Inspired @ ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com » Fine Art Photography http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog Vibrating with energy. Bursting with passion. Exploding with emotion. Photos with soul. Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:19:10 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 DC Memorials at Night: Franklin Delano Roosevelt and World War II Memorials http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/07/27/dc-memorials-at-night-franklin-delano-roosevelt-and-world-war-ii-memorials/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dc-memorials-at-night-franklin-delano-roosevelt-and-world-war-ii-memorials http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/07/27/dc-memorials-at-night-franklin-delano-roosevelt-and-world-war-ii-memorials/#comments Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:19:10 +0000 Irene Abdou http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/?p=1592 The fountains of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC are encircled by large granite pillars engraved with the names of the states.

I’ve been so busy with portraits and weddings this summer, then I’ve only just gotten around to processing the photos I shot at my DC Memorials at Night photography workshop [...]]]>

The fountains of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC are encircled by large granite pillars engraved with the names of the states.

I’ve been so busy with portraits and weddings this summer, then I’ve only just gotten around to processing the photos I shot at my DC Memorials at Night photography workshop three weeks ago.  We started out at the Lincoln Memorial, then headed to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial, and ended at the World War II Memorial.  Check out my favorites here.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the FDR and World War II Memorials!  The FDR Memorial is simply DIFFERENT.  It is so cool.  It is so big.  It is so varied.  In fact, it deserves several visits, all at night.  I only got shots of a few of the “rooms” that night, so I will be heading back at some point!  And the World War II Memorial…well, it’s awesome.  Big…  Beautiful…  Again, it deserves several visits, again at night.  I guess I have another place to go in my spare time!  (And if you’re wondering about Lincoln, I didn’t have time for any of my own shots, as I was too busy rounding up my students, none of whom seemed to want to leave!)

(Click on “View with PicLens” for a full-screen slideshow.)

If you haven’t seen it already, be sure to check out some great student work from this DC Memorials at Night photography workshop.  And don’t forget!  I still have ONE more spot left in my August 15th intermediate/advanced workshop on Light and Motion: Photographing the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair.  And I still have space in my August 14th beginning workshop on Light and Motion: Photographing the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair. Click on the links for the full lesson plans and registration details!

]]> http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/07/27/dc-memorials-at-night-franklin-delano-roosevelt-and-world-war-ii-memorials/feed/ 0 August 2010 Wallpaper: “Lilies of the Water II” http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/07/26/august-2010-wallpaper-lilies-of-the-water-ii/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=august-2010-wallpaper-lilies-of-the-water-ii http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/07/26/august-2010-wallpaper-lilies-of-the-water-ii/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:40:19 +0000 Irene Abdou http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/?p=1581 In late June, the water lilies at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens are in full bloom. The land of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens was initially bought by W.B. Shaw, who farmed water lilies in the marshes as a hobby, eventually turning it into a large commercial endeavor and developing many new varieties of lilies through hybridization. [...]]]> Photograph of water lilies at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC

In late June, the water lilies at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens are in full bloom. The land of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens was initially bought by W.B. Shaw, who farmed water lilies in the marshes as a hobby, eventually turning it into a large commercial endeavor and developing many new varieties of lilies through hybridization. When Shaw passed away, his daughter, Helen Fowler, continued the business. In the 1920s and 30s, with her permission for visitors to view the lilies on Sunday mornings, the farm began to receive up to 5,000-6,000 visitors in a single day. Eventually, she donated the land to the National Park System, and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens as we know it today was born.

Last month, I did a portrait shoot and a fine art photography shoot at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Washington, DC.  The lilies will be in full bloom through the end of August, so there’s still time to visit!  In honor of this wonderful location, I’ve put one of my fine art images from Kenilworth onto my August wallpaper – click on the links below for the resolution and aspect ratio that best match your computer screen:

1024 x 768 -     1280 x 1024 -     1440 x 960 -     1920 x 1080

Once you download it, if you have Windows 7, just right click on the file and select “set as desktop background.”  In Windows XP, you’ll need to go to the control panel, click on display, click on the desktop tab, and then browse to select the file.  If you’re using a Mac, well…don’t ask me, I don’t know…though if you really need help, leave me a comment, and I can ask my cousin who’s  a graphic designer.

And click here if you’d like to license this image for use or purchase it as a fine art photography print.  Download information on buying fine art photography here.  And view more images of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens here.

