They "Like" My Photos, Social Media Successes

June 23, 2016--Social Media provides not only another outlet to show photography and gain more attention for your cause, but it give you a sense of gratification when a viewer "likes" your image.  An important item to this delivery is the channel or page your image is posted to, not only does it need to be a good photo but something of interest and a sports superstar will help too!

2014 Kyrie Irving at the Best Buddies Leadership Conference photo was posted 75 weeks ago on the Best Buddies Instagram Page.   It received 2,130 likes. https://www.instagram.com/p/x14OAew-fO/?taken-by=bestbuddies

The same photo was posted last week, celebrating the NBA Championship and so far has 1,362 Likes https://www.instagram.com/p/BG3DTYhw-Qx/?taken-by=bestbuddies

This photo made at the 2016 Best Buddies Tom Brady Football Challenge and was posted on the Best Buddies Instagram Page.  It received 1,708 likes, 28 comments and countless shares.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BGNpt50w-dH/?taken-by=bestbuddies

The best liked photo so far with over 67,000 likes posted on Kyrie Irving's Instagram page is Kyrie and Joey Shriver at the 2014 Best Buddies Leadership Conference.  Kyrie has only 5,900,000 followers on Instagram.  It's all about placement!

https://www.instagram.com/p/rBH4RMMhLx/?taken-by=kyrieirving

All Photos by Laurence L. Levin

www.LLLevin.com

Instagram @larrylevin

Visit  www.bestbuddies.org 

Instagram @bestbuddies 

Three Years of Concerts with The Bazel Group

Recently was asked to compile photos made at the closing night party for an annual conference.  The Bazel Group booked and managed these three acts.

Dr. Otis C. William, an original member of The Temptations

In 2011,  The Temptations

2014,  Huey Lewis & The News 

2014, Huey Lewis

2015 Frankie Valli

2015, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons

www.thebazelgroup.com
#thebazelgroup #celebrityconcerts #corporateconcerts
Instagram @larrylevin #larrylevinphoto

Copyright 2016 Laurence L. Levin
www.LLLevin.com

HDR Washington DC Landmarks

The Lincoln Memorial

June 01, 2016--The National Mall,  Washington, DC--Armed with a camera, tripod and cable release it was off to make images at midnight of landmarks.  Using a technique called High Dynamic Range (HDR). it combines the same image taken multiple times using various exposures.  Combining each of the exposures in either Photoshop or Lightroom, the resulting image provides a photo with details in all ends of the exposure, you see details in the light areas and the dark areas. This is a great technique to use when there are extremes of brightness and darkness.

Made between the columns of the Lincoln Memorial

The Viet Nam Memorial  

The Viet Nam Memorial Wall shot around midnight.

Copyright 2016 Laurence L. Levin

www.LLLevin.com

2016 Hyannis Port Challenge

Buddies Ambassadors at the Harvard Stadium, (homage photo Phillipe Halsman who did a "jump" series), Tori, Kellie, DQ, Katie, Sam, Christina, , Rachel, Ashley

Game Time with Tom Brady

Michael Chiklis selfie with Tom Brady & Julian Edelman in the locker room before the big game.  

Covering The Best Buddies Hyannis Port Challenge for 15 out of the 17 times, is challenging.  Each year, the basic elements are similar.  Trying to find an image that is new and fresh can be,  to say the least, perplexing.  Weeks prior to the event, discussions are underway to brain storm ideas and concepts.  There are phone calls, shot list preparations, and just a lot of thinking to figure how to make this year's event memorable.  Fortunately, there is a wonderful team of staff and volunteer photographers who can concentrate on the must have shots.

This year the plan was for me to shoot less, which meant not having to cover everything, because it would be well documented.  Thus the goal was to find five specific situations, as well as not be shoulder to shoulder with the others.  Additionally, in the "staged" situations find angles that were different and true moments.

It's great to be part of a team of devoted and talented Best Buddies staff and photographers.

Katie Meade with her buddy Tom Brady.(shot from the side of the stage, lucky to get this situation)

A wonderful moment on stage with Chef Guy Fieri with his buddy Michael Jaxtimer Barry.  

At the last second, jumped into the lead car and made this photo at the beginning of the ride. 

