John Carroll vs. SPSFG JV Girl's Lacrosse- Sports Photography

After a long,

difficult,

physically demanding,

close scoring,

rough and tumble,

well matched,

skill testing,

endurance challenging,

sure footed,

bravery measuring,

hard knocking,

quick paced,

exhausting

game of lacrosse,

always,

always,

always

shake hands.

Or give high-fives...

;)

The score for this game of The John Carroll School vs. Saint Paul School for Girls

JV girl's lacrosse game ended in a tie.

Tracey Grumbach of Nine Acres Designs is available for hire to photograph

your next sporting event.

She concentrates on capturing images that tell a story 

and depict the emotions of the game as relayed by the facial expressions and 

body positions of the players.

To inquire about pricing, please contact Tracey using the contact button.

The full album for this game can be see on 

Nine Acres Designs Facebook Page here.

Summer Gallery Opening At Arts By the Bay

Please accept this personal invitation to come on out the evening of May 10th

to view our new show opening at Arts By the Bay Gallery in Havre de Grace, Maryland.

I am pleased and honored to be presenting six new never-before-offered pieces in this show!

Arts By the Bay offers this special night to give the public

access to most of our artists all in one place at one time!

It is a meet and greet that both the public and the artists look forward to 

four times a year each time we open a new show!

The six pieces I will be offering this show are the following:

First, Orchid Bloom- a beautiful 16x24 inch printed on amazing pearl photographic paper matted and framed to a finished size of approximately 23x33 inches. You will be amazed at the detail and texture you can see in this substantial piece.  $200

Next, John Mayer in Concert- a 12x8 inch print on pearl paper that brings a wow factor to this live in-concert monochromatic shot!  As one of only 4 press photographers allowed in the press pit, this shot is one of my favorites!  You will simply love the gleam of the guitar on this paper!  Also matted and framed to a finished size of approximately 17x14 inches.  $125

Then we have Chicago River- Amazing on metallic paper, the bright colors and 3D effect POP off the page in this 8x12 print which is matted and framed to approximately 14x17 inches.  The greenish tint to the water is due to the dying of the river on St. Patrick's Day, a true treat for a unique image of a beautiful city!  $125

Who wouldn't want Mushroom Forest, a gorgeous monochrome print on pearl paper sizing in at 24x16 and matted and framed to approximately 33x23?  You have to see this to believe it.  The wide aperture makes this unique piece seem 3D, calling the observer into the magical forest, that in reality was only inches tall.  I'm sure there was a fairy or two that lived under these magical umbrellas. ;) $200

Calling all Baltimore and Orioles baseball fans...Oriole Park will be offered in an 8x12 format printed in metallic paper, bringing to life the field and the surrounding city.  A landmark that all Marylanders know, this print is matted and framed to a finished size of approximately 14x17 inches. $125

And last, but certainly not least, the abstract digital piece in the crowd, Solar Dreams, is being offered in a 12x12 square format on metallic paper.  This piece's saturated colors and strong geometric shapes call out to even the most defiant abstract nay-sayers and brings them in for time well spent discussing texture and interpretation with this piece.  Framed and matted to a substantial 21x21 size, it is a piece that anyone wanting to bring drama to their home or office would want. $150

I am very proud of the work I offer and carefully select each piece for each show.  I typically sell anywhere between 2-4 pieces on opening night, so if you are interested in any of these pieces (all signed, by the way), please come Friday, May 10th early (7PM) and claim it!  While you are there, please stop and say hello to me as I will be there meeting and greeting all the visitors!  Hope to see you there!

Why Constructive Criticism Is Not Bullying

constructive criticism: n

definition:  criticism or advice that is useful and intended to help or improve something, often with an offer of possible solutions

bullying: v

definition:  habitually, overbearingly, quarrelsomely, blisteringly badgering and intimidating smaller or weaker people.

Criticism these days gets a bad rap. 

Even constructive criticism seems to have gone to the wayside as our nation has become more and more sensitive about hurting each other's feelings.  Let's face it...we live in a feel good society and no one is comfortable feeling well, uncomfortable, anymore.

And that is a shame.

It's more than a shame, actually.

It's beginning to become a crisis.

