Polirazzi of DC

In the Land of Blood and Honey D.C. Premiere

2012-01-11T13:05:00.000-08:00

The Daily: Alley Cats

2012-01-09T08:52:00.000-08:00

On a cold december evening, I made the journey to the small town of Prince Anne, Maryland to the campus of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. To do a story about the UMES women's bowling team with The Daily's Chris Strauss, a team that has won two national titles in the last four years. Compared to the predominantly african american student body, the team is made up mostly international students and women that have been recruited from around the country.

Wreath Laying at Arlington Cemetery for The Daily

2011-12-14T10:13:00.000-08:00

Each December thousands of volunteers and soldiers pour out to Arlington Cemetery on a cold Saturday morning to lay wreaths on the headstones of the fallen as part of "Wreaths across America."

First Lady..The Prez...Bono and Alicia Keys

2011-12-07T08:51:00.000-08:00

Watery Bangkok

2011-11-29T12:15:00.001-08:00

I just recently return from a three week trip to Thailand visiting Chiang Mai, Krabi and Bangkok. While I was in Bangkok I covered the aftermath of the flooding for The Daily, here is a link to a 360 of a flooded shop. Below are a few singles of the flooding.

Zombies...Zombies

2011-10-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

On Friday I received an email from The Daily, with one of the most unique and interesting assignments I have ever had. To go photograph the "Run for your Lives" 5k mud run. The runners have one more challenge that they have to deal with on the course and that is to make it through without getting caught by dozens of zombies...

You have a flight simulator in your office!!

2011-10-20T04:24:00.000-07:00

Last week, I was contracted by United Technologies to photograph their board members getting a tour of their showroom here in Washington DC. One of the coolest showrooms ever..they have a full scale flight simulator in there!!!

2011 African Banker Ceremony

2011-10-06T10:37:00.001-07:00

Celebvocate Profile: Eva Longoria

2011-10-04T07:54:00.001-07:00

When it comes to celebvocates who visit DC to speak or lobby for a cause, many come once and will never be scene again. But there are a rare few that keep coming back again and again. One of those is Eva Longoria, who routinely visits DC to lobby to get funding for National Museum Of The American Latino and other Latin American issues. I have been documenting the work that Ms. Longoria has been doing since 2009.

Preview so far of NYC Fashion Week

2011-09-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

Been up here in NYC covering Fashion Week..Its a nice change from Capitol Hill...

Been up here in NYC covering difference fashion shows and events during NYC Fashion Week..Its a nice change of pace from Capitol Hill...

Grammy Association: Hitmakers on the Hill

2011-08-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

For Heineken

2011-07-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

Belgium Royals at Arlington Cemetery...

2011-06-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

In the eye of the coxswain....

2011-06-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

When I am not taking photos...Im spending my mornings coxing for the Capitol Rowing Club Competitive rowing team. So I decided to take along a little point and shoot with me on a few of our practices and this is what I got......

Bob Mould for The daily...

2011-06-13T06:49:00.000-07:00

High Country News Cover

2011-05-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

A few months back I was hired by High Country News to do a feature on Debbie Sease, who is the National Campaign Director for the Sierra Club and few others. On their experiences adapting to the DC lifestyle from their roots in the midwest.

White House Correspondent Dinner Week Recap

2011-05-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

For photojournalists that cover the entertainment scene in Washington DC, there are two events each year that our oscar's and the our grammy's. The White House Correspondents Dinner and the Kennedy Center Honors. This past week it was Correspondent's turn to be in the spot lot...The town is flooded with a-list celebrities from Jeremy Piven to Scartlett Johannson. What made this week different from WHCDs before...is that the Royal wedding was the day before. Which made the week even more crazy. Here is a little recap of this past week.

WHCD recap - Images by Kristopher Connor

"We Got Him!!!"

