Where Has My Lake Gone?
Early in 2012 my neighbors cleared all the trees and brush out of the back of their lot, and don’t seem to mind much if I tramp through it to get to the lake in my neighborhood. Prior to that I had never really gotten too close to it. Then I started to go back there quite often, until portraits took off when the weather got warmer. I’d sit back there, watching the birds. I found all kinds of birds I hadn’t seen before–Cedar Waxwing, Sharp-shinned Hawks (up close), Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Great Blue Heron, Swans, Geese, Belted Kingfisher … and the regulars of chickadees, robins, cardinals and blue jays. I was getting pretty good at distinguishing the noises they make, especially the Belted Kingfisher. I loved it.
I didn’t get back there this winter because of the ankle surgery (quite a bummer)! About 3 weeks ago we had an emergency communications phone call saying the neighborhood noticed significant corrosion on the pipe by the dam and the whole thing was in jeopardy. They would need to drain the lake immediately by 10 feet at least to be able to fix the pipe and keep the road and those in the flood plain safe–or the whole dam may give. We weren’t too worried because our house sits up on a hill quite a bit…but when they’re draining water you just never know.
So, the weather is near 60 degrees today and my ankle is mostly OK (turns out not great when walking on uneven ground…didn’t think of that when we walked out there) and I decided I better get a photo of the former lake. It’s sad. I didn’t see dead fish or anything but you could walk out into what was once the lake. I haven’t heard if they’ll put the water back once the repairs are made but I really, really hope so. Then, perhaps, next winter I can get out there and discover even more fun wildlife to photograph! There was little in the way of birds out there, including the usuals today!
Here are a few shots from today, but also some from last year–to give you an idea of what it should be!
Taken Nov. 24, 2011
Same area taken Feb. 24, 2013
Taken Feb. 5, 2012
Same location taken Feb. 24, 2013
Belted Kingfisher taken on Jan. 8, 2012
Same location photographed Feb. 24, 2013
Poor geese!
Baby M.
I had such a fantastic time with this lovely lady and her beautiful mother. My husband and I set up my newly cleaned studio for a few backdrops for her 3-month photo session, which happened to fall near Valentine’s Day so I had a field day with red and pinks. It was such a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon…my first photo shoot since the ankle surgery (which has been driving me totally bonkers, by the way)! Thank you, Jen, for sharing this beauty with me! Can’t wait for the 6-month photos and even more fun!
The A. Family {Louisa County, Virginia, Family Photographer}
I donated a gift certificate to a silent auction for Four County Players in Barboursville for a family session and Karen purchased it. Turns out she used to work with my husband awhile ago–small world! We went to her longtime family farm (think generations!) in Louisa County where I snapped photos of the family interacting with each other, the horses, the dogs and the landscape. I love the ones of her and hubby together!! They were such a fun family and the weather was perfect! A wonderful way to spend a November Sunday afternoon! Thanks so much, Karen!
New Year, Clean Studio {Ruckersville Photographer}
I have a room in my house that is my studio/office/place where I can watch TV without children. I did a few senior portrait formal photos in it last fall and I do my editing in here. After the busy time I had in October & November I decided I would purchase some shelves and boxes and organize myself for the new year! I have outgrown my little file cabinet for storing all the contracts and other papers I need to keep for the business, and I purchased actual stuff for packaging that needed to go somewhere besides boxes in this room. Additionally, I found two really cool images of vintage cameras (one I actually own) that I blew up huge, meaning it was time to organize this room!
I have a wall of awards for my journalism. Previously I stored all my benches under it.
The couch was between the two windows under my diploma from Virginia Tech
My desk is a wreck!!
I stored my props in this closet with a bunch of other stuff
It’s a disaster. Really.
Moved the jerseys to the far end of the closet.
Placed a vintage suitcase and benches above the jerseys.
Props are on this top shelf.
I have all my contracts in this black box, and other items in the other colorful boxes. Also, there is my cover for the strobe. I keep it like that because it was difficult to put together!
Tax documents, fire safe and more boxes for storage!
Kept my wall of honor but moved the couch beneath it.
One of the photos I had blown up.
My two vintage cameras. The Brownie below and the one above was my great-grandmother’s. It dates to WWII
The second photo I had blown up.
My desk! My desk! My desk! And now I can really do what the sign next to the diploma says: “Imagine Your Dream, Create Your Happiness, Live Your Life.”
I’d like to thank my darling husband for all his help with the clean up!!!!
