Images

Mixed

So it’s been one year today.  I’ve been thinking about this post for a while.  Should I post about it?  Am I dwelling on the past or am I simply being nostalgic?  Should I let it go?  Should I move on?  How do I feel about it now that it’s 365 days behind me?  I still have pretty mixed emotions.

So much has changed in the past 12 months.  People I knew and worked with daily have moved on.  Initially, I was incredibly angry and I held on to it for a long time (still have a little left).  I mean, how could this have happened?  Believe me there’s a unanimous opinion about that one.  We decided to remain in the area because it’s our home.  I understand the need for most to move out of the area – that’s the accepted protocol to stay in this industry and move up; however, I wasn’t in a position where I could do that.  So I had to pick up the pieces and take a crack at it here and I think I’ve done ok for the first year.

What do I think now that I’m 52 weeks removed?  Well, there’s still a very large part of me that is saddened by it all.  I think it’s especially noticeable to me because I’m teaching a video production class right back in the same building.  Kinda heart-breaking to watch my control room be dismantled.  But when it’s all said and done, how is any negative talk going to benefit me now anyway?  I’ve moved on, but I’ll never forget.  That was my dream job.  I was doing what I enjoyed.  I essentially had no commute.  I created some lasting friendships and met so many awesome people along the way.  Some, of whom, I’m still working with these days.

I would never be where I am today and doing what I’m doing had it not been for several people who believed in me from the start.  There I was, struggling to find something in the creative industry.  No formal training in it.  A degree in Psychology.  And high hopes.  Then along came TV3 Winchester.

For 7 years I got to have my cake and eat it, too.  For 7 years, I built up a reputation that has carried me into the next chapter of my life.  I still have a passion for what I’m doing and it’s a daily struggle, but such is the life of a freelancer.  But now I have a track record behind me that’s helping me tremendously.

I don’t think I’ll soon forget the memories and experiences from my time with TV3 Winchester that have brought me to where I am right now.

The original cast and crew.

The original cast and crew.

Happy Holidays

The photo booth was a big hit.  To my surprise, one of the employees at the company built a backdrop for the booth.  I tethered my camera and, through Lightroom, every new photo was instantly developed with a preset I’d created earlier.  And all the guests had an instant preview on the big screen.  It was absolutely perfect.

What a perfect backdrop for a holiday photo booth!

What a perfect backdrop for a holiday photo booth!

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.

Booth

Getting ready for a photo booth shoot.  You really can’t go wrong with a photo booth at an event.  Can’t wait to see what zany stuff’s gonna happen at this one…

Photo Booth = the original selfie.

Photo Booth = the original selfie.

Preserved

A little twist on the obligatory annual family portrait as we will be forever preserved in bobble heads.

Yep, that's us.

Yep, that’s us.

Nerves

I wonder when I’ll get past the nervous feeling I get when I’m flying over water.  Still, it makes for some awesome footage.

Giving Thanks

With it being almost a year since the demise of the local ABC affiliate in Winchester, I’m thankful that I was able to remain in that area and that my family was supportive as I made the transition into doing what I enjoy doing.  It’s been somewhat of a bumpy ride and it’s certainly not over yet, but I’m thankful that they came with me.

I know, it's not the most traditional image of Thanksgiving. Just another thing I'm thankful for (we missed the first big storm).

I know, it’s not the most traditional image of Thanksgiving. Just another thing I’m thankful for – we missed the first big storm back home.

Drink Lid

I think Snapple drinks have programmed everybody to look under the lids of their drinks to see what’s under there.  You know you do it.  I’m alway looking under the lid.

I think I got somebody else's drink.

I think I got somebody else’s drink.  This was not a Snapple, by the way.

Broad Side

So is this the broad side of the barn that everybody’s always talking about?  Guess I CAN hit it…

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Character

I end up shooting almost as much of the location at cyclocross races as I do of the race itself.  The Luray caverns cross race has some very cool buildings and old farm equipment on the property.  Lots and lots of character and textures.  Just really cool to shoot there.

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Sun Shower

I think it’s cool how you can sometimes see a rain storm way off in the distance.  That’s what I saw here, only it’s a sun shower.  One of these days I’m going to figure out how to shoot those rays so they look like they do when I’m looking at them.

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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.

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Closing Time

It’s a real race to get in position for the sunset these days.  The last buses from the school day haven’t even left the school, yet!  It’s worth it though.  I’m flying from the comfort of a heated vehicle these days.  I wonder how easy it would be to fly from a moving vehicle.  I suppose I should be even more careful now that the FAA is gaining ground with the NTSB, huh?

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This one’s on my gallery site, too.

 

Soarin’

I was looking back through my images and saw this one and thought “cool, I love those clouds.” Nope, not clouds.  I was only about 50 feet up – just a really foggy morning.  Looks like it was out of a plane though.

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Groupie

We all know what the selfie is by now.  So wouldn’t this be considered a “Groupie?”  A group selfie, right?  Well, that’s what we’re calling it anyway.  And how quickly the concept of a family picture evolves when technology becomes involved.  No need to Photoshop a missing family member in anymore.

This is what you do when a family member is away and you want to include him in the group selfie - aka groupie around our house.

This is what you do when a family member is away and you want to include him in the group selfie – aka groupie around our house.

Graffiti

So it’s not graffiti.  I thought it was something like a senior hallway that changes every year or something like that.  Nope, it’s a wall of constellations.  Yeah, look really closely.  I always wondered what it was.  And I’ve always wanted to take a photo of the cupola through the glass hallway.  Here’s both – well, sort of…

The "bridge" at John Handley High School. | Order a print of this image.

The “bridge” at John Handley High School. | Order a print of this image.

Running

I’ve posted all my images from the Battlefield Half Marathon last weekend on my gallery site, but I really wanted to get to the video that I shot that day, too.  There’s some awesome scenery in the surrounding county here.  Enjoy…

Second Mortgage

I should know better than to follow technology news when I’m the biggest gear head I know.  I don’t need a car, right?

DJI's new product launched today. Anybody want to finance this for me...?

DJI’s new product launched today. Anybody want to finance this for me…?

Freedom

For all those who fought for my freedom I simply say “Thank you.”  Enjoy this moving piece performed by the John Handley High School band and choir.  It was originally written to honor the first responders during the 9/11 attack, but it applies here, as well.