I ♥ Faces - Silhouettes ▌ Sierra Vista Photographer, Arizona


This week is something totally different at I ♥ Faces, and a genuine challenge for yours truly. All week long I was trying to capture a silhouette worthy of this weeks theme, and all week long I failed. I finally figured out that my failed attempts were unsuccessful because I wasn't allowing myself enough time with the new concept and the subject. All week long I was shooting moments that were happening too fast and unscripted, like the surprise wedding proposal in the hot air balloon, and then the wedding we attended last night that turned out to not have a photographer present. (Of course I had my camera and the hopeless romantic in me shot the whole event!) I really needed a chance to play with this new challenge for I had never before intentionally shot a silhouette. I needed willing subjects, no time limit, and M&M's... So after dinner tonight we loaded all the cowboy gear we could pony-up, drove out to a hillside, and wrestled with the wee lads, who only wanted to fight over the broom horsey. I couldn't be more excited with my final image and I am sure that silhouettes will quickly become part of my style, what with all of those amazing Arizona sunsets in my near future! Just three weeks left until the big move...

MY ENTRY IN THIS WEEK'S CONTEST:


Technical notes: These are my two boys. The older is riding one of those bouncy horses on a frame, which was cloned out using a variety of layers and masks in CS3. I use a Canon 40D, had my 35-170mm lens, shot at ISO 100, f/16, 1/125 of a second. I was shooting directly into the bright Texas sunshine at 7pm, with the kids between me and the sun.

Go get inspired and join the fun at I ♥ Faces through the link below!

61 comments:

Corey~living and loving said... at May 24, 2009 at 9:32 PM

Can I just say...."holy CRAP!"?????

Amazing right down to the star sunburst. WOW!

so tell me how you did the girl riding the horse? I mean....it had to have a frame right? WOW!

Melissa G said... at May 25, 2009 at 1:32 AM

Oh my, that is amazing!
There's no hope for the rest of us to win with you and your amazing photos leading the way! =)
It's a great picture.

Merrie said... at May 25, 2009 at 6:08 AM

There was definitely something in your horoscope about the creative juices flowing, but there must be a flood in Texas!

Wow, you took that assignment to the MAX.

Love it, since I love anything that depicts the wee lads.

(Is the babe into M&M bribes too?)

Gibb Family said... at May 25, 2009 at 12:26 PM

Great Job!

Through My Own Lens said... at May 25, 2009 at 1:27 PM

WOW WOW WOW!!! I still need to work on mine...holy cow, you blow me away!!! Great job - I'm inspired. If only my two "subjects" (DH and DS) would wake up from their naps! Now my finger is itching!

Julie Rivera said... at May 25, 2009 at 6:02 PM

AWESOME!!! How magnificent and what fun. Absolute fun. I hope this is getting blown up for the boys' room...

Through My Own Lens said... at May 25, 2009 at 6:36 PM

PS - YES...those AZ sunsets in your near future. Ohhhh...and some of that monsoon heat lightening!!! Can't wait to stay tuned to your site once you guys move. Thus the wonderfullness of the internet!!! LOL!

Carly said... at May 25, 2009 at 9:02 PM

Oh my! That is just beautiful!

the monkeys' mama said... at May 25, 2009 at 9:08 PM

ummmm YEAH. This is the most awesome photo i've seen so far. Incredible

Amy @ Living Locurto said... at May 25, 2009 at 9:10 PM

Okay this is totally cool!! I was wondering what kind of horse he was on until I read your notes. LOL! Very fun shot, reminds me of Toy Story. You have to hang this in their room!! Great job.

Amy
Co-Founder
I Heart Faces

Jennifer Urbin Photography said... at May 25, 2009 at 9:11 PM

I love this!!!! What a fabulous capture...you should get a large canvas of this!!!!!! Great work...so whimsical and fun!

tiarastantrums said... at May 25, 2009 at 9:13 PM

oh girl - this is one amazing shot!
PURE PERFECTION!!!

