The Fastest Growing City

This is where I live. Well, not downtown, but this is nearby. I've been overdue for a while in going out to do the skyline, but I still want to try some other angles and atmospheric conditions. I won't rest until it's and AWESOME shot of downtown...

In other news, I'm not dead. In spite of not posting recently, I've actually done photography for a hot air balloon festival and behind-the-scenes coverage for a national ad campaign contest. Some of that should end up on this blog soon, eh?

What I Do All Day

You may wonder, "Andrea, you're a photographer, you currently work in the photography field, and you never update your blog EVER.  What do you do with your time?"

I'll tell you what, I do lots and lots of editing!

I have been working for another photographer for a while doing primarily editing - and BOY is it time-consuming!  The process he chooses to use brings in a lot of lost detail in post-production, so I spend hours painting windows and other details back into images of buildings.  Below is a before and after example of one instance where I both shot and edited for one of his clients.

This is one of the less dramatic examples (some images have such extremes between light and dark that once I pull the detail back in, the two images look starkly different), but the amount of time it can take to accurately trace around windows and objects is exhausting.  Note all of the bright window spaces that are completely blown out in the original image on the left - it's my job to make those visible again, then make sure all the colors are accurate and pretty, contrast is nice, the image is sharp... yeah.  Every single one of those tiny, bright windows and lights and bright patches of sidewalk.

So, now you know.  Instead of pursuing art projects, I've been painting windows.

On the bright side - I've gotten SO good at painting windows, and being that far up in a highrise for a shoot was terrifyingly cool.

Texas Update

I'm failing at this blogging thing, but I promise I haven't been idle!

Life is busy down here in Texas.  Back in December, I took a drive up to Dallas area to join Kira and Cam for their wedding open house and take some pictures for them.

But really, most of my time has been spent with buildings lately.  Between working with another area photographer and working on my own portfolio, architecture is ruling my life.  It helps make things interesting when there are lots of awesome homes as well as commercial buildings in the area.  Stay tuned for more building images... for there shall be many.

Promise I'm still alive - and a little tidbit

It seems like forever since I've given a proper update here, but that's because the Ninety and Nine blog is where I've been posting all of this summer's events (as fast as I can post them, anyway).  Be that as it may, here's a little teaser from Bastille Day in Paris.

The Getty Museum

Oh, my new favorite museum.  When you can be just as thrilled by looking at the buildings as you are by looking at the art, you know they hired the right architect.

 

 

Crazy downtown LA architecture, numero dos

Went downtown again.

The tower on the Ramon C. Cortines School Of Visual And Performing Arts.  Makes you want to go to school there, doesn't it?

And the front end of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, as promised!  I just might be developing a taste for Gehry architecture...

What?  I need to be awake in six hours for my next shoot?  Oh dear...

Alive and well and in Los Angeles

Even though I've been slacking on the blog posts, I swear I'm still around and still making photographs.  At the moment, I'm making photographs in LA.

I've already shot at one location - Glen Ivy Spa - but I'm sorting through the photos still.  In the meantime, here are some photos I took in downtown LA of the Disney Concert Hall and surrounding buildings.

I have to admit, I find Gehry architecture a little over-the-top, but it makes for excellent abstracts.  I'm hoping to get around to the front entrance on another night while the light is still good.

Part of the Seattle Cityscape

A backlog photo.  Because I haven't posted in too long.

Interiors - Hobble Creek

Below are two lovely rooms I shot a couple of weeks ago.  The styling of this house was super unique.  Yes, those beams in the living room are free-standing.

Lakeview Cemetery, Cleveland, OH

I love cemeteries.

And I got to wander about in my favorite one today.

Pioneer Trek, Set One

The following pictures are from a pioneer re-enactment trip for young adults through my church.  Basically, everyone dressed up as the Latter-Day Saint pioneers would have at the time and pushed handcarts (which were used to carry belongings across the plains back in the day).  Of course, they asked me to bring a camera.  Of course, I obliged.

There are a lot of photos, so these are just some of the ones I took before the event started.  Some pictures are of my friends, some of strangers, and some of interesting buildings and things all around.