Howard County Times girls soccer player of the year, Marriotts Ridge senior center midfielder Alex Price.

This was a big year for me. …2010 is my last year as a newspaper staffer.

In this post I’m showcasing the images that I think would easily be considered my “best” images from 2010. These are the images that will most likely help get me work in the future. They’re important for that reason — they’re hopefully testaments to my skill as a portrait and documentary photographer. I think when you look at these photos you’ll probably notice they rely pretty heavily on one visual aspect or another: DRAMATIC LIGHTING, VISUAL HUMOR, SIMPLE BEAUTY, OR SUBTLETY. Some are quirkier than others, but these are the images everyone will like.

I like them.

I like them a lot. But, I can’t help but think, that they’re all relatively safe images, too. There’s nothing daring about them. Personally, I love the “off moments” in life — and in pictures.

So, I’ve given this post a weirdo sibling. In that post I highlight the best images of what I affectionately call my “RUNTS.” They’re the ones that not everyone likes or gets. They’re the ones that fall short, when coupled with my “GOOD” work. Usually, they’re the “outs” when I get advice on an edit.

Having said that I’m extremely proud of THESE images — in this post. I don’t want you to think I’m discounting them. Like I said, I think they’re good.

2011 will be an interesting year. I’m on my own. hooray!!! …but I have to maintain and buy my own gear. Getting work is up to me. But I’m excited about that. Marketing is fun. I’ll finally get to work on projects I’m interested in, and I won’t get into fights with editors. “No” doesn’t cary as much gravity anymore. In my new life, editors are clients, not my bosses. I’m no longer an employee and that feels great! When the photos I like don’t run, it’s won’t feel personal or politically motivated anymore. …besides, I have a blog. So, they’ll be seen. AND I CAN RESELL THEM!!!

I don’t regret being a staffer. The Patuxent Publishing Company is one of the best photo papers around. And it was an amazing bootcamp. …but it was better when I started there. We had a bigger staff, more leadership support, more money, more space. Heck! We ran photo essays weekly — sometimes 2-3! But times have changed — DRASTICALLY for newspapers. …and for me.

So. lets celebrate this new beginning with my best photos from 2010. Thanks so much for looking.

Wilde Lake senior linebacker E.J. Gilman, the 2010 football Defensive Player of the Year, helped lead the Wildecats to a State Championship.

Dinosaurs seemingly try to escape the Ice Age at the Old Pro Golf course on the 6800 block of Coastal Highway in Ocean City in the off season Sunday, January 31, 2010.

Branches protrude form the frozen waters of Lake Kittamaqundi during the preliminary snowfall Friday, February 5, 2010.

Dr. Barbara Feinstein, of the Cat and Dog Hospital of Columbia, plays the part of patient while concerned Greyhound “Dr.” Moosh takes her pulse for the Best Veterinarian of Howard 2010 issue shoot Tuesday, September 28, 2010.

Oakland Mills’ coach Jon Browne calls junior Kerry Bethea, senior Greg Wittington, and senior Joe Kiely, the “Big Three.”  The trio are photographed in the Oakland Mills gym Wednesday, November 24, 2010.

Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Ill attends a Conference of Bishops addressing the increased demand for exorcisms at the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott in the Harbor East area of Baltimore City Friday, November 12, 2010.

Chris Coons, Democratic candidate for Delaware’s Senate seat vacated by Vice President Joe Biden, poses for a portrait at the New Castle Library Thursday, October 7, 2010.

Centennial senior Sam Brostrom is the volleyball player of the year. She is photographed at Centennial High School Wednesday, December 8, 2010.

Corinne Zahlis at Historic Savage Mill Sunday, October 17, 2010.

Owings Mills tackle Donovan Smith, 6’5″, 280 lbs, has been offered 22 scholarships to play football in college. He is photographed at Owings Mills High School’s football stadium Wednesday, September 1, 2010.

Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Ill attends a Conference of Bishops addressing the increased demand for exorcisms at the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott in the Harbor East area of Baltimore City Friday, November 12, 2010.

Check out Laurie Goodstein’s article here.