This IS THE winner!

Pam D said... at May 25, 2009 at 9:17 PM

Lord have sweet mercy, that is incredible! Can I just be jealous for a wee moment before I bow down? Awesome....

Unknown said... at May 25, 2009 at 9:22 PM

I cant even believe how awesome this is - seriously cool! I love it so much! :-) you rock as usual girl!

Lisa@saltandlightstudio said... at May 25, 2009 at 9:47 PM

Karyn you're putting us all to shame girl! I will bow down to your awesomeness now.

BlogBaby

Heidi said... at May 25, 2009 at 9:54 PM

That is one insanely awesome photo.

A Family Completed... said... at May 25, 2009 at 10:04 PM

OMG I so should've sat this week out! This is incrediable! i hope you have a frame ready for it!!

Angela said... at May 25, 2009 at 10:15 PM

WOW! So very cool, I can't even express how impressed I am, from the composition to the post processing.

tiff(threeringcircus) said... at May 25, 2009 at 10:40 PM

This is just plain amazing.

Unknown said... at May 26, 2009 at 12:36 AM

This is the MOST ADORABLE PHOTO I have seen! LOVE it!!!! If you don't win I will be SHOCKED! & the sunburst through the hat...
You ROCK girl! Teach me .... please. (am I sounding like a weirdo now?)

Carmen said... at May 26, 2009 at 4:53 AM

great shot...it's my favorite....

Weekendmedic said... at May 26, 2009 at 6:46 AM

K - too many choices for my wallpaper, so little time! When can we order prints? :)

- E

AJ said... at May 26, 2009 at 7:12 AM

This is seriously awesome!!!

Karyn said... at May 26, 2009 at 9:10 AM

I'm humbled by your sweet comments! Every once in awhile a blind squirrel gets a nut! A big huge shout out to my DH who enthusiastically jumped on board when I asked him to carry the horsey out to the van and go on my adventure quest for a silhouette! I could not have done it without him for what the photo does NOT show is Daddy off to the left wildly encouraging the cowboys to whoop and yell and bust'a'cap! I will surely have to post another couple of shots from the series...

Rosina said... at May 26, 2009 at 9:57 AM

Wow this is stunning! I love the blue sky, the angle of the shot, and the processing. It is an amazing silhouette photograph. Well done!

Carebear said... at May 26, 2009 at 10:11 AM

O.M.G. This ROCKS my socks!!!! I love, love, love it and it should totally win! You knocked it out of the park. Again. Love your creativity here!

angie {the arthur clan} said... at May 26, 2009 at 11:20 AM

Are you kidding me?! This is the coolest photo ever!! Amazing Karyn...just amazing.

~Angie
co-founder of iHeartFaces

Unknown said... at May 26, 2009 at 12:19 PM

This picture threw me off for a second... I was wondering how you did this shot! It looks like you took this off of a magazine! You did a fabulous job with the edit... extremely creative... and absolutely incredibly gorgeous.... great job!

Taylor said... at May 26, 2009 at 12:42 PM

HOLY CRAP!! That is just wonderful! Great job on the editing and everything else. WOW, WOW, WOW!

Melanie said... at May 26, 2009 at 1:39 PM

This is very cool. Best one I've seen yet!

Stacey said... at May 26, 2009 at 1:41 PM

That is really incredible. Fabulous job!

Leia said... at May 26, 2009 at 2:13 PM

Totally awesome! Great editing as well.

Penelope said... at May 26, 2009 at 2:17 PM

Wow! This picture is amazing! I LOVE how fun it is!

Unknown said... at May 26, 2009 at 2:46 PM

Perfect! I was wondering about that horse.

AngelaCate said... at May 26, 2009 at 2:47 PM

Fun fun fun!! Texas cowboys make great silhouettes- and you did marvelous work!

