FLICKR FRIDAY Project116*3 : Stickney Mansion

Those of you not from Illinois or if you are from Illinois, aren't around the NW suburbs of Chicago probably know nothing of this house. Certainly not threatening this house was converted into the sleepy town's police station. That is were the limited knowledge at perception would end. In reality, The Stickney Mansion is haunted. As the legend goes Mr. Stickney made this house with the conviction of making the house with no 90-degree corners. In truth, he practiced "Spiritualism" which was based on corners keeping spirits caught in a room. This was important since he and his wife practiced many seances in the house. In legend, he found one corner made in his house and hung himself, but in reality, he died of heart complications facing the corner.

The house went from owner to owner with reports of paranormal activity, until finally became the property of the town of Bull Valley in 1985 and became a police station from there. Several officers have quit over the activity, and the police chief even has a tale or two himself to tell over his experiences.

As I was getting ready to shoot this my battery died, how so ever it was half charged for that matter, and while there was some color correction done to this HDR the flares that you'll see around the photo is just that. This does challenge me to make an effort to take photos of certain haunted places and key areas. That, however, will have to wait until the end of Project116*3. Thanks for stopping by!

FLICKR FRIDAY Project116*3: "Breakfast of Champions"

This installment of Project116*3 comes to you from my anniversary vacation. I’m not about to let a project get in the way of me relaxing but Disneyland has always had a special place in my heart for it’s attractions, smells, sounds, and food. This morning was no different as my wife and I wanted to experience something new that we haven’t experienced before, to add to our already bursting filing cabinet of good memories. We tried Carnation Cafe, and let me tell you this tip; wait longer for outside seating. Always seat outside. No matter where you are eating most every place in Disneyland let’s you eat outside under an umbrella, and it just adds to the experience. I’ll definitely reorder my waffle w/ sausage, oj, and coffee next time we swing by Disneyland, and that will be next year exactly enjoying our 9th year married. I love being married to my best friend, and I love spending time at Disneyland with her. Here’s to another eight years!

FLICKR FRIDAY Project116*3: "What I do"

Working for a marketing company has its perks, especially when making house calls to restaurants. McBride's, a wonderful restaurant in Joliet Illinois, is no different. Whether it was the beautiful bartop, the hospitality from the management and staff, or the food. The shoot for this client was a pleasure.

FLICKR FRIDAY Project116*3: "His name is Pig Newton"

In the sleepy town of Woodstock, Illinois is a farm. In this quaint farm resides a pig. This pig however isn't just a normal pig, this is a heritage Kunekune pig. This kunekune pig is a boar named "Pig Newton" and he is the patriarch of all the kunekune pigs at HillBunker Farms. He is a very friendly boar, unlike other breeds of pigs where boars can be hostile, and enjoys snacks. Newton and all the other animals had a lot of visitors they day I showed up as the farm was having an open house. Guest could stop by and pet the baby pigs, lambs, chickens, and shop at the store within the farm for all their farm needs (honey, wool dryer balls, candles, deodorant, eggs, meat, and lotions).

If you are visiting the NW suburbs of Chicago, or live in the area, ask nicely first and visit Pig Newton. While you're at it support HillBunker Farms and their wonderful animals by buying some product at the farm.

On Location: Anderson Japanese Gardens

If you follow my adventures and post then you know that the previous post was my Flickr Friday upload, the inaugural post of Project 116*3. WHERE this was should ring some bells for those who’ve followed me for a while now as it was a return to a beautiful garden just a hop, skip, and jump from where I live. Anderson’s Japanese Garden is a relaxing arboretum and the site of the previous photo project C M Y K’s (M)agenta Forest. This was less a revisit to project C M Y K and more to show my in-laws this garden on their anniversary. I knew i wanted to get a shot of them on their 40th anniversary, but it hit me like a bolt of lightning to get it in front of the waterfall I captured with (M)agenta Forest. I chose a sweeter picture for Project 116*3 but it wouldn’t be my Mother and Father In-Law if there wasn’t a goofier photo of them as well. Last thing worth mentioning, the presets I used for some of these photos to add mood are part of an Adobe Lightroom preset pack I made. Available on the store, these presets are a reflection of Springtime in 2019. It’s been on sale for a bit now, and with Spring coming to a close so will the sale come June 1st. Food for thought for you little shutterbugs out there with Adobe Lightroom. At any rate, thanks for stopping by, enjoy the photos below, and see you all tomorrow for another Flickr Friday upload as Project116*3 trucks on down the road…

 

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FLICKR FRIDAY Project116*3: "40 Years"

The first upload for project 116*3 brings us back to Anderson Japanese Gardens, the site of C M Y K's (M)agenta Forest. This time standing in front of the iconic waterfall my Mother and Father - In - Law. On Orthodox Easter no less, this happy couple was celebrating 40 years of marital bliss. I don't say that lightly, because after spending a decade plus around them through highs and lows, deaths and births, good times and bad ones these two have had each other's back...when they aren't at each others neck. I can only wish to have a marriage as long and well planted as theirs with my wife. Congrats to the both of you!

Yasou!

&

Χριστός ἀνέστη!

