The official photo blog of J. David Buerk Photography.
9 months can fly by, and Madonna and Rubin are just a few weeks away from welcoming their daughter, [REDACTED].
Since Rubin and Donna share aviation deep in their roots, Donna decided it was appropriate to have her maternity portraits with the sound of jet engines roaring above. During a busy afternoon bank of DCA departures Donna glowed in the sunlight and with the DC skyline and active runways behind her.
See Madonna & Rubin’s Baby Announcement / Gender Reveal photos here.
Each year I release a set of photos showcasing the highlights I've photographed over the previous year. It's a Year in Pictures, similar to how news outlets also compile Year in Review columns which rely almost solely on photojournalism (which is an important and unfortunately underappreciated art, by the way). This year's "Best Of" is coming a bit late - I usually release this on New Years, but I've been rather busy and distracted upon return from my trip to St. Louis.
So now I present to you the Best of 2016: A Year in Pictures. Photos are presented in order in which they were photographed, and contain captions and links to relevant articles when applicable.
Janet Echelman's 1.8 Renwick at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This photograph of Echelman's woven sculpture is displayed upside down to create additional dramatic discord and illusion to the already intricate landscape of mesh.
John Grade's Middle Fork at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Viewed from the base, or roots of the molded tree recreated from cedar planks, the natural béziers of organic growth are showcased with a feeling of fluidity.
Portrait of Dennis Hazell, Customer Service Manager of Washington Dulles International Airport, photographed in Eero Saarinen's historic Main Terminal Building.
Rim and caliper of the 2016 Alfa Romea Giulia sport sedan, photographed at the Washington Auto Show.
Cabin crew serve champagne in a First Class compartment aboard Emirates' new A380, which began inaugural service between Washington, DC and Dubai on February 23rd, 2016.
The First Class cabin aboard Emirates' new A380, which began inaugural service between Washington, DC and Dubai on February 23rd, 2016.
Portrait of Scott C. Booth, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Chief of Police.
The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck; a new restaurant offering at Washington Dulles International Airport. Much of my work, many of which goes undisplayed on my website, is photographing commercial marketing imagery of concessions and products for the DC area's two airports.
The bar inside The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck; a new restaurant offering at Washington Dulles International Airport. Much of my work, many of which goes undisplayed on my website, is photographing commercial marketing imagery of concessions and products for the DC area's two airports.
Portrait of Sidney Woods, Marketing Director at Washington Dulles International Airport, photographed in Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport's Main Terminal.
My own Infiniti G37S 6MT photographed in Frederick, Maryland on a day and place reminiscent of the iconic Windows XP background, Bliss by Charles O'Rear.
Wedding portrait of Amy and Brandon.
Wedding portrait of Nina; it rained on their wedding day, pushing the ceremony inside, and rushing the portrait session in Leesburg between bands of drizzle and high winds.
A Piper tow plane for Jersey Ridge Soaring takes off from Blairstown Airport (1N7), lifting a glider into the sky.
View inside the cockpit of a glider being towed to 2,500ft before release of the tow cable. The tow plane is visible directly forward, with instrumentation on the console and the red lever which releases the tow cable.
A selfie inside a glider soaring around 2,500ft. A maximum altitude of 3,500 was reached on this flight using thermal for lift.
Aerial view of Blairstown Airport (1N7) from 1,000ft. The small public use airport in New Jersey is home to Jersey Ridge Soaring, a glider service and school.
All-Nippon Airways' "BB-8" Star Wars 777 departing Washington Dulles International Airport after a promotional visit by the aircraft. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority held a Discover Dulles event to mark the occasion, welcoming 50 lucky participants to watch the aircraft's arrival on the runway itself, and providing a tour of Airport Operations and Dulles' Ramp Tower.
LATAM Airlines begins inaugural service between Lima, Peru and Washington, DC on May 2nd, 2016. LATAM is the result of LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines merging at the same time this inaugural flight took place; the LAN Airlines livery seen above has been discontinued.
Portrait of Manuel Rodriguez, Award Winning Chef, photographed making lamb chops in the kitchen of Kapnos Taverna by Mike Isabella.
An American Airlines Douglas DC-3 parked outside the original terminal building at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, formerly known as Washington National Airport. The aircraft was on site to commemorate the airport's 75th anniversary, after opening it's doors on June 16th, 1941.
Portrait of Rose Corps, a synth-pop musician and singer, photographed at CityCenterDC for promotional portraits before the release of her first two singles Frosted Glass and Making it Hard.
Portrait of Rose Corps, a synth-pop musician and singer, photographed at CityCenterDC for promotional portraits before the release of her first two singles Frosted Glass and Making it Hard.
Portrait of Rose Corps, a synth-pop musician and singer, photographed at CityCenterDC for promotional portraits before the release of her first two singles Frosted Glass and Making it Hard.
