Nicholas Allen Porada II

The entire year I spent in New York attending SVA and studying fine art photography I managed to land myself a paid internship with a freelance photographer named Mandy Karangelen, also known as Amanda K Photography.  She worked strictly with families/children; newborns, pregnant moms, birthdays etc.  I enjoy children and loved working with them on photo shoots but never saw myself getting into that kind of photography, which I still believe today.  Ironically enough, a close family friend of my mothers had a baby this summer and couldn't afford to get nice pictures done for their birth announcements.  Me, being the kind person that I am and my mom for having a big mouth extended my services gratis.  I now present to you Nicholas Allen Porada II born on August 1, 2009.

   This was my favorite.  I got the idea from the Lion King when Rafiki raises the young cub Simba for everyone to be seen.  Regardless, Simba was a young King in the making but I think it worked out well in the sense of a birth announcement.  Announcing, Nicholas Allen Porada II!  RAWRRR.  Haha, just kidding.  But really.

Here are some other classic shots they wanted of Nicholas: 
Sidenote: You can't blame them because for these kinds of moments - you want to cheese it up.  Although, keep a spin on it.  That's how I try to approach the situation.

Camp Casey Kids

I spent the weekend of August 28th at home doing photography for clients and also for The Bottomless Toy Chest.  These photographs are from an event they sponsered along with another non-profit, Camp Casey at Maseville State Park in Northville.

Ashleigh Trachemontagne, 5, a cancer survivor, standing next to sister Breanne picked out an arts and crafts toy from 'The Bottomless Toy Chest' during a charity event at Maseville State Park in Northville, Mich., August 29, 2009.  The event was sponsored by Camp Casey and The Bottomless Toy Chest, two non-profit organizations to help benefit children with cancer.

Amy Rowan, 7, paints herself a picture frame at the Arts and Crafts table during the charity event at Maseveille State Park in Northville, Mich., August 29, 2009.  Amy's brother Cody, 9, is currently recieving treatment for his cancer which he was diagnosed with in February of 2008.

African Culture Night

I shot this photograph while on assignment for CM Life during African Culture Night.  It was a really fun event composed of an array of festivites actually.  They had a fashion show, dramatic readings, speakers, and stage preformances by dancers and musicians.  I learned a lot about the African culture after I left Plachta that night, the most memorable being the opening line to the event,

"We are all African."

Ibrahim Aminou opened African Culture Night on Friday by beating his hand drum with fellow members of the Yorba Youth Corporation in Plachta Auditorium.

Before Cutlines, Captions and Steno Pads

For those of you who know me are aware of my transition from fine art photography to photojournalism.  For those of you who don't, let me take the time to tell you a little bit about my adventure.  Throughout my high school career I centered myself around abstract, metaphoric, creative, and even confusing images that sometimes even I got tangled in.  My senior year of high school consisted of nothing but art classes like Advanced Black and White Photography, Digital Imaging, Graphic Design and Creative Writing (always a favorite of mine).  Although I used metaphors to my advantage to create stimulating images, I also valued the idea of capturing the beauty of what was taking place in front of me.  My photography teacher whose class I took for three years became pregnant with twins mid- senior year and ended up leaving after the first semester.

If I had to guess when this was taken, I would say around November of 2006.

During my second semester of senior year I entered the Midwest Scholastics Art and Writing Competition.  I submitted my portfolio of eight images along with individual images and ended up winning a Gold Key on behalf of my portfolio and honorable mentions for my individuals.  I was rather overhelmed and not to mention completely suprised but overall delighted at my progression throughout high school.  It was like a sign, telling me I was ready to move on to art school - I had the talent.

I spent the summer preparing myself for what would be one of the greatest experiences of my life, attending the School of Visual Arts in NYC.  I studied under Bob Brooks, a vary talented photographer and painter.  He taught me everything I needed to know about exposures, apertures and every other setting while I managed my Canon EOS Rebel 35mm.  I loved printing in the darkroom, it's almost like I could get lost in images for hours without a care in the world.  It was unreal.

This photograph was taken with B&W film at the corner of Broadway and Bleecker St. in New York City.  Local middle schools decorated tiles in honor of September 11th and hung them along the fences of the street corner.  When I think about it now it would have been amazing if I had a really stellar wide angle to capture the spirit of these children and how many tiles were made in remembrance of those who died on that day.  Oh, if only I knew what I know now  After I left SVA to attend Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI I have to admitt it was a bit of a culture shock but I adjusted pretty well.  I am currently enrolled in the Photojournalism program working towards my B.A. in Photojournalism with a minor in Media Design, Production and Technology.  I am a staff photographer for Central Michigan Life and an active member of the Central Press Photographers Association.  Yes, it consumes my life but I wouldn't have it any other way.

So, with that being said, to quote the late Richard Avedon,

"If a day goes by without my doing something related to photography, it's as though I've neglected something essential to my existence, as though I had forgotten to wake up."

Dream Cruise 2009

Tom Stark, 52, has his 1962 Chevrolet Corvair he bought as a junker and restored to it's current state to present during the weekend of August 14, 2009 for the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit, Michigan.

Some other photographs from the cruise:

   

The Bottomless Toy Chest

I got a job this summer working with this non-profit through former friends of mine I attended high school with.  I volunteered to be their photographer for events, fundraisers, gift-wrapping parties etc.  It has been a pleasure meeting both children and their families who have developed the strength and courage by being faced with cancer.  This job means so much to me, I feel so honored to be apart of their team. 

 Local supporters of the community take a break from swimming and put their hands in to show support during a fundraiser sponsored by The Bottomless Toy Chest on June 28, 2009.  The Bottomless Toy Chest is a a non-profit devoted  devoted to delivering art projects, crafts and interactive toys to hospitalized pediatric cancer patients.

Portland, OR

Rebecca Jones and ten month old grandson, Julian Iroquois Anton sing and dance on Tuesday morning to the sound of the television playing in the background.

Seven year old, Isabella VanIttersum amuses oneself in the cold water on a hot summer day just outside of Portland, Oregon on May 16, 2009.

Jaime Anton, 29, wipes the sand off of the bottoms of his feet from walking the Oregon Coast Highway along the Pacific Ocean on May 19, 2009.

This summer I spent a few weeks with my mother visiting my brother, Jaime who I have not seen in three years and his newborn son Julian Iroquois Anton who was born on July 31, 2008. I also had the pleasure of meeting his fiance, Leanna VanIttersum and daughter Isabella. My visit to Portland was beautiful amongst many other things but nothing felt better then getting to be with family and capturing unforgettable moments.