JKE Photography

Self Portraits

JKEPhotography — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:30:49 +0000

Recently I joined a Facebook photography group that had weekly assignments to help fine-tune certain skills, or keep those creative juices flowing. For a weekly assignment to create a “self-portrait” that would show the viewer a little bit of who I am, so….. I created this:

That was fun, but I thought it was also a good way to show everyone my photography space and what they can expect when coming over to my “home” studio.

2013 Annual PPW Print Competition Entries

JKEPhotography — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:40:29 +0000

Well…. it’s that time of year again! Time to submit this year’s images to PPW’s annual print competition! Yeah.. yeah… I know this blog site REALLY needs some life and energy shoved back into it, but I’m just so happy posting an image here and an image there on my FaceBook page: http://www.Facebook.com/JKEPhotography. If you haven’t ‘Liked’ the page, I hope you head over there right now and do so… I’d love your support! Enough about that though. Let’s show you what you came here for. Here’s the four images that were just submitted and will be judged next Thursday, April 5th.

A tip of the hat

Inner strength and outer beauty

A mother’s love

Princesses have needs too

Has it really been six months since my last post?????

JKEPhotography — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:20:42 +0000

Before someone starts filing missing persons reports, I think that it might be time to post something to show that I am still around, still creating beautiful portraits, and haven’t dropped off the planet.

I wanted to share this maternity portrait captured this past weekend as through it, I was reminded something important. As busy as I get and as much there is to my life that is “Left-Brained” (very analytical, data-driven), I need to feed my “Right-Brain” more. The longer I stare at this portait…… the more I realize how deep a sense of satisifaction I get in knowing that I created something that I believe is beautiful, and that it came from within me!

I have a tendancy to post more frequently on my Facebook Page so check there often to keep up with what’s going on.

Photographers@Microsoft 2012 Submissions

JKEPhotography — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:27:24 +0000

Well, it’s that time of the year…. time to submit images for this year’s Photographers@Microsoft (also found on Facebook here) 2012 book. Last year I was excited to submit three images and the below portrait “Moment of bliss” was selected to be included:

Moment of bliss

Last year, 1371 books were sold which generated a total amount of $89,895.84 donated to United Way. This year I’m very excited to be submitting these three images:

Tulips

Soulful Jo

The calm before the storm

Wish me luck!!!!

Casting call for Portrait Study

JKEPhotography — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:52:30 +0000

With all the social and professional networking websites out there, as well as a recent article I read on how companies are checking out these sites as a reference for those interviewing for open position, I started to wonder about how first impressions might play a part in the viewer’s perception of them. Taking it a step further, I started wondering about the online dating websites (it’s still an interview process, right? Just more of a romantic one). I know that when I look at any of these sites, including the online dating ones (from when I used them), the first thing I looked at was the profile photo. Every time.

So…. I’ve decided to conduct a study on how profile photos establish that first impression in these two areas:

Online dating sites (such as Match.com)
Professional networking sites (such as LinkedIn)

I’m sure there are studies and articles out there that already speak to these, but I’d like to work with people directly and understand this as I feel it would help me be a better photographer. So this is an open casting call for those interesting in participating this study. I’m looking for eight people. Four people that are actively online dating and four that are actively interviewing for a new position. In each of those groups, I’m looking for two women and two men. While the details aren’t firmed up yet, I know I’ll be asking each participant to provide the current photo that I can use in the study as well as their opinions on this topic, then after receiving the replacement portrait, want to get their opinions on how and if the new portrait changed things for them.

As an example, my friend and neighbor (who is neither looking for a position or online dating, just wanted to help) allowed me to take a business portrait of him to replace his below profile portrait that was currently displayed on LinkedIn. To this, I ask:

Which portrait gives the impression of the more professional individual?
Him?	-OR-	Him?

So if you, or if you know someone that might be interested in participating in this study, please send me an email at: Jason@JKEPhotography.com

Thanks!

Soulful Jo

JKEPhotography — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:39:21 +0000

As I’ve received all my prints and have started preparing them for the PPW (Professional Photographers of Washington) annual print competition that’s occuring in a few weeks, I realized I didn’t post the last portrait that’s being entered. As the saying goes, I’ve saved the best for last!