Portrait of Rose Corps, a synth-pop musician and singer, photographed at CityCenterDC for promotional portraits before the release of her first two singles Frosted Glass and Making it Hard.
Portrait of Savannah, a rising high school senior, Class of 2017, photographed at her stable where she cares for her horse Tosca, and trains with him for equestrian events.
Portrait of Savannah, a rising high school senior, Class of 2017, photographed at her stable where she cares for her horse Tosca, and trains with him for equestrian events.
Portrait of Alyssa McGuire, fitness coach and newborn photographer, photographed atop Stony Man Mountain in Shenandoah, Virginia.
Portrait of J. David Buerk, Washington, DC area commercial photographer, photographed by Alyssa McGuire atop Stony Man Mountain in Shenandoah, Virginia. Photo by Alyssa McGuire, edited by J. David Buerk.
Portrait of James Dingell, Airport Management Intern at Ronald Reagan National Airport for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, photographed on his last day working for the Dulles Jet Center, where he worked continuously for over 10 years.
A blue poison dart frog photographed at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, DC.
Royal Air Maroc begins inaugural service between Casablanca, Morocco and Washington, DC on September 8th, 2016.
A limited edition Translucent Pink autographed Lindsey Stirling "Shatter Me" 33 RPM vinyl on an Audio-Technica turntable.
Aerial photograph of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Dulles, Virginia. Photographed via helicopter, 250ft AGL.
"Superman" leads the way at the 23rd annual Dulles Day Plane Pull benefitting Special Olympics. The Special Olympics team is always the first team to pull the FedEx 757 to kick off this family fun charity event which draws 10,000 - 15,000 visitors every year.
Aerial photograph of Washington Dulles International Airport's iconic Main Terminal Building designed by architect Eero Saarinen. Cranes which are part of the "Silver Line" rail construction project can be seen at the bottom of the frame, as construction of the Dulles Metro Station commences. Photographed via helicopter, 500ft AGL.
A promotional image for the Dulles and Reagan concessions program, photographed at The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck; a new restaurant offering at Washington Dulles International Airport. Photographs from this photoshoot were selected to be used as cover images for Shop & Dine guides at Dulles International and Reagan National airports.
View of the lounge area inside Turkish Airlines' new Business Lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport.
A Turkish coffee with Turkish Delight served inside Turkish Airlines' new Business Lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport.
Exterior promotional photo of Duty Free Americas after renovation at Washington Dulles International Airport. Much of my work, many of which goes undisplayed on my website, is photographing commercial marketing imagery of concessions and products for the DC area's two airports.
Interior promotional photo of Duty Free Americas after renovation at Washington Dulles International Airport. Much of my work, many of which goes undisplayed on my website, is photographing commercial marketing imagery of concessions and products for the DC area's two airports.
Artist Katherine Riedel painting still-life in her Waterford, Virginia studio.
The tide rolls in on the Chesapeake Bay with the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in the distance on a cool Summer day at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, Maryland.
Portrait of Katie, a rising high school senior, Class of 2017, photographed at her stable where she cares for her horse Retro, and trains with him for equestrian events.
Portrait of Katie, a rising high school senior, Class of 2017, photographed at her stable where she cares for her horse Retro, and trains with him for equestrian events.
Portrait of Katie, a rising high school senior, Class of 2017, photographed at her stable where she cares for her horse Retro, and trains with him for equestrian events.
Tire and rim detail on a bagged Ford Mustang at the first Regular Car Reviews car show in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania.
A Translucent Green Lindsey Stirling eponymous LP 33 RPM vinyl on an Audio-Technica turntable.
Leo surprises Chelsea with a marriage proposal at the skating rink at Reston Town Center, Reston, Virginia. She said yes!
Leo and Chelsea and their two dogs, upon getting engaged at the skating rink at Reston Town Center, Reston, Virginia. She said yes!
2016 has been a great year in my photographic career, bringing me new experiences, introducing me to new faces, and taking me new places. Here's to 2017 being just as interesting and continuing to take my career to new heights! Thanks to all of my fans, and especially those who have helped to make my career the career of my dreams! I'll see you all in 2017!
J. David Buerk, Washington, DC area commercial photographer, on Washington Dulles International Airport's R/W 1C high-speed hold-short line while photographing on assignment for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority during the All-Nippon Airways' "BB-8" Star Wars 777 event. Photo edited by J. David Buerk.
Recently I shared some of the portraiture I shoot for professional clients and commercial marketing campaigns. But what about the other half of that equation? In addition to portraiture and various press events, I photograph a large volume of product and storefront photography for marketing purposes at both Dulles International and Reagan National airports.
Last week on my Facebook Page, I shared a Behind the Scenes photo of a product shoot featuring Spartina 449 handbags. These product photographs are quite similar to last year's Save Me, San Francisco Wine Company shoot, however this set is intended for use as dustwall graphics for upcoming stores