its a parent or relationship that you may be in, you need to stop, look, listen and feel.

This past week has been nothing more than a blur. I received a call from my sister last week that my mom was being admitted to the hospital, heartbeat was racing and they couldn't get it under control. I said; I can be there in a couple of hours do you need me? I heard my mom yell from the background, don't waste the gas I'll be out in a few hours. Those were the last words I heard her speak, she passed away two days later with my oldest sister and I by her side.

I don't like to write about the inevitable because lets be honest its so damned depressing. I'm not a 10 year old kid who doesn't understand the cycle of life and maybe I think on some level if I don't talk about it, it won't happen. That's the 10-year old coming out.



The services are coming up in a few days and I was tasked with writing the eulogy, not an easy thing when you try to sum up a persons life. I wrote my Dad's nine years ago when he passed and I volunteered to do it, there were things I wanted to say about my Dad. And last time just like this time I sat down put pen to paper and simply went blank, when I think of a persons life I try and come up with these amazing things they have done. But that's not reality, the answer to that question is simple, look within, you are the amazing thing they have done, it is because of my parents that I breathe every day. That I have four amazing children who I would lay down my life for without giving it a second thought. It is because of my parents and grandparents that I have been provided this gift to see the world, my world, through a camera lens; to try and capture that perfect moment in time, that moment that places you there to feel what that person is feeling.

So in a couple of days I will stand before a church full of people and tell not how great my Mom was or what incredible things she did, but simply how great she was to me and my brothers and sisters. I think as a society or as a people we loose site of the little things in our lives but if we were to stop take a deep breath the little things come into focus and we would realize that it is the little things in life that really do matter.

So as this post will likely be my last for a while I would leave you with this simple sentiment, laugh do not cry because life is passing you by, do something about it, hold the door for someone, hug your kids more kiss your husband or your wife with the passion you had when you first met and say the words that we often times take for granted. I love you Mom!

I was just looking back over my previous posts and I found one from around Christmas where I said my resolution for this year was to post once per week. Well since its been a month since my last post, I think you can see how well I've kept my resolutions.

I've put together what will likely be my last promo video of the year for seniors. SENIORS 2010 PROMO

I posted this on my facebook page, I took more hits on this clip than any other I've done so far. I'm glad people are enjoying it.

I have been very blessed with the gifts that I have been given, my ability to see things in a unique way and create something that people will cherish for years. I don't look at photography as a job, its a passion that has allowed me to do some amazing things, meet extraordinary people; The people who have made the biggest impact are the every day people I run into and have the opportunity to bring them joy from what I do. I've been working on giving back, a pay it forward type of thing if you will, I'm in the process of setting up small gatherings at high schools, around west Michigan. I could be coming to your classroom soon.

I had the kids for spring break this year, this week has been.....in a word, crazy. I'm trying to get work done while at the same time, I heard...hey dad can you play ball with us? Can you take us.....it was sweet music to my ears. The work didn't get done....or at least very little of it, but it was well worth it.

I was able to do something; I finished a video of a senior shoot. It worked out very nicely, lots of great feedback so far thoughts and input are welcome. Click on the Seniors 2010 to see the clip.Seniors 2010

I've also started a new senior promotion, $100 off your package, its just that simple, I know there are a lot of people struggling and I want to give something back so you can get $100 off your senior photo package from David B Photography.....how about free wallets? navigate to the contact section fill out the form and let me know what you think.

I had a great time last night shooting at the NCAA mens semi-finals in downtown GR last night, didn't get home until after 11. I spent the next couple of hours editing images, the alarm went off very early this morning.

These are just a couple of the images I grabbed during the event.

It's after 11p and I just got home from the Van Andel Arena in Dowtwn GR. The NCAA Mens Division One Hockey semi final was tonight. I got lots of great shots, I'm a bit partial to the fighting Irish because I had several family members go there.....not me, I didn't have the grades. The #1 seed Irish got taken to the woodshed in a very big way getting spanked by Bemidji State University......where in the He&% is Bemidji State, I had to look it up on Google, its in Minnesota right next to the Canadian boarder. Its probably the only school that has snow and ice 10 months out of the year, what else are you going to do up there besides skate.

This is the only goal scored by the Irish as they got smoked 5-to-1

I'm putting the final touches on a large picture order placed by family, its a ton of work but I love it! There is nothing else in the world I'd rather do than this. I also had a senior photo session that was fairly traditional; the parents always seem to want a traditional image you know the type and the senior wants something that is......BAM! I was talking to a senior yesterday who was describing what she wanted for her senior photos and she seemed to be searching a for a word to describe what she wanted her shoot to look like, it went something like this. My Mom and Dad want a nice studio picture to hand out to grandparents and aunts and uncles, but I don't want anything like that I want........BAM! that's what I want can you do that? I've never heard it put that way before but its a perfect description of what I love, the BAM factor.

I've got a big weekend planned, no kids so its kind of my time. The NCAA Division one Mens hockey regionals are here in town. I've got a photo pass and a new camera, guess where I will be.

I met with a senior to be and her Mom the other day, what a great time. I love listening to seniors and what they're looking for in the pictures and sometimes Mom rolls her eyes. The seniors I've had the opportunity to meet and talk with have all been really great, its interesting to see they everyone wants something unique, something that stands amongst the din while at the same time everyone wants to fit in.

If you are a senior or know of someone who is going to be a member of the class of 2010 navigate to the contact section fill out the form, make sure to include a phone number and an email address and I'll get back to you right away.

I took this shot last night while walking around downtown enjoying the nice early spring weather, it also gave me an opportunity to test out the new gear. I think its working well, if your the tech type and your wondering how I got this to work. It was shot at ISO 50, with an exposure of 12sec F22 it was shot in 14-bit raw which gives you a file size of just over 25mb when downloaded to Photoshop I tweaked the levels and cropped it a bit other than that....that's all. Its not quite there but I think its moving in the right direction. By the way I love the grill they've got amazing food.

I've got a meeting with a senior model rep and her Mom on Wednesday, I'm really looking forward to it the senior seems very excited about this and so am I.

The senior model video clips seem to be really taking off, lots of great feedback about how they look I think its going to be a great feature this senior season. Click on the word seniors below to view a

clip.Senior

This past weekend with the kids was great. I've been shooting for a while now and I've used my own kids several times for shoots, however whenever I want a nice shot, a shot that really brings out their personality it never works out the way I want it to.

However this weekend we needed a picture for grandma, surprisingly enough everyone was on their best behavior. I love this shot, because each expression is really who they are, no posing no cheezy smiles their personalities really came through. Its one of my best shots!

Its Super Bowl Sunday! I'm going with the Cardinals simply because everyone says the Steelers are going to win....you know me I've got to be different.

So I had some free time this weekend in and among all of the household chores that needed to be done, I should hire a maid. Does anyone know someone who will clean my house for free?

I love to shoot glass objects, for those of you who don't know shooting glass is a bit of a challenge throw liquid into that glass and its gets even harder, try to stop that liquid as its coming out of the glass.....well you get the idea. The original version had a bottle of Gray Goose in it, I couldn't get that to work with the other elements. I have other ideas with this and I'll keep working on those but I think this is a good start.

I have very full week coming up and at the end of it the kids will be here. I see several games of hockey in my future. The next several weeks will be very long lots going on, if you need to get a hold of me for some reason the best way will be calling, I'll check e-mail when I can but that will be challenging.

I had the opportunity to shoot for the AVP pro volleyball tour when they were in Grand Rapids the other night. Those people are amazing. I don't even think I could return a service from the women players, and the men.....I can barely see the ball. If you ever get the chance to see them in action you should take full advantage.