In my most recent Spring Preview portrait post, I might have made it seem like the studio is not a fun place.

but…

…as you can see, if you give a hula hoop to some people and fun can’t not be had.

A super costume wins the costume contest for Como, 3, during the Columbia Association’s first Welcome Event of the year, Dog Day Afternoon held at Hopewell Park in Columbia Saturday, April 17, 2010. Como, a rescue boxer, was shown by his owner Jody Stacoffe, from Elkridge.

I was not excited about the high noon sun and the busy busy background of bright white shirts and subsequent raccoon eyes. So, I decided to use some on camera flash. I zoomed my sb-800 out to 105mm, stuck with the high shutter sync and underexposed the sky. Honestly, I’m a little surprised at how cool the photos came out. But I think the lighting lends to only half of why these photos work. They’re quirky. That is, the subjects are quirky. I like these photos because they show off the subjects personalities in really interesting, imperfect ways. They’re like pop songs. …you know, catchy, memorable. well, at least I think they’re memorable.

Phoenix, five, a Jack-Russell/Chihuaua mix is a “fashionable lady,” or so says her owner Ronda Lennon.

Windsor, a rescue dog, owned by Amanda Williams, of Dorsey Hall.

Samantha McHale, 7, brings Racall, 4, a Daschund to the “Best Kisser” contest.

Deneen Craves, from Elkridge, pulls her fingers away after giving a ball to her dog Ace Windu. His name is an homage to the Star Wars character Mace Windu.

Windsor rolls for a treat.

This is during the “Best Kisser” contest. They rolled out before I could get their names.

Eight months-olds, and Lilly, left, and Caesar, right, are already flirting. Lilly is owned by Ken and Katrina Knudsen, of Kings Contrivance..Caesar is owned by Alex and Luisa Bishop, from Harpers Choice.

Barbi, an eight-month-old toy poodle, backs away from the bowl (well, really, its me) during the biscuit eating contest. Her owner Jean Jungblut holds Barbi’s leash in the background.

“Sammy thinks she’s going to win this one because they practice kissing all the time,” says seven-year-old Samantha McHale’s dad,”John McHale, of Long Reach. The crowd and loud music seemed to give Rascall, 4, a Daschund performance anxiety during the “Best Kisser” contest.

A few more from the “Best Kisser” contest.

Deneen Craves, from Elkridge, looks on while her neighbor Jalen Stewart, who she used to baby sit, coaxes Craves’ dog Ace Windu to jump.

If you want to share this gallery feel free to embed the gallery below. Thanks for stopping by!

Dog Day Afternoon – Images by Matt Roth

Below are photos I recently made for an AARP Bulletin story about how New Jersey’s high property taxes effect seniors on fixed incomes.

Corinne Bell, partially obscured by artificial flowers on her kitchen table, has lived in the home she and her husband built for 52 years. The widow now lives with three cats, Tiny, Cece, and Sheba, former strays who now call the split level on Main Street, Pilesgrove “home,” too. “Somedays they’re the only company I get,” says the 79-year-old New Jersey woman. Bell, like other New Jersey seniors who live on fixed incomes, are in danger of losing their homes because of the state’s high property taxes — the highest in the nation. “I have too much stuff to move,” and worries about the future of her cats. In the past a social program called Senior Freeze alleviated a portion of the property taxes for those who qualified. The state’s former governor changed the program’s eligibility, but the state’s new Republican Governor Christopher Christie said he would restore the rebates to those who lost them, but has yet to fully reinstate the program.

Recently, I’ve been making visual side stories while on assignment. Sometimes they’re totally off task, but other times they tie into story.

When I met Corinne, who’s a lovely lady, I couldn’t help but notice some loneliness in the widow. But I wasn’t doing a story on looniness. Stay on task, Matt! Focus. Property Taxes. But lets be honest, visualizing property taxes in an interesting AND literal way is a bit tough. Well, the obvious idea is to make a portrait of her in front of her home… Snoozezilla, right? But if there’s one thing I learned from the failings of Time Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is that you have to develop your protagonists. …make people care about them. Lucky for me, the wind was so inhospitable (lightstands be damned!) we couldn’t make a decent picture of her (windblown hair) in front of her house. “Okay Corinne. It’s crazy out here. lets see if we can’t do this inside.”

“Okay. Well, while I’m out here, I might as well get my mail.”

