World AIDS Day

In honor of World AIDS Day I decided to take some time to photograph an annual Whitman-Walter Clinic candlelight vigil held in Dupont Circle on this December night. Washington has the worst HIV rate in the country, and so I find it important to photograph these things because in doing so it accomplishes what photojournalism does best: raise awareness. Check out WorldAIDSDay for more info.

DC in Drag: A Series of Portraits

Tonight was DC's annual drag race, a celebration of counter culture on 17th St NW. Hundreds of men dressed in their finest feminine apparel converge on this spot every Tuesday before Halloween. Their objective: to flaunt what they got for a couple hours down the street, ultimately partaking in two-block a foot race in which one lucky high heel-er is crowned the fastest of them all... in heels of course. This event has always been something I've been drawn to photographing. I'd venture to say it makes for one of my favorite Washington-insiders' activities.

This year I decided to shoot it differently than I normally would. While I'm a photojournalist at heart, I thought this would give me the chance to really explore my new found love of lighting techniques and Avendonian-style portraiture... dare I say I tried. With the generous help of Chris Gregory and Alex Hoff holding that damn white background in the rain for hours, and with extra help from CDIA, Paul Morse, and Ryder Haske for various pieces of equipment, I was able to be my own mobile studio in the streets. One background, one light, one camera, one lens.

Hopefully, you enjoy these images as much as I do, although I bet I enjoyed making them a hellofalot more.

Messing Around with Studio Lighting

For some photographers, like myself, there's nothing more fun than having a boat load of equipment at your disposal and simply getting the chance to play. This Friday I was lucky enough to stumble upon such an opportunity, but this time not with a new camera body or a tack-sharp lens. Instead, thanks to friend and photographer Chris Gregory, I ventured out of my safety zone and played around with studio lighting. This was more of a chance to dabble than to accomplish anything, a good way to waste a Friday afternoon, but it comes to show you that nice images can be made with the simplest intentions. No deadline, no one to please, just a couple photog's like kids in a candy store. Add in some of Chris' friends as models (Chris came to model a bit as well), and who coulda guessed, but some of the shots that came out I ended up really enjoying. I hope you enjoy them too.

A Man and his Ukulele

Alex Abnos is a good friend of mine, so when he told me he was going to pursue a career as a musician, the first thing I wanted to know is how I could help him out. A portrait session to make sure he could properly promote himself was the obvious first step. The second would be to check out his band, The White Foliage. They really are a talented bunch, well done and best of luck Alex. Here are a few shots from the shoot, I really like how they came out.

ZOMMMBIIIESSS!

That's right, you read the title of this post correct, zombies took over DC this weekend. As one of the last remaining survivors, I share with you these photos, exclusively captured in McPherson Square. Okay, so this may not be the bio-terror nightmare of the living-dead, but what's more fun than a Saturday capturing about 75-100 people zombie-walk through Chinatown? Here are a few shots from the day, and for more info and more photos, check out the BrightestYoungThings blogpost on the days event.

Andra and Greg

This past weekend I had the pleasure of photographing a wedding in Pennsylvania for one of the nicest couples I've ever met, Greg and Andra Morton. Having photographed a wedding or two in my day, I've found that there are certain couples that just have that glow about them, and Greg and Andra definitely have that. You can tell they have truly found their soul mate. Add in some crazy Latvian relatives, (Morton's you guys were awesome too!) and a beautiful location, and you have yourself quite the celebration of love.

I know the Dindzans, the Mortons, and perhaps a few other memorable characters are interested in seeing some sneak-peak images, so here is a slide show that might showcase some highlights. Congratulations Greg and Andra.

Please give this slide show a minute to load and view in full screen by clicking the icon on the bottom right of the slide show. Thank you.

Being Bozeman: A Photographic Portrait

I've gone to GW for four years, and as weird as it sounds my time here is coming to an end. Come this May, I will officially be a college graduate, and if I'm being honest (because really who wants a sugarcoated blog) I'm both thrilled and scared sh**less at the same time. There is light at the end of this tunnel though, a world of possibilities and a career ahead. I look towards my peers like Ben Solomon for example, a former Hatchet photo editor and friend, for hope that YES, us kids can still make it in the field. But I digress.

What I'd really like you all to check out is my newest completed photo project on the GW Colonials' new womens basketball coach, Mike Bozeman. You can see it here:

http://media.gwhatchet.com/interactive/2009/0312_bozeman.html

If I had to be frank about a few things it's this: I love the womens basketball team perhaps a hundred times more than the mens. It's not that I don't find the men's team captivating, but instead I find the womens team especially interesting. No one goes to their games, and yet they play. No one really takes notice when they make it to the Sweet 16 two years in a row, and yet they play with a postive attitude and a desire to prove their worth.

This year, with a new head coach, they failed to make the tournament, but with the loss of a few seniors from last season they are sure to bounce back, or at least be a team that proves its worth. Bozeman is a very nice man, and I wish all the best to him and the womens team in the future. I hope you enjoy these photos.

Thanks for reading.

The R4A: Some Quick Images

Over winter break my parents were nice enough to get me a new camera. For all those wondering, this wasn't some giant 200-million-billion megapixel beast that seems to be dominating the market... my request instead was for something that would make ME a better shooter, not for something that would necessarily make my shots LOOK better with less effort. For someone as young as me I feel that it's important to continue to shoot film, to continue in the tradition of all those famous photographers that lived and died by the 35mm frame. That is why when Santa came around he brought me a Bessa R4A... a tiny manual rangefinder with a fixed 35mm f/2.5 lens that weighs next to nothing.

From now on I plan to make film a regular part of my shooting habits... I think its important and well worth it. Here are a few shots from some test rolls I took back in California. Enjoy!