Betty Jo said... at May 26, 2009 at 3:20 PM

This is awesome! I love it. What a clever idea to clone out the frame of the horse. ♥

Anonymous said... at May 26, 2009 at 4:03 PM

Okay WOW! I mean seriously...


awesome.

Puna said... at May 26, 2009 at 5:05 PM

Are you kidding me? Awesome!

Mandi said... at May 26, 2009 at 6:23 PM

Wow...that is all I can think of to say!

Lisa Noel said... at May 26, 2009 at 6:37 PM

ok this edit is by far my fave thus far!! I LOVE it!!!!

http://www.lisanoel03.blogspot.com

Jenny said... at May 26, 2009 at 7:15 PM

What a fun picture!

Brittania Garden Photoart said... at May 26, 2009 at 8:30 PM

this is amazing! so original and definitely one of my favorites!

Unknown said... at May 26, 2009 at 10:17 PM

So glad you "get" what I mean about the sucky mom Wenche... I am going to have to start stalking your blog to get more tips/ideas... Your photos really are amazing! Wow... again

Jen H said... at May 27, 2009 at 4:17 AM

WOW!! That is AWESOME!!
Jen H

Marla said... at May 27, 2009 at 10:00 AM

This is beautiful and wonderful! Love it!

Kelly said... at May 27, 2009 at 11:51 AM

This is really awesome work. Love it. My favorite part is the little starburst between your son on the horses neck and his hat. That is just perfect. I expect a winner for you!

Pamela said... at May 27, 2009 at 11:54 AM

This one hurts me it is sooooo beautiful. If it doesn't win I will be shocked! You should turn this picture into note cards, I bet your family would love to receive a card like this!

Tina said... at May 27, 2009 at 12:09 PM

I am soooo inlove with this picture! How freaking amazing!

Unknown said... at May 27, 2009 at 12:33 PM

Very, very nice!! Way to go! I agree... you have to take the time to get the shot just right! You definitly got it right - wonderful!

Christie O. said... at May 27, 2009 at 5:10 PM

i have to say, i saw this photo earlier this week and was just absolutely amazed, i couldn't stop thinking about it! (weird, i know!) but it was so creative and it made such an impression on me, i just love love love great photos! i will be very surprised if you are not one of this week's winners!!! great job!

Skeller said... at May 27, 2009 at 5:21 PM

totally beautiful and clever. of course, I expect nothing less from you, Karyn! :-)

Unknown said... at May 27, 2009 at 6:03 PM

THERE ARE NO WORDS FOR THIS ONE. YOU SURE DID AN AWSOME JOB. BLEW ME OUT OF MY MIND. :) JAMIE

Karen Schneider said... at May 27, 2009 at 6:40 PM

That is crazy great!! That should be in a children's book!! Seriously wonderful. :)

s&sjohnson08 said... at May 28, 2009 at 9:08 AM

my jaw dropped when i saw this one! AMAZING doesn't cover it!

The Thornton Family said... at May 28, 2009 at 1:04 PM

Great Pic! I love how the little star shape of light is shining through where your son's hat and neck meet. It's like a little Sheriif's Badge!

Stacey

jennifer said... at May 28, 2009 at 6:01 PM

flyjdsmo.

that's my word verification word.

and it sounds like what my mind said as it lost all words.

or better put forth in the first comment:

holy crap.

Tami Tripp said... at May 29, 2009 at 6:47 AM

I LOVE the little guy on the stick horse...fun picture!

TinaJewel said... at May 29, 2009 at 10:30 AM

totally and completely amazing. i love the starburst of sun, it looks like part of the spur...

again, wonderful job.

Marla said... at June 3, 2009 at 12:43 PM

OK - I think you should have won last week. This is such a darling shot!

Rebecca said... at June 9, 2009 at 5:32 PM

how did i miss this? why or WHY didn't you win? A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Beth said... at June 14, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Wow!!! I just love it.