Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to wish everyone a very merry Christmas! Here are some holiday photos for you all to enjoy!

~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

Sculpture by: Danielle Levasseur

Mini Christmas Tree by: Mary Levasseur

DC Shoes

The other day I had nothing to do and figure well....I haven't done any shoots in a while that I can post on my blog so why not do one today. I then proceeded to go out and buy a new pair of sneakers for myself and a second pair just to photograph.

The first two pics you see below I decided to go with a side shot because what made these shoes interesting was the design printed on them. The third shot you'll see is a 3/4 shot. Unlike the first two there was no interesting design printed on the 2 sides of the shoe so I decided to go with a shot that would show off the shoe itself.

~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

© Jean-Claude Levasseur 2010

© Jean-Claude Levasseur 2010

© Jean-Claude Levasseur 2010

One Year Ago

The other day I decided to start going through some of my old files and organizing them better. These are from a shoot I did about a year ago (10/19/2009). I don't think I've showed anyone these shots yet....not even Pamela....sorry Pam. Hope you all like them.

~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

More from the Trip

Sorry I haven't posted any pics in a while since my last update. I've been busy with work and other things; not to mention still going through all the pictures from the trip. So now after a little over a week of no new pics....here are a few more for you to enjoy!

This is from the river that runs along the main road winding through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This was just one of those shots where we were in the right place at the right time.

Beautiful cascades on the side of Soco Falls. Print Request Title: "Soco Falls Cascade"

Off the road leading up to Clingmans Dome there was a trail leading off into the woods. This was shot somewhere along that trail. Print Request Title: "Through the Woods"

These next two images were taken at the base of Mingo Falls.

The very bottom of Mingo Falls may not be that powerful but the way the water flows over the rocks and fallen branches is one of the most beautiful things at the falls. Print Request Title: "Mingo Falls"

A smaller group of rapids at the base of Mingo Falls. Print Request Title: "Mingo Channel"

If you would like a signed print of any of these images please email me about sizes and pricing at: jcphoto5@live.com


~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

Road Trip Teasers

This is just a small teaser of some of the photos I took during my trip through the Great Smoky Mountains, North Carolina and the Blue Ridge Parkway. If you would like a signed print of any of these images please email me about sizes and pricing at: jcphoto5@live.com

This photo was taken a steep climb and short hike up above Mingo Falls. Thanks goes to Scott Hotaling for telling me about the smaller cascades above the main falls. Print Request Title: "Above the Fall"

This photo was taken at sunrise from Clingman's Dome which is the highest point in the park.  Print Request Title: "Sunrise from the Dome"

These next two images, though you may not believe it, were taken on the same day from the same location within a minute of each other. For one the sun was on my right far outside my view and for the other it was on my left just barely out of the frame.

Sunset facing South West from Waterrock Knob along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Print Request Title: "Sunset in Blue"

Sunst facing North West from Waterrock Knob along the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. Print Request Title: "Sunset in Orange"

Photo taken at Looking Glass Falls. Print Request Title: "Below the Fall"

I hope you all enjoyed these pictures. There will be plenty more to come sometime within the next couple days.

In the meantime feel free to visit my cousin's blog and watch a short preview of some of the video from the trip as well. Nic Cinematography


~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

 

The Great Smoky Trip...

So today I embark on my trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. The Great Smoky Mountains are one of the few great National Parks with no entrance fee. They form the border between Tennessee and North Carolina.

I'll be meeting my cousin at the airport this morning and bringing him out for some great Kansas City barbecue before we leave. Oklahoma Joe's BBQ to be precise.

Aside from the professional gear we own, the two of use have rented a ton of camera gear. Everything from fast telephoto lenses to wide angle lenses, specialty lenses and converters. Two of the lenses we rented include Canon's new 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM and 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM. With the variety of equipment we'll have on the trip we will be able to take photos of anything from vast landscapes to close up shots of wild animals, macro shots of insects and beautiful night skies. You can expect some great images once we get back to New York October 9th. 


