Into the night sky

In a Dash (2013)

Last week, I shared some of my fireworks photographs from my photo shoot. I loved that photo shoot so much that I decided to share more photos. For In A Dash, I did a long exposure so the motion of the fireworks can be easily seen. One of the best parts about watching fireworks is how fast they explode. It makes the experience thrilling and captivating. However, this characteristic, makes photographing fireworks difficult. If you are too slow, you won't capture the fireworks. Yet, with a long exposure, not only are the fireworks captured but you can also see the path of fireworks. This is almost a rare view of fireworks, as people can not see the path clearly with the naked eye with the lack of time. This photograph stands for slowing down and taking your time. Sometimes the best things in life take time and patience. Although these fireworks explode fast, they look quite beautiful slowed down.

    For Forming Stars, I love how the groups of fireworks seem to overlap and cross paths. I named it Forming Stars because in a way that is what it looks like. These fireworks take up the night sky and look like shining stars. Lastly, for Misdirection, I captured the confusion of the fireworks. In this shot, the fireworks are going in almost every direction. This can lead to the idea of not knowing where to go and how sometimes you can just feel lost. On the other hand, being lost can be a good think, because that means there is so direct path you have to take. This photograph can stand for freedom as the viewer is completely free to follow the photograph in whichever way they feel. All in all, photographing fireworks is not only an exciting subject to shoot but also a symbolic one.             

Forming Stars (2013)

Misdirection (2013)

Soaring Sights

Off the Ground (2013)

        For this photo shoot, I photographed fireworks during a 4th of July celebration. I really enjoyed these shots because of the wonderful colors and interesting shapes they create. Photographing fireworks can be difficult though because of how fast they explode. Every second puts them in a different position with different colors. It takes a lot of precise timing to get it right. Another challenge of photographing fireworks is that unlike other subjects, you don't know what the shots are going to look like until after. You can't exactly frame the shots as the motion and shapes are ever changing.
For Off the Ground, I was trying to capture how the fireworks soar into the air from the ground. I really like this photograph because it shows how all these fireworks come from the one source. It is truly amazing to know that the  fireworks that fill up the entire night sky all come from one spot. I also liked the contrasts of colors and intensities. There are several intensities of blues and browns. Lastly, I like the shape. This photograph shows how the fireworks span out and interestingly enough, an almost tornado shape was formed.

Flowery Burst (2013)

         For Flowery Burst, I wanted to capture how sometimes things that people make resemble nature. In this case, these fireworks look every much like a flower blooming in the grass. Its a symbol of how life can be deceiving. Just when you think you have something figured out, it turns out to be another. I also really liked this photograph because it shows how fast the fireworks are moving. You get a sense of motion in this photograph and how life can be quick. If you don't pay attention, you could easily miss something beautiful.
         Lastly, for Red Lines I liked how the fireworks streaked in several different ways throughout the photograph. On the right side, the lines are lighter, brighter and much thicker. Then as you move towards the left, the lines become weaker, fainter, and much thinner. This is a symbol of how everyone approaches situations differently in life. Some people are bold with their approaches easily understood while others are much more hidden and harder to understand. In addition, I also like the contrasts between the darks and lights.        

Red Lines (2013)

Texture

For this shoot, I photographed several locations in northern arizona with the goal of capturing textures. One thing that most people do not notice when they look at nature is texture. Everything we see has texture and below are some of the amazing ones I found. For Golden Sands, I feel in love with the contrasting colors in each texture. The bottom of the photography is a grassy field with several dark bushes. Then as you move up the photography, the colors lighten and become much lighter. The dark brown rocks become a nice golden yellow. Then as you continue moving up the photo, the yellows turn to pale reds and blues. As you look at each part of the photography, you can almost feel the textures. The grasses look prickly, the brown rocks look rough with the golden rocks looking slightly edger. The top half of the photography looks more mellow, appearing smooth and lightened.