This assignment was a wild ride for my nerves. But I was totally into it. It all started the moment NYT’s national assignment editor Tom McGuire said “EXORCISM.”

…and then he said “CONFERENCE!”

I had to feel my head for a pointy hat BECAUSE THIS MUST BE AN EARLY BIRTHDAY PRESENT!

Don’t get too excited, now. There was a big, fat, stinking, catch. This was one of those assignments where nobody’s sure if the photo’s gonna get made. Why?

A.) The Bishops and Priests involved in exorcisms like to keep their identities secret. Laurie Goodstein, the religion reporter told me it’s because they don’t want to get inundated with requests for exorcisms. Sometimes people just need psychiatric help.

B.) People tend to turn their cell phones off during conferences.

C.) The conference organizers didn’t really know I was coming.

But I got in! …sorta. I mean, I did. otherwise you wouldn’t be seeing these photos. shhh. let me finish telling the story.

So, I promptly met with the head PR woman. I smiled. I was polite. and let her know she was the boss.

She’d see if she could get ahold of the Bishop. So, I asked how long she thought it would take? I had about 2.5 hours on my parking meter — which I figured was more than enough time to make a portrait. She’s like: I don’t know. This is an 8 hour workshop.

Me: that’s fine. I can make a portrait during one of their breaks.

Easy-Peasy, right?

Sooooooo…. 2.5 hours later I’m walking out to my car to move it and feed a new meter. Now it’s 4pm and I need to move my car by 5pm.

Yes I called the PR lady. — twice. …left messages, too.

And don’t you just hate it when you look at your phone and you have a voicemail message, but there’s no sign of a missed call? Well, that’s what happened when Paprocki called me. – at 4:52!!! I don’t see this until 4:54. So I call him, and guess what happened? …left a message.

starting.

to.

panic.

I don’t want a ticket. I need to make this shoot work. And it needs to happen fast! I have a 7pm assignment 30 minutes away. AND I gotta turn this photo around ASAP!

I eventually meander upstairs. Why didn’t I do that earlier? silly. I ask around: Hey, Do you know Biship Paprocki?

Priest: Yes. He’ll be out of prayer service in three minutes.

Sweet! At this point it’s 5:15. So, rather than focus on the time, I location scout.

The mirrors are screaming at me: HEEEEEEY!!! HEY PHOTO GUY! WE’RE YOUR BACKGROUND! DON’T BE A CHUMP! USE US!!! WE LOOK LIKE A HALO! SEE? GET IT? HALO? PRIEST? Who knew mirrors have Jersey accents?

So, really. why fight it?

I meet Paprocki. Herd him away from the other priests and the food. — which I kinda felt bad about. — and I made my safe — but really cool — mirror photos. Then I try a wacky reflection picture. …which I quite like. It’s the one that ran! whatevs… no biggie.

To me, it kinda looks like a movie poster. — not to inflate the Hollywood exorcism stereotype.

Of course, a real exorcism — as is explained in the super-interesting article — doesn’t involve spinning heads or Linda Blair. Although I hear people will actually mess their pants during one. — which isn’t funny, folks. Farting is funny. pooping your pants isn’t.

But lets be real. Hollywood exorcisms are awesome. SO……

– read this in your best movie trailer voice:

HE’S HERE TO PROTECT THE WORLD FROM THE DEVIL.

THOMAS PAPROCKI WILL EXORCISE* THOSE WHO NEED HIM.

BECAUSE HE’S

…THE BISHOP!

duhn dhun dhuuuuuuun!

*Because I’m a journalist I have to make an addendum. Paprocki doesn’t actually perform exorcisms. He’s the convention’s organizer. He’s also probably in charge of a secret priest who performs exorcisms. But who knows? he might be trained, too. So, I’m pretty sure that’s why I was allowed to photograph him — he’s under the guise of conference organizer. — EXORCISM CONFERENCE ORGANIZER!!! put that on your resume.

Sally Borghardt’s renovated 1840′s Centreville, MD home is selling for $292,500.

Check out the New York Times article and accompanying slideshow. My photos are in the middle.

