Casual Portrait
David West, a software developer, poses for a portrait under a a large oak tree in his back yard in Richmond, Virginia. This photograph was taken on January 22, 2020 as part of an assignment for a photojournalism class through Colorado State University.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 250, 31.5mm, f/6.4, 1/45 sec. |
Manual Exposure
Flowers and a bobcat skull adorn the living room side table of field ecologist Leah Purdy’s Richmond Virginia home. On January 30, 2022, these photographs were taken to study the differences in exposure levels as part of an assignment for a photojournalism class through Colorado State University.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Depth of Field
David West, a national parks enthusiast, poses for a portrait while hiking in Bryce Canyon National Park on February 6, 2022. These photographs were taken as part of an exercise in looking at the effects of depth of field for a photojournalism class assignment through Colorado State University.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Shutter Speed
David West, a rock climber turned rockhopper, crosses the Virgin River in Zion National Park, Utah. On February 2, 2022, David repeatedly jumped between rocks to help demonstrate the difference between a fast and slow shutter speed for a photojournalism journalism class taken through Colorado State University.
Photographed by: Leah Purdy
Photographed by: Leah Purdy
Visual Variety
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 250 , 18-55mm, f/20, 1/105 sec., 2/20/22
Wide Angle Setting the Scene Shot
Wide Angle Setting the Scene Shot
The Manchester Wall climbing area, a local crag that consists of old train trestles, sits just across the James River from downtown Richmond, Virginia. On February 20, 2022, climbing partners David West and Chris Thompson took to the walls and participated as subjects in a photography exercise focusing on visual variety for a photojournalism class taken through Colorado State University.
Photographed by: Leah Purdy
Photographed by: Leah Purdy
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160 , 18-55mm, f/4.0, 1/60 sec., 2/20/22
Story Telling Shot David West (left) and Chris Thompson (right) made the required safety checks of harnesses, knots, and belay devices. Safety checks should be performed before every climb. Climbing is never safe but safety checks are essential to managing risk.
Photographed by: Leah Purdy |
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55mm, f/4.0, 1/600 sec., 2/20/22
Close Up Shot David West chalks up his hands to improve friction against the rock surface before climbing.
Photographed by: Leah Purdy |
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160 , 18-55mm, f/4.0, 1/90 sec., 2/20/22
High-Angle Shot David West approaches the anchors of a route called Hooked On A Feeling on the Main Wall while Chris Thompson belays him from below.
Photographed by: Leah Purdy |
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 200 , 16 mm, f/1.4, 1/8000 sec.
Low-Angle Shot Chris Thompson leads the route Snake Chase on the First Pillar of the Manchester Wall Climbing area while David West belays him from the ground.
Photographed by: Leah Purdy |
Long Exposure
A ram skull is painted with the the illumination of a light-up pen by Leah Purdy in a one minute long exposure. The light produced a ghostly reflection on the kitchen counter. This photograph was taken on February 26, 2022 for an assignment on time exposures and painting with light for a photojournalism class through Colorado State University.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 200, 18-55 mm, f/3.6, 60 sec.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 200, 18-55 mm, f/3.6, 60 sec.
Macrophotography
David West pours scotch from a bottle onto a block of ice at his Richmond, Virginia home. This photograph was taken on March 5, 2022 for an assignment on macrophotography as part of a photojournalism class through Colorado State University.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 2500, 55-175 mm, f/4.7, 1/4000 sec. |
The Decisive Moment
A group of people gather in the courtyard behind the Virginia Museum of Fine Art in Richmond, Virginia, to practice acroyoga. This couple practiced throws and flips with the assistance of a spotter for some added protection. This photograph of action at its peak was taken on March 20, 2022 for an assignment on capturing decisive moments as part of a photojournalism class through Colorado State University.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 800, 55-200 mm, f/4.8, 1/1000 sec. |
Environmental Portrait
Charles Taylor, a local street performer, serenades the passers by as they visit the busy shopping district of Carytown in Richmond, Virginia. Every weekend, he spreads joy and music with his renditions of Sam Cooke’s gospel and love songs and promotes his new CD on street corners and outside shops and restaurants. Mr. Taylor sang as this environmental portrait was taken on March 20, 2022, for a photojournalism class assignment.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/4.5, 1/350 sec.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/4.5, 1/350 sec.
General News
Students of Fox Elementary School are returning to in-person classes at a new location, First Baptist Church, on March 21, 2022. Following the three-alarm fire that burned down much of Fox Elementary School in mid-February, students were forced back to virtual learning for over a month. Despite the extensive damage caused by a fire of unknown origin (seen in the photograph above), the City of Richmond has decided to push for the renovation of the building instead of a complete rebuild. This photograph was taken on March 5, 2022, for an assignment on general news for a photojournalism class.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/4.0 , 1/800 sec.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/4.0 , 1/800 sec.
