April & John // Mansion Wedding

Posted on Oct242011 by
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This fall I’ve already had the opportunity to travel all over for weddings and engagements. Just an hour west brought me to Haymarket on Saturday, while a short hour east presents Baltimore, a totally different environment. That’s one great aspect of living and working in Washington DC, it serves as a central hub for urban atmospheres, rural landscapes, and anything in between.
I had the pleasure of photographing April and John’s wedding throughout Baltimore, with their day beginning at the fabulous downtown Marriott Courtyard near the Inner Harbor. We then had a short drive to St. Vincent de Paul Church, which really had a grungy facade and mysterious feel to it, as you can see below.

Their wedding ended at the Mansion at Valley Country Club, which is a historic victorian mansion north of Baltimore. This made for an exciting reception and provided fantastic elements for some unforgettable pictures.

Here are just a few of my favoirties from the day. Enjoy!
Photography by Jeff Simpson and Tara Parekh








































Arlene & Sam // Bride & Groom

Posted on Sep142011 by
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Meet Arlene and Sam. Two awesome people that came to me seeking some rockin’ bride and groom photos. Something diverse and a little different. We decided on one of my favorite spots throughout the DC area, Old Town Alexandria. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – each and every time I shoot there brings a whole new dynamic to the photos. We had a great time wandering through the streets, taking advantage of the uniqueness Old Town has to offer, while incorporating beautiful soft light and dramatic skies.
The last one in the set is my favorite. The right light, the right time, the right people!
Enjoy!


































PRISM Magazine // Published

Posted on Sep132011 by
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Published in PRISM! Excited to announce that one of my photographs made it into Vol. 2, No. 3 PRISM issue!
Quoted from NDU.edu “PRISM is published by the National Defense University Press for the Center for Complex Operations. PRISM is a security studies journal chartered to inform members of U.S. Federal Agencies, allies, and other partners on complex and integrated national security operations; reconstruction and nationbuilding; relevant policy and strategy; lessons learned; and developments in training and education to transform America’s security and development apparatus to meet tomorrow’s challenges better while promoting freedom today.”

See the website here: http://www.ndu.edu/press/prism/

A little background on the photo:
I traveled north through South America in 2009, with my last stop being Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Ending with a bang is one way you could put it, as I was able to witness both ends of the spectrum – abject poverty directly next to flourishing wealth. This particular photograph is from the segregated slums, which are located at various places in the heart of the vast city. It was taken at an elevated point, beyond the ghetto area and streets. I was escorted up by a local via motorcycle, as navigating on foot or alone would certainly yield danger. With the area governed by drug lords, policemen are replaced by those that possess AK-47′s, contraband, and who knows what else.

I made it out with only a few minor cuts and scrapes (trying to conceal my camera while scurrying through the narrow and uneven alleys is somewhat of a frightening thrill. Was it worth it? Without a doubt. I’ll be back in Rio soon enough.

Here are a few snapshot I took of PRISM. Check it out!



The caption reads: “Favelas are bases of extended power for PCC and other criminal gangs in Brazil.”