Favorite Photos of 2012

I was shooting Courtney at the Arboretum during the Spring, and had already gotten some nice stuff, when I start looking for just one more shot. I had her raise her arms up, stretching into the sun, like a flower. We worked it a bit over a series of shots and then: Bam!: I was shooting Courtney at the Arboretum during the Spring, and had already gotten some nice stuff, when I start looking for just one more shot. I had her raise her arms up, stretching into the sun, like a flower. We worked it a bit over a series of shots and then: Bam!

Jane’s Addiction is a band that had a big influence in my life. Saw them the first time at the small Rialto Theater in Raleigh, then saw them several times on their rapid rise, leading up to the first Lollapalooza. Kept up with all the stuff after the initial breakup, seeing Porno for Pyros a few times and the various Jane’s reunions. Finally got a chance to shoot them this year when the came to town. Hard to pick between several great shots, but ultimately I like the color of this one as Dave comes back across the stage.: Jane’s Addiction is a band that had a big influence in my life. Saw them the first time at the small Rialto Theater in Raleigh, then saw them several times on their rapid rise, leading up to the first Lollapalooza. Kept up with all the stuff after the initial breakup, seeing Porno for Pyros a few times and the various Jane’s reunions. Finally got a chance to shoot them this year when the came to town. Hard to pick between several great shots, but ultimately I like the color of this one as Dave comes back across the stage.

Danielle has just a rare face. You can’t take a bad photo of this girl. Every shot was gold, and it was hard to choose just one for the best of list. By the way, pretty sure this one was without flash. Have a large diffuser just outside of view, acting as a big, soft light source.: Danielle has just a rare face. You can’t take a bad photo of this girl. Every shot was gold, and it was hard to choose just one for the best of list. By the way, pretty sure this one was without flash. Have a large diffuser just outside of view, acting as a big, soft light source.

It was hard to choose between some of my fair photographs this year. I’d never shot the swings, and always wanted to get a good shoot of it. Finally got my chance.: It was hard to choose between some of my fair photographs this year. I’d never shot the swings, and always wanted to get a good shoot of it. Finally got my chance.

Katie was up visiting another photographer, and I was lucky enough to get a couple hours for a shoot. I’d always wanted to shoot a model in the water, and she was game (it was going to be like 100 that day). We got some really great stuff, but this one instantly stood out. So serene.: Katie was up visiting another photographer, and I was lucky enough to get a couple hours for a shoot. I’d always wanted to shoot a model in the water, and she was game (it was going to be like 100 that day). We got some really great stuff, but this one instantly stood out. So serene.

Henna N was a visiting model, and I was shooting her with several other photographers in a small block of time. I’d had a stretch to shoot with her early in that block, and went fairly traditional art nude. When things came back around to me, I wanted to push my creative envelope. I knew I wanted to utilize this great window. We found some rope. I had one photographer bind her hands while I set up my lights. Got another to pretend to be an armed guard. I think I only actually shot for about 2 minutes. But damn if I didn’t get the shot.: Henna N was a visiting model, and I was shooting her with several other photographers in a small block of time. I’d had a stretch to shoot with her early in that block, and went fairly traditional art nude. When things came back around to me, I wanted to push my creative envelope. I knew I wanted to utilize this great window. We found some rope. I had one photographer bind her hands while I set up my lights. Got another to pretend to be an armed guard. I think I only actually shot for about 2 minutes. But damn if I didn’t get the shot.

I almost never use flash when shooting live music. And I almost never use my pop-up flash. But then again, I almost never get to shoot a great metal show. Pallbearer was playing to a packed Pour House during Hopscotch. PJ Sykes, a great music photographer from Richmond that I’d met earlier, was dragging some shutter with his pop-up flash. I decided to give it a go, too. I really loved the way it turned out for this one. I still probably won’t flash and drag that often, only when the band and situation allow for it. But I hope next time I do, I get something so badass.: I almost never use flash when shooting live music. And I almost never use my pop-up flash. But then again, I almost never get to shoot a great metal show. Pallbearer was playing to a packed Pour House during Hopscotch. PJ Sykes, a great music photographer from Richmond that I’d met earlier, was dragging some shutter with his pop-up flash. I decided to give it a go, too. I really loved the way it turned out for this one. I still probably won’t flash and drag that often, only when the band and situation allow for it. But I hope next time I do, I get something so badass.

This was a very short shoot, and I love almost every shot I took that day. The model was having a reaction to some medicine and was getting killed by mosquitoes, yet she still just absolutely nailed it. I love the dreaminess of this and the gaze in her eye(s).: This was a very short shoot, and I love almost every shot I took that day. The model was having a reaction to some medicine and was getting killed by mosquitoes, yet she still just absolutely nailed it. I love the dreaminess of this and the gaze in her eye(s).

