Best of Portfolio

DogFest 2016

The Baltimore Humane Society (BHS) put on its annual DogFest at the BHS in Reisterstown, Md on Saturday Sept,17 2016.

Shelby (front left) meets another dog, and it's like looking in a mirror.
I chose this photo because I liked the story behind it. These two dogs are the same exact breed but they look different and according to their owners they are opposites in personality. I snapped this picture and luck just happened to intervene and something caught the attention of both dogs giving this col mirror effect. I also think this is where I started to think more about technique like the leading lines of the leashes which I wish I'd stepped back just a bit to get more in the photo. I also like the juxtaposition of the color of the dogs as well as the moment of them both hearing something that caught their attention and caused them to look out of frame.

Many of the dogs that await adoption are mixes and were abandoned, so the staff do not know their names or documentation for their breed type.

I though that this image captured the mood of the DogFest event. While it was a happy event the purpose was to get dogs adopted so that they did not have to stay in the cramped cages in the back of the shelter and could have families. This dog had a lot of personality and when I snapped the picture he made this face. I also think technically I demonstrated my understanding of layers as well as point of entry which would be his face.

Charlie the pug waits expectantly for a treat after doing a trick.

I picked this image because I liked the framing as well as the expression that they dog had. The tongue and wide eyes really aded to telling the story of him waiting for his treat. I also liked the colors and contract between the grass and his coat being light.

Sarah Thomas from New Windsor Md. has three dogs that all want to go in different directions. Chipmunk (front left) is a French bulldog. Kendall (right) is a English Bulldog mix and Harrison (back left) is an Australian Shepherd.

After the first image, I looked for opportunities to create leading lines with the leashes and I think I did a better job of that here by stepping back. I picked it because I also like the way that the dogs are all heading in different directions almost reaching the end of the frame almost as if they all have their own agendas for the day. 

Cody is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, or Toller for short. His owners say he is an avid Orioles fan from Baltimore who loves watching sports. 

This was taken before we did portraits but I thought it was a good example of a portrait of a dog. 

Portraits 

Martha Wells poses for a portrait at her home in University Park Maryland.

I chose these 3 photos because I thought given the limited space that I had and lack of excitement of the subject matter, I did a good job with this portrait and trying to capture her and her personality in this image. I also think the natural lighting was good. I think I did a good job showing who she is and what she does.

Wells is a geographer and city planner who runs a business out of her home in University Park. 

She started her company, Spatial Focus in 1998 because she wanted more flexibility and time to focus on the projects she was most passionate about and to raise her three kids.

Back to school at UMD

Lazara is a Geography major and looks out onto the demolished mall, recalling when it was a beautiful setting and shortcut to his classes.

I really liked the lighting of this photo, nothing is better than natural light and it reflecting off of Testudo's shell as well as shining on the dust that is rising from where the mall used to be helped tell the story of the mall being closed. I also like the layering and intentionally kept the framing tight try and show that the story is Lazara's perspective of back to school.

Sophomore Paula Kleyman (right) meets junior Joey Bolivar and invites him to take a picture with her club Vintage Voices. 

This was my first attempt at capturing moment as well as rule of thirds. I was trying to get the moment of new people meeting at back to school events and I kept them in their respective thirds. I wish I had stepped back to get their whole hands in the shot but I just shot it super quick without looking through my viewfinder to try ad get the moment.

Tech Homecoming 

Virginia Tech students, families and alumni gather at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg for Hokie Homecoming on Saturday Sept. 24, 2016.

The Highty-Tighty alumni (Tech's Core Cadet band) gather on the mall at Virginia Tech to prepare to march to the stadium before the big game. While they wait they catch up with old friends.

I chose this image because I think I have some nice layers here as well as rule of thirds in the horizontal direction. I also like the colors.

Towson Fall Fest 2016

Fall Festival was held on October 21, 2016 on a rainy Friday afternoon at the Baltimore County Government courthouse courtyard in Towson, Md.

Eden(left) and Enya (right) conquer their fear of clown and pose for a fun picture with one.

I just like the emotion and fun light feel of this image that is helped by the colors and the lighting as well as the smiles. Technically I think rule of thirds is pretty solid.

A put put station was one of the few activities that didn't get rained on the gloomy fall day.

I like the perspective of this photo which is why I chose it. I also like that because the girls are twins and dressed alike, it kind of gives it the effect of seeing double. Technically I like the leading lines of the put put corse and curb leading the eye to the girls. 

Motion Blur

Trying out the motion blur and light trail technique for the first time. This was taken at a home in Towson Md.

This was the very first motion blur photo I took and it is one of my best the entire semester. Technically I like that she is in focus and the umbrella is not as well as the lighting and the way she's looking out of frame which makes you wonder what she is looking at. I also think the contrast of the green and the color of the umbrella and her shirt add to the photo.

Street

Thursday Oct. 27th, 2016. Commuters walking on the path to Union Station in DC.

 There's something about this photo that I really just love. I think for me this is what a rainy fall day looks like. Gloomy, kind of dark but at the same time really rich color wise. I like the overcast sky which creates the soft lighting and the rich green of the trees and grass that also match his coat. I also think the leading lines of the tree as well as the symmetry make this a stronger image.

Slideshow

Christmas at home

Sophia poses for a portrait as she hangs ornaments on the Christmas tree.

The light reflecting on her face is why I like this photo. I think it is a nice portrait that fit well with the rest of my story for that assignment. 

Sophia stretches to reach an ornament on the Christmas tree. 

I was playing with perspective here. I didn't exactly nail it but I like that I tried something different. I also really like the lighting of this photo as well.