Halo in Reverse - Erin Antognoli, Washington DC Metro based Photographer and Artist

art collecting in washington dc - a quest to fill my home with visual coolness

2012-01-06T07:00:00.001-05:00

so last year my friend and ultra talented artist sean hennessey made this post about his art collection made up of other local artists, and i had said that i should make one of those posts too. after all, i am a huge believer in supporting the local arts community, and most of my local friends are artists who live and create here. fast forward a little over a year, and here i am, making good on my promise to share the goods on my own acquisitions, as well as info on some of the artists i'd someday hope to add to my small but growing art collection.

despite being an artist for decades, i only began seriously looking at collecting art after being more involved in the art dc art scene myself. to someone on the outside, the process of finding and purchasing art can be overwhelming, frustrating, and possibly intimidating. however, i can assure you that most local artists are not only down to earth, but will be more than happy to talk with someone about their art and process. also, lots of people think you need a ton of money to be able to afford to collect art. this is not always the case! there are so many awesome yet affordable pieces out there that are perfect for all levels and tastes of art collection. hopefully someone who has an interest in starting to collect local art and does not know where to begin can take something away from this post in that respect.

as with sean's post, this is highly subjective. just because someone is not on this list doesn't mean they aren't a good artist - that would be silly. i'm also not really concerned with the investment potential of art, but rather if it will be a good fit for my personal aesthetic as well as a good fit for the logistics of how and where it will be displayed. in layman's terms, i buy art that moves me and will also fit within my budget and house and will not get knocked over by two huge and often crazy dogs. :)

and yes, i own art by artists who are not from dc, but that is not the focus of this post. i am also proud to say that the bulk of my collection is made up of locals because honestly, there is so much talent right in this area that i rarely have to look elsewhere to find amazing art.

so up first, a list of many of the local dc area artists that i already own, and how i came to own them:

(the pictures really do not do these artworks justice, but if you like, click on the images to see them larger...)

1. sean hennessey: i'll start with sean since he made the original post which spurred this one. i have known sean for almost as long as i've lived in dc, and have always wanted one of his artworks. i saw this concrete relief sculpture at artomatic some years ago and figured it was finally time to add him to the collection. sean is now working with concrete and glass media combined, and his work is beautiful. later this year we will be in an exhibit together which will focus on the use of glass, steel, and other mixed media of that nature, and i am excited about that!

2. christian tribastone: i first saw christian's work at artomatic and thought it was incredible. unlike a lot of the other artists whose work i like, i had not heard of him before that event so i stalked his display space until i finally got to meet him. i've since participated in quite a few sketch crawls with christian, and am constantly amazed by his ability to capture the essence of a scene. most of his work is architectural in nature, but the piece i chose is a bit different (from his inauguration series), though also typical of dc.

3. johanna mueller: i acquired this piece of johanna's from... yes, artomatic. do you see a theme here? ;) i had seen her work for a few years and thought her intricate prints were very cool. finally, i decided to add one to my collection when i saw this piece - several members of my family collect camels, and i thought this piece would be a nice thematic tie-in to that. johanna is the only washington dc artist whose work i own but who i have not met in person... and i will hopefully be able to rectify that in the near future.

4. sean welker: sean left dc for chicago a couple of years ago, but when i purchased this piece from him he was still right in the center of the dc art scene. sean is an awesome friend and wildly talented, and i knew as soon as i saw this pen and ink series that i wanted one of his pieces for my own. the one i chose was displayed at the last artomatic, and luckily was not ruined (vandals struck his space that year and several of his pieces were casualties). in any case, i miss sean and being able to see this piece every day makes him feel a little bit closer in spirit.

5. dana ellyn: dana is a staple in the dc art scene and is quite a prolific painter. i had seen her work at artomatic for a few years running, but purchased this piece depicting president taylor from her president series directly from her downtown dc studio. not only did i come away with this piece, but i got a personalized tour of her work space which was an added bonus.

6. todd gardner: todd is a friend of mine and is quite fond of puns and word play, which is apparent in his paintings. while i had been a fan of his portraits as well as his paintings of sideshow robots for a while, this painting was actually a gift for my birthday from andy (my husband), and was a total surprise when i went to the gallery for the opening reception and found out that the red dot next to it was MY red dot. :)

7. gina tibbott: i am not sure if gina is still in the dc area or not, but i was absolutely mesmerized by her display at artomatic a few years back and just had to have one of these awesome faux fossil sculptures. the bizarreness of the piece just makes me incredibly happy, and i am glad i was able to track her down to purchase it (she did not have a web site or contact info at her space so i had to use the google machine on the interwebs to find her).

8. jeanette herrera: jeanette is an awesome person and an awesome painter. her work is so bizarre and colorful that i immediately knew i wanted one. last year we made that happen when we purchased this piece from an exhibit in virginia. but, i first saw her work (and later met her) at artomatic, where she has participated for the last few years.

artists whose work i hope to acquire someday:
all artists were first seen by me at... artomatic. and i have been stalking their web portfolios and brick and mortar exhibits ever since! this list is always morphing and growing as i am exposed to more local artists' work...

1. phil nesmith: phil works primarily in 19th century photographic plate processes, so despite being a photograph, each piece is unique and fragile. he's had several exhibits locally and i am always impressed. because they are one of a kind and labor intensive, i am saving up so that eventually i will be able to buy one before they are all snapped up.

2. michael janis: michael's work with glass and imagery was one of the main inspirations for me to pursue my own work in glass. i am hoping that someday i can say i own one of his exquisite pieces of art.

3. novie trump: novie's sculptures captivated me. i saw a piece of hers last year that i loved, but sean hennessey beat me to it. i forgive him... and can't blame him for buying it because it was a beautiful piece. i always check out her displays and open studios, and one day, i will find the piece i was meant to have.

4. gregory ferrand: gregory's paintings are very illustrative and full of narrative, which is a quality that i love. again, having the money in hand AND being the first one to the piece i want is the challenge there.

5. shanthi chandra-sekar: shanthi's work, especially her 6 foot tall spiral paintings, are intricate and mesmerizing. she also creates wonderful sculptures of wood and stone. additionally, the meaning behind the works are wonderful to hear.

6. erica riccardelli: being a photographer myself, i rarely feel the urge to buy photography. however, erica's work is eerie and stunning and i might one day find myself owning one of her artworks.

in case you missed it, my main source of finding and purchasing new art thus far has been through artomatic in some way. due to the volume and layout of artomatic events, they can be overwhelming, but they are also an awesome way to find new artists and get some pretty great art for not as much money as you think it might cost.

there are also some great gallery spaces in dc and it's a less overwhelming way to see art than some of the bigger art events. most galleries and individual artists will put out information about their opening receptions, artist talks, etc, and if you are interested in a particular artist or piece of work, you should definitely check out these events. you can get a ton of information about the artist and artwork straight from the source while simultaneously seeing the artwork displayed in person. owning art is a whole lot cooler when you have met the artist. you can't beat that!

lastly, most artists these days have web sites with methods of contact. as i mentioned before, most artists are more than happy to talk with or even meet with someone who is interested in buying a piece of work. everyone i've encountered while growing my art collection has been friendly and open in discussing everything from technique to materials to inspiration for their artwork, and many artists have studios that you can visit to see them in their natural habitat, if you will. sure, there are some people who might cop an attitude, but for the most part that is a rarity in the dc area.. at least in my experience.

so, hopefully this very long post has been informative in some way. so go forth, find art that moves you, and don't be afraid to make it yours!

artomatic @ frederick - my top 10 picks

2011-10-12T07:16:00.024-05:00

artomatic frederick has opened up to the public and i had the pleasure of visiting the other week. normally i participate in AOM, but due to time constraints and not enough new work to show, i decided to opt out this time around. nevertheless, i think everyone should check this show out if they are able.

there are lots of artists displayed at F-AOM, and in true AOM fashion, a few are superb, and many are mediocre at best. however, i didn't really see anything revolting or so terrible that it left a negative impression on me. due to the fact that AOM is an open exhibit (meaning not juried, so anyone who wants to exhibit is able), this is quite a feat in my opinion.

i did jot down a list of the standouts (again, my opinion only), and will share them with you below. if you plan to attend the exhibit and / or festivities at some point before the close date on november 6 be sure to check out their spaces. in no particular order, my top 10 of F-AOM artists that you should definitely not miss are:

1. jeff and kristin bohlander - www.jeffbohlander.net
installation of wonderful mixed media paintings by jeff and fabric vessels by kristin
2. krissy downing - krissydowning.com
large scale stylistic illustration-like paintings that are awesome!
3. jamie gerhold - jamiegerhold.theartistangle.com
a fellow savannah college of art & design grad who works in mixed media painting
4. cinnamonopteryx press - cinnamonopteryx.wordpress.com
illustrations of strange hybrid creatures - fascinating...
5. kristin partridge - kristinpartridge.com
alternative process photos - the real deal!
6. megan kreh - megankreh.com
very eerie photographs that captivate the imagination
7. katie giganti - studiosegue.com
large scale digital photographic based collage
8. annie & linda lunsford - annielunsford.com
illustrations that are quirky and amusing
9. jenn rinaldi - no site listed, but i found her here: https://plus.google.com/117603612166960552214/posts
a fellow holga shooter with a good eye for composition and details
10. michael auger - arty4ever.com
offbeat artwork that features black light activated displays!

see the full list of participating artists HERE.

