Sally DeFord Photography

I'm moving blogs

2010-11-28T19:49:00.000-08:00

I'm switching over to a wordpress blog that is connected to my new website (still under constuction). Look forward to bigger images and more posts.

http://sallydefordphotography.com/blog

The Power of Photography

2010-11-11T12:28:00.000-08:00

I'm reading a great book, at the suggestion of Justin Hackworth, called On Being a Photographer: a Practical Guide by David Hurn and Bill Jay. I love it so much. Bill Jay recounts David Hurns journey to photography and tells a story about when David was in the British army, he saw an image in a magazine that changed him. To quote the book:

One image struck him most forcibly: it showed a Russian soldier in a department storebuying a new hat for his wife. “I remember most distinctly accompanying my parents ona shopping trip to Howells (a smart department store in Cardiff) as soon as my father had returned from the war. I was about eleven. And he bought my mother a hat. My memory of that event and the emotion of the Russian picture were identical. I had been led to believe that all Russians were desperately poor and grotesquely belligerent, yet here was a Russian who seemed to be reasonably affluent, at least with enough spare cash to buy his wife a gift, and who was displaying human emotions of tenderness and caring. This image had the touch of authenticity. It felt real and true.”

David began to question and challenge his teachers, skilled practitioners in propaganda, and soon developed a distinctly suspicious attitude towards the military. “What I saw in my viewfinder and in published images”, he says, “made me profoundly pacifist”; hardly an encouraging trait in a future military officer.

The Army and David Hurn mutually agreed that he was not suited to a soldier’s life.

In 1955, David Hurn had exchanged a rifle for a camera and determined that he would be a photographer.

The other day I saw this image of a 13 year old boy working in a Bangladesh factory. Just looking at this picture made me want to commit to stop buying cheap junk from places where they use little kids to make it so cheap. I'm always torn between my desire and necessity to save money and my conscious. This image had the power to make me change my behavior. Amazing.

Photo: G.M.B. Akash, Panos Pictures. Graphic: Mina Liu. Source: International Labour Organization

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-30T21:36:00.000-07:00

Hank and I got to go with Wyatt on his kindergarden field trip to the pumpkin patch. These kids were having the time of their life. After each kids picked out their pumpkin we went back to their classroom for a halloween party.

The Dojo

2010-10-26T21:15:00.000-07:00

I love bringing my camera to karate for belt promotions. I grew up in a ballet studio. In my teenage years, I would go straight to the studio right after school until evening almost every day of the week. It was another home of mine. I wonder if this place will become like that for Wyatt. I love seeing the parents dote over their kids, the kids are excited about moving up a level, and the teachers are proud of their students. Wyatt has been improving so quickly. He just received his first belt with a black stripe in it and he's overjoyed because he knows that black is the ultimate goal.

I snapped the picture below of the two boys lying on the floor right before they got busted.

Helen Levitt: MoMA

2010-10-20T20:25:00.000-07:00

On my recent trip to New York, Willie and I went to several photography exhibits. The pictures by women exhibit at the MoMA was great. One photographer, Helen Levitt, had a few pictures that really stuck out to me. In 1959 and 1960 Helen received two Guggenheim grants to take color photographs on the streets of New York. Soon after much of her work in color was stolen from her apartment and was lost forever. She was a active photographer for 70 years. Here are a few pictures that I really liked.

Dorothea Lange's photography has always moved me. I remember when I started my degree in English education (soon after I decided to drop the education part of my major) I had to prepare some curriculum with my group and my segment was on Dorothea Lange's photography. Here is a picture I took of her exhibit and a post with some of her pictures from a while back.

Sandy and Steve, Ouray, Colorado

2010-09-19T22:02:00.000-07:00

Sandy and Steve got married in Ouray yesterday. The location was absolutely stunning. After a beautiful ceremony, we moved to the reception in this great old hotel. The day was all about love and family, not to mention delicious food, live music and friendship. I'm so glad I was a part of this wedding.

George

2010-09-03T21:31:00.000-07:00

I met my new nephew George this week. He is so sweet. He barely makes a peep, sleeps all the time, (except for at night) and make the cutest grunts. Something I can't get over is his full head of dark hair. It is such a novelty to me. Babies don't come that way in our house. They are born with a bit of a blonde fuzz on the sides, then it all falls out and they are bald for years.