2011-05-02T09:58:00.001-07:00

Before&After: Turning a photo op into a quick portrait session

2011-04-21T07:11:00.001-07:00

Last night I had the opportunity to photograph the cast and crew of an upcoming indie movie "Bellflower." So with being one of only a few photographers there and time on my hand, I decided to have a little fun and started to shoot a few portraits. Below is the before and after of one of those set-ups.

TEASER: Rowing Story

2011-04-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

These are a few images from a story I am working on...about an adaptive rowing program in the local area, it should be finished later this year...

Say Cheese...

2011-03-29T07:40:00.000-07:00

Behind the Scenes: Prime Minister Rasmussen's visit to White House

2011-03-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had a once in a lifetime opportunity that most photojournalists dream of...being behind the scenes at the White House. I was contracted by the Danish government to the be the personal photographer to Prime Minister Rasmussen as he visited the White House and met with President Obama. Here are a few images from yesterday.

EXCLUSIVE: Jennifer Hudson interview at Sirius Radio

2011-03-09T07:39:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, I had the amazing opportunity to photograph singer and former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson on the eve of the release of her new album as she did an interview with Karen Kelly at Sirius Radio her in DC. People I got to hear some of her new tracks...Im not a big R&B fan, but the music was pretty fly...:)

Camp Freddy at 930

2011-03-04T08:42:00.000-08:00

I view images from a Camp Freddy concert at 930 club last night

Reps in the war zone or anyplace else a photographer might travel

2011-02-24T07:38:00.001-08:00

I always hear photographers talk about how they are not able to work out when traveling, defiantly to areas such as war zones or natural disasters areas. But all you need to pack in a your camera bag is one resistance band and you have a traveling gym..found this on menshealth.com

Best of 2010 Video

2011-02-01T07:09:00.000-08:00

The forgotten Vet..

2011-01-18T07:48:00.000-08:00

More images of my father from a recent neck surgery he had at the beginning of the year....

Double the fun..

2011-01-11T07:39:00.000-08:00

Last week I spent most of the week on assignment for the Corpus Cristi Caller following a freshman congressman by the name of Blake Farenthold moving into his office, being sworn-in and meeting with Speaker of the House John Boehner. It was a really cool experience and one I am always happy to be a part of..documenting politics on a micro level. It landed my photographs on the front page of the paper two days in the row.

A few web tear sheets from this past year

2010-12-29T08:16:00.000-08:00

"Gone to the Dogs"

2010-12-14T07:39:00.000-08:00

Back in October, I was contracted by the Humane Society of the United States to photograph a dog fair they were having in Fredericksburg, Va. I do have to admit it was much different then covering capitol hill or a red carpet. There are a lot more dangers to the assignment..lol...as in land mines spread through out the park.

One more time through these great halls...

2010-12-01T05:52:00.000-08:00

After serving over 14 years as a congressman...Zach Wamp from Tennessee was hanging up his coat for now. So on his last day...he took a few of his closest friends and past staffers on a tour of the capitol and joining capitol visitor center.

Nigerian style birthday party

2010-11-16T10:34:00.000-08:00

I have been busy over the last month, so I have not had the chance to post anything up. I know these images are a little different from what I normally post. I had the the rare experience to document a Nigerian style birthday party for Comfort Egbufor. What I like about these images is do from the party taken place in the basement of a church and the authentic african attire...it gives the viewer a sense that the images were taken in Nigeria itself and not in northwest DC.

What photographers did before the iphone..

2010-09-28T10:22:00.000-07:00

I am finding myself going back to the simplest form of photography..shooting with a holga..no not the iphone app that everyone is posting to their facebook pages. The little $20 plastic camera that you load 120/220 film, not having any control over shutter, aperture or the way that it will leak light. Its photography at its rawest form...a lost art.

