Zak Saenz Photography

Yongnuo

2011-12-24T23:44:00.000-07:00

My plan for this upcoming year is to do a "Whats in my bag" post about what else, the equipment I bring when I shoot events. Of course this isn't all my equipment but just what I bring for a normal shoot.

In this post I wanted to mention a company named Yongnuo. This is a Chinese company that is making some nice affordable products that are getting some rave reviews.

Two of the many products they manufacture I am going to talk a little about today. The $75 YN560 Speedlite and the $35pr RF-603 flash triggers. The quality is unbelievable for these prices.

First the YN560 Speedlite.

Now the YN560 at $75 is a great secondary all manual flash unit that works well both on camera or how I like to use them off camera. What do I mean by secondary? Well listen I have top of the line Nikon equipment but if I can find products that are reliable and fit the need and save me big money I use them.

I purchased these products right off their page on Ebay and the shipping was FREE. Can't beat that.

So this flash unit as stated is all manual. It has power zoom from 24-105mm and flash power adjustable from 1/128-1/1 power. It also has fully adjustable head angle, PC port, external battery plug, optical sensor to trigger flash, just to name a few things all with about the same flash power as the top of the line Nikon and Canon flash units that run about $500. How do they do it?

Now if you only use the TTL (automatic mode) of your factory flash unit your going to have to put in a little learning time to familiarize yourself with manual flash but thats where www.PWAZ.info comes in or a workshop in your area. We all know that TTL flash is like shooting with your camera on AUTOMATIC. Sometimes it works and most of the time it doesn't.

Listen we as photographers need to know how to use manual modes on everything we have. If we don't we are not going to be able to take control of things if something isn't going right which happens a lot.

Second the RF-630 Trigger/Receiver

These RF-603s at $35pr are another great product and much more affordable over the $150 a peice competitor. For off camera flash I break out a tripod with a umbrella bracket mounted on top. Then I put on one of the triggers and then the flash unit on top. I then mount a trigger on my camera, yes these are both triggers and receivers and I can also still put a flash on top of the trigger that is on my camera and we are ready to go.

I love to use these at weddings where I need to throw some light here and there to bring up the back light. There is a cool light system on the trigger that tells you it is talking to the other triggers so that you know the signal strength is good. I have used these at about 100ft and not one miss fire. I have seen on Youtube tests out to about 300ft.

The only downfall I see with these is that there isn't any locking collar on these. They did make the fit snug and I haven't had one fall off so they seem to stay on fine but I would feel better with a screw down locking collar at least.

Ok, so there you go. Two great affordable products to fill your needs.

Lung Cancer

2011-10-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

Sunday I spent the morning shooting the Lungevity event which is a event to help in the fight against lung cancer.

My mother who died several years ago died of lung cancer and so I know first hand of this brutal disease.

If you are a smoker or if you know someone who smokes my hope is that you or they would have the strength to stop smoking.

Liliana & Carlos

2011-09-05T13:13:00.001-07:00

Yesterdays shoot of a two shoot weekend was with Liliana & Carlos.

Sometimes things start off a little slow and the couple may be a little hesitant to let themselves be themselves and such was the case with these two. But once we got the ice broken it was great from there.

I had a great time shooting them and I love being so close to peoples special occasions.

I didn't even remember that the day before I had a 11.5hr shoot that wore me out.

Rosi

2011-09-04T11:15:00.001-07:00

This is Rosi (Rosy). Rosi was a delight to shoot and was outgoing and joyful.

You can see in this image that she is wearing softball cleats. Softball is her sport of choice.

The after party just seemed to go on and on and the shoot was a total of 11.5hrs. Needless to say that I am a little sore today. Well worth it to capture a special moment in time.

Spring is in the Air!

2011-08-09T16:04:00.002-07:00

Ah! Spring is in the air! The trees are sprouting their summer leafs, the summer grass is starting to come in, wild flowers are blooming and white is back in for summer.

Of course if you are back east you are getting snow but not here in sunny AZ where summer starts in April and ends in October.

I'm ready for it! Bring it on Mother Nature!

Cooling Off

2011-08-09T16:04:00.001-07:00

This image was taken once again during one of the many workshops I teach at the Phoenix zoo. Most of the workshops there are my DSLR Photography 101 Workshop which goes over the basics of ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed as well as proper camera setup, depth of field etc.

I find that the zoo is the perfect place for beginners to learn because of the vast changes in scenery and lighting from one exhibit to the next. This vast change forces one to make many camera adjustments in order to adapt to these changes.

Chris & Raquel

2011-03-14T23:18:00.003-07:00

Love is in the air! This image was taken this past weekend of Chris and Raquel.

It was a beautiful spring day which was perfect for this outdoor wedding.

Unfortunately the groom was very ill but he held it together long enough for us to get through the day.

There are always challenges to work through on every shoot so patience and quick thinking are what help the professional photographer get through it.

Pixel Sling

2011-03-02T20:04:00.005-07:00

For this new year I decided to start a new project built around photography. Being a working photographer as I looked at several camera products that I use I thought there was much room for improvement.

The first two products that I wanted to start with were based on the camera strap and also a camera strap mounting system to allow the photographer to bottom mount their strap.

As I looked at the modern camera strap one of the first complaints you hear would be the shortness of the strap itself and how the normal camera strap is designed to be worn around the neck or over the shoulder.

The professional camera setup hung by a strap draped around ones neck for hours can create great stress in the neck area and after many hours starts to feel like an anchor dragging them down. A better way I thought would be to wear it slung across your should and chest which spreads the load out much more effectively. It is also a safer way to carry your camera verses slung over your shoulder which when worn this way tends to fall off your shoulder from time to time.

It was important to me in redesigning the strap to have it still be able to mount to the camera using the stock mounting points if desired. This would allow no other necessary items to be purchased if this was all you wanted out of your strap.

The second item that is just coming off the production line is a new mounting system to allow the photographer to connect their camera strap to the bottom of the camera at the 1/4 20 tripod mounting point. This is becoming a desired way to carry the camera which by doing this keeps the cameras strap out of the face of the photographer when shooting vertically. It is a more casual setup but has its purpose just as well.

You can find out more about these two products by visiting http://www.pixelsling.com/

Odessa

2011-02-22T15:38:00.002-07:00

This past weekends shoot was with Odessa and Tony on their wedding day. The day brought a heavy does of rain, something a bride hates to see on their important day but I assured her that rain or not that we would get great images of them.