I had a ton of great moments of my son that I captured this year. It was difficult to pick, but this one combines some great golden hour light with the gesture of the hammer on the tree and, oh, that priceless face.: I had a ton of great moments of my son that I captured this year. It was difficult to pick, but this one combines some great golden hour light with the gesture of the hammer on the tree and, oh, that priceless face.

Stormer had this almost androgynous beauty to her, and was wearing this cool-ass Joy Division t-shirt. I went for a dramatic shot and then some creative cropping and editing. I love the tension in the final result. Feel like it should be an album cover or at least a promo shot.: Stormer had this almost androgynous beauty to her, and was wearing this cool-ass Joy Division t-shirt. I went for a dramatic shot and then some creative cropping and editing. I love the tension in the final result. Feel like it should be an album cover or at least a promo shot.

I’ve blogged about this experience, and it was a big one for me, so a photo from it had to make to the list. Dave Stewart hired me to shoot his set opening for, and encoring with, Sugarland. This one ended up being used as a promo piece for a large music festival.: I’ve blogged about this experience, and it was a big one for me, so a photo from it had to make to the list. Dave Stewart hired me to shoot his set opening for, and encoring with, Sugarland. This one ended up being used as a promo piece for a large music festival.

Last shot of the night. “Hey, let’s jump over this fence and shoot over here next to this building under construction”. I had a rule about a given model could only make the list once, or Cortney might have made an appearance with an earlier shoot.: Last shot of the night. “Hey, let’s jump over this fence and shoot over here next to this building under construction”. I had a rule about a given model could only make the list once, or Cortney might have made an appearance with an earlier shoot.

I’d shot out here with a telephoto zoom before, and gotten nice results, but I was looking for something different, with some flair and creativity. I waded out, in up to my knees, to make up for the lack of reach of the lens, and used my Lensbaby 85. I also had a Polaroid Spectra with me. The guy on the bank with the 70-200 must have thought me odd. I love how it turned out. The polaroid shots turned out pretty rad, too.: I’d shot out here with a telephoto zoom before, and gotten nice results, but I was looking for something different, with some flair and creativity. I waded out, in up to my knees, to make up for the lack of reach of the lens, and used my Lensbaby 85. I also had a Polaroid Spectra with me. The guy on the bank with the 70-200 must have thought me odd. I love how it turned out. The polaroid shots turned out pretty rad, too.

My first time shooting nudes, and I got the exceptional Edith J. I struggled between Fallen and Fallen 2 for the Best Of list. Like the asymmetry of this one and went with it.: My first time shooting nudes, and I got the exceptional Edith J. I struggled between Fallen and Fallen 2 for the Best Of list. Like the asymmetry of this one and went with it.

I tried to make a return to shooting film this year. I shot 35mm and Medium Format a bit. I also shot with 3 Polaroid cameras, mainly shooting new Impossible Project film. This is my favorite of the Polaroid shots. Just love the texture and color of the water. Had several film shots in the running to make this list. Next year, I’m pretty sure the list will contain a lot.: I tried to make a return to shooting film this year. I shot 35mm and Medium Format a bit. I also shot with 3 Polaroid cameras, mainly shooting new Impossible Project film. This is my favorite of the Polaroid shots. Just love the texture and color of the water. Had several film shots in the running to make this list. Next year, I’m pretty sure the list will contain a lot.

The challenge in concert photography (like most photography), is to capture a moment. The reason I ended up choosing this one was that I, somewhat accidentally, captured 3 moments. I knew I had one or two when I was framing the shot, but, at the moment of capture, I was just trying to make sure I wasn’t obscuring the drummer. It was only later that I realized what a cool moment I had.: The challenge in concert photography (like most photography), is to capture a moment. The reason I ended up choosing this one was that I, somewhat accidentally, captured 3 moments. I knew I had one or two when I was framing the shot, but, at the moment of capture, I was just trying to make sure I wasn’t obscuring the drummer. It was only later that I realized what a cool moment I had.

My daughter Emma beams at her High School graduation.: My daughter Emma beams at her High School graduation.

It was hard to choose between this shoot with Jenn and an earlier outside shoot in the woods. This shoot wasn’t even a full blown shoot. I was doing another shoot that day, and Jenn popped in right after for a few minutes because she needed some new photos for a submission. We knocked out some great stuff in a very short period of time. I’m drawn to this one though. Something about the look on her face and the pop of blondness in all that black. I love the tension of the angles of the wall and her body.: It was hard to choose between this shoot with Jenn and an earlier outside shoot in the woods. This shoot wasn’t even a full blown shoot. I was doing another shoot that day, and Jenn popped in right after for a few minutes because she needed some new photos for a submission. We knocked out some great stuff in a very short period of time. I’m drawn to this one though. Something about the look on her face and the pop of blondness in all that black. I love the tension of the angles of the wall and her body.