After his presentation at lunch Buddies Ambassador Sam Piazza is congratulated by Tom Brady 

Best Buddies Performer Tori Ackley on stage with the Beach Boys.  In addition to this performance, Tori sang the National Anthem at the start of the Football game and 50 mile start

#BestBuddies #HyannisPortChallenge #larrylevinphoto @larrylevin #TomBrady #MichaelChicklis
www.lllevin.com

Copyright 2016 Laurence L. Levin

Remembering Michel duCille

2016 Blizzard

Washington, DC--Time Lapse, From My Window, the 2016 Blizzard.  From January 22 5:43pm to January 24 9:49 pm.  Although started the camera after the first snow flake, captured the "eye' of the storm.  Interesting colors and fun to watch some of the clean up.  Individual still images, 3,124 photos, shot at a 1 minute interval, shot with a Nikon D810.

Copyright 2016 Laurence L. Levin
No publication rights granted without written permission
www.LLLevin.com

2015 Great Falls Time Lapse

October 31--Great Falls, VA--Sunrise time-lapse shot on the Virginia side.  A foggy morning, a little color and finally the fog burned off.  Shot over a 4 hour period with a Nikon D810.

Copyright 2015 Laurence L. Levin
No publication rights granted without permission
www.LLLevin.com

Tim Shriver: Fully Alive

January 08, 2015--Georgetown University, Washington, DC--Tim Shriver with Paul Elie talking about Tim's book, Fully Alive at the Riggs Library.

Over 200 friends and students attended the talk, Tim signed books afterward.

Photos made with Nikon D810 iso 5000
Photos Copyright 2015 Laurence L. Levin

No publication rights granted without permission 

www.LLLevin.com

The Middle East Institute Annual Conference

Keynote Speaker Senator Tim Kaine

November 19-20--Washington, DC--The Middle East Institute hosted their 68th Annual Conference at the Grand Hyatt.  This two day reception and conference honored dignitaries in their quest to inform and make a difference in Middle East.  The conference entitled "Navigating the Storm: The Middle East in 2015" provided a variety of ideas, opportunities and transitions for peace, harmony and goodwill.

MEI Visionary Award Winner Shafik Gabr

Panelist Cenqiz Candar

Technical Notes:  Images shot on Nikon D810 and Df cameras.  So you think you can shoot these images on a camera phone?  You might get one or two usable images with your camera phone.  To get consistent usable imagery, I used quality Nikkor lenses, shot at high ISO, color balanced the files and adjusted for grain and sharpness. There were five panels with five panelists.  Each person was photographed as well as group and audience photographs.  Each person was photographed from various angles and hopefully at a good moment.  Over 2000 frames were made throughout the event but that number was edited to show only publication worthy images.

Copyright 2014 Laurence L. Levin
www.LLLevin.com
All Rights Reserved

DC Special Olympics Fall Classic Basketball Tournament

Kennedy School 

November 06--Catholic University, Washington, DC--Passion, athleticism and friendships abound at Special Olympic events.  The DC Special Olympics Fall Classic provides opportunity for athletes to get out of class for the day and join in the competition.  As a long time basketball referee, I cherish these games.  The pure sportsmanship and players enjoying the game make it a enjoyable competition. In between the games, I made these team photos.

Teams from DC participated in the DC Special Olympics Fall Classic Basketball Tournament.  Teams played 3on3 and 5on5.  Hosted at Catholic University.  For more information www.specialolympicsdc.org

NO REPRODUCTION RIGHTS GRANTED WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM SPECIAL OLYMPICS.

Ballou Senior High School

Sharpe Health

Photographs made on a Nikon D810 with two SB-800 in a Westcott Rapid Box.

Copyright 2014 Laurence L. Levin www.LLLevin.com
NO REPRODUCTION RIGHTS GRANTED WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Family Photography: Laura and Khalad

July 04, Washington, DC--Three generations, bringing every one together to concentrate on sitting still and showing a good face.  Each personality shows through.  Sometimes one or two people might lose their concentration, so its my job to get them back on track and "look good for the camera!"

(technical notes)  Shot with my Nikon Df, two Speedlights SB-800, both in Westcott Rapid Boxes.  45 degrees angle and back light.  This lighting system provides soft and even lighting, easy setup and convenient.  It has provided a great solution inexpensively,  that helps to keep my overhead low!

