Top 21 Photos of 2021
This is our third annual Favorite Shots of the Year post. This year they are in chronological order. Each has a story to tell, an emotion to share, or a moment to freeze in time. They are comprised of wedding photos, senior portraits, school portraits, sporting events, and even some baby birds. We had fun putting this gallery of images together and we hope you enjoy them. For 2021, we present our top 21 photos. Throughout 2021, we photographed 372 sessions. These include everything from quick in-studio class photo makeups to all-day events like weddings. In all, this totaled just over 380,000 photos taken so to narrow it down to 21 was a challenge.
Maresa kicks off a new year
Maresa reached out in early 2021 for her senior session. Winter is her favorite time of year so we did a session at her home with a fresh foot of snow on the ground. What I always loved about this photo was the fact that it was not posed, that she was just playing in the snow and having a great time that is captured forever in this image. One thing I learned from this session is to always wear snow boots on a winter snowy session….
Canon EOS R5 - EF 70-200 f2.8 1/400 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100, naturally lit.
Clyde May’s Valentine
Canon EOS R5 - EF 85 f1.4 1/200 sec at f/7.1, ISO 100. Profoto B10 plus. 9 exposures.
We do quite a bit of product and commercial work through the year but in the early months, there is often a bit of time to play around with products in terms of lighting, effects, and composition. This shot consisted of 9 different photos combined in photoshop to create this image. It got some good feedback on Instagram including a shout-out from the folks at Clyde May’s.
Six-day old baldies
In 2020 we were introduced to a bald eagle’s nest that is truly unique and it has been a favorite stop for us in the spring for the past two years. In April this year, we were lucky to be there when these two little babies were only six days old and capture some images of their fuzz…. This one always seemed best because they were so prominent in the nest.
Canon EOS R5 - EF 100-400 f4.5-5.6L 1/800 sec at f/5.6, ISO 500, naturally lit.
That’s not a Brady ball
Canon EOS R6 - EF 70-200 f2.8 1/640 sec at f/2.8, ISO 3200, naturally lit.
It is always the goal of a sports shooter to get the moment of impact, be it a bat and ball in baseball, a boxing glove deforming a cheek, or in this case, a volleyball block where you can see the ball deformed on the defender’s arm. It took thousands of volleyball shots to get this one and it was pretty amazing to see that deformation in the ball.
Tashawn lets it fly
Continuing with sports shots, the wave of sand coming off of Tashawn as he lands in it after his long jump is just so pleasing to look at. He nearly disappears behind a wall that looks almost like a fractile in areas.
Canon EOS R6 - EF 100-400 f4.5-5.6L 1/1600 sec at f/5.0, ISO 500, naturally lit.
Only in NYC
Canon EOS R5 - RF 28-70 f2L 1/400 sec at f/52.2, ISO 640, naturally lit.
We celebrated our anniversary in New York City this year (May 15) and as we walked up 42nd street on the way to dinner at the West Bank Cafe, we were given quite a show. There were probably around a dozen vehicles involved ranging from motorcycles to bicycles to this 4-wheeler. While I took dozens of shots as this processional went by, this one was my favorite. I love that the driver has his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth and that the passenger is clearly about to go right off the back. Only in New York…. Only in New York…
This dude ROCKS!
Just before the end of the 20-21 school year, Deposit Elementary asked us to photograph their preschool class in cap and gowns for their Pre-k graduation. There is nothing more adorable than a bunch of 4-5 year-olds in caps and gowns hamming it up for the camera but this guy…. This guy is AWESOME! We are now photographing all of Deposit class photos Pre-k through high school so it is going to be fun to see him grow up and grow into his massive cool factor.
Canon EOS R6 - RF 8fmm f2 Macro 1/200 sec at f/5.6, ISO 100, lit with Profoto B10 Plus
Laundry day
Canon EOS R6 - EF 100-400 f4.5-5.6L 1/2500 sec at f/5.0, ISO 250, naturally lit.
After shooting tens of thousands of baseball game shots over the years, I have gotten to the point where I know when the pitcher is going to throw down the runner at first before he does. These always make for some dramatic shots when the runner has to eat a face full of dirt to save the out. In this case, Danny George of Maine Endwell was visiting Union Endicott when he had to “eat it”.
Rushing to a happy marriage
Take a fun-loving couple, a 1930 Franklin, and a slow shutter speed panning with the car and you get a cool shot like this. OK, so maybe it was about 6 passes before I got the perfect shot but in the end, it was so worth it.
Canon EOS R6 - EF 70-200 f2.8L 1/30 sec at f/10, ISO 100, naturally lit.
Too close for comfort
Canon EOS R5 - EF 100-400 f4.5-5.6L 1/2500 sec at f/5.0, ISO 125, naturally lit.
In July, the Broome County Airport hosted an air show and I was lucky enough to photograph it for the Press and Sun which gave me some great access to be able to hang out with the pilots and crew of the Thunderbirds and the A-10 demonstration team. While there, I got a lot of shots that I loved but this one just seemed to be my favorite. One thing to note is that if you look at the inverted plane, the #5 is upside down. The crew says that it is because she spends so much time upside down during the show, it just makes sense.
The new digs
This one is not the best photo ever but it’s special none the less. In mid July 2021, we opened our new studio in the Carriage House at the Roberson Museum. (On-line studio tour here…) We moved out of the 170 square foot garage that we worked in for a few years and into this 1750 square foot space and it’s just perfect!
