Model Portfolio

     This image of my friend, Alicia, was photographed using an Alien Bee strobe and a beauty dish. The beauty dish created a glamorous look to this head shot. This was just one image from a series for a model portfolio. For this one, I had her hold her glasses up to her mouth to create a seductive school teacher or librarian persona.   

Duck

    I found this duck swimming through the Santa Barbara Harbor one evening. He looked very peaceful, gracefully swimming through the undisturbed water around the docks.

Rocky Waters

     “Every moment you get is a gift. Spend it on things that matter. Don’t spend it by dwelling on unhappy things.” - Celestine Chua

Oil Tanks

    These old oil tanks were found at an abandoned oil refinery. The tanks were covered with graffiti, rust, grass, and the stench of lingering oil.

Pink Heels

   This pair of heels was photographed using two Alien Bee strobes with softboxes. I positioned them this way to show the elegance and daintiness of the shoe.

Carpinteria Overlook

      This image is the overlook of the Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary. Here, viewers can watch as the seals sunbath on the rocks and play in the water. From December through May, this is the birthing grounds for the seals. While there, the clouds started moving in as if bringing in a storm causing a dramatic feel.   

Monkeys

     I'm always amazed when random things happen to make an image better. When I first arrived at the Gibbon monkey exhibit at the Santa Barbara Zoo, there was one black monkey sitting by himself. I wished there was a second monkey present, because he looked very lonesome. Suddenly, a tan monkey jumped into the frame out of nowhere, which gave me this wonderful image.

San Simeon Pier

    This is an image of the ocean and pier at the San Simeon Beach. While there, the dark clouds started to settle in, creating a more dramatic mood. To emphasis the mood, I decided to make the image black and white.

Arc de Triomphe

        This is an image of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. Built between 1806 and 1836, the Arc de Triomphe is in honor of those that fought for France during the Napoleonic Wars. The names of the generals and the wars fought are engraved at the top of the arch. The arc also includes the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of World War I, making this a patriotic site.

Krumpe's

     Krumpe's Do-nuts has been Hagerstown's best kept secret since 1934. These images portray some of the process that goes into making their delicious donuts. The variety of donuts and late night hours makes Krumpe's a popular night trip.

Band

 

     This image is at Breakaway II for the Day before the Day before Christmas show. The band playing in this photo is Calisus.

Santa Barbara Zoo

     While visiting the Santa Barbara Zoo, I came across many animals throughout the day. Some of my favorites were these three birds: the Macaw, Parrot, and Cockatoo. I love the bright colors of the Macaw and the Parrot, along with the simple beauty of the Cockatoo.
   

Oil Refinery

    This is an image of an abandoned oil refinery in Ojai, California. The place was filled with piles of rubble, broken glass, fallen over towers, graffiti, and more.

The Moving Wall

    The Moving Wall is a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C. It made its first appearance in 1984 in Texas, and travels the United States annually between April and November. I photographed the Moving Wall while it visited Santa Barbara, California.

Spider Web

      This spider web caught my attention outside my window one rainy summer morning. Although I do not like spiders, I have always been amazed by the structure of their webs: strong and precise. The monochromatic tones created an eery, and somewhat abandoned feeling.

Clarinet

   This image of a floating clarinet is representing gravity. I achieved this image by tying fishing wire around each piece of the instrument. I placed them this way to show the formation in which they are put together and to portray it falling into the case as it was coming apart.  

Kelly

  
      Kelly, one of my best friends, is one that I could use many words to describe: caring, thoughtful, beautiful, funny, passionate, strong, and much much more. One important word that describes Kelly is 'Photographer'. Kelly Slezak is an amazing photographer with her own unique style, and is known for her dead animal images. She is very passionate and dedicated when it comes to her photography, and will go to great lengths to get the perfect shot.

Farmer's Market

   One thing I love about Santa Barbara are all the farmer's markets. Every Tuesday and Saturday locals set up their stands to sell their variety of locally grown goods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, flowers, cheese, and much more. Other than purchasing the fresh goods to enjoy at home, my favorite part is all the free samples. 

Swallow Falls

    These are images from Swallow Falls State Park in Garrett County, Maryland. This is one of my favorite places to visit in Maryland. Swallow Falls holds both beauty and adventure; rock jumping, kayaking, swimming, hiking, and more.

San Simeon

    These three images were taken at the San Simeon Beach in California. This beach caught my attention due to its uniqueness. You could hear the roar of the waves as they rolled towards the shore very fast and forceful, crashing violently against the rocks.

Blue Heron

     This is an image of a Blue Heron that I came across one day while walking along the Santa Barbara Harbor. One thing I like about photographing animals is the way they always seem to pose for you. I love how the heron is posed, giving it the perfect "S" curve and leading the viewer's eyes through the image.

Shower Gel

      These are before and after shots of Bath and Body Works shower gel, using the white card technique. The white card technique is where you photograph a clear liquid product on a black background, then photograph it again with a white card behind the product. Once in Photoshop, you combine the two images, getting an end result much like the image on the right. This technique is designed to give the liquid a glowing effect to make it really stand out.

Rust

     This old rusted oil can was just one of many things I found laying around in my barn. I also found an old spring, some chains, a rotted bottomless feeding bucket, a hook, a file, a wrench; just to name a few. I have always had an interest in antique items. When I stumbled upon these, I wanted to create an image that captured the essence of just how old and weathered they were.

Baby

      Atlee is an adorable baby who I had a pleasure to photograph. There are many challenges a photographer can face while taking photographs of babies: peeing, moving, and worst of all crying. Despite these challenges, newborn photography can be a very rewarding experience, and will forever be treasured by the parents for years to come.

Fruit

     This is a photograph of a bowl filled with luscious fresh fruit. I picked these different types of fruit to add an arrangement of vibrant colors to the image that would grab the viewer's attention. The fruit in the foreground was strategically placed to add depth, as well as to lead the viewer to the bowl of fruit in the background. The light was arranged to create a feeling of the early morning sun gently spilling across the fruit, as it awaits someone's breakfast.

Food

      This is an image of a sandwich and chips from Panera Bread. I had to photograph a food cover that was designed to fit within the given template. I chose kettle cooked potato chips because they resembled the texture of the bread. The white background and plate, as well as the camera angle, emphasize the sandwich.


   

Cira Centre

      This is an image of the Cira Centre building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I photographed this building because I liked its uniqueness and the way the clouds reflected in it.

Graffiti

       This is an image of a concrete wall located in Orleans, Massachusetts that is covered with graffiti. I made this image a panorama to show the extent of the work done by graffiti artists. Graffiti always has a way of catching my eye and fascinating me; between the crazy designs and the bold colors.

Arena of Nimes

     This is an image of a hallway which wraps around the inside perimeter of the Arena of Nimes in Nimes, France.  Around 70 AD, the Arena of Nimes was built. In 1863, it was then renovated to serve as a bullring for the two bullfights they hold annually. In addition to bullfights, the arena also serves as a place for other public events.