sunset, gulf of mexico

christmas by the sea

key west lighthouse

maggie

assignment: classic b&w portraiture

the lumen project

The Biocommunications Concentration in the Department of Photographic Technology 

at Randolph Community College presents...

In the beginning of this semester, the Creative Problem Solving class worked on an assignment to create lumen prints. (how to lumen). This project has been done for years, but our instructor, Kevin Eames, was so impressed with our work, he decided to take on the first ever lumen book project. With the class broken up into teams, we spent the majority of the semester digitizing our lumen prints, creating the book, and producing a companion calendar.

Not only was this an amazing experience, but it gave everyone in the class a chance to really get to know each other. After many long hours and changes to the design of the book, our final product is complete!

All profits from this project go to the Randolph Community College Foundation for Photography Student Scholarships. For more information about the RCC Foundation, visit randolphccfoundation.org.

Help support all the artists and the RCC Foundation by purchasing a book: 

http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/2670463

nchsaa state championship game

i had the opportunity to cover the Ayden-Grifton Chargers in the NCHSAA class 1AA state championship game yesterday for the Kinston Free Press at Wake Forest University's BB&T Field. the Chargers fought hard against the Swain County Maroon Devils but were unable to reach victory, losing to the Devils 20-14.

photos featured in the Kinston Free Press can be seen here:

 article 1   article 2

            

assignment: hobby portrait

second image from long term portrait project.

assignment: studio portrait

we were asked to use one model as part of a long term portrait project. the first of the bunch - a studio portrait. huge thanks to maggie for being such a great model!

jack

assignment: photo illustration

Photo Illustration is used to communicate topical ideas or concepts, which aren't necessarily tied to a specific person, place, or location, but are news worthy topics.

This is the article I chose: (NY Times) Congress Blocks New Rules on School Lunches

The article addresses the Dept of Agriculture's plan to incorporate more fruits and veggies into school cafeterias in an effort to fight the increasing numbers related to childhood obesity. Congress decided to shut down the plan after listening to lobbyists representing sodas, potatoes (aka french fries) and frozen pizza. They did, however, compromise by adding tomato paste to the fruit/veg category so schools can continue to serve pizza to children for lunch every day. The only rule, there must be one-quarter cup of paste on each slice of pizza for it to count.

my illustration for the article:

¡luchadoras!

[backstage at the first luchadoras wrestling event at motorco in durham, nc]

 

millie

my lovely friend (and amazing photographer): melissa melivin-rodriguez. 

assignment: water

the purpose of this assignment was to capture water... not something that contains or produces water. not something that is associated with water. plain and simple, show the water.

assignment: superfoods

"what appears to be an average everyday food is far from average and ordinary. contained within it are a vast array of 'super substances' that are thought to be absolutely essential for good health. could this be hope for the future of our health or just another unfounded claim?"

this was our starting point for the project. as i researched superfoods, i discovered countless nutritionists and dietitians who oppose the idea, maintaining the thought that it's all a marketing ploy and there aren't any special benefits to eating exotic foods that cost you three times what you'd pay for something just as good for you and simple as...

... blueberries.

assignment: panoramic

this double-stacked panoramic was created using 22 vertical frames of the scene 

(11 across the bottom and 11 across the top) and sewn together in photoshop

[click on image for larger view]

mad tea party

assignment: pottery

light the pottery. watch out for too many specular highlights. 

background must have white to black gradation. make it look pretty.

this made my brain hurt. one day i'll be able to do it with my eyes closed.

[pottery by adam wiley]

assignment: architectural details in the city

country kids, meet the big city.

this past weekend our class was given the opportunity to visit new york for the PDN PhotoPlus International Conference + Expo, thanks to a lovely scholarship from our school's photo foundation. lots of fun toys to look through on the showroom floor. lots of schmoozing. not as much time as i hoped there would be to get around the city and take lots of pictures.

for many of the toddlers in the department, this was their first trip to new york. i found myself jealous of them as they stared up at the skyscrapers for the first time in awe. i wish the novelty of the city still existed for me. instead i was annoyed by the crowds, the cost of a beer...and the snow! (in october???)

maybe i've been living in the boonies too long, but i was actually happy to get back to north carolina.

hot air balloon

assignment preview: business brochure

biocommunications photojournalism class:

our final project in the class was to find a business with at least 10 employees where we had access to the president/CEO and a handful of employees, as well as the offices, for the purposes of producing a brochure or annual report. in addition to employee portraits, we were asked to take some photos of other employees while they worked, detail shots of the company's product or service, and finally an exterior of the office. the photos were to be organized in a layout with copy related to the company's history and mission, along with captions to explain each photo. 

i chose to photograph HIGHLAND BREWERY in Asheville, NC for the project and cannot thank Nancy, Oscar, Erica enough for their willingness to help me out! the kindness and generosity of the entire staff made this a great learning experience!

looking over my instructor's notes, i've decided to make some adjustments to my final turn-in, but in the meantime i thought i'd post a few of the detail images from that photo shoot...

the lone ranger

assignment: on-location business portrait

chuck hall,  president

streetcars car wash

greesnboro, nc

dixie classic