Women of Virtue

2010-08-28T14:51:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a great project. The Relief Society (the women's organization of the LDS church) presidency asked if I would take some pictures of the women in our ward as part of a program that encourages the women to set goals, recognize and improve their virtues based on Proverbs 31:10-31. We are hoping to have a celebration that includes a slideshow of these portraits in April of 2011. I'm trying to shoot two women a week to keep a steady pace and I spend about 20-30 minutes at their house. Most of them I know quite well, for some it is our first real one on one conversation. I can't tell you how fun this is. My mentor and friend Justin Hackworth has done several posts about having a project to work on as a photographer and his recurring 30 Strangers has been an inspiration to me to find something that moves me and let it help make me a better photographer. The 17th St. project is next, once i can get our old garage/new studio dry-walled.

Some of the benefits of this project are that I know most of the women I'm photographing and I love them. If I don't know them that well, at the end of the 20 minutes we have taken care of that and we are best of friends. I'm sure it's the same in a lot of churches, but I feel very strongly when I meet a Mormon, anywhere around the word, they are family to me. I feel safe and loved when I go to their houses. I'm not getting paid, so I don't feel pressure to please them.

A few challenges are that I haven't spent time scouting out their house for great locations to shoot so I'm working off the cuff. I usually spend time thinking about them before I come and have some ideas, but when I arrive I have to immediately try to find the best locations and light and make it work. Another challenge is that i usually have my kids with me and Hank is tearing apart their house and walking into the pictures. He's just so cute I don't mind.

Mia is One

2010-08-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago, I was able to photograph Mia's birth. You can see some of the images here. It was such a beautiful experience. Here is a picture Mia's dad Zac took the moment after he was born. I can not believe a year has passed already. Mia is army crawling around trying to escape the house and so cheery. This family is such a great family. Hopefully you can get a little taste of that through these pictures. My kids were very excited that cake was involved in this shoot.

Givers and Growers Photography Group

2010-08-25T13:27:00.000-07:00

When I was trying to find a local dark room in Grand Junction, I searched "grand junction darkroom" and was taken to a blog of a local photographer, Cat Mayer. My timing was great, because Cat had just started a photography group called Givers and Growers. I was drawn to Cat's photography and her timeless look. I was excited to be a group where I could meet other photographers.

So we held the meeting at Cat's in-law's house out in the north part of Grand Junction. This place was beautiful. We had just had a huge thunderstorm so it was all humid and the house was stucco with a small vineyard and lots of land. I was totally feeling like I was in Napa.

We talked for a bit and shot several models. It was a relaxed atmosphere, with a lot of creativity and shop talk. In short, I was in heaven. I came home so inspired and excited about photography. I can't wait until our next meeting. Here are a few of my pictures from the evening.

Fishtank Ensemble

2010-08-13T17:41:00.000-07:00

This band absolutely jams. They are so talented and put on a great show. Check out Fishtank Ensemble.

Hadley Barney

2010-08-06T21:03:00.000-07:00

Okay, truth be told, looking at these pictures makes me want to have another baby. How could it not? Hadley is so sweet and her older sisters are absolutely in love.

Jenny Chatfield

2010-07-25T22:07:00.000-07:00

Last week I took senior pictures of Jenny Chatfield in Palisade. Jenny was so comfortable in front of the camera and I had a great time getting to know her. Isn't she beautiful?

Stella

2010-07-19T17:00:00.000-07:00

This is my niece Stella. I can't believe how cute she is. I love all her little clothes and shoes and her bald head.

Sandy Lind

2010-07-08T16:01:00.000-07:00

Sandy contacted me for some portraits because she needs a cover photo for her new CD. We had a great time out taking pictures and she thinks #5 will be the cover shot.

Moab Polaroids

2010-05-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

Moab River Run 2010

2010-05-16T21:42:00.000-07:00

Lauren and Brent

2010-05-04T21:13:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I was able to be a backup photographer to my friend Angie for Lauren and Brent's wedding reception. Lauren is the daughter of my friends John and Carla. The wedding was amazing and I learned a lot about what it takes to be a wedding photographer. It is not as easy as some photographers make it look (namely my wedding photographer Justin Hackworth). Laruen and Brent are a beautiful couple and it was such a magical evening, even though it was really cold. When i got home I had a red nose, a sure sign that I'm chilled to the bone.