Client: Mr. & Mrs. Krzywonos

Mr. & Mrs. Krzywonos

SEPTEMBER 30

  Ending the busiest season Bendersama Photography has had, I thought it necessary to post my latest wedding shoot.  These wonderful friends of the Bendersama Photography family were the first ones to hire me and kick off what would turn out to be a huge watershed moment for this business's year.  The bride and groom had a blue theme, along with being fellow Chicagoland residents are big Blues Brothers fans! The below photos are just some of the ones captured during the event, and boy...what a great event!

....and with that wonderful endcap to a busy and productive season, I'll be wrapping up and taking my show on the road as next blog will be comin' at ya from sunny California!  I'll see you folks then, take care!

Client: Mr. & Mrs. Dixon's Wedding

DIxon Wedding

AUGUST 26, 2017

Here at Bendersama Photography, we try to be a jack-of-all-trades in photography.  The concept to deny a potential client or genre of photography is foreign to the business because it's like leaving money on the table.  So when offered an opportunity to photograph not just one but two separate weddings I had to step up to the plate, even if the last wedding was done in 2009....  Here's the first wedding, below is the wedding of Rahim and Samantha Dixon.

  I personally would like to thank Sami, a former co-worker, for reaching out to me asking for a photographer.  It was through this shoot, and the results shown, that has promoted me for two other possible clients and shows my next wedding that I have the chops to handle a wedding, even many years after my last one.  So, with one wedding in the bag and one on the horizon.  where does this leave Bendersama Photography's website and blog.  

  September- October is touch and go.  If it's not for the weddings, a newborn baby shoot, marketing agency clients, and a "vacation" in California to chronicle a family's baptism I'd be more active doing the Blog and working on my -Con collection.  I can go more into this briefly in a couple weeks, but as blogs go it will be my  -Con collection explanation, my second wedding,  and maybe one or two other updates before I'm gone for three weeks from the internet.  I promise though that I'll be plugging away at getting clients,  creating new art, and learning more about photography each and everyday.  Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you all very shortly!

On Location: Brookfield Zoo

  Welcome back, folks! I hope you like the website so far.  I have more work to put in, but with the wedding season right around the corner for me, I need to prioritize in favor of my clients.  Not to worry though a bio, pricing sheet, and more content are on their way.   How so ever I have to report on my trip that finished up the ninja project that snuck in before the site went live again.  That project was a black and white photography set of black and white animals or otherwise called B/W-imals!  To report on it I want to take you to see some of the animals I witnessed at Brookfield Zoo. So join me as we go on a safari!  
(all images were shot on a Canon 80D with a 70-200mm f/4 USM L lens)
(Bendersama's Lightroom Preset Collection: Summer 2017 was used for the pictures below)

  I first rolled into the parking lot giving myself an out time of 2pm, as I didn't want to be too late and I wanted to beat traffic going home.  The plan was to first hit the primate area.  I swung by the second enclosure and stopped to snap Sofia...

Sofia using "Porch Swing" preset

 She's an adorable mamas smiling and showing off her baby.  The animals, for the most part, were still kinda waking up, and so I pressed on to the Lowland Gorillas.  that's where I met Jojo...

Jojo using "Deep End"

  I could tell he was anxious about the people showing up now around him, and was slowly unimpressed and even annoyed as he later went down for a nap.  How so ever I did meet his assumed mate and child as they constantly would stick by him and then go about their business; which for the mate included her eating a handful of her own poop (no picture needed), and Jojo's son curiously watching and playing peek-a-boo with me.  

Mom and Kid using "Sunburned Watermelon"

kid001 using "Sunburnde watermelon"

kid002 using "Sunburned Watermelon"

kid003 using "Sunburned Watermelon"

kid004 using "Sunburned Watermelon"

So Jojo became the fourth animal I needed for my B/Wimals project, a Black and White photography set that celebrated the fact that you don't need flashy color to catch the viewer's eye. Here they all are:
 

So with time to spare I thought I might revisit some of the animals used in the project, or just go visit some new ones! Coming out of the primate den, I made my way to the penguin area, but not without taking a shot of this fine Bison for my friend Tony!

Tatanka using "Setting Sun"

This guy was asking for his photo moving so close to the fence we all could almost touch him.  As I was saying, I made my way to the penguins.

Penpen001  using "Sunburned Watermelon"

Penpen002  using "Boomsicle"

Shortly thereafter, I made a loop starting around the marsupials.  I was noticing at noonish the animals were too hot and needed some shade.  Just look at the tired Kangaroo napping in the flowers.

Roo   using "Porch Swing"

Pygmy Hippo  using "Deep End" 

  Still there were others trying to keep cool by taking a plunge like the (above) Pygmy Hippo, or just staying inside for a snack like (below) the Black Rhino.

Black Rhino  using "Setting Sun"

The last leg of the trip was to check out the Giraffes and the Zebra who were getting a late lunch.

Jeff  using "Porch Swing" 

Zebra  using "Porch Swing"

  As the animals readied themselves for a midafternoon nap,  I had to bid them adieu.  It was 2:30pm and I was out of time.  I plan to come back again, maybe in the fall, to see more of the animals who would rather be in the shade than be roaming. Until then though, that was my trip to Brookfield Zoo.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed both being there and taking the photos.  I'll see you all next week as I show you a photography technique that I'll be bringing to my wedding clients over the next couple months.  Until then thanks for stopping by!