Baby Lincoln

Lincoln Skinner is my new little nephew! We got to meet and hold him when he was 10 days old, over 4th of July weekend. It's amazing how fast these little dudes grow - I saw him over Christmas and he is nowhere close to this small anymore...
Also included = his wonderful brother and sisters (my amazing nephew and nieces!)

On a side-note: I let all the kids over 4th of July play with my camera (as long as they were sitting on my lap) and they had a blast...I'll spare you the flood of fun images they took for the time being even though they did great! Apparently I made an impact because little Miss Maryssa got a camera for Christmas because she played with her mom's camera so much it broke after my creative influence...

Photography Classes

Over the past 8 months I have offered a few different photography classes to a few different groups of kids. My first adventure in teaching was with Kapka, a cooperative K-5 school where my new found friend, Marcia, teaches. I came in once a week for Create and Explore Hour and led Photography Club. Kids had the choice to join us for an hour photography class or any of the multiple activities offered at the same time. I had an average of 5 kids each class and we learned about everything from composition to portraits to photo walks and showing emotion in photos. The main message we wanted to teach is How to Tell A Story. All photography tells a story, but how? What does it say? We also wanted to portray that everyone's life is unique and different across the globe or across the city. Where do you live? What do you eat? How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? The next few posts will be Kapka posts, followed by an explanation of my other photography class at the Tintinger household.

Here's a quick collage of some of the kids I taught at Kapka

Natalie Newberry

I took these of Whitley's sister, Natalie, as part of Whitley's portrait session. When Natalie graduates, I plan on photographing her as well! Also included another fave of mine of Whitley...

Fremont Market

Today, while exploring the Fremont Market, I decided to practice my portrait skills. Things I needed to work on: Asking if I can take some one's portrait and using my 50 mm lens more frequently. So I forced myself to only bring one lens. These portraits are my two favorites from the day. People were surprisingly friendly and okay with having me take their picture. All of this is in preparation for future portrait adventures, including but not limited to, sitting outside of Sakura Con and photographing the amazing costumes that will be going in and out of that convention.

Patrick Portrait

Patrick asked me to take his photo for professional purposes. If the light would have been better today we would have done inside shots, but alas, in Seattle you can't always ask for that. Here is my favorite.

Julia - Angel Child

One of the things I will miss most being away from Bozeman - Julia :) She's so adorable and my perfect baby model. This was the shoot a few weeks before I moved to Seattle. Hugs Julia!

Help Portrait Promo Video 2011

This idea is so inspiring. I have been interested in social documentaries, non-profit organizations and donating my time lately and I have discovered Help-Portrait. I want to get involved! Any takers to help me out? I am thinking about talking to the Photographic Center NW to see if they would want to be involved and I would volunteer my time to organize it all. Any advice on organizing, publicizing, etc? Also, if you get a chance, check out Jeremy Cowart's Haiti project - LOVE IT! Use your camera for good...not evil :)

Website Bio

I realized recently that as of Friday, my bio was somewhat out of date on my website. After realizing that my previous bio was blah and that writing one wasn't as easy as I expected, I eventually came up with the following. I searched "photographer website bios" on Google and didn't come up with a whole lot of advice other than to 1) try not to mention the hobby to professional journey of your photographer career (if applicable) because I guess that's considered cheesy 2) there are suggestions to include your dog, husband or other extraneous life aspects... 3) don't be lengthy and boring 4) don't brag about how awesome you are, because nobody wants to read some one's self-inflicted ego boost. I read a really good article by Kah Kit Young about writing a photography bio.

So here is what I need to know: How does my bio sound? Too much info? Not enough? Spelling errors (God forbid)? Bore you out of your mind? Should I use this black and white image (assuming Leslie gives me permission) or the one I currently have, or a different one all together? Any advice is helpful!

© Photo by Leslie McDaniel

I am a commercial and fine art photographer who recently leapt in faith of following her dreams in Seattle. I grew up in Northwest Montana surrounded by family and friends who encouraged my creativity and passion of the arts. As a recent graduate of the Film and Photography Program at Montana State University in Bozeman, I am on a quest driven by obsession and…well, employment.