Director Zack Snyder for WB

2010-09-21T12:05:00.000-07:00

Last week I was contracted to document a photo op by Warner Brothers with Director Zack Snyder, who just directed the upcoming movie "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole." He visited an Owl Sanctuary in Chevy Chase, Md. It was a really fun shoot..as he is very laid back guy showing up in a plain t-shirt, jeans and sneakers.

Who has the right to say photojournalism is dead???

2010-09-16T08:35:00.000-07:00

"Okay, I’m that friend and I’m stepping forward and calling it. “Photojournalism: time of death 11.12. GMT 1st August 2010.” Amen." was written by Neil Burgess photographer and who runs his own picture agency, NB Pictures. which was quoted in article on the Editorial Photographers UK website

I am starting to see articles like this almost on a weekly basis..."photojournalism is dead,""newspapers are dead,""The broke photojournalist" and "magazines are dying." I have decided that I am not longer reading these articles as I feel that they are just a way for people who are stuck in their old ways and not willing to get with the changes of the industry and the way a photographer markets themselves. So they decided that they have to complain and make it seem like that everyone in photojournalism school should drop out and get a job at Burger King, because they will make more money.

James Estrin wrote a great piece about the new cooperative Luceo Images and how these young and upcoming photographers have a good business sense and making good money doing what they love in the New York Times Lens blog.

I could go on paragraph after paragraph talking about how the ways that photojournalist can save the industry, how we only shoot for the respect for other photojournalist and not the consumer. We are in the business of sales, like it or not and you have to sale what the consumer wants. Yes that not might be the story about a starving family in India..instead it might be about a feature piece on a celebrity and their new movie. Even great photographers like Christopher Morris is doing stories on Taylor Swift and Ashton Kutcher.

So I am calling it..photojournalism is not dead...it is alive and well. So go out figure out what the consumer wants to read and shoot that to pay the bills. Every artist has those personal projects that they close dear to their heart. I am not saying give up on those..but realize that it might bring home the bacon. Sometimes its the most cheesiest stories that bring home the biggest paychecks.

OVO

2010-09-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

Last week I did a shoot for Cirque du Soleil of their new show OVO, which is at the National Harbor Center until late October..

Neil Godleski's Candlelight vigil 1979-2010

2010-08-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

Many of you dont know, but early Sunday morning a friend of mine, Neil Godleski, was shot and killed in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington DC. He was only 31 and finishing up his degree at Catholic University. Everyone that knew Neil, spoke very highly of him and became very close to him. Washington DC mayor Adrian Fenty was in attendance and spoke during the a candlelight vigil that was Wednesday night at Sherman Circle, the scene of the shooting. He said that police have strong leads and he was confident that the case would be close very soon. For information about the shooting please feel free to check out this link at http://www.tbd.com/articles/2010/08/catholic-u-senior-fatally-shot-on-his-bike-4211.html.

Below is a photo essay that I shot from the candlelight vigil that was held last night and that saw over a 150 people showed up.

Neil Godleski Candlelight vigil - Images by Kristopher Connor

Street view....

2010-08-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

I had to run some errands downtown yesterday, so I decided to take the G10 out for the day. I recently read a web post by Chase Jarvis, who said that if you stand in one spot and you looked around. That you should be able to come up with ten amazing photos around that area. So I tried it down at the corner of 7th and H in the heart of Chinatown. I started to look at different spots to shoot from and how I could frame the image. Here are three images taken from the same view point, seconds apart from each other. The distortion is not from the lens of the camera or from an effect in post production. Its from the window that I was shooting through. I have to admit, I like what it adds to the images.

Game Informer

2010-08-05T10:37:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year I was contracted by Game Informer magazine to photograph Michael Gallagher, President of the Entertainment Software Association for their June issue.

Bio videos: Good marketing?

2010-08-02T08:48:00.001-07:00

As technology has progress...so has the way photographers market themselves. In the early years it was about cold calling, sending postcards/books and physically knocking on an editors door. These methods are still done today...but with the widespread use of email and web 2.0. Photographers are only limited by their time and their budget the ways that they can promote themselves. Website, emailers, blogging, twitting, social networking, professional networking...the list goes on and on.