This shot, taken in the studio before the ceremony, was a shot I enjoyed. It is much better at its full size but we are limited here so we get what we get.

Double Header

2011-01-30T11:32:00.004-07:00

Yatziri

Priscilla

Well this past weekend was a busy weekend with events on both Friday and Saturday nights.

Need I say I'm Beat! I am not getting any younger that's for sure.

Both events went well and both girls were very happy with the images I got.

Now a day of rest.

Maria Maria

2011-01-23T21:30:00.003-07:00

Maria was the subject of my shoot this past weekend for her 15th birthday celebration!

It was a great day for a shoot and she was eager to follow all my posing requests.

Many of these shots are very traditional which is what the family usually likes but we always try to sneak in a couple fun ones also.

Vanessa

2011-01-18T14:38:00.003-07:00

Here is a shot of Vanessa from my last shoot a few days ago.

Late afternoon shooting has become a little more difficult lately because of the sun reflecting off the water and creating flares on the images. This shot includes two flares that I had to spend some time with to correct but overall I think the image came out fine.

Controlling Exposure

2011-01-13T08:24:00.004-07:00

Here is another shot while teaching a workshop at the Phoenix Zoo. I am not sure of the name of this winged creature but I use it as a study on controlling exposure in harsh direct sunlight.

Proper exposure becomes more difficult with white subjects in direct sun at times which can cause an over exposing of white which can blow out all detail in that white.

Topaz Labs

2011-01-09T19:44:00.002-07:00

We are happy to announce a new sponsor to our page, Topaz Labs

Topaz Labs is a company that I love. They make many different pieces of software that work as a Photoshop and Photoshop Elements plug in that are simple to use with a dramatic effect.

The image below of Papago Park was enhanced with Topaz Adjust which works wonders with landscape images creating almost a HDR effect on the image.

Click on the image above which will bring you to their site for more info on their products.

Papago

2011-01-08T16:54:00.003-07:00

Yesterday was a beautiful Arizona day here in Phoenix. It was sixty degrees out with some great clouds in the sky, something we don't get enough of in AZ.

I spent a couple of hours teaching one of my photography workshops at the Phoenix Zoo and upon leaving noticed this great view of the bluffs at Papago Park. I knew I had to stop and get this shot while I had the chance and did take advantage of the opportunity.

Black & White Film

2011-01-03T15:15:00.008-07:00

Shot at 2.8

www.BradArmstrongPhotography.com

Shot at 2.8

These are a few shots with my medium format Mamiya 645 from a shooting excursion I had a couple of months back with a friend of mine Brad Armstrong from Brad Armstrong Photography.

This is my first time shooting with this camera and the first time shooting film in probably ten years.

I got the camera just for the purpose of shooting B&W film which I use to love shooting.

I had a great time and look forward to shooting more film in the future.

A Wedding Day

2010-12-26T19:44:00.004-07:00

Here is a shot of Adriana and Val from their wedding day a week ago. Adriana owns a great reception hall in Mesa, AZ called Villa Tuscana http://www.villatuscanaevents.com/. I work this hall often and it is a wonderful place.

Well this is why we live in AZ. Great days like this in December when the rest of the country is freezing. You can't ask for better weather than this to photograph in.

Next wedding shoot New Years Day!

Yazari

2010-12-20T22:32:00.002-07:00

Ah! What it would be like to be fifteen again. That is a guy at fifteen not a girl which is obviously what Yazari is. Though I do look great in blue also.

The skies were not blue on this day but overcast which is a nice change at times from our normal extra bright blinding skies.

Well Christmas will be here in just a few days and I am looking forward to what is in store for me in 2011.

A new project for the coming year is to develop a few products for photography that I have feel are needed or products that I think could be improved on.

The first is on its way in a few weeks so I will keep you posted!

Progression of a Cross-Eyed Cat

2010-12-14T20:16:00.004-07:00

Our little cat Jocee is getting bigger and bigger it seems almost every day now. Gone are the days of her fitting in my palm, now she is like a wild two year old child running around a hundred miles an hour, climbing the curtains and getting into trouble every step of the way.

She is adorable though and it is hard to get mad at her even when she completely unwinds the paper towel roll all over the kitchen floor.

She loves being outside in the back yard and she puts up a complete fuss when she has to come in. Of course that is after she makes you chase her around for five or ten minutes till she tires out enough to catch her.

Mountain Lake

2010-12-11T20:51:00.003-07:00

Pembroke Virginia is the home to the famous Mountain Lake Hotel where the movie Dirty Dancing was filmed.

This shot is a view as you travel down the mountain road heading back down from the hotel. It is one of those long twisty mountain roads that are common in Virginia. If your not use to them motion sickness is almost a sure thing.

If you are ever in south west Virginia this is a must see place so don't forget to stop in and check it out.

Pillars

2010-12-01T21:34:00.003-07:00

A few weeks back I helped to shoot an event at Saint Mary's Basilica in down town Phoenix for the 800 year anniversary of the Crosier's www.crosier.org.

I had taken up a position up in the back balcony of the Basilica with my trusty D700 and my Tamron 70-200mm 2.8 lens to get all the action below and while I was waiting for things to get started snapped this image of the towering pillars making there way from front to back.

It was a challenging event that day shooting at 1600 ISO and wide open aperture but ended up with some good images.

Rhoda

2010-11-25T22:14:00.003-07:00

Last Saturday I attended a local artist gathering which included photography, painting and music just to name a few medias.

Though it was geared to more beginning level artists it primarily was to get local artist together.

I took this image of Rhoda who was a beginning level photographer who had also done a little modeling.

I enjoyed the event just for the fellowship itself and hope to make next years.

Crystal

2010-11-20T19:27:00.003-07:00

This last shoot yesterday was of Crystal on her 15th birthday celebration.

She was great to work with and willing to pose anyway I asked.

I loved her white dress and it is one of my favorite colors to shoot.

All in all a great shoot!

Black & White

2010-11-06T09:08:00.004-07:00

Here is a shot of a couple that I took awhile back and thought it would make a great B&W image.

I took this shot while at a seminar and these two are models but they seem to be getting a long with each other fairly well.

It would be great to get brides to push themselves a little more without the fear of messing up their dress for the sake of getting shots like this.

