dangerdude digital

Unfortunately we didn’t win the highly-prized Golden Bear at the 2022 State Fair. FWIW here’s my portfolio in context. Maybe next year?

https://valbalagot.myportfolio.com/film-noir-eyes?fbclid=IwAR2OqoGLuciOWiX3Gij1Zn3D9ROlJGu2pna9Rw-KOg0TnBphUHKyED7lSSs2022

Val Balagot - Film Noir Eyes

"Earth". This is an image I took at a recent "Four Elements" workshop hosted by Canon and Action Camera. Unfortunately, due to the terms of the model release, such images are for non-commercial use only (portfolio, social media, etc.) and therefore entering into competitions is prohibited. This coulda been a contender.

Pity.

&wphotography &wconversion

In DangerDude news, here's a competition update: https://www.facebook.com/dangerdudephotography/posts/4175740112471637

Happy Hearts Day! Here's my version of a compositing project

In which the DangerDude experiments with non-traditional Photoshop collages

In this workshop we experimented in 1930s-40s film noir lighting and flapper costume and props. All the images were converted to B&W with Nik Silver Efex 2, and the filters I used are listed below.
Model & MUAH: Silvana Caminiti
Lighting & props: Mark Winter, Rudy Villa

Last photo competition of the year. I have 3 more of these from previous years

With one more competition to go, it's been a great year for the DangerDude:

Dixon May Fair: one 1st, four 2nd, four turds
Sacramento County Fair: two 1st, two 2nd, three turds, one Best of Division
El Dorado County Fair: four 1st, four 2nd, three turds
California State Fair: two turds, one Best of Show
Auburn Gold Country Fair: three 1st, four 2nd, six turds, one 4th, one Best of Division.

Let's see me beat this total next year!

I made the big time, of sorts. Two of my entries to the California State Fair were accepted for judging and display, “Girl in Period Costume” and “The Art of the Serve”. Only those photos placed Honorable Mention and better are eligible for exhibition. If you happen to visit the California State Fair in Sacramento from 13-29 July, please visit the photography pavilion at Exposition Building #4. Spoiler alert: both got Turd Place in their respective divisions/class.

Impromptu photoshoot with my (model) friend Jennifer Palumbo for Stella Artois beer

My favourite image from a recent photoshoot. Model/MUAH: Tara Nichol. The moment when everything comes together: posing, composition, lighting and camera settings.