NMACI Diamond Gala 60th Anniversary was the first event I photographed in Sandia Resort & Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Like many award events I have photographed throughout the past 10 years, it began outside with a social hour and then moved inside to a ballroom for the presentation of the awards. Being a professional photographer in part means being able to change gears going from shooting outside in natural light at 1/500th ISO 100 of a second to dimly lit indoors using external flash and ISO 2000+.
Politicians a plenty
Then it turns out many state Senators and Representatives would be present to receive awards, as well as Lt. Governor Howie Morales. I am very experienced at photographing politicians though, from mayors to governors to Secretary of Labor and the U.S. Surgeon General!
I was glad to be offered the opportunity to photograph CS PD Week at UNM in Albuquerque, New Mexico and see first hand teacher training for teaching coding to students of all ages. These teachers took one week out of their summer to come to Albuquerque from all corners of New Mexico to take classes and learn hands on how to not only teach coding in the classroom, but also start clubs and after school programs. Photographing this event was most unusual for me as there were no speakers. I simply walked between four buildings on the UNM campus making photos of various classes, and then asking everyone to get together for a group photo before everyone congregated for a huge group photo with all participants in an auditorium. Photographing events is one of my favorite things to do because I often get to learn something new, and that certainly was the case at this UNM event as well! Thank you Paige for having me as your (last minute) photographer for this event!
You never know who may attend an Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerceribbon cuttingevent, and I certainly did not know that Congresswoman Deb Haaland would be in attendance, and put to work cutting the cake no less! There was also live music and of course lots of turquoise jewelry to browse. If you want to have fun while networking and growing your business, I recommend becoming a member of the Hispano Chamber today! And support local Native American artists by getting your turquoise jewelry from Turquoise Skies.
On the first Friday of each month downtown Albuquerque becomes an outdoor art exhibit and market, but actually much more than that. You can walk through an interactive light art experience, decorate the streets in chalk, and dance like you are trying to win a contest! Those are just some of the things I witnessed the first Friday in May 2019 in downtown Albuquerque.
While wondering around downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico as part of the First Friday Art Walk event, a curious looking space had its door open allowing views of swirling color. To my surprise this visual art event was dog friendly so in we went! As you walk on the floor, color moves. How does it to that? Seemed like magic! Tables flow with changing patterns that react to hand movements, also seemingly by magic! People really loved interacting with light and color and art. This was a fantastic stumble upon experience!
On a Sunday afternoon in I was walking into the Santa Fe Convention Center to photograph an event for ACOMS and to my great surprise I learned I was photographing the actual U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams! I was told I would only be photographing a presenter and then some candids of the vendor area. This was not my first time photographing a prominent political figure. In Florida in 2011 I had the chance to spend a day photographing then U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. I have also photographed three governors, a U.S. Senator, U.S Representatives, and at least 3 mayors.
Networking events seem to be dreaded. Something a business owner needs to do. However, not all networking events are created equally. I always bring my camera with me to Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce events, and this Biz Crafty networking event was no exception. I love to get candid photos at events, which is helped by people really enjoying themselves. Look at these candids, and you will see a lot of people having a very good time, yet this is still networking! Candid event photography is my speciality as I find the reactions that will be remembered for years.
