Stand for the Family

The author of Stand for the Family, Sharon Slater and her PR Cecily Markland, came to one of my art exhibits of Captured Miracles. They loved the collection and the style so much they asked me if I would consider doing a shoot for the cover of their book. This is a step by step of the image, a creation from Raw photo image to final layout. We were all very excited with the way it turned out. Hope you like it too.


Image 1
From the Shoot Sharon and Cecily picked out their favorite pose and flag shot. There was one thing that we needed to change and that was the daughter on the end. (Thanks to Davin and Tracy Hansen Family, our wonderful models)

Image 2
Showing her more engaged in the shot, I ended up photo shopping her from another shot in 2 steps. One with her body more bent and pushing, and 2nd I used her head from another shot from that and had it more tilted up. I feel this really helped the shot come together as a whole.


Image 3
I just loved this sky and knew with some color correction and textures it would look amazing with the sunset. There were a couple of things I needed to eliminate, the branch on the right side and upper corner and the tigs hanging down from the top.

Image 4
Now for the fun parts begin, adding intensifying color ....and changing out the family to the family grouping I already tweaked.

Image 5
Their Graphic Designer, Leslie Thompson (brilliantly talented women) asked me if I could frame the family more with branches. This is a raw image before the cropping. I like how it can show you how and were the branches were moved and added. One thing that is great about textures that are added at the end is that it helps to hide and mask seams. Which helps save a lot of work of blending and erasing that I would of otherwise would need to do to really help it look "not photo shopped". There are 2 textures added to this image, the bottom first layer is a layer that has brush strokes to it, to add a painting feel to it and help pop the yellows.


Image 6
This is a final cropping of the full image shot. Cropping out unneeded parts of the image and helping to finish it off. The 2nd layer was a layer that helped to pop the color to be a more intense gold tone with an aged look to it. You will notice in the final image for the Cover we ended up spreading the 2nd texture over the whole image instead of keeping it in the one squared area around the family. Even though Leslie and I both liked this effect we were worried that it might cause problems in the final cutting of the book. We didn't want to chance the odds of the image being laid not exact in dimention with the edges of the book. This would show to much if that were to happen. So we stretched it all the way across the book



Image 7
The final book cover. I just love how Leslie did the typography. It is so strong and bold, yet has a soft approcable feel to it. (it is so cool how she did this cover, the graphics make it look like a movie poster.) I am excited for the book to come out and to read it. Sharon has been apart of foudations, and boards that help to instill and fight in areas that help to strengthen the families in our nation. Be sure to read it and share it with others if this is a concern for you. Standing for the Family.

Image 8
this is the banner that they will use in ads and websites.


I am going to get a website from Cecily and Sharon to put on her about their book, so check back.
Also here is contact info for Leslie Thompson, she is amazing to work with.

Leslie Thompson

Graphic Design

ph (480) 988-2271

LTGraphics@cox.net

Helen's photo-art palette

A new blog change. BlogSpot is such an amazing system. I am going to start using it again instead of the blog on my site. This will be linked on my site(www.capturedmiracles.org) as the site blog. It is just easier to do postings, for you as the viewers to see when there have been updates. Just all around better. So sorry for the back and forth, back and forth here, but this is really going to be way better in the long run. Also I decided I want to turn this blog into my online "photo-art palette". So that I can show all the differenent projects that I am working on and give advice and hints on how do to some of the effects and shots that I do. It is always fun to share the fun stuff I learn when doing these projects.

Finished Thomas Jefferson image

These are the last to postings on my other blog that I am moving to this blog now.
-helen

One more finished. I really love how this one turned out. i pictured the Declaration Of Independence glowing...to represent Divine Guidance on the creation of it. I know you are wondering "how did you do that?" Really I don't know. I get in this zone when i am creating...recently I was told that it is the "R ZONE" meaning that you are totally in the Right side of your brain and that when you are in that zone you are lifted into a spiritual creative zone and your art comes together and you have no idea how to explain it when others ask. That is exactly what happened with this. In fact that is what happened when I first was figuring out how to do the photo shopping for Christ's scars on his hands when I first started. Every time I did it after that I was in that same zone...but with doing so many times..."the how" i did it stuck. So that I know now.

stage 3 (final)



Stage 2



Stage 1

I really love how this has an "OLD WORLD" Painter feel to it. The cool thing is with my shots like this...when you put the print in a room with low lighting the contrast give the illusion that the print is really glowing.

