Welcome to the dock photo shoot part 2! (click here for part 1) For today, the pictures of my cousins’ wives Steph and Kelsey.

Here is Kelsey (Luke’s wife):

And here is Steph (Steve’s wife):

My sister Erica did snatch the camera out of my hands at one point, and I know that many of these are her shots. Perhaps even most of them. So props to her for a good eye! I can’t remember which are hers and which are mine, but no one’s counting, right? Erica? Erica? OK.

I know for sure that Erica snapped this one with Steve in the background. Love it.

Since processing the pictures of Erica in yesterday’s post, I’ve been working on my black and white skills in Photoshop. I’m definitely not where I want to be yet, but I’ve learned a couple tricks–my favorite is the one of Steph (second black and white down.) Something about the exposure and contrast just works for me. The ones of Kelsey could use a little more ‘oomph.’ I sense that I need to play more with ‘levels’ and ‘selective color.’ I’m sorry that you have to be part of my learning curve, Kelsey. I’ll do better next year.

These ladies are so beautiful, I’m telling you.

I also messed some with their eyes in the two pictures above–could you tell? Sometimes I can get a little too enthusiastic about my small stash of Photoshop tricks, and I need to watch myself carefully so that I don’t overdo it and turn my subjects into some kind of blazing-eyed, high contrast freak show.

I love these next two . . . they just make me laugh. For some reason they’re an illustration of how perfect of a match Steph is for Steve.

While I’m at it, I should say that pictures were also taken of me by my loving sister. The problem is . . . I have very sensitive eyes. The light was reflecting off the water, and it was too strong for me. Like a shot of tequila right in the eyeball, I’d say.

Half the pictures are me crying, with red, squinting eyes. Yep, more tequila-like effects taking place.

In the other half of the pictures, my eyes are closed or looking down. I can’t help it. It probably has something to do with being so pale–I sense there’s a link.

I actually liked the picture above . . . until my husband looked at it and said “what’s wrong with your neck???” Something about the line of the shadow and the creases at the side made it look alienesque, like it’s a too-large head that got attached to a tiny shriveled neck. Did the rest of you recoil in horror, or like me, not notice it until someone pointed it out?

If I overexpose it and turn it blue does that help at all? Does it blot out the weirdness? Or does it just add to the “alien” factor?

I’ve completely lost perspective.

And to end with, the mast of the sailboat inspired some of us to, um . . . pose, I guess you could call it.

I’ve always secretly wanted to learn to pole dance, and it seemed like the most marvelous opportunity. Simply mahvelous.

Moral objections to pole dancing aside, it gave my back a great stretch. A great, crackity-cracking, painful stretch. My spine will never be the same again.

Oh, and I didn’t actually pole dance. More like I contorted myself a little and then busted my gut laughing. And then fell on my back and just lay there helplessly as I cracked myself up. It wasn’t pretty, and you should be glad you weren’t there. I may have even snorted.

But the best shot of all (which I purposely saved for the end) is this artistic, wonderful shot of my cousin Steve. Please try not to cry–it’s so moving.

Good work, Steve. I give you an A + + +.

I leave you all with a shot of the lake itself.

This picture is like an injection of peace straight into the veins. Mmmmm.

During Family Vacay 2010, there was a lovely dock. As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to photograph my newly-married sister Erica on that dock. At one point, both she and my cousins’ wives Steph and Kelsey were all hanging out thereabouts, so I cackled “this is my opportunity!” and grabbed my trusty Nikon D5000. “Pose! Pose now!” I commanded– “and I won’t take no for an answer! Get to work! Hop to it! No time to waste!” I’ve always been bossy–it’s an older sister thing. But hey, it works. So for today, I bring you the pictures of Erica. Tomorrow will be the pictures of the other ladies.

My sister is not just beautiful, but also a natural in front of the camera . . . a skill of which I am extremely jealous. More on that later. She knows what to do with her face, with her hair, and with her body, so it’s a pleasure to take pictures of her.

Me, on the other hand . . . when I know my picture is being taken, my face immediately configures itself into an awkward and tense expression. My nose starts to get red. My limbs start to look like they were sewn on by Dr. Frankenstein, at slightly odd angles. My back hunches, my eyes water, my mouth seizes up, and it’s just a visual nightmare. My problem isn’t my face or body in real life . . . just when it’s captured on film. I hope you understand.

Anyway, Erica doesn’t have that problem. No, not one bit.

Maybe I can convince her to write a guest post with some tips. There are plenty of Photoshop and photography tutorials out there, but I could definitely use a good tutorial telling me how to act when the camera is turned on me. Um, Erica? Whaddya say, huh, huh?

Some of these I messed with a good bit in Photoshop–Gaussian Blur, Selective Color to amp up the blues or yellows, increased exposure, etc.

Some I didn’t even touch, like this one below.

She makes it seem so effortless–not even this lovely splinter stopped her from being a relaxed model for me.

OK, I’m sorry!

No more pictures of splinters, I promise. At least for the next 24 hours.

Though you should know that when I get the urge, I can’t deny it.

As you look at these shots, are there any in particular that you like? Compositions that work, or don’t work? Photos that are too obviously processed? I’d love to hear your feedback.

My black and whites are looking a little odd . . . I haven’t discovered the trick of how to make them “pop,” and they end up looking more flat than I’d like. I want dimension! Any tips from you Photoshop users out there?

Could someone that knows them confirm that Erica looks a lot like her new sister-in-law Nicole in the picture above? I think it’s the hair.

No to influence anyone’s opinion here, but I think the one below is one of my absolute favorites. There’s just something about the composition, with her face in the upper part of the frame, the motion of the hair, the natural laugh, the color of the water . . . it just makes me feel good inside.

You can really see the processing differences between the picture above (bright yellow hair) and the picture below (more of a faded yellow.) I think they both have their merits . . . but they definitely create a different mood.

Her hair look almost white in this picture below–I can’t tell if I love the effect or hate it. Decisions, decisions. They’ve never been my strong point. That’s why I need you all, to tell me what’s what. To make up my mind for me.

Do any of you have a photographic muse? A person that makes you want to grab your camera and just shoot away till kingdom come? Or are you the muse who is perfectly comfortable in front of the photographer? (if you are, please send suggestions my way, and fast) I love hearing your comments and opinions!

Update: my cousin’s wife Kelsey recommended using the “channels” mixer for my color to black and white transformations in her comment below. A little later, I pulled up a favorite blog of mine to read, and what do you know! There on the front page was a tutorial on black and white processing with an explanation of how to do exactly what Kelsey was talking about. If you’d like to read the post (from Kayotic Kitchen), click here.