Rachel & Remembering Fall 2012 {Teen Photography Charlottesville, Virginia}
This blog post isn’t coming late because I am behind (well, not mostly) but so we could remember the final beautiful weekend of fall while it’s cold and nasty out. Rachel asked me to do a little shoot with her at a place she knows in Greene County, Virginia, and it was GORGEOUS weather so I jumped at the chance. This young lady is a FIERCE soccer player, absolutely beautiful and a sweetheart to boot! We had quite an adventure as we found a few animal skulls and bones…weirdness ensued…but we still got some gorgeous photos with some of the final color of fall. There likely would have been more autumn colors but Hurricane Sandy (and not my sister) blew through the weekend prior!
Keep in mind custom photography for other events besides senior portraits–sweet sixteen portraits and Quinceañeras come to mind!
Thanks dear Rachel for a fun Sunday afternoon!!
2012-13 Senior Model Part II {Greene Virginia Senior Photographer}
Part of what a Senior Model receives from me is the mini-session in the spring (FREE) and a full portrait session in the fall (ALSO FREE), that’s in addition to credit toward FREE products for recommending me!! This allows the senior to have many, many more photos than a normal session because it’s like getting two for the price of NONE!! Here are some of Brett’s second session done at Big Meadow on Skyline Drive in the mountains. See his first session in Charlottesville here.
Think being a senior model for Terry Beigie Photography is something you’d like to do for 2013-14, and you live in Central Virginia? Visit this page for more information and the application to make it so!
The Eleanor Project {Charlottesville Photographer}
Squeal!!
The Eleanor Project is finally live!! This is a personal blog project for myself (the photography angle) and my awesome blog-writing friend Jen!
I was lucky enough to meet Jen through Twitter a few years ago. She is one of the most fabulous ladies I know and a source of amazing support when I was running (and facing any other challenge that’s come my way)! She inspires me nearly every day through her willpower and strength and I feel just lucky that Charlottesville has such an amazingly strong Twitter community that allows friendships to bloom from online meetings like this.
So, what is The Eleanor Project? Jen and I reached out to each other at nearly the same time about starting a personal project (great minds do think alike). I had just seen this page and we both wanted to find a way to empower women to see the beauty in themselves and each other. We came up with the name because we both think Eleanor Roosevelt was an incredibly strong woman (especially for her time in history) and love the quote: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
We want to change the perception of what beauty is. We believe all women are beautiful–no matter age, race, sexual orientation or size. We wanted to show women that there is something beautiful about each of them, maybe changing perceptions of themselves, but also each other. Since beginning the project I have noticed beauty in women I hadn’t seen previously. I’m not talking about physical beauty; that’s something I can’t help but see. I’m talking about true beauty, true power, the soul of someone–and finding it beautiful.
Since having a daughter 14 years ago I have tried not to talk poorly about my body in front of her. I want her to remain confident and love herself, which is often hard to do during this difficult time of adolescence. She’s 5′ 10″ and that’s not easy on a girl who is just now having boys catch up to her in height (and some even passing her). I knew she’d be tall–her father is 6′ 6″. It’s sometimes easier for a boy to be tall than a girl, so I wanted her to love herself early in life for the challenges she’d face later. She walks tall (most of the time) and is smart beyond compare (something I wanted her to really focus on) and she knows who she is. She’s not afraid to remove something from her life if it’s no longer serving her. I am in awe of her strength for her age. I didn’t learn that lesson until well into my 30s.
Jen has two daughters herself–of similar age to mine. They’re beautiful, strong, smart and funny young ladies who I was lucky enough to photograph nearly two years ago (seems like it’s time for another round soon!). I see in them the confidence I know that Jen has helped foster, something I wish I had had at the same age.
We both feel a sense of responsibility to show our daughters how to love themselves, be strong, make changes with things they don’t like while still loving their entire self. Through this project we hope it inspires other women to feel the same, and for those men who follow this project we hope it inspires you to help the women in your life grow in confidence of themselves.
At this time the project is focused on the women in Central Virginia, though that could certainly change. Each week we will introduce you to the amazing women we find in our everyday travels. And we didn’t forget to include ourselves. Jen’s post went live yesterday and mine goes live Jan. 4 (just in time for my ankle surgery). We’d love to hear from you about any women you find inspiring in this region we should chat with. We welcome comments, provided they are positive and supportive. Negative comments, however, will be deleted, as they are not in keeping with the spirit of the Eleanor Project.
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