(photograph by megan kreh, F-AOM exhibiting artist)

the majority of the artwork i've purchased has been a result of my visits to artomatic over the years. the displayed work is incredibly varied, and often extremely affordable. if you crave decoration for your abode, consider supporting local artists - they rock!

related: be on the lookout for a post coming up listing the artists whose work i've acquired, and who is on my scope for my future art purchases. ;)

adventures in artwork packaging

2011-10-10T07:49:00.001-05:00

it never fails that when i receive artwork back from an exhibit in another part of the country, the box looks like it's been through a war zone. i always start out with brand new, never before used boxes to ship off the artwork, and end up with something that barely resembles a box when i see them next.

i recently found this on my doorstep - a package of 10 matted and framed holga artworks that i had sent to a gallery in indiana for a show there. luckily, the interior of this box contains not only the bubble wrap you see peeking out of the rather large gash in the box, but also several smaller boxes that have even more bubble wrap and the artworks inside.

i am happy to report that not a single artwork was harmed in the shipping of this package. Here's to careful and what-seems-excessive-but-not-really packing. :)

Hi-Fi vs Lo-Fi

2011-08-18T08:38:00.000-05:00

route 66 - chicago skyline

i have another exhibit coming up very shortly, this time in the midwest. lala gallery in lafayette, indiana, had approached me about a show theme that involved the contrast of digital cameras vs film cameras, and thought my work would be perfect for the film side of things. the resulting exhibit is HiFi vs LoFi, and should be pretty interesting given all the different applications of both film and digital media. 10 of my holga images will be representing the LoFi side of things!

*** the opening reception is on friday, august 19 from 6-10 PM, so if you are in the area please stop by and take a few pictures so i can see it all together. :) ***

the exhibit runs until september 9th. find it here:

Lala Gallery & Studio
609 Main Street
Lafayette, IN 47901
www.LaLaGallery.com

the places we have known

2011-06-04T18:13:00.002-05:00

i have yet another exhibit that is currently running for the next month or so... this one's at the stamp gallery at the university of maryland, college park. the exhibit, entitled "the places we have known," is a three-person photo exhibit featuring adrienne moumin, lisa mccarty, and myself. the exhibit examines our unique interpretations of space and how we portray scenes. 8 of my newer holga images are featured here. check it out - it runs through july 15!

find the stamp gallery at:

1220 Stamp Student Union
The Adele H. Stamp Student Union - Center for Campus Life
University of Maryland
College Park, 20742

http://www.stamp.umd.edu/

gallery 555 - sculpture exhibit

2011-05-30T18:03:00.006-05:00

i just found out that my sculpture entitled "modern plan of survival" will be included in the washington glass school student exhibit at gallery 555 starting in a couple of days, and i'm super excited for my first sculpture on exhibit in over a decade!

i had to weld a base for the piece specifically for this show, so it will be displayed as a free standing artwork even though it was originally designed to be mounted on the wall. the stand is not permanently attached, so it can now be displayed either way. :)

being the diligent photographer that i am, i forgot to bring a camera with me when i finished and dropped off the finished piece with stand, so i will have to take a photo when i visit the gallery to post at a later time.

the details:

Exhibition dates June 1 - 30, 2011
Artists Reception: Saturday, June 4, 3-5pm

GALLERY 555
555 12th Street NW Lobby

Washington DC 20004

"The Washington Glass School is known for its excellent student program and the quality of creative work its students produce. I wanted to celebrate their 10th anniversary by giving students an opportunity to exhibit their work in Gallery 555dc. Running and managing a school takes hard work, long hours and dedication – then more hard work. To celebrate a 10th Anniversary in the art world is a rare thing and a tribute to the founders and teachers of the Washington Glass School.”

art in hand

2011-05-10T19:39:00.001-05:00

4 of spades; holga image (erin antognoli)

late last year i was alerted to a very unique and fun artist opportunity by friend and fellow dc metro artist michael auger - the "art in hand" project. the project features a fully functional deck of cards each designed by a different local artist in their signature style. other cities have gone before us, but most recently finished is the washington dc deck, which is currently available now for purchase HERE - you can check out the linked page for a preview of all the wonderful cards created by many of my friends and fellow dc artists. i can't wait to see the deck in person!

and as if that opportunity wasn't enough, i have now found that there will be a brick and mortar exhibit of most of the artworks that are featured in the deck this summer at touchstone gallery in dc. this is a huge collaboration of sorts, and will be so fun to be a part of. i hope you are able to check it out. details are below:

Art Deck-O: DC Playing Card Originals

Show Dates: June 29 - July 29, 2011
Opening Reception: Friday, July 8 6 - 8:30 pm

Touchstone Gallery

901 New York Ave NW
Washington DC 20001
Tel: 202-347-2787
E-mail: info@touchstonegallery.com
www.touchstonegallery.com
Open: Wednesday-Thursday 11-6, Friday 11-8, Saturday-Sunday 12-5

Black Rock Exhibit Opening

2011-04-07T20:40:00.001-05:00

for those of you who have wanted to see my latest holga prints in person, now is your chance! I will be exhibiting at black rock center for the arts in germantown, maryland, with an artist reception this coming saturday. stop by and say hi! info on the show is below:

ALEXANDRA SILVERTHORNE, BEAMIE YOUNG, AND ERIN ANTOGNOLI

Photography
Wednesday, April 06, - Saturday, April 30, 2011
Artist Reception: Sat. April 9. 5:30 -7:30 p.m. Free!

this exhibit may be the last chance to see this many of my original contact print holga images in one place in the dc metro area*, as i am focusing my attention toward other avenues of artistic media... so don't miss your chance!

*the last chance that i currently know of... you never know what will come along!

DCist Exposed Exhibit

2011-03-23T10:36:00.001-05:00

i have not participated in the DCist exposed exhibit since the very first one several years ago. however, i was happy to hear that my image taken at the rally to restore sanity / march to keep fear alive last autumn was chosen to be a part of this year's exhibit. though it was shot with film, it's one of my rare non-holga images that one can actually see displayed in person, so if you can, check it out.

more info on the show, which runs from march 15-27, can be found HERE.

where: longview gallery

1234 9th St NW

washington, DC 20001

202.232.4788

business hours:

wednesday-saturday 11-6

sunday 12-5

+ by appointment

ArtSpace Herndon Photo Exhibit

2011-03-04T16:24:00.001-05:00

usually when i post on this blog, it's to let you know where you can see my work, or to share the latest creation I've made. so this time i'm breaking from that form to post about something i've done, but to showcase the work of other talented area photographers.

last month i did something that i've never done before: jury a photo exhibit independently. it was an awesome experience, as i've only ever judged in a group before now. we got some incredible submissions from all different styles of photography, many of which will be on exhibit at artspace herndon starting... NOW!

the opening reception and awards ceremony is saturday, march 5 (yes, that's tomorrow!) from 7:00-9:00 PM. i'll be there to present the awards and give a brief talk about the work and experience of jurying the show. i hope to see some of you there!

find the gallery at:

ArtSpace Herndon

750 center street
herndon, VA 20170

(and there will be two of my route 66 holga pieces displayed in the foyer, but that was at the gallery's insistence so that visitors could see the juror's perspective. however, the focus is on the very talented photographers i chose to be a part of the exhibit...)

film fridays - the photographer becomes the photographed

2011-01-14T08:06:00.005-05:00

my friend paco (rob) is being photographed while photographing. he's using an iphone (hipstamatic and instagram are his apps of choice), and i'm using a hasselblad xpan II and kodak tmax 400 film. i have to say, after seeing his pics, i'm very, extremely, utterly tempted to get an iphone simply for the built in camera. no, it will not take the place of my holga, xpan, or other film cameras... but it would be awfully handy to have everything together in one device so that i have a camera on me at all times. the camera you carry is the camera you use, as they say.

don't worry. i'll never be turned completely to the digital side. :)

film fridays - citiwide

2011-01-07T08:23:00.000-05:00

taken in new york city during my last visit there.

the specs: hasselblad xpan II camera and kodak tmax 400 film.

photo competition - artspace herndon

2011-01-05T08:40:00.009-05:00

i'm jurying a photo contest! anyone working in any type of photographic discipline is able to apply. the doors are wide open...

from the entry page:

Entry deadline: 5 February 2011, 5pm

The competition is open to fine art photographers aged 18 or older working in any medium (digital or analog, color or monochrome), and using any printing technique - we care about well-done art more than the specific medium, technique or format. Fine Art Photography of any subject is welcome; there is no required theme for entries.

Finalists for the Competition will make up the March 2011 Exhibition at ArtSpace Herndon. Finalists will be notified on 12 February 2011 via email.

