DRUM MAJORS

The subject of a recent senior portrait is Alex, a musician. From the start I was enthusiastic about this job because there was a good chance we would shoot a performance. When I found out he was also one of three drum majors in the marching band I knew we had a great story to tell.













His family wanted picture choices, and we began with Alex in orchestra mode, posed alone on campus with his main instrument.  Later in that session he changed into his drum major get-up and we used the football stadium as a backdrop.  It was October and this is where he “lives” in the fall.

Carolina Horse Park picture sessions

In April my friend Minh Duan and I traveled to Pinehurst, NC to visit my high school chum Eileen Gilbert and explore her world of horses.  Eileen is a trainer and judge in Hunter, Jumper, and Equitation competitions.  King and Eileen live in Ontario, Canada, with her husband Larry, but they winter near the Carolina Horse Park.  King is too old for competition now.  Fortunately for us he still can enjoy a light workout.  


If you think his head is way too big in this picture, I agree.  I wanted him to be the subject here because of their long relationship.  We also thought his lower eyelashes were cool.

RODEO !

We saw four events in the rodeo billed as the Georgia National Rodeo, a production of Barnes PRCA Rodeos:

aka Saddle or Bareback w/flank strap

GWU Women’s Gymnastics: Homecoming - Brownie & Girl Scout Meet

GWU's fifth Gymnastics meet of 2014 took place on Sunday afternoon, February 9th. Sara was a competitor in Vault and I got to shoot from the floor again.

More images are at

 https://www.dropbox.com/sh/njk29p0n5i8zc3l/JwjmqaqtGP

GWU Women’s Gymnastics: Pictures from the Lindsey Ferris meet

The perspective from the floor is probably the most popular sports photography view,  for both stills (left) and motion/pan blur (below).  













An alternative setup is across the floor, from an elevation, to catch the judges’ reactions at the Balance Beam, below. Modern sports arenas, such as GW’s Smith Center, usually offer many good viewing options. 

Sports Photography and Women's Athletics at George Washington University

The shorthand for great sports pictures is “get the face and ball in focus”.  When I get a chance I ask photographers how they like to shoot sports, and they usually mention two methods: FISHING (focus on one spot and wait for the action to come to you) and BUTTERFLY CATCHING (roam over the playing field constantly changing zoom, focus, and background).

Lunar New Year 2012

The Vietnamese community of Norcross celebrated the Lunar New Year, known as Tet Nguyen Dan, on Sunday January 22 at the Hong Kong Market on Jimmy Carter Boulevard.  This is the year of the Dragon, and two of them performed for the crowds in three retail stores and the parking lot.

Ong Dia helps guide the Dragons as they collect “Lucky Money” and chase away evil spirits.  

GARDEN LIGHTS – HOLIDAY NIGHTS

We visited Atlanta Botanical Gardens last Sunday, at dusk, and took in their big outdoor event called Garden Lights.  http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org/events-classes/garden-lights-holiday-nights   Click on any picture for a larger view.

Kathy Fincher

Kathy Fincher’s creative process

In September 2011 Mary and I attended a fund raising event to support Rainbow Village, Duluth, GA, and I was asked to shoot a few photographs. http://rainbowvillage.org/  This organization provides transitional housing for homeless families with children.  Many local businesses provided items for bid in silent and live auctions.


One vendor I got to know was Kathy Fincher, a Duluth artist nationally known for depicting children, landscapes and still life in a soft painting style with strong storytelling elements.  http://www.kafincher.com/  She is described as an inspirational artist who creates “a unique pastel painting style of romantic realism."  Ms. Fincher frequently uses dry pastels on paper and they are usually called paintings.  http://www.paintmaking.com/grinding_pastels.htm  One of her most popular creations is titled “Here's the Church”. 

Features

I shot this on my second visit to Café Efendi, a little bit before they were open for dinner.  On weekends they feature Belly Dancing, and Maria, the talent, is standing behind the bar while Suheyl, the owner, puffs on a makeshift hookah.  Believe it or not, he is smoking dried fruit (apples, grape, and pear), not some sort of contraband.  I can’t decide if this is an environmental portrait or a feature.