Alexandra

2010-11-01T10:52:00.005-07:00

This past shoot was with Alexandra for another Quinceanera. I think this was my favorite of all my shoots to date.

It is great when the people you are shooting are fun and energetic and are just enjoying the whole day.

This celebration was non stop and Alex's friends were dancing well into the night, never letting up.

I wish they could all be like this.

Phoenix Botanical

2010-10-25T21:28:00.005-07:00

If you haven't ever been to the Phoenix Botanical Gardens it is a must see place at least once a year.

They have done a great job keeping up the gardens as well as always having something in bloom to attract visitors no matter what time of year. Spring is the best due to the cactus blooms but even in October there are some great shots to be had.

Besides the great shots there are several trails to hike and outdoor concerts on cool fall nights.

Pilar

2010-10-20T07:42:00.003-07:00

Well the weather is getting better every day here in Phoenix and with this change came the change of Pilar from a child to a woman.

Pilar celebrated her 15th birthday this past weekend and I enjoyed shooting her event for her very much.

Martha

2010-10-09T18:16:00.003-07:00

Yesterday was a day that reminds us here in Arizona why we live here. It appears summer has finally passed and the days of one hundred plus degrees are gone for awhile.

The shoot was for Martha's 15th birthday celebration. She was a joy to shoot and this dress was a great color for her.

Now that the harsh summer has passed and with that the rain that we just had, the grass and trees have come to life once again.

Horseshoes

2010-10-02T22:15:00.002-07:00

Well it has been one of the hottest summers on record here in the desert and I think it is finally coming to an end.

My hope is to get in a lot more shooting this fall than last, maybe take a few trips up north or even down to the southern part of the state.

I really have been wanting to shoot San Xavier Mission where Ansel Adams had shot years ago.

I know I will be going to Sedona in a few weeks and hope to get some good shots there.

The Old Trunk

2010-09-26T19:04:00.003-07:00

This morning I spent a couple of hours teaching another DSLR 101 Workshop. We decided to do it at one of my favorite places to shoot in the valley that being Goldfield Ghost Town out in Apache Junction on the way to Canyon Lake.

One of the reasons I like it there is because there is so much stuff everywhere you look...Old engines and cars, signs, machinery it just goes on and on.

I shot this in color but then decided to give it a old black and white look.

Josee

2010-09-18T12:15:00.003-07:00

Here is the newest addition to our family, little Josee. She is a rambunctious little thing and has teeth like needles and likes to use them.

I shot this with my new Sigma 18-200 OS image stabilization lens $370 http://www.adorama.com/SG18200SNK.html?kbid=64905 that I got a few days ago. I love my Nikon 18-200 VR lens http://www.adorama.com/NK18200DXNU.html?kbid=64905 but couldn't justify spending another $760 for the lens on my secondary camera.

I am still giving the Sigma a workout and so far it has worked well at half the price but I will put it through more tests tomorrow before I give it a thumbs up.

Dragonfly

2010-09-13T15:09:00.002-07:00

I was just out messing around today wishing it still wasn't 100 degrees out when I came across this little guy. It was about the only thing out in this 100 degree weather besides me. I guess we were both hoping for the same thing, that is that summer would finish up here and go away. Unfortunately we are still about a month away from cooler days.

Beatriz 2

2010-09-04T12:53:00.003-07:00

Here is another shot of Beatriz from last weeks shoot posing with a background drape and I am shooting this with my new Nikon D700 camera.

I was impressed with the D700 over my D300s when it came to low light shooting. The full frame sensor is better adapted to low light conditions and showed it well.

Another thing I really like about my D700 is that it's built with the same magnesium frame as my D300s and has many of the same controls and functions so I felt right at home.

Beatriz

2010-08-29T10:02:00.005-07:00

Here is Beatriz who just happens to be a relative of the girl below Dianne whose event I shot last weekend.

Most of the shots I put here are shot the day of their event and are printed and displayed at the event so people can view it as they come in.

The shots just get a quick edit and then I print them on a HP 8550 printer.

Dianne

2010-08-22T17:08:00.003-07:00

Yesterday was a long 10hr shoot for me on Dianne's 15th birthday celebration.

Though I LOVE being a photographer 10hrs is a little long for me. I usually do 8hr shoots which for me is much easier to handle...Especially when it is 110 outside

This color dress choice she is wearing is a great color to shoot and I think she wore it very well.

All in all a good shoot.

Whoooo!

2010-08-08T14:37:00.006-07:00

Another day another workshop taught. This little guy is a Burrowing Owl and is only about 8" tall. He came out to check out a corn snake that was lurking around.

I never realized that there are owls that burrow into the ground but think it's pretty cool.

Nature never ceases to amaze me.

Photography Workshops

2010-08-06T17:20:00.004-07:00

As the summer is moving along the demand for my photography workshops has been increasing steadily.

It seams more and more people are purchasing Digital SLR's and joining the ranks of existing photographers.

Some are new moms looking to document their children's lives while others are more interested in things such as nature and wildlife photography, yet others are looking to hone their skills in the hope of becoming a professional photographer one day.

Whatever the situation may be photography is as popular as ever.

This image was taken by me today at the Phoenix Zoo while teaching two students the fundamentals of photography in my DSLR Photography 101 Workshop. The zoo is my favorite place to teach and my students seem to learn the quickest there.

Stephanie

2010-07-25T14:53:00.003-07:00

Well this past week it was Stephanie's turn to celebrate her quinceanera or 15th birthday.

This spot has been one of my go to spots out at Freestone Park and I think my favorite spot at the moment.

She wore one of the wildest dresses that I have seen yet and the hot pink color isn't one of the easiest colors to shoot.

The Shot

2010-07-19T21:02:00.004-07:00

Today I spent the day at a workshop put on by Doug Gordon who is a very popular wedding photographer out of NY.

I enjoy going to seminars and workshops from time to time for a couple reasons, one for the fellowship with other photographers and two because I believe it is important to continue to progress in everything we do.

This image was taken of the two models who were doing their thing for us at Doug's direction. Doug is a master at posing for sure and I had a great time.

Deysi

2010-06-22T20:45:00.003-07:00

Deysi's (pronounced Daisy) Sweet 15 or quinceanera was HOT. Maybe it may have had something to do with the 106 degree weather this past Saturday.

In either case I thought she looked wonderful in her bright yellow dress.

What do you think?