Awards:

1st Place: $300

2nd Place: $200

3rd Place: $100

Juror: Erin Antognoli

ArtSpace Herndon 750 Center Street
Herndon, VA 20170

visit this link to get more information and download the prospectus: PHOTO COMPETITION

film fridays - please respect

2010-12-31T08:16:00.007-05:00

if a sign requesting respect is, er, respected, it gives me hope that perhaps we can do the same in general within the population. unless we need to wear signs on our persons at all times asking for respect. what if respect doesn't match my shoes today? dammit.

maybe we need to make respect the new black. that way it will match everything, including my black, black heart.

anyway, happy new year (almost), and see you on the flip side!

the specs: hasselblad xpan II and kodak tmax 400 film.

holga walls

2010-12-28T08:45:00.001-05:00

because we had unseasonably warm weather toward the end of this year (up until december!), andy and i had been trying to take our days off together to take trips to outlying towns and locations in order to take photos there. this holga image was made during a day trip to annapolis. i was drawn to all the various wall textures, both natural and man made, and liked how this combination came out.

film fridays - grand central station (another take)

2010-12-24T08:11:00.000-05:00

wherever you happen to be headed during whatever holidays you celebrate, have a safe trip, be thankful for what you have, and strive to make things better for yourself as well as those around you!

the specs: hasselblad xpan II and kodak tmax 400 film.

holga patterns

2010-12-21T08:10:00.001-05:00

this is an extremely close up detail of a tile mural in adams morgan, washington dc. we were heading home from crafty bastards in october and stopped to take a few photos (when i say "we," my husband is a photographer too). using the manual holga film advance, i overlapped the frames to combine the tiles to enhance the mosaic feel.

film fridays - free

2010-12-17T08:08:00.000-05:00

i made this image in new york city during my last trip there. i just loved that there was nothing in the "free" box. :)

the specs: hasselblad xpan II and kodak tmax 400 film.

dupont circle fountain holga

2010-12-14T08:34:00.002-05:00

dupont circle fountain, taken at the end of our last sketchcrawl in october. i wasn't feeling my sketches that day (and was reluctant to post very much as a result), but i did get a few holga shots that i liked. this is a rare single frame, since i usually overlap exposures for a layered effect.

anyway, despite my seemingly impaired sketching ability, it was a beautiful day, i got to spend a lot of time outdoors with some talented DC artists, and made some nice photos. i call that a win!

steel + glass

2010-12-10T11:33:00.004-05:00

modern plan of survival, steel and glass, 2010

i've been up to some very different (for me) work over the last couple of months, and the culmination of that experiment is just about done - i am delving into sculpture, specifically with steel and glass! the pic above is my first piece in what i hope will be a series.

if you are in the dc metro area, you can come see this piece, along with tons of other really awesome work by the glass school artists, at their open studio and sculpture market TOMORROW (saturday), december 11, from 2-6 PM.

the washington glass school

3700 otis street

mt rainier, md 20712

from the glass school's blog post:

"See some of the new directions the artists of the Washington Glass School are moving the traditional craft with integration of modern process, mixed media, and narrative. Some of the artists showing include: Erwin Timmers, Tim Tate, Elizabeth Mears, Chris Shea, Allegra Marquart, Michael Janis, Nancy Donnelly, Robert Kincheloe, Sean Hennessey and Rania Hassan. Music, Demos, Class Specials and more are on the agenda for the day!

The recent Glass & Steel Sculptural Development class will present their final projects in one of the galleries at the school - this semester's class has created some of the most impressive works yet! See what happens when you have set loose a class at DC Glass Works and Washington Glass School and toss in some aluminum pour castings & metal welding - you will be impressed and wanting to know when the next class occurs!"

film fridays - 5 pointz tracks

2010-12-10T08:04:00.001-05:00

i made this image in new york city in the 5 pointz, a graffiti covered block of buildings. this shot didn't showcase the graffiti so much as it did the subway tracks and the barbed wire fence keeping the back lot private. i liked the way the lines came together, and was happy we had some clouds in the sky that day for texture.

the specs: hasselblad xpan II camera and kodak tmax 400 film.

finnish embassy holga

2010-12-07T08:01:00.000-05:00

it is a little known fact that while in high school, i co-founded the finnish resistance movement in chemistry class with my good friend who now also lives in the dc area. it's a long story of how that came about, but can be summed up with us playing off of a spelling error on the part of our teacher. fast forward 20 years (yikes!) when we passed by the finnish embassy during our october sketchcrawl. needless to say i got very excited. it wasn't open, but the architecture was so cool looking, so i swung into the courtyard to make some exposures.

viva finland!

film fridays - the watcher

2010-12-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

i made this photo in the 5 pointz in new york city. you can see a little more of the buildings a few posts down in the levitation photo, but the place is literally covered in graffiti. i liked this particular piece of graffiti because it just seemed to watch over you... or glare at you. depends on how you look at it i guess. :)

the specs: hasselblad xpan II and kodak tmax 400 film.

NYC apple store holga

2010-11-30T08:53:00.001-05:00

i don't have many holga images from my nyc trip this past october as a opted to shoot with the xpan most of the time i was there, but i did make this shot at the apple store in manhattan. i was visiting with my friend rob (the one pictured a few posts back who is levitating!), who is a long time employee of that store. i had never been to that particular apple store before, and it was pretty neat to see how very different it is from the apple stores around dc. i was standing underneath their glass stairs looking up at all the people coming and going... while rob was answering customers' questions about iphones even though he was not technically working that day. :)

film fridays - grand central station

2010-11-26T08:36:00.001-05:00

this film friday image is dedicated to all the travelers out there this holiday weekend. i shot this in grand central station up in nyc in october during my visit for the toying with creativity book launch party.

specs: hasselblad xpan II and kodak tmax 400 film.

dead end - annapolis holga

2010-11-24T12:20:00.000-05:00

this is one of quite a few new holga images i have to share. it's easier to save film and develop it all at once rather than a roll at a time as i take them, but the downside is that i have a ton of images in one swoop. so, i'm going to spread out my sharing a bit so that it's not so overwhelming for you or for me. :)

this one was taken during a day trip to annapolis. andy and i have been trying to get out on our rare days off together to roam and take photos, and this came from one of those trips. fun fact: we were officially engaged in annapolis a decade ago!

toying with creativity

2010-11-22T23:57:00.002-05:00

i have a holga image featured in this book: toying with creativity. check it out if you are able. i haven't been able to read the entire thing yet, but it's a pretty good resource for anyone interested in lo-fi cameras and image making.

by the way, most of the recent nyc images i've been posting (and will continue to post) were taken the day of the launch party for this book. i took the train up to the city and roamed with camera in hand until it was time to hit the party. :)

also, another bit of publicity i received a while back was a profile on holgajen's blog. you can read that HERE. lots of my images are featured, and the commentary is quite good, i think. check it out!

film fridays - follow the white rabbit head

2010-11-19T17:12:00.001-05:00

the rally for sanity / keep fear alive march on the mall in washington dc last month was a bit of a challenge to photograph. for starters, i'm shorter than just about everyone else on the planet, so trying to get a decent vantage point above the crowds was pretty futile. in addition to that, i had my parents in tow from pennsylvania, so i didn't want to wander too far away from them or they'd be lost in the wilds of dc. i contemplated strapping a day's worth of food and supplies to them just in case, but decided i should be a good child and guide them myself. :)

in any case, i decided to wander a bit on the outskirts of the rally so that i could move around and get some photos that way. for the most part i was not terribly happy with any of my images, but i did come away with this amusing one of a guy parading around the head to his rabbit costume. i saw that and got in as close as i could to get a few frames. the feet from above were from people perched on a moving truck they had rented for the occasion - if only i had thought of that!

the specs: hasselblad xpan II and kodak tmax 400 film.

film... tuesdays? - xpan levitation

2010-11-16T19:59:00.002-05:00

i realized that i missed last friday's "film fridays" post. but, i have a good excuse - i was busy developing and printing 5 rolls of xpan II film and 5 rolls of holga film! and what's more, here's one of those images - it's my friend paco (the rest of the world knows him as rob) levitating in the 5 pointz - i took this photo during a visit to new york city last month. i took a similar photo of paco back in the late 90's in front of some graffiti in our college town of kent, ohio, and we thought it would be funny to make another for the new millennium.

the specs: hasselblad xpan II camera and kodak tmax 400 film.

and i'll try to get back to posting these on friday now that i have a lot of new material to share. :)

film fridays - street performers, nyc

2010-11-05T08:31:00.006-05:00

this is sort of a fun random image from nyc a while back. friends and i were wandering around and ended up watching these street performers work the crowd while we waited to rendezvous with the rest of our party. two of my friends can be seen just under the jumping performer / over the line of jumpees in the background. :)

the specs: nikon fm3a and kodak tmax 400 film.

old town alexandria holga - eel

2010-11-02T08:00:00.001-05:00

i made this holga image back in july during a stroll around old town alexandria, though am just now getting around to posting it. it was very hot that day, so we only stayed out for about two hours, and all i can say is the lack of ice cream shops on the main drag is a deal breaker for future summer visits to that area!

film fridays - the guggenheim

2010-10-29T08:00:00.008-05:00

this is an image taken at the guggenheim museum in new york city. the lines and architecture are incredible, but i was happy to catch those two people peeking over the edge of the top floor.

specs: nikon fm3a + kodak tmax 400 35mm film.

