July - August 2023 Streetcap
Late Summer = Lazy Summer
Ok not laziness, but I have been super busy the past couple of months as Summertime is naturally very busy for me as an event planner. I think I worked every single weekend in July and August, as well as at least a couple of weeknights per week.
Photo Sets
As a result of not being able to get out consistently for more free-form street shooting, most of the photography I did in July & August was for projects I have been working on, or as a part of my road trip from Minneapolis to Las Vegas.
I figured the best way to break down these month’s shots was to present 5 Photo Sets that I think work together to tell a story. Check them out below:
HOW DC MOVES
Ok so cards on the table, these images are actually from June 30th, but I figure that since I didn’t export them until July 1st they count. This Set is an event recap I shot while working a Release Party for District Fray’s MOVE issue. This party took place at Metrobar, a local bar that is best known for its converted Metrocar Bar. We also brought out a number of local artists and performers to do live and interactive exhibitions including skaters and rollerskaters, a live painting session by Alexi Abi-Mikhael, Lydia Corbett, and Amber Proctor, a number of artists (E$, Nate Mann, Lauren Bassette, Tom Kim and TJ Buttner) painting District Fray Magazine Boxes, a photo op by Disco Loft, and a video presentation by Maps Glover.
July 4th
For the first time in my quarter century in the DMV, my friends and I joined thousands of others in visiting the Lincoln Memorial for the 4th of July. I knew this would be a great photo op, so I brought my Nikon D600 and Voigtlander 40mm f/2, as well as my Fuji X-H1 with Pentax 135mm f/2.8 with me. Check out the photos below.
Chadron, NE
In the last week of July, my friend and I decided to take a 5-day road trip from Minneapolis to Las Vegas. I had never driven across the country before (OK I flew to Minneapolis but what did I really miss on the way there?), and was excited to see what that stretch of the country looked like. The first stop we made on our trip was the small town of Chadron, Nebraska. When we pulled into town it was cold, rainy, and dreary, and there was not a soul to be seen. However, after grabbing a coffee and walking around a bit, the sun peeked out and we stumbled on a town festival with a concert and lots of local stores vending. I was intrigued by the close-knit small-town feel. The thing that caught my eye was the design painted on the band’s backdrop - a plains/desert landscape. I thought this was wholly symbolic of our trip.
Out The Window
OK, this might not technically be ‘street photography’, but it is documentary photography which I think actually better describes my style. These photos were taken out of the car window, mostly with my beloved 75-150mm Series E lens that was glued to my camera. The items that caught my eye the most were the human elements tied into the natural beauty of the countryside. I tried to emphasize this humanity by focusing on symmetrical elements and structures.
The Dupont Farmer’s Market
This project has been the definition of this Summer for me photographically. Even when I don’t have time to get out and shoot as much as I like, I am almost always free on Sunday mornings to return again and again. The consistency has allowed me to capture some truly beautiful moments. As always, I have focused on color, texture, and humorous/intriguing juxtapositions.
