Mike Wiesman Photography
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Instaproofs Photo Contest 2012
Instaproofs, the company that I use for my online proofing and ordering, has a contest every year for the images that are displayed throughout their corporate web site. Not knowing what to expect and thinking that it would be some good exposure, I submitted a few of what I thought were my best shots.
[A few weeks pass]
Received an email from the president over at Instaproofs notifying me that not just one, but TWO of my images were selected as winners. The first one an image that I shot of really good friend of mine, Nick Utrie, after one of the very memorable shows at The Small Theater. I based the exposure off of a stage light that Utrie had mounted in the rafters, diffused by a translucent circle reflector clamped to a ladder about 6-ft in front, directly above camera. Also added two kickers behind him on the left and right to give hard-separator with a bit a rim light. It all developed over the course of about 30 minutes while Nick ripped off some licks that always impress. Below is another shot from that night highlighting his fingers and string-impressions left by hours of playing.
The second Sot that was selected was shot for a brilliant stranger. A unique vintage clothing boutique in fish creek, door county wi. This was a simple one-light setup with a shoot-through umbrella to camera-left up high. We shot a lot of images that day and one this one everything just seemed to come together. We had a lot of fun on this shoot, the previous shot to this one is below. Again one-light setup, with the addition of an old office phone prop. All in a day’s shoot.
Thanks to the folks over at Instaproofs for selecting my images and for providing a sound and solid online proofing/ordering solution for many photographers out there.
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New Web Site and Blog Layout
Hey folks, I’ve pretty busy the past few months working on some new branding and business plan details for this year so sorry about the lack of content on the blog. The good news is that there is a bunch of new work posted within the portfolios as well as an entirely new site layout and blog. Give them a peak and you might just find yourself!
There have been a few things that I really wanted to improve from the old site, the biggest one being that I wanted to make the images more of the main focus. After all, that is what I offer, images. I also wanted to get away from anything flash and incorporate HTML5 so that users can access the site on a variety of platforms without sacrificing the look. For the most part I think that no matter what device you choose to visit this new site, you should be able to view it. That’s a big plus.
My favorite little thing about the site is the way that the thumbnails look in the portfolios. If your are in a gallery and your browser window is not maximized, just click the lower corner of your window and make it larger – as you do this, the thumbnails will auto-fill the extra screen space with more pictures. Not a earth shaking event, but as with weddings, I’m a fan of the details.
I’ve also added a brand new 2013 High School Senior Rep program with an online application form. This is a great opportunity for seniors to gain some promotional and marketing experience, so if you know someone who would be interested as well as would be a successful rep, it’s appreciated if you pass a link on to them. I thank you in advance.
Big thanks to all my fans and clients, without you I’m just another photographer. This is the first step of some major advancements that I have planned this year. Check back often for more content and pictures, as well as some other insightful ramblings from yours truly.
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De Pere 2012 Senior – Hallie
I’ve been excited to share Hallie’s senior pictures with you for a few days and finally now have time to share them. Hallie is a senior at De Pere High school and is also the daughter of a good friend of mine that I have photographed many times over the years. It was not the setting of your typical “senior picture session”. For the shot below I asked Hallie if she would mind standing in the Bike Lane directly next to moving traffic, I know, I’m crazy. We were standing only a few feet away from moving traffic drinking warm Hot Chocolate & Coffee from Luna Cafe about to finish up, and I felt really great about the images we made while the sun was out. But with fresh dose of caffeine my idea light bulb lit up when I saw all the tail-lights waiting at a traffic light. With Hallie’s dad filling in as a voice-activated-light-stand off to camera right and a sea of break-lights we snapped off lots of shots in a very short amount of time in the middle of the street. It ends up that it’s my favorite shot from the session, sometimes even when you think that you are all done for the day it pays to shoot that one more picture. The creative process works in awesome ways sometimes. See some more pictures from Hallie’s Senior session after the jump.
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Why Every Session Is Important.
I have had more and more first-hand personal experiences this past year than ever that verify a very my strong personal belief that I have about photography. A belief that goes deeper than just an exposure, a belief that we have all experienced, and a belief that we all have contributed to; Photography is a very important aspect in each of our lives historically, emotionally, and esthetically.
