Posts Tagged ‘photography’

Tysons Corner Center

Tysons Corner Center Plaza at sunset

Tysons Photographer

Tysons Corner Center Plaza at sunset

Plaza Sunset

It is about time I post about my continuing shoots at Tysons Corner Center. Since 2013, they have had me come out to photograph a number of events, and special occasions. These projects have really kept me practicing my skills. Sometimes, the purpose of the images is to get candid photos of exciting events that they have at the mall showing exciting stores or displays, and the customers and staff interacting. Other times, the photos are more architectural or landscape. They show off the new projects that are going on in the Tysons area. The people that I come in to contact are the best and most exciting from this side of the camera.

Fashion      

Tysons Corner Center - Fashion Show

Fashion Show

There are fashion shows which show off some of the newest styles for the season. I setup a small lighting setup to make sure that the runway models will pop off the page. It is fun to see the crowd reacting to some of the spontaneous moments during the show, and they really help to tell the story of these productions.

Music

Tysons Corner Center - Summer Concert Series

Summer Concert Series

In the summer, they produced some amazing concert performances on their outdoor Plaza area. This place has become a destination for many in Fairfax County during summer weekends. It has been a privilege to photograph the artists in meet and greet events before their performances, and who has a job where you get to listen to loud music while working?

Tysons Corner Center - Leann Rimes performance

Leann Rimes performance

I will have more posts on my shoots at Tysons Corner Center as they always have something going on to get people to their space. The marketing team there has also been some of the nicest, most professional group that ensures these happenings all run smoothly. All the stores and vendors involved are sure to get their shine in each of these instances. I do my best to get great images of all the participants, that will encourage them to keep coming back to Tysons Corner Center for future events. Of course, I hope that they ask me back to cover more of those – it has become one of my favorite places to make photos! 

Tysons Corner Center - Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year

Tysons Corner Center

Tysons Corner Center

10 Years of Ballroom Dance Photography

It has been 10 years since the first ballroom dance event that I tried to capture with my camera. At that time weddings were my main photography subject. Dance was a hobby that we enjoyed 2 to 3 times a week for exercise, and be social! The Arthur Murray dance studios in the DC area hold Freestyles and Showcase events that allow their students and staff to show off what they have been learning. We participated and supported them, but I did not try to photograph them since I was busy having so much fun!

Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance photography - Leisa and Joe Howard

Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance photography – Leisa and Joe Howard

Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance photography

Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance photography

We then attended a special Dance-o-rama event held in Atlantic City, New Jersey. While the event was run much like the local ones that were used to, there were some other elements that made it stand apart. For me, it was the Open Professional competitions that capped the entire weekend. Not only were professionals dancing with each other to show their talents, but they were competing with other professional couples. It was a lot to take in as an amateur enthusiast. With so many great dancers on the floor, you wanted to see everything that was happening, but it was impossible to keep up!

Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance photography

Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance photography

Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance photography

Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance photography

Luckily, our studio had some entries of our staff in the competition. Now our group that we traveled with had people to focus on, to root for, and to follow with my camera! I really enjoyed seeing people that were teaching our classes at home on the big stage going up against the best from around the region. I learned so much from that first experience. There as setup for the camera, positioning myself to the dance floor, and thinking about how I could improve the images. I have been working on that ever since, and I have enjoyed the results along the way!

2017 Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage

2017 Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage

2017 Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage

2017 Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage

Speaking of ballroom dance events, we have one from 2017 that is expiring at the TimeLine Media proofing site. It was our first time covering the Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage in Lancaster, PA. What a very nice group of dancers from the area. We saw some familiar faces, and Barbara and Leraunt were amazing hosts. Here is the link to the photos:

http://proofs.timelinedc.com/gallery/17PABS/home

2017 Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage

2017 Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage

2017 Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage

2017 Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage

We look forward to even more ballroom dance photos this year! The challenge is still there with dancers continuing to push their craft to new speeds, and better technique. I will have to try to keep up!

Goals and Reaching the Top – Super Sunday

What is your goal?

Today is the last day for American football fans around the world to see teams compete on the field. It is clearly defined after a 7-month season which teams overcame the most obstacles to win. After today a best team will be crowned champion, and they will enjoy that feeling for the next 6 months before they start a new season. This clear black and white demarcation of sports defines the parameters, and gives the competitors the ultimate goal for which they strive to accomplish.

American professional football player

Benchmarks

What trophy, status, or accomplishment would define you at your best? Luckily as entrepreneurs, we define that for ourselves. It is one of the lessons I have learned as I continue to work as a photographer. There are those that make more money, or shoot cooler assignments. Are projecting what they want us to see? Maybe they have the same insecurities as you. Maybe they have set different goals for themselves at different rates or times. This is very personal and unique to each individual, so it would be impossible to know. 

Parade of colonial patriots

Parade of colonial patriots

Going Forward

Do i pretend to know that this is the case for everyone? Of course not. But in talking with other photographers and business owners, this is a hot topic of discussion. Watching any documentary on championship sports teams, you will see that it is not a straightforward, walk-in-the-park for them either even during a Championship run! You may think this discouraging that even the best team did not have an easy road. However, it is comforting knowing that I share the same feeling as I find my way. There are ups and downs, but having photos to review over time, i can see my progress, and I am more than proud of what i have done. Considering I have come from making my own assignments to now being more choosy on what jobs I take, i am satisfied with what I have done so far. Now, I just continue the hunt for more challenging assignments, more visionary collaborators, and happy clients!

TimeLine Media – www.timelinedc.com
703-864-8208

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