For those that know me, I think you’ll recognize the young lady in this portrait as my oldest daughter, Joanna. I’m not sure who is more excited about this image going to competition…. me or Jo…. but I am truly blessed to have someone like Jo who is not only willing to to be my model and has been so patient with me these past four years as I’ve turned a passion for photography into what JKE Photography has become. Beyond being my model, she also loves sitting with me at the computer as we go through the proofs and designing the portrait. I just LOVE her energy and enthusiam!!!

Without further adieu, presenting:

Soulful Jo

Thank you, Joanna, for lending me your smile (or lack of one when asked) and always telling me, “Daddy…. I LOVE what you did here! You know what I like most?????” on almost every portrait you see.

Embracing their future

JKEPhotography — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:23:11 +0000

Here we have the third of four portraits being submitted to the PPW (Professional Photographers of Washington) annual print competion. Now this port did fairly well at the SPPA (Seattle Professional Photographers Association) that I posted about here but I didn’t score over 80 as was my goal. So after listening to the judge’s critiques and then speaking to one of them afterwards, I decided not to give up on this one yet but to see if I can make any post-processing changes to improve the score at the next level. So I:
1) Removed the ‘distracting’ keyline.
2) Tilted the portrait back to bring the belly into one of the power points which also had an effect of making the portrait more about the maternal belly.
3) Played with the lighting, but mainly reduced the light on his shoulders and back so that they weren’t brighter than the belly as that’s where I wanted the viewer’s focus to stay.
4) Change the title from “Embracing the future” to “Embracing their future” to make it more personal.

So here’s the final version, sent to be printed and later this week, being sent down to Olympia to be prepared for judging.

Embracing their future

Great-Grandma’s Dress

JKEPhotography — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 04:51:26 +0000

Well…. chalk up another portrait ready for the PPW (Professional Photographers of Washington) annual print competition! After receiving feedback from SPPA’s judging panel on the previous version of “Great-Grandma’s Dress” (seen here in a previous blog, I decided to take it back to almost the original capture and come at it from a different approach. The comments I heard were that the portrait just seemed a little cramped and that the image of the little girl didn’t really portray her as…. well…. little. So I added space (where there was none… thank you photoshop!) removed the painterly brush strokes (to respond to another comment that since the title was about the dress, they wanted to see more details) and played with the color a little bit so that the pinks in her dress didn’t over power the pink in her face and removed the distracting keyline.

Wish me luck!!!

Great Grandma’s Dress

The calm before the storm

JKEPhotography — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 07:09:59 +0000

Soooooooooooooooo…. the Annual SPPA Print Competition went well… but not as well as it could have. All four of my images scored between 76 and 79 (out of a hundred) which is good. But not great. I want GREAT! 80+ is my mark. Getting my first 80 or higher on a PPA sanctioned competition is my goal as it’ll be my first print merit in my belt towards a “Master of Photgraphy Degree” which requires thirteen (in addition to twelve other merits). The Annual SPPA Print Competition was a great start and I plan to use that experience and comments heard to make changes and prepare for the PPW (Professional Photographers of Washington) Print Competition at our Spring Conference coming up at he end of March.

One thing that I learned at SPPA is that one of my four portraits, “Mason”, just isn’t going to cut it and while I believe I can make changes and edits to the other three to bring their scores up….. “Mason” needs to be replaced.

I’m very proud and extremely excited to introduce “The calm before the storm”

I have high hopes for this portrait!!! Wish me luck!!! Now if you’ll excuse me… I have three other portraits to work on.

Getting ready for the annual SPPA Print Competition

JKEPhotography — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:39:00 +0000

Well, cutting a little close this year but I recently decided to enter four portraits in the annual SPPA (Seattle Professional Photographers Association) Print Competition WHICH IS TOMORROW NIGHT!!!! Since last night was the deadline to submit digital files (because I didn’t want to print them just yet), that gave me… well… about 2 hours to prepare them, come up with titles, pay the entrance fee, and send them off. No worries!!!

(Okay… I vow that next year I’m not going to wait until the last minute)

Here are the portraits that have been submitted and if you’ve been on my Facebook page (http://www.Facebook.com/JKEPhotography) I’m sure you’ve seen them before:

Great-Grandma's Dress

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Embracing The Future

____________________________________________________________________________________

Mason

____________________________________________________________________________________

Soulful Jo

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Wish me luck!!!! Can’t wait to share how I did!!! (unless I did poorly at which point I might wait a few days)