I chose three photographers to speak about for this blog. A high-end wedding photographer, starting off fashion photographer, and a commercial photographer.

Jasmine Star has burst on the wedding photography scene a fews years back and has hit the ground running. Named as one of them most influential photographers of the decade by PDN magazine. As soon as you hit her website...you are greeted by her bio-video talking about how she works, what she loves about photography and showing her at work. Below is a similar video that you will find on her site..following the same production value.

Jasmine Star 2010 from Anton Lorimer on Vimeo.

Last is Jaicee Calubaquib, a virginia based fashion photographer..who uses behind the scenes videos with background music to show off how he works on set.

Chase Jarvis(www.chasejarvis.com) has become a photographer that is at the four front of web 2.0. Being one of the first photographers to use blogging as away to push his brand and the world of photography to the masses. He regular has live streaming workshops, interviews with other photographers and behind the scenes footage of his photo shoots. He used interviews, candid footage, on-set footage and still photos to create his bio video.

But what says that a photographer is ready to make the jump from a simple paragraph to creating a bio video that could range from a friend taking footage on his iphone to a multi-camera production...almost a mini commercial in its own right. Does it also matter what type of photographer you are?

For instance I am a polirazzi(http://kcconnor.blogspot.com/2010/07/polirazzi.html) photojournalist which would require the crew to follow me to capitol hill, red carpet premieres and even the white house. Requiring credentialing and approval before hand before production would start on a bio video. Would it be something that my clients would be interested in seeing? Could it come off as being cocky?

If a photographer decides to move forward with a bio video...what is the best format?

A definition of Polirazzi

2010-07-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

Po*li*raz*zi: noun:

1. A form of documentary photojournalism that covers the gray area where the worlds of politics and entertainment collide. Where actors, athletes and even playmates work with politicians, foreign governments and non-government organizations to help shape the world around us here in the United States and around the world. Celebrities are looking for more than photo ops or hoping to make a good name for themselves for an upcoming movie. Celebrities view themselves as equals with politicians of this country and want to help make a change in this world.

Po*li*raz*zo: noun:

1. A photojournalist who covers the polirazzi world through day-to-day coverage and through a long term essay that digs deep into this world.

Behind the Scenes..

2010-06-29T06:21:00.000-07:00

It is a norm on capitol hill as a photojournalist to cover press conferences, photo ops and hearings. But it's a rarity to get the opportunity to document politics at it's core. This past week I was able to document actress Jennifer Garner and Mark Schriver meeting with senators and congressman lobbying for "Save the Children," organization. It was an amazing experience to see how the system works behind close doors.

Dip anyone!!!

2010-06-22T11:01:00.001-07:00

Can Lt. Dunbar save the Gulf of Mexico, more then the CEO of BP?

2010-06-21T08:57:00.000-07:00

News-channels around the country were broadcasting live feeds of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations house hearing which saw BP Chief Executive Tony Hayward getting drilled for hours about the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The well of the hearing room was lined with more then 30 photographers shooting frames of every movement that Hayward made. On the other side of the hill, being covered by only two photographers was a small business senate hearing titled 'Harnessing Small Business Innovation: Navigating the Evalaution Process for Gulf Coast Oil Cleanup Proposals'. One of of the witnesses was a small business man who owned a company that manufactured a machine that could separate the oil from the water, but do to red tape. His company as well as other organizations that were represented at the witness table, were not able to implement these savors due to the red tape that the government had in place when it came to companies that had in the past not worked with the government.

Local Flavor...

2010-06-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

One of the most exciting things about being a freelancer is the wide range of subjects I am able to cover. Earlier this week I did an assignment for a couple Texas papers of a ceremony to celebrate the 67th anniversary of the Bakers Creek Air Crash. It was nice to be only photographer there, able to move around freely. No press secretary or P.R. person telling you where and where not you are able to go.

