I've been on vacation for over a week. It was strange, but I only took a handful of photographs during this time off. I was playing a game I've played since I was a little kid and just didn't want to be worrying about my camera the whole time while I was concentrating on my game. When I got back today I decided it was something I should do, at least pick up my camera and snap a photograph or two--if nothing else--to get the feel of the camera back in my hand. The Rose of Sharon are in full bloom in my yard and they became my easy subject matter to snap a few pictures. I also took a picture of my happy looking guy, Java(truth is he's probably more hot than happy!). These aren't great photographs, but they are important--for me--and for my need to take photographs. 9 days without snapping a single photograph is a long time for a photographer who needs to make images. So even though these won't end up in a portfolio(though Java might end up in a more important spot--on my fridge!) they are important because my finger pushed a button after what seemed like a very very long time. Photographs by Richard Sayer

These photos were made in my Dad's garden in Titusville, Pennsylvania.  I have been going out to his house a lot lately and stocking up on my produce.  While I was shooting these pictures of his lettuce and cabbage, I was thinking about how much I love Summertime.
Photo By: Harmony Motter

I snapped this photo while my family and I were taking a hayride last week in the country.  This is my sister, Sarah taking a photo with her digital camera, of herself and our niece, Kirsten.  I liked how I could see a picture within a picture.  
Photo By: Harmony Motter 

I had a newspaper assignment yesterday with the Meadville Tribune  to photograph Karly Boyda and her family.  Karly Boyda, of Meadville, Pennsylvania, is a five-year-old suffering from a congenital heart defect.  This is a photo of her and her ten-year-old sister, Alexis. I am a big sister myself and I thought it was a nice moment between the two little girls. 
Meadville Tribune photo by: Harmony Motter

First off, I should start out by stating that I got a day behind.  I actually shot this photo on July 26, 2010 not July 25th. I had a newspaper assignment to photograph the M.E.C.S Girls Softball team playing Harbourcreek in Cochranton, Pennsylvania.  To make a long story short (shout out to Richard Sayer)  the M.E.C.S Girls Softball team won.  In this photo third-baseman, Courtney Lilly gives short-stop, Madalyn Nicols a congratulatory hug after Nicols made the winning catch to end the game. 
Meadville Tribune Photo By: Harmony Motter

Click on the photo collage above to go to a page with all the slideshows from 2010 of the photographs created by the Meadville Tribune photographers Jim Stefanucci, Richard Sayer and Harmony Motter. We had been unable to post the regular monthly feature for a few months due to lack of time and not being able to post them on our new web-site. One out of the two problems have been fixed and the other is...well lets just say that i had enough time this week to figure out how to post and then make the slideshows to post. We should be making this a monthly feature once again. I love to do these because it gives a pretty good indication of the types of things we do. You'll see we cover a lot of high school sports(everyday) and a lot of little league in the summer. And you can see, how we as documenters begin to give a glimpse of the world around us. Meadville Tribune photographs by Jim Stefanucci, Richard Sayer and Harmony Motter

About a month and a half ago Linda Washburn had contacted me via e-amil.  She told me that she was making a trip from Georgia to Pennsylvania to visit her grandson, Levi and her daughter-in-law, Sarah and that she would like to have some photographs made of her trip.  I photographed the family yesterday evening in a country field in Diamond, Pennsylvania. During, the shoot I quickly picked up on how much Linda loves her husband and her family.  What I liked about these four photos is the simplicity of the background. Photos By: Harmony Motter

So this time I took the advice of using the tripod(though not the most stable one) and the self-timer to reduce shake from the shutter and I used my 300 with a 1:4 converter and did get better results, but still not quite there. The shape of the moon wasn't its coolest shape tonight and I think shooting a tiff file or RAW file will help. I did notice in this attempt more detail, but want even more. a fingernail sliver moon would probably be a better shape to get and the cross lighting would accentuate the craters even more. Hopefully I'll remember this next month--or in a few weeks--whenever the new moon comes out.  I might even try it with the full moon in a week or so if I remember. I should also lock the mirror up next time--to avoid its shake! Its been a nice thing to try--it gives me a little more understanding of utilizing light and controlling exposure to get what you want. Still need to fine tune, but its good knowledge to have. Photograph by Richard Sayer

At the Cambridge Springs Fireman's Festival Wednesday night there was a pet parade, the Timeless Tootsies pageant, rides and games and clear skies. I admit, I have a tough time with carnivals and fairs, perhaps there is too much to photograph to hone in on just a few key things, I find myself not really finding the photos I want to take. I look for light, and angles and all the same things--moments, but for some reason they just grab me like they do on other assignments. These were some of my favorites from tonight, not great, but ok. The last picture is due to a recent article I red about how to shoot the moon. The article clearly states to use a tripod--I did not, the article states to use a low ISO. I used a medium speed ISO, the article said to use a 300 or 400 with and extender--I used an 80-200 without an extender. The picture in the article was great, clear, crisp and just what I wanted. Mine was not, but its a reminder to me to dig out my 300 with the extender and my tripod and have at it soon--maybe tonight. Meadville Tribune photographs by Richard Sayer--if all goes well a slideshow of these and others will be on the trib's website Friday.

Yesterday Meadville Tribune reporter, Ryan Smith and I had a newspaper assignment to ride around in a boat on Lake Erie for a few hours.  I know, tough job, right?  Anyway, I snapped this photo of myself to remind myself of how much I love this job!!
Self portrait by: Harmony Motter