This session was totally B.A.

Frankly, I'm disappointed in myself that I hadn't noticed it before.

I must be slipping.

We're three outfits into this session with Mr. Bo Ambler, and I take the black and white image that you see below here...

I glance at the back of the camera... smirk a little... look up.

"Dude... that's totally B.A."

You'd think a guy with the initials B.S. would've appreciated the not-so-hidden meaning of a pair of great initials before he had uttered something so accurate, yet ironic... but he didn't.

Mama Valerie did, however.   And was quick to point it out.

They, along with longtime girlfriend (and might I add... most excellent photographer's assistant for the day), Emma Sternhagen, got a laugh out of my out-of-nowhere epiphany.

"You're RIGHT!"  I said.    "That IS totally, B.A.!"

Now the hand we were dealt for the outdoor portion of this job wasn't a good one...   Don't get me wrong... we were all thankful for the nearly perfect spring day we were blessed with... but green and full of new life, it's not, as of yet.   So, waiting to get those darn braces off, while a great thing for his smile... limited us a bit outside.

The solution?  Get that man next to a barn and some buildings and an alley way or a grain bin... and we were set.   Toss in a cross bow and then a trip to just south of Grundy Center to see his boss Justin Lynch and equipment from Boulder Contracting and dude was in for a long afternoon of being bossed around by yours truly and his two favorite ladies.  :)

Outfit after outfit, we plowed thru Mr. Ambler's torture.   A pit stop at Hardee's by Valerie probably was key to keeping the young man's attention for the duration of the session... so the photographer was thankful for Mom's willingness to buck up and drive Bo's super loud pickup truck across town on the dash for a Thickburger while we set up for the motorcycle images! 

Speaking of that Yamaha.   I'm not sure I had ever seen a guy so meticulously strap his pride and joy to a trailer like this guy did.  In fact... when mom offered to do so one when we were finished (so that he might be free to allow the photographer to take more images of him), he rebuked her offer.   Insisting on doing it himself... so that it was done perfectly.

Or so he thought.

On our way to Greater Grundyville, I was following the Ambler Caravan.   Bo and Emma in the pickup... towing the bike.   Mama Val in the family SUV directly behind... and then the H3.

Then I saw them.

Brake lights.

Our parade lost speed suddenly... and I followed suit as each vehicle eased on over to what little shoulder was there on the highway just north of Green Mountain.

A clearly disgusted senior guy stormed out of his truck and then I caught what the problem was.

The Yamaha was on it's side.

Uh oh.

Instead of staying in it's upright position, the strapped up bike had worked it's way sideways, and Mr. Ambler was clearly none-to-happy about it.

Cars whizzed by in what felt like kind of a perilous situation at the top of that hill there somewhere near the Marshall/Grundy county line.   What was five minutes seemed like an hour as Team Ambler scrambled to get the motorcycle safely secured again.

Alas that did happen... but when we arrived at the job site 10 minutes later to get Bo photographed with the big red Boulder dump truck... Emma said it might be a few minutes.

"Ummm... we kinda have a blood situation on our hands."

I laughed... but I probably shouldn't have... because as a guy... we've all been there.   Ticked off... the blood boils... and then suddenly it seems like a prudent decision to punch... say... umm.... a motorcycle trailer.

:)

A mere flesh wound, right Bo?

Nothing that a few minutes of cleaning up wouldn't fix... but the problem was that the sun was setting... and FAST.

Our wonderful spring day had suddenly gotten quite cold as Emma shivered her way through holding my auxiliary flash just a few more times as her beloved bludgeoned Bo popped off a few more B.A. looks in the spot that was totally appropriate for it.... work.

Valerie had explained to me before the session that she had herself a blue collar son who was never happier... than when he was at work.   Early to rise... work all day... get those hands dirty (or bloody?).   Rinse and repeat.   Toss in some huntin', some cruisin and his girl... and you, my friends... have the story of Bo Ambler.    Better late than never.   Thanks for sharing your day with me, gang.

Peppering Cayenne...

I guess they're gonna go in the spring.

Most of you know that the majority of what I've always called "busy season" runs from the moment kids get out of school until the snow flies (usually sometime in November or December).   With that in mind... the majority of seniors I, and most other photographers in these parts, will be asked to shoot senior images during those months.   Why?   Because that's when the weather/seasons are most conducive to producing beautiful outdoor images comfortably.