Un Secretary General Ban Ki Moon pic in "The National"

2010-06-09T20:13:00.000-07:00

The National - News
10 Jun 2010

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon

2010-06-08T07:38:00.000-07:00

Old story..new edit.

2010-06-03T12:18:00.000-07:00

As an artist, which a photographer is first. We are always constantly evolving and developing our talent and the way we work. A few years back I did a story on a young marine corporal. John Dick, who after gaining his US citizenship. Felt it was time to complete his dream of becoming an officer in the Marine Corps. Soon after he entered into the Officer Candidate School and this is were our paths crossed. At the time I was a sports editor at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Va. My editor decided to give me a curve ball and assigned my the story about John Dick. I spent the next ten weeks documenting his journey through the school.

Recently I applied to a workshop and decided it would cool to use the story as part of my application process. I went back through my entire take(ed. note: A good reason not to delete your outtakes). What I found at the end of this process that a few of the photos were the same from the first time I put the story together, but many of them were new selections. Its a good way to show how we develop.

Good way to end the month

2010-06-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

Michelle kept her promise...

2010-05-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

On November 11th, 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama made a challenge to the student body of George Washington University and that was to complete 100,000 hours of volunteering by the end of the academic year. If this was completed she would speak at their commencement in the spring. The student body met that challenge and complete over 106,000 hours. With that being done Ms. Obama kept her end of the bargain, speaking at the commencement and receiving a Honorary Doctorate in public service on May 16th, 2010.

Signs of the recession still remain...

2010-05-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday and Friday I was up in Gettysburg, Pa on assignment. I arrived the afternoon before to photograph around Gettysburg as it plays a major part in how our nation was shaped in the later part of the 19th century. I drove around for sometime finding nothing to photograph. Until I came across this movie theater that was on the outskirts of town. I drove around the entire theater and only found about three or four cars in the parking lot, which seemed odd for me as it was a Thursday evening around 7pm. Weren't families taking their kids out to see an early movie or a young couple on a date. Or was this one of the many signs that still remains of the recession and how it will take sometime for the small parts of this nation to feel the effects of the bailout. A newly constructed theater sits empty on a Thursday night.

Who would think that these two would be next to each other

2010-05-03T08:08:00.001-07:00

It has been a while since I have posted on my blog. Last week I was covering a Atlantic Council dinner which saw Bono and Bill Clinton receive awards for their humanitarian work. What made the shot interesting was that Sen. John McCain was presenting Bono with his award. You wouldn't even imagine the two in the same room, but chatting it up at the dinner table was a very cool moment to witness.

The amplifier of Sound...

2010-04-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

A little of this and a little of that

2010-04-19T09:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some images from last week. I saw Dennis Quaid celebrate his birthday, congressmen sing with O.A.R., a few good men stand up for the arts and a law professor kiss his daughter.

Washington Teachers are one step closer to a new contract

2010-04-08T11:30:00.000-07:00

WTU - Images by Kristopher Connor

In a recent facebook post, I wrote that I think as a DC based photojournalist. We can become lost in the world wind that surrounds the national and international political news scene that makes up DC. Covering congressional hearings, Fed Reserve press conferences and the occasional white house event. Spending our days standing on podiums or sitting in a well with a dozen of our peers right beside us...waiting.

Every once in a while, I try to step away from this scene and go back to my days covering local news. A place where you have a chance to interact with your subjects, your not competing with photographers for that shot that you hope will make it inside the covers of Time magazine. I think of Robert Capa's saying "If your pictures aren't good enough, then your not close enough." A place where your right on top of your subjects and able to get those shots that are not capable with a telephoto lens.

This is the reason I got into photojournalism....

These images are from a recent press conference I covered about the tentative agreement between the Washington Teachers' Union and District of Columbia Public School System that was attended by the Mayor of DC Adrian Fenty, Chancellor Michelle Rhee, and WTU President George Parker.

