Stories and inspirations behind the photos
Ballet on the Beach
While vacationing in Waikiki, at Fort DeRussy Beach, good timing and some luck allowed me to photograph the Hawaii Ballet Theatre, using this beachfront as the setting. The ballet was conducting a photo shoot for its marketing campaign.
With the permission of the ballet, I was allowed to photograph the dancers during certain periods. As a token of appreciation, some of my pictures were provided and have been used by the organization.
This Photo's Awards:
- 2023 Best of Show, Indiana State Fair Open Class Photography - Grades 7 Through 12 Divison
- 2022 Reserve Champion, Morgan County Fair
Spectrum of Colors
What might be unexpected in Batesville, Indiana, was the Umbrella Sky Project Art Installation. This artwork was allowed in a limited number of cities globally, such as Paris, Lisbon, and Stockholm. The glass object, known as a Lens Ball, in this photo, demonstrates unique characteristics.
The image inside the ball reverses the image, making it appear the colored umbrellas are on the ground. While in the background, somewhat distorted, the umbrellas appear in the original state of hanging in the air. Experimenting with objects like this glass ball establishes beauty from a different perspective.
This Photo's Awards:
- 2021 Sweepstakes Award, Indiana State Fair (highest honor among all 4-H photography projects in all categories)
- 2021 Champion, Morgan County Fair
- 2021 Best of Show, Morgan County Fall Foliage Festival
- 2023 October Merit Award by Professional Photographers of America (PPA)
Orlando Sunrise
Experiences breed opportunities.
That's the lesson from this picture while taking my first ride in a hot air balloon in Florida during the COVID pandemic. The sun coming up to begin the new day, produces the scene for this moment. Photographs such as this ariel view, allowed me to see moments from different angles, affording me to appreciate life's moments on a greater scale.
Spiraling Toward a Path
Sometimes capturing the shot you want takes patience and extra time. This photo, at The Rookery Building, in downtown Chicago demonstrated this. The staircase was designed by, Frank Lloyd Wright and to obtain this image, I was required to take a tour of the building.
Speculation on photos from others can be interesting conversation pieces, creating enjoyment and rewards for myself. After taking this picture and being on display, I am often asked if the picture was shot looking down at the floor or up toward the ceiling. For this photo, I'll let the mystery of that debate continue.
This Photo's Awards:
- 2022 Sweepstakes Award - portion of the collection of photos, Indiana State Fair (highest 4-H photography honor mentioned above, second straight year)
- 2022 Best of Show and First Place (black & white edition), Morgan County Fall Foliage Festival
Equipment & services utilized
