New Year's Eve!

Happy New Year's Eve! May the end of 2011 lead you into a great 2012.  May this new year bring many opportunities your way to explore every joy of life. May your resolutions for the days ahead stay firm turning all your dreams into reality and all your efforts into great achievements. 

Taylor

The model in this image is Taylor; she was my roommate. This image was taken in a studio using alien bee strobes and a Nikon camera and lens. The vibrant blue background was created using a background light and blue gels attached. The clamshell technique was used to light the model. This is done by having two strobes with soft boxes on them directly in front of her.  This created the two highlights in her eyes. 

New Mexico Landscape

This photograph was taken on my journey across the country with my friend, Kim. We traveled from Maryland to California by car.  Along the way, we hit some rough weather;  the rain came down so hard that it was difficult to see a couple feet in front of us.  In New Mexico, we came across some roads that had been flooded from previous rain storms. This image was taken in New Mexico when the rain finally started to let up, but in the distance we could see some more storm clouds approaching.

Gray's Beach

This photo is two images composited together in photoshop. The main photograph is of the boardwalk at Gray’s Beach in Yarmouth, MA. The clouds were stunning as they rolled in over the choppy water. Right after I captured this photograph, the sky opened up. Although the second image is not prominent. It’s of a log I found washed up along the coast line. This photo is layered on top of the other adding some dramatic textures and tones to the overall image. 

Mexico

Traveling is one of the things I enjoy most. I would like to see the world and photograph all different cultures. Visiting different countries can be an eye opener for most; I know for me, it puts perspective in my life and makes me realize how lucky I am to have everything I have. While walking along the streets of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, I came across this small cigar shop where this local man was demonstrating how they make their cigars. Inside the shop were tobacco leaves drying from the ceiling.  

Chocolate Cake

Finding a great bakery can be a challenge at times; this cake came from the West Falmouth Market where they have them delivered from a Boston bakery.  The cake being photographed is called the Midnight Madness, a dark chocolate cake with a creamy white butter frosting and chocolate icing on top. I photographed this cake using my Nikon d300s with a 70-180 Nikon lens and then lit it using two alien bee strobes with a bounce card. Hope this does not make you too hungry. 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all. Around the world there are people who celebrate Christmas; with many different traditions. The Christmas tree is a common tradition for most people, even though every tree is a little different and unique to each and every family. This is my Christmas tree; it’s a live tree decorated with ornaments collected over the years. May the holiday season fill your home with joy, your heart with love and your life with laughter. 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is here, again, and that means it’s time to leave cookies out for Santa Claus! This year has flown by and it’s hard to believe Christmas is tomorrow. The smell of Christmas has been in the air for quite some time with the smell of the fresh cut tree all decorated for the holidays and the smell of homemade cookies baking in the oven. There are three kinds of cookies my mom makes every Christmas - crescent cookies, little chocolate chip cup cakes, and walnut delights -all of which disappear very quickly  in my house. These are all recipes passed down from my great grandmother and made only during the Christmas season. What are some of your favorite homemade cookies your family makes during the holiday season? May everyone have a wonderful Christmas Eve spent enjoying the season with family and friends. 

The lonely boat

Think salty air, sand between your toes, crashing waves, seagulls flying above, and kids building sandcastles: this is summer on Cape Cod. People come from around the world to visit this sandy peninsula which is surrounded by sparkling water, wildlife and some of the freshest seafood imaginable. The Cape has many harbors where you can find fishermen unloading their catch from the day, spectators admiring the boats, and families and friends enjoying a beautiful day of boating. Although the Cape is visited mainly in the summertime, you can still find plenty of things to do and see year round. This photograph is of a small row boat hidden behind the swaying sea grass along the coast of Orleans. The lonely boat gently rocked back and forth with every passing wave and chilly winter breeze. 