East Orchard Mesa by Polaroid

2010-04-23T10:42:00.000-07:00

In honor of my new polaroid cameras (still awaiting film) I took out a more modern polaroid and some expired film yesterday. I only took one shot at each stop to savor my film. I only have 12 shots left. It brings a whole new aspect to my photography. Instead of shooting a ton of frames in every angle possible, I had to stop, think and go for the one shot. I put the print in my pocket and took a few shots with my small point/shoot and when I got back in the car I took the polaroid out of my pocket to see what I got. It was like magic. I really miss my 5D (it's with Canon getting repaired) but I'm still having fun taking pictures.

Izabelle and Ellery Barney

2010-04-15T19:47:00.000-07:00

Aren't they adorable? Ellery was not too happy about the photoshoot but she was still the cutest little peanut. Izabelle loved the camera. This is such a great family. Melissa is expecting another little girl. I can't wait to see all three of the girls in matching dresses.

Jessica and Mitch Engagement Shoot

2010-04-11T20:37:00.000-07:00

The weekend I was in Midway we did Jessica's bridals and also an engagement shoot the next night. They are so in love. It was so fun to spend time with such a cute couple.

Amy Barker and unborn Barker

2010-04-08T21:54:00.000-07:00

Jessica and Mitch

2010-04-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

Natalie, Scott and soon to be baby Slade

2010-03-23T13:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was able to take pictures of Natalie and Scott Slade. They are excited to meet their first baby in the next couple of weeks. They are going to make great parents.

Jon Rizzo: Hot Tomato Cafe Project

2010-03-14T21:17:00.000-07:00

Jon Rizzo, our neighbor and band member, has been working on a project for a restaurant in Fruita called The Hot Tomato Cafe. The owners commissioned Jon to build the furniture for their new location. He was working on the tables and pizza stand today. The Hot Tomato Cafe is all about bikes, the outdoors, music, delicious pizza and beer. Look for more pictures once everything is on site at the new restaurant location.

Honey Don't at the KAFM Radio Room

2010-02-28T21:10:00.000-08:00

Saturday night Willie and I went to see Honey Don't play. It was a great concert and I had so much fun taking pictures. This music is my scene. I love it. Check out their website here and buy their CD or download it from itunes.

Wyatt

2010-02-27T15:06:00.000-08:00

Hank

2010-02-27T14:49:00.000-08:00

Leslie Lewis Designs

2010-02-23T12:13:00.000-08:00

Below are a few images of Leslie Lewis's jewelry. I photographed many of her pieces for her blog. This was really fun for me. I love jewelry and I love taking pictures.

Natalie Slade's Baby Shower

2010-02-21T19:40:00.000-08:00

Stella

2010-02-17T11:33:00.000-08:00

Dreaming of Spring

2010-02-03T20:12:00.000-08:00

This has been an unusually cold winter and it seems like every day has been hazy and inverted. I'm not one to rush the seasons, but I'm homesick for spring.

Nebraska

2009-12-30T12:19:00.000-08:00

DeFord Family

2009-12-25T11:12:00.000-08:00

Ice Storm in Omaha

2009-12-24T13:17:00.000-08:00

Cold Morning

2009-12-01T19:26:00.000-08:00

The Gibb Family

2009-11-22T20:46:00.001-08:00

The Stratford Family

2009-11-11T17:20:00.001-08:00

Hank Fairbanks: Boulder, Co

2009-11-10T20:02:00.001-08:00

Boulder

2009-11-08T19:45:00.000-08:00

Hank

2009-11-05T13:37:00.001-08:00

Morning Ice on Cosmos

2009-10-29T21:47:00.001-07:00

Melissa Lind: 17th St

2009-10-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

Jared and Melissa LaBaron

2009-10-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

The Lance Family

2009-10-29T14:03:00.001-07:00

Melissa Lind: XF Ranch

2009-10-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

Melissa is a landscape architect, a writer, and an artist. She also plays the fiddle. Melissa and her husband Jared are caretakers for the XF Ranch on the Black Mesa. They are currently stocking up on food and supplies to overwinter at almost 10,000 feet. Melissa is usually wearing crazy socks.

studioCase: 5 Crosby St.

2009-10-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

For the last couple of years I have worked as the finance manager for studioCase in New York City. My brother, Travis, and his two friends own studioCase and they design for a wide range of impressive clients. Last month I visited studioCase and was able to take portraits of the whole team.

Tony

Travis

Enoch

Emilio

Robin

Cameron

Jeff