DreAm NATION

Permalink CRITICAL EXPOSURE I would like to think that sometimes what you see has more to do with what you’re feeling at the time, then what is actually presented in front of you. Clearly this picture is over exposed but it’s the over exposure that makes this picture interesting. Walking down a path in Waterbury, I wanted to capture a never-ending trail. The over blown highlight of the sun makes it hard for the walker to see ahead of him self. I wanted to translate that feeling in this picture… the sense of not being able to see what is in front of you.
Permalink VANTAGE POINT They say a midget standing over a the shoulder of Golith can see further than a giant… well when taking this picture walking up a trail in Bristol, my camera was trying to see futher than I am… or was. Anyways, although the frame of this picture is neat and composed, one can’t help but wonder want is on the other side of that hill. Contrast and saturation in post adds to the seduction to this photography. You can almost feel the sun shining right in your face!!
Permalink LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL This photo was taken the first night of the snow storm that happened here in the Northeast that brought down power lines and tree branches. The power outage was more than an inconvenience, it was a safety hazard. With hugh tree limbs scattered across the road, and power lines draped across front yards, this halloween was cancelled for many due to children safety. In the daytime, people lived their normal lives and did their work by the light of the sun. When night fell, you would be surrounded by the darkness of the twilight; only to be greeted by the flickering of candlelights in neighbor’s windows. The contrast of highlights to the shadows gives the candlelight the sheer power of a lighthouse to a black sea. 
Permalink TRANSLUCENT NIGHT Night photography is very interesting to me. At night, light is so spares to the lens, that the camera instantly consumes any photons that happens to pass by the photographer’s sight. This picture is dark by nature, but the contrast of highlights and shadows give the photograph a new character. The whites are bright and the blacks and deep. You can see the texture in the grass and the intensity of the floodlight’s beam. Of course the most interesting subject in the photo is the photographer, who appears ghost-like. With the use of a tripod and a 3” sec shutter speed, this effect was possible. Another thing to note is the distance between the two subjects. It seems as if the model up top is obivious to the photo being taken of him giving the viewer more reason to believe in it ghostly presence. Happy Halloween!! 
Permalink NEGATIVE SPACE I like the fact that this photo never resolves itself. It’s almost hard to look at the chair for too long because of the empty space that occupies the leaves. Also the blue container at the top right and the metal legs of the chair are cut off from the frame of the picture. This technique opens up the photo to the viewer suggesting that there is more to this world then what is presented. Who knows what is seen beyond the chair.. Have a seat!
Permalink PLAY CLOTHES I remember when I was a kid and after school when I came home, I had to change from my school clothes to my play clothes before I was allowed outside. This is my daughter Zaniya, and me and her were at Page Park in Bristol. Her favorite thing to do at the park is cross the zip-line thingy! I used a big aperture because the distance from the background to her was far enough to create an interesting depth of field. The light from the sun gave Zaniya some interesting shadows, giving a detailed outline of Zaniya’s playful personality.
Permalink FREEDOM BOULEVARD Memorial blvd in Bristol, CT is home to a variety of statues and structures built in remembrance of the soldier that have fallen. I took this picture because the bold colors and shape of the banner is not only recognizable, but is also patriotic in it’s invitation. Red.. White.. and Blue, Stars and Stripes.. this long road is paved with them. We continue to live free. When you drive by, check out the boulevard!
Permalink WEAPON OF CHOICE Pretty intense situation to be in as a photographer huh? Well the money shot was made and the camera is still intact!  Actually, this photo was staged but the theme is totally organic. Skate boarding is not only a sport, but a lifestyle. The board is a tool that frees the rider from the traditions of conventional thinking. Police, security guards, parents, even teachers are at the mercy of the skate board when the wheels goes off. Whether the board is use to free the rider or protect the rider’s privacy.. opposition beware! This is the skate boarder’s weapon of choice.  
Permalink SOLAR FLARE On top of the highest hill in Waterbury, CT, I waited for the perfect moment to snap a picture of the Sun setting. The lens flare from the sun cuts thru the darkest part of this photograph, giving it a compelling gradient. The ISO was 200, aperture 5.6, shutter speed was 1/60.
Permalink GROWING PAINS This is my son, Ceasar! He loves to play sports. I shot this photo with the intent of catching the ball mid-air. I focused the focal length on the ball so when the ball was tossed, I could freeze the action of the toss while catching my son’s expression anticapating it. When taking this picture, I had to be aware of the direction of the light source (the sun), and where the shadows were. The picture was taken with a shutter speed of 1/800 and an aperture of 5.0. Since it was a sunny day, the ISO was 100, with a 70-300 zoom lens set to 70mm focal length.