My Favorites

Remember

I spent the last three mornings scouting out a shot I’ve wanted to get for some time.  The flag was incredibly uncooperative the first day I arrived, which really ticked me off because I woke up at the butt-crack of dawn!  I wasn’t initially going to go out again today because I thought I’d see the exact same thing.  It’s typically not been very windy in the morning lately, but today I got the shot.  Man, did I get the shot.  If you’re into shooting sunrises, hitting the snooze button is not an option!

“Remember those who served.  All gave some, some gave all.”

Remember

Order a print of this image.

The Bloom

There’s definitely a dichotomy when it comes to Apple Blossom.  I know people who avoid it like the plague and I also know people who go to every single event.  Regardless of how you feel about it here’s a little aerial eye candy to start your week.

note – make sure you click the little gear wheel and watch in HD

Parade

This was my 21st year of Apple Blossom Festivals.  I realize that’s still fewer than a lot of people, but when you want to shoot unique images, it starts to get difficult.  Every year I think to myself “self, there’s nothing new to shoot.  You’ve seen it.  Yep, that’s another fire truck.”  But this year I got to see a different vantage point.  Yep, you guessed it – here’s a bird’s-eye view of that same parade.

A fun new perspective on an annual event in Winchester, VA.

A fun new perspective on an annual event in Winchester, VA.

Low Light

Just out testing the low light capabilities of this aerial rig.  So far – I like it a lot (spoken in the best Lloyd Christmas voice possible).  I also had my first (and most likely NOT my last) encounter with law enforcement.  It was a really quick response (guess it makes sense if you look closely in the bottom left of the frame).  I hadn’t even depleted one battery yet.  It was a positive experience and I’m hoping that goes a long way in my efforts to represent this new technology.

The results of my late-night low-light endeavor. Well worth it all in my opinion.

The results of my late-night low-light endeavor. Well worth it all in my opinion.

Graduation

Just over 50 days until we’re done with high school as a family.  Wow, that’s going to be a big piece of the puzzle that’s missing.  Moving on to act II and getting ever so close to that empty nest!

How many different ways can I shoot this iconic cupola? I'm determined to find out.

How many different ways can I shoot this iconic cupola? I’m determined to find out.

Wicked

Gotta get back into shooting every day.  Slacker!  <— Spoken in the best Principal Strickland voice you can muster.

I haven’t been consistent with my shooting these days and since I’m pretty much back to normal here at Cedarmeade Studios, I’m making that my goal moving forward.  I may not post every day, but I’m going to shoot every day which will inevitably lead to posting more.  At least that’s what I’m hoping.

Is that the "something wicked" that's coming this way?

Is that the “something wicked” that’s coming this way? | Order a print of this image.

Heights

No, I’m not afraid of heights.  I’m terrified of the imminent probably of my death and/or dismemberment from the fall.

I want to say thank you to all the firefighters this weekend for making me feel welcomed to their training burn in Clarke County especially Chief Jason Burns who let me shoot all over the place.  I was so concerned about being in the way and, at every turn, there was somebody allowing me to be right in close to all the action.  They even fed me lunch!

I came away with some awesome images and footage for their recruiting video.  I produced a recruiting video 5 years ago and this one will be a complete refresh of that one (in the same style).

A big shout out to Zayna Elhady for allowing me to buzz her with the aerial camera and also letting me post the image here.

A big shout out to Zayna Elhady for allowing me to buzz her with the aerial camera and also for letting me post the image here.

Painting

Just having some fun with a little light painting.  Happy holidays everyone.

IMG_3290-Edit

Phonograph

Shot a holiday event this evening where they had a working phonograph.  So cool to hear that unique sound in the background.