]]> http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/07/26/august-2010-wallpaper-lilies-of-the-water-ii/feed/ 0 2010 DC Carribean Carnival Parade http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/portraits-weddings-events/event-photography/2010/07/03/2010-dc-carribean-carnival-parade/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2010-dc-carribean-carnival-parade http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/portraits-weddings-events/event-photography/2010/07/03/2010-dc-carribean-carnival-parade/#comments Sat, 03 Jul 2010 23:21:54 +0000 Irene Abdou http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/?p=1417 Last Saturday was the 2010 DC Caribbean Carnival, which is held every year during the last weekend of June.  It launches with a parade with dancers in traditional Carribean carnival costumes.  My husband and I rushed into DC early Saturday morning, still 30 minutes late, only to find that this really IS a Caribbean Carnival! [...]]]> Last Saturday was the 2010 DC Caribbean Carnival, which is held every year during the last weekend of June.  It launches with a parade with dancers in traditional Carribean carnival costumes.  My husband and I rushed into DC early Saturday morning, still 30 minutes late, only to find that this really IS a Caribbean Carnival!  On true Island/African time, the parade started 1 or 1 1/2 hours late…but boy, was it worth it!  It was a LONG parade!  Two hours after the first dancers passed us by, the line was still coming, and even though we were up on a hill, we still couldn’t see the end of the parade!  We didn’t stay to the end, and we never did make it to the actual festival in Banneker Recreation Park…  (We had a barbecue at a friend’s house to get to!)  But the parade was absolutely amazing and wonderful and COLORful!  We will definitely try to make it again next year!

DC Caribbean Carnival – Images by Irene Abdou

]]> http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/portraits-weddings-events/event-photography/2010/07/03/2010-dc-carribean-carnival-parade/feed/ 0 Lilies of the Water http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/07/02/lilies-of-the-water/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lilies-of-the-water http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/07/02/lilies-of-the-water/#comments Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:34:48 +0000 Irene Abdou http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/?p=1406 After finishing up Megan’s portrait photography shoot at her house in Washington, DC last Sunday, I headed back to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens for another hour to get a few shots of the lilies by themselves.  Click here to view all my water lily fine art photography images from Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.  Absolutely incredible, aren’t they? [...]]]> After finishing up Megan’s portrait photography shoot at her house in Washington, DC last Sunday, I headed back to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens for another hour to get a few shots of the lilies by themselves.  Click here to view all my water lily fine art photography images from Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.  Absolutely incredible, aren’t they?  Read about the history of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens here.

Fine art photograph of the water lilies at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, which in late June, are in full bloom.

In late June, the water lilies at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens are in full bloom.

]]> http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/07/02/lilies-of-the-water/feed/ 1 Shouldn’t Every Dream Be Created Equal? ACLU July 14th Statehood Event and 2011 Calendar http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/30/shouldnt-every-dream-be-created-equal-aclu-july-14th-statehood-event-and-2011-calendar/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shouldnt-every-dream-be-created-equal-aclu-july-14th-statehood-event-and-2011-calendar http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/30/shouldnt-every-dream-be-created-equal-aclu-july-14th-statehood-event-and-2011-calendar/#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:35:42 +0000 Irene Abdou http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/?p=1378 A group of visitors to the Lincoln Memorial spontaneously hold up a sign saying, "I Still Have a Dream."

The American Civil Liberties Union has selected one of my images, “Shouldn’t Every Dream Be Created Equal,” for its 2011 limited edition calendar! Can’t wait to see it… As a winning artist, my husband [...]]]> A group of visitors to the Lincoln Memorial spontaneously hold up a sign saying, "I Still Have a Dream."

A group of visitors to the Lincoln Memorial spontaneously hold up a sign saying, "I Still Have a Dream."

The American Civil Liberties Union has selected one of my images, “Shouldn’t Every Dream Be Created Equal,” for its 2011 limited edition calendar! Can’t wait to see it… As a winning artist, my husband and I have also been invited to attend and display my artwork at their 2010 Salute to DC Military and Statehood Veterans event on July 14th.

Residents of D.C. have no voting representation in the national legislature, and the U.S. has the unfortunate honor of being the ONLY democracy in the world that denies representation to residents of its capital. The 2010 Salute to DC Military and Statehood Veterans event honors veterans who have returned home to DC, yet are unable to benefit from the same democratic rights that residents of other states enjoy.

Tickets to the event are $51 in advance. Each attendee will receive a free 2011 calendar, and all proceeds go to support the D.C. Statehood Education Fund! For tickets, contact Beverly at (202) 457-0800 or e-mail beverly@aclu-nca.org. The event takes place at Onyx on First, 1100 1st Street, SE, Washington, DC, from 6:00-8:00 pm on July 14th. Join us there!

Also, it’s not too late to sign up for my upcoming 1/2-day photography workshop on July 5th, Photographing the DC Memorials from Evening to Night. Click on the link for more information and to register!