Our Rescue Dog

2010-06-17T17:21:00.005-07:00

It has been several years since we had a dog so I decided to check out one of our local no kill rescue shelters to see if anything caught my fancy. We had a little list of must haves such as house trained, crate trained, good with cats, and last one of my personal requirements it must be a mans dog. Nothing wimpy for me.

As difficult as I thought this list would be to fulfill it wasn't. Gemma, an American Bulldog was just there waiting for us. Now after having her for a whole month she has been a perfect loving dog.

If you are interested in a pet check out Friends For Life at http://www.azfriends2.org/dotnetnuke04022010/Home.aspx

Lysa

2010-05-31T17:56:00.004-07:00

This past weekends shoot was another quinceanera with Lysa. This shot was taken at Freestone park on the carousel. Though I shoot at this park often this is the first time I put the carousel to use. On this day (Sunday) there was no one on the ride so I payed the two bucks for use fee and shot away.

Gerardo & Jessica

2010-05-11T21:09:00.003-07:00

Well things are warming up in sunny old Phoenix! This past Saturdays shoot was a little hot nearing about 90 degrees.

I think this couple did very well bearing through it all. I have been so lucky having clients that have been so easy going. I like to think that at least in part it is because of how I deal with them. I have this calming effect on people. I think that's part of a photographers job, to instill a feeling of your in good hands.

Billy Sample

2010-05-03T14:28:00.004-07:00

I visited a good friend of mine the other day, Billy Sample, who is a gifted musician. He is a singer, song writer, guitar player and even throws in a little harmonica to round it all out.

Billy understands this gift that he has been given and uses it as a ministry by reaching out to people on the streets.

You may find him in downtown Mesa or Mill Avenue in Tempe belting out a song that he has written or maybe even a song from Neil Young or Bob Dylan.

If you happen to see him stop by and say hello.

Visit Billy @ http://www.myspace.com/billysample

Dulce

2010-04-25T22:37:00.003-07:00

This past weekends shoot was another quinceanera with Dulce. She had a great smile with pink braces which made it look like she just got through drinking red punch.

I have been working lately on my flash skills by using different zoom techniques. Here I throw a narrow beam of light on the face lighting it up just enough to bring out some color. I like this technique a lot and have been using it often.

Carefree

2010-04-21T22:47:00.003-07:00

This evening me and a friend decided to head out and shoot the changing weather and sunset up in Carefree, AZ.

After getting there and traveling many miles down some old dirt roads we cam a long this spot.

It was a spot that my friend had shot at once before and it is a beautiful spot but maybe it was the weather but after spending some time there it just wasn't doing it for me until finally the sun started to set and then it all came alive.

Spring Is In The Air

2010-04-15T13:00:00.002-07:00

Ah, Spring is in the air here in Phoenix and it was about 90 degrees today which I am sure is much hotter than many of you get mid summer.

Here are three shots that I took at the Phoenix Botanical Gardens which is a great place this time of year.

I took a group of eleven photographers on a little get together through the gardens to photograph the many sites from cactus blooms to lizards.

If you are local and haven't been there I suggest you take a day and go and enjoy.

A Few More

2010-04-13T20:00:00.004-07:00

As this week has moved forward so has my progress in my post production work for Michael and Natalie's wedding last Saturday.

Here I have pulled three more images to show that I found myself drawn to.

The top image of the bride going out the tall iron scrolled doors to her awaiting limo is really my favorite of all these images from this shoot. I shot about five images of this with varying stages of exposure and found this one to be the one I preferred.

Tomorrow morning back to the Botanical Gardens to shoot more cactus blooms.

Michael & Natalie

2010-04-11T10:59:00.003-07:00

Here is a shot that I just pulled from my wedding shoot yesterday of Michael and Natalie.

This was shot at one of the most popular places in the Phoenix East Valley area called Freestone Park in Gilbert.

One of the downfalls of living in Phoenix is the harsh sun. In this image I placed them in the shade of a tree with the sun behind them then add a little fill flash to lighten up the face a little.

Many photographers would just use all natural light but I think you loose the glow of the brides face and much of the brightness of the eyes by doing it that way.

I think many new photographers feel intimidated by flash so it is one of the workshops I teach at Photography Workshops of Arizona. Flash is our friend I teach so don't be afraid of it.

Sedona

2010-04-09T20:31:00.004-07:00

Yesterday I spent some time in Sedona checking out a couple of new spots. It was a great day about 75 degrees though I wish there was a few clouds in the sky but you can't ask for everything and expect to get it.

The first image on top was of a washed out bridge that I have seen off the main road year after year always thinking that I needed to get down there one day and check it out. As you can see, water was flowing very well that day from all the rain and snow this year and really added to this shot.

The image at the bottom was at a popular photography site called Crescent Moon which is south out of Sedona several miles on 89a. The sun was a little harsh this day and you really needed to try and tone it down but this shot was approaching sunset which made it a little easier to capture it well.

Desert Blooms

2010-04-02T15:59:00.004-07:00

I look forward every year to spring time and the coming of the desert blooms. Today I spent some time at the Phoenix Botanical Gardens checking out the start of the bloom season.

It was looking pretty good so far and with all the rain we had this winter it should be a great year for them.

I try and go every week for the next several weeks catching it at all stages. What I find is that one type of cactus may be in bloom while others need a little more time and heat before they finally erupt.

Roanoke VA

2010-03-31T10:21:00.003-07:00

I have mentioned before that I spend some time in S/W Virginia and this image was taken in Roanoke which is a great little city with some great old buildings in its downtown area.

I saw this shot as I peered down an ally way by where the farmers market is.

We don't have places like this in Phoenix and wish we did but then again Roanoke doesn't have most of what Phoenix has to offer.

No Flash Allowed!

2010-03-26T13:27:00.003-07:00

The dreaded "NO FLASH ALLOWED" words that we as wedding photographers hear from time to time when shooting the ceremony at a church.

Personally having been a senior pastor of a church for several years I have never understood this. I can tell you I didn't force any photographers to shoot without flash. I am sure there is some tradition that has continued over these many decades, I am not sure what but I'm sure there must be.

So we do what we must and put on our 1.4 or 1.8 lenses and shoot wide open with shallow depth of field and make of it what we can.

This shot is one that I would call a more artistic shot that I can use for a backdrop to lay other images on, maybe a cover shot for an albun or in some cases it does appeal to some couples just for its artistic value.

