Spring Semester

My spring semester was spent producing the work your about to look at....along with many other papers and projects! This semester was challenging as I returned to shooting film, something I haven't done in a year. And this time with a view camera, using 4x5 inch film. After I did my first shoot, I thought that if I ever mastered the view camera it would be nothing less then a miracle. Thankfully as I continued to shoot and get my processed film back I was super surprised to find that I was actually doing something right (contrary to my belief). 

The process of shooting film is complicated and slow. I found myself carefully setting up each shot, not wanting to waste a piece of film or the money needed to process it.  The thought process of shooting like this is something I hope to transfer as I shoot digital. Instead of just clicking away with my digital camera and ending up with hundreds of pictures, that I then have to go through and delete till I have the 30 best. I want to carefully frame each shot, putting more thought into each click and making each shot count. Definitely a new goal, and way of thinking. 

This is a triple exposure, three different shots all taken on the same negative. Fun experiment. 

This was two different shots, with the negatives digitally scanned and layered on top of each other. Love the emotion and character it gives to the image. 

Reflection

As the first week of the spring semester ends I've finally accomplished something I've wanted to do all break, blog. It continues to amaze me how fast the days go, causing me to cling to the moments I love and hopeful to see the hard ones pass. While preparing for the next semester, I've found myself reflecting on the fall semester. Mostly on my photography course, because Lord knows I don't want to be reminded how much time I spent studying things I'll probably never use. I was challenged this semester by my photography teacher. I've never met someone who could one week leave me walking out of class completely inspired, and the next week totally annoyed. Its definitely a gift he had. But he pushed me, and he saw things and felt things from my photographs that no ones ever described to me before. I've always wanted my photographs to have an influence on my audience. Finding someone that after looking at one of my images could put into words almost exactly what was going through my head when I made it, was extremely new to me. It was scary, and encouraging at the same time. The emotion in a photograph is one of the most important things to me. I want people to feel, whatever it might be, what I was feeling when I pushed my shutter and captured a moment in time. A lot of this semester was experimenting with color, and how color works to portray emotion. I know I'm no where close to fully understanding it or mastering it, but its a journey I'm on of looking at color in a whole new way.

Out of all the assignments that I did these ended up being my best images. They don't all work together as a body, because each assignment was so different. Its hard making a portfolio that flows well out of three months of work. Im happy with my end result, while being provoked and inspired to continue on the journey of becoming a better artist.

Carolina: 50's Shoot

This is my darling friend Carolina, who was more then willing to help me out with a project I had for school. We were given five different lighting set ups that we had to do, while doing a character study. So I went for a 50's theme shoot portraying the character of a singer. Besides being absolutely gorgeous, she's an amazing singer. So it was perfect! I was more then pleased with the results, hope you enjoy!

Also, I'm playing around with different watermarks. Trying to find something I really like. Let me know what you think!

when i dont understand, i will choose You

Sometimes my heart doesn't understand, and sometimes it hurts. Life brings so many emotions, more then i can handle at times. The only sure thing is that He is good.

When i dont understand, i will choose you God.

Awaken Wells

I have the privilege of knowing these amazing people, and its been so exciting to watch as the Lord opens doors and calls them into their destiny. They just released their first album titled "Mesmerized" on July 16th, and its also available on iTunes. They've been busy this summer traveling around releasing the sounds of heaven and stirring up the wells of revival. Check them out on facebook, at facebook.com/AwakenWells. Their music will bless you!

Summer Class Portfolio

So for me summer is officially here! I decided to take two summer classes in the month of June, and let me tell you there were many days I was regretting that decision. Taking 4 credits in a month and working 30-35 hours a week is not exactly what I consider summer fun, but being on the other side I must say it was worth it.

Thursday was my portfolio review for my photography class, it went really well and I ended the class with an A! My other class was an online health class that I finished two week ago, so thursday marked the last of my summer classes! My photography class was really fun though because it wasn't your typical class, it was more a field trip based class. We met two days a week, the one day was dedicated just to going out to different places and shooting, and the other day editing. We also had 5 exercises we did on our own, then we gathered the best 12 images to make our portfolio.

Since this is my first summer here in Maryland everywhere they decided to go was new for me, which made everything more exciting, and they were places I probably wouldn't have thought to visit on my own. So I decided I would show you all and let you see what I've been up to!

National Cathedral

Walkway to a Metro Station

National Cathedral

Night Shot in Downtown Silver Spring, MD

The Rotunda

Environmental Portrait of TJ

Self Portrait

Adams Morgan in D.C.

The Rotunda

Abstract

National Cathedral

Misc.

(TJ's awesome custom hand painted bass)