Tower at the Shore

We met at the tower; it was an evening of breaking bread, worship and baptism in the lake. Joy abounded. Children played. It was our church's celebration of a summer full of wonder. The Tower is at Nashville Shores in Hermitage, Tennessee. I shot the following photos with a Sony A-100 and a Sony 70-300 telephoto lens. Shutter speed 1/320; f-9.

Girl at the Water's Edge

This little girl captured my heart. She was slightly mysterious at play at the water's edge. It was late in the day – about 6 p.m. – and the sun backlit her hair and arms, while she was otherwise in the shadows. Shutter speed 1/320; f-8.

Stars on the Water

I don't know what my deal was with diagonals that day, but...I managed to capture a few stars on the water without a star filter. Ah, water, it does something for the soul. This is Percy Priest Lake in Hermitage, Tennessee. Shutter speed 1/320; f-13.

Happy Couple

Sometimes you have to include a happy couple in your blog, just because they're beautiful. This is Susie and Carl; Carl just got baptized, thus the wet tee-shirt and the beautiful smiles. Shutter speed 1/200; f-6.3.

Shower Power

It was hot and humid, but this little lady was cool as a cucumber, as she ran through the spray at the Two Rivers 4th of July celebration. I shot this picture with a Sony A100 35 mm camera and 75-300 telephoto zoom lens. The shutter speed was 1/400; aperture was f-5.6.

Red Cap, Blue Food

Somewhere under that red cap, this teen is eating, yep, blue cotton candy, spun by the church's associate pastor. Mmmmm. This and all subsequent photographs were shot with a Sony A100 35 mm camera, and a Sony 75-300 telephoto zoom lens. This shot's shutter speed 1/400; f-5.6.

Ready. Aim...

This young man gets ready to aim for the dunking booth, manned by a member of the church staff. Heh. Heh. Shutter speed 320; f-6.3.

Mommy, It's Such Hard Work!

Oompf! I will master this Hoola Hoop if it's the last thing I do! Shutter speed 400; f-5.6.

The Little Mermaid

Shiny and slickened with water from the water slide, she is a vision in pink. She's a mermaid at a 4th of July picnic. Shutter speed 1/320; f-5.6.

Little Man

This is one little man, if I ever saw one. What a doll! And those pensive eyes...I wonder what he's thinking. Shutter speed 1/320; f-5.6.

Cheese, Louise.

I love that 4th of July picnics are for the young babes and the older babes alike. Louise is having a great time, as is clearly evidenced by her sweet smile. Shutter speed 1/320; f-5.6.

The Orange Food Group

This beautiful little boy is proudly wearing something from the orange food group around his mouth. Cheetos? Shutter speed 320; f-5.0.

Balloon Boy

Tatooed with the American Flag, this young man wears a stylish animal balloon hat. Shutter speed 1/320; f-5.6.

Hoola Hoop Knees

This little darling was working diligently to arrange her hoola hoops. Shutter speed 1/320; f-5.6.

Sonya Girl

This is Sonya La McCllough, an artist, designer, publisher and photographer. Heavily right brain, you might say. I shot her picture in Centennial Park in Nashville, Tennessee, primarily in open shade. I used a Sony Alpha 100 SLR and a Sony 70-300 Telephoto lens. Shutter Speed 1/160; f-5.6.

Mystery Woman

This is a very different side of Sonya; she looks as if she has a secret. This was shot indoors with mixed light – a combination of light coming in from a side window, an incandescent light and my on-camera flash bounced off a white wall. The result is side lighting. Shutter Speed 1/60; f-5.

Beautiful Smile

This is my favorite picture of Sonya. Her smile is so bright and her color is so beautiful. I used my on-camera flash on this one to bring up her skin tone. Shutter Speed 1/125; f-5.6.

Elegant Lines

Meet Anna Borsos. Here she is on the grounds of the Clover Bottom Mansion in Hermitage, Tennessee wearing her Prom gown. She has the most amazing elegant lines, not to mention the most photographable face. I shot this with a Sony Alpha 100 SLR and a Sony 70-300 Telephoto lens. Shutter Speed 1/125; f-5.6.

Grace in Motion

Anna displays her beautiful shawl for all of nature to see. She is Grace in Motion. Note how the trees in the distance frame her, and the old, gnarled tree trunk offers a severe contrast to her young, elegant body. Shutter Speed 1/125; f-5.6.

New Heights

Anna stands with grace and boldness, at the top of the steps, of the Clover Bottom porch. Note how the molding of the arched window behind her frames her head. I shot this from the bottom of the steps of the porch. Shutter speed 1/80; f-5.6.

Princess of the Manor

Here's Anna looking grand on the porch of Clover Bottom Mansion, in her formal with shawl. This was shot with a Sony 70-300 telephoto lens; shutter speed 125; f-5.6.

Anna in the Trees

This is Anna Borsos, young, beautiful, leaning against the balcony of Clover Bottom Mansion, an historical home in Hermitage, Tennessee. Anna is wearing her prom gown and shawl. I shot this picture with my Sony A100 SLR. Shutter speed 1/60; f-stop 5.6.