Adding Colour to your Palette.

Canon R6 Mark II Mirrorless, Color, Graffiti, Sunrise, Sunscapes

Often, while working with models and clients, the question most often asked was, “Do you ever shoot in color?” Not wanting to waste the moment and secure the job. Or miss the opportunity to work with an attractive subject. I’d gather the best words available to my vocabulary.Thinking back, The art of Black & White taught me to compose while allowing me to tell a story of the subject through depth and shadow. The more I photographed my subjects without what I considered distracting. The better my results and feedback. Despite my preference. I realize there’s are always time to add color without distractions. Growing up photographing New York’s lengendery graffiti scene and the beautiful sunrises and sunsets around the world demand color and suffer with applying such. Why choose when there are so many options.Yes, I prefer shooting in black & white. But shooting on a digital, or in my case, mirrorless. One can switch up at any time.

Those Who Made a Difference.

Finding your Zen

Found this old picture of a close friend. One who often lent her beautiful smile and spirit to me to help improve my skills and shape my passion for levels of studio and street photography. Looking back, I wish I can individually thank the many people, both subjects and photographers, who inspired and guided me along the way.

A Bad Day Gone Good

abstract, Exploring, Roadside Attractions, Street Photography, Travel, Travel Photography

Getting my wife out of bed and out the door early on a Saturday was worth all the sausage in Baconvile. A good start before realizing my balance and coordination was shit. with the only options of stay home and call it a day and get going and see what’s happens. Naturally, I chose the latter. After a short drive to Catonsville Maryland’s Atwater’s for a hearty breakfast. We filled our day with hitting up all the worthy bakery’s and a favorite record store. Though my balance seemed lackluster most of the day. It didn’t keep me down. The picture below was taken while returning to our car in Catonsville. The highly reflective mirrors and what looked like burnt edges caught the attention of both me and my wife.It made for a cool shot.

Found Another Good One.

Culture, Memories, Organizing, Photosharing, Street Photography

Below is a twenty-plus-year-old image I don’t recall ever seeing from a celebration I first attended as an eight-year-old. New York’s China-Town and Chinese New Year have long captivated my imagination and left me in a state of jaw-dropping amazement. Watching and photographing the event has always fueled my respect and interest in different cultures, their noteworthy observances and celebrations. In case you were wondering. Yes. This rare, yet rewarding B&W image is designated to be printed. Any thoughts on the celebrations you enjoy partaking in?

Moving Forward with my Bucket List.

Canon R6 Mark II Mirrorless, Finding your Zen, Fisheye Lenses

Last week, while at the height of my obsession with people, places, and things I’d like to photograph. I took many of them to a list I keep in a secret drawer, amongst some of my ideas closer by than others. I decided to take on the easy ones first. Though not the most inspiring architecture. I became fixated on what I could capture with my seldomly used Canon Fish Eye lens. In passing the building countless times. My obsession grew. Making it a matter of time before crossing it off the list. Granted, my fear of the eventual entanglement with a security guard racing towards me as if I had just set off the timer of a bomb. Adding to the anxious calls from my wife yelling “Chop, Chop”, while keeping her foot close to the gas pedal of our getaway car. I snapped a couple of shots. As I look at the image below. I realize I must return to capture that entire oval. However, for now. It’s all groovy Tuesday.

Adding Blur to your Photos

abstract, Editing, Storytelling, Street Photography

Granted, living in areas such as Hell’s Kitchen, Hoboken, and Seattle provided endless opportunities to find inspiration just outside my doorstep. Honest characters, both safe and dangerous. Many, eager to share their life, loss, and growth over a cup of coffee or a cigarette. (P.S. I don’t smoke and never have.) But you get the picture. Despite living blocks from hotels, a shopping center, a metro station and a busy blvd. The area seems to attract minimal foot traffic and little, to no personality one might find in a big city. Regardless of the captures. I’ve decided to take my camera elsewhere. A location, I hope will be both inspiring and reciprocal to my need to create. Below are the blurred results of what looks to be my last neighborhood photo outing. Since finding the blur and bokeh features in Lightroom. I’ve gone a little crazy. But, in the end. It’s been fun. It would seem, the more I learn about the basics of editing, The more fun I’m having.

Nordic Pleasures.

Travel, Travel Photography, Uncategorized

I chose the menu’s “Best of the Wurst”. A dish I’d highly recommend to anyone looking to have their taste buds and appetite satisfied. Aside from the great food and service. Visits from the restaurants mascot “Sophie”. A loving and friendly golden doodle who runs the roost seeking nothing but a good pet seeking nothing but loving attention and heartfelt petting. Despite the distance. We plan to return when the temperatures warm and the restaurants deck reopens to allow us to watch the planes take off and land.

Found a Good One.

Memories, NYC, Organizing, Photosharing, Street Photography

It’s become a daily commitment/obsession to go through old image folders, delete, label, and review them to see how much I’ve improved as a photographer. Just as reviewing images has reminded me of where I’ve been, as well as the places I frequented and returned to time after time. It also reveals how much composition and editing have become essential to my understanding of an important part of the process. Last night I found this image from a Chinese New Year celebration in NYC’s Chinatown. I shot it back in 2007 and, to be honest. This was the first time noticing it, and I plan to print it in the coming days.

Stops Along the Way.

Canon R6 Mark II Mirrorless, Finding your Zen, Travel, Travel Photography

On our trip back home from Lancaster and pretty deep into Maryland. We came across a school bus company that had to be checked out. As I reveled in what had to be a million school buses. Shooting images of the yellow buses snuggled tightly together so tightly. A Marine drill sargeant would be proud. I enjoyed the moment while waiting for a squad car to arrive to check my credentials. While my time there seemed like a matter of seconds. It was the perfect opportuniy to catch the last hints of daylight while getting creative. Luckily, there was no intereferance from the po-po and we were able to drive off into the sunset without as much as a peering eye.

Results of Leaving My Camera Behind.

abstract, Art, Travel, Travel Photography

When picking up our car from the Montgomery Mini dealership. Much to my wife’s delight. I left my camera home and decided to let my iPhone handle any such photo opportunities that might come about. While transferring trains at Rockville, Maryland, Shady Grove Station. The opportunity came and instead of digging into my camera bag and finding the right setting for the perfect shot. I whipped out my phone and BINGO! And while my phone will not become my new tool for photography. It’s good to know. I don’t have to pack it in preparation for every trip.