Mosaic

Theme- Acadia National Park
I took these pictures while on vacation here in July 2017.

Free Choice

Festive Window

Starry Lights

Winter Wonderland

Weathering the Storm

Tranquil Morning

Portrait

High School Dystopia

This portrait is of my friend Adam.  This was a bit more of a complicated edit for me, because I was going for a specific look rather than just 'touching it up'.  I wanted a kind of moody 'Hunger games-esque' feel to the picture.  To do this, I desaturated and lessened the vibrancy of the colors in the image.  I then worked to warm the colors in the picture to make them more natural.  After that, I used contrast and brightness to add some definition to the image.  But after this, I wasn't quite satisfied, so I created another brightness layer that only applied to his face, bringing out more of the pale tones which stand out against the shadowy backdrop.

Line and Shape

Massasoit State Park, Taunton/Raynham Line, MA

My cat Doughnut

Point of View

I took this series of pictures on Sunday when I was out decorating for Halloween with my dad.

Original Photo

For this picture, I decided to drain all the color from the picture except for the pumpkin because it represents the this time of year.  This part of my backyard is covered with pine needles year round, and it's hard to tell which season it is (if it isn't snowy).  By highlighting the pumpkin, I'm showing that it's fall and more specifically Halloween, which is my favorite holiday.  This part of my backyard is also very shady, so I had to brighten the picture.

Original Photo

For this picture, I used low angle photography.  I boosted the color in the picture because the pine tree in the back can be a bit bland.  I also increased the contrast to create shadows on the skull. This 'reaper' started its life as a skeleton, but it lost its legs broke from being jammed in the shed for a year.  To fix this problem, I put a cape on it that used for a vampire costume years ago and put him on the roof.  Problem solved.  And it looks pretty cool too.

Original Photo

For this picture, I used high angle photography.  I boosted the color in this photo to make the oranges of the pine needles so that they stand out against the oranges in the shingles. I was up on the roof hanging the reaper and to take a picture of the pumpkin.  I like taking high-angle pictures like this, and they always end up being interesting.  From  Acadia, to Nantasket, or even my backyard I can always count on this shot looking good.

Composition

This photo exemplifies the rule of thirds.  I placed the cricket on the left third of the picture, and think it draws the eye directly to it.  I took this picture in my backyard near my pond, which has become a hangout for crickets.  I don't really know why they want to be near the pond (and in it), but they seem happy enough and make great subjects.

 This picture exemplifies filling the frame.  I stood close to my friend John, and got this picture of him while outside for lunch.  John and I have been friends since my sophomore year, and have we have been writing music together since.

This picture exemplifies leading lines.  I used the lines on the shed in my backyard, and think they draw the eye to the picture.  I also like the shadows created in this part of my yard by a walnut tree just out of frame to the right.

My Fender

I chose to photograph my bass because music is my number one form of expression (alongside photography and creative writing).  My bass is also important to me because whenever I find myself down, I can always rely on a good jam session to pick me up.  Whether it's a bad break-up, family issues, or something as simple as a bad day, I instantly feel better when I start playing.  Music also has the ability to bring me and my friends together.  From the time we did a blues/metal mash-up called Alabama Girl just for the sake of ridiculousness (it was even more ridiculous than you'd think), to the time we had a 'battle of the solos' (some of which went for a whole three minutes), to the friendly Fender-Gibson feud (which is like the Xbox vs. PlayStation, or Pepsi vs. Coke or IOS vs. Android feud of the music world), memories of the band are some of my favorite  (I will be a Fender guy until the day I die, unlike my band mates who play Gibson guitars).  And many more will be made, all involving my bass.