]]> http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/30/shouldnt-every-dream-be-created-equal-aclu-july-14th-statehood-event-and-2011-calendar/feed/ 0 July 2010 Wallpaper: Sunset Over Great Falls http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/27/july-2010-wallpaper-sunset-over-great-falls/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=july-2010-wallpaper-sunset-over-great-falls http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/27/july-2010-wallpaper-sunset-over-great-falls/#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 00:32:22 +0000 Irene Abdou http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/?p=1313 The summer sun sets in glorious colors over Great Falls in Potomac, Maryland.

July wallpaper is ready for download – click on the links below for the resolution and aspect ratio that best match your computer screen:

1024 x 768 -     1280 x 1024 -     1440 x 960 -     1920 x 1080

Once you download it, if [...]]]> The summer sun sets in glorious colors over Great Falls in Potomac, Maryland.

The summer sun sets in glorious colors over Great Falls in Potomac, Maryland.

July wallpaper is ready for download – click on the links below for the resolution and aspect ratio that best match your computer screen:

1024 x 768 -     1280 x 1024 -     1440 x 960 -     1920 x 1080

Once you download it, if you have Windows 7, just right click on the file and select “set as desktop background.”  In Windows XP, you’ll need to go to the control panel, click on display, click on the desktop tab, and then browse to select the file.  If you’re using a Mac, well…don’t ask me, I don’t know…though if you really need help, leave me a comment, and I can ask my cousin who’s  a graphic designer.

And click here if you’d like to license this image for use or purchase it as a fine art photography print.  Download information on buying fine art photography here.  And view more images of Great Falls, Maryland here.

]]> http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/27/july-2010-wallpaper-sunset-over-great-falls/feed/ 0 Great Falls Sunset: Vision Doesn’t End with the Click of the Shutter http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/25/great-falls-sunset-vision-doesnt-end-with-the-click-of-the-shutter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=great-falls-sunset-vision-doesnt-end-with-the-click-of-the-shutter http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/25/great-falls-sunset-vision-doesnt-end-with-the-click-of-the-shutter/#comments Fri, 25 Jun 2010 23:19:01 +0000 Irene Abdou http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/?p=1290 The summer sun sets in glorious colors over Great Falls in Potomac, Maryland.

I’ve been contemplating the image-creation process this week, as I work on a series of images of Great Falls.  I thought I’d share some of my musings about the three essential steps to great image-making:

Step 1: Defining your vision for the image [...]]]> The summer sun sets in glorious colors over Great Falls in Potomac, Maryland.

The summer sun sets in glorious colors over Great Falls in Potomac, Maryland.

I’ve been contemplating the image-creation process this week, as I work on a series of images of Great Falls.  I thought I’d share some of my musings about the three essential steps to great image-making:

Step 1: Defining your vision for the image and the message you want to convey, be it beauty… drama… majesty… sadness… joy… fatigue…pride…  This is the picture you imagine in your mind’s eye;

Step 2: Setting up your camera controls and composition to capture your vision, and clicking the shutter; and

Step 3: Developing/post-processing the image to maximize its impact and message.  This is the defining moment of your photographic vision.

Although each step is equally important, most often, people focus on the second step – part 2 of the second step, in fact – the press of the shutter – without putting enough thought or imagination into defining that initial vision.  And even fewer people realize the importance and impact of the third step, post-processing, on the final image.  And as a result, despite the most tremendous efforts in the field to get that incredible shot, the end image falls flat.

Last weekend, one of my photography students and I were out at Great Falls doing a session on high dynamic range (HDR) imaging.  (If you don’t know what HDR is, click here.)  Below is a series of versions of the same HDR image, each processed in a different manner.  The first image had minimal post-processing, so you can use that one as a baseline.  See how different each image is?  They each convey a different feeling, despite them being photographs of the exact same scene at the exact same time.

(Click on “view with PicLens” for a full-screen slideshow.)

So even though it means sitting at my computer for even longer periods of time than being in the field shooting, I love post-processing.  It’s the defining moment – it makes or breaks the success of the image.  It determines whether I achieved my photographic vision.  And best of all, it’s such a wonderful creative outlet.  So take a little time to revisit that last batch of photos you shot, and exercise your creative mind!

View more images of Great Falls, Maryland here.

If you’d like to learn to be a better photographer, click here for information on private photography and digital darkroom lessons.  Or view a calendar of group photography workshops in the Washington, DC metro area.

