Laurie Rhodes

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR LGBT!: I recently came across an image I produced awhile back for a discussion on the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rule in the military. In the wake of the Supreme Court hearings last week on Prop 8 and DOMA, I thought I’d share it this week, here on my blog.

#

Have you seen the documentary Chasing Ice featuring scientist turned photographer/activist James Balog gathering evidence of climate change using time-lapse cameras and video? Maybe you’re one of the over four million people who have viewed the excerpt from this documentary of the largest glacier calving incident caught on video? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC3VTgIPoGU)I am always shocked when I hear or read that global warming doesn’t exist. I do believe it is happening. My conviction is so strong that I’ve made it the underlying theme of my holiday cards for the past seven years. I’ve opted to take a particular approach at communicating this dire subject matter, as these greetings are, at first glance, bright, colorful and witty…consistent with holiday cheer. It is my hope that the images I have created (see images posted to the left) communicate my concern for the environment.Are we messing up our planet? When I saw Chasing Ice last weekend, I saw the proof in a film that is visually stunning, mesmerizing, engaging and also mind-numbingly terrifying. One moment in the film especially resonated with me. Balog is talking about his daughters and pondering a question they might ask in the future, (and I’m paraphrasing): “You knew back then about global warming…why didn’t you do anything to change it, to stop it?” Did you know that you can choose an alternative “green” energy source in New York City? http://www.newyorkpowertochoose.com/ http://www.ehow.com/how_7656090_cheapest-electric-prices-nyc.html

Have you seen the documentary Chasing Ice featuring scientist turned photographer/activist James Balog gathering evidence of climate change using time-lapse cameras and video? Maybe you’re one of the over four million people who have viewed the excerpt from this documentary of the largest glacier calving incident caught on video? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC3VTgIPoGU)

I am always shocked when I hear or read that global warming doesn’t exist. I do believe it is happening. My conviction is so strong that I’ve made it the underlying theme of my holiday cards for the past seven years. I’ve opted to take a particular approach at communicating this dire subject matter, as these greetings are, at first glance, bright, colorful and witty…consistent with holiday cheer. It is my hope that the images I have created (see images posted to the left) communicate my concern for the environment.

Are we messing up our planet? When I saw Chasing Ice last weekend, I saw the proof in a film that is visually stunning, mesmerizing, engaging and also mind-numbingly terrifying. One moment in the film especially resonated with me. Balog is talking about his daughters and pondering a question they might ask in the future, (and I’m paraphrasing): “You knew back then about global warming…why didn’t you do anything to change it, to stop it?”

Did you know that you can choose an alternative “green” energy source in New York City? http://www.newyorkpowertochoose.com/ http://www.ehow.com/how_7656090_cheapest-electric-prices-nyc.html

#

A FAMILY LIFESTYLE PORTRAIT: I had the pleasure of photographing this family in early November. I always prefer to use natural light for my portraits. On this particular day, the early winter sun created a magical glow for both the indoor and outdoor images!

A FAMILY LIFESTYLE PORTRAIT: I had the pleasure of photographing this family in early November. I always prefer to use natural light for my portraits. On this particular day, the early winter sun created a magical glow for both the indoor and outdoor images!

#

PETAL PUSHING: I love shooting flowers and, luckily, have the opportunity to do so at the many weddings I photograph. Of course, spring presents a wonderful opportunity for anyone that shares my floral preoccupation. For those of you that do, here’s few tips to help you push the pretty.
Put your camera on the macro setting, if it has one – it’s usually a flower icon that indicates the setting;
Try to avoid shooting with anything in the background – if you’re outdoors, you can always get underneath and shoot towards the sky;
Hazy days are better than really sunny days unless you are shooting in the first or last hour of daylight.

PETAL PUSHING: I love shooting flowers and, luckily, have the opportunity to do so at the many weddings I photograph. Of course, spring presents a wonderful opportunity for anyone that shares my floral preoccupation. For those of you that do, here’s few tips to help you push the pretty.

Put your camera on the macro setting, if it has one – it’s usually a flower icon that indicates the setting;
Try to avoid shooting with anything in the background – if you’re outdoors, you can always get underneath and shoot towards the sky;
Hazy days are better than really sunny days unless you are shooting in the first or last hour of daylight.

#

On my way home from a photography conference in New Orleans. Although sequestered inside, I did sneak out to experience the color and whimsy of one of my favorite cities. I captured these images using Leica M9.

On my way home from a photography conference in New Orleans. Although sequestered inside, I did sneak out to experience the color and whimsy of one of my favorite cities. I captured these images using Leica M9.

#