I took this shot in a 4 shot burst. While the timing was great I was still learning my AI servo function and wish that if I had it to do over again I could have changed a setting. That being said :) For a first night shooting of women's basketball I was thrilled to get some great timing shots.

Sports Shooting

Well, I wanted to put up a shot or two from a Duke Women's Basketball game I went to yesterday. I had tons and tons of fun. The first half I was in the stands and the second half I was allowed to sit in the front row. The front row is mind you fairly close to right behind the pro shooters that have press passes. The only difference is they get to be on the floor (big advantage for perspective) and 2 they had amazing lenses (I had my 28-135 kit lens) that being said I think I did pretty well :) I will let you all be the judge!

Graduations and Other Ceremonies

Well, it finally happened at this last event. I have been paid to take photographs for a while now, but this might have been the first time I felt more like a professional. This past weekend I had the pleasure of shooting a ring ceremony at NC State. Essentially it was much like a graduation type set up as students of the school would make their way across a stage and I would snap a shot as they received their ring and stopped and smiled shaking the hand of the dignified individual giving them their ring. While I have been doing events where I have been paid to take photographs for a while now this was very very different. Behind me were 200-300 parents and friends many of whom were toting cameras to document the occasion. The slightly nerve racking thing, but really the exciting thing, was that I happened to be the "professional" paid to provide the official record for the institution of each person receiving their ring. It was also a bit different because I shot full manual. I am used to shooting manual, but not full manual and I was under strict you will use manual focus rules and did so with good result :) So a ton of fun and I am looking forward to doing Meredith's fall graduation this weekend!

My First DPC Challenge

Well lately I have been on DPChallenge.com more commonly known as DPC it is a Digital Photography website that specializes in challenges and giving members the chance to grow and learn from each other. I entered my first challenge with this shot at the Duke Chapel and I must say I was pretty happy with how it turned out and some of the comments. Take a look and let me know what you think!

Canon 40D

Yes, I do now indeed have my very own Canon 40D. I picked it up and have started to tinker with it. I haven't had nearly enough time to do all that I want with it and I assure you that pictures will soon be on the way (most likely this weekend)!

New Photo Gig

Well, I can now say I am a paid photographer. In hopes of gaining a ton of experience I have started working part-time for a company called Photo Specialties. They specialize in photographing lots of different situations ranging from Fraternity/Sorority parties and formals to high school graduations, college graduations, proms, corporate events, you name it. I have gone through my training and have also done my training shoot so from here on out I am on my own unless an event is big enough to require two shooters. I will post the website for Photo Specialties as I clearly want to give them a shout out.

Closeup of the falls

Closeup of the falls

Upper and Lower

Upper and lower falls

Irratating that I can't flip it

The Big falls

Closeup of the mini pair

80 ISO is as low as it goes and hand held with no tripod is pretty hard I must say.

Waterfall Time

Manual adjust of ISO on a point and shoot is buried a bit :)

Macro 2

Macro 2 I wish the flower on the left was full, but still pretty flower

The clouds roll in

We never got rained on, but clouds rolling in this low were both fun to look at and photograph.

Macro on a point and shoot

Well, while I would love to see some serious bokeh on this not too bad on a point and click

Same Rock more Mountain

Good spot.

Between a Rock and a Mountain Place

Just a cool look at the mountains

Fun Little Tree 2

I really liked this tree :)

Awesome Little Tree 1

Still can't get this photo to turn for me so here is fun little tree 1 . . . sideways

Sun Fun

This one was fun because of all the light interest that was coming through the clouds.

Mountains through the trees

Some unfortunate haze, but nice mountains to look at.

Road Trip!

Well, here are some photos from a road trip Stacie and I took Thursday. Its always good when she gets a day off from Med. School, and we took full advantage heading west to South Mountain State Park.

Final post from this sunset group. I like this image, and would of course clean it up in Adobe to do anything more seriously with it as there are some clear things taht could be cleaned up. I am more interested in thoughts on the shot and what could make it better other than better gear.

Same sunset different take looking down the coast away from the sunset but using the sunset light.

Another image from the same set with no touches.

Well here is upload one. This is a shot I took with a simple point and shoot Canon Powershot on my honeymoon with my wonderful and lovely wife Stacie. No Photoshop cleanup or anything of the sort simple shot and now posted.

A New Blog Begins

Greetings, and welcome to my blog!

This is the first in what I hope to be a long line of entries. The dual purpose of this blog is to put myself out there and also to begin putting some of my photography out there as well. So, I hope this will be both helpful for me to see progression, but also for others to weigh in and tell me what works and what needs work as I progress as a photographer.

I hope you enjoy, and I hope you can help me grow and develop!