Black Belt Living

Evolution

Neglect, that's certainly what this blog has been suffering from, that's for sure. I don't really know why I stopped updating it.  Well, yes I do and that's the good part.  

I stopped because I've thought for a long time that I need to change my focus and morph this forum into a better blog that's more photography oriented and better suited to what I'm doing right now. My photography business has really picked up, and thanks to the encouragement of a bunch of friends and some talented creative professionals, I'm ready to make that leap. 

So it's my pleasure to announce that in early June, I will be leaving this blog behind and moving to a new site that will serve as both my photography blog and online portfolio. I've been working on it behind the scenes for a few weeks now and I'm really liking how it's looking so far.  

In other big news, I started a new job at AI Software in March, as their project manager and social media specialist. We build websites for other businesses and provide social media management. I train clients on how to maintain their websites, do site changes and population, and do all the social media campaigns. It's such a fun job. I tell people that I get paid to play on Facebook all day. That's not entirely true, but it kind of is to a degree.

So since I'm now an official Social Media Maven, I figure that I should get my own act together in that respect and starting this week, I'm doing that. If you're not already following me on Twitter (and why would you since I rarely update it!), you can find me here and I promise to keep it updated and hopefully fun.  

Lots has been going on around these parts since I quit posting and when I roll out my new blog, I hope you'll follow me there and catch up on all the latest and greatest!

Finally, since no blog entry is complete without a photo, I think I'll post this one. I recently got an iPhone and have been trying to learn how to take creative pics with it using Instagram.  Here is one from Mirror Lake at Eden Park. 

Speaking of Instagram, if you'd like to follow my fumbling efforts and failures over there regarding my iPhone camera, you can find me on Instagram at bahogan.  

See you soon with exciting new updates! 

 

Amy - Seven Hills Senior 2012

I'd like to introduce you to my latest senior, Amy M from The Seven Hills School. We had a marvelous day, lucking into some spectacular weather in November. I don't know how long this beautiful weather is going to last, but I'm not complaining!

Amy, I know you've been waiting patiently for your sneak peeks, so here they are!

Thanks Amy for starting my November off right.  I hope you like your peeks!

Rachel - Mason Ohio Senior 2012

Earlier this week I ventured a bit north of my usual stomping grounds for a senior shoot with lovely Rachel, who will be graduating from Mason High School this spring (yay!).  

Rachel came to the shoot with a really good idea of what she likes when it comes to pictures. She came with a yearbook-in-hand and photos that she liked, which was great!  As it turns out, Rachel has an eye for interesting poses and creative and funky processing. Cool! If funky is what you like, funky is what you're going to get! 

So Rachel, here are some sneak peeks of your senior session. I purposely gave you a few different looks. I hope you like them!

This one has that "washed out" look, kind of like how they filmed the Twilight movies....

this one gives your skin a softer glow....

This next one has an antique feel and has some texture added, just for fun...

Here is that funky look that you really liked from your yearbook samples....

And finally, here is one that just shows off those gorgeous eyes of yours! I just know that your mom is going to love this one. Because we moms want everybody to see the beauty that we see all the time!

That's it for now!  I hope you like them. Happy Thursday, everybody! 

Kelby Photowalk 2011

I can't believe that this is the fourth year of the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk. It's always been so much fun, and so interesting to see how a group of 50 or so people can walk basically the same steps and yet view the world in such different ways.  

This year there were two walks in Cincinnati, but since they were on different days, I got to walk twice! The Saturday walk was hosted by David Ziser and the Sunday walk was hosted by Jason Lykens.  Both are fantastic photographers with entirely different styles and approaches, and so that was extra fun for me. Shannon went with me on the "Jason Walk" this year.  

Here are some of the shots that I took on the Saturday walk, which covered the redevelopment of Vine Street in Over-the-Rhine.

My favorite shot of the day was this one, which I submitted as my entry for the photo contest:

On Sunday, we walked at the end of the day and walked towards the riverfront. My shots look entirely different. I love that!

I have trouble picking my favorite from Sunday, but it's probably this one:

or this one, I can't decide....

What do you think?

