My photography work in the past four years has taken me all over New Mexico, and now it is expanding into Arizona where I get the chance to check out more small towns, like Seligman, Arizona. This town is credited with being the birthplace of Route 66. It might be funny to think how a tiny town without a single stoplight would start the first great traveling road in the U.S. Of course, like all Route 66 towns, the hey day of Seligman is long past, but I still enjoy trying to listen and hear an echo of what once was
My own Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta jinx was finally broken after a span stretching three years, and on opening day I was able to see the Grand Ascension. Fog, traffic, Covid, all thwarted plans the past three years, but finally some luck in 2021. I must say though, I did not feel the usual energy out in Balloon Fiesta Park on a not too cold morning. Maybe it was just me? This year also marked the first time I rode my bike to the event, which other than a 7.5 mile ride in the dark, was the best way by far to get there. It also resulted in being able to get photos of the balloons along and landing by the North Diversion Trail, a dedicated, paved cycling path that goes essentially parallel to I-25 directly from Balloon Fiesta Park all the way to I-40.
Horses free in the world at twilight share a moment
At the end of a long day out in Cibola County, New Mexico on a pair of rural land real estate photo shoots, my evening end with a view of this horse dreamscape. I was rushing around to try and beat the increasing clouds that were blocking out the sunset, but I paused for a moment seeing these horses far in the distance, who I believe are looking right back at me. There was no fence between me and those horses, so I could have walked right up to them and touched them. That makes me think they are wild horses, free in the world. After a very hard day out in the field, for a moment, there was a shared moment of peace with those horses. We then each went our own ways into the twilight.
In 2020 I visited the Art Cartopia Museum in Trinidad, Colorado where I was treated to views of the most creatively decorated cars you can imagine. One year later I was back in Trinidad, and just happened to be there the very day that these cars and many more took part in ArtoCade ArtCar Festival 2021. Seeing the cars out in broad daylight and in motion is a very different experience than seeing them parked in a dimly lit museum. This was the way these artcars were intended to be seen! After the parade, they parked on the closed off main street so you could go and get a closer look and see all the details that went into making each car a unique expression of automotive art in motion!
Victoria visited the JCP Home Studio with her corgi, Mama, for a commercial photo shoot to make images to hopefully put Mama onto a dog treat package. I photographed her dog on a clean white background to make it easy to eventually “cut out” Mama and emblazon her perked up ears onto whatever kind of treat bag she may end up on. This was a fun and challenging shoot and I believe the first time in 12 years as a pro photographer I was actually paid to photograph a dog alone (not with her/his owner). I coincidentally today just photographed the second dog ever for a commercial shoot! None in 12 years and then two in a little over a month.
Skip contacted me about making a very special photo for him and his wife. They have the tradition of having a photo made on their anniversary in the same pose, with the same outfits too. This all started with a photo made on a cruise ship! So now about every 5 years they have a new portrait made like that. This is the exact kind of surprise photography shoot I love to have here at Jason Collin Photography. Thank you so much Skip for choosing me as your photographer for thiis special anniversary portrait photo!
Candid Family Portraits are the best in Albuquerque
A bit of history about Jason Collin Photography. I started this photography business in June of 2009, so now I am celebrating 12 years as a full-time professional photographer! Like many photographers, I started out as a lifestyle photographer (weddings and portraits). Due to a number of factors, around 2012 I made the transition to being a commercial photographer. I still enjoy, however, the opportunities I get like this one to photograph a very fun family for candid family portraits. We met in Altura Park and from the first shot it was go time for making my favorite kind of portrait, a candid one! Monica, Mary, and their whole family pretty much came up with all their own ideas for the photos and I just had to capture them! Thank you for a great shoot!
