REAWAKENING TO LIFE

Division. (Washington, DC) - Self-reflection in the house. Polaroid SX-70.

With State College safely behind, I finally feel like the tires have hit the road, the duck has flown, the lobster has been eaten… this is it. Do or die.

For those of you following for a while, here is an update: I have quit the day job and have now taken up commercial and personal photography full-time on the Hill in Washington, DC. What is surprising is the ratio of time spent doing actual photography to working the business - I would say it is close to 20% shooting and 80% administration/communication. I have also taken up a part-time job at a local bike shop (Capitol Hill Bikes), which has really been great. What can I say? Life is good, one day at a time, and the front-facing camera is a much better view than the back-facing one.

I don’t know at what conscious-level this occurred, but after being here for two months, I feel like today is the first day beyond the honeymoon phase of being here in DC. I raised my photo rates today, I have been contacting new leads, and a fresh wind has come into my head regarding art and photography. I feel the roots heading down, down, down, where before I was fighting this downward growth tooth-and-nail in Central PA. Not that there was anything wrong with that region necessarily, but it never felt like DC feels now…

…Like home.

Snow Storm. (Washington, DC) - Dave out in the snow, looking for a convenience-store source of butter and whipping cream for snow day cooking. Canon 5D Mk2, Canon 50mm f/1.4.

Whim. (Boyertown, PA) - One of the extra shots from a shoot with Amy and her sister over Thanksgiving break. Thought it was well worth keeping. Canon 5D Mk2, Canon 50mm f/1.4.

Boxed (State College, PA) - My life is packed into boxes, which are packed into a Forester, which are unloaded from said Forester, and then are dumped into a new place. Repeat five times. This is the last known picture of me in the Old Boalsburg apartment, and have since moved into the Stilson’s KILLER basement apartment. I have a park for a backyard… :D Canon 5D Mk2, Canon 50mm f/1.4.

Guard Dog (McClure, PA) - Luckily, he’s more of a tail-wagger than an arm-chomper. Canon 5D Mk2, Canon 50mm f/1.4.

Desire (National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC) - Two ironically placed statues in a classical sculpture section of the museum. You can feel the tension in the air. Canon 5D Mk2, Canon 50mm f/1.4.

Non-Sleep (Wash. DC) - Aaron helping cook breakfast for us down in DC. It was such a great time seeing old and new friends again in the Capital City crew. Canon 5D Mk2, Canon 50mm f/1.4.

Sunshine (State College, PA) - “But the sun is in my eyes.” Took her picture at my friend’s wedding this weekend, and couldn’t resist putting it up here. Canon 5D Mk2, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8.

Esquire (State College, PA) - Ah, my roommate at his best. Photo from a promotional shoot showcasing his business, Palmer Bartending. Of course, I am not sure if the harsh post-processing is acceptable, but I was drawn to the colors coming through the liquor and in his shirt. Canon 5D Mk2, Leica 35mm f/2.