If you guys haven't heard me say this before, I really love shooting my s-sessions. Seniors (or juniors for that matter) fit right in line with the hip, fashionable, art-driven style that drives my work. My session with Jenilee was another opportunity to build on that. I'm pretty sure she just stepped out of an Anthropologie/J.CREW catalog.

She'd been eyeing this old, abandoned house on her way to school everyday and being a photographer herself, thought it would make a great backdrop for her on-location shoot. Beside it being bitterly cold in the morning, it developed into a beautiful day with great light. We also headed over to a train yard in Grapevine, TX and really took advantage of some harsh lighting conditions in the noonday sun. Four months ago I would've been terrified to shoot at this time of day but I've been working to tame the beast of intimidation. I purposely scheduled Jen's session near noon to challenge myself with this harsh light.

Jen actually knows Lyndzey, a senior of mine I shot earlier in 2006. They roomed together while at Pine Cove Christian Camp. I also worked at Pine Cove as a counselor while in college...oh what a small world! Lastly, Jenilee will be heading the maiden voyage of the Fred Egan internship program this summer (a clever name for the program will soon follow). Anyone who loves Sufjan Stevens and Derek Webb as much as I do are definitely going to get along with me. I wish I could have been as cool as Jen in high school-I would've paid good money for this. It'll be fun and you'll hear more about our educational escapades later.

Almost all of these images were shot with my wickedly awesome Canon 50mm f/1.2L...my absolute favorite lens. The only complaint I have is that it struggles to autofocus in strong backlighting situtations.

TAPA:Troublemaking American Photographers of America
(not the Technology Assest Protection Association)