Shannon's shot of the day was this beauty:

Pretty awesome, isn't it?  A big thanks to David and Jason for being such great hosts and always keeping it interesting, welcoming, and very very fun! 

Digital Deluge....

I'm not joking, I've been buried under piles of pixels this past week.  Between the volleyball tournament, some photo assignments, and helping Anna Aspnes get her store polished up over at Oscraps, I've been really heating up Mr. Mac. 

I know that I've promised a bunch of people some peeks from last weekend's volleyball tournament, and I'll get there, but those pics have been pushed to the bottom of the pile for a few days. I promise I'll get there! In the meantime, here's another teaser....

As for Anna's team, I've been doing some work for her behind the scenes as well as creating some new layouts. Today, Oscraps is going to be giving her an official welcome and she'll be giving away a freebie, so be sure to get over there and grab it while you can. Anna's products are so unique and nothing like anything else that's out there for digital scrapbooking (at least in my opinion).  Here are some layouts that I've done with her artsy goodness:

Be sure to pop over to The O today to get your freebie, and say hello!  

Hot Stuff

It's all about hot stuff this weekend - hot temps are back and there is a lot of hot volleyball practically in my own back yard. Yes, it's time once again for the US Open Pro Beach Volleyball championships, right down the street from me.  Time to watch some hot volleyball, see some really hot bodies (Olympians, no less!), sweat in the hot sun, and take some hot pictures!

Here are a few pics of the ladies from last year's tournament. For some odd reason, I can't find my pics of the men.  That's just a travesty, I tell you.  So wrong.  Oh well, I'll just have to take more this weekend. I can do that. 

FYI, that's Olympic gold medalists Misty May Treanor in the print shorts (top photo) and Kerry Walsh in the teal tank top (bottom photo).  Nice ladies. It was so cool getting to chat with them last year. I wonder who I'll get to meet this year?  Who knows, but it'll be fun for sure! 

Have a great weeekend!

Happy Anniversary Lena and James

A year ago today (okay, a year ago tomorrow, but it was the last Saturday in August), I drove to lovely southern Kentucky to photography Lena and James's wedding.  Happy Anniversary you two!  

It was fun looking back at your photos last night.  Have a lovely day and here's to many more happy years!

Team Anna 2011

So excited to have been selected for my super creative and talented friend Anna Aspnes's Creative Team for 2011. It's a huge honor!  Anna is moving to Oscraps as of September 1st, so you'll see some of my work over there as well as here. I haven't been sharing much of my work lately, but I say it's time to get back into the groove. I know, I know, I seem to always say that.  

Here are some of my creations using some of Anna's products:

 

And for those waiting for my tennis photos, I'm finally going to have some time to work on them today, I promise.  Good stuff.  Here's a sneak peek....

I love Rafa Nadal, he's so animated when he plays!

Seniors 2012 - Molly H

It's been a while since I've posted any photo peeks. I know, it's been a while since I've posted anything, really. Well today I have some lovely sneek peeks that I have been looking forward to sharing.

This is my niece Molly. She's a 2012 senior and although she doesn't live in the area, we had an opportunity to do her senior portraits while she was in town recently. She was such a trooper too, when you look at these photos, you'd never know that the heat index was over 100 degrees. It was SO hot that normally I would have rescheduled, but we only had a small window of time to get these done, so we perservered. While I was sweaty and gross, Molly always looked calm and cool throughout the entire process. 

Many people think that Molly looks like Kristin Stewart or Emma Watson. I see both! Molly is a big Harry Potter fan, so I'm sure she'd rather look like Emma....

Molly can really rock the high heels, so we had to make the best of that, of course!

Thanks for letting me take your pictures, Molly!  You made it easy and so much fun.  

Speaking of fun, my next senior scheduled is Molly as well.  2012....the year of the Molly! 

Have a great weekend!

It NEVER Ends

Seems like the only times I update these days are when the bizarre weather hits.  Well today is no exception. I'm so tired of rain.  Check out my swamp out back:

So sad that we used to have a really beautiful back yard. Now it's just a swamp full of tree roots and onion grass.  Sigh.  

Attention Rain!  Please STOP!