©Laurence L. Levin
All rights reserved. No publication rights granted.

www.LLLevin.com

Basketball Athletes from the USA Games

Team Utah teammates, Travis White and Lindsey Atkinson

June 18--Princeton, NJ--The USA Games Special Olympics.  My involvement with Special Olympics  started when I officiated basketball games in Washington. DC.  Since that time, I have worked games locally, at the National Games and at the International Games.  At this years 2014 USA National Games, I tried to do portraits  to capture the inspirational and dedicated of the basketball athletes.

Team Utah, Joe Pratt

Team Maryland, Nora Nickle

Team Maryland, Munir Vohra,  J Megonigal

©Laurence L. Levin
All rights reserved.  No usage rights granted without the permission from Special Olympics, Inc.

www.LLLevin.com

Basketball: USA National Games Special Olympics

Florida vs. New York

June 20, Princeton NJ--For the third time, I was invited to officiate basketball for the Special Olympics USA National Games.  A great honor to be surrounded by remarkable athletes and volunteers for a week.  The competition is fierce from the highest level to the lowest level skilled athletes.  Sportsmanship is evident at all levels of play.  (Other athletes could learn a lot from Special Olympic athletes.)  The athletes had intensity, determination and showed an athletic competitive edge that provided exciting and great play.  Special Olympic athletes can do anything.  They just need an opportunity and these games proved to showcase their athletic skills, positive attitude and friendship.

Team Florida vs. Team New York, referee Joe Mitchell 

Team South Dakota vs. Pennsylvania

Team Washington, DC vs. Team New Jersey

Team Washington, DC vs. Louisiana, referee Joe Mitchell

(Technical Note) All these images were made with a Nikon Df.  This camera continues to surpass all my expectations.  The auto white balance handled all the various lighting conditions I encountered.  The vivid color, ability to focus quickly in low lighting conditions and using high ISO with excellent results are all outstanding qualities of this camera.  This camera is my second body and will continue to be a valuable asset in my arsenal.

©2014 Laurence L. Levin
NO USAGE RIGHTS GRANTED WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM SPECIAL OLYMPICS INTERNATIONAL.  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

WWW.LLLEVIN.COM
My LinkedIn

Family Photography: 10 Year Anniversary

June, 13--Bethany Beach, DE--It was their 10 year anniversary ceremony.  After a beautiful sharing of memories and love for each other, Melissa and Don with their two boys posed with the setting sun.  This image made a gorgeous canvas print.  It was a pleasure and honor to spend such an important life moment with the family.

(technical notes)  Photograph made with my new Nikon Df, fill flash with Speedlite-SB800 in backlight mode.  This camera allows me to concentrate on composition while the technical aspects are captured so beautifully by the improved sensor;  the exposure, focus and vivid color are right on.   So effortless  to help me capture important images.

Canvas prints are nice.  Especially when you find a great price on Groupon or discount price on the web.....HOWEVER, quality matters, correct color matters, quality material matters.  That is why I will pay more for a print from Dodge-Chrome labs in Washington, DC.  I have worked with them for over 20, never disappointed, highest of quality for optimal archival and color prints.

©Laurence L. Levin
All rights reserved.  Not publication rights granted.

www.LLLevin.com

Young Arts Alumni Performance

June 06-Kennedy Center-Washington, DC,  YoungArts Alumni performance at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage in honor of the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.

Alice Blumenfeld, a YoungArts Alumna and U.S. Presidential Scholar presents Semblanza, which showcases her newest flamenco dance.  Accompanied by Hector Jose Marquez on vocals, Ricardo Marlow on guitar and Behzad Habibzai on percussion.

(Tech notes)  Shooting a stage performance is always tricking,  proper metering on the changing lighting setup, the quick action by the dancer and having enough latitude to have a good exposure. The new Nikon Df proved to handle this situation incredibly well.  Spot metering was flawless and shooting at an extremely high ISO proved to be no problem.  Can you tell this was shot at 10,000 ISO?  Grain is tight and color is vivid.

©Laurence L. Levin
All Rights Reserved.  No usage rights granted without written permission.

www.LLLevin.com
LinkedIN