My dad

2010-04-05T05:58:00.001-07:00

I guess as a photojournalist it become easier to do stories on people that we have no personal connections to...ones that we will hope to remember, but soon become forgotten as we move onto the next story, the next assignment. This is our craft to look at something with an outside eye..to make a connection that will make people want to pick up that magazine or newspaper or click on the link on a website.

I guess my family has become use to the site of hospital rooms over the years...for my brother it has become a place that he has seen since he was a baby not due to any medical condition that he has. Due to my achondroplasia with my first leg surgery starting at the age of five to correct bowing in my lower legs and then on to my limb lengthening that started when I was ten and that ended when I was 15 in the spring of 99.

We weren't barely out of the woods of my last surgery when it was my dad's turn to go under the knife. Having rods and screws inserted into his back to correct his scoliosis. At the time we thought it was going to be a one shot deal...go in and then come out the other side ready to go. But little did we know at the time it would be the beginning of ten years of him in out of hospitals dealing with infections, pain and complications.

So finally after almost ten years of operations, I decided that it is time to turn the camera inward and start documenting what my dad and family is going through.

Showing the story of a man who wasn't hit by IED or shot by a sniper in the desert of Iraq or Afghanistan at a young age as we see on the news everyday. A man who served 32 years in all four services, joining the Marine Corps at the tender age of 17. Running with 100 pound backpacks with steal tow boots long distances. He is not alone, at the time the military and the healthcare industry did not know what they know now about what a life in the military does to a man's body. Now issues are starting to come to light as many veterans and retires started to have issues with their bodies.

I have to say it is one of the hardest stories that I have worked on, its hard to document what your family goes through...

Father like daughter

2010-03-12T11:44:00.001-08:00

Last night I covered a reception that saw actor Sean Penn receive an award for his work in Haiti after the earthquake. Before the reception the press was allowed in his waiting room. As he was waiting for the next reporter I snap this frame.

We only had a few minutes with the actor, I started to search the room for something more. I happen to turn around and see this young lady sitting there watching this maddness surround Sean. At first I thought that it was his girlfriend, and then come later find out that it is his daughter. What it most be like to be the daughter of Sean Penn, you childhood and family life spread across the pages of magazines. How did it shape the woman that she is today? She wasn't at all moved.

The hard thing about taking this photograph is removing myself from the picture..shooting into a mirror didnt make it easy.

Lonely shopping cart..

2010-03-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

This image follows along the lines of an earlier post to combine my photojournalism with fine art photography.

I was driving home from visiting my parents on Sunday...luckily I had my camera in the car. As I was getting off on the 395 north exit. I saw this parking lot that I have been wanting to check for a possible portrait shoot for a long time. So I decided to go exploring(which sometimes get you in trouble here in DC;)). As I was driving around, I came across this shopping cart resting up along a fence. I use my car's headlights to light up the subject.

Peter Smith

2010-03-08T19:21:00.000-08:00

Last week I got a last minute call from one of my art directors saying that she need a portrait of Peter Smith, General Manager of J&G Steakhouse. I only had a few minutes with Mr. Smith, So instead of setting up lights. I was able to use the window light creating a giant softbox.

I still drive a Toyota

2010-03-03T08:30:00.000-08:00

Even through all the news about Toyota and sitting through a House hearing. I am still a loyal customer....

Old school

2010-03-01T10:42:00.001-08:00

Over the weekend I was working on my office, finally getting it squared away and I came across my old Epson "Multimedia Storage Device," which is basically an external hard drive with a 3.5in screen on it. That could only store about 40-60 gigs of memory on it. Which at the time was amazing when your shooting with a D100 at 6.1 megapixel. You were able to put the Compact flash card right into the device and it would take about 20-30mins to copy a gig worth of memory.

