Eve Tuft is a Photographer specializing in Senior Photography in Michigan in the cities of Midland, Bay City and Saginaw

Beauty in My Backyard

September 26, 2018

We recently spent a whole lot of money on our backyard. The previous owners had a huge above-ground pool in the back, but I really didn’t feel comfortable with that since my kids are still so little. So they took it out just before leaving and left a big sand pit of death behind. My kids love sand. They love it! My husband and I (and our floors) could really do without it. I really wanted a play set, so after a little begging and whining, my husband finally gave in. 😉

In June the project was finally finished, and now, instead of a sand pit and weeds and sadness, there’s a beautiful play set and wood chips and edging. It’s perfect for our kids and fits perfectly in our backyard. A few weeks ago some friends of ours gave us their trampoline for free. So now that’s in the back, and what do you think the kids prefer? The expensive play set or the free trampoline? Yes. You guessed it. But they still love the play set and play on it almost every day, so I think we’re good.

On this particular evening I was feeling yucky and had a bad headache, so while my husband played with the kids I took the camera out to capture some of the beauty at the end of the summer. And, as always, I freelensed these because I love freelensing so much.

Just when it was time to come back inside and get the kids ready for bed, I saw my husband and youngest in the most beautiful rim light. So I’ve added that one in here as well. No matter how many times I take pictures in my backyard, I’m always able to capture it just a bit differently than before. I love the inspiration I get from being outside in the sunshine.

Fall leaves in a backyard | Midland MI photographer Freelensed leaves in beautiful backlight | Bay City, MI Photographer A father holding his son outside | Saginaw Michigan photographer

Roses Are Red

September 18, 2018

Roses are red is how the poem goes. These roses are very red. Or are they? Perhaps they are purple or magenta or fuchsia or some other unnamed color. Whatever they are, they are gorgeous.

My husband always gets me flowers, typically roses, for Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. Occasionally I’ll buy myself flowers just to take pictures of them, especially in the winter when I need a good subject. Other times he surprises me by bringing home flowers ‘just because’. I love those times the best. This was one of those times.

As with practically all flowers, there are two things I always love to do when photographing them: Freelens and use my macro lens. This time was no exception. There’s something about freelensing that makes me feel unbound by the rules. As a left-brained creative, I love my rules. I love lines and shape. I love things that makes sense to my brain, and it’s hard for me to let go and just be purely creative. But freelensing helps me let go of the technical and the details and simply embrace the imperfect and flawed. Using my macro lens is always challenging in a good way. I love the tiny details, the water drops, the curves, everything that you see as you move closer in. I also love taking the time to just think and be still.

So, what do you think? What color are these roses? Red? Magenta? It seemed as though they changed from day to day, and by the end their edges were definitely straight up purple. Thanks for stopping by!

Freelensed bouquet or red roses | Michigan senior photographer

This Is Me

September 14, 2018

This is me. This was the name of the project the Clickin Moms recently encouraged us to participate in. Wait, you don’t know what Clickin Moms is?? I came across their blog and forum several years ago, and I signed up to be a member always instantly. Once my six-month membership expired I paid for a lifetime membership and haven’t looked back since. I credit their site and tutorials and forum to much of my knowledge and growth as a photographer. I was accepted as a Click Pro after submitting my portfolio at the end of 2013, and I absolutely love being a part of that community of artists.

This was the first time they’ve done a project like this with all of the click pros, so I couldn’t very well say ‘no’ to participating. But I have to tell you, self-portraits are completely out of my comfort zone. I don’t like taking self-portraits. But it’s not because I don’t like getting in front of the camera. I actually make it a point to get in front of the camera multiple times a month. In fact, if I feel like it’s been too long since I was in a picture, I hand the camera off to my husband and have him take some of me and my kids. Even though there are so many things I am critical about myself, I want to be present in my photos.

The real reason I don’t like doing self-portraits is because I don’t like using the tripod, the remote, or trying to get focus. It feels bothersome. Haha. I love these pictures, and I’m grateful I took the chance I have to get in the frame with my kids. I certainly don’t ever regret that. This is me, and this is my beautiful life.

Rainy Day Macro

September 5, 2018

Man, it’s been so rainy here lately! I haven’t checked, but I’d swear that we’ve had record-breaking amounts of rain these past two weeks. There have been so many days when our percentage for rain has been small, and then we’ll get a downpour for a solid half hour. It’s been crazy. And it’s been wonderful.

Summer rainstorms are my favorite. Ever. I love rainy days, and I love them even more when it’s warm enough outside to play in the rain with your bare feet. My husband and I lived in Iowa for five years (three of our children were born there!), and the rainstorms there were out of this world. They were phenomenal. Like, there was a flash of lightning every second for a number of hours straight. I don’t mind being away from tornadoes 😉 , but I do miss the storms there. The storms we’ve had here these past two weeks have reminded me of them, and I have loved it so much. Even if the lightning wakes my kids up from sleeping.

Another reason why I love rainy days is…wait for it…I LOVE to take pictures after the rain of the tiny beads of water clinging to our plants. I LOVE it. Cue my cheap macro extension tubes. One day I hope to get an actual macro lens, but these work great for my needs. I’m sure I look pretty ridiculous to any neighbors who may be watching. Just imagine me, crouching down, inspecting every little detail. I don’t even care though when I can get images like these.

Freelensed Rose Garden

August 29, 2018

The rose garden at Dow Gardens is one of my favorite places to take pictures in the whole city of Midland. It’s therapeutic for me to do so. The light there is the best just as the sun is setting, and there is always such an array of roses just waiting for me to capture them. On this particular day I was feeling a bit on edge and moody, so it was especially soothing for me to go there and just breathe.

The sun wasn’t out when we were there, but I think that it was better that way. Like, my mood matched up with the day’s mood, and even the way I edited the pictures were more moody than I usually do. Since the sun wasn’t out and it was overcast, I knew that I wanted to freelens. Freelensing is when you take the lens off of the camera body and shoot through it like that with the lens in your hand. You slightly tilt the lens to place the small slice of focus at different points, all while holding it as closely to the sensor as possible. Rose gardens are the perfect subject to freelens.

It’s funny because while I was there taking pictures, I remembered that I had gone there last year at almost the exact same time and did the same thing. Maybe the end of August calls for some moodiness. Maybe it’s because summer is coming to an end, and the longer days are quickly waning. Perhaps I should make this an annual tradition. 🙂 At any rate, it was good for my soul, and I’m so glad I can count on that rose garden to brighten my day, even if it’s only figuratively.