film fridays - harpers ferry

2010-10-22T08:05:00.005-05:00

this panoramic photo was taken a while back during a day trip to harpers ferry in west virginia. specs: made with an xpan II and kodak tmax 400 film.

film fridays - times square

2010-10-15T08:00:00.013-05:00

i was in nyc visiting friends a few years back and we were on our way through the city when i made this image. i've seen a lot of photos of times square, but i wanted to take back something that seemed less commercial and more gritty than the current touristy vibe that the area has. the black and white film helped with that, i think.

specs: taken with a nikon fm3a and kodak tmax 400 film.

film fridays - the grand canyon

2010-10-08T09:27:00.001-05:00

the grand canyon in black and white. i have a bunch of photos of it, but i like this one because of the shadow from the tree on the cliff where i was perched.

specs: shot on kodak tmax 400 film with a nikon fm3a camera (i think).

trust me

2010-10-04T08:00:00.002-05:00

this is another holga photo i made during the july 31 sketchcrawl through washington dc. this was taken near the mall, where i saw this strange banner of the colonial drummer. while i wish i could take complete credit for the words overlapping like they did, i discovered the amusing juxtaposition after i developed the film. sometimes even i am a little surprised by what comes out of my holga. :)

film fridays - platinum print

2010-10-01T08:00:00.004-05:00

i know this image looks a bit different than some of the other film images i've posted, with a strange color cast and all. that is not a mistake - it's a platinum - palladium print! i've made silver print versions of this image as well, but the ghostly quality that i like so much about this image shines through with the platinum technique, so this is the version i prefer and show.

the specs: original negative was made with a hasselblad 501CM camera, and then the negative was enlarged to roughly 5x7. i think this particular image was enlarged digitally (cheating!), but there are plenty others that i enlarged by hand using an enlarger and reversal film, so i don't feel too bad about this - besides, we had to do one digital enlargement for our class. :)

the final negative was then contact printed to a piece of paper that i hand coated in the platinum - palladium solution and exposed under light in a contact print frame. this particular print is on archival hot press watercolor paper (arches was my paper of choice back in the day).

museum of the americas holga

2010-09-27T08:00:00.003-05:00

this holga photo was taken on the very last stop of our july 31 sketchcrawl through dc at the museum of the americas. i had never been there before, and that's one thing i love about sketchcrawls - we make pit stops in lots of places around the city, ranging from heavily traveled to more obscure and everything in between. anyhow, i was drawn to the minimal nature of some of the elements i was finding in and around the building, and thought it would be fun to combine them. the hunch paid off, and this is the resulting image.

film fridays - multiple exposure

2010-09-24T08:00:00.007-05:00

i made the portrait part of this week's film fridays image while still an undergrad in college. i was taking my very first studio photography class, and recruited just about everyone i knew to come and sit for me to let me take their photos. this guy was in my creative writing class, and it was a really fun session. fast forward about 7 years, and i took another photo of the crystal pool doors at glen echo park here in maryland (these are the old, decaying, beat up doors i was talking about in an earlier post!). i was teaching my photo class at the time about creating double exposure prints in the darkroom and how they could take two separate negatives and combine them into one image, and made this print as a demo. i really liked it, so i kept it on file.

both images were shot with 35mm film cameras, and i believe both were nikon N90s bodies. the film for both would have been kodak black and white (either tmax or tri-x, not sure which).

and yes, i know you could do something similar to this with digital, and what's more, i know how to do this sort of effect digitally... but that takes all the fun out of it. :)

DCCAH - permanent collection

2010-09-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

a while back i entered some of my original toned silver gelatin holga prints to be considered for purchase by the dc commission on the arts and humanities art bank. the work in this collection is purchased from local DC area artists and is displayed in a variety of government buildings throughout the the district. anyway, they accepted two of my images into the permanent collection, which is pretty awesome! the images they chose are incidentally one of my oldest and one of my newest holga images: "chinatown" and "the mall."

so, if you are in any government buildings keep your eyes peeled for my contact prints, matted to 11x14 inches! if i ever find out where they are displayed i'll be sure to announce it.
:)

film fridays - matt

2010-09-17T08:00:00.014-05:00

i've always liked this photo i made of my friend matt several years back. it's not exactly a portrait, not fashion either. but the minimal aspects of it, the focus on tiny details of his jacket, and the implied body language are all kind of cool to me. it's just a little tiny sliver of time that is very dear to me, and this photo serves as a reminder.

like most of my "film fridays" choices, this image never fit with any exhibits so has not seen the light of day until now. that is one of the driving forces behind this weekly feature, since everyone tends to see and know my holga work. not that i don't plan to share my holga images more, but other work deserves attention on this blog too.

the specs: made with a nikon fm3a camera, and kodak tmax 400 film.

glen echo - crystal pool holga

2010-09-13T08:00:00.002-05:00

a few weeks ago i went to glen echo to make a few prints in the photoworks darkroom, and after i was finished there i took a stroll around the park with my holga. this is one of the images that resulted: the crystal pool. the front doors have been fixed up a bit since i first started photographing there several years back. the pool has long been filled in, but the front door is now new and painted. i actually sort of preferred the decaying version, but i can see as how it might appear unattractive to visitors!

film fridays - winged woman

2010-09-10T08:00:00.009-05:00

look! it's another color film image! but, like the last one i posted, this was captured on medium format chrome film, and NOT negative. these rich blues and contrast just wouldn't have happened by using film - at least not without the help of photoshop. if you're gonna shoot color film, then SHOOT COLOR and go straight to the chrome. :)

the specs: photographed outside an art gallery in sedona, arizona, with a hasselblad 501CM camera and fuju velvia 120 chrome film.

film fridays - san francisco

2010-09-03T08:00:00.004-05:00

this is the famous golden gate bridge in san francisco - i visited there in 2004. this image was made with a hasselblad xpan II camera and kodak t-max 400 film. i love the xpan because it's such a wildly different crop than anything else i use, and it forces me to think about my compositions in a different way. i think this photo is a good example of that, utilizing the negative space throughout most of the frame!

film fridays - new york city

2010-08-27T08:00:00.003-05:00

i made this image in new york city in 2003 or 2004 (i'd have to look it up) during a visit there. i was standing inside the guggenheim museum, watching people come in the revolving door. don't worry, i actually looked at the inside of the museum too. :)

the specs: nikon FM3A camera body, and kodak t-max 400 film.

film fridays - arizona

2010-08-20T08:00:00.011-05:00

i know you are all confused now. am i not the one who said i do not shoot color? yes, i did say that. but, this is different because the image above was made on medium format chrome film and not negative film. slide film is much, MUCH more awesome than negative for a lot of reasons, but mostly because the colors are so much more vibrant and rich. if you're gonna shoot color, i say, SHOOT color, and don't mute it down. but, maybe that's just me.

anyway, the specs: this is my husband andy, during a trip to arizona in the spring of 2002. the image was made with a hasselblad 501CM and 80mm lens, and i think the film is fuji velvia 100F chrome.

that's all for this week's film friday, so see you next week!

film fridays

2010-08-13T08:00:00.017-05:00

yeah, i know what you're thinking... isn't like, every day a film day for you? well, i do shoot digitally on occasion, but yes, the majority of my personal work is indeed captured on film. however, the majority of my film work is shot with a holga camera, and i specifically wanted to showcase some images that i've taken over the years that were NOT made with a holga. i'll note the camera used and if i can remember, the type of film i used as well.

so first up, an image i made in 2004 in san francisco, california. it is photographed using a nikon FM3A camera, and kodak tmax (i think) 400 speed film.

i love the geometry of this photo, and love the FM3A. i lament that i don't get to spend as much time using this camera as i did in the past. i have too many cameras and not enough time! but one of my goals is to shoot more film and get back to the fun-ness of making photos that are single exposure (read: not made with the holga). i don't plan to give up on the holga any time soon, but a little diversity is a good thing, and it keeps the creative juices flowing.

so that's it, and expect another non-holga film image every friday from now until... whenever i feel like doing something else. :)

absence makes the heart grow something something...

2010-08-08T23:04:00.000-05:00

i haven't posted here in a while. that's partly because i have film that has yet to be developed / scanned, and partly because i've been focusing on drawing a bit more recently. also, i got a bike for my birthday last month and have been working up to running errands with it (i procured energy bars and chick peas from whole foods today using said bike!).

last weekend i participated in sketchcrawl #28 around washington dc. basically, a group of local artists walks around the city, spending about a half hour at each location, and we all sketch. it's cool because i get to meet new people, but also because it's neat to see how each person interprets a scene since we are all together for the duration of the crawl. this is also a worldwide phenomenon, and you can check out results from all over the globe on the sketchcrawl site.

here are a few sketches from that day (and hopefully soon i'll be back to posting some holga work or mordançage prints... i'm itching to get back in the darkroom!). click on the image to see in more detail.

(view from the salon on the second floor at the renwick museum)

(figure drawing at the corcoran museum)

(drawing myself drawing on the metro on the way home from the sketchcrawl)

check out all of my sketches from the day on flickr!