Viewing, discussing, and creating images can be a passage to self-discovery that enhances self-esteem. Studying photography can be the conduit to a further understanding of various cultures and different ways of seeing, believing, and thinking. Photography broadens our conception of ourselves and the world. ~ Cynthia Way
One of the joys of photography that we all can relate to is the historic sense of documenting a moment in time. Baby Joe can be captured at one, two, three years old for years to come. A moment can last for generations to come. A moment that can change history or a moment that can keep a deceased loved one close forever. As a parent you carry pictures of your children in your wallet, police use pictures to photograph crime scenes, many hire a photographer to capture their wedding day. Photography is one of the most universal mediums that is used in just about every avenue of our culture. More after the jump….
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Nicole | 2012 Two Rivers Senior
Nicole is a senior at Two Rivers High School and came to me wanting something different than the usual “senior picture” session. As I pulled up to the location where Nicole picked for her pictures I recognized a familiar face of a young man that I photographed before, her boyfriend Mark, a 2011 senior. I knew right away that I had high standards to meet, Mark’s session was a really good one. Starting with a backseat full of clothes we narrowed it down to a few options and started to click away the frames. Fortunately the wind and weather cooperated that day (unlike the days we had to reschedule) and we ended up with some really beautiful portraits of Nicole. Best of luck this on your senior year! Thanks for a great session.
See more of Nicole’s Senior Session after the jump…
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Rachel | 2012 High School Senior
Rachel is a senior at Green Bay Notre Dame High School and came to me with some great locations and ideas in mind for her senior pictures. Her family’s waterfront cabin only a few minutes north of Green Bay provided a setting that makes her pictures unique and meaningful. Mix in her awesome attitude and great smile and we got a great senior picture session with pictures that radiate Rachel’s personality. Here are a few of favorites!
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When We are Little, Our Brains are Like Sponges
It’s not every day that you get to be one of the kids and hang with some very creative award-winning authors and illustrators. Last weekend I did just that. The second annual 2011 Sheboygan Children’s Book Festival at Bookwork Gardens, The John Michael Kohler Arts Center and The Sheboygan Mead Library brought children together with some of their favorite book authors from stories that have set their imaginations alive with adventure and creativity. From an inspirational walk through Bookworm Gardens to gather ideas and objects to workshops in the ARTery at the JMKAC, there was always something for everyone to be creatively involved, no matter what your age. As I followed along with as many events and lectures as I could I found myself fully immersed within surroundings, creativity.
More about the Book Festival and lot of pictures after the jump!
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De Pere High School Senior Pictures, Lezlie – Class of 2012
I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph Lezlie, a senior at De Pere High School a couple of weeks ago. We hit a few different locations in De Pere to get the looks that she wanted along with racing the sun for that beautiful evening light. Thanks Lezlie for choosing me for your senior pictures, I hope that you continue to have a great senior year! See more pictures from Lezlie’s session after the jump.
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Dailies: Breakdown #3 – VIP Parking
This is the third of the Dailies Breakdown posts. Few things first though, it seems that Facebook limits the number of photos in an album to 200, so for the most recent daily, make sure that you are viewing the Dailies II album. I am also working on adding another page on my web site for the second album. To my surprise, the Dailies page is the most popular page on my site. Thanks to all the follow along. Now for today’s nitty gritty….
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Sheboygan High School Senior Pictures, Aaron – Class of 2012
If I had to pick a guy that loves baseball as much as I do and knows the game better than many, Aaron is the guy. I first got to know Aaron this past spring when I started coaching with the South High Redwings Baseball teams. I spent the majority of the season working with the JV team but Aaron played varsity, but occasionally the two teams had practice together. When school let out Aaron plays for the Sheboygan Varsity Legion baseball team. As an assistant coach for the Legion team, my summer rolled by quickly with our busy practice and game schedules. After awhile word got out that besides a coach, I was also a photographer. It was not too long after that, that Aaron and I ended up starting to concept what creative things we could do for his senior pictures. Best of luck with your senior year Aaron. Check out more pictures after the jump.