Fine Art Slide Show

2010-03-13T21:29:00.003-07:00

Check out my Fine Art slideshow that I created from a new feature from Zenfolio.

Mike & Steph

2010-03-13T09:35:00.003-07:00

Here is a trio of shots taken from Mike & Stephanie's wedding a couple weeks back set on top of a background.

I love the center shot of her gazing into his eyes. He is not at an angle which shows him well but he doesn't need to be because the focus is on her, but we still know its him she is looking at.

And the flowers draped over his back adds a splash of color to the scene.

They loved this shot.

I'm Back!

2010-03-09T22:21:00.002-07:00

Here is a shot of a fountain within the MGM Grand where I stayed. Pretty cool fountain.

Well Vegas was great but when I got there on Monday afternoon the trade show was already closing up at 4pm so I had to spend a few more hours there Tuesday so I could do what I went there for which was check out all the great vendors. Who's crazy idea was it over at WPPI to close up the trade show so early?

While there on Monday night about a dozen of us from www.PhotographySchoolhouse.com had dinner at Diego's and it was pretty darn good. If you haven't found Photography Schoolhouse yet go there and check it out. It has a nice mixture of both Pro and non-Pro photographers sharing their thoughts.

Anyway this was just a quick update so check back soon!

Vegas Bound!

2010-03-07T13:06:00.002-07:00

Monday morning I will be heading to Vegas for the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International convention.

It will only be for a day but I am looking forward to my stay at the MGM Grand where the convention is being held.

Vegas is about a 6hr drive from Phoenix depending on traffic at the Hoover Dam but it is a nice drive with some great scenery.

The trade show is primarily why I like to go. It gives me an opportunity to see some great new products that the many vendors will have available for display.

So wish me a safe trip and I will give you an update when I get back.

Mike & Steph

2010-02-25T15:59:00.003-07:00

This past Saturday was the wedding of Mike and Steph. Our plans for our shoot was going to be at a local park but the weather didn't look like it was going to hold up so I brought them to a place I had shot at once before which had these great covered arch ways around this little pond.

This spot ended up being a much better place to shoot and the weather even added more drama to the backdrop.

I think we ran over our allotted time by about forty five minutes getting to this place but it was well worth it. We kept everyone waiting for us at the reception and they were nice and hungry by time we got there.

Spirit Feathers

2010-02-15T16:56:00.003-07:00

Here is a image I took awhile back and decided to work with it a little more and this is the outcome.

I took this at one of the Pow Wows I visited and really liked the shot but it just sat in storage until just recently when I rediscovered it.

I think the colors and textures are both great within the feathers and this may be a shot that finds its way on one of my walls.

The Sleepy Otter

2010-02-12T09:15:00.002-07:00

The weather in Phoenix has been incredible lately so yesterday I decided that the location for teaching my DSLR Photography 101 Workshop to a new student would be the Phoenix Zoo.

The zoo is a great place for new photographers to test out their skills because each exhibit is so different from the previous when it comes to lighting, distance and overall surroundings that it makes the photographer work through their cameras settings in order to get a quality image.

I took this image of this sleepy otter about mid way through our two hour workshop.

The Jump Shot

2010-02-09T20:00:00.002-07:00

Here is another shot from this past Saturday. Most call it the "Jump Shot" and it can be a fun shot to take to get everyone loosened up and feeling good.

Usually I have the person of focus stand without jumping and I also do this with bride and groom usually with them kissing and everyone being goofy around them.

Even if the shot doesn't work with a group it is still fun to see everyone doing this.

The shoe gods

2010-02-07T12:08:00.004-07:00

Last evening the shoot was another quinceaneras or a sweet 15 celebration. This is a celebration for a Hispanic girl when she enters into womanhood.

One of the key shots for the event is when the dad removes her shoes representing her as a child (the airbrushed high tops) and replacing them with her adult shoes (shoes with heals).

I am not usually this lucky to have both shoes in this shot but last night the shoe gods were with me.

New Love

2010-01-31T11:34:00.004-07:00

There is nothing like new love fresh and alive. This is Mike and Stephanie who wanted their engagement shots to be at sunset with the desert as their backdrop.

If you traveled down the old HWY 88 past Canyon Lake and Tortilla Flats the pavement eventually comes to an end. This was going to be our location and we were not disappointed by mother natures glory as the setting sun surrendered itself to the night.

The light was leaving us fast but I think we were able to capture the mood as in visioned.

Airport

2010-01-26T22:22:00.002-07:00

Airport. This is one of my favorite lookouts in Sedona. As I have mentioned before I love Sedona and my wife and I try and get there both spring and fall. I will also try and get there in between for some R&R and shoot a few images.

I have been trying to make my way back up there since its been a few months but have been derailed each time.

Maybe next month.

1903

2010-01-18T18:43:00.004-07:00

This week in the Phoenix area they are calling for rain almost all week. I think this is the first time in 22yrs that I have lived here that I have seen this. Most may know that Phoenix only gets like 9" of rain a year so to even have rain in the forecast for two or three days in a row is a big event. You will even see people standing outside when it rains just looking into the sky in wonder and amazement.

I decided today to take a little walk around ASU campus being it was a holiday and school was closed which meant plenty of parking would be available.

This church is a Catholic church which was built in 1903 right across from the original ASU building. In 1903 this place was still the wild west but you would never know it now with ASU being the biggest college in the country with over sixty thousand students.

I shot this at 18mm, ISO 320, f6.3 at 1/200 of a sec. I really love the textures and color of the old brick as it is flanked by these palms.

The palms of course not original to the desert but a great addition.

Light Rail Bridge

2010-01-13T21:20:00.005-07:00

I have really been itching to do some dusk and night time long exposure photography lately so I decided to get my butt down to Tempe Beach Park and see what there was to photograph.

This shot was taken between the light rail bridge and the old train bridge with the shutter speed set at 30 seconds at ISO 100 at about f4.

I love the outcome of this shot! The cool thing about the light rail bridge is that the lights that you see along the bottom of the bridge change colors as the light rail approaches it with reds, blues, purples and greens.

I will for sure get back down there again soon to shoot a little more. Don't forget you can click on the photo to enlarge it.

The Old Church

2010-01-11T15:59:00.003-07:00

One of the things I really enjoy photographing is old churches. This church is out by the Superstition Mountains in Apache Junction, AZ.