LottoHEART mordançage

2010-07-04T09:00:00.007-05:00

i've been sitting on this image for a while because it was created as a donation to LottoHEART and was just auctioned off along with 199 other works of art for their annual artwork lottery. every piece of work, donated by hundreds of artists ranging from beginner to established, is exactly 5x7 in size, and is presented anonymously so that no one knows who created each piece (hence the reason i had to wait to post mine publicly). see all the artwork that was auctioned HERE at this link, and you can also see more about the organization and get a list of the participating artists there as well. i had fun trying to match the works donated to the artists on the list, but am not sure anyone would be able to do that for mine... this piece is a little different than my more widely known artwork. but, hopefully it will end up in a good home and help raise money for a good cause!

oh, and happy 4th of july, everyone!

Brookland Holga

2010-06-14T08:45:00.009-05:00

this is the last holga image from the brookland sketchcrawl in may. technically this is the first holga i took that day, and this is the corner of 12th and newton NE streets, underneath the CVS overhang. the sketchers all went their separate ways to sketch and arranged to meet at the CVS, and i was there earlier than most... so i whipped out the holga for the remainder of my time there. 12th street is the main drag in brookland, and there were a lot of signs, letters, numbers, and various other things we're probably supposed to be paying attention to. i like jumbling them all up together in my images. ;-)

Franciscan Monastery, Brookland DC Holga #2

2010-06-07T08:30:00.005-05:00

this is the second holga image from my latest dc sketchcrawl outing, again taken in the franciscan monastery gardens in brookland, dc. i tried to showcase the architecture a bit more in this one, and i was immediately drawn to the door labeled "private". i find myself photographing doors and fences a lot with my holga work, and while part of the appeal is the aesthetics of these details, there is a psychological intrigue as well. i don't know what it is, but i always want to open doors that tell me i am not welcome there. ;-)

Franciscan Monastery, Brookland DC Holga

2010-06-01T21:38:00.001-05:00

this is one of several holga images i made during the latest sketchcrawl on may 15 (#27, for those in the know) where we walked around the brookland neighborhood of dc. one of our stops included time in the franciscan monastery gardens, which are huge and gorgeous - definitely worth a visit whether you are religious or not, as it is a very peaceful and pretty place to chill out and enjoy being outdoors. the mosaic of mary in the center of this image was one of many pieces of art i found throughout the gardens, and you can also see the architecture to some degree in the photo.

it is official: i love brookland, and want to live there someday!

Zeek Magazine

2010-05-07T10:14:00.001-05:00

I recently received a copy of the Spring 2010 issue of Zeek Magazine in the mail, where I am a featured photographer! I'm not sure if the magazine is out on the racks for individual purchase, or if you need a subscription, but the cover looks like this:

And the image that is featured is this one, from my Route 66 trip back in July of 2008, which was taken at the very start of the excursion in Chicago's Millennium Park:

overlooked holga image

2010-05-04T08:09:00.011-05:00

i shot this image a while back during a session in washington dc, but overlooked it because it did not fit with the theme of the shoot i was going for at the time. often times, when i have one goal in mind, i only collect / process / print the images that allow me to accomplish that preset goal and skip over the rest. fortunately, i kept this frame in my holga folder and came across it today while searching for holga images for another purpose. so yay for new found old images!

everything old is new again

2010-04-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

here are two new 16x20 mordançage prints that i made from old (previously 8x10) negatives of cherry blossoms. the finished product is always a one of a kind image, so it's cool to rework images at different scales and fun for me to see how many different looks i can achieve with the same image as a base.

washington dc holga

2010-04-28T08:11:00.003-05:00

another holga image taken in washington dc... i think this was around the portrait gallery.

bethesda holgas

2010-04-26T08:25:00.003-05:00

i recently photographed these images on the way back to my car after dropping off artwork at the recent fraser gallery photography exhibit in bethesda. i had not been using the holga as much lately in favor of mordançage work, but since i have a feature exhibit coming up next year, i want to try to get some more new material to work with and possibly display. therefore, i bring the holga with me everywhere and see if i happen upon anything interesting...

holga images - the mall, washington dc

2010-04-23T08:33:00.007-05:00

more holga images taken during the february sketchcrawl in washington dc on the national mall...

holga!

2010-04-21T08:17:00.003-05:00

yeah, i've been neglecting my holga use the last half year, but recently took it out again for some new images. here's one that i photographed in my hometown of new castle, pa:

winter mordançage

2010-04-19T07:00:00.002-05:00

the smithsonian s+udio arts blog - featuring me!

2010-04-16T09:24:00.003-05:00

i was just featured in the smithsonian studio arts blog with an article about my mordançage work. it focuses a little more on my mordançage work as it is applied to wedding photography, but a lot of it is general and spans my personal work as well. check it out HERE!

the above image is not featured in the article, but you can see different photos over there. :)

washington monument / american indian museum holga

2010-04-15T08:21:00.004-05:00

i made this image during the last sketchcrawl on the mall in washington dc this past february. because it was cold, we chose to museum hop for most of the day to make our sketches, and this shows some of what we passed by throughout the day. :)

pictured are the american indian museum on the left side of the frame, which is where we ate lunch (their cafeteria is pretty awesome!), and the washington monument is in the center of the frame.

what do you think?

2010-04-14T08:00:00.004-05:00

this is another 16x20 mordançage print from my march darkroom session. it's a little different than the others in that it is a single image as opposed to a composite. i'm still not sure how i feel about it, and while i usually only post the "keepers" here, thought i'd see what you all thought about it. i'm still working through this series and trying to determine what direction(s) to take, so feedback is always helpful...

if it matters, it's another taken during the snow storm in february...

click to see it larger. :)

you have questions? i have answers.

2010-04-12T08:11:00.001-05:00

because i get a lot of questions from people around the world about my work (especially my holga artwork and process), i decided to start a formspring page to give inquiring minds a platform to ask me their questions. this way you can also see what others have asked, and i won't have to write the same answers many times over. win-win :)

here's a direct link to the question box if you have a question, or you can visit the page here to enter your question or view other people's questions: http://www.formspring.me/antognoli

<a href="http://www.formspring.me/antognoli">http://www.formspring.me/antognoli</a>

another large mordançage

2010-04-08T09:00:00.003-05:00

here's yet another 16x20 mordançage / gelatin relief print from my printing session back in march. this is an older negative made from images of cherry blossoms from 2009, but i enlarged it (the previous images i made were 8x10, so this is a significant change!).

despite the size difference, the prints themselves are very different because it is impossible to duplicate a mordançage print exactly. each version has unique color and texture, which is awesome from my perspective. hopefully you think so too!

(as always, click on the image to see it a little larger!)

more mordançage

2010-04-06T09:00:00.003-05:00

here's another 16x20 mordançage / gelatin relief print from my darkroom session in march! :)

(click the image to see it larger!)

BIG mordançage prints

2010-04-01T14:23:00.003-05:00

yes, i am aware that it's been ages since i've posted. but i've been very busy in the darkroom, and have lots of new images to share. my latest batch are 16x20 mordançage (gelatin relief) originals, which is super cool to see them so large. here's one that is based on images that were taken during the snowpocalypse in february, and i'll post more later!

(click the image to see it a bit larger!)

Upcoming Exhibits - Fraser Gallery + Laurel Arts Guild

2010-03-02T00:54:00.002-05:00

I am happy to announce some exciting exhibit news! I have two opening receptions in March, and both exhibits will feature some of my new gelatin relief prints!

***********

Firstly, I found out I was accepted into the 9th Annual International Photography Competition at the Fraser Gallery in Bethesda. I plan to attend the opening reception where one of my brand new Gelatin Relief images will be displayed. More info about the show:

MARCH 12 - APRIL 3, 2010

A group exhibition of photography by finalists of this annual competition, curated by Catriona Fraser. $950 in cash prizes will be awarded, with a Grand Prize of $500.

The Fraser Gallery received submissions from 151 photographers. The finalists are Erin Antognoli, James Blackie, George Borden, Deb Casso, Alain Debrabant, Sharon Dowis, Karl Doyle, Jane Vanden Eynden, Lee Goodwin, Edward Hahn, Chris Heard, Walter Hobbs, Jessica Jastrzebski, Prescott Lassman, Minny Lee, Anita Licis-Ribak, Stephen Marc, Michael McCullough, Kent Mercurio, David Orbock, Michael Palmer, Walter Plotnick, David Quinn, Allen Russ, Virginia Saunders, Edgar Stewart, Shaun Van Steyn, Michael Wilson, and Christopher Zedano.

An Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the "Bethesda Art Walk" on Friday, March 12 from 6pm - 9pm.

This is the piece that will be in the Fraser exhibit:

Find the Fraser Gallery at 7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E, Bethesda, MD 20814

***********

I will also have a photo in the LAG (Laurel Arts Guild) Open Juried Exhibition from March 5th - 28th. Local glass artist extraordinaire Michael Janis juried the show.

The opening reception will be on Sunday, March 7 from 2-4pm.

This is the piece that will be in the LAG exhibit:

Find the Laurel Arts Guild at 9700 Muirkirk Rd, Laurel, MD 20708

***********

I was also awarded a solo exhibition at Black Rock Center for the Arts in Germantown, Maryland for the 2010-11 season. I don't know exact dates at this time, but will keep everyone posted as soon as I know.