My cousin, Nic who is more into video than still photography, will be filming a lot on the trip. He hopes to have a nice preview of some of the things we do and see along the trip up within a few days of getting home. You can follow his blog here, Nic's Cinematography, where you can read about his updates and see some footage from the trip. Who knows, he might even have a teaser up before we leave the Smokies.


I look forward to hearing your "ooo's" and "ahhh's" when I finally edit and post some pictures from the trip. I hope everyone has a great weekend,

~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

 

Ms. Kittie

Some photos from a shoot I did this past Monday with Ms. Kittie. Surprisingly I ended up liking the black and white images more than the color versions.


I hope you all enjoy the pictures,


~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

In the Rose Garden

Just some photos I did a while back with Gia Lynn...

~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

Canon's 100 Macro

So yesterday and today I decided to mess around with Canon's new 100mm f/2.8L IS Macro. The image quality is exception and the new hybrid IS is amazing. I have nothing to complain about against this lens other than to say if you're shooting images of insects or subjects you can't get close to without disturbing them the 180mm f/3.5L Macro by Canon is a better choice. To many times I inched to close to the subject and it would move or fly away. Other than that I fell this is a great macro lens. Images are sharp, there is almost no distortion or vignetting at all and it focuses very fast and accurately. Below you will find some of the images I shot with it.

Hope you enjoy them,

~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

Jim Leedy

This is a photo I took of a wooden display box. The box was made to help promote a documentary movie coming out about Jim Leedy, an artist from Kansas City.

"Jim Leedy is an international artist in terms of his interests and achievements. He is an artist who crosses boundaries between materials and genres, representation and abstraction, art and music, creativity and scholarship. His diverse and unique talents have led him to a lifetime of accomplishment in clay, painting, public art, works-on-paper, prints, assemblages, installations, and performance."

~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

Kids Clothing

This one is pretty self-explanatory. It's childrens' clothes. They were made by Patty Vedros in her home. Normally she'll make the clothes and give them away to kids in Kansas City who have been through some tragedy in their lives. Whether it be their parents getting divorced or a death in the family or just that they're less fortunate. Soon she would like to start her own children clothing line.

Skateboarding Pictures

Just some skaters I shot a while back.


~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

More Doors

Just a couple more front entrance ways from the series of front doors I'm doing.

~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

Environmental Portraits

So these next three photos are from the very beginning of this summer. The assignment was to go out and photograph ordinary people in their work environment.


~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

My First High

I've been wanting to do a high key photo now for some time and last week I finally went for it. This is the Image I ended up liking the most. The model only brought one dress that would work with the color scheme so we milked it to get one shot I liked before she changed outfits.

Well I'm off to catch a plane to NY in a little while to visit my family and do a shoot Thursday evening.  Hope you all have a good week.

~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

Why Don't You Shut the fff....Front Door!

These are  from a mini-series I'm doing of closed front doors. The first one is of a school that has been closed and abandoned. The second is of an abandoned library although you might have already known this from the engraving in the stone above the doorway. Hope you like these. I'm actually off to look at another doorway with the possibility of shooting.

~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

Kansas City

Just a shot I took today. Saw the city like this a couple days ago when I was driving by and thought "Oh wow. That would make a great shot." So today I went out and took one. Hope you like it.

~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

One Week Ago...

This series of photos is from a recent shoot I did this past week. The model was Valerie Cook. She's a 19 year old woman from Kansas City and she did an excellent job modeling. We were able to get a lot done, have fun and although we were without a stylist still get some great pictures.

~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer

The Beginning...

Hello world!

I wanted to create a blog to keep everyone updated with what I'm doing with my photography. This will be the first post of many more to come. Please subscribe to my blog so you can keep up with my work. I'll try and upload a new photograph or series of photographs every week.

This series are from a shoot I did with Law Payne; a personal and athletic trainer, bodybuilder and INBA/PNBA/ABA Pro. On July 17, 2010 Law placed first out of over 1,000 contestants in the Midwest's bodybuilding competition. Hope you enjoy this series!

~Jean-Claude
Freelance Photographer