I am not exactly sure why I am drawn to old churches, maybe it has to do with the history a church tends to have when it comes to peoples lives. Many start off their lives with some sort of dedication as a family vows to raise their child in their faith, then the child once old enough to understand their family's faith gets baptized into that faith, many move on to getting married at their church then dedicating their child's life to their faith, and last the old church holds the remains of that persons life while others come in celebration of it.

I fear that many churches built today may not have such a history. People get tired of the old church and build new bigger and better churches to replace them while other churches fall into decay and are just torn down in order to provide more space for progress.

Last & First

2010-01-03T00:53:00.003-07:00

Well this was my last shoot in 2009 and my first shoot in 2010. It was from the New Years Eve wedding of Dustin and Ashley and they wanted to celebrate their wedding while bringing in the New Year.

Of course everyone was tuckered out and only a hand full of the guests were left to help them bring it in but that's OK.

Me being the pro that I am stuck it out with them right till the end.

Photography Workshops of Arizona

2009-12-28T23:02:00.007-07:00

One of the things I enjoy most about photography is teaching others how they can improve their own photography.

Photography Workshops of Arizona or PWAZ has had a great year and I have had some fantastic students throughout this year.

One of the things that I enjoy from these workshops is seeing the students filled with so much enthusiasm to learn as much as they can about photography.

My approach is direct and simple trying not to over complicate things but just to give my students tools that they can use right away. I remember one of my students telling me that she learned more in my two hour DSLR 101 class than she did in her eight week course at the local community college. That's what its all about.

As we wind down this year and look forward to 2010 I can not help but to be thankful for all the great people who I have met this past year and can only hope that next year will bring more of the same.

Be safe and hit the ground running in 2010!

http://www.PWAZ.info

Mr Lee Lee

2009-12-16T18:32:00.003-07:00

The great thing about having pets is that when you get bored you have someone or something to pester.

After a week of dealing with a cold and being cooped up a little to much I decided to break out the 70-200 2.8 lens and chase the cats around the yard for awhile.

Mr Lee Lee here is one of our four cats and as you can see he is a Siamese and is just about the color of our dirt which he loves to roll around in when he gets the chance.

A cats life. Not so bad.

Salt River Canyon

2009-12-09T21:01:00.003-07:00

One of the things I love to do is ride motorcycles. On a trip to a motorcycle rally in northern Arizona I rode through the Salt River Canyon. I told myself on the way back I was going to stop and take a few pictures.

It had rained the night before my return back to Chandler and the sky was still filled with these powerful clouds overshadowing the canyon below. It was a awesome sight and a great ride if you ever find yourself heading that way.

Juniper

2009-11-29T23:47:00.002-07:00

Sedona is one of my favorite places in the entire world. If any place has been touched by the hand of God it has surely been Sedona.

It is said that there are vortex's or abnormal energy on top of some of these mountains this one being Airport which is a popular place to visit.

I am not a plant expert but I am pretty sure this is a Juniper tree. These trees on top of these supposed vortex mountains grow in this strange twisted way. I can't explain why. Maybe there is a good explanation for it that I am unaware of. But in any case they are a sight to see.

I am going to try and get back there again this coming week to look for some new spots to photograph. I can't wait!

Cinthia

2009-11-28T14:31:00.004-07:00

It was just about a perfect day yesterday with temps in the 70's and what better day to turn fifteen and celebrate your transition into womanhood.

I have found myself taking this shot a lot lately. It was taken from above, in this case standing on the concrete base of a light pole about three feet above the subject.

Cinthia loved the shot and couldn't wait to get a copy of it for herself.

As I am getting older now almost 47 "ouch" I find myself enjoying photographing younger people. Not that I am not just a s happy at "47" or maybe even happier just that you do reflect back at youth sometimes.

Hoover Dam

2009-11-17T18:42:00.002-07:00

I took a quick trip to Vegas on Monday for the day. I have never been to Vegas and a great wedding photographer named David Ziser was going to be there for a lecture and I thought it was a good enough reason to get me over there.

While driving there I got to drive over the mighty Hoover Dam. What a sight with the new bypass bridge being built in the backdrop.

I didn't really get a chance to see the sights of Vegas being the lecture ended a little late and I needed to get up early and drive back but at least I could say I was there.

Another place checked off my list!

Dayana

2009-11-08T22:45:00.003-07:00

Yesterday I spent the day shooting Dayana for her Quinceanera or 15th birthday celebration. It was a nice day and she was a great subject to photograph.

The event was about 9hrs long which for an old guy like me is starting to get a little tough. But I love this work and I of course work through the sore legs, tired feet and sore neck from lugging around a camera for that long.

Being a part of a persons celebration to me is a wonderful thing to experience. It could be a birthday celebration or wedding or whatever but just being there to see the joy of the day makes everything that is going on in the world seem to fade away even for just a short while.

The Ring Bearer

2009-10-25T16:07:00.003-07:00

The job of the ring bearer is a job which holds a tremendous amount of responsibility especially for such a young person.

This young guy had this responsibility yesterday at Mike and Andrea's wedding and performed this task without flaw.

He also was a natural in front of the camera.

West Fork

2009-10-23T20:22:00.005-07:00

Yesterday my wife and I had an overnighter in Sedona. We love to stay at The Inn at Oak Creek with a room on the creek side so we can sit on the balcony and feed the ducks in the creek.

When we got up this morning our plan was to get up and head on up 89A towards Flagstaff to West Fork trail. When we got there at 9am there was already a line of cars waiting to get in and we just made it in with only a few parking spots left.

It was a great morning with a slight chill in the air and the fall leaves just past their prime by a couple of weeks.

These two shots are on the trail heading into West Fork not to far in. The sky was fantastic with plenty of clouds to add to the drama of it all. Clouds are not something we get to often in Phoenix and when I see them I really appreciate them.

I must get back up there in a month or so to check out some new areas.

Zenfolio

2009-10-01T00:39:00.009-07:00

Zen who? Zenfolio! That is http://www.zaksaenzphotography.zenfolio.com/.

Zenfolio is a new site that I just started using in order to host some of my photography work. At this site clients and customers can go there to either look at photographs I may have taken of them our look at a small selection of some of my photographic art that I have taken over the years.

