David Verschueren

Portrait

So, since I live in a little town...in the desert...and there are very few options when it comes to finding nice-looking locations to take pictures. Keep in mind I don't yet have a studio. Anyway, while driving down one particular street, I happened to turn my head and see this. Suddenly the subject of my senior session today had an exclusive "background" because she is the first and only senior whose photos were taken on this location. My thanks goes out to the property owners for being so welcoming about us being in their front and back yards today.

This particular version is my experimentation on high contrast and reduced colors. Find the corresponding photo on Snap The Planet's Facebook page for the full color version and one of the portraits.

I took this photo a while back while competing in a 5-day black and white challenge.

This is the sign of M&M Hotel in Jal, NM. Back in the day it had a reputation for catering to gentlemen looking for company. It currently sits condemned across from the high school, and the district has recently purchased it in hopes to tear it down and develop the land for something more useful and isn't such an eyesore.

This is my wife, and I took these because she wanted to have some updated photos for her Social Media pages, and I also wanted to try out Frequency Separation. I like it.

Too cute to keep to myself. Just a great candid shot of a big brother kissing his little sister on the cheek. I couldn't ask for anything better than to just be there to catch it when it happened.

I'm telling you, if you're a photographer and you are in Salt Lake City, go to this library, the lines, curves, and angles are amazing!

City & County Building, Salt Lake City. I have a color version as well, but the black and white just pops more.

This is Shiprock in New Mexico. I was driving back from Thanksgiving break and happen to be in the area around sunset, so I stuck around to get some shots. It put me an hour behind schedule, but worth it.

My cousin's daughter, Avrianna. I offered to take her senior pictures in exchange for spending time with her and the rest of my family, which includes my other cousin (her aunt) and MY aunt (her grandma). Time well spent, and great photos of her senior year! And yes, I'm a little partial since she's family...

Looking down the main corridor of Salt Lake City library from the third floor.

This is an 11-shot panoramic of the glass wall at Salt Lake City Public Library.

I liked this one of Kitters too. She'd look at the camera for about .5 seconds, just long enough to get her face in and right back out of focus since I was shooting a very shallow DOF. Luckily this one and the one I posted a while ago came out. I'm here visiting for a while, I'll keep trying.

My niece's cat, Kitters.

I carved and took this photo a couple years ago.

I've always thought the signs for this particular street were funny, like someone just ran out of ideas while being assigned to name our town's streets.

Does this count for the B&W still life challenge if the train wasn't moving. You can disqualify it if necessary, but I'm still sharing it.

One of the top pics of my first session with this young man for his senior pictures. He is a member of the JHS Class of 2016.

H&C Coffee in Roanoke, VA.

So, I have a couple seniors who are wanting "Winter Themes" in some of their portraits, if possible. The reason for "if possible" is that we live in the desert, and even on the rare occasion that it snows, it usually doesn't stick around for more than a couple hours. So I looked up various methods to try and convert seasons using filters and actions in Photoshop. I was able to create a scene that seems like the first snowfall in late autumn, early winter, with just a hint of color still visible on the trees. There is also a hint of snow flurries using a Photoshop Snow brush that I downloaded online.

My view while grilling some steaks in the back yard tonight.

Single 30-second exposure + six lightning strikes = AWESOME!

Taken on October 21, 2015. A severe thunderstorm just west of Jal heading Northeast...so towards me. Looking south to show the clear night sky over Jal on the left with the storm clouds on the right. Those weird tall things on the left side are the pieces of the sculpture north of town (You can drive right up to it).

Playing around with different concepts.

The different accessories are always interesting in the Jalarama Car Show.

Despite that guy with the camera always being in the shot, this would've turned out so much better if the owner of the car would've wiped off the water spots from the back of his headlights. It is a concept I will continue to follow though, I like how it turned out nonetheless.

Another shot of the Ratrod Pickup Truck.

Another shot from the Jalarama Car Show today. This was by far my favorite because if it's uniqueness from the rest of the entries.

We had a car show in our little town today, and one of our resident participants always has this little dog (statue) next to his wheel. Out of nowhere he offers me money to take pictures of his car from all angles and he'll pick up the digital image CD at the end of the week. Not bad for just showing up without plans, huh?

This was taken earlier tonight at our last home football game of the season. I just thought it was a fun candid and wanted to share.

The main section of the sculpture across from Jal Lake.

A section of the sculpture across from Jal Lake.

A section of the sculpture across from Jal Lake.

Another sculpture in Jal created by resident artist Brian Norwood. The sculpture depicts pioneer ranchers leaving their J A L brand on their cattle.

Clyde and Martha Woolworth were siblings and two of the earliest pioneers who homesteaded Jal, NM in the early 1900's. They bought adjacent pieces of land, and built a house on the border between their two properties, where Clyde's bedroom was on his land, and Martha's bedroom on her land. Their trust is what still funds the library to this day.

This is a 4 image stack of lightning over the town of Jal. I know the horizon looks crooked, but it's actually a hill. The levels on the tripod were perfect.

The Trail Ahead sculpture always makes a good foreground for sunsets and lightning photos.

Did you know Jal, NM is the only town in the world that has a lake that spells out the name of the town?

This is Jal, NM taken from an airplane that belongs to a friend of mine. It's black and white because the photo was taken in January so the landscape was a dull brown color.

Southwest of Jal lies a farm that produces hay. I was taking pictures on the property for their daughter who was elected homecoming queen, and the sunset was just right and made for an outstanding background.

North of Jal, NM there is a sculpture titled "The Trail Ahead..." that depicts the homesteaders who founded the town. At first glance it looks like a real cattle drive going on. The artist that created it is Brian Norwood, a resident of Jal and accomplished artist. The cowboy figures are also facsimiles of real ranchers in the area. This photo was chosen to be on a postcard for the Jal Chamber of Commerce.

