With one exception, these 13 people receiving their diplomas from Lake Area Technical Institute president Deb Shephard, are graduates of the BSA Photo/Media program at LATI. It is the second group of graduates from the program I started two years ago and the last group at Lake Area that I will call “mine.”
I can live with that. I think the program has made excellent progress in the last two years and it is being left in good hands.
Leave it to one of my photography students to apply a little artistic flair to what is otherwise a pretty monotonous sea of black. Actually, several of the Lake Area Technical Institute Photo/Media students added bling to their hats, though Elsa’s ended up being the most well posed cap of all I photographed.
Canon 5DIII 1/250s f/2.8 ISO2500 200mm
Do you want to see the entire 2 hour and 15 minutes ceremony in 60 seconds? Hold on to you hat and watch:
You may not have thought much about this but hood ornaments have largely disappeared from “modern” automobiles. This no doubt happened for a variety reason, including aerodynamics, cost and aesthetics. Of course, another reason is that ornaments became a target for thieves and vandals. Some automobile hood ornaments, like the Rolls Royce “Flying Lady,” are still part of the design but cleverly disappear through a trap door when the car is turned off and locked. Take that thieves!
This ornament decorates the hood of a beautifully restored 1938 Chevrolet. Randy Tribble, the restorer, told me the car was a real hulk when he started the process and so I’m guessing that the ornament pictured today is a replica. Old or new, it’s beautifully designed.
On a technical note, I have to say that this car wasn’t photographed in ideal circumstances. I was at the Lake Area Technical Institute Auto Show and while the light was very good, I don’t think it was ideal for this kind of photography. I was playing with my 50mm 1.2L lens and when I took the photo, I didn’t really like the bright lights beyond this shot. But in the end the bright bokeh the lighting results in seem to complement the photo.
To see more of this auto and to purchase prints, click here.
Canon 5DIII 1/320s f/2.0 ISO400 50mm
Lake Area Technical Institute hosted its annual car show today. It’s a chance for car enthusiasts to show and see some great cars. It’s also a chance to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
But for a photographer like me, it also offers an opportunity to get lost in the amazing details that most cars offer the eye. And though there were many cars present, this 1938 Chevrolet called me more than all of the rest. I’m not sure what it was that made me take so many photos but I think it was the beautiful soft green paint and the soft round curves.
This car, incidentally, was restored and shown by local auto restorer Randy Gribble. I didn’t stay to see who won today, but this car would certainly get my vote.
To see more of this auto and to purchase prints, click here.
Canon 5DIII 1/320s f/2.8 ISO1600 30mm
A major winter storm moved through our part of the state, bringing about a foot of snow and high winds. Sadly, classes at Lake Area Technical Institute were cancelled.
Here are three of my Lake Area Technical Institute photo/media students taking photo at the Coke Museum in Atlanta. I enjoyed our visit to the museum, though I think it is interesting that throngs of people (like us) are willing to pay Coca Cola Company $16 to be immersed in a giant advertisement. America: it’s a great country.
Canon 5DIII 1/400s f/10.0 ISO1600 22mm
It is a rare occasion that I can get Deb and Glenyce to pose for even an informal portrait. This opportunity presented itself at the 2012 Lake Area Technical Institute Festival of Trees. And they both look “mahvelous. . . “
Several of my studio photography students spent most of the day yesterday getting face paint applied and then documenting their efforts in the studio. The makeup artist was Alli, who is also a talented photographer. The subject of this portrait is Valerie, who is a talented photographer, too. And she is a natural in front of the camera. 
Canon 5DIII 1/125s f/8.0 ISO200 70mm
From left to right, top to bottom, you are looking at Danine, Lexi, Sara, Kendra, Kaila, McKenzie, Ashley, Holly and Kelly. The were all students in our Photo/Media program at Lake Area Technical Institute. And, if you’ll forgive me for saying it, they were my favorite nine graduates walking across the stage yesterday.
Click here if you want to see more from the Lake Area Technical Institute graduation ceremony.
Having marched in, the Lake Area Technical Institute class of 2012 wait for the ceremony to begin.
Canon 5DII 1/60s f/2.8 ISO1000 200mm