Nimes

      This is the inside of the Arena of Nimes, in Nimes, France. While visiting, I could imagine what it would be like to witness one of the two bullfights held here annually: the sounds of a cheering audience, the bullfighters whistling at the bull, the grunting of the bull, and the vibrant colors of the pageantry.

Portrait

     For this image I used a green gel to cast a highlight around his head. I achieved this by using a Alien Bee strobe with a green gel over the light and directed it at the back of his head.

Lock

"Smile, it is the key that fits the lock of everybody's heart."

- Anthony J. D'Angelo

Farm Equipment

“Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country.”

- William Jennings Bryan

                                                              

Pink Flamingo

Pink Flamingo Facts:

• Average life span is 20 to 30 years
• 15 to 30% of their day is spent preening 
• They eat with their head down in the water so they can both drink and eat at the same time using the front of their bill. 
• Their wingspan can range from 3 to 5 feet 
• Can live in either hot volcanic lakes or icy lakes

Chess

     Here is a close-up shot of chess pieces ready to be played. Chess became popular in Europe and has been played since around the 15th century. Two people play this game with the goal of trapping the King. This is called checkmate. Checkmate occurs when the opponent's King cannot move to another location on the board without being captured.

Mixed Drink

 

     This image is of an apple martini made with Smirnoff and an apple drink mix. I used an Alien Bee strobe with a softbox and fill cards to light this. I added depth to the image by including all the ingredients and items used to create the drink.   

Abstract

     Can you name the building this is a part of?

Gas Pumps

    I stumbled upon these old gas pumps while walking around Los Alamos, California. By the way the faded paint was peeling and the metal was rusting, you could tell these gas pumps had years of use and wear.

Jaguar

Random Jaguar Facts:

• The largest of South America's big cats
• Life span in the wild is about 12 to 15 years
• They are good swimmers
• Cubs are born blind
• They have the second strongest jaw amongst cats; can bite through a turtle shell
• They hunt mainly at night
• Jaguar means, "a beast that kills its prey with a single bound."

Shadows

      The harsh shadows on the pavement from the fence posts caught my attention while visiting the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The contrast and repetition led me to photograph it.  

Row Boat

    “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”

Henry Miller

Fountain

      This water fountain is one of the main attractions located at the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Not only did I want to capture its overall appearance, I also wanted to capture the fountain's simplicity and beauty.

Flower

"Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature."

Gerard De Nerval

Cake

     This is a photograph of a red velvet cake. Photographing food can be both a challenge and a pleasure. The challenge with photographing food is styling and lighting it to make it look appetizing to the viewer. For me, the pleasure of photographing this was being able to eat it, since red velvet is my favorite kind of cake.

Lobster Trap

     This is an image of a lobster trap I found while walking along the harbor in Province Town, Massachusetts. Lobsters are lured into the trap using bait such as fish or chum and each cage can hold several lobsters.  

Reflections

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.”

― Mother Teresa

Rusted Barbwire

     Growing up on a farm in Maryland has given me such love and joy for the country. I love the smells, the sounds (or lack there of), and the views. While driving around one day enjoying the scenery, I found this fence that bordered the road and someone's property. The old, rusted barbwire caught my attention the way it was wrapped around the worn fence with dry, mangled leaves.

Sheep

    Just a few facts about sheep:

• Their life expectancy is between 10 to 12 years. 
• Sheep raising is the oldest organized industry
• There are approximately 900 different breeds around the world
• They produce 8 pounds of wool in one year
• Sheep have poor eyesight but excellent hearing

Billiards

      This is a Billiard table set up and ready to be played. This table was found in a local hotel and bar in Los Alamos, California. The bar was very interesting on the inside, it was covered with signed dollar bills tacked to the ceiling, animal heads on the walls, and had a western/country vibe. The locals were very friendly and welcomed me in to explore and photograph their local hangout.  

Walt Disney Concert Hall

   The Walt Disney Concert Hall is known world wide for its concerts and its structural appearance. This detail image of the building shows only a portion of the unique architectural design envisioned by Frank Gehry. 

Drawer

     This is a detail image of the drawer to an end table. The vintage look of the table and the handle which appeared to be rusted on the drawer caught my attention, giving me the desire to photograph it. I really wanted to emphasis the handle, which is why I made it the focus of the image. I later desaturated it to give it more of a vintage feeling.  

Boat

     This is an image of a fisherman's boat that passed by me while photographing some people surfing. It appeared to have been a good day for these fishermen, for there was a flock of seagulls hovering over and following the scent of dead fish.

Hearst Castle

     This image is of the outdoor pool at the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. The Hearst Castle is a great place for both tourist and photographers. It is also still frequently used by the family members.

Seals

     These are just a few of the seals that I saw while visiting the Carpinteria Seal Sanctuary in California. These seals seemed to stop and pose for me right before flopping back into the water.

Bench

     This is a detail image of an old rusted bench in Los Alamos, California. The antique feel and design of the wrought iron arm rests, were the first aspects that caught my attention. Even with the rust, its beauty still shines through with every curve and delicate detail.   

Round-up

     There is a lot of energy and excitement involved in a cow branding. First, one cowboy will rope the calf around the neck. Then, another cowboy ropes its hind legs from behind, bringing it to the ground. Once roped, a couple men will run out and hold the calf down while they brand it.

Cowboy

     This image, from a cow branding in Los Alamos, California, is of Blaine trying to free an already branded calf after being accidentally roped.

Cow Branding

    Hooves beating against the ground, the whooshing of the ropes, and the cries from the calves, were the sounds that were heard today while photographing a cow branding in Los Alamos, California. This was my first time both photographing and experiencing a cow branding. The excitement, atmosphere, people, and food, made for one great day.

Antiques

     Los Alamos is a small country town in the mountains of California. It is known for its antique shops and western style buildings and theme. While visiting this town, you will experience the friendly and welcoming locals who will make you feel more at home.

Mountains

    One thing about California that I love, are the views. I found this amazing view one day while hiking on a mountainous trail in Los Padres National Park. The park covers approximately 1.75 million acres of central California.