Canon EOS R5 - EF 16-35 f2.8L 1/60 sec at f/8.0, ISO 400, naturally lit.
Wedding day battle plan
Canon EOS R6 - RF 28-70mm f2L 1/250 sec at f/9, ISO 1000, naturally lit.
When we were hired to photograph Allison and Noah’s wedding, we had not met the groom or his guys. On the day of the wedding, I learned that he and his entire wedding party were all active duty or recently discharged Marines. One thing I can tell you is that when an entire wedding party is from the Corps, havoc ensues and it’s awesome! They told me that when they were deployed, before every mission they would mark out the route, the objectives and make the plan and so why not do the same for the wedding.
Emily and Claire
What can you say about these two…. Emily and Claire win the “Our favorite seniors of the class of 2022” prize. This honor does not come with a prize, just our thanks. Claire came to Emily’s session, then Emily came to Claire’s session. Every time we were in the school, they sought my team out to say hi. They posted and tagged us on social media too many times to count. It’s always great to have such enthusiastic seniors on your side!
Canon EOS R5 - EF 70-200 f2.8L 1/200 sec at f/3.6, ISO 400, lit with one Profoto B10 Plus.
Give me your best MJ
Canon EOS R5 - RF 28-70mm f2L 1/1250 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100, naturally lit.
Avery learned to play ball at Boland Park so when it came time to take his senior portraits, that’s where we started. We moved from static posed shots into action shots and I asked him to give me his best Michael Jordan so this is what he did. It wasn’t until I loaded the photos into Lightroom that I saw it, look at the shadow. If you are still not getting it, google “Air Jordan Logo” and report back.
Braeden owns it
In our first year in business, we photographed Johnson City Youth Football and at the time, a young Braeden was our poster child for cool team photos shots. This year, he returns to the list and is in for his senior portraits. He and his parents came in with an idea for a shot that encompasses all of his activities in one image. The result was perfect.
Canon EOS R5 - EF 85mm f1.4L 1/200 sec at f/6.3, ISO 200, lit with two Profoto B10 plus
Who wore it better?
Various cameras lenses and exposures.
This one is not a single photo but a pair, the two on the bottom. Back in 2017, we did Ty’s (top left) senior portraits and his parents loved the black and white treatment of him racking the bat. When is sister Kenna came through in 2020 we recreated the shot to make a matching set. Well, in 2021, it was time for an “empty nest” session with Marie and Dave and we finished the set of four. What an epic finale and it begs the question, who wore it better?
The start of something big!
In 2021 we marked a new chapter in our studio. We pushed the nationwide chain out of several schools and started providing better school portraits to Susquehanna Valley, Johnson City, Deposit, and part of Vestal. This photo was the start, our first school portrait at Susquehanna Valley High School with around 4000 more to follow through September, October, and November this year. This is the start; we are very excited about where this is going to lead.
Canon EOS R6 - RF 85mm f2 Macro. 1/200 sec at f/8.0, ISO 160, lit with two Godox strobes
Makenna brings the heat
Canon EOS R5 - RF 28-70mm f2L 1/200 sec at f/211, ISO 50, lit with a single Profoto B10 Plus.
Makenna wanted a burning bat shot in her senior portraits but after some discussion, we decided that it would be safer to do this digitally than risk 3rd-degree burns at home plate. We lit this photo specifically for the effect and we think it came out great. It certainly has a stunning look and we are looking forward to Makenna bringing the heat this spring.
Love in the rain
Erin and Sean (gotta appreciate his name) got married this year and were greeted to a dismal forecast so with some quick thinking, Erin bought an awesome clear umbrella to be ready. We got this shot backlit with rain drops in the air and it looked great.
Canon EOS R5 - EF 85mm f1.4L 1/160 sec at f/8.0, ISO 100, Lit with a single Profoto B10 Plus.
A true classic
Canon EOS R5 - RF 28-70mm f2L 1/200 sec at f/6.3, ISO 400, Lit with two Profoto B10 Plus strobes.
This may very well be the only photo of Ahilya and Collin we have ever taken where they are not laughing but what we loved about is the peaceful happiness in their faces. The photo was taken in the Kilmer Mansion on Front Street in Binghamton. The old mansion has such a great look and it just felt like an old-fashioned black and white treatment was the way to finish this one.
Michael… Just class.
To close out this years list we turn to Michael. Michael has had a pretty amazing sports career for a senior in high school. He was a member of the 2016 Little League World Series Championship team from Maine Endwell. As a senior, he lead his team to the win as quarterback in the New York State Class B Football Championship. This moment happened after the game. As the celebrations were in full swing on the turf in the Syracuse Carrier Dome, I saw Michael over at the wall and knew this was going to be a moment to capture him at his best. Michael went down the line of boys shaking and high-fiving every hand, talking to them all, and answering their questions. This was his moment but he shared it with these boys because he was one of those boys in the past and he knew what it would mean to them. Class act.
Canon EOS R5 - RF 28-70mm f2L 1/1000 sec at f/2.0, ISO 640, naturally lit.
That’s a wrap for 2021. A great year for the studio and we are really looking for more return to normal in 2022 and hopefully, we will have a top 22 for 2022 that you will look at as well.