Alex Thorne Photography
Fairfax, Va. Photographer Specializing in Portraits and Executive Headshots
Corporate Headshots at Burke VA Ameriprise Financial Services Firm Offered a Variety of Portrait Opportunities
Photo by Alex Thorne Photography
By Alex Thorne
A Burke, Va., financial services firm needed portraits for their website and the initial request seemed pretty straight forward. However, after a face-to-face meeting with the client, the project grew into an interesting opportunity to help the company present a more personal image to the public.
The client had expressed an interest in showing off their newly decorated offices. In addition to formal headshots, I also recommended that we capture some images of the staff with the office as the background. The shoot really developed into a nice combination of formal and intimate images that really capture the firm’s personality. (more…)
The Beatles, some Dusty Old Negatives, and a Great Story
Photo By Mike Mitchell
By Alex Thorne
It’s a classic storyline: someone discovers some old negatives they shot a long time ago and sells them for big bucks. But for Mike Mitchell, his struggles with depression and finances makes this story particularly uplifting.
The Washington Post’s Manual Roig-Franzia brings to life Mitchell’s passion for photography, along with his personal trials and triumphs by weaving the theme of light throughout the entire article. Anyone who loves photography and using light for creative effect will be inspired by this read.
From The Washington Post:
“When things are good, when sadness gives way to peace, life rhymes for Mike Mitchell. That’s the way he puts it.
It rhymes. He hears it, though you may not. A private poetry reading for one.
Of all the things that rhyme for Mike Mitchell, nothing rhymes like light. There it is, off in the clouds. A burst, describing momentary squiggles of brilliance in the sky. He sees it and he listens to it, though it makes not a sound. Lightning in the thunderhead. One silent burst, and it’s gone.”
Ten Photography Websites for Inspiration
By Alex Thorne
Every now and then, stepping away from your own work and taking a look at what other photographers are doing can boost the creative juices. I found the following list in an article written by Katy Cowan at Creative Boom. Each site brings a new and interesting perspective to photography. I particularly like the Guardian In Pictures iPad app that has professional tips in the caption of each shot. And then there is the 50mm site, which I was naturally drawn to as my all-time favorite lens is the 50. One of these days I’m going to write an article about why it is the most beautiful lens to shoot with.
Enjoy! (more…)
Food Photography: Yummy to Look at and Not Hard to do Well
By Alex Thorne
Andrew Smith
Yes, not hard to do well at all, but as you can see from my previous post, “Food Photography Gone Wrong,” too many people just don’t take the time to do it right.
I’m not sure what it is about food photography that I find so interesting. Maybe it has something to do with my appreciation for a professional photographer’s ability to turn rather ordinary subject matter into works of art.
Behind the Scenes Look at the Official White House Photographer
By Alex Thorne
Pete Souza and President Obama
Tonight’s National Geographic on PBS will be chronicling the daily life of Pete Souza, President Obama’s official photographer. This should be a fascinating look at one of the most elite photography assignments in the industry.
But, as today’s Washington Post review of “The President’s Photographer” points out, this assignment has one of the most grueling schedules imaginable. Up at dawn, shoot all day, and an endless stream of grip-and-grins to feed the White House’s PR machine.
Souza’s resume is impressive. Some of the highlights also include being an Official White House Photographer for President Reagan, and a New York Times bestseller titled, “The Rise of Barack Obama.”
Here’s more from The Washington Post’s review of the program:
“The President’s Photographer” follows Souza following Obama last winter, as the health-care reform effort begins to quiver under the weight of compromise. Contrasted with Souza’s earlier stills from Obama’s 2008 victory, the shots have suddenly become more grim. A White House photographer’s daily output must capture the full spectrum of a public face that is often starkly contrasted with the private mood.
Perhaps only Bo the Dog and personal aide Reggie Love have better access to Obama than Souza, who is a constant presence with a couple of cameras slung over his droopy shoulders. Both Bo and Love figure prominently in some of the memorable shots Souza has taken so far; the president, we learn, is particularly enamored of a photograph of himself blocking Love’s shot on the basketball court.
Washington DC’s Week of Photography Mayhem
By Alex Thorne
Peter McBride
FotoWeek DC as it’s called, kicks off tomorrow! It’s going to be a great week of photographic exhibits, contests, lectures and workshops that will keep any enthusiast busy and entertained.
Here’s more from the Washington Post:
“Think about it: Over the course of a single week, this Friday to next Saturday, thousands of pictures will vie for your attention (if not your affection) in this third annual celebration of the photographic art. Based for the first time at the Corcoran Gallery of Art but including a lineup of dozens of shows at more far-flung “partner” galleries and museums in and around the city, FotoWeek seems, at first glance, like an overwhelming parade of visual stimulation.”
Read more of the Washington Post article here->>
Do Mug Shots Make Great Portrait Art?
Jane Fonda was arrested in 1970 for possession of suspicious pills and for kicking the policeman who arrested her. The pills turned out to be vitamins; the charges were eventually dropped.
By Alex Thorne
As portrait photographers, we become sensitive to people’s emotions and expressions when they are in front of the camera. We see a lot of genuine and sometimes not so genuine smiles, laughs and other expressions as we get people to pose for us. However, in the book Mug Shots: An Archive of the Famous, Infamous, and Most Wanted, Raynal Pellicer shows us another side of many famous personalities. These shots capture a completely different set of expressions not normally seen in a traditional portrait – which I at least find interesting.
Pellicer’s book looks back through 100 years of archived mug shots to reveal a who’s who of some of history’s most influential and infamous personalities. We are used to seeing these personalities when they are performing for the camera or in front of large audiences; however these images take on an eerie and intimate quality that draws the viewer closer.
