"Boys sleep against each other on a street in Krakow, Poland on a Saturday morning in the Summer of 2009."

Last night as I was out celebrating New Year’s Eve with friends in downtown Baltimore, an e-mail came through to my iPhone. The subject: “Your 2011 Year In Blogging.” I follow my blog’s statistics and traffic regularly, so I thought nothing of it at the time. I looked through the e-mail today, though, and came across some facts about Billie With An I.E. that I found interesting. 

Here’s the passage that first caught my eye:

“The concert hall at the Syndey Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 23,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 9 sold-out performances for that many people to see it. In 2011, there were 140 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 216 posts. There were 441 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 1gb. That’s about a picture per day. The busiest day of the year was October 20th with 1,239 views. The most popular post that day was ‘Goalie.’”

I’m always aware of how many page views I’ve acquired to date, but I’ve never thought about the number 23,000 in terms of actual people occupying actual spaces. 

I also learned that the top Google searches that led viewers to my blog, aside from “Billie with an I.E.,” were “Biljana Sesevich” and “Vera Zvonareva.” Sesevich, pictured here, is a Serbian supermodel and wife of Serbian professional tennis player, Janko Tipsarevic. Zvonareva, a native of Russia, is the attractive tennis player who is currently ranked seventh in the world. Here is my photo of her. So, the lesson is clear: posting pictures of beautiful women is a sure way to boost one’s page views.

Finally, I learned that this blog drew viewers from the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, the United Kingdom, Italy, Serbia, France, Germany, South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Japan, The Philippines, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand. I think that’s pretty neat. 

This image really has no relevance to this post, but it’s one I’ve always liked. Something tells me that after a long night of drinking in Krakow, Poland, these guys weren’t readily checking into the blog. 

As always, thank you to all for your readership and comments. Continue to check in for more posts in 2012! Happy New Year!

"Students from Goucher College's Opera Workshop class perform a scene from 'The Mikado' Wednesday, November 30, 2011 in Merrick Hall."

"Nora Roxie Dennehy performs as 'Yum-Yum' during a Goucher College Opera Workshop performance of 'The Mikado' Wednesday, November 30, 2011 in Merrick Hall."

"Kirsten Seibert performs as 'Katisha' during a Goucher College Opera Workshop performance of 'The Mikado' Wednesday, November 30, 2011 in Merrick Hall."

"Michael Garman and Jonathan Fredrickson perform as 'Ko-Ko' and 'Pooh-Bah' during a Goucher College Opera Workshop performance of 'The Mikado' Wednesday, November 30, 2011 in Merrick Hall."

"Students from Goucher College's Opera Workshop class perform a scene from 'The Mikado' Wednesday, November 30, 2011 in Merrick Hall."

I shot the Goucher College Opera Workshop’s performance of “The Mikado” or “The Town Of Titipu” last night. Throughout my years at Goucher, I photographed plenty of these performances, but this was the first that I’ve shot since graduating. 

It was nice to be back, and as I watched and made pictures, I kept thinking about those four years. Had I been shooting this last year, I would have gone straight to the library or the newspaper office after it was over for a late night/early morning full of work. It’s quite a difference a year makes.

This production was full of opportunities for great pictures. I haven’t shot anything that was this visually exciting in awhile, so this was a nice jolt of energy that my shooting has needed of late. 

For current Goucher Students in the thick of the end of semester work, I strongly suggest you take a two hour study break tonight and go watch ‘The Mikado.’ I trust you’ll leave feeling refreshed and energized. 

"Michael Oren (center), Israeli Ambassador to the United States, poses with philanthropists Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson during a Birthright Israel event at the Newseum in Washington, DC Tuesday, November 29, 2011."

Any time I get to cover an event related to Birthright Israel, I’m overjoyed. My experience in Israel was like none other in my life, so I jump at any opportunity that I know will bring me back to that trip. 

This was the latest of that type, a fundraising event at the Newseum in Washington, DC. (The Newseum, home to an exhibit full of Pulitzer Prize winning photographs, is of course, my favorite museum out there).

This was a wonderful event, and, as a Birthright alum who had an incredible ten days in Israel at zero cost, it was interesting to witness what actually goes into making that gift possible for myself and thousands of others around the world. 

I was in great company, as well. Here’s a photo of the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson, who have donated over $100 million to Birthright Israel since 2007, posing with Michael Oren, the Israeli Ambassador to the United States.

It will certainly be a nice addition to the Philanthropy and Foreign Policy portfolios. 

"Rain falls in Lutherville, Maryland Tuesday, November 22, 2011."

I didn’t get the beautiful fall weather that I got on my birthday last year. In fact, it’s been pouring all day. It’s still been a wonderful day, though, and a great 22 years!

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

"Baltimore Orioles teammates congratulate left fielder Nolan Reimold as he runs toward home plate after hitting a two run walk off home run in the bottom of the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Wednesday, August 10, 2011. The Orioles won 6-4."

Here’s one of my all-time favorites! I just came across this one as I was searching through my archives. 

A nice, exciting, colorful jolt of energy to contrast the dreary weather we’ve had all week. 

"Members of the Johns Hopkins University and Goucher College men's basketball teams fight for a rebound during a 'Pride of Maryland Tournament 2011' opening round game Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland."

"Members of the Johns Hopkins University men's basketball team collide during a 'Pride of Maryland Tournament 2011' first round game at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland Tuesday, November 15, 2011."

I love shooting sports, but basketball is among my least favorites. There’s something about dark, yellowy lit gymnasiums that just doesn’t do it for me. 

At its roots, it’s not as pure of a game as other sports are. Often the only thing you see through your lens are clusters of bodies falling on top of one another, or, if you’re shooting from the baseline, bodies falling on top of you. Visually, I prefer sports with simple, clean lines and great light. You’ll get a sense of what I mean if you click here or here.

For me, those are refreshing to look at after the types of events I’ve been covering lately. 

Regardless, I shoot basketball when I need to, and I can make some good images when I do. I covered the opening round of the annual Pride of Maryland tournament at Goucher last Tuesday, and I liked these two as a pair. They show the uglier side of basketball. 

"Student-athletes talk with a recruiter after listening to a career advice panel discussion at a networking event designed for graduating Seniors at Goucher College Tuesday, November 15, 2011."

This is about as exciting a photograph one can make at a networking event. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the discussions held and the questions raised while I was shooting, but visually, it was as ordinary looking as it gets. 

Sometimes that’s just how it is, and it’s important for me to keep in mind that I’m not going to make amazing pictures at every assignment I shoot. As long as I get quality images of what’s needed, then I’ve done my job. Such was the case from this event. 

If anything, it’s a good piece of PR for Goucher.

"Young Harris College 'Echoes' alumni magazine: Fall/Winter 2011 Cover."

Here’s my first formal magazine cover!

While I was working as a photographer for the Baltimore Orioles this summer, editors of the “Echoes” alumni magazine at Young Harris College in northern Georgia contacted me requesting photos of Orioles right fielder, Nick Markakis, for a cover story they planned to run about him. If you weren’t aware, Markakis played his college ball at Young Harris. 

Click here to see the rest of the magazine, as well as the article itself, which includes more photos. 

This is a low resolution version of the cover, so I’ll be sure to post a better image once I get a hard copy of the magazine. Regardless, this is a great addition to my portfolio!

Hopefully this will be the first of many covers to come. 

"Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings (left), Memphis Grizzlies point guard Greivis Vasquez, and #9 overall 2011 NBA Draft pick of the Charlotte Bobcats Kemba Walker await the start of an exhibition game to kick off the Under Armour 'Are You From Here?' tour at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, Maryland Monday, November 7, 2011."

I shot the kick off event for Under Armour‘s “Are You From Here?” tour yesterday at the St. Frances Academy school in downtown Baltimore. The tour is designed to promote NBA players’ engagement with the community while the lockout prevents them from playing. 

On the tour are Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks, Derrick Williams, the #2 overall NBA Draft pick of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kemba Walker, the #9 overall 2011 NBA Draft pick of the Charlotte Bobcats, and Grievis Vasquez, former University of Maryland star and current Memphis Grizzlies point guard. 

I’ve shot basketball before, but I’ve never seen guys move like these NBA players can. Their movements are ridiculously quick, even in a pick-up exhibition game like this one. Their athleticism is freaky. 

This was a fun event which I enjoyed shooting, despite the horrible lighting in the school’s gym. It made shooting action really tough, so I focused more on the candid moments like this one. 

"Greg and Meredith Goldman walk down the aisle after their wedding ceremony at The Breakers Hotel Saturday, November 5, 2011 in West Palm Beach, Florida."

Despite the temptation to take a true break for a few days, I decided to try to be a bit productive over the past weekend, which my family and I spent in West Palm Beach, Florida. I did so by shooting some wedding pictures, adding to a part of my portfolio which is significantly smaller than most others. 

For the amount I shot (which wasn’t many), I was mildly happy with what I came away with. Weddings are fun to be at, especially when they are like Greg and Meredith’s here, but I don’t find them so fun to shoot. I know, though, that that’s simply because I haven’t shot enough of them. Like anything else I shoot, I’m sure I’d look at this type of photography differently if I shot more of it. 

"A member of the Goucher College swim team competes during a meet against Catholic University Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland."

I shot the swim meet at Goucher College this weekend. Here’s one I liked. It’s tough for me to get into shooting swimming, but that’s likely just because the light in Goucher’s pool is abysmal. 

I’d be curious to see what shooting is like in, say, an Olympic pool.

"A volunteer is made up to resemble a zombie at the first ever Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K race Saturday, October 22, 2011 in Darlington, Maryland."

"A racer jumps into a 'blood pit,' one of the obstacles on the first ever Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K race Saturday, October 22, 2011 in Darlington, Maryland."

"A zombie screams at a racer during the first ever Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K race Saturday, October 22, 2011 in Darlington, Maryland."

"A zombie chases a racer during the first ever Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K race Saturday, October 22, 2011 in Darlington, Maryland."

"A racer swims across a lake, one of the obstacles on the first ever Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K race Saturday, October 22, 2011 in Darlington, Maryland."

"Zombies wait for racers to arrive during the first ever Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K race Saturday, October 22, 2011 in Darlington, Maryland."

"A zombie screams at the first ever Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K race Saturday, October 22, 2011 in Darlington, Maryland."

"Twin brothers observe racers as they compete in the first ever Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K race Saturday, October 22, 2011 in Darlington, Maryland."

"A mother walks with her daughter, disguised as a zombie, at the first ever Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K race Saturday, October 22, 2011 in Darlington, Maryland."

"Racers dressed as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles celebrate after completing the course at the first ever Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K race Saturday, October 22, 2011 in Darlington, Maryland."

I was hired as the photographer for the first ever “Run For Your Lives Zombie 5K” race, which was held in Darlington, Maryland last Saturday. This was just the first of a series of several to occur throughout the country this year and next, so I was absolutely surprised to see that this drew attention from national media outlets, as well as over 10,000 runners and volunteers dressed like zombies. Here is the link to the website I shot for, which gives a better explanation of what the race is all about. 

As a Goucher graduate, I’ve taken pictures of zombies plenty of times, but even after shooting this event, I still don’t understand the obsession people have with the concept of zombies chasing humans. It just doesn’t get me going whatsoever, but it does make for very entertaining, compelling pictures.

I shot a ton of pictures. I guess that will happen when you’re running around in the woods and trodding through mud up to your ankles while taking pictures of the same thing over and over again for 14 hours straight…

Regardless, I’m really happy with my pictures from the day, which will make good additions to the portfolio. This is a sample of some of my favorites. 

If you’d like, click each image to see them full screen. They look better that way. 

"Goucher College Senior goalkeeper Steve Baum watches the ball as it passes him for a goal during a men's soccer game against Susquehanna University Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Goucher College."

I must have missed it the first time I went through my images from last Saturday’s soccer game at Goucher College, but I caught this quick moment after a second glance through today. 

Sorry, Baum, for posting this, but apart from the fact that it’s you in the photo, it stands on its own as a nice shot. Oy, no pun intended there.

"Goucher Men's Tennis freshman Nick Pelensky follows through on a serve during a match against Penn State-Harrisburg Friday, October 14, 2011 at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland."

I shot the Goucher Men’s and Women’s tennis match last Friday for the Goucher Athletics department. It was nice to be back on my home turf, see people I haven’t seen in awhile, and test out my new 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, which I’m still getting used to. 

Here’s one that I thought was interesting. 

"Baltimore Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis hits a home run during a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians Saturday, July 16, 2011."

I’m here at the yard for the last day of my second year as a photographer for the Baltimore Orioles. What can I say? It was another amazing summer consumed by two of my favorite things in life: photography and baseball. 

I did a lot this year. Since I got here in mid-June, I shot 30 home games. I also traveled with players to various community outreach events throughout Baltimore City and County. Many of my photographs were published in this year’s third edition of Orioles Magazine, as well as several Baltimore newspapers and community publications. I also worked tirelessly on the Orioles photography archives, which are in the ridiculously long process of being categorized and converted to digital format. Over these past several months, I scanned, in their entirety, the files of 60 players dating back to 1954. In total, I scanned over 4,000 images, but likely closer to 4,500. I also fulfilled image requests from other departments, local media outlets, and other teams throughout the league. 

It’s a little bittersweet now that it’s over. I love every second of being out there on the field right where the action is, and for me, shooting the games never gets old. At the same time, though, this job is intense, and can be extremely time consuming. Needless to say, I’m excited for a bit of a break after lots of hard work. I also know that I won’t miss much action during the offseason (besides the annoying sound of the scanners next to my computer all day long.)

What I will miss, of course, are the people who make this such an incredible experience for me. I owe my most sincere thanks to Todd Olszewski, the team photographer, for calling me back this year, imparting his photo expertise on me, and constantly inspiring me with his work. I also owe thanks to all the photographers I work alongside at each game for making work such an enjoyable place to come to every day, and for their advice and wisdom about this profession. 

I’m not quite sure what’s next, but I know something great will come up. Until then, here’s to two seasons!