Now this next image is one that I did originally for my first collection. I just never finished it cause I wasn't sure how I wanted to finish it. There are still a couple of things I want to improve upon...which Im sure when I do Im sure no one but me will notice. "The ultimate curse of the artist" :)



This one is call "One at a Time"

There ended up not being much difference from the original. I added a sketch/pencil look around the edges so it was like going from a drawing to real life. It is not showing as strongly as I would like so I will end up adding to it more and having the sketched part show more toward the inside of the photo, but for now it works.

"Online Art Studio" -New Project Starting

I am coming back from the dead. I apologize for not being on for so long. Balancing everything the last couple of months has been quiet the challenge. I have a great feeling that we will be getting back on track here. As part of this "new leaf turning over". I am turning my blog into an "On-line Art Studio" As I am creating new works of art I will be uploading the fine art photo as I go/or upload it in stage step of the progress of the photo. I am already in the process of the 2nd stage of "Captured Miracles" collections. This next collection theme is "God... The Foundation Of Our Nation" Fine art photos Depicting founding fathers, and other important historical figures and moments in history with "The Hand of God" as a part of the image.

The first Images that I will upload are from my shoot a couple of week ago.

1st work of art
Abigail Adams with letters from John
"Letters of Faith" or "A Women of Faith" (open to suggestions)
Sarah my model, was wonderful to work with. She actually plays the role of Abigail Adams in schools around the state and tells the children about Abigail and John and the important role they played in our country.

Abigail has always had a special place in my heart. She is a woman of strength, head for politics and business. Loving mother and wife. Wow, what faith she had in the Lord and her husband. She spent most of her marriage separated from her husband, as he was out fighting for our freedoms in more then one way. She was home alone with her children and many times not even knowing if John was still alive...she sacrificed so much for all of us to be free.

John Adams was one of the few "Founding Fathers" to actually come back to a thriving business...all because of his wife. All the other founding fathers lost practically everything.

Raw shot stage 1


Stage 2


the final Image...I still need to photoshop window panes in the window and also the scar on Christ's Hands and feet.

2nd work of art
Thomas Jefferson writing the Declaration of Independence
No title yet (open to suggestions)
Weston is playing a young 27 year old Thomas Jefferson. The story that goes with this shot is...
Thomas Jefferson spent about 2 weeks in his hotel room writing 2 paragraphs for the Declaration of Independence. When he would get stumped on what to write..."writers block" he would pull out his violin and play to get his creative juices flowing.

In this shot there is still much to do, I need to photoshop the rough draft of the Declaration Of Independence so that it GLOWS, to represent the divine intervention that was a part of its creation.

This first shot is a raw shot, in fact you can see my assistant Sarah in the background and the light tripod. I wasn't planning on shooting at this angel...but when I did it just fit so well. So I ended up going with it and photo shopped out the images in the dark background.
stage 1 image


One of the things I love about putting my projects together is how it all comes together. This shot, I knew I needed a 27 yr old young man, with sharp features, and blond to strawberry blond....long hair. (to pull back into a low pony) We were literally 2 days from the shoot and still hadn't found my model yet. I was toying with the idea of using a wig...but really didn't want to. I was afraid it would look fake. A couple of nights before the shoot, I was at a wedding and boom...right in front of my eyes was my Thomas Jefferson. (the brother of the groom) Most of my shoots always come together like that. I am literally divinely led to all the elements I need, including models.

Stage 2 image (still need to touch up some spots)



3rd work of art
Patrick Henry and his famous speach "Give me LIberty or give me death"
No title yet (open to suggestions)
Dr. Lance Hurly is a professional re-enactor of Patrick Henry. He is also the founder of "Founding Fathers Ministry"
I emailed him after finding his site on-line and asked if he would be interested in working on this project. He is living in TX and just happened to have a re enactment job he was flying to AZ for the following saturday. So we pulled these three shoots together in 5 days, so we could have him in it as Patrick Henry.
I love this shot, the wind came up out of nowhere and blew his coat tails up. I will be photo shopping in the inside of a church and have it slowly transform into the heavens above him. We will be getting the Church shot in the next couple of weeks. I am excited to finish this one.



In the 5 days I had to pull all these elements together the Lord led me every step of the way. I was led to these wonderful actors that had the costumes and two amazing men, Bill Norton ( lecture for National Center for Consitutional Studies...he has been my historian in ideas and making sure we had historically correct info and items ...all the way down to the shirt Thomas Jefferson was wearing. Don Jolley and Historical artist was so key in helping with props and stage setting for the shoot. Wonderful wonderful men. Thank you both. ...oh and I can't forget Don's wife. She is and expert in the writing the print from that time period...She donated her time and talents and hand wrote and copied exactly the hand writing for both the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and Johns letters to Abigail. They were so amazing even Bill was impressed with the exactness of the draft and letters.

New Site and New Images

Our official site is up and running. www.capturedmiracles.org

It has a blog on it too. So my new blog address is http://www.capturedmiracles.org/_blog/Miracles
I will be leaving this one up for a while, till everyone makes the switch and I finish switching my past posts over.

On this site I do not have the images for sell on it. With the new site, there is a new system. Which is way more advanced and put together. But I promise purchasing the images will be available by Thanks Giving if not sooner. In time for Christmas. Yeah!!!

Here area couple more images.

The first is called "Safe" (generic for anything involving children)

The second is called "From My Heart To Yours" (adoption)

Arizona Safe Baby Haven- photo titled "I AM"

Today I talked with the co-founder of Arizona Safe Baby Haven. I am so excited to have them as one of our 3 foundations we will be focusing on for the holiday season and 2009. I'm not sure if to many people know much about them. They are an organization that educates women of all ages on their choices they have if they do not want to keep their baby. The main focus is to help them know that if they do not want their child they can hand the baby over to a "Safe Haven" fire station, police department, hospital. They have 72 hours to come back for the baby if they change their mind. If they decide not to return they will not be charged for anything as long as no harm was done to the baby. The Law was put into effect in Arizona 2 1/2 yrs ago. And was designed to stop babies from being left in dumpsters and garbages. My heart breaks just thinking about a baby left to die that way...to be forgotten. I want to help save these babies from such a terrible death.
Visit
http://www.arizonasafebabyhaven.org
to get more information

They are in need of volunteers who would like to help spread the word of their cause. You can get in touch with Maria Van Den Heuvel the co-founder, by calling the 800 number provided on their site.

This picture was created with them in mind. I still have to add more garbage in the photo so that you can tell that the baby is being pulled out of the garbage. This little one is a brand new new born in this shot. (thank you to the parents for trusting us with this delicate shot) This shot was taken just as the sunlight hit on Christ's hands and the baby opened her eyes, the one and only time during the whole shoot. She is looking straight into Christs eyes. When I clicked the shot I knew that it was the one.

The poem and the photo are titled "I AM" and the poem on the photo was donated to be included in our efforts to raise funds for children by Cris Rankin, after watching a documentary about the babies left to die in the alleys of South Africa(cause they were unwanted...rape or aids babies) She sent it to me, because she knew that there were children here in the states that are "unwanted" as well and she wanted her poem to some how help them. Thank you Cris, you are an amazing women.

I AM


I AM NOT THE EXPERIENCE NOR ACTIONS OF MY PARENTS

IT MATTERS NOT HOW I BECAME

BUT THAT I AM

I AM COURAGE

I AM COMPASSION

I AM HOPE

I AM STRONG........I AM HERE

YOU CANNOT DEFINE ME AS I CHOOSE WHO I BECOME

I AM THE FUTURE

COPYRIGHT CRISTINA RANKIN 2008

Give From The Heart

I was inspired by a foundation that I found on the Internet called "The Little Red Wagon" There is a little boy that has created a foundation that helps children in need. Especially those that have lost their homes to natural disasters. He goes door to door with his little red wagon collection donations for children. I just love hearing about children that have such big hearts.

Update on our official website www.capturedmiracles.org.
I am excited to say that the official website is almost ready. So keep checking back for updates on when we will be "moving" :)