Show Time!

It was an honor and pleasure to be accepted into the recent 2025 Charleston Artist Guild Exhibiting Members Art Show. Whether applying to a local competition, a juried show, or a regional festival, the process of selecting what to submit is both daunting and exciting for artists.

For this show I selected two very different images: one that is an instant visual story and one that invites you to find your own story. I enjoy photographing a variety of subjects and styles, spending much of the last year exploring new ways to showcase the natural and built worlds through the use of intentional camera movement (ICM) and long exposure. Both images were taken while on a photo weekend throughout the lovely Crystal Coast of North Carolina, under the tutelage of the amazing Jamie Konarski Davidson/New Life Photos.

Behind the Lens

Family Tradition – it was absolute serendipity that the Amanda Ashley was docking after a multi-week fishing trip while we were photographing in and around that marina. The boat is part of a small fleet belonging to a multi-generational fishing family. They shared that historically the guys (grandad, dad, uncle, cousins) all worked the boats while the gals (grandmom, mom, aunt, cousins) each had boats named after them! A highlight, besides capturing this shot, was being invited onto the boat to see the inner workings. Thank you, Amanda Ashley Captain and crew!

Shot with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, ISO 100, f/11, 1/50, 24mm

Mystery – Low light settings are particularly challenging when you add the blazing glory of a setting sun. Toss in a nondescript dark background and dark water feature in the foreground and I’m often disappointed with the shot. This image was one of several attempts that weekend to play with movement and exposure and I was thrilled with the outcome (I had no idea how it would turn out at the time). Waiting until the sun was below the tree line and then extending the shutter speed to bring light to the foreground turned out to be the secret. A camera wiggle instead of just vertical or horizontal movement provided a really fun, misty effect.

Shot with: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, ISO 100, f/22, 45mm, 1.3 seconds