For this shoot I got assignment editor Becky Lebowitz’s approval to use a Nikkor 24mm PC-E — often referred to as a “tilt shift lens” because it does some tilting and some shifting. But if we wanna get all persnickety the “PC” stands for Perspective Control.

Yes. Yes. Yes. I know. this is a gimmick lens. …well, that’s not necessarily true. But it can easily become a gimmick lens.

In the most utilitarian sense, it’s supposed to fix perspective problems — like keystoning, fringe distortion, and the curving of otherwise straight lines — common with wide angle slr lenses. But, when the aperture is closed down (like f/22), it yields otherwise normal looking images.

BUUUUUT, when the aperture’s wide open and you’re tilting and shifting, it’s also got this super cool ability to throw the depth of field into different planes. Plain and simple, it’s a gimmick.

…and I am a cheerleader for gimmicks! Sisk Boom Ba!

(A “Fatso” coal burning stove, set up in the living room, is the main source of heat in the winter.)

…well, as long as they’re used thoughtfully.

And here’s the thing about gimmicks — they’re like magic tricks. …or if you prefer a sports analogy, knuckleballs. They’re Totally unnecessary!

But lets be honest, everyone loves a good magic trick, right?

To continue this analogy, skilled use of a gimmick takes time and practice. And it’s important to recognize when you’ve failed and, it’s important to learn from that failure. For instance, there’s a lot wrong with the above image — like the bowed lamp reflected in the mirror, the crooked horizon. It’s far from perfect — and honestly, is there any such thing as a perfect image? — BUT I think it’s on to something. I think there’s some magic in it.

When I played little league, there wasn’t a game that went by when one of my teammates or I didn’t throw a knuckleball or two during warm ups. It’s just dumb fun. But try to tell Hall of Famer Phil Niekro his bread & butter pitch is silly. But like anything, if you put enough focused effort into a skill, you’ll become an expert. — maybe even a Hall of Fame pitcher? How much effort? …10,000 hours some say.

Some of you might’ve deduced that I’m reading …okay, I’m listening to, Malcom Gladwell’s Outliers right now. But even before I heard about the 10,000 hours rule — back when I was an intern, I started a love affair with the (in camera) starburst effect. I discovered it accidentally and every chance I got, I turned in a picture featuring a starbursted sun. I ran that gimmick into the ground! But I learned an important lesson through that embarrassing fad — A gimmick is useful when it’s used intelligently. Now I know how to use it when I need it. And, more importantly, I learned that a gimmick, like a tilted horizon, for example, can be useful — like when trying to fill the frame. And in the case of Justin Maxon’s use of multiple exposures in his “When the Spirit Moves” essay, downright powerful!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to say these real estate photos are anything like Maxon’s work. But gimmickry, is often dissuaded. Chip Litherland does a pretty good job explaining that stance here.  I’m not saying he’s wrong, but I do think he’s underestimating the importance of just playing around. Had Phil Niekro’s little league coach told him to quit messing around with the knuckleball, I doubt he’d be a Hall of Famer — or, for that matter, a pro baseball player. So, I say EXPERIMENT if that’s the kind of person you are. Your tomfoolery could lead to something super-smart and unorthodox.

Below are a bunch of photos that didn’t get published.

Mike Hoos’s job as the Cardinal Gibbons Admissions Director has faded away, “because there’s no one else to admit.” The Archdiocese of Baltimore announced thirteen Catholic Schools will close at the school year’s end, including Cardinal Gibbons High School. The site, formerly known as St. Mary’s Industrial School, a school for “wayward boys,” was where Babe Ruth played baseball while in high school. The shutting has left the baseball diamond’s future susceptible to sale and development. The Babe Ruth mural Hoos walks past is slated to be dismantled and preserved.

“Bring it in!” After a rough first inning and a half against guest St. Paul’s, Cardinal Gibbons head varsity coach Matt Foster, in red, gives his team a hard talking-to, “Own Your Field!” A three-run rally ensued. Their field, named for Babe Ruth, might not exist in a year.

Now static, the Cardinal Gibbons home plate is where center field was when Babe Ruth played on the same field as a student of the St. Mary’s Industrial school.