I decided to plug it into my computer and started to look through the images that I saved to it and I used it as a digital portfolio at the same time to show clients. Most of these images are from 2004 to early 2006.

These three images I felt were some of the best images to represent my work when I first graduated college in 2005. I have to ask myself..what is my feeling about these images today. Would I have even taken these images...would they even make the cut by my standards today?

Time for takeoff..

2010-02-18T15:17:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been finding myself trying to take a more fine art approach to my photojournalism. I have really been inspired by Jeff Hutchens and how he blurs the line between fine art and documentary photography.

Drink anyone??

2010-02-11T10:34:00.000-08:00

I come to realize as you grow in this business that it is nice to have a good core of photographer friends that you can you for advice. At the same time I find myself being asked to shoot a more variety of subjects. A client of mine wanted three drinks that were being introduced at a local lounge to be photograph with a product/studio look. I am very happy with how the images turned out..

Budget...Budget..Budget

2010-02-03T17:23:00.000-08:00

I spent yesterday morning hitting up the budget hearings..Blah Blah Blah

Budget - Images by Kristopher Connor

Dont really know what to call this...

2010-01-19T11:30:00.000-08:00

TC Williams High School Basketball

2010-01-14T11:21:00.001-08:00

011110basketball - Images by Kristopher Connor

It has been a while...

2010-01-11T11:04:00.000-08:00

I was hired by a client to shoot a performance video of world renowned DJ Bob Sinclar last week. To give you a little background I spent 2 and half years spending three nights a week doing nightlife photography documenting club goers, DJs and drinking for local promoters. This past summer I decided it was time to focus more on my photojournalism and left the club scene. But not totally, I was still shooting performance videos of some of the biggest DJs in the world for one of my cleints. For a while now I only take my video camera and leaving the SLR at home to focus on one thing at a time. This past shoot I decided to bring my SLR with me and take some still images. I had that feeling when you quit smoking and you take your first hit after months of going without one, it felt so good. I find that I start to memorize how the lights are traveling across the crowd and use the ambient light to get some cool images. I end up using some of the images in my video.

Happy Belated Birthday...

2010-01-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

This past week on January 8th, was "the King's" 75th birthday. I am not really a fan but thought it would be cool to put a few images from a recent shoot I did in celebration.

Cover of the "Weekend Pass"

2009-12-23T11:18:00.001-08:00

These are two photos of Army Of Me singer Vince Scheuerman I did for the Express Newspaper.

Not your normal snow feature...

2009-12-19T15:08:00.000-08:00

I was photographing the unveiling of Christian Serratos' PETA "Fur? I'd Rather Go Naked" poster in Georgetown and Michelle Cho from PETA decided to show he support for the cause..

Just a few images from last week.

2009-12-07T10:05:00.000-08:00

These are a few images from the 14 shoots that I did last week....

Healthcare, Healthcare and the Chancellor...

2009-11-09T11:16:00.001-08:00

ChancellorHealthcare - Images by Kristopher Connor

2009-10-27T11:05:00.001-07:00

MTV Halloween Concert - Images by Kristopher Connor

Going back to my roots

2009-10-14T18:04:00.000-07:00

I found out late last night that I got the front page of The Hill newspaper(a DC based political paper) today. To many photographers getting published in this paper would have no meaning. But for me its a very different story, its where I got my start as photojournalist covering Capitol Hill over four years ago as a young photography student. For me it was a chance of a lifetime covering amazing events such as the Robert's and Alito's confirmation hearing. The photo editor at the time Pat Ryan, on the first day let me loose through the halls of the capitol. I hit the ground running and never looked back. I think back to the photographer that I was then and the photographer that I am today. I am very proud of the growth and the experiences that I have had over the past four years.

Teachers want more...

2009-10-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

On Thursday October 8th, 2009 the Washington Teachers' Union held a rally at Freedom Plaza. One of the largest rallies in recent months and right across the street from city hall. Led by their president George Parker. The teachers, who have been in contract negotiations with the school board for the last two years. Were angry about the hiring of 900 new teachers the recent firing of over 400 veteran teachers in the recent days.