Some other great features of Zenfolio are that I can sell my work directly to the customer without me being involved. They take the order, collect the money and then send the order off to be printed and shipped directly to the customer.

I can set the size prints that can be ordered and the amount of the prints. My customers can also purchase frames for the prints at the same time.

Sound good? Well if you are a photographer and want to sign up with Zenfolio you can use this referal code and save yourself a few bucks BJV-UGX-MH8 @ http://www.zenfolio.com/

Superior AZ

2009-09-17T16:21:00.003-07:00

Today A friend (Brad Armstrong) and I decided to take a little ride out of town to get away from our desks for a bit and shoot for the fun of it. We ended up in Superior, AZ which is about an hour or so drive east of downtown Phoenix.

Superior use to be a small thriving copper mining town like many throughout Arizona. I say use to be because since the eighty's the mine has closed. This is not uncommon due to pressures from environmental organizations and such. Mining has been a hazardous waste nightmare over the years with most mines now using better and safer techniques to keep these hazardous wasts to a minimal.

But the financial impact on this poor town without the mine running has been devastating to say they least. Building after building with some more than a hundred years old sitting boarded up with no hope of ever opening again.

It reminds me of another story that is out right now of farmers who can no longer farm their land because the government has shut off their water supply in order to save some tiny little fish that no one has ever even heard of before, all because environmental groups say it is more important to save this little fish than to keep Americans working and putting food on our tables.

Things I fear have gotten a little out of hand.

Oldie But Goodie

2009-09-09T16:33:00.008-07:00

Here is a shot of Khon that I took last Saturday on the lawn of the Phoenix First Assembly Church. I do not do a lot of retro or B&W work but thought this worked very well.

This was the biggest smile I got from her all day and the bigger the smile the more her eyes shut. Its an Asian thing.

You can also see another photo of Her and her husband Kelly in a shot I took of them for their engagement photo series below.

The Rings Part II

2009-09-07T11:17:00.003-07:00

This past Saturday I photographed Kelly & Khon's wedding. One of the things I have been trying to focus on is the bride and grooms wedding ring shot.

The exchange of rings is considered to be one of the most important parts of the wedding ceremony. They are the symbol of the commitment that the couple makes to one another and let's others know that one is in a committed relationship.

A photo of the rings then shall now be one of the many shots I take at every wedding.

Little Red

2009-08-19T23:12:00.002-07:00

Another wonderful 109 degree day here in always hot and sunny Phoenix. Today I decided to get up early and head on over to The Desert Botanical Gardens to put the new lens to the test a little more.

I am a big fan of The Gardens and shoot a lot there in spring when the cactus are in bloom and also twice a year when they have the butterfly exhibits. I also try and use it for some of the photography workshops I teach.

Well today the blooms for the most part had long gone and the next butterfly exhibit is still a ways away. So when all else fails shoot little old lady's on scooters with bright red umbrellas.

In any case I like the shot.

The Rings

2009-08-17T13:15:00.003-07:00

The rings are a very important part of the wedding ceremony. When I was a pastor for three years I use to say when marrying couples "The wedding ring is the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual bond. It unites two hearts in love. The ring by its shape is a symbol of the undying love that exists between this man and woman."

Today I received my new Tamron 70-200 2.8 lens and thought I would snap a couple of photos with it and this was one of them. So far I like the lens. I like that it shoots at a minimum closeness of about 3ft and I like the cool way it switches from auto to manual focus by just pulling back on the focus ring.

I can't wait to put it through more testing in order to get more familiar with it and see how it fairs in the long run.

Kelly & Khon

2009-08-09T09:30:00.003-07:00

Here is Kelly and Khon at Tempe Beach Park this past Friday as I photographed them for there engagement photo to display at their wedding on September 5th.

We were lucky that day because the temperature dropped a few degrees and it was only about 104 but there was also a nice little breeze and it didn't seem all that hot.

You know you live in a very hot climate when 104 doesn't seem so hot anymore.

I will be shooting their wedding at a new location called The Hidden Palace in north Phoenix. Now I just need to find a nice setting around there for pictures such as a park or resort.

Brittney's Wedding Day

2009-07-15T22:21:00.002-07:00

Here is a shot that I took from Last Saturday at The Ashley Manor Castle in Chandler. It is of Brittney and there is another photo a little ways down with her husband Drew in their engagement photo.

It was a great place for photos with lots of cool areas and props to use.

It was about 108 that day and it was a bear outside which is where the vows were done.

Now that I know the place a little better I hope to shoot there again soon.

A Cooler Place

2009-07-09T14:18:00.003-07:00

Its 108 degrees today in Phoenix and I can't help but to have my thoughts wonder to cooler places.

About a month back I was visiting Blacksburg Virginia and spent the day driving up into the mountains where this photo was taken.

It was a cloudy day with a few rain drops on and off. How I could go for some of that right now.

Drew & Brittany

2009-07-06T13:55:00.005-07:00

This is Drew and Brittany, a couple that I will be photographing on their wedding day on the 11th.

This is their engagement photo that I took of them this past Sunday at Freestone Park in Gilbert.

Freestone Park is located at Lyndsay and Guadalupe and is a hot spot for photographers taking family photos, engagement photos, wedding photos, you name it their there.

This couples wedding will be at The Castle at Ashley Manor. It will be my first time shooting there and looks like a great place to get some great photos.

Quinceanera

2009-06-29T15:42:00.005-07:00

Well we started off June with having very low temps for this time of year (low 90s) but summer has arrived. Saturday was about 108, maybe a little more and shooting outside was challenging to say the least but we get paid to get the shot so it is what it is.

This is Miriam who is having her celebration into womanhood or her sweet 15th or quinceanera as it is known in the Hispanic community.

It is a big day for the family, much like a wedding in appearance with a big gathering after the ceremony with cake, music and all.

Because these are much like a wedding in appearance they fit right in with doing wedding photography so I enjoy them.

This shot was taken at one of my favorite spots at a place called Freestone Park. It is a popular place for photographers especially in the spring and fall.

Blushing Bride

2009-06-25T17:59:00.010-07:00

Had a fantastic time shooting two great girls last night Alexis, and Anna. We shot for about four hours and captured about four hundred and fifty images of which these two came.

Alexis is out here visiting her mom from Connecticut and Anna is from the Ukraine and both did a great job modeling in front of the camera for me.

The shoot was really a test of some different techniques with lighting and I am happy with how they both came out.