My dream is to travel to different countries, learn to cook the local favorites and photograph everything along my journeys. Culture fascinates me. I am always looking for opportunities to increase my knowledge – reading books, entering art shows, meeting other artists, and experimenting with various photographic techniques and skills.

Inquiries? Musings? Advice? I look forward to hearing from you.

Bonnie Dog

Bonnie, Mary and Andy's dog. Big brown eyes.

Friends I Have Met In Bozeman: Robert

Granny's Donuts in Bozeman has the best donuts. Ever. You may think you've eaten the most delicious fried piece of wonder, but unless you have been here, you haven't. Sorry. Robert, the owner and I am pretty sure the only employee here, makes this place what it is. He makes his fruit donuts with fresh fruit and pie filling, his orange cream donuts are better than you can ever imagine and he uses chocolate ganache as the frosting on his chocolate donuts. It's one place in Bozeman I am REALLY going to miss. We asked Robert if he has ever shipped his donuts anywhere, he told us he did once, to a guy getting heart surgery. Ironic, but funny. I think the first time I ever went to Granny's Robert was topping a maple bar with bacon (maple bacon bar...) and he paused, looked up, and asked us if he wanted the triple-bypass donut. Although tempting, the name made me reconsider. He gets special orders for these donuts; they are that good. Robert and Patrick have had some fun discussions about politics and science, I just revel in the fact that he loves making people happy by making donuts everyday. When I brought my mom to Granny's for the first time (she's hooked now), he gave her an old-fashioned donut and offered to make her a pot of tea (it was a really cute single serving pot that he made just for her). We're in love. With Granny's. And with Robert.

Fantastic Plastic Studio Portrait Night

Fantastic Plastic, a fantastic photography group organized here in good ol' Bozeman by the local camera shop, meets once a month to indulge in the awesomeness that is the krappy kamera. This latest meeting was held in F11 on Main Street in a studio set up in the back. 3200 film was shot, many many lights were used and we had a blast. My mom gave me a fisheye lens for my Holga for Christmas this year and this was its debut. I have never used a fisheye before but dreamed of the day when my Holga and it would meet. Success! My next goal for the fisheye: photograph my crazy fun cousins and our soon to be new home, Seattle.

Any questions about Fantastic Plastic? Please email F11 and they would gladly give you any info you need. Dianas and other plastic cameras also welcome.

Friends I Have Met In Bozeman: Bob

I have been in Bozeman 4.5 years and met many unique and beautiful people along the way. As a barista at Wild Joe's coffee for the past 4 months I have gotten to know many of the locals and regulars who are the soul of downtown Bozeman. Bob and I met at Wild Joe's and have had many great conversations, including the hour conversation we casually had yesterday while I photographed him. We discussed the concept of having only meaningful conversations rather than chit chat/small talk, feminism and my sister, his many interesting paths of life and various destinations of adventure (Maine, Bozeman, Seattle, Vancouver, Spokane and Alaska). Bob is one of the many faces I will remember and treasure from my home in Bozeman.

Gilligan

Photos of Gilligan: The very large cat who thinks he is a dog.

Meredith at Morgan's Wedding

Holga Fashion Shoot with Tomomi

Shots from the Holga fashion project (these are from my digital/test shots). Tomomi was my model for these shots earlier this summer in this beautiful flow-y dress. As a recap on the HolgaFashion Project: Photographs taken in a fashion style in an unconventional medium, the Holga. I have scans from the Holga and will be posting them soon.

Holga Fashion Shoot with Tiffany

Shots from the Holga fashion project (these are from my digital/test shots). Tiffany was my model for these shots in her fall sweater dress and awesome wool coat. As a recap on the HolgaFashion Project: Photographs taken in a fashion style in an unconventional medium, the Holga. I have scans from the Holga from previous shoots and will be posting them soon.

Meadow Wedding 08.07.2010 Part 2

Kelly and James' wedding this past August in Seeley Lake. Beautiful day for a wedding! Congratulations to the newlyweds!

Meadow Wedding 08.07.2010