It's not exactly a newsflash to say that the winter isn't comfortable around here... nor is it particularly easy to produce salable images when cheeks are red, eyes are squinty, noses are running and one can see their own breath.

And while this week's sudden turn of temperature has us all busting out the shorts and flip flops in the "balmy" 50 degree temps, reality also says that the real pretty spring scenery is still several weeks away.

All that being said... it almost is without fail that I will be asked to photograph seniors during the winter or early spring.   Yearbook deadlines... tax refunds... just finally getting around to it... you name the reason.

Tama's, Kirby Brown is one of the nicest senior dad's I've dealt with.   Always the one to call and set things up and get things going... Kirby is on the third go around with our studio.   With daughter's Isabeau (Class of 2008) and Pfieffer ('10)  he called after busy season had completed both times.   Isabeau was a February girl... and Pfieffer  was the end of March. 

So with THAT in mind... I would have thought something was indeed WRONG if daughter No. 3, Cayenne, would have visited us last summer or fall!

But instead... Kirby stuck to his plan... went with what he knew.... and busted out his winter/spring M.O. one more time.

That finally rolled around last week when Cayenne did come through our front door.   Wanting to keep it simple and sweet.... Miss Whitefish was a young woman of few words... despite my desperate efforts to try to pry something from her.

I knew I was going to have a proverbial tough nut to crack when I asked our guest of honor something I often do to break the ice.

"So.... tell me a little bit about you... what makes you tick?   Got any hobbies?"

Answer?  

"Sleep."

I have to give the girl credit... she was honest!   And for those of you knocking it... who DOESN'T want or need more of THAT?!?  :)

I was able to figure out that Cayenne is hoping to attend art school out in San Francisco someday... which sounded way cool... but other than that... it seemed just as we were getting rolling... her session was complete.

So while I gave my best effort to pepper her with 20 questions and peel back the onion,  Miss Cayenne will, for the most part, remain a big mystery.   And you know what?   I think she likes it that way.

Can't leave out Ridout...

The sound of her voice told me the answer I needed to know.

But I asked anyway...

"Class of 2015 or Class of 2016?"

The tone of Mama Tina's voice had already given me the "I know I'm WAY late" inflections that indicated that this was long overdue, but being thorough like I am, I still had to make sure.

For you see, we're already fielding many calls for for NEXT year's senior class wanting to book their senior portraits for this summer or fall.  Early birds trying to get the worm, as it were.   But that wasn't the case here.   Tina was finally getting around to setting up her son, Ethan's session... just a few months now from graduation (not that anyone's counting down or anything!).

Better late than never, however... Mr. Ridout was finally in the house.   It mighta been 8 a.m., bone chilling cold, and the morning after a controversial finish ended he and his teammate's final season of basketball... but I have to give the guy credit... he reported for duty with a smile on his face.

So, I got the low down on how the game went on the hardwood for Ethan and some of my Stewart Photography brothas, Bryce, Bridger and Matt, the night before.   Turns out a three-pointer at the buzzer by Ethan's future college roomy at UNI (the aforementioned Bryce Newcomb) was waved off as it splashed through the net, preventing the Wolverines a shot at an extra stanza and a chance to extend their season.

It wasn't meant to be, apparently, and perhaps it was a blessing in disguise as the winner was rewarded with a trip to face No. 1-ranked and unbeaten Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the next round... and besides... Ridout needed his sleep!  :)

As I mentioned, not surprisingly, it was one of those -10 below windchill mornings that we've been having seemingly every day for weeks lately.  Nevertheless, I told Ethan if he was willing... I'd give it a shot on each of his outfits on trying to get SOME outdoor stuff.   Mama Tina was a bit hesitant... but also went along for the ride.

All it took was about ONE outfit for the three of us to decide that we had had enough outdoor images for the day... and it was indoor the rest of the way out... and no one seemed to mind much.  (Ever toted around a metal tripod in these conditions?  I wouldn't recommend it)

In the comforts of the friendly confines of Stewart Photography, Ethan and I talked Wolverine athletics... his scary injury this past football season (where he got a little ambulance ride) to track... to the aforementioned hoops.   Toss in some Hawkeye hardwood discussion... and it was like I was right back in the throws of busy senior season all over again.

Reality is that this was just a pleasant surprise at the end of yet another frigid February.   The ten day forecast tells me that 50s and maybe even some 60s are in order next week... and yes, Ethan's preview book is ready for pickup.   Things are definitely on the upswing!