2021 Moments

This year's theme is gradually getting better at being able to visualize the edited image first. It's a skill that improves with practice, and this year's collection embraces it... even if sometimes only seconds before the shutter.

It's also about being more familiar with the HOW of how I shoot photos: the angles, the distance, the composition, the style. It feels weird to assert I have a "style," but everyone does. A set of principles that can nudge a multitude of decisions in a particular way -- easy to overcome with a thought, but strong enough to pull everything just a bit.

Joon Park, trumpet
Slightly fuzzy, slightly blown out skies. I was trying to counterbalance the absolute sincerity of the pose and the "what the heck?" nature of the manicured landscape and the slash of a tire track.
Dialog
Katie Long speaks reassurances to Holly Horse. Holly, as indicated by the ears, listens dutifully.
$The intricate fractures of a frozen and refrozen lake.$
The intricate fractures of a frozen and refrozen lake.
A heron gradually steps its way through the icy water.
Rachel Lovelace: one.
Rachel Lovelace: two.
Joe Parisi
A nice "modern" headshot, that worked pretty much the way I thought it should. If I had a do-over, I'd increase the focus depth a little more.
Caravaggio Voyage
One of the Nelson-Atkins Museum's prize pieces was absent, pulled temporarily by conservators for some purpose.
A Glance Into A Gallery
A quick peek into a gallery at the Nelson-Atkins Museum.
Eboni Fondren (standing) and Roberta Hammer share a moment at the Celebration of Molly Hammer's life in June. Molly died of breast cancer in November 2020 and a public gathering was postponed until this summer.
Shay Estes eulogizes her friend Molly in the gathering twilight.
Lester "Duck" Warner lays a hand on the Hammond B3 organ console that belonged to Everette DeVan. One of DeVan's students, Chris Hazelton, sits at the keys.
Millie Edwards-Nottingham sings "He Looked Beyond My Faults and Saw My Needs" at the public memorial for the jazz organ master Everette DeVan in July.
Following Everette DeVan's memorial service, a brass band, KC musicians of note, and members of the jazz community escorted the crowd down historic 18th Street to a jam session.
Codashti: Faces Considered
Codashti McAllister, sitting for my continuing portrait project.
Creative Leap
From left: Naomi Tanioka, Gavin Abercrombie, Zachary Boresow, Kaleena Burks dance during "Abandon(ed) Ideas", choreographed by Kristopher Estes Brown at Creative Intersections.
For Creative Intersections, "Love Songs", first duet. Choreographed by Jennifer Owen, performed by Laura Jones Wallner (left) and Emily Mushinski.
"Subtext", choreographed by Cameron Thomas, performed by Angelin Carrant and Roma Catania for Creative Intersections.
Hang on a sec, birthday girl.
Hermon Mehari
On loan from Paris, performing with his quartet at the Plaza Art Fair.
Social Distance
The first couple to arrive for the cocktail party gets to enjoy the view.
Joshua Bell performs with Alessio Bax for the Harriman-Jewell Series season kickoff concert. Jessica Koebbe sits as page turner, an often thankless role that nobody notices if done well and EVERYONE notices if not done well.
Missouri Athletics District Ladies' golf continues on a tempestuous day.
A. follows the progress of her drive at the Missouri High School District golf competition.
The Missouri Western State University Golden Griffons marching band performs under the clock tower before a home football game.
Sister gets to bring Sister back to where the pictures are happening. Sister looks on, amused and not sure it's supposed to work this way.
In the Key of November
UMKC student Karah Chappel explains her research poster to "Music and the Mind" host Renée Fleming. UMKC professor Dr. Dawn Iwamasa documents the dialog.
Keith Benjamin
Professor of trumpet at UMKC.
Renee Fleming and pianist Rob Ainsley perform "My Wife and I Walk the Cold Road" from Winter Morning Walks by Maria Schneider, presented by the Harriman-Jewell Series.
Renee Fleming and Rob Ainsley receive acclamation for their performance on the Harriman-Jewell Series stage.
An accidental nose crash sends him into the arms of his mother for a quick check-in. A quick soothing word and one second later, he broke the embrace and rambled on.
Naomi Wharry performs a solo with the Frontier Brass Band at the US Open Brass Band Championships, held in Kansas City, MO.
Alexandra Kovatch
Enough time to squeeze in some vintage film star looks before a concert.
Anthony Roth Costanzo: one.
Performing for the Harriman-Jewell Series at the Folly Theatre. This is not the most dynamic or demonstrative opera photo, but I really love the subtle colors of the edit, and the tense control in which he's holding himself.
Anthony Roth Costanzo: two.
Pianist Bryan Wagorn and Anthony Roth Costanzo perform the encore -- described as the "only" encore -- which saw Mr. Costanzo rapidly spinning between performing both parts of the Act III duet, "Crudel! perchè finora," between Susanna and the Count from Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro."