Wedding Season

Well, June is here. That means one thing. It's Wedding Season. That really didn't mean anything to me until I realized how popular June is for weddings. Monday marks my one year anniversary, and in planning for that amazing day with my lovely then-fiance, I quickly realized there is a premium for June weddings because all the vendors are booked to their ears. We managed to get away with a spectacularly beautiful wedding at a great price. I liken it to the castle at Disney World... absolutely gorgeous in photos, and you don't realize the scale of it until you walk up to it in person. The photographer at our wedding did a great job, but one of our favorites is from our own camera—taken by my sister-in-law as my wife and I re-entered our home after a long day.

I'm really looking forward to shooting weddings this summer. As I reflect upon my own wedding day, and all the weddings I attended last year, I know the deep feelings of joy associated with that special day. As summer heats up down here in the south, aisles across the world will heat with the power of love and commitment.

Aviation Celebration

Gone are the days of my youth when I traveled to the airport with my loved ones, walked down the terminal and stood by the window as I waited to wave 'bon voyage' to their departing flight. The folks who took that privilege away from me (you know who I'm talking about) have never been forgiven. But recently I learned about an awesome feature at the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. It's simply called Airport Overlook. A small two-lane road meanders around the airport along the fence that separates the runways from... everything. At a mere half mile from the terminal a small, brown sign with an arrow points to the entrance to the medium-sized parking lot. Nestled a couple hundred yards from one of the airstrips, complete with a dozen benches and a few picnic tables, folks are able to observe planes taxiing, taking off, and landing. How much does this all-access pass cost, you ask? Nothing. This overlook is open 365 days a year, from 8:00am to 10:30 pm. Next time you have a friend or relative coming to the airport expecting you to pick them up, don't jam yourself into the Cell Phone lot awaiting their call. Instead, relax and watch their plane land from the comfort of a bench (or even your own car) in the far-less crowded Airport Overlook. And for those who are particularly daring, there is a sidewalk from the overlook parking lot that leads to a bench between the runway and the directional lights, in case you want to see the underbelly of the airplane as it takes off or lands! I didn't get a shot from that angle, but I hope to sooner than later!

Old School

Many moons ago one of my brothers presented me with a box of camera equipment that ranged from vintage to antique. All of the gear appears to be in working order, but I have yet to be certain that it exposes film properly. Enter the Kodak Brownie Flash Six-20. After doing a little research, I believe this camera was created sometime in the early-1940's. I showed up to a family gathering with this thing loaded up with a modified spool of 120 film (it 'only' accepts 620 film) and began taking pictures. My mom immediately recognized the camera and claimed it was hers when she was a little girl.

I already know that I enjoy shooting with this camera. It has all the 'classic' functions of the film cameras that people [born before 1985] would appreciate: A switch for 'close' or distant' photography, another for 'click' or 'bulb' (for low light), and the shutter button. I almost forgot to mention the film winder. It includes the threaded tripod mount, and it features a unique 'kick-stand' to properly level the lens for portrait photos. The top lacks the original leather handle,  but one of the two metal clips remains. The two little circles above the lens mounts an enormous flash (which I don't have) that looks a little bit like a Harley Davidson headlight. I prefer sunlight or studio lights over the mega-flash.

When I get the photos developed I will share them in a future posting, as well as information on the other pieces of equipment from 'the box.'

Low-Light Theatre

I have been fortunate to form a great relationship with Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance over the past several years. The kind folks there have given me the opportunity to photograph some of their recent shows. The three shows featured in this post are Altar Boyz, Violet, and Avenue Q. Despite the fact a good theatre (such as Theatre Alliance) has bright lights, this type of work is considered low-light photography. Seeing me working quickly to get the correct settings in the camera is quite comical, but I'm pretty sure the actors don't mind me fumbling with my equipment! They're busy getting their own business in order. I absolutely love the choices Theatre Alliance makes when it comes to show selections. Please check out their website. More shows to be posted soon!

Shooting Animals

I don't really care what creature it is. I love animals. Actually, I'll admit this right now: Horses scare the crap out of me. Right now I live with two dogs and a cat. I would have more, but I'm sure there would be a conflict waiting for me if I showed up with another "rescue" animal. I'm probably not alone on this one. Anyway, what I'm getting at is that all types of animals make fantastic subjects for photography. I narrowed down my collection of pet shots and wild animal shots to the following ten. Another fifty could make the list, but they may show up some other time on another post. 

Very Colorful Flowers

Not too long ago I paid a visit to my Mom's house to spend some time with her. My Dad was out of town on a business trip, so it felt nice to check in and make sure everything was going well. My Mom and I have a very close relationship, and ever since I moved out of town we haven't had the same opportunities to hang out. I'm so glad I stopped by. I immediately noticed her collection of brightly colored flowers sitting on the dining room table. I pulled out my camera, set the flowers up in nice natural light, and shot away. I also used a macro filter to give some detail to the beautiful (although artificial) color.

NEW: Updates thrice weekly!

The reason behind creating this blog was to observe my progress as a photographer through time. I have not been the best about updating it, so I decided I needed to change that. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (or near those days, anyway), I'm going to feature some type of photo shoot that I have recently completed, whether it's totally rad or not. Before long, there will be a wide range of images that showcase my point-of-view behind the lens. I hope you enjoy this journey as much as I enjoy piloting it!

This photo is me at a fountain on the campus of UNC Charlotte in May of 2012. The background doesn't quite show it, but there is an enormous construction project going on that will eventually house the new football stadium and related facilities. Kickoff is set for 2013 season.

New Venture - New Logo

Some readers of this blog may remember that I once had a textile screen printing and sign making business. That business flourished for a short time, and was known as Prints Design. As the economy found its way down the tubes, and my customer base diluted, it became increasingly difficult to maintain business as a sole proprietor. I sold my Winston-Salem-based business and moved to Charlotte to pursue an alternate career. Years later I'm a new elementary art teacher (under the guidance of a mentor) with a passion for photography. I've always loved holding a camera, but now it's something I rarely leave the house without. The name of this blog may cue you in, but let me divulge further my point: Prints Design is now Matthew Lopina Photography, aka ML Photography. 

Using the internet (or blog) to showcase my work is a new experience for me. I've tried in the past to do something like this, but the words I needed to say just never made it past my brain. I believe this blog is an opportunity to share with you (clients, friends, and family) a little piece of me, the photographer, so you may be more comfortable in understanding my passion. 

Who knows how often I will update this blog? As it stands, this is likely to be updated on a regular basis. As my work expands, this will be the place to see the best-of-the-best of my work. What I hope to accompany that is a  little bit of my personality, so that the Matthew and the Lopina are just as visible as the photography. Thanks for reading. 

A + A Wedding, Blowing Rock, NC

Anya and Alex Lopina chose beautiful Moses Cone Memorial Park in Blowing Rock, NC to exchange their vows and become united. A special group of guests stood witness to their wedding, which was under partly sunny skies with a picture-perfect backdrop. Their decade+ relationship showed plenty of love during the ceremony, and ML Photography was pleased to capture the inspiring atmosphere.