***********

So, the year started out to look slow but is shaping up to be pretty busy for art, which is a good thing!

Wedding Blogging Has Moved!

2010-02-18T14:36:00.001-05:00

This is a heads up that from this point on, the wedding portion of my blogging will move to my new blog over at halophotographic.blogspot.com. The current blog that you are reading now will still be active as well, but will be strictly for artwork, personal stuff, etc. I may even share more gelatin relief wedding and portrait work, as well as Holga wedding and portrait work here, since it straddles the line of commercial and art. I will be giving this blog a face lift to reflect the new focus very soon. :)

While you're over at the new blog, you should check out my new wedding and portrait photography site at www.halophoto.com. I'm pretty happy to have new work up, as my old site hadn't been updated since 2006!

This web site has been a long time in the making and I'm happy that I can finally see the progress. I hope you enjoy it too...

Snowpocalypse 2010

2010-02-08T14:56:00.004-05:00

I hope everyone is staying warm during this recent wave of snow. We lost power for 30 hours over the weekend, but it's back on now and so far so good. Here's a photo that my husband Andy (also a pro photographer) took on our street of me with our two dogs, Maurice and Frida.

Upcoming Bridal / Wedding Planning Shows + Events

2010-01-27T13:03:00.006-05:00

If you or someone you know is planning a wedding, here are a few places where you can check out my albums and talk with me in the near future:

----------------------------------------------------------------

24th Annual Wedding Expo
Sunday, January 31, 2010
12:00 Noon – 4:00 p.m.

The Holiday Inn FSK Conference Center
5400 Holiday Dr.
Frederick, MD 21703

----------------------------------------------------------------

Bridal Open House + Happy Hour
Tuesday, March 2
5:00 - 7:00 PM

Premier Party Rentals Showroom
5730 Industry Lane
Frederick, MD

*** Halo Photographic will be giving a FREE leather bound album that retails for $1100 to any couple who books a full wedding coverage at this event - don't miss it! ***

PLEASE join us for our monthly Bridal Happy Hour!!

Come mingle and visit with local wedding professionals one on one, get great wedding tips & ideas and even book wedding vendors you still need for your wedding.

Don't miss out on DRAWINGS, DISCOUNTS, FOOD TASTING,
and a take home BRIDAL GOODY BAG at this FREE event.

Featuring Vendors Such As:

Premier Party Rentals
(Tents, Tables, Chairs, China, Dance Floors & Fine Linen to name a few!)

Shew-sical Entertainment
(DJ Services)

The Organized Bride
(Invitations, Favors, Programs and more!)

Halo Photographic
(Engagement & Wedding Photography)

Liberty Mountain Resort
(Wedding Ceremony & Reception Venue)

Ory Custom Florals
(Full Service Custom Florist, Up Lighting & Decor)

Light fare and beverages being served.

Hope to see you there!

----------------------------------------------------------------

2nd Annual Wedding Expo Westminster
Sunday, February 21st, 2010
12:00 Noon – 3:00

Best Western Westminster
451 Wmc Dr
Westminster, MD 21158

----------------------------------------------------------------

Contact me to find out what my booking specials are at each show, and hope to see you there!

Megan + Kenny

2010-01-25T13:24:00.006-05:00

Megan and Kenny were married recently in a beautiful winter wedding at Thorpewood in Thurmont, Maryland. I had been to Thorpewood in just about every other season, so getting to photograph a winter wedding there was pretty cool!

Congratulations you two!

Other vendors included:

Catering + Cake: Canapes
DJ: Tyler - Frederick DJ
Florist: Monica MacCracken, Floral Designs
Transportation: Bowen and Wynn Motorcoach
Guest Rooms: Frederick Marriott - Fairfield Inn
Honeymoon: Booked by Travel By C
(way to rock the Frederick Area Bridal Network discounts - you get a gift or discount if you hire 3 or more FabNet vendors!)

ring hand :: gelatin relief

2010-01-22T12:41:00.001-05:00

gelatin relief :: yellow shoe

2010-01-18T10:26:00.005-05:00

One of my wedding gelatin relief prints - I recently made some of these prints from my 2009 weddings and will begin to share them. And soon I will begin my gelatin relief work on my personal artwork projects. The first steps are done, but a lot more needs to be done to them... it is a very time-intensive process.

H+M Bridal Gala - This Weekend!

2010-01-13T21:14:00.007-05:00

It's bridal show season, and I'll be posting about my upcoming events here on the blog and on Halo Photographic's Facebook Page to keep everyone informed about where I'll be and what sort of specials you can expect from me at these events!

***For this show, anyone booking me AT THE SHOW will receive a FREE medium leather bound album valued at $1100. Because it's a big decision and the offer is only available during the narrow window of time that the show is running, I will definitely be happy to answer any questions you have about my services via phone or email prior to the bridal show so that you are fully informed and ready to snag me for your date at the event. :)***

First up is the H&M Bridal Gala in Hagerstown THIS SUNDAY!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
11:30AM to 4PM

Find it:
Hager Hall Conference & Event Center
901 Dual Highway
Hagerstown, MD 21740

I am in booth #52.

Over 50 vendors (including me!), food tastings, beauty demonstrations, huge door prizes, fashion show by J&B Bridals, and more!

Pre-register for a free gift and $1 off admission at www.hmbride.com

Bridal Open House & Happy Hour!

2010-01-10T17:14:00.001-05:00

In a few short days we will hold the first Bridal Open House + Happy Hour of 2010!

I participate in this event every month, but this month I am doing something a little different than I have in the past - I am giving away a FREE ALBUM valued at $1100.00 to anyone who books me for their wedding during this Open House! Because it's a big decision and the offer is only available during a narrow window of time, I will definitely be happy to answer any questions you have about my services via phone or email prior to the Open House so that you are fully informed and ready to snag me for your date at the event. :)

And even if you found another photographer whose work you like better for your wedding (*sigh*), there are plenty of other cool vendors to check out to fill in the gaps in your planning.

The details:

Tuesday, January 12, 5:00PM to 7:30PM

Premier Party Rentals Showroom
5730 Industry Lane
Frederick, MD 21704 US

Come mingle and visit with local wedding professionals one on one, get great wedding tips & ideas and even book wedding vendors you still need for your wedding.

Don't miss out on DRAWINGS, DISCOUNTS, FOOD TASTING and more at this FREE event.

Featuring Vendors Such As:
Premier Party Rentals - (Tents, Tables, Chairs, China, Dance Floors & Fine Linen to name a few!)
Shew-sical Entertainment - (DJ Services)
Cinful Cuisine - (Full Service Catering & Wedding Cakes)
Halo Photographic - (Engagement & Wedding Photography)
Design Diva - (Event Decor)
Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn & Residence Inn - (Guest Rooms)
The Organized Bride - (Invitations, Favors, Programs and more!)

Light fare and beverages being served. Catering by Cinful Cuisine

Hope to see you there!

film fridays - citiwide

2010-01-07T08:23:00.001-05:00

taken in new york city during my last visit there.

the specs: hasselblad xpan II camera and kodak tmax 400 film.

Sneak Peek

2010-01-01T09:00:00.001-05:00

This is part of a (MUCH) larger project I am working on. I'll share more later but it will take a while to finish everything (did I mention this was a BIG project?). So figured I'd leave everyone with this single image as a teaser...

Oh, and Happy New Year!
:)

my christmas was a blast...

2009-12-27T14:27:00.001-05:00

...how was yours?

(that's my younger cousin William with his new ipod touch)

New Take on an Old Image

2009-12-21T20:45:00.001-05:00

This is an image from a wedding I shot back in 2004, but reworked a few weeks ago using the Gelatin Relief process. Just thought I'd share now, since I have a whooooole lot of images to be put through this process,some of which you will be seeing in the new year.

Sleepy Frida

2009-12-10T09:00:00.001-05:00

I needed to test my new camera out and turned to the most adorable subjects that I know - my puppies! Frida is more cooperative than Maurice by far. She holds her position while I take multiple shots, but as soon as he sees the camera he gets up and goes to another room. Little curmudgeon. Anyway, prepare for cuteness overload!

Below is a rare photo of Maurice taken before he realized I was taking his photo. He normally doesn't wear t-shirts (I don't like to force dogs to be frou-frou), but he had stitches on his side and we didn't want him to rip them out. He's fine now and the shirt is long gone.
:)

My Favorite Cameras

2009-12-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

A lot of people find their way to my blog through a variety of means. Sometimes they find me through a link on another web site, sometimes they are clients of mine, and sometimes they arrive here by searching for keywords that appear often in my blog. And one of those topics that attracts a lot of people is the gear I use, specifically my Holga and film photography. Well, an article written by friend and fellow photographer Angela Kleis addresses the topic of a photographer's favorite camera in her latest Smithsonian Studio Arts Blog column, and she interviewed several photographers to find out what their go-to cameras are and why. See the article HERE and you'll get to hear about my favorite cameras to shoot with - the Holga gets a mention, big surprise! But, so do a few other film cameras made by Hasselblad and Nikon. Go check out the article for my full quote, plus you'll get to see what other area photographers like to shoot with most.