I have to say that photography has really been something that brings great joy to my life and I always look forward to my progression.

A Wedding Shoot

2009-06-06T23:51:00.007-07:00

Well I am back home from VA and it is always nice to be back in your own bed.

These wedding photos are from a shoot I did a few weeks back with Kim Mattina and the couple is Nick and Courtney.

It was a fun shoot at an old western town on the north side of Phoenix. It was a nice day not to hot with some great scenery as backdrops. Over all a good shoot.

Dirty Dancing

2009-06-04T21:16:00.010-07:00

It as been a little rainy the last couple of days but it is a nice change from the harsh Phoenix summer.

Today I made it up to Mountain Lake about thirty minutes outside of Blacksburg, VA. Some may remember a little movie called Dirty Dancing which was filmed at the hotel here at the lake.

It was a great place high a top a mountain with great views but the lake was only about 25% filled for some reason. Now this did allow me to get this bottom shot but did take away a little from the entire picture.

Saturday I will be heading back home. It will be nice of course to get back to my loving wife.

Virginia

2009-06-02T11:23:00.008-07:00

I am spending this week in Blacksburg, VA enjoying the cool mountain air and checking on my property here.

The weather has been great so far, a nice change from the 100+ degrees in Phoenix.

The picture above is from the Botanical Gardens at Virginia Tech which had a beautiful pond with a selection of different kinds of Water Lilies.

One of the things I like about photography here in VA apposed to PHX is that the natural light here is so much nicer. What I mean by that is that the sun in PHX is so overwhelming that it makes it very difficult at times to deal with.

Tomorrow I am heading to Roanoke.

A Day At The Zoo

2009-05-24T15:34:00.013-07:00

It was a nice morning to spend walking around The Phoenix Zoo today. I am a big zoo nut and though The Phoenix Zoo is not the best zoo around it makes do.

The animals were out in numbers for the first part today enjoying the 75-80 degree weather until close to noon time when they all faded back into the shade and out of site to keep cool.

I had been having a few issues with my Nikon 18-200VR lens so I had spent some time on it adjusting the Auto Focus Fine Tune. I thought today would be a great day to do some test shots at the zoo with it and I am very pleased with the results.

I am looking forward to the first week of June which will be in a week. I will be traveling to Blacksburg, VA to visit some friends and while I am there I will check out my five beautiful acres in Pearisburg, VA which is about a twenty minute ride south west of Blacksburg. It is nicely wooded and on the side of Angels Rest Mountain which has a great view of the valley below.

Noah

2009-05-17T20:43:00.003-07:00

It was another hot day in Arizona today and we are on our way to a new record for the most consecutive days over one hundred for May. NICE!!!!!

My wife and I spent the first part of the day today at a birthday party for our friends son Noah who is now 1yr old.

Noah has been a great model for me over this past year and I have enjoyed seeing him grow and hope that I will be able to show his progression in life for many years to come.

Prescott

2009-05-03T22:43:00.001-07:00

Today my wife Kelly and I decided to take a little ride up to Prescott for a short stay and some lunch.

The day was perfect up there and there seemed to be some sort of event on the lawn in front of the old court house where Billy Jack shot one of his famous scenes. I am not sure exactly what the event was about but I thought I had seen some signs about communal living.

I took this photo of one of the few park benches that just so happened to be unused. Most people had taken advantage of these benches which for the most part had been nicely shaded by the large over hanging branches which had been in the process of sprouting their new leaves for the summer.

I told myself as we started our ride back that I must get back up there very soon before the heat of the summer overtakes it.

Model Shoot

2009-04-30T16:49:00.000-07:00

Last night I shot the cover for the May issue of www.AZModelShowcase.com and this is one of the almost 400 shots that I captured.

The models name is Kayla and she is a fairly new model who has a true heart for this and is doing I think very well.

AZ Model Showcase is an online model magazine that I launched a few months ago to help up and coming models get exposure and is becoming very popular so far.

This was also a great opportunity for me as well, helping me to continue my progression as a "professional photographer". Really it was a great opportunity for all that had been involved from Rob the studio owner at 141 Boston, Lisa from Angel Kissed Make-up, Nancy DeOrta who was the hair stylist and also Brad Armstrong who help as a technical consultant with lighting.

People have become my choice of photography from starting off as more of a nature photographer but I do still enjoy getting out there with nature.

Mesa Riverview

2009-04-26T10:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent may day and into the evening at a commercial shoot for the Mesa Riverview Mall in of course Mesa, AZ.

Mesa Riverview is a grouping of strip malls and free standing buildings consisting of many stores and restaurants such as Bass Pro Shop, Home Depot, Office Max, Chilies and the new Toby Keith restaurant to name a few.

Though I am not a Toby Keith fan I did stop in for dinner and found the food good and the prices fair.

The cool thing about this place is the transformation that takes place from daytime to nighttime due to the layout of colorful neon and incandescent lighting that makes this place come alive.

Above is a photo of the CineMark theatre which I took towards the end of my time there and is a great spot to photography if you like to shoot available light slow shutter speed stuff.

Next time I am there I will have to remember to bring my tripod to really take advantage of the lights at even slower shutter speeds (I am always forgetting something).

Note: Remember that you can also click on any of these images on this blog which will allow you to see the photo at a larger size so feel free click away.

Pow Wow

2009-04-19T20:29:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I decided to go to a Native American Pow Wow which is held at Arizona State University every year. For some reason I seem to miss it every year but Saturday I was checking to see what was going on in the area that day and what do you know didn't miss it this year.

It was a nice day to be outside but did get a little warm in the sun by late afternoon.

America they say is a melting pot of people from every corner of the world. I agree that it is important as people to come together in a way that we can all get a long. That we become enough alike so that there is harmony.

But I also feel it is important not to lose who you are, that is remembering where your family came from and the traditions that they brought with them.

One of the events I use to enjoy while growing up was the Italian Festival that use to go on every spring back in Westport, CT. The food, music and friends that where always part of the day still brings back memories for me.

Likewise I am sure these Native Americans felt the same way. You could see it as they took care in putting on all of the different clothing, jewelry and other things that represented them as a people and as a tribe.

There was pride in what they were doing, and I would say they enjoyed what they were doing very much as well as enjoying those who were not part of thier people but who looked on learning about someone who was a little different than them.

I hope I can make it again next year.