Feature
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) are a sure indication that spring has begun and have been popping up around the park where invasive groundcover plants have been removed. This "true blue" flower is a spring ephemeral. It has a very short emergence period; it develops in late winter or early spring, blooms, and returns to dormancy as the trees in the woodland habitats it lives in begin to leaf out. The early blooming period of spring ephemerals is an important food source for pollinators at the start of the season. This photograph was taken on April 9, 2022, in the James River Park System in Richmond, Virginia, for a photojournalism class assignment on feature photographs.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 55-200 mm, f/5.6 , 1/420 sec.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 55-200 mm, f/5.6 , 1/420 sec.
Sports Photography
Pitcher of the Altoona Curve, Travis MacGregor, throws a strike against the Richmond Flying Squirrels at a Minor League baseball game at the Diamond Stadium in Richmond, Virginia, on April 13, 2022. This image was taken for an assignment on sports photography for a photojournalism class through Colorado State University.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 3200, 55-200 mm, f/4.5 , 1/1000 sec.
Photograph by: Leah Purdy
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 3200, 55-200 mm, f/4.5 , 1/1000 sec.
Photo Essay
A Day on the Trail: following a day hiker in Shenandoah National Park
Photographs and Captions by Leah Purdy April 30, 2022
An avid nature lover, David West poses at the Upper Hawksbill Trailhead parking sign. He is hiking this trail in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to reach the summit and look for exciting aspects of nature along the trail margins on April 30, 2022. His hike was photographed for a photo essay assignment as part of a photojournalism class.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 3200, 55-200 mm, f/4.5 , 1/1000 sec.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 3200, 55-200 mm, f/4.5 , 1/1000 sec.
Before he leaves the trailhead, he reads over the rules and regulations and looks at the map trail map. These trailhead signs tell you what is and isn't allowed in the national park but also provide essential directions and have great information about local wildlife.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/16, 1/60 sec. |
The trailhead signage told him that he needs to look for blue blazes painted on trees. If he ended up seeing white blazes, that means he has made a wrong turn and is on the Appalachian Trail, and that could lead him all the way south to Georgia or north to Maine. He doesn't quite have time for all that today.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/4 , 1/80 sec. |
With all this information in mind, David feels like he has the knowledge base he needs to confidently hit the trail and begin his hike up to the summit of Hawksbill Mountain.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 55-200 mm, f/4 , 1/900 sec.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 55-200 mm, f/4 , 1/900 sec.
While David was looking to make it to the top of the mountain, that was not his only goal. As a nature enthusiast, he also wanted to see what fascinating plants and animals were visible from the trail as he hiked. He stopped and looked up to ponder what could have caused the weird growths and look for birds.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/7.1, 1/220 sec. |
He stooped down to admire the delicate spring ephemeral flowers popping up between the forest floor leaf litter. A few of the things he discovered included…
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/4 , 1/280 sec. |
Large-flowered trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) is a native spring ephemeral that bloomed along the Hawksbill Trail. Trilliums are slow-growing perennial plants that don’t reach a mature enough age to flower until they are seven to 10 years old.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/4.5 , 1/320 sec. |
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is another native white flower that blooms in early spring. The name bloodroot comes from the orange-red sap that is excreted from roots and stems when broken. Indigenous Peoples used these plants as a dye and insect repellent.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55mm, f/7.1 , 1/125 sec. |
Even with breaks to enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature around him, David found himself winded on some of the uphill portions of the hike and bent over to catch his breath.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/5.6 , 1/160 sec. |
Water breaks were also frequent to prevent dehydration and keep up the energy to reach the summit.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 3200, 55-200 mm, f/4.5 , 1/1000 sec. |
After trekking up the mountain, David finally made it to the rocky Hawksbill Mountain summit, where he looked out over the valley and posed on the edge of the cliff face. The cloudy haze that threatened a slight rain potential that day left him with slightly diminished views. This image is a composite of eight different photographs stitched together to create a panorama of the view from the top of the mountain.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/22 , 1/40 sec.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/22 , 1/40 sec.
David clambered on top of these rocks to get a little more height to allow him to see just a little more of the landscape. He joked that standing on top of the rock pile made him feel like he was playing king of the mountain as he had as a child.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 16 mm, f/16 , 1/200 sec. |
However, the enjoyment of the summit was short-lived as David quickly became unimpressed with the noise and crowds of people packing the summit. The chaos of the summit was jarring compared to the relatively quiet experience along the trail.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 16 mm, f/16 , 1/110 sec. |
He decided that it was time to quickly get out of there and head back down the mountain and.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/6.4 , 1/170 sec. |
After making his way back to the parking lot, David sat on the back of his car and reflected on all the things he had seen and accomplished that day in Shenandoah National Park. He also reflected on his choice of footwear.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160, 18-55 mm, f/10 , 1/90 sec. |
He said he wished he had worn his hiking boots because his feet were feeling very sore after walking up and down the mountain in his sneakers.
Fujifilm X-T4, ISO 160 , 18-55 mm, f/14 , 1/80 sec. |