Junior varsity first baseman Chris Van Riper, a Cardinal Gibbons sophomore, grabs a throw during practice Wednesday, April 14, 2010. This will probably be the last year he, or anyone, plays on the same field where Babe Ruth cut his teeth.

Cardinal Gibbons players (L-R) Kevin Howley, senior, Frank DiVinlenzo, senior, Ryan Ellis, senior, Alex Kurth, junior, and Garrett Sites, junior, watch the first inning play against St. Paul’s School atop buckets.

Pat Ingham, left, and Dominic Fratantuond, right, time their swings to St. Paul’s pitcher Friday, April 16, 2010.

Chris Peltz, receives signals from his catcher before the wind up at Cardinal Gibbons High School’s Babe Ruth Field in Baltimore Friday, April 16, 2010.

Cardinal Gibbons senior R.T. Vail makes contact against St. Paul’s School at Babe Ruth Field Friday, April 16, 2010.

Junior varsity first baseman Chris Van Riper, a Cardinal Gibbons sophomore, grabs a throw during practice Wednesday, April 14, 2010.

Cardinal Gibbons senior R.T. Vail is surrounded in a cloud of dust after making it safely to second base against St. Paul’s School on the Crusader’s home turf, Babe Ruth Field Friday, April 16, 2010.

Cardinal Gibbons Senior Nicholas Mills guides one of the varsity baseball players to a foul ball. He joins Jessica Bassard atop her truck to watch the Crusaders play St. Paul’s School. Her boyfriend, Steven Schillingberg, plays first base.

Cardinal Gibbons senior Garth Irwin returns to the dugout.

Outside one the Cardinal Gibbons High School offices is a cardboard cutout and a painting of Babe Ruth made by Joseph Boruta.

It’s almost as if the Babe’s waving goodbye to the school, huh?

The House That Built Ruth: Cardinal Gibbons High School’s Last Year – Images by Matt Roth

Barely illuminated by the overhead projector, David Donaldson explains the creative writing assignment to his second 9th grade English class of the day. He is in his second year as a 9th and 10th grade teacher at the Maryland Academy of Technology and Health Sciences, a Baltimore City magnet school. He got the job through the Teach For America program.

I shot this for the New York Times before the 2009 Winter Holidays.

David Donaldson sits in his class room a few minutes before the start of his first class.

Donaldson works the Halls, making sure the students don’t congregate. Crowd control takes precedence over making sure the kids get to class.

David Donaldson shushes a freshman who walks into class late during quiet reading time.

At the beginning of every class 9th and 10th grade English teacher David Donaldson implements quiet reading time. Maryland Academy of Technology and Health Sciences a freshman sits under an open window, while reading a book.

A student looks up from his book during quiet reading time in David Donaldson’s 9th grade English class. Donaldson, directly behind the student, talks to two students who are prepping for a skit where they act out one of the week’s vocab words. The skit idea, which helps the kinesthetic learners in the class, was thought up by resource teacher Victoria Burson, upper right.

Students in David Donaldson’s 9th grade English class act out one of the week’s vocab words. “Sometimes this can be the highlight of my day,” says Donaldson.

David Donaldson shushes his 9th grade English class. He regrets that he has to spend so much time on classroom management when he would rather be teaching.

David Donaldson walks to lunch Tuesday, December 15, 2009. “It’s lonely.” Last year he would eat with six other faculty members, all of whom have left the school. He is the only returning English teacher at the Maryland Academy of Technology and Health Sciences.

David Donaldson, middle, a Teach For America teacher, eats his lunch by the students. He makes sure to let them have their space and time during lunch, letting them come to him if they want. Last year he would eat with six other faculty members, all of whom have left the school. “It’s lonely.” Donaldson is the only returning English teacher at the Maryland Academy of Technology and Health Sciences.

David Donaldson gets a head start back to his classroom before the students are done eating lunch.

Athletes at the Maryland Academy of Technology and Health Sciences ditch their school uniforms and dress up before their games. A freshman basketball player asks Mr. Donaldson to help him with his tie.

Mr. Donaldson’s hand is illuminated by the overhead projector.

“Now shake hands.” At the end of class David Donaldson heads off a confrontation between two freshmen.