Cape Cod Sunset

Cape Cod sunsets are one of the things I miss now that I am living in California. Wherever you are on the Cape, you can see the setting sun casting vibrant colors in the sky. No matter the season, Cape Cod sunsets can be a magical experience which take your breath away. Picture the beautiful fiery sun slowly slipping into the water, casting magnificent hues of brilliant oranges, reds, yellows, blues and purples into the huge sky above. The bright blue water picks up every color of the setting sun creating a mirror image in the rippling water.  

Portrait

This photograph was taken for an assignment at Antonelli Institute for Art and Photography. The model is Kim Gehr, her hair and make-up was done by Alisha LeDonne both of which are fellow students, friends, and photographers. This particular image was shot in our apartment living room with Alien Bee strobes. The assignment required the use of four strobes, there is a background light, a fill light, a main light, and a bounce light to add a little more pop to the image. This finale image was created after several attempts; I felt that the portrait needed another element to catch the viewers’ attention so I added the fall leaves to the models hair.

Classic Cars

Antique classic cars are a common subject matter of mine, although I don’t know a lot about these cars I, enjoy photographing them. Classic cars all seem to have a sense of character and history behind them which I try to capture. These cars are all unique in style, color, make, and history. For some reason or another, someone has preserved these classic cars. Looking at them can take you back in history showing you a glimpse of what the past was like. When I photograph antique cars, I try to capture the details.

Autumn

One of the things I miss about living in New England is the change in seasons. The East coast leaves transform from a vibrant green to a range of vibrant rich hues of reds, oranges, yellows and browns in the autumn months. New England is one of the best place to see these brilliant colors come alive from September to November. This photograph was taken in Kinnelon, New Jersey while visiting family last fall. 

Winter Wonderland

Snow, ice, and the crispness that comes with freezing temperatures can add a new dimension to your photos. With Christmas right around the corner the hopes for a white Christmas are high.  This photograph was taken in Philadelphia last winter after one of the several big snow storms that were there. This image tied for second place in a winter photography competition last year. 

Harbor Seal

Seals are common around Cape Cod. They are easily spotted around Chatham and lining the shore of Monomoy. At first you may see thousands of brown boulders but wait take another look they are moving these are the harbor seals the most common of seals found around Cape Cod. These are among the smallest of the species, adults grow up to five feet; however most of them are with in three to four feet. There coloration ranges from brown, gray, and white. In the water they float upright with there nose pointed up. Along the shoreline you can see them soaking up the sun rays on sandbars and rocks. I had found this seal during the cold winter months, it was washed up on along a Brewster beach. The seal had been tagged by local wildlife researchers so they could pick it up later to be examined to find out what might have caused its death.

Cape Cod Graffiti

Cape Cod’s natural beauty is known world wide, offering visitors and locals a wide range of outdoor activities most of which are in the warmer months. So when most people think of Cape Cod they don’t think vandalism but in fact you can find some if you look hard enough. Most locals don’t even know about it so when they see photos of such graffiti they think it is in Boston or some where near a larger city. Although graffiti is considered vandalism I think that in some cases it is a form of art. These are some images of the local graffiti I have come across. 

Reflections

Reflections in photography can lead to some amazing effects and extraordinary images that pop off the screen. The use of water, windows, mirrors or any kind of reflective surface can change the feel of the whole image. The thing about using reflections is that you never know how exactly it will change an ordinary image into something richer and more artistic.These reflections I have photographed where all taken on Cape Cod amongst different harbors. 

FOOD

Food photography is one of my passions. Food is never boring with every meal, drink, desert, fruit or vegetable problems accrue part of the fun is the challenge that comes out of it. In order to make the food look its best so that people want to eat it when they see the photograph you must use a variety of lighting techniques along with proper styling. When it comes to food another challenge is not eating your prop...never photograph food on an empty stomach.

CD

These two photographs where taken at an abandon school in Philadelphia on one very cold early morning. I then used these two images to create a CD cover and back for a school assignment. 