]]> http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/25/great-falls-sunset-vision-doesnt-end-with-the-click-of-the-shutter/feed/ 0 New Work at Gallery Serengeti – Fine Art from an African Pot http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/13/new-work-at-gallery-serengeti-fine-art-from-an-african-pot/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-work-at-gallery-serengeti-fine-art-from-an-african-pot http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/13/new-work-at-gallery-serengeti-fine-art-from-an-african-pot/#comments Sun, 13 Jun 2010 04:08:01 +0000 Irene Abdou http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/?p=1201 I delivered eight pieces of artwork to Gallery Serengeti in Capitol Heights, Maryland a few weekends ago.  Gallery Serengeti specializes in “Fine Art from an African Pot” (love that tagline…)  Swing by and check it out when you have a chance!  They’re located at 7919 Central Avenue, Capital Heights, MD 20743.

(Click on “view with PicLens” [...]]]> I delivered eight pieces of artwork to Gallery Serengeti in Capitol Heights, Maryland a few weekends ago.  Gallery Serengeti specializes in “Fine Art from an African Pot” (love that tagline…)  Swing by and check it out when you have a chance!  They’re located at 7919 Central Avenue, Capital Heights, MD 20743.

(Click on “view with PicLens” for a full-screen slideshow.)

]]> http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/13/new-work-at-gallery-serengeti-fine-art-from-an-african-pot/feed/ 0 Shenandoah Valley Hot Air Balloon & Wine Festival http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/travel-photography/2010/06/11/shenandoah-valley-hot-air-balloon-wine-festival/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shenandoah-valley-hot-air-balloon-wine-festival http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/travel-photography/2010/06/11/shenandoah-valley-hot-air-balloon-wine-festival/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:04:16 +0000 Irene Abdou http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/?p=1183 A few days ago, I blogged about my new Stock Photography-Image Archive site by Photoshelter. Photoshelter’s been updating their features, and I now have the option to easily embed slideshows on my blog and other websites! How cool is that??!!! I’ve been working hard to upload my full image archive to my [...]]]> A few days ago, I blogged about my new Stock Photography-Image Archive site by Photoshelter. Photoshelter’s been updating their features, and I now have the option to easily embed slideshows on my blog and other websites! How cool is that??!!! I’ve been working hard to upload my full image archive to my new site. Today, I uploaded images from the 2008 Shenandoah Valley Hot Air Balloon and Wine Festival. Check out the slideshow below!  And by the way, if you’d like your own Photoshelter website, I can help you out with my Photoshelter discount code, which will get you up to $30 off.

]]> http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/travel-photography/2010/06/11/shenandoah-valley-hot-air-balloon-wine-festival/feed/ 0 New Stock Photography – Image Archive Site Launched http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/07/new-stock-photography-image-archive-site-launched/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-stock-photography-image-archive-site-launched http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/fine-art-photography/2010/06/07/new-stock-photography-image-archive-site-launched/#comments Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:40:56 +0000 Irene Abdou http://ireneabdouportraitsweddings.com/blog/?p=1106 Children ride the bumper cars at the 2007 Montgomery County Agricultural Fair in Gaithersburg, Maryland. This is a cool photo that I came across as I was sorting through all my images to upload to the new stock photography site. I think I didn't fully appreciate it when I shot it in [...]]]>
Children ride the bumper cars at the 2007 Montgomery County Agricultural Fair in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

Children ride the bumper cars at the 2007 Montgomery County Agricultural Fair in Gaithersburg, Maryland. This is a cool photo that I came across as I was sorting through all my images to upload to the new stock photography site. I think I didn't fully appreciate it when I shot it in 2007, but today, I love it!

Some of you might know that over the past month, I’ve been working tirelessly to launch my new Stock Photography-Image Archive site. It’s been live for almost a full month, but I wanted to get most of my existing photographs up onto the site before officially announcing it.  While it will still take me a while more to finish that upload process, I have more than 2,050 images now posted.  Plus, there are a number of great features about the site that I’m very pleased with:

  • Search: There’s a great search engine that for the first time allows viewers to search my entire online archive by keyword, location, date, releases, license type, and even orientation (horizontal, vertical, panorama, etc.)!  Note that not all images are classified in a gallery, so if you’re really looking for something particular, be sure to try the search.
  • Low-Res Comps: Viewers can download low-res watermarked comps after creating a free account.
  • Online Licensing: Viewers can license images online for commercial use with immediate downloads of the hi-res images upon payment.  Licensing for personal use of low-res and/or high-res images is also available.
  • Lightboxes: Viewers can create their own lightboxes.  It’s also very easy for me to share lightboxes with clients, so feel free to let me know your photography needs!
  • Fine Art Photography: My fine art photography collections, printed on either standard photographic paper or on metal (yes, metal, not metallic paper!) are now available for online ordering through the site as well.  View information on buying fine art photography here.

Here are a few photo gallery collection highlights to check out:

It’s a great site (powered by Photoshelter), and I think you’ll find it easy to use.  If you like it and you’re also a photographer looking for a web host, feel free to use my Photoshelter discount code, which will get you up to $30 off your own website!

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