Laurie’s Blog
the journey

Follow me and my friend, Amy Rubins, on a wintery drive along Saint Paul streets hunting for pieces of European style architecture.

January First , excerpt from poem by Octavio Paz

The doors of the year open, like the doors of language,
onto the unknown. Last night you said: tomorrow.
we must draw signs, sketch a landscape, hatch a plot on the unfolded page of paper and the day. Tomorrow we must invent, anew,
the reality of this world.
When I opened my eyes it was late. For a second of a second, I felt like the Aztec on the rock strewn peak, watching the cracks of horizons for the uncertain return of time.
No, the year came back. It filled the room, and my glances could almost touch it. Time without our help, had arranged in the same order as yesterday, the houses on the empty street, the snow on the houses, the silence on the snow.
You were beside me, and I saw you, like the snow, asleep among the appearances. Time, without your help, invents houses, streets, trees, sleeping women.
When you open your eyes we’ll walk, anew, among the hours and their inventions, and lingering among the appearances we’ll testify to time and its conjugations. We’ll open the doors of this day, and go into the unknown.

Photography Tip: Self-assignments are the best way to build one’s portfolio, practice techniques you need experience with, and exercise the creative mind. It’s important to build time into your photography schedule for art.  One’s work may become stale by doing the same structured thing over and over.  Take risks & photograph things you normally don’t.  Have fun with it and give yourself permission to spend time and money on it.  Afterall, it’s important.

I recommend that couples hire a Wedding Planner for an affair of this caliber.  Not only because there’s lots to know about timing and details, but because emotions get in the way of making good decisions for everyone involved.  But, this bride defied all the rules.  Along with the help of family, friends & trusted vendors, she managed to make every little detail work perfectly, PLUS provide a comfortable and excellent time to be had by all.  Kudos to you Madeleine! It takes more than just smarts to do what you accomplished.   Photography:  Laurie Schneider, Venue:  Semple Mansion,   Cake:  Buttercream, Caterer:  Russell’s Catering, Hair & Make-up:  MN Bridal Make-up , Flowers:  Pazzobello.

Saves time & energy to hire on-site make-up & hair. Madeleine loved the Pazzobello flowers.

Now the party begins…everyone was so happy for Chad & Madeleine

Buttercream cakes are beautiful & scrumptious.

The couple's first dance was well received.."the crowd went wild"

Still Lifes have been created by the most famous artists.  The likes of painters, sculptures, photographers, & printmakers such as Manet, Giotto, O’Keefe, DaVinci, Michaelangelo, Caravaggio, and Raphael.   Still Lifes continue to be among an artist’s favorite subjects.   Not to mention, a great pass time when it’s 20 below zero outside.

Touched by an Angel

We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.

Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls

We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.

–Maya Angelou

“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song” Maya Angelou

Photography Tip:  Although, these were commissioned works, this could have easily been a self assignment.  Self assignments are an excellent method to not only build one’s portfolio and exercise creativity, but also to tap into that other place of stillness where you’re free to be present with yourself and experience the now.  This is a practice that is ordinary for artists.  Check out the Artist’s Way for more about this and more artists exercises.

I had a great time photographing Santa dogs last Saturday at Houle’s Feed Store in Stillwater.   What a great bunch of canines!

This is Stella, Vizsla puppy.   She was up on that wagon for a micro-second and we got this shot.  After that it was run, run, run, lick, lick, lick, kiss, kiss, kiss….the sweetest puppy ever!

Meet Sir Peetey (named after Peter the Rabbit because he’s soft as a bunny).  He’s a rescue from a kitty mill.  He was intended to be a sire (kept in a cage for the rest of his life without being fixed…a situation that makes the cat go mad).  But, he is one of the most friendly, cuddly, loving cats I know.  We are so lucky to have him with us.

Photography Tip: Cats are usually more difficult to photograph than dogs.  They tend to hide or trust their familiar people rather than strangers.  So, the best way to get cats is when they are distracted by toys in their natural surroundings.  Watch for my Pet Photography Class at MPC in April, 2010.

This is Jake, the second of two lovely poodle dogs at Geno & Lorna’s place.  We adorned them with holiday fare.

Meet Clover, my sweet Poodle boy.  Clover passed over the rainbow bridge a few months ago.  I miss him so much.  He was the king of snow, he conquered those flying flakes.

Adam, Marika, & Abbie . I love how Marika & Abbie are looking adoringly at each other and with respect.  Abbie is a rescue dog. I applaud Adam & Marika for adopting this sweet girl.  Black dogs are the highest bred and least adopted dogs.  Please consider a rescue animal when adopting.  There are so many that need homes.  Here are some great sites to find rescues:  home for life, petfinder, animal humanesociety, lost dog & cat rescue, adopt-a-pet, craig’s list.

Photography Tip: My flash wasn’t working properly.  So, I improvised  by finding locations where the light was very even, and I adjusted my settings so that they matched the natural light as well (ISO 200, Aperture 5.6, ASA 60)

Each Summer in Minnesota, there’s a great fine art show that includes professionals, artists, old people, students, farmers, lawyers…every body.  Artists congregate there, it’s like a who’s who of the art scene on opening night, friends and colleagues reconnect.  It’s a homecoming of long time working artists.  There are thousands of entries which the jurors must widdle down to the very best.  They do this in one evening.  It’s daunting. Doug Beasley was the Photo Judge this year.  Here’s his story, and my second place Photo.  Doug Beasley’s story.

The Ride . Laurie Schneider

Photo Tip: When planning a fine art photo session, visualize the composition in your mind before – the colors, background/foreground, texture, movement, mood…all that you can.  This will help to bring the proper equipment, choose the right model, and direct the subject towards your vision.

The weather may be iffy, rainy, windy, even bone cold…but these couples and their people braved the weather for pictures.   And guess what…regardless of the weather, the wedding still happens, that’s the important thing.

Annie & Brett . St. Anthony Main Event Center . Amy Rubins of Fete Perfection transformed their funky brick space into an elegant affair perfect for romance and a colorful evening party.

Ceremony, St. Anthony Event Center

St. Anthony Main Event Center, Dining Room

The girls at the Riverfront, Main Street

Sarah & Chad, J.J. Hill Library, St. Paul

Leah & Shawn, Calhoun Beach Club

The girls awaiting the ceremony

Ceremony at Calhoun Beach Club

Photography Tip:  Weather cannot be predicted.  I location scout the day of the wedding.  I come a bit early and evaluate the weather and ambient light.  Then taking into account the couple, their families and wedding party …decide about location.  Sometimes one must be extremely creative on the locale in bad weather.  The most important things are to be sure the couple is happy and the scene is photogenic.

Tango Dancing “the dancer’s dance”

Photography Tip: When the light is low, and the background is distracting…go manual.  Choose your own aperture, ASA and adjust the flash output.  Most importantly, find the most visually interesting part of the subject and focus in on that.  Art masters like Da Vinci used this narrow focus technique well.