ISPWP Contest Winner!

2009-12-02T07:00:00.001-05:00

Yes, it's that time where I announce that I placed one of my recent wedding images in another contest. This time it's the ISPWP (International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers) Fall contest in the "First Dance" category. The image can be seen above and was taken at Jessica + Todd's Thorpewood wedding this past September.

See the contest category HERE!

Bridal Open House & Happy Hour!

2009-11-29T21:44:00.004-05:00

This is the last one of the year... if you are planning a wedding, come on out and see me! I'm giving away door prizes and there will be other offers for cool stuff for your wedding photography...

PLEASE join us for our monthly Bridal Happy Hour!!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location:
Premier Party Rentals Showroom
5730 Industry Lane
Frederick, MD

Come mingle and visit with local wedding professionals one on one, get great wedding tips & ideas and even book wedding vendors you still need for your Special Day.

Don't miss out on DRAWINGS, DISCOUNTS, FOOD TASTING
and more at this FREE event.

Featuring Vendors Such As:

Premier Party Rentals
(Tents, Tables, Chairs, China, Dance Floors & Fine Linen to name a few!)

Shew-sical Entertainment
(DJ Services)

Cinful Cuisine
(Full Service Catering & Wedding Cakes)

Halo Photographic
(Engagement & Wedding Photography)

Design Diva
(Event Decor)

Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn & Residence Inn
(Guest Rooms)

&

The Organized Bride
(Invitations, Favors, Programs and more!)

Light fare and beverages being served.
Catering by Cinful Cuisine

Hope to see you there!

Get Your Rear In Gear!

2009-11-18T21:45:00.011-05:00

Over the weekend I photographed the First Annual Alexandria Get Your Rear in Gear 5K Run, Walk and Tony Snow Mile for a Miracle! at Fort Hunt Park in Alexandria Virginia. These races happen all over the country as part of the Colon Cancer Coalition, which is the local connection to Tony Snow (Fox News / Press Secretary to George W Bush), who lost his battle with colon cancer last year. Over 500 participants came out to the event, which was awesome to see. Some of the teams that participated were quite colorful, including the Kilters (or was that "Kilt Lifters"?) (pictured above) who ran in kilts, carried foam weapons and many who ran bare chested for the entire 5K.

My own grandfather died of colon cancer, and so to do my part to help, I'm donating 25% of all print sales from this event to the Colon Cancer Coalition. Find the entire photo take HERE.

A few more photos to give you a taste of what's in the proofs linked above:

The team from Trinity High School wore matching hot pink argyle socks...

An eclectic mix gathered at the starting line!

Tony Snow's sister, children, and Fox News Producer Griff Jenkins take their place at the starting line:

And they're off!

The winner James Wiggin approaches the finish line:

I was so happy the leaves were still on the trees at the park - it made it so pretty!

Tony Snow's kids being interviewed by Fox News after they completed the 5K:

Shutterbug Magazine Feature

2009-11-11T22:22:00.004-05:00

If you happen to be by a place that sells magazines, make sure you check the November issue of Shutterbug Magazine. Specifically, page 90, where you will find a feature with yours truly. The work profiled is my wedding / artwork hybrid site at www.erinantognoli.com.

I got a note about a half a year ago asking if I would allow the magazine to use a screen shot of my website with their profile, and of course I said yes. But, because the article is only available online to subscribers, I had not seen it when it first came out. I began getting emails from all over the world telling me they loved my work and that the article was really great, so that made me feel better, but ultimately I had to see it for myself and made a pit stop to Borders where I found the magazine on the rack.

I'd share it if I could, but due to copyright issues I can't scan and post the page, but if you get a chance check it out this month at the nearest place magazines are sold.

***UPDATE - it's now online! Check it out here: http://shutterbug.com/web_profiles/1109web/ ***

Latest Exhibit

2009-10-31T21:41:00.005-05:00

I have some Holga work on display RIGHT NOW including the image above, and the artists' reception is this week! More info:

See several of my Holga DC series pieces at the Area Artists Show at Johns Hopkins University in Rockville, MD.

I'm sharing the space with several other incredibly talented local artists: Liliane Blom, Andy Cleavenger, Pamela Clifford, Jacqui Crocetta, and Barry Schmetter.

The address is:
9601 Medical Center Dr.
Rockville, MD 20850

(the actual show is in the lobby of the 9605 Building that's all the way to the right when you pull up to the campus).

Hours are Mondays - Fridays 7AM to 6PM, and Saturdays 8AM to 2PM.
The show is on display until December 18th.

*** A formal reception will be held on Thursday, November 5 from 6:30-8PM so stop by if you want to talk with me or the other artists! ***

Marisa + John

2009-10-18T23:03:00.009-05:00

Marisa and John were married recently at Elkridge Furnace Inn in Elkridge, Maryland. The wedding had to be moved indoors due to rain, which was sad because the grounds at the Inn are so beautiful. However, there is a lovely tented area for the wedding / reception in case of rain, and everyone remained cheerful, which is the most a photographer can ask for if not for the sun!

If we couldn't have the sun, at least we had the beautiful rooms at the Inn to use as a backdrop for some photos:

Congratulations you two!

Other vendors included:
Coordinator: Becky Kernan (of the Elkridge Furnace Inn)
Florist: The Bride's Aunt Toni (and they were gorgeous!)
DJ: Steve Graybeal of GrooveScooter Productions
Ceremony / Cocktail Hour Music: String Poets
Hair + Makeup: Patrick's Salon
Officiant: Rev. David Flaherty
Catering + Cake: Elkridge Furnace Inn

Beth + Jon

2009-10-12T15:09:00.006-05:00

Beth and Jon were recently married at Big Pipe Creek in Taneytown, Maryland. The wedding was outdoors, and while it was a little cold, it didn't rain, which is always a plus!

I love Polaroids (along with many other alternative photo processes), and incorporated this one taken by a guest into the day's photos:

For Beth and Jon's first dance, I tried a bit of post-processing to make the image look like it was an aged black and white Polaroid (in keeping with the incorporation of Polaroids into my photos). I also used this treatment for the very first photo posted here. I'm not really a fan of over-processing photos, but if it's subtle and suits the photo, then I'll give something different a try!

Beth and Jon's friends have a band who entertained the crowd for a half hour or so of the reception:

Congratulations you two!

Other vendors included:
Catering: Kountry Kafe
Cupcakes: Starry Night Bakery
Florist: The Flower Shop

Karen + Erik

2009-10-05T13:49:00.010-05:00

Karen and Erik were married recently at Brookside Gardens. I've photographed at these gardens quite a bit, and each couple tends to pick a different location in the huge park area to have their wedding. This time they chose the Fragrance Garden for a backdrop, which was indeed very sweet smelling.

Erik glimpses Karen walking down the steps:

And Karen gets a glimpse of Erik!

A bunny decided to join us for part of the formals! Just part of Brookside Garden's charm...

The reception took place at The Great Room at Savage Mill. It is a breathtaking venue for a reception! I have exhibited my work in Savage Mill before, but didn't know this part of the building was even here until tonight. Beautiful!

Pics 'N Motion was on hand at the reception for their party favor flip books. It was pretty fun shooting my still photos of the process of making the flip books. Everyone seemed to be having a great time making these!

Congratulations you two!

Other vendors included:

Catering: Putting on the Ritz
Florist: Mason's Flowers
Day-of Coordinator: Rosh Malkara, Studio 9 Events
Cake: Sweet - A Bakery & Cafe
Makeup: Tyler Nicholle-Frederick
Invitations: Early Affair
Officiant: Minister Allan Williams

Jessica + Todd

2009-09-28T14:36:00.010-05:00

Jessica and Todd were recently married at Thorpewood in Thurmont, Maryland. I love shooting weddings there because it's right in the middle of the woods... it doesn't get any closer to nature than that!

And Jessica's grandfather snapped a photo of me during the reception. Lots of guests catch me in photos, but he actually asked me to stand for the photo and then showed me what he got! I thought it would be fun to include that here in a creative way. :)

Congratulations you two!

Other vendors included:
Catering: Canapes
Dress: J Crew
DJ: Carl Brashears - Classic DJ
Hair and Makeup: Heather Kirkland of Studio 1612 Baltimore

Caitlin + Hanibal

2009-09-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

Caitlin and Hanibal were married recently in Baltimore at the 4 East Madison Inn, with a reception at Mount Washington Tavern. All of my couples are special to me, but this wedding was extra special because Caitlin is my husband's sister, and now Hanibal is our Brother-in-Law. The family just got bigger, and a little sillier (see some of the photos below for proof of that!).

Getting ready at the Inn:

The rings with a photo of my nephew Manny. Yes, Manny is a dog, and yes, I consider dogs to be family!

Photos out in the square before the ceremony began:

Caitlin and Dad getting ready to walk down the aisle:

I thought this was so funny. I wonder how his photo turned out... I always like to see photos that were taken at the exact same time that mine were.

Creatively getting myself into the family photo. It helps to have a wall sized mirror behind the photo area!

