I still don’t know if Alicia and Marc actually know how truly unique their wedding day really was… Check out her shoes! And the Sword Arch! Not to mention the reception was in the luxury boxes at the National’s Stadium (sorry Phillies…)! They really made their wedding day a reflection of their personalities, and I am sure they just wanted everyone to have a great time watching the game together. Wedding days like this don’t happen all the time, so I tried to make any photo opportunities count, from the wedding at Christ Our Shepherd near Eastern Market in DC, to formal shots at the Navy Yard Waterfront, and then walking through the stadium into the boxes. Plus my second photographer Jacks made some engaging and energetic images for their special guest book – take a look at the end of the gallery!

Here is a link to Alicia and Marc’s Wedding Gallery and Print Ordering Site.

A classic in the Maryland mountain bike scene, the Greenbrier MTB Challenge brought all kinds of kooky-bike-riding-critters out to enjoy the 6 mile-ish course. Lots of silly climbing, a nice sketchy downhill, some rooty/rocky/muddy sections, and a lake view made the course pretty memorable. Now, being that it was a SUPER bright day and the leaves are in full bloom, I had to rely on flash a bit more than usual to get the look that I was after. But heck… I even got a lap in, and yes, it was a gut-buster.

Here is a link to the main collection: 2012 Greenbrier MTB Challenge.

(Don’t see yourself in the gallery? Send me an email, and I will search the archives: info@aelandesphotography.com)

Ahh, time again for the Plum Grove Cyclery’s BAKER’S DOZEN Endurance MTB Race! Yes, if you haven’t figured it out already, the term “baker’s dozen” refers to the 13 hours of solo or team racing around a dusty/rooty/rocky track in Leesburg, VA. It also refers to a baker’s dozen amount of doughnuts, which have kept me from getting on the bike and doing a few laps in this one (though actually racing this one is in my birthday plans for next year). Needless to say, there were plenty of photo opps this year of the racers, but there was also inexplicably lots of middle-fingers-at-the-photographer, cattle skulls littering the field, and dudes on downhill bikes… Well, maybe just one dude, but he was pretty rad.

Here is the link to the big ol’ collection, and if you don’t see yourself, send me an email! Here is the 2012 Baker’s Dozen Gallery and Print Collection.

For those of you in the Central PA area, I am showing prints of my mountain bike race photography at “The Bicycle Art Show” with recycled-bike-sculptor-specialist (and my-good-intentioned-doppelganger) Evan Gross at the Art Space in Huntingdon, PA (212 Fourth St, Huntingdon, PA). We are having an opening this Friday, April 13 from 6PM to 9PM, and only the coolest of the cool will be there. Rumors of a Wheelie Competition and/or Parking Lot Bunny-Hop Off are in the works, and in addition to lots of party people showing up, it’s my birthday!

Framed work is for sale, but for those of you in California or say, Kenya or Germany, or you would like to order prints from the show, here is the gallery to virtually walk through: A.E.Landes Photography Bicycle Art Show.

Also, check out the press coverage! Chambersburg Public Opinion: Bicycling Art Exhibit.

Carolyn and I spent a bit of time together – me with camera, her with great poses and an amazing smile. We hit up a few places at the Glen-Caryn Dog Park, which is right off the WO&D Trail and has large rocks, bridges, hidden nooks, and an meandering stream – a perfect place for portraits. I had to do a bit of thinking to get the sun to do what I needed it to do, but we got some glowing headshots that attempt to capture Carolyn’s good looks, style, and positive personality (in her three different wardrobe choices, of course).

Zach ‘Mountain Beard Man’ Adams sure came up with a race that rivaled last year’s enduro race in PA! If you were there this past Sunday on your bike, you are probably still spitting out bits of grit in your teeth and finding patches of mud on parts of your body that you still missed in the shower. For being a complete four-hour sufferfest, there was so much positive energy out on the trail – I took one picture of this dude out there and he said to me, “Yo, you have mud on your face!… Wait, do I have mud on my face?!” (You know who you are). Some of those ladies and gents just killed it out there on the muddy climbs and bottom-bracket destroying slop. I hope the photos do your pain and enjoyment justice.

Here is the complete collection of photos for you to order prints or downloads, and as always, if you don’t see yourself, send me an email (info@aelandesphotography.com) and I will check the reserves for you: 2012 Tuscarora MTB Enduro Race.

Yeeeeeeeeeeehaw! Yippee-kay-ya-yay! It was pretty tough picking out one photograph to represent all of the western photobooth images we took that night. Cowboys, cowgirls, a bullhorn hat, a ‘Wanted’ poster cut-out, a make-your-own-’stache station, cap guns, and Big League Chew (you know, cuz’ cowboys use spittoons) all were props that had the guests get creative for the camera. Yes, I love doing photobooths, taking a slightly more active role as the photographer like picking up the camera, recomposing, getting closer, etc… Take a look at the ruffians who made it out!

Old Man Winter gave his last blast of cold air Sunday morning, but Corrine and Joe braved the frigid temperatures for their engagement shoot! They showed up looking sharp, and a bright sun and high clouds made for amazing lighting along the Navy Yard Waterfront Park in D.C… And oh yeah – WIND. Lots of WIND. But that worked out fine, as Corrine’s hair and flowing red top gives their photos some great dynamic energy. Joe had a ton of creative ideas, too: jersey numbers for as their wedding date, and who can top an iPad-as-your-head photo? And I have to say they are both a lot of fun to be around… Looking forward to their wedding coming up in September (and catching a drink or two in Del Ray)!

I’ve been looking forward to working with Jodi and Bob for a while! We hit a great day weather-wise, with only a couple snow showers to dodge and big clouds blowing across the Penn State sky. Jodi and Bob had a bunch of ideas, including hitting the Creamery at 11AM, getting photos by the Lion Shrine and Nittany Lion Inn, and then of course, some shots down by Old Main and Downtown. Then they suggested a great idea – The Diner is one of their favorite spots, so heck, let’s get photos there! There was no problem getting in and letting us use a booth, and we even got some glass-clinking-for-a-kiss from the college students. Good times for all, and I am looking forward to their wedding coming up in DC this June!

With the dog, our pack of Surly Bikes, Washington as our backdrop, and an open schedule, we set out to photograph Stephanie and Justin doing the things the love together. Steph came packing with a lot of ideas and amazingly cut out banners and signs, and we got to play with them all. Bright winter sun and a warm breeze made the shooting a lot of fun, as we were able to work with shadows, silhouettes, and lighting that wouldn’t be there if it were cloudy. We shot all morning and early afternoon, and enjoyed some Bloody Marys over a late lunch to make the day complete.