Golden Sands (2013)

      For Creating a Path, I wanted to show how everything you do leaves a mark. As you find your path in life, you leave marks behind and affects others lives. In this instance, as a person walks across this land, the land becomes indented. While this photography is quite simplistic, it perfectly carries this message. I also love this photo because it shows several different textures. The miniature brown stick looks quite sturdy but its cracked end, gives off a sharp feel. The white sticks, on the other hand, look flexible and quite smooth and the sand looks soft as a foot easily stepped though this spot. Last, I loved the lighting in this photography. With the sun only hitting bits and pieces of this photography, the foot print appears almost 3D. If you concrete, it comes hard to tell if the ground was stepped on or if whether the foot print is coming from out of the ground.

Creating a Path (2013)

      For Uneasy Ground, I wanted to symbolize the hardships life presents us. Throughout life, we all experience rough patches and times where everything seems uneasy and hard to walk with. This pile of rocks and an old building symbolize this. It also represents overcoming the struggles and hard times. Nothing lasts forever and as you climb pass these rocks, sunshines appears as seen by the corner of blue sky in the upper left. In addition, the varied rocks and concrete, give the viewers a sense of multiple textures. Some areas appear softer and smoother with others as rigid and sharp. In all, these three photographs display just a few of the amazing textures found in nature.

Uneasy Ground (2013)

Big Time Rush

Never Going to Give Up (2011)

Singing (2011)

Since I have been posting a lot of concert photos lately, I decided to add more. These are some photos of the band, Big Time Rush performing at the Arizona State Fair a few summers ago that I found on my computer. They were pretty fun to watch but  the show was a bit short and the production was low budget. They didn't have much of any staging unfortunately so the shots come off a little plain, but their talent and singing ability made up for it. Although I wished they would have singed longer, with a set being under an hour, what they did perform was pleasing. The boys had good energy on stage with Logan connecting the most with the audience. The boys performance was descent and fun, but a little disappointing. The dancing felt too rehearsed and there was not enough story or personal connection. Bare in mind that this performance was before their first major tours so maybe they are better now. I certainly hope so because I know the boys can do much better.  

James (2011)

Just Smile (2011)

Shining in the City

Lighted Horizon (2013)

For this post, I decided to show off some city shots I have. These are from my recent trip to Chicago, Il. To me, this photos are symbols of hope and endless possibilities. With Lighted Horizon, the world appears to go on forever and ever. It is as though the world is an endless frontier. If you were to walk in this city, it would seem like you would never stop. This is like life, sometimes we forget how big the world really is and all the possibilities out there. For Tall Beams,  I wanted to show how extraordinary massive and tall cities are. On the ground, it is hard to grasp how large these structures really are. From this angle, it becomes more apparent how tall these buildings are and how clustered they seem. Also with these photos, it is fascinating to think that we, humans, were able to light up the dark sky. Cities can service as hope, brighting our world to what was once complete darkness. Building cities, is such a difficult task and it is truly astounding to think that we are able to. This shows us that anything is possible. If you put your mind to it, work hard, and never give up, you can accomplish anything.

Tall Beams (2013)

Happy New Years and Holidays

It's been a while since I have updated my blog so I decided I would start to post again. First off, Happy Holidays! I hope everyone had great holidays and are ready for a new year. 2013 is another new year. A new year for new beginnings and the future. This photo is one I took of a little house that was under my christmas tree during the holidays. I added a blue tint and some other effects to give it a winter feel. I also wanted to show that sometimes the smallest simplest things we see in our homes have beauty. This is especially fitting to post right now because in Arizona, a large cold front has just hit the state. It has been close to freezing at night the entire week. Normally, we have days in the 70s and clear sunny days. Have a great new years and I look forward to posting more photographs soon!

Tree House (2013)

Mountains

For this post, I wanted to show off the beautiful mountains found in Sedona, AZ. The red rock in Shadowy Days is quite breathtaking in person. The red rocks have such clarity and visible texture. To me, this mountain represents the diversity of life. At times it can go by fast and its hard to notice what passed like how the bottom of this mountain is less detailed, whereas other times you feel like anything is possible as long as you work for it. Rough Edges, stands for the irregularity of life and how things can be disorganized. Yet, these are the times where anything can happen. I like the textures and the shadows throughout this photograph. Some areas are bright, clear and concise, whereas others are darker and hidden.

Shadowy Days (2012)

Rough Edges (2012)