Other vendors included:

Dress: TLC Bridal Boutique
Florist: Radebaughs
Caterer: Feast
Officiant: Betty Loafman
Ceremony / Brunch Music: Charm City String Quartet
DJ: Music Masters
Hair: About Faces
Invitations: Papeterie
Cake: Lizzie Harrison

Synagogue Wedding

2009-09-22T12:25:00.006-05:00

This couple requested that their faces not be shown on the internet, so all I have are a few details to share.

Ceremony: Chizuk Amuno Synagogue / B’Nai Israel Synagogue, Baltimore, Maryland

Reception: Howard County Conservancy, Woodstock, Maryland

Photographed for Borrowed Blue Photography

Area Artists Show at JHU

2009-09-15T16:22:00.004-05:00

If you want to know where you can see my artwork now, here's the scoop. Find it at the Area Artists show at Johns Hopkins University in Rockville, MD. I have 4 of my DC Series Holga pieces displayed in the show, so check it out.

I'm sharing the space with several other incredibly talented local artists: Liliane Blom, Andy Cleavenger, Pamela Clifford, Jacqui Crocetta, and Barry Schmetter.

The address is:
9601 Medical Center Dr.
Rockville, MD 20850

(the actual show is in the lobby of the 9605 Building that's all the way to the right when you pull up to the campus).

Hours are Mondays - Fridays 7AM to 6PM, and Saturdays 8AM to 2PM.

A formal reception will most likely be in November, details to follow!

ISPWP - Self Portrait contest

2009-09-08T21:33:00.005-05:00

Normally I don't like to do the things where I post everywhere I know to get people to vote for me because

a.) I never know as many people as the other entrants, so it's pointless, and
b.) that's just really annoying

but, I thought I would post the self portrait I entered here and tell you a little bit about it... where it was taken, the circumstances, the technical details, etc. Partly because I think some of that info might be interesting to some of you, but mostly just because this is one of those few images that I really love, even though it doesn't fit with any of my gallery work and won't ever (likely) be in a solo show of mine. But, it does have a permanent home on my dining room wall - the image, which was hand printed and toned by me, is 11x11, the frame 16x20.

So, a few years ago, I was spending Thanksgiving with my husband's family at Deep Creek Lake in Maryland. We had the whole family, dogs and all, and rented this townhouse to stay in for a few days. The rest of the family was sleeping upstairs, but we had the basement with the sofa bed. The very first thing I noticed upon descending the stairs was this deer head on the wall, with the ceiling above it punched out where the antlers might have hit. Being a vegetarian and lover of animals, this was rather creepy to me, but my family hunts so I grew up around this sort of thing. At that instant, I knew I wanted to make a self portrait with the head.

As for the technical, this image was shot with a Hasselblad 501CM and Kodak TMax 400 120 film. The exposure itself was made with the camera on a tripod, triggered by a bulb shutter release with a 100 foot cord attached (that's in my hand that you can't see). The exposure was 10 seconds, if I recall correctly. I held very still for most of the shot, and in the last few seconds I started to shake my head to give a ghosting effect while still retaining some detail in the face. I have a whole roll of this exact setup where my head is in various states of blur, but this was my favorite. The image you see here is exactly as it was shot... no post processing in Photoshop.

So... that's that. And if you feel so inclined, you can see the image along with the competitors at ISPWP's site HERE. You don't have to vote, because like I said, I know I won't win. I just like to take photos, and think any contest can be embellished if a deer head is included.
:-)

Zip Code Show

2009-08-28T09:00:00.002-05:00

You wanna know where you can see my work next? tomorrow, the Zip Code Show opens in Arlington, and I have two Holga pieces on display there (pictured here), one of which is making its gallery debut!

Details:

The show, an artdc.org and Art Outlet collaborative event, is being held in partnership with Halstead Arlington and the Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization. It will take place at the Halstead Arlington, a new luxury apartment building at 1028 South Walter Reed Drive in Arlington, VA.

The ZIP Code Show will open and close with Saturday night receptions that will include art, artists, performers (see below), a cash bar, and hors d' oeuvres courtesy of Rincome Thai Cuisine . The work will be on display during the receptions and Tuesday, September 1 through Friday, September 4.

Artists:
Erin Antognoli, Michael Auger, Jennifer Beinhacker, Stephen Dobbin, Cheryl Denise Edwards, Laura Elkins, Rita Elsner, Deirdre Forgione, Vickie Fruehauf, H.A. Gallucio, Ric Garcia, Eve Hennessa, Kevin Irvin, Mishka Jaeger, Jessica Jastrzebski, Angela Kleis, Tara Kocourek, Carrie Marie Lipscomb, Matthew Michael Malone, Stephen Mead, Bono Mitchell, Claudia & Sergio Olivos, Kelly Perl, Linda Plaisted, Caren Quinn, Tariq Rafiq, Jeremy Arn Ramirez, Rhett Rebold, Stephanie Elaine Robbins, Johanna Rodriguez, Lisa K. Rosenstein, Roy Utley, Jessica Van Brackle, Emily Voigtland, Alexandra Zealand

Where:
the Halstead Arlington
1028 South Walter Reed Drive
Arlington, VA

Show dates and times:
Opening Reception: August 29 from 5:30 pm - 12 am
Closing Reception: September 5 from 5 - 10 pm
Gallery Hours: September 1 - 4 from 5 - 7:30 pm

Performances by: Rhythm Worker’s Union (Djembe drumming), Parliament Hill (American folk), KUKU (Nigerian singer/songwriter), Saffron Dance (Belly Dancing), Margot MacDonald (American blues/rock), Wes Tucker (American folk/blues), DC Shorts (film)

Na + Eric

2009-08-24T19:54:00.009-05:00

Na and Eric were recently married at Strong Mansion in Dickerson, Maryland. The mansion is located on Sugarloaf Mountain, which is gorgeous for hiking and other nature-related activities, as well as formal occasions such as a wedding. The grounds there are gorgeous, and it's easy to see why couples love to get married there.

Na and the girls getting ready:

The couple walked to the ceremony together, which was situated on the steps right by the fish pond near the mansion. And luckily, we had a beautiful day for this outdoor ceremony!

Congratulations you two!

*** Proofs for this wedding are now online! Visit the gallery HERE to view them. ***

Other vendors included:
Dress: Bobbie's Bridal
Catering: Matters of Taste
Coordinator: Tina's Creative Touch Wedding Planners
Florist: SW Floral Design

Stacey + Joey

2009-08-18T21:00:00.001-05:00

Stacey and Joey were recently married at the Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland. It was hot out, but didn't rain, which allowed the outdoor terrace wedding ceremony to take place as scheduled.

I love the rooms at the Marriott there because they have so much wonderful natural light. Granted, I can make any lighting situation work, but it makes it much easier on me when the light is nice to start with!

Stacey and her father walking down to the ceremony. I love Stacey's expression here as she sees Joey waiting at the other end of the aisle for her.

The end of the first dance:

Father / Daughter dance:

Congratulations you two!

Other vendors included:
Florist: Beall's Florist
DJ: DeSantis Entertainment Group
Cake: Custom Cake Design
Hair & Makeup: Doreen Bransfield
Dress: Distinctive Designs Bridal
Men's Attire: Men's Warehouse
Invitations: WeddingPaperDivas.com
Officiant: Mike Yoho

The online proofs are now ready for viewing! See them HERE...

Another Contest Win!

2009-08-17T12:03:00.003-05:00

I am happy to announce my 5th place finish in the "Family Love" category of the ISPWP (International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers) Summer image contests. The winning image was taken at Jennifer + Joe's wedding at The Washingtonian Marriott in Gaithersburg, Maryland last year.

I rarely enter contests (the ISPWP is about the only contest I enter these days, in fact!), so it's always an honor when the judges choose my work among all the other talented photographers out there. I have a wonderful time making these images, and it's always nice to see others reacting well to them too.

Check out the contest images here: Summer 2009 Contest - Family Love
And the ISPWP site here: ISPWP

The ISPWP has a strict code of admittance for wedding photographers, as follows:

Membership Requirements

The application process helps to ensure that ISPWP members are established, experienced and have reached a high level of professionalism. The membership committee will evaluate applicants on the following criteria:

* At least 50 weddings as the principal photographer (not as secondary/backup)
* Sponsorship by an existing ISPWP member OR two email references from recent clients and two email references from fellow professional photographers
* Website review
* Agreement to operate your business in accordance with the Code of Conduct
* No unresolved complaints with the Better Business Bureau or other similar consumer protection organization

Family Reunion - Hasselblad Images

2009-08-11T18:08:00.007-05:00

I recently attended my annual Antognoli family reunion and decided to skip the digital photography altogether this time around. Armed only with my Hasselblad and a pile of 120 film, I made these and many more images of my relatives. I chose these two images to share for this post because they both share the balloon motif.

These are scans from the actual silver gelatin prints that I made in the darkroom last time around. Normally I just scan the film, but I wanted to know that I could print these for real, rather than adjusting in Photoshop after the fact, so what you see is what resulted from my darkroom time.

In short, I learned that I am rusty with the Hasselblad, and even rustier in printing straight (read: non-Holga or alternative processes) images in the darkroom. But it felt so good to print "normal" single frame photos and I am going to try to do this again in the near future.