The solid pattern was flat and dull. It absorbed all the light and made the creases stand out like Justin Bieber in a middle school classroom. The other fabric, however, had a really nice reflectivity to it, and it had the unique bonus of not looking like a bed sheet. …both of them are curtains, in case you’re wondering.

So the thing to remember here is that fabrics will have a profound impact on the look and feel of your photos, and I’m not just talking about backdrops. Consider the clothes your subject is wearing. The two photos below are from one of the first lighting experiments I did. In the example on the left I’m wearing a pea coat, which absorbs all the light and explains why I look like a floating head. The image on the right, however, is much more interesting because of the way the light dances around the fabric.

It’s also worth noting that the color of the two jackets is different here. Black pea coat against a black background doesn’t even sound interesting. However, if I were wearing a black leather jacket instead it would look much better because leather has a subtle reflectivity to it. In situations like this it can be helpful to create even more separation by using a colored rim light. Color contrast between your subject and background should definitely be considered, but don’t neglect the fabric as well.

Immediately after shooting a wedding in Baltimore I headed straight to the Best Christmas Party Ever. The hosts really go all out in planning it, and everyone is dressed to impress; so I offered to setup a photo booth and capture the fun. In addition to printing the photos on-site, I also uploaded them to Facebook in real time. It was a lot of work, but well worth the effort. See for yourself.

So there was this cool circular bar, but from a photographic standpoint I was up against two challenges. 1.) The best way to capture something like this is from high above, otherwise you can’t tell it’s a giant doughnut. 2.) It wasn’t lit well. The outside of it was covered in tiny mirrors like a disco ball, so I knew if I threw a little light on it then it would really come alive. Sure enough I got myself a ladder, set up my lights, and fired away.

Maybe this will be the year that I go out with my dad and shoot this photo with the moon in the frame. We tried doing it last year, but we were about two hours too early and we really didn’t feel like freezing our butts off any longer.

On another note, I went to a photography workshop today… Got all kinds of inspired, and now I’m left feeling like all of my photos are terrible. Hmmph…

One of the greatest things about my job is the wide variety of things I get to photograph. I was put in touch with a local residential architect (who is amazingly talented, btw!) to shoot photos for her portfolio and website. Another awesome friend of mine not only helped me out during the entire shoot, but she’s also designing the architect’s website. I love me some collaboration!

I’m working on a series of photos for a DC client and I get to shoot all around town exploring different neighborhoods. It seems like this park in Georgetown was under construction forever, but it has turned out to be a very cool place now that it’s finished. Hopefully I’ll be able to write more about the project in the near future.

This was the third year that I’ve had the privilege of shooting Gaylord National’s Christmas Grand Opening, but it was the first time I had my wife with me =) She got to watch the whole thing right next to me while I shot away.

Anyway, here’s what I came up with. I don’t love it, but it served its purpose; so I’m happy. It’s a mixed media piece. The drawing was done in my sketchbook and then I added some color and toning in Lightroom.

Enough about me. What helps you clear your head and unwind? When was the last time you were compelled to create? Where has your latest source of inspiration come from?

I ended up having to use two off-camera speedlights on either side of the stage to brighten up the speaker. Both flashes had a snoot on them to help aim the light and keep it from hitting the audience. I also had to make sure they wouldn’t spill light onto the background and wash out the green colored lights.

This second images shows how it looked before I added my lights. Notice how much less detail you can see in his suit coat as well as the brightness of his skin.

It would have been much easier to shoot with the available light and then pass the blame, but a photographer’s job is to produce good photos with no excuses attached.

Photographers, remember: you need to make a decision. Shooting weddings, families, pets, bands, sports = jack of all trades, master of none.

I consider myself to be a jack of all trades. I certainly don’t feel like I’ve mastered anything, but I’m confident that I can shoot most things better than the average photographer –Hint: the trick is not to be better, but to try harder.

Lately I’ve been wrestling with the notion of finding my niche, but the more I press down into a certain field the more complacent I become. I recently shot photos with a dude who’s been shooting weddings for “unfortunately 17 years” in his words. He certainly made a decision about the work he does, but he also got comfortable and apathetic in the process.

I have a hunch that specialization leads to burnout or boredom.

Personally, I need variety in my work. I value creativity too much to be comfortable with a repetitive diet. Even people like Jeremy Cowart who are exceptionally specialized often pursue creative, personal projects that are extremely different from their normal gig.

The deeper you dig in a single direction, the more you need external stimuli. Creativity thrives on variety.

Then I see someone like Joe McNally, who is one of the best photographers in the world, describe himself as a generalist, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s part of the reason why his photos are so remarkable. Personally I know that I’ve learned things from shooting fashion that have caused me to shoot weddings differently, and I’ve learned things from street photography that has improved my headshots.

So what do you think? Do you consider yourself a specialist or a generalist? Does an artist ever feel like he’s mastered something, or is that word merely attributed to someone else who does something better than we do? Does Talent + Complacency = Mastery?