IMG_0106-Edit

Cotton Candy Sky

I recently read a photography post compiled by top professionals indicating what photos I (as a professional wanna-be) should avoid because they’re cliche and “tired.”  You know what, I don’t care.  I don’t always take a photograph based on what the population will consider artful.  In fact, I think being a professional means determining in my own mind what I think to be artful.  And the sunset, although having been shot countless times every day, is different (IMHO) every single day.  That’s the beauty of it.  So enjoy this very unique sunset.

DJI04119-Edit

Bowl

What more can I say, it was a great night for shooting.  Oh, and I’ve decided that the GoPro is a keeper.

Oh what a night - to shoot the Handley Bowl. | Order a print of this image.

Oh what a night – to shoot the Handley Bowl. | Order a print of this image.

Contrasty

The real trick to creating a decent monochromatic image is to have a really contrasty image to start with.  I’m really digging what the new GoPro cameras can do.  The fact that I now have much more control over the exposure is what drew me to them.  I’m not even using it as an action camera as it was initially intended.  Now I have to figure out a way to attach this to my current aerial rig…

Worthy

I took the new GoPro out tonight to determine if it’s worthy enough to be considered a decent camera in my photography tool box.  I’ve made my decision.  What do you think?

The "Beacon of Light" all decked out for the holidays

The “Beacon of Light” all decked out for the holidays. | Order a print of this image.

Filters

I know a lot of people aren’t big on the “creative” images full of filters that come off a cell phone these days – me included.  But I’m a real sucker for a photo that has that graphic novel look to it.

I chose to only take my phone to the Christmas parade tonight.  My thinking was that I’ve shot this parade for 6 years now and I always come home with the same shots.  BORING!!  So here’s what I came home with tonight.

The John Handley Marching Band in the annual Winchester Christmas parade.

The John Handley Marching Band in the annual Winchester Christmas parade.

Material

Do you think there’s an American restaurant in Japan where they grill hotdogs and hamburgers and participate in various American idiosyncrasies?  I wonder what those idiosyncrasies would be.  And I wonder where the Japanese restaurants here in the U.S. get their material.  Is there some father somewhere in Japan making onion ring volcanoes for his kids at dinner?  Is there a Japanese mother making beating heart shapes out of rice?  These are things that make me go “hmmmmmmm…”

IMG_1713-Edit

180º

This morning’s glow was pretty cool.  It completely wrapped around the entire sky.  So many times I’m so focused on the actual sunrise that I forget to do a 180 and check out the other view.  It was tough to pick just one image so here are two.

DJI03935

DJI03936

Bark Bark

I haven’t been incredibly creative for a while.  This, however, may be my favorite commercial in a while that  I created.  That’s my dog Waldo – well, it’s at least his voice in the commercial.

Just Cool

Wow, that was just cool!  When we first started talking about shooting some aerials of the entire student body of WPS, I thought sure it’ll be neat.  That was just cool and a little overwhelming.  To be honest, I was nervous until it was all over.  Shooting aerials of that many people gathered in one space with an aerial camera makes me nervous.  But we pulled it off.  How about that?!  And the camera was a huge hit.  Kids love that stuff – and I’m including adults ‘cuz we’re just big kids, right?

The entire student body of Winchester Public Schools (roughly 4,400 students) gathered today for an aerial shoot promotion cultural diversity. The footage will be featured in a video to be shown in January on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The entire student body of Winchester Public Schools (roughly 4,400 students) gathered today for an aerial shoot promoting cultural diversity. The footage will be featured in a video to be shown in January on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Early Bird

I know the saying – “The early bird gets the worm” – but it’s so much harder this time of year.  I suppose the payoff is worth it.  And also, I don’t like worms.

Such a cool (quite literally) sunrise this morning at the inaugural Battlefield Half Marathon in Frederick County, VA. | Order a print of this image.

Such a cool (quite literally) sunrise this morning at the inaugural Battlefield Half Marathon in Frederick County, VA. | Order a print of this image.

Nature’s Palette

It’s nature’s color palette.  What a great time of year to be a landscape photographer.

Order a print of this image.

Order a print of this image.