And that’s when the light switch turned on. I’ve always been a fan of, as I like to call it, “exploding the ordinary.” So, as Corinne walks back to her home, mail in hand, I notice a simple composition: house, yard, Corinne. The wind was knocking her around. She seemed vulnerable. And there it is. There’s that loneliness I felt when I first met her. I make a few frames. The one I chose is of her, in a slight stumble — a shuffle, really — en route to her front door. Her home has always given her shelter. And I saw a beautiful connection between Corinne and her home in a mundane moment. Her home is the glue that ties her life together. So, there’s the tie-in, exorbitant taxes would disrupt her life.

Corinne Bell sits down for a cup of tea and a Tastee Cake.

Corinne Bell pets her cat Tiny while sipping on tea and nibbling on a Tastee Cake.

Sometimes Corinne Bell can see the neighbors’ livestock from her window.

Tiny, one of Corinne Bell’s three cats, asks to be let back in the house.

Corinne Bell can see the cemetery where her husband is buried in from her kitchen window.

One toothbrush. One rinse cup. Fantastic wall paper!

A photo of Corinne Bell’s late husband “Slim,” sits on her bedroom dresser.

Corinne Bell waits for her cat Tiny to come back in the house.

If you like, feel free to embed the slideshow at the bottom of the page on your blog or wherever. And if you do, I’d love a heads up and possibly link to your link.

NJ Taxes and Corinne Bell – Images by Matt Roth

Right here…

awww. c’mon. why aren’t you laughing?

I made this little pun while prepping for a shoot involving several thousand dollars (5 figures!) worth of gems and jewelry yesterday.

Saturday, September 26, 2009.

My assignment was to shoot the football game. But this kid was too cool to ignore.

The 10am Update is a regular feature showcasing some of the best images from my archive.

I was building my lighting set up for a recent shoot and it resulted in a really cool, dark, creepy image.

The best thing about it, is that it gave me lighting ideas for my upcoming Athletes of the Year shoots. Sunmee Huh is lit with two gridded alien bees to her right and left.

Reservoir’s David Kuper, bottom, lost to River Hill’s Evan Shebel 11-2 during the 140 weight match. Reservoir defeated guest River Hill 42-16 Tuesday, January 5, 2010.

Here’s the Howard County Times story.

Lesson learned: when the winning team is depicted by one of the kids who lost their match, there’s a good chance the sports editor will get yelled at by a mom, coach, or dad. Then that wrath, more than likely, will get deferred to me. In Howard County, River Hill is the school to beat. The school’s been open for, I think 12 years, and already half of their gymnasium’s wall is practically covered with Sate Championship banners. I don’t think there’s been one year when they haven’t won at least two State titles. So, when a school like Reservoir demolishes them in wrestling, the parents and coaches want to SEE (that’s what I do.  I show.) VICTORY.

I get that. I know that. But the image above met two criteria. It was by far the most dramatic photo from the night that had a fighting chance reprinting in newsprint. You see, Reservoir has one of those awesome spot lights occasionally used in High School wrestling matches. I love them! I’m a big fan of reduction in photography. — especially since there’s always at least one person sitting in the front row with a blinding white t-shirt. So, I love those lights. Our newspapers’ printing presses, however, don’t.

Unfortunately some of the below photos might be seen as “too artsy,” by the powers that be. I also get that. A silhouette of boys in their headgear really has no business accompanying a game action story.

And that’s where this blog comes into play. I now have an audience for these cool photos that have no reason to be published. So, from the bottom of my heart, thanks for looking and being that audience.

So, enjoy.

River Hill’s Michael Ada defeated Reservoir’s Jase Zester 3-2 during the 189 weight match.

Reservoir’s Sean Quinn pinned River Hill’s Jacob Benedict during the 215 weight match.

Reservoir’s Josh Hamilton lost to River Hill’s Brandon Barnes during the 285 weight match.

Reservoir’s Josh Knox pinned River Hill’s Patrick Linden in :57 during the 112 weight match.

Reservoir’s Seth Rowell defeated River Hill’s Ryan Blum, foreground, during the 125 weight match. Reservoir defeated guest River Hill 42-16 Tuesday, January 5, 2010.

Reservoir’s Bubba Mullens defeated River Hill’s Nick Oliver during the 130 weight match.

Reservoir’s Raman Ziaee was pinned by River Hill’s Nick Connolly in 5:44 during the 135 weight match.

Reservoir’s Robby Greer defeated River Hill’s Jack Noonan 9-8 during the 145 weight match.

Reservoir’s Mark Colabucci pinned River Hill’s Ryan Noonan in 1:48 during the 152 weight match.

