American lotus

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro

Blue Dasher dragonfly

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Nikon D850, Tamron 180mm macro

In the studio with Michael Powell (in action!)

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

When Michael P. and I were doing our fun portrait session last month in our shared studio, we decided to “loosen up” and get some silly shots. We were trying to decide how to show up the shoes (especially the soles) and not just by him sitting down. So the ever-energetic Michael came up with jumping and I must say I tired him out after about 20 shots! I told him to pretend he was a Rockette dancer and he should be very proud that he can kick his leg up THAT high at 66 years old (and in a suit, no less)! We knew the background wouldn’t hold his tall frame (especially when jumping that high), so we decided to share these anyway—consider them behind-the-scenes studio shots! Also, I’m not known for action shots, so there will be a technical learning curve if I pursue this type of portraiture…but we sure had fun creating the silly ones. Now if we could only build a cyclorama in the studio…..

In the studio with Michael Powell

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

In the studio with Michael Powell

In the studio with Michael #ConversePride

Michael P says: I am celebrating Pride Month 2021 with sole. T-shirt from the Converse 2021 Pride Collection, hightop Converse All-star Sneakers 2020 Pride Edition, and white Levi’s 501 jeans.

Michael is an accomplished nature/wildlife photographer as well as a gifted storyteller. Check out his blog here: https://michaelqpowell.com/

In the studio with Michael Powell

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Irises at Green Spring Gardens

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Bleeding hearts

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

(Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro lens)

Japanese Roof Iris

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Nikon D850 / Nikkor 105mm micro

In the (traveling) studio: Shawna, Eric, and baby Ian

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

In the studio: Barbara Kelley (installment #3)

Model: Barbara Kelley, Executive Director of the Hearing Loss Association of America

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. (Nikon D850, Nikkor 85mm lens)

In the studio: Barbara Kelley (installment #2)

Model: Barbara Kelley, Executive Director of the Hearing Loss Association of America

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. (Nikon D850, Nikkor 85mm lens)

 

 

In the studio: Barbara Kelley (installment #1)

Barbara Kelley, who is the Executive Director of the Hearing Loss Association of America, was the first “model” in my new shared studio space with friends Anna Davalos (Alejo Media) and Michael Powell (Nature Photographer). We relocated to the larger space in August and Barbara was our first official portrait shoot there last month. Of course there was social distancing and we were wearing masks (except for our model during the shoot). It is so nice to have a large space to be able to spread out during a shoot!

It’s always a pleasure to photograph Barbara because she’s very photogenic and up for any pose, background, etc., and because of that megawatt smile, too! We did many wardrobe changes and different backgrounds, so I’ll be sharing this session in a few installments.

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. (Nikon D850, Nikkor 85mm lens)

Hearing Life: Katherine Pawlowski

I photographed Katherine Pawlowski for her cover feature in the July/August issue of Hearing Life magazine, a bimonthly publication that I design for the Hearing Loss Association of America (www.hearingloss.org).

Katherine was named the first Walk4Hearing ambassador in 2014, and she and her mother traveled to many Walks to represent children with hearing loss. A few months ago, I visited with Katherine, now 14, to catch up on her life and learn about her continuing advocacy efforts.

I photographed the family in 2014 for a Walk4Hearing cover feature, and was happy to catch up with them again for this feature shoot. Thanks to my friend Michael Powell (see his wonderful blog here), for serving as my trusty assistant, holding the diffuser and reflector during the shoot.

You can read my interview with Katherine here:

https://www.hearingloss.org/wp-content/uploads/HL_2020_4_Dyer.pdf

 

Daylily

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro

 

Rudbeckia

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro

 

Tiny Daylily

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro

 

Crocosmia

Crocosmias are part of the Iris family. Originally from South Africa, the name comes from the Greek words for “saffron” and “smell.”

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro

Bumblebee on Coneflower

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. (Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro)

Daylilies

For this shot, I diffused the light shining directly on the daylilies, but allowed the bright dappled sunlight to filter through in the background.

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. Nikon D850 / Nikkor 105mm micro

Daylilies

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. Nikon D850 / Nikkor 105mm micro

Daylily

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. Nikon D850 / Nikkor 105mm micro

Juvenile Widow skimmer dragonfly

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved. Nikon D850 / Nikkor 105mm micro

Vinca

Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Skipper butterfly on Aster bloom

Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Alstroemeria (Peruvian lilies)

Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Thunbergia (Black-eyed Susan vine)

Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus)

Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Eastern tiger swallowtail on Vervain

Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro lens, 1/250 sec, f/13, ISO 400

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.

Stack ‘o butterflies

I think the top and bottom ones might be Clouded Sulphurs, middle one is a Variegated Fritillary; feasting on Purple coneflowers (with purple Lantana in the background)

Nikon D850, Nikkor 105mm micro lens, 1/250 sec, f/14, ISO 400

© Cindy Dyer. All rights reserved.