Our little town of Jal, NM lost power last night for 6 hours. It gave me the opportunity to practice my nighttime long exposure photography and capture light trails from the curious members of the community that ventured out to see just how much of the town was without power. The red glow you see in the pictures is from the flare of the gasoline refinery northeast of town, which fortunately for us, was burning bright and was enhanced by cloud cover. Photo is unedited, except to add my watermark in Photoshop.

Our little town of Jal, NM lost power last night for 6 hours. It gave me the opportunity to practice my nighttime long exposure photography and capture light trails from the curious members of the community that ventured out to see just how much of the town was without power. The red glow you see in the pictures is from the flare of the gasoline refinery northeast of town, which fortunately for us, was burning bright and was enhanced by cloud cover. Photo is unedited, except to add my watermark in Photoshop.

Our little town of Jal, NM lost power last night for 6 hours. It gave me the opportunity to practice my nighttime long exposure photography and capture light trails from the curious members of the community that ventured out to see just how much of the town was without power. The red glow you see in the pictures is from the flare of the gasoline refinery northeast of town, which fortunately for us, was burning bright and was enhanced by cloud cover. Photo is unedited, except to add my watermark in Photoshop.

I didn't get the bright orange and pink colors I was hoping for with tonight's sunset, but this will do.

Carson came up to me at halftime of our Homecoming football game and started asking me about my camera and what all the different buttons mean. It was a fun conversation.

Cruising down Central Avenue in Albuquerque, NM.

I had an opportunity for a good cloud structure with a great break in the clouds to allow the sunlight to break through, at the right time, at the right place. So, yeah...luck!

This young man got kicked in the gut/chest/groin...pretty much anywhere in his front for the fifth or sixth time before he decided to take his well deserved break.

I was taking senior pics and while I was waiting for the subject to be ready I was playing around....

I uploaded this in Sunsets because there isn't a "Cars" category.

I love this group. I'm inspired to try new things from the members that post their work, and I'm also "reminded" of photos I have that might just need a different type of edit. This idea is one I got from Darren Eves when he posted a similar picture a few hours ago. I'm not trying to copy his style, yet just seeing what his style for his photo does for my photo. I didn't ask for settings or editing tips, just tried to see what I could do. Thanks Darren!

This is Jasmine, and she is a Freshman at Jal High School and was assigned to take pictures at yesterday's football game for the yearbook staff she is a member of. Just as the Star Spangled Banner was ending, I walked up next to her and said hi, and as she turned I snapped this picture. I do this to many of the students at my school, and many come out great and end up being used in the yearbook. P.S. - I tagged it for the candid challenge, but I think I'm already over the limit so I understand if it's not considered.

For an article....

...between takes of a senior photo session where I asked her to use the frame and her own creativity...this was the initial reaction, and the title is verbatim...

Just playing around with some earlier photos from the summer. I thought an inverted B&W would be interesting. This is the blacksmith's shop at Mabry Mill, VA.

My nephew Jayden on his fourth birthday seeing what his new RC car can do.

I was at the New Mexico State Track & Field Championships in Albuquerque, and the Air Force Base is so close to the track that there's always military airplanes flying around. I was lucky enough to catch a portion of our nation's flag to help add to this picture.

We didn't win our home opener, but our Panther Pride never wanes.

Not the best image, I had to set my camera on the hood of my car since my tripod is broken. I liked the way the moon was breaking through the clouds and the flare adding the red and oranges really made it look cool.

Took this "between takes" of a group session of these two, and it was the best photo of the day because it was real.

Arches National Park, Utah, USA.

Kimo Theatre in Albuquerque.

A senior portrait from one of Jal's 2015 graduates.

If you can see it, they can see you! The watch tower at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia.

I took my first ride ever on an NYC subway this last summer. I've always heard they can be dark and gritty, so it guided my edit of the image. Honestly, my experience wasn't too bad. I think the stereotype is probably based on a few bad times rather than the norm. Either way, it sure beat the hell out of walking!

We got to Promontory Point just before they were putting the engines away for the day. Before they back them up though, they ride in by the visitor center for photo opportunities.

While taking photos and video of some ranchers working cattle, the wife of this cowboy requested this particular shot. It's different, but I think it works.

I chaperone the 8th grade field trip every year to McKittrick Canyon in West Texas. One of these days I'm going to go alone so I can get off the trail a little bit or take more time to compose a shot. I have only seconds to notice something and compose and take a picture because I have to stay with the pack.

I took this because the lower center of the photo looks like an evil clown staring at you from inside.

A glimpse into the work that pays my bills.

This is not a great photo, it's mediocre at best. But it's a composite from a wobbly tripod and a moon that's as rare as a calendar.

I myself haven't ever seen a selective color shot of Times Square. I'm not saying no one has done it, I'm just saying I personally haven't seen one. Thus my attempt at something outside the norm for me.

Rock City near Chattanooga- Lover's Leap. I wasn't sure if they would allow tripods or not, so I chose not to take one. I wish I would have taken one, this would have came out much better.

This photo is looking at some of the still existing aftermath of Hurricane Sandy with the Manhattan skyline in the background.

Taken two years ago, just going through old stuff and thought this "mistake" made a cool abstract.

This collage was inspired by photos on display all around the hotel we stayed at during our visit to Philly. I wanted to create something on a smaller scale and using my own photos. The color scheme came from the fact that my visit was right before July 4th. This is a low resolution edit for online posting. The original image is made to be printed on up to a 9x9 foot frame. This is a work in progress, so any advice is welcome!