The mug shots are pure, unadulterated emotion and an interesting break from the everyday portrait. Click here to view a slideshow of sample images from the book. Maybe mug shots aren’t art, but they are fascinating to view.
Food Photography Gone Wrong
By Alex Thorne
We all probably have seen many examples of bad food photography, but some of the images captured by Harmon Leon at the San Francisco Chronicle top the list of worst food photography.
Check out this quick read here –>>
Obviously, food photography’s purpose is to make the restaurant’s food appetizing, however as you will see, these images backfire in a big way! Leon has posted several articles about food photography, starting with this story that focuses on restaurants in and around Market Street in San Francisco.
Here’s one of my favorite shots with the caption from the article included.
The restaurant Munch Haven's photo seems to be asking, "How about some pasta topped with whatever was scooped up after that horrific auto accident?"
And finally, check out the first picture on Leon’s second posting that begins with a photo of Sweet and Sour Pork. Now doesn’t this look delicious!
If you want to see food photography done right, check out Virginia’s own Stewart Photography’s food gallery. Now there’s something you would want to sink your teeth into.
New Photography Exhibit in Washington DC Takes a Fascinating Look Back in Time
Image via Wikipedia
By Alex Thorne
An interesting photography exhibit just opened up in Washington, DC at the Phillips Collection. Titled, Truth Beauty: Pictorialism and the Photograph as Art, 1845-1945, the show takes you back to the early days of photography, as some early enthusiasts attempted to transform the “fussy craft” into an art form.
Here’s more form the Washington Post:
In 1917, when Marcel Duchamp took a lowly urinal and declared it a sculpture called “Fountain,” he made one of the most original, important moves in all of modern art.
The strange thing is, he’d been beaten to the punch by an artistic movement that was just fading out at that moment and seemed to stand for everything he didn’t.
Read more of the Post’s article–>>
The Joys of Jumpology
Image by kharied via Flickr
Posted By Alex Thorne
When the photographer Philippe Halsman said, “Jump,” no one asked how high. People simply pushed off or leapt up to the extent that physical ability and personal decorum allowed. In that airborne instant Mr. Halsman clicked the shutter. He called his method jumpology.
Rock photographer Jim Marshall dies at 74
Jim Marshall
By Alex Thorne
I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be Jim Marshall. He is among just a handful of photographers who attained what few of us strive for – the dream job. He spent more than a half-century capturing images of music legends from the Beatles to Thelonious Monk. ”This ‘career’ has never been just a job – it’s been my life,” according to Marshall. How many of us can say that?
Lady Gaga & Atomic Public Relations to Re-introduce Polaroid Brand
Image via Wikipedia
By Alex Thorne
My worlds have collided (public relations & photography) with the news that Polaroid and Lady Gaga are teaming up to introduce a new line of products later this year. I wrote a brief article over at Thorne Communications which is posted below.
When my Google alert contains two of my favorite subjects; public relations and photography, I can’t resist writing about it. Last week, Atomic Public Relations announced that it had been chosen by Polaroid to assist in re-introducing the company’s iconic brand. The new campaign has already made a big splash with the news that Lady Gaga is going to join Polaroid as its creative director for a line of Polaroid Imaging products to be debuted later this year. The pairing of Polaroid and Lady Gaga, one of today’s hottest artists, is a brilliant move to redefine the Polaroid brand.
Great Photography Books for your Snapper
Image via Wikipedia
By Alex Thorne
The simple truth is that better equipment doesn’t make you a better photographer. Creativity, and understanding how to use your camera to get the affect you’re trying to achieve, are paramount to your success. Classes can be expensive and time-consuming for most folks. And, although digital technology gives you immediate results that you can review to adjust your technique, teaching yourself can still be a frustrating experience. Simply put, invest a few dollars in one or two photography books in order to take full advantage of the large investment you’ve made in equipment.
The New York Times recently published an article titled, “Three Photography Books for Gift-Giving,” that aspiring shutterbugs should check out. Many of the techniques I use have been influenced by reading instruction books by master photographers, and I highly recommend that folks new to the hobby use them to get up-to-speed quickly. Learning just a few creative techniques can really make a difference in your final product and add to your picture taking enjoyment. Otherwise, you may never fully appreciate what your camera can do for you.
From The New York Times: Three Photography Books for Gift-Giving
There are plenty of useful Web sites that help aspiring photographers sharpen their digital photography skills. But, as heretical as this may sound, sometimes you just want a book. A printed book, one with handsomely produced photos that demonstrate photography at its best.
Over the last month I have looked at books on digital photography and found some that would make great holiday gifts (for those of you who can’t afford that fast prime lens for the snapper on your list). Two of the three books I have selected are instructive guides that target digital photography novices, although they also offer some great insights for those who have used a camera for years. The third book targets young photogs with any kind of camera and an active sense of creativity.
Open to Everything? 170 Years After Its Birth, Photography Must Refocus on Its Identity for the Future
Image via Wikipedia
Posted By Alex Thorne
From The Washington Post - There’s been a lot of talk lately about the shaky finances of Annie Leibovitz, celebrity photographer and photographer of celebrity. Her creditors recently gave her a reprieve from bankruptcy, but are set to pounce again unless she can raise a lot of cash, fast.
Burke, Virginia Photographer Specializing in Portraits, Commercial and Fine Art
By Alex Thorne
Alex Thorne Photography is my new portrait, fine art and commercial photography studio located in Burke, Virginia. Whether it’s portraits, commercial or fine art, I work with my clients to achieve their goals. Please visit my website to view examples of my work.
Since opening my studio in 2008, it has been a huge success. Currently, my only form of advertising has been the word-of-mouth of neighbors and friends. I’m glad to say that many of my clients are return customers and have referred me to many other families and friends.
