Scenes from an Armenian wedding

Here's to the Decisive Moment

"The decisive moment, it is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as the precise organization of forms which gives that event its proper expression." Henri Cartier-Bresson

When people ask me what my style of photography is, it's difficult for me to describe it in only a few words, because doing so would also mean simplifying my entire photography experience into those few words. In late 2009 I started a personal photo project where I took a picture every day for an entire year. I experimented with shooting still-lifes, landscapes, self-portraits, conceptual images, and snapshots of everyday moments. A year later, after completing another personal project where I shot a self-portrait once a week for a year, I could confidently say that I most enjoyed taking images of people. To me, a photo became much more memorable by having a human element in it. I hadn't yet figured out what my style was, however.

With people as my main area of interest, I explored the different branches of people photography, including shooting models, senior portraits, concerts, behind the scenes of film sets, and corporate events. I believe that only recently I have discovered what I truly love to photograph, but that discovery has launched my passion and jettisoned me in a direction that both frightens and excites me.

My images have become a reflection of myself as they are about the subject. I love the documentary aspect of photography and the bits of everyday life that people take for granted. I love combining these aspects of photojournalism and art with the telling of a story that also reflect who I am as a person – I immerse myself in an environment in a way that makes me present, observant, and anticipatory, yet nearly invisible and unobtrusive simply from the way I naturally behave. This allows me to shoot images that have honesty, emotion, and personality with an artistic touch.

I am very much inspired by the work and approach of street photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson and his notion of the “decisive moment.”

I document with earnest intent. When light, composition, subject, and movement all come together in a split second to create an image that does justice to the moment that just unfolded before me, I press the shutter.

Annie

More medium format

So here's the thing. I'm not buying any color film until I finish shooting off the remaining couple of black and white rolls and get them developed and scanned. I can't wait to shoot in color though! :P I'm not usually one to shoot in broad daylight anyway, so I'm itching to buy some film speeds of at least 400. The indoor shot self portrait is me trying to burn through film and betting I can hold the camera still enough.

A day at Goleta beach

My mom and brother visited me today at Santa Barbara so we could go hit the beach! My brother hasn't properly spent a fun day at the beach in years, so this was extra special!

First Medium Format Exposures

Back in May Tyler got me a Mamiya RB67 medium format camera and some expired black and white film that came with it. I've gone through a few rolls, but it took forever to get them developed (we're lazy!). Here's a few scans that came with our first couple rolls before we replaced the light seals.

Hopefully we get our other three rolls back soon! Then I gotta get my hands on some color film :)

July 4th at Diamond Bar

I've never shot fireworks before, and I've always wanted to go to the fireworks show that's held at Diamond Bar every year. It felt so nice to shoot some personal work. :)

Aniqa & Tyler Day 3

Aniqa and Tyler enjoyed their last wedding day at the gorgeous Embassy Suites hotel in Milpitas, CA. My favorite part was when they made their exit through a cheering tunnel of their friends and family blowing bubbles at them. It was a day of beautiful colors and happy spirits. Assisted by my second shooter, Tyler.

At the Tennis Courts

A while ago I took Peanut on a walk and a visit to the tennis courts. It's always a treat when no one's in there and we have the place all to ourselves.