I’d shot Eryka in a few fashion shows, but hadn’t had a chance to shoot her more creatively. At this year’s Couture for a Cause shoot, I really intended to get a proper shoot with her done. But before I knew it, the multi-model/photographer event was winding down. Luckily I was able to grab another photographer’s setup, tweak the lights to how I wanted them, and get this. I love the burst of color from the dress, and the look she is giving with the eye.: I’d shot Eryka in a few fashion shows, but hadn’t had a chance to shoot her more creatively. At this year’s Couture for a Cause shoot, I really intended to get a proper shoot with her done. But before I knew it, the multi-model/photographer event was winding down. Luckily I was able to grab another photographer’s setup, tweak the lights to how I wanted them, and get this. I love the burst of color from the dress, and the look she is giving with the eye.

My son was in his first soccer league this year. I’ve never shot sports, but brought along my camera with a telephoto zoom and got some fun, intense (looking, anyway) moments. This was a favorite.: My son was in his first soccer league this year. I’ve never shot sports, but brought along my camera with a telephoto zoom and got some fun, intense (looking, anyway) moments. This was a favorite.

As I did last year, I’ve reviewed my photographic work from this year to pick my 20 favorite images. At the end of last year, I remarked that I’d started to shoot more and more models, and that continued throughout 2012. To keep that from dominating the selections, I limited it to 10 picks that were setup shots with models, with the other 10 being me capturing various moments as they occured, whether it be live music or my son’s soccer games.

I had several photos this year that were absolute shoe ins for the list. Then I had big pool of a few dozen photographs that felt like my children and I really struggled to choose one over another. Gesture mattered a lot. Capturing some unique little moment or emotion.

Each photograph has a little paragraph where I talk about it. If you are viewing the stand-alone version of this entry (as opposed to the main blog page that shows all blog entries), then you’ll see this by hovering or clicking on the little “i” in the corner of each photo.

Note: I’m taking a little risk by publishing this with some time still left in the year. If I get something that I feel is truly deserving, I’ll add it to the list.

Rodney Boles

Music and Street Photographer in North Carolina

Favorite Photos of 2012

I was shooting Courtney at the Arboretum during the Spring, and had already gotten some nice stuff, when I start looking for just one more shot. I had her raise her arms up, stretching into the sun, like a flower. We worked it a bit over a series of shots and then: Bam!

Danielle has just a rare face. You can’t take a bad photo of this girl. Every shot was gold, and it was hard to choose just one for the best of list. By the way, pretty sure this one was without flash. Have a large diffuser just outside of view, acting as a big, soft light source.

It was hard to choose between some of my fair photographs this year. I’d never shot the swings, and always wanted to get a good shoot of it. Finally got my chance.

Katie was up visiting another photographer, and I was lucky enough to get a couple hours for a shoot. I’d always wanted to shoot a model in the water, and she was game (it was going to be like 100 that day). We got some really great stuff, but this one instantly stood out. So serene.

This was a very short shoot, and I love almost every shot I took that day. The model was having a reaction to some medicine and was getting killed by mosquitoes, yet she still just absolutely nailed it. I love the dreaminess of this and the gaze in her eye(s).

I had a ton of great moments of my son that I captured this year. It was difficult to pick, but this one combines some great golden hour light with the gesture of the hammer on the tree and, oh, that priceless face.

Stormer had this almost androgynous beauty to her, and was wearing this cool-ass Joy Division t-shirt. I went for a dramatic shot and then some creative cropping and editing. I love the tension in the final result. Feel like it should be an album cover or at least a promo shot.

I’ve blogged about this experience, and it was a big one for me, so a photo from it had to make to the list. Dave Stewart hired me to shoot his set opening for, and encoring with, Sugarland. This one ended up being used as a promo piece for a large music festival.

Last shot of the night. “Hey, let’s jump over this fence and shoot over here next to this building under construction”. I had a rule about a given model could only make the list once, or Cortney might have made an appearance with an earlier shoot.

My first time shooting nudes, and I got the exceptional Edith J. I struggled between Fallen and Fallen 2 for the Best Of list. Like the asymmetry of this one and went with it.

My daughter Emma beams at her High School graduation.

My son was in his first soccer league this year. I’ve never shot sports, but brought along my camera with a telephoto zoom and got some fun, intense (looking, anyway) moments. This was a favorite.