Last week, our good friend Matt Gawronski came out to spend a couple weeks with Angel and I in Bozeman, MT. Matt is is one of those natural athletes – hockey, soccer, snowboarding, ultimate frisbee – and an all-around charismatic guy. As a fellow outdoor enthusiast, we obviously enjoyed several mountain hikes together and, of course, lugged our camera gear along the way.

We didn’t have anything specific in mind to photograph, but refused to be caught without a camera. A few miles in, and I spotted the shot. The late morning light was coming through a quiet grove of lodge pole pines. It was illuminating off the surrounding snow, which acted as a giant reflector, perfectly balancing the light on Matt.

There is simply no substitute for good, natural light.

There is simply no substitute for good, natural light. You can control it all you want in a studio, but nine times out of ten, it can still be identified as a studio shot. I love how this photo captures the perfect light we experienced, and how it is a great representation of Matt – an outdoor, active lifestyle enthusiast. And a great smile to bring it all together!

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When I got started in photography, I avoided photographing people for a very long time. I focused only on still life and landscapes. Subjects that sat still while I fine-tuned composition and manipulated camera settings.

After meeting my Angel, I slowly stepped out of my comfort zone. I had a subject to experiment on that not only knew what I was doing but knew what I needed to learn. Angel taught me to see and anticipate the expressions that makes good portraiture both challenging and rewarding. There is rarely sufficient time to question composition or camera settings when a moment unfolds.

Angel taught me to see and anticipate the expressions that makes good portraiture both challenging and rewarding.

This photo was taken on our Honeymoon in June, 2012. We took an afternoon walk along the beach, cameras slung over our shoulders. As we approached a small bungalow, I knew there would be nice diffused light among the wind-blown linens. I also knew I would only have a split second to capture the look I wanted. Situations and shots like this highlight the importance of anticipating your moment and knowing your camera. Two things you’re often not challenged to do with static subjects.

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