The Holiness himself...

2009-10-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

Friday night lights...

2009-10-05T15:09:00.000-07:00

Even after covering professional sports, I still find that some of the most unique images come out of high school football. There are no PR people to do with, no press-only areas and no "Yellow" vest to wear. You can walk among the sidelines and the teams getting images that would not be capable when covering profession football. I covered the homecoming game of Winston Churchill high school vs Northwest high school.

NYC Fashion Night Out...

2009-09-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

I experienced my first NYC Fashion Night Out and really enjoyed it. These images are from an event I did for Modelina.com with Model Coco Rocha.

Benny Benassi at GLOW

2009-09-08T07:10:00.000-07:00

I shot this video Sunday at FUR nightclub for GLOW, and edited it yesterday. The video is posted on youtube and the companies website www.clubglow.com. Which showcases other videos that I have done with David Half for GLOW. Please let me know what you think.

Spain

2009-09-01T05:47:00.000-07:00

These are a few photos that I took in Madrid and San Sabestian Spain over a course of a week. These were not taken with a digital SLR, but a canon G10 point&shoot. Only shooting with one camera most of the times I was amaze by the versatility of the G10, as a camera that is great for street and travel photography. Since returning to the US, I have use it in my wedding photography and have been happy with the results.

The End of a Dynasty...

2009-08-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

These are a few photographs from outside the late Sen. Ted Kennedy(D-MASS) office building on Capitol Hill.

back alley...

2009-08-06T19:06:00.000-07:00

I found this cool spot over near where I live, so I grabbed my little brother who is a musician and did some test shots. Let me know what you think.

Hot dog anyone???

2009-07-16T06:44:00.000-07:00

Satomayor confirmation hearing

2009-07-13T15:34:00.000-07:00

Here are some images from the first day of US Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearing...

Got the call...

2009-06-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

A week ago from this past Monday, I was grabbing my camera bag out of my car after a long day and I feel my blackberry vibrate. I look at it and see that it is an email from my editor asking me to cover the metro wreck that just happen moments before.

Dancers, DJs and Partiers...

2009-06-30T12:44:00.001-07:00

My return to blogging...

2009-06-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks has been pretty amazing with me covering a wide range of subjects from the metro wreck to boy bands on capitol hill. Just last week I did 15 shoots over 6 days. I shot from a moving motorcycle for the first time two weeks back.

Its Busta!!!

2009-05-21T10:20:00.001-07:00

I was able to shoot rapper Busta Rhymes during a taping at XM Studios.

2009-05-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

I cover politics by day and music by night. These photos are from a performance by Kaskade, an international trance DJ, at a local Washington DC club.

2009-05-10T12:04:00.000-07:00

Actress Jessica Alba reads to children after a meeting at the Unity Health Care Upper Cardozo Clinic to discuss the struggles faced in accessing quality affordable healthcare on May 7, 2009 in Washington, DC

Switching teams

2009-05-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

April 28th, 2009 started out like any normal day on the hill, but ended with a change that rocked the republican party. After years of speculation, Sen. Arlen Specter(R-PA) had finally made the switch from the republican party to the democratic party. Specter held a press conference that was filled with photographers, TV crews and reporters.

100 days in

2009-04-30T12:16:00.000-07:00

Last night I covered Obama's prime-time news conference to mark his first 100 days in office.

Finally Home

2009-04-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

Members of "The Old Guard," fold an Amerian flag during the funeral of Corporal Samuel C. Harris who was being laid to rest at Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, Va. on April 10, 2009. Harris who remains were recently identified was kill in action during the opening months of the Korean War.

2009-03-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

Soul Bangers perform at the 92Q Music & Entertainment Seminar at the BCCC Fine Arts Building March 8, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland.