The Honeymoon Silhouette

Last week I received a phone call from a really nice couple from Louisville, KY who were on their honeymoon on Hilton Head Island. We set out to get a silhouette image to eventually become a large print on their wall at home. Despite the time of day and other obstacles we were able to get this image.

South Carolina Hurricanes

I have discovered that the best way to predict a hurricane in South Carolina is to wait until the clouds start to gather and the wind starts to blow. If these two things happen, there is a really good chance that a hurricane may be coming ashore.

I have discovered that the best way to enjoy an oncoming hurricane is to surf. Thanks to the many tropical storms in the recent past that have skirted our shores there has been some phenomenal surf. I have surfed at least twice a day for the last week and I would like to thank them for the great waves.

I think the one to watch out for is Ike. If I were into making hurricane T-Shirts; I would create one that read “YIKES…WATCH OUT FOR IKE!”

Brand New Gear!

This next year is going to be an extremely exciting year for Strainephotography. I am now shooting with some of the finest digital camera and lighting equipment in the industry. I have some big plans for some very cool new projects. I would like to send a huge thank you to all of my clients over the previous year that I have had the awesome and unique pleasure to work with. In the next month, I will be updating my entire outdated,current portfolio with this years work. Please stay tuned for this update.

Here is an image I shot at a wedding on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina just a couple weeks ago.

It's been a long hot summer!

The summer on Hilton Head Island is winding down. Today might possibly be the nicest day of the whole summer. We had a big rainstorm yesterday and it really cooled things down nicely. I was hoping for some nice waves today but that simply did not happen, nor does it happen very much at all here on Hilton Head Island.

I believe it has something to do with the Continental Shelf cutting down the size of the swell moving shoreward. You really need a big swell to have decent waves on Hilton Head. So what else?

I have updated all of my photography equipment and I am now shooting with some of the nicest digital equipment available. It has taken about 10 years of photography for me to be able to appreciate what my new camera can actually offer. The images it produces are spectacular.

I will be revamping my entire portfolio on my website very soon to include my last year of work which is not even up at all yet. This will include photos from when I was on assignment in British Columbia, as well as some work from my years operating a dark room in northern Vermont.

I am also going to try and update this blog more often. If you happen to be looking for a Hilton Head Wedding Photographer, please get in touch with me through strainephotography.com

BROADWAY PHOTO IS A SCAM

I apologize ahead of time for this blog post but I felt I needed to let you know about it. There are several photo companies on the internet that claim to offer the lowest prices that are actually scams. Broadway Photo is a scam. Their web address is http://www.broadwayphoto.com/about.aspx
Do not buy anything from Broadway photo. There are several more out there like it and I am working on compiling a list of those that are scams. It is such a shame that companies like this are able to exist. The internet is a lot like the wild west. It is wild and lawless for the most part. So just be careful of who you buy your stuff from on the internet.

Can you believe those tornadoes in the mid-west? Unbelievable. I have never seen a tornado but at some point I would love to see one. I think it would be awesome to see it from a distance.

Hilton Head Island Wedding

On Sunday, Mothers Day, I photographed a really, really cool wedding. The family was from outside Louisville, Kentucky and they had to be one of the nicest families I have ever had the pleasure to meet.

They rented a big house in Palmetto Dunes and the entire family was staying at the house. The wedding ceremony was just down the street at the Beach House overlooking the ocean.

It was a very simple wedding with just close friends and family in attendance but they sure had a good time. It was such a nice feeling to be able to be the photographer for such an amazing group of people. I don't think anyone stopped smiling all day long.

I left feeling better. When you are around people that kind and cool for so long and you are the one in charge documenting one of the biggest days in their lives it is difficult not to have some of their natural warmth rub off on you.

I felt honored to be their photographer. The sun broke out just before the ceremony and stayed out for just an absolutely spectacular sunset. The colors were amazing. Just perfect light for photography. The party went on into the evening and a warm ocean breeze kept the bugs at bay and air just cool enough for some good ol' fashioned dancin'

We were taking photographs at the home before the ceremony with just the family and Anna, the bride, pulled me aside and asked to take a picture of me with her. I had never had anyone ask and it was kind of cool. I have probably taken over 200,000 photographs in the last few years and I don't think I have any of me. Well, hardly any. But, it was cool. It was neat to have her ask and the photo turned pretty good. So, I thought I would share it. Here I am with Anna, a super cool bride, just a couple days ago.

The groom used to sing in a rock band in Louisville and his best man was the rythm guitarist. They were both awesome folks and I will never forget chatting about Aerosmith live in the 1970's with the brides Dad over a couple beers with the waves breaking and great people pronouncing their love for one another. A big, beautiful thing and in a world full of news that sometimes can be annoying and a shame, it feels good to see love.

south carolina wedding photographer Daniel Straine

French Broad River Festival

Well,
May has arrived. I apologize for not updating this blog any sooner then now and unfortunately this post here is going to be a bit short. I have been out photographing, designing and surfing; not writing. Working too...here and there.

So, last weekend I was up deep in the mountains of North Carolina in the little town of Hot Springs where I was photographing a music festival. It featured some of the best bands from around Asheville, NC and those beautiful mountains around those parts. Absolutely amazing blend of music all weekend. Imagine bluegrass and country on speed. Imagine rock and roll dipped in bluegrass soul. Imagine classic rock in the mountains on a big raging historic river.

What a great weekend. I will do my best to keep this blog better updated. I am off to photograph a wedding in Palmetto Dunes on Hilton Head Island. The couple is from Kentucky and I am really looking foreword to meeting them.

Happy spring and welcome summer.
Daniel Straine