Let There Be Light

Ever take a picture which you were convinced not even the most extensive editing process could fix?

I thought for sure that would be the case with one of my most popular photos(and a personal favorite of mine). During my last visit to New York City nearly 5 years ago, I took a picture of a shady Times Square at sunset during Friday rush hour. I was hopeful for how it would turn out, particularly since I had a good angle from my vantage point in the middle of Broadway and 42nd. Let it never be said that I don't risk my life for my art!

When I got back to Columbia and went through my many pictures from the trip, this one was one of the darkest. Since it was my favorite view of Times Square out of the photos I took, the result was rather disappointing. The other photos I took of the area, while brighter, just weren't the same. This photo quickly became an afterthought.

Fast forward four years. After having learned the ins and outs of Photoshop CS4, I decided to revisit the photo just to see what I could do with it, though I can't honestly say I was very hopeful. Fortunately, I was in for a surprise: with just a little brightening, color saturation, and tilt-shifting, it became an entirely new photograph.

I love the effect that resulted in the finished product, titled "At the Crossroads" (referencing Times Square's nickname: "Crossroads of the World"). Times square is often photographed at night, but you don't often see the lights stand out when there is still some daylight, as in this picture. Also, the only area I left in focus is the bottom part of the picture, which emphasizes the woman approaching the square from the bottom-left, while the slight blur gives Times Square a timeless effect while also suggesting, rightly so, that she is wandering into an expansive wonderland full of sensory overload.

For the sake of comparison, the original photo can be seen below. It's amazing what a few simple edits can do!

No Fair

Before a recent trip to Myrtle Beach, I had plenty of things in mind that I wanted to photograph. Throughout the trip, I took lots of pictures at some of the Grand Strand's most famous hotspots. However, it was what wasn't there that I most wanted to capture.

Growing up, a trip to the beach just wasn't complete without a trip to the Myrtle Beach Pavilion. Though I'm well into adulthood, you can imagine my disappointment and that of so many others when it was taken down several years ago due to budget reasons. To this day, there is only a vast, empty lawn in its place.

As a kid, I loved visiting the Pavilion; this time, I visited its ghost. Of all the pictures I took during this trip to Myrtle Beach, this is the one that most resonates with me on a personal level: "The Fair That Wasn't There."

Post-Apocalypse

I had the privilege of attending the 2009 Air and Ground Expo at McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, SC, a few weeks ago. Even before I went, I knew there would be plenty of good photo-ops, but I had no idea of what I was in store for. It was the show of a lifetime, and while I indeed walked away with a ton of great pictures, the particular one seen above perfectly captured the thrill of the experience (I was fortunate to get that shot since the fire had turned to black smoke just a moment later).

Entitled "Apocalypse Wow", it was the first photo I published on Flickr after starting a photography business recently. I've loved photography for many years and decided it was finally time to do something with it. Thanks to this photo, I was able to start my business with a bang! Also, I'm pleased to announce that the business now has an official Web site of which this blog will be a part, as I will use it at times to document my photographic adventures.

Take a look around the site, order a print or two, and have a great time!

Coldplay Takes Charlotte

Several years ago, Prince came to Columbia while on tour at the time. Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the show and I've regretted it since. From that point on I was going to make it a point to do whatever I can to go see my favorite artists when they come somewhere nearby. I don't go to many concerts, so I want to see the people I like especially since you just don't know if or when they'll be back.

Last year's Nine Inch Nails performance in Georgia was my first concert since college, and last night's Coldplay performance at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Charlotte, NC, was the second. Coldplay has been a favorite of mine for years, and there was no way I would have missed it.

I was so looking forward to the show that I decided to make a day of it; I took the day off from work and spent the afternoon in Charlotte before the show. After starting off at SouthPark Mall and checking out IKEA for the first time, I made my way to the amphitheater about half an hour before the doors opened at 7:00...big mistake. I waited as traffic inched along for almost an hour.

I finally got to my seat around 8:00,.and while I wasn't as close to the stage as I'd hoped I would be, I wasn't on the lawn either. Plus, I liked the fact that I was close to the middle, which makes for good pictures. The opening act was a band from Manchester called Elbow, whose music is just as soulful as the band they were opening for. In fact, the lead singer sounded to me almost exactly like Chris Martin.

Coldplay finally took the stage around 9:00, and performed almost all of their biggest hits, and there were a few surprises:

- A performance of "Billie Jean" as a tribute to Michael Jackson:



- An explosion of butterfly confetti:

- Some false starts on a couple of songs prompted a few playful "f-bombs" from Chris Martin, who went on to say, "this better not show up on YouTube!". That was easily the comedic highlight of the night.

It was an amazing concert experience, and I didn't leave empty-handed: I bought a tour program and also picked up some of the confetti on the ground. On our way out, we were all handed free copies of their new live CD, LeftRightLeftRightLeft. They certainly know how to treat their fans with respect, and last night's concert was an unforgettable performance from a world-class band.

Many more photos from the show can be seen here. My next show: U2 in Raleigh, NC, in October. Stay tuned!

Scenes from Roanoke

I went to visit family in Roanoke, Virginia (a.k.a. the "Star City of the South") this past weekend to celebrate the 4th, and suffice it to say that it is one of my all-time favorite cities. Compared to Columbia, the landscape and architecture are both top-notch. It helps that Roanoke has mountains, whereas Columbia is far too flat! Here are some of the better pictures I took over the last few days.

Mill Mountain, featuring the world's tallest manmade free-standing star (over 88' tall):


Roanoke City Market:





The Wachovia Tower, Roanoke's tallest:


Taubman Museum of Art:


Norfolk and Western Building:


Someone loves their Bedazzler:


Scenery:








Sitting area in...you guessed it...a McDonald's!


Roanoke sunset:


Happy 4th!