Favorite photos 2012 {Baton Rouge photographer Michael Tortorich}
Today is the last day of 2012, so I thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of my best (and worst) photos from throughout the year.
In this blog, we will take a look at just a sampling of my favorite images.
Chances are, you will either love or hate this one. I'm probably the world's biggest fan of simplicity. Sometimes I overdo simplicity. One could argue that's what I did with this shot. Before making that case, though, take a few seconds to study this image. A great photo, to me, says "I want to show you something." In this one, I wanted to show the beauty of this March day. I wanted to show the blue of the sky, the yellow of the flowers, the green of the stems, and even the gray of the fence. I wanted parts to be in focus, and other parts blurred. I also purposely broke the rule of thirds, for the most part. You don't have to love this one, but I do.
Back in April, I captured this shot of my brother and his girlfriend in front of an old rusted out truck. I liked this one because of its casual nature. This was taken on a Sunday afternoon. I remember the weather and the sunlight was perfect. We didn't need any wardrobe changes. The Sonic the Hedgehog and peace sign shirts (along with sandals) were perfect, as far as I was concerned.
If you want a photo to scream Louisiana, just make sure it has a fleur-de-lis in it. This one has three. I've always said I could create a book of just fleur-de-lis photography. In fact, that reminds me of one of my favorite down-home success stories. Fleurty Girl is wildly popular for celebrating all things Louisiana, New Orleans, and all of our little quirks that entertain locals and those abroad alike. I just love how local charm can go such a long way.
The highlight of my year came in September when I traveled to Dallas to photograph An Evening With Adam Carolla and Dennis Prager at the Majestic Theatre. My photos, which can be found at the link in the previous sentence, were used on their websites. They also shared my link on Facebook and Twitter, driving my page views for michaeltortorich.com through the roof.
This shot from October wasn't originally a favorite of mine from this session, but after a few months going by, it has grown on me.
The 2012 season was a rough one for the New Orleans Saints, but despite the adversity they suffered in going 7-9 and missing the playoffs, they made lots of memories. This one came during the Saints' win over the San Diego Chargers. Drew Brees, playing against his old team, broke the NFL record for consecutive games with a touchdown pass (previously held by Johnny Unitas). The photo shows Brees celebrating the record-breaking score with wide receiver Devery Henderson.
I had a difficult time choosing my favorite shot from this session. I feel like this one best captures the family's intense joy. The sun was going down, and the day was perfect. We had so much fun creating these photos, and I feel like it showed in the results.
This photo came from another event where I had a multitude of shots that I liked. It was from a birthday party held at the carousel in New Orleans City Park. Again, the weather was wonderful, and everything seemed to fall into place for the photos.
This photo was taken the same day as the party. The sunset capped what felt like a perfect day. I happened to spot this man and his dog looking out at Lake Ponchartrain from the Mandeville shore.
I like the colors, I like the poses, I like the expressions, and I like the beers. There's a lot to like here.
This was my favorite shot from the time I was able to photograph Howie Mandel. My uncle (Vinnie Tortorich) is a friend of his, and his personal trainer, so I was able to get full access to the venue and hang out with Howie. Doesn't Howie look great? He's fit (that's partially Vinnie's doing), and he's photogenic (captured by yours truly). Us Tortorich boys aren't half bad.
I loved the composition of this one. Oh, who am I kidding? I could go on and talk about some boring photography technicalities, but I'll spare you. Bottom line: Pretty subjects make for pretty photos. The Saintsations do the trick every time.
I took this shot at night for my family's towing business, Tortorich Wrecker. I loved the results I was able to get from this one.
Here I go with the fleur-de-lis again. This time I liked how it matched with the Saints attire they were wearing.
I like to capture families being themselves. Posing and setting up shots can only go so far.
I was pleased with lots of shots from this senior session. This was one of my favorites, and it's only grown on me even more. I like the class ring, the fence line, and the way the sun is harsh on one side and soft on the other.
This is a simple action shot, but that's precisely why I like it. Simple rarely fails.
They were such a delight. They really made my job easy. It was a nice day in New Orleans. I didn't have anything to complain about...except for the parking (but that's all the time).
In the cuteness department, it is tough to top Archer. I had a difficult time trying to pick just one photo to represent him.
I was in perfect position on the field to capture this shot of my cousin running after a catch.
I loved this shot of Lacy and Jason.
This one probably won't mean anything to you, but it means everything to me (and I didn't even take it). This is me (far right) and my family at Christmas. Technically, I could nitpick lots of things that are wrong with it. Most of all, my hair is a mess and needs to be cut. But I'll get over all of that. Years from now, I'll look back at 2012 and almost all of the photos that I took probably will be distant memories. This one, though, will be more priceless than any other. Stay focused on what matters. Let go of everything else.
If you would like to schedule a photo session in 2013, feel free to contact me:
Michael Tortorich on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/tortorich
Michael Tortorich Photography on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MichaelTortorichPhotographyLLC
Michael Tortorich on Twitter - https://twitter.com/MikeTortorich
Michael Tortorich on LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/michael-tortorich/22/35a/a61
To reach me directly, call or text me at 225-717-0762.