It is a crisis because we are a society that now confuses constructive criticism for bullying.  Tell the truth...how many times have you seen a horrible photograph on a blog and NOT told the truth in a nice way and instead wrote something along the lines of "nice picture" because you didn't want to hurt the person's feelings?  How many of you have seen a person trying to help another photographer out by giving a constructive criticism and then the masses turn on that person and call him/her "mean" and a "bully?"  It happens ALL THE TIME.  Not only do we not know how to handle constructive criticism but now we are muddying the waters about the true meaning of bullying.  Sad, really.

I've had a personal experience when a photographer asked for an opinion on an edit and I simply stated that I liked the original (pre-edit) better than the edited version because it looked more natural and realistic.  The person in the photograph was a beauty to begin with and didn't need too much editing for the final result to be gorgeous.  I was banned.  Removed.  This person used to visit my blog...well, I guess you can tell that she never came back.

It's also a crisis because we are now a society that is becoming ok with mediocrity.  When we continually tell everyone that their work (photography or otherwise) is AMAZING or BRILLIANT when it clearly is not, we not only are insulting the person by not offering them true helpful tips at improving, but we are also insulting those whose work truly is amazing and brilliant.  Mediocrity is not amazing and brilliant and never will be.

And, ladies and gentleman, we are passing this on to our children.  All you have to do is sit back and watch any recreational sports league.  It's all roses and ponies and trophies for everyone.  What happened to telling the kids what they are doing well and praising them for that but then also giving them a skill to improve on next time?  It's the only way to grow.  It's the only way to improve.  Let's have them get comfortable with being uncomfortable now because I have news for them...life is not about being in a state of comfort...it's about pushing yourself into a zone of growing into the best you can be...and that, folks, is uncomfortable.  (Side note...I went to google a quote to put here and instead found that Forbes actually agrees with me.)

When I start working with a new client, especially a real estate agent, I tell them that I would like both positive feedback and constructive criticism.  What do you like about the images of the house and what would you like to see improved next time I go in to photograph the next house?  Many are surprised I ask my CLIENTS (God forbid) to criticize my work.  But you know what?  How else can I fine tune and get better images for them in the future?  I am never personally offended by what they tell me...their tips are not only appreciated but needed to make me into a better real estate photographer.  In turn, they appreciate that I want to do a better job for them each and every time I go out on a shoot.

Constructive criticism is not bullying.  Constructive criticism is a favor and a blessing.  Let's clear that up right now.

Nine Acres Designs Now Offering Real Estate Photography Services

Nine Acres Designs,

Tracey Grumbach, photographer,

is now offering real estate photography services for 

Harford, Baltimore, and Cecil Counties in Maryland.

Clear, bright, well styled professional images helps 

pull potential clients to homes by beautifully representing properties 

on the many online forums used my realtors now-days.

Take a weight off your shoulders and let Tracey take care of 

producing excellent quality images for print or web use 

and for listing the property on MLS.

To contact Tracey about real estate photography inquiries,

please use the contact link in the header.

The property shown above is located in Jarrettsville, Harford County, Maryland,

and is quite beautifully situated on a corner lot.

This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home is represented by

Compass Home Group of American Premier Realty.

You can see more images of this property 

and read more details by going here.

Summer Reception at Arts By the Bay Gallery

Please come join me on Friday, May 10th from 7:00-9:00pm

at Arts By the Bay Gallery in Havre de Grace, Maryland

to celebrate our Summer show opening!

Meet the artists and see the new artwork available.

Great gift ideas for mother's day!

I would love to meet you, so if you are there, be sure to hunt me down and say hello!

Love to all...

Baltimore Sports/Action Photography

My favorite kind of photography is sports and action photography.  

I was excited to have a chance to shoot, three years in a row,

a New Year's Day event for the Baltimore County Trail Riders Association.

Because of illness, I wasn't able to shoot their event this year,

however, I was going through some archives for my portfolio and found these

few that I have never shared before.

It got my juices flowing and I am itching to get back out there 

in the mud and fumes and get some more action shots!

Hope you enjoy these.

I am available for sporting events of all kinds,

so use the contact button to find out my availability and book a session!

⓽

Two New Offerings at Arts By the Bay

As long as everything comes through from my lab to my satisfaction,

the above two prints will be framed and offered for sale in the upcoming week

at the Arts By the Bay Gallery in Havre de Grace, Maryland

to replace the two pieces that I sold on opening night of the winter show.

My florals seem to be popular and everyone is pining for spring,

so I thought I would add these two for sale for the very first time!

I hope you enjoy them!

⓽