Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas!

I'm not the most Christmas Oriented guy on the planet, but I really love the beauty that comes to the surface this time of year. There is something about the traditions of this time of year that really shine for me.

Have a great New Year

All Hiz,

Michael

Teacher of the Year

It's time to brag a little bit. My wife is pretty amazing. I've known this for years and I've been telling her on a regular basis. She's never really believed me. Well, today she had a big piece of confirmation to what I've been saying all along. This morning she was surprised in her class room as a finalist for our county's Teacher of the Year. It was a beautiful thing. On top of the honor that comes with this it was one of the only times we have been able to surprise her. That's a major bonus!

Portraits

This weekend I got together with some old friends to do a family portrait. I really look forward to these times. When I was younger I really didn't understand the real value of family portraits. Now that I have my own family I have a much better apreciation for them. I especially love the families that I have been working with for years. We realized I've been the Sullivan's family portraits for 6 or 7 years now. It's unbelievable. I've been very blessed to be a part of their family and had the opportunity to document the growth of their sons as they become young men.

One of the original ideas behind this blog was to explore a bit how my photography fits in with the ministry I lead. I may be realizing that my photography is just as much a ministry as what I do for the church with teenagers. It's just different. I need to spend more time thinking about this. God has really led me down an interesting path with the growth of my photography work. I always wonder what He has planned. I never know until it's already happening. That's just the way he works.

New Website

I just finished a major renovation of my website. I wanted a much more open feel to the site. I think this renaovation will have that effect. The last version of the site looked and opperated like a handheld electronic device. This site is much more fluid. It looks like something created on water color paper. I really love the feel of it and it gave me the opportunity to take some design risks I wouldn't have in the past. You will have to go see it.

Michael

Tis the season

I've managed to keep myself quite busy lately. That's a good thing... idle hands you know.

I have a few families that I do portraits for every year around this time. I look forward to these shoots like you look forward to seeing old friends. It is so amazing to see how the kids have changed and where life has taken these friends in the past year.

This is one of my favorite images from one of these families I photographed this weekend. I'm always amazed at what I love when I sit down for critical review and toning of images. I may have fallen in love with an image when I was shooting and then there's an image that you grab on a moment and it just over shadows the rest. There's something beautiful and delicate about these kids relationship and I can really see it in this photograph.

Thanks again Todd and Amy for starting this great tradition with me!

Michael

Turkey and Portraits

Happy Thanks Giving!

I hope you had a chance to stop the world and spend time with the people who are important to you. I did and I really needed it.

Things are always busy around here. Trying to balance two worlds and family is pretty difficult. I'm continuing to grow in photography. Lots of cool things happening these days. I recently did a series of portraits of some really great kids here in Brandon. Children are great, but they can be really challenging. Sometimes after a shoot like this I wonder what will work and what won't.
During the shoot I do my share of "chimping" to see how I'm doing, but the real proof comes

when I open the images in Adobe Bridge and start working on the RAW files. Have I mentioned I love RAW. I know a lot of people who think it's way too much hassle. Maybe it is. I still love the process and shooting jpeg feels way too risky. One of the side benefits I've found is that it forces me to slow down just a bit while I'm shooting to keep the buffer from getting filled too quickly. That change of pace helps me to be a little more introspective in what I capture.

Well, I have to run, but I wanted to put this out before I dive into another day. I'm hoping this can become a good habit for me.

Michael

Blessed

Well, life is good. That's all I can say. I have my ups and downs like everyone else, but I am blessed in both cases.

I'm kind of a research hound. I love to learn. I especially love to learn when no one is telling me to do it. I've been doing a lot of reading about wedding photographers lately. I've been visiting other photogrpaher's websites, reading blogs and journals etc. One of the coolest things I've found out there is that I'm not alone in how I approach my shooting. I have found some other photographers who seem to integrate their faith into their work and lives.

Opensource photo has been one place that I've seen this in a number of people. I love to know that there are other people who are out there honoring God with what they do as photographers. If you are one of them, thank you!

All Hiz,

Michael J. McCrystal

Amy and Darren

Amy and Darren met me yesterday afternoon for their engagement portraits. I've known Amy since she was a kid. It's had to believe she's all grown up and getting married. It's really an honor for me to be a part of her wedding. I love working on projects and with people that I care about. The photographs mean more to me.

The ride back and forth to Bradenton is a great wy for me to really get to know a couple. I drive and listen, ask questions and laugh quite a bit. I've known Amy a long time, but Darren is brand new to me. He seems like a really high quality guy. That must be why Amy glows when she gets near him!

All Hiz,

Michael

Start Time

This is a forum for my thoughts and some personal projects I am working on. I am a full time Director of Student Ministries in the Tampa Bay Area. I am also a photographer. I left my growing carreer in photography almost 8 years ago to go into student Ministry. I love it. What an amazing ride this has been for me. I've learned a lot, grown a lot, been humbled a lot and had a ton of fun in the process. Outside of having kids, that move into ministry has been the coolest experience of my life.

Photography is becomming a very important part of my life again. When I first left the studio I felt like a fish out of water and spent a lot of time shooting just to feel comfortable in my own skin. As I grew into the ministry the photography end of my life seemed to slide. I was still shooting professionally, but not very often.

In the past 2 years that has changed dramatically. I don't exactly know where God is leading me, but I am willing to follow. I feel like I have a gift that has been given back to me. Now I need to use it.

I'll attach some of my work soon.

In the mean time my website is www.mccrystalimage.com and you can look there.