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary was designed by John Haviland and opened in 1829 and closed in 1971. Today the penitentiary is a preserved landmark located in Philadelphia, Pa and is open year-round to visitors. The Eastern State Penitentiary was once one of the most famous and expensive prisons housing more then 300 inmates. Today it stands in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. It is known for its architecture and strict discipline. Some of Americas most notorious criminals were held in the cells. Al Capone found himself behind the prison walls for about a year. 

26th Annual Parade of Lights

Tonight I went down to the Santa Barbara Pier with a friend to watch the 26th Annual Parade of Lights. This was my first time going to this event it was great seeing crowds of people in the holiday spirit. There where families, couples, friends and more lining the pier to watches as the decorated boats passed by. At the end of the parade there was a small fire work show. Here are a few photos of tonight's festivities if your ever in the area during the holiday season Santa Barbara is filled with things to do with the family. Hope you enjoy. 

The Natural World

It may seem a bit strange but I tend to photograph dead things when I come across them out in the natural world. Slowly I have been gathering a collection of images of dead animals. This particular bird was found laying amongst the rocks along the shore in Santa Barbara. Spread amongst the rocks near the bird lay feathers and small bones. 

Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis can range in color, usually looking pea green or brown, but there are also some in various shades of green and even pink. They are named praying mantis because of the folding of their front legs, which looks like the posture of prayer. Praying mantises have triangular-shaped heads and a compound eye on each side of their heads. They are the only insects that can turn their heads a full 180 degrees. They're also very sensitive to movement and can see something move up to 60 feet away. They tend to ambush their prey and are very fast when they attack. The forelegs are spiked, which helps the mantis hold on to its victims. 

Anti-style

These images were all created to show how a photographer can take a single object and transform it in to completely different looks using light, camera angle and color.  All of these photos where taken with white-lightning strobes, a Nikon D300s and multiple Nikon lenses. 

Gravity

This image of the vegetables falling into the bowl was photographed to portray gravity. Each vegetable was threaded with fishing line and hung above out of the cameras view in position. Any fishing line evident in the image was taken out in post-production to create this final photograph. 

“Celebrity”

These photos were taken for a photo assignment where we had to create a celebrity persona. I choose to create the persona of a country singer. Since Santa Barbara does not scream country to me I headed up to Solvang, CA to do this photo shoot. Searching for interesting locations I came across this old building which had the perfect feel with the old signs, an old gas pump and a tractor out front. The building had its own personality and told a story of the past.

The Elegance of the Great Blue Heron

This great blue heron caught my eye one afternoon along the waters edge of the Santa Barbara Harbor. The great blue herons are typically seen along coastlines, in marshes, or near the shores of ponds or streams. They are expert fishers. Herons snare their aquatic prey by walking slowly, or standing still for long periods of time and waiting for fish to come within range of their long necks and blade-like bills.

Style

This series of photos was created for an assignment last semester. The purpose of the assignment was to produce photographs that bridge a gap from our own style to the commercial world. The first photograph in this series is the abstract lobster trap, then the close up of the claw and finally the photo that could be used commercially of the lobster. 

Fly

Walking along the Santa Barbara Harbor during sunset one evening this Pelican soon caught my attention as it sat along the waters edge. I sat there inching closer to the bird until it realized and began to move almost putting on a show for me. Capturing a bird's image is challenging, frustrating and fun all at the same time.

Hearst Castle

These photographs were all recently taken during a family trip to Hearst Castle located in California on 250,000 acres. The history behind Hearst and his castle is incredible I have captured a small glimpse of what William Randolph Hearst and his architect Julia Morgan was able to create in their life time. This magnificent house was destined to become on of the worlds greatest attractions. Hope you enjoy. 

The Classic Birdcage

For my first post I will start off with one of my favorite Images I have taken over the past year. This unique fine art monochromatic image was created for an assignment during my finale semester at Antonelli Institute. If you ask any of my fellow classmates what I am known for photographing they may give one of two answers food or dead fish. If there was a critique and a dead animal appeared I would be accused of being the photographer given most of the time it was me. Hope you enjoy this first post there will be many more to come.