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Women Walking in Jerusalem. This is a street photo taken in Jerusalem

I thought that during the isolation from the pandemic that I would have more time to devote to my creative endeavors but surprisingly I did not.  Like most people I was very stressed about the entire situation and my mind would not stop perseverating over the pandemic and how to protect my family.  It took several weeks when I realized that our corner of the country was unscathed from the virus.  I then forced myself as I was coming home from work to venture out for an hour to take some photographs.  I even brought some of my studio lighting and backdrops home and set them up in our dining room.  What resulted were some hilarious photos of my family.   _MG_0897-Edit
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I am very excited about the opening of ADOBE!  This is an ongoing project of mine that started several years ago.  The photographs are of adobe buildings in Northern New Mexico in the towns of Taos and  Abiquiu, and at Ghost Ranch.  Adobe buildings are made of mud and grass.  The color is of the reddish brown soil.  The adobe building can last hundreds of years or more and one such structure, the Taos Pueblo, is an ancient multilevel structure that has been inhabited for over 1000 years.  The people living at the Pueblo continue to live like their ancestors did with no electricity, running water, or central heat.  The water comes from a stream that runs through the middle of the complex.  Each home is heated by fireplaces and the insulation comes from one to two foot thick walls.  Adobe walls are textured and the corners are rounded and smooth which gives a soft appearance.  Artistically this becomes very apparent when the sun is low in the horizon and the shadows along the edges reveal a subtle gradient of light to dark gray.

This countryside of Northern New Mexico is vast and beautiful, with skies that are deep blue and puffy white cumulus clouds that drift in the crisp dry desert air.  The dark color of the sky against the light reddish brown adobe offers stunning contrast, especially in black and white photos.  

The ADOBE photo opening is on March 6th from 6PM to 9PM at 106 Orr Street Studios, Columbia, MO.

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Adobe

Adobe

Opens on March 6th, 6PM-9PM at Orr Street Studios

106 Orr St, Columbia, MO

Adobe has been four years in the making and it continues to evolve over time.  This photo journey explores several iconic adobe structures in Taos and Ghost Ranch located in Northern New Mexico.  It  examines how natural shade and sunlight create the perception of depth on the textured adobe surfaces, while the smooth edges guide a visual path through each photograph.  In addition the gradient balance of the shadows and highlights on curvilinear adobe buildings create an emotional sense of calmness that is indicative of New Mexico's unique charm.  The native Pueblo people for over a 1000 years choose to live and view their role with nature as not separate, but as a part of it.  The Adobe series focuses awareness of these human built structures as connected to the natural world and not as separate obtrusive human shelters.   The concept of how to live with the natural environment continues to permeate the modern psyche of the people who live there. This is what makes Northern New Mexico an enchanted landscape.

The structures examined in the Adobe series are the Agape Worship Center located on the grounds of Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, NM, the San Francisco de Asis Church in Taos, NM, and San Geronimo de Taos in the Taos Pueblo.

Headshots and Business portraits by :: David Lancaster

Columbia, MO

In todays world everybody needs a high-quality headshot. It is essential for your LinkedIn profile.  Having a photo makes your profile more likely to be viewed. Chances are you have other social networks and services that can accommodate a profile photo, from Facebook to Twitter to Slack.

For non-professional social networks like Facebook, a casual snapshot can be fine, although you need to avoid using the post-party bathroom-mirror selfie: recruiters and potential employers routinely check Facebook profiles when evaluating candidates, and a profile photo that screams “party animal” also screams “DO NOT HIRE.”

For professional applications such as LinkedIn your headshot should convey an air of professionalism. The photo should be of high quality, sharp, well lit, and nicely composed. 

Here are some tips to a high-quality headshot:

Natural soft lighting is key::

Avoid direct harsh light such as direct sunlight or using a camera’s built in flash.  If you are taking the photography indoors by all means avoid fluorescent lighting which casts a green hue.  For best results use soft lighting such as outdoors in the shade or on a cloudy day.  

Get close up:

Because profile photos tend to be small, and if your photograph is full-length from head-to-toe then it will be hard to see what you actually look like. A head-and-shoulders portrait makes a better headshot.  Some camera lenses, such as those on a smartphone, introduce distortion if you get too close and can make someone’s nose look too big. To avoid this, put some distance between the person and the camera.  To do this zoom in or use a telephoto lens.  If using a smart phone then use the “pinch gesture” to zoom in.

Use a simple background:

A simple background makes you the focal point.  This can be accomplished with a white or black foam board.  Other options include using an uncluttered background.  A simple way to do this is using a shallow depth of field.  Use the portrait mode on the iPhone7 or if you have a SLR camera use a wide open aperture.  This is known as the f-stop: the lower the f-stop number the wider open the aperture. 

Dress appropriately:

Do not wear sweats, or heavy metal t-shirts with picture and writing on them. Dress like you might for a job interview, or at least a business dinner.

If this sounds too complicated and you want to make the best first impression then consider investing in a professional photographer. 

Let me help you take a GREAT Headshot

Book Your Session
 

Why have a headshot professionally taken??

 1)  It is important to always appear professional in-person, and online.  Instead of using a selfie-stick to take your LinkedIn photo, consider a professional headshot.

2)  Making a small financial investment in a professional photo shows that you take yourself and career seriously.

3)  You will stand out from the crowd since many people still rely on poor quality photos of themselves.  If you look good then potential employers, recruiters, or clients will take a closer look at you

4)  With a good professional portrait on your social media accounts people will take notice and you will be more likely to stand out.

5)  As people are bombarded with digital sensory overload of photos on social media a good portrait may be your only shot to make a positive first impression.

Shah 22

Here are a few photographs of a themed fashion shoot "Grunge Goddess" in Jefferson City, Missouri.  The models are Chelsea Hunt, Megan Kroll, Gabrielle Eisterhold, and Gioia Lynn.

My new Etsy store is up and running since May 9th, 2018.  Check it out since I will be adding content weekly!

Enjoy!!!

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My first "Pop Up" show on May 4th at Orr Street Studios in Columbia, MO was a success.  Over 200 people came through my showroom and 11 works were sold!