Category Archives: Documentary

Documentary

Sandhill Crane Migration

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Hi all! Last weekend I went to see the Sandhill cranes, who spend their winter in and around Wilcox, AZ. The total bird population ranges from 30-40K, although this year it has reached over 47K! These images were taken at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area. You can view my full Sandhill Crane documentary here.

Documentary

90th Birthday

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My grandpa’s 90th birthday was this past December. For this very special day, I thought I would hire a photographer so I didn’t have to worry about taking pictures, but then it hit me, COVID. Having a small family gathering was one thing, but asking a stranger to come into the fold was, it seemed, too dangerous. Maybe one of these days life will be safer to live again. Until then, we all must do our part to keep our loved ones safe. 

My family spent the celebratory day outside. We went fishing in the morning and then had dinner and cake back home in the garage!

Something new I tried was a photo booth. I got the idea from a high school prom event years ago. I don’t have an extra camera so I used my cell phone instead. It turned out to be a big hit! (I am the crazy lady in the zebra sweater.)

Documentary, Night Photography

Catalina Mountains from Windy Point and the Wildfire

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Last night a group of my former photography students and I went to Windy Point to photograph the skyline. We didn’t think we’d see the fire from there, just the smoke. In a matter of hours the fire had climbed over the next peak and was visible from our vantage point. As of 10:00 am today, people are being evacuated from the area at the base of the mountains. In this photo you can see the fire cresting the ridge (far right).

Here we are as a group earlier in the evening. You can see the smoke pluming behind us.

 

Documentary

Go Pro Hero 7!

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This summer I bit the bullet and bought a brand new Go Pro. I’d been wanting one for years, especially during some grand adventure when I’d think, “Man, it would be so cool to record this on a Go Pro.”

Since my purchase, I’ve barely put the thing down! Currently, I am working on a vlog with a fellow teacher which highlights inspirational teaching practices, but in my spare time I am having a blast recording the fun activities at my school. Here’s a quick video of the class cheers from Spirit Week!

Documentary

Behind the Stage

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I recently did some behind the scenes photography for a local organization, Kids Unlimited, a place for young performers who wish to explore the excitement of singing, dancing and acting with other children who share this interest. According to their website, “No other organization in Tucson provides the unique performance classes where students learn a diverse combination of dance, musical theatre, voice and drama by professionals who have entertained across the United States and abroad.”

I really enjoyed the access I was given to the goings on behind the stage and before the public performance. I had no idea how much work goes into live performances! And, all of their actors, singers, and dancers are 18 years or younger. Whoa!

Here are some of my favorite images from a week’s worth of a “backstage pass.”

Documentary

High Dynamic Range

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Despite my dislike for HDR photography, I can understand its advantages. This week I decided to try it out myself as I am introducing the concept to my high school photography students as an end of the semester project.

In the below two images, I layered three images for each, taken in the middle of the day. I used Photoshop as my processing software and used Photos in Color as my tutorial. These images were taken at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Tucson, AZ. For my full post on this visit, please visit my other site.