Reservoir’s Mark Mike Mullens defeated River Hill’s Arvind Stone 1-0 during the 160 weight match.

Thursday night I shot the southern regional cheerleading competition at River Hill High School. Only three of the teams were from our coverage area, River Hill, Marriotts Ridge and Long Reach. Long Reach who placed third in the county, went on to place second in the region. Most of the teams weren’t in our coverage area. But I love shooting cheerleading. …no. not for that reason. I jump at any chance I get to make photos of people levitating. There’s plenty of jumping, twisting, smiling and hair bows. So, of course, I photographed the other teams. In the gallery below are  my best shots from the event.

Keith Kluge, 11, from Forest Hill eyes a 2010 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic motorcycle at the Timonium Motorcycle Show held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds Saturday, February 13, 2010.

Tattoo contest.

Throwing out t-shirts during the tattoo contest.

Samantha Weldon, 6, from Pasadena, tests out the passenger seat of one of the motorcycles for sale during the Timonium Motorcycle Show held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds Saturday, February 13, 2010.

The kid in front mouthed “vroom.” I was a little slow on the draw to get the most descriptive body language.

I couldn’t not make an image like this. I think I have a problem.

I guess you could say this was my first “important” assignment. The Howard County Times, being hyper-local, wasn’t interested in covering George W. Bush’s inauguration unless there was a local hook. So, I found some. …and what kind of photographer would I be if I didn’t look for non-assignment images? So, there are a few of those thrown in for good measure, too. I didn’t get this young protester’s name, but if I remember correctly, she was doing the hokie pokie around riot police.

Brian Harlin is the owner of Ellicott City based GOP Shoppe, the exclusive Master Vender to the 2005 Presidential Inauguration. He, and his crew of six, are running around the Washington Convention Center Wednesday January 19th, 2005 unloading boxes of merchandise, all of which Harlin designed, which is slated for sale during various Inaugural Balls the following day. Harlin was the Master Vender for the 2001 Inauguration, as well.

I felt horrible after the paper came out and Brian’s photo wasn’t in it. He was super accommodating. I shot him the day before so the slug on this assignment was different than the slug on all the photos shot during the inauguration.

Leaving for the 2005 Presidential Inauguration via the Greenbelt Station Metro Station in the morning, Columbia resident and member of Grandmothers for Peace Helen Kolbe, right, befriends Tom Brunton, left, a New York City Fire Department bagpipe player. Due to a long night of celebrating Brunton overslept missing the bus to DC where the 70+ member bagpipe and drum ensemble was to perform during the Inaugural Parade. Kolbe, an avid democrat, was invited to attend the Inaugural festivities on the North Capital Lawn by her friend, Pierce County, Wisconsin Government Board member Paul Barkla.

Members of the Howard County Coalition For Peace and Justice (L-R) Leslie Salgado, from Owen Brown, Rose Marie Merservey, from Columbia, and Ray Donaldson, from Fulton, march through DC from Malcolm X Park, in Columbia Heights to McPherson Square protesting the 2005 Presidential Inaguration of President George W. Bush.

Just in case any parade animals are injured, Libson based Days End Farm Horse Rescue Team has been called in to provide animal ambulance services for the 2005 Presidential Inauguration Parade. Team members Allen Schwartz, left, and Steve Ricker, right, check out some of the helicopters overhead.

Standing under the American flag, a sniper is seen through crowd barricades atop a building in downtown DC along the 2005 Presidential Inauguration Parade Route.

The man on top fought with several protesters for remnants of an American flag, symbolically ripped and torn by protesters. The man screamed about how one of his loved ones was in Iraq.

The weather was so cold, or perhaps their lighter was flimsy, either way, these anarchists were unable to successfully ignite an American flag. They would go on to rip it and throw it into the crowd.

After attending the 2005 Presidential Inauguration in person, former Howard County GOP chairman Louis Pope and Republican National Committee member, left, companied by his wife Joyce Pope, right, enjoy the parade in the warmth of The Presidents Spots Bar, located inside the DC Renaissance Hotel.

Former Howard County GOP chairman and Republican National Committee member Louis Pope shows off his Inauguration invitation.

The sun was setting and my legs were killing me. My shopping list was all crossed off. So, I decided to stop shooting protesters and meet up with some friends. …and then I saw these guys. What a great image to end my long grueling day with.

As usual, the 10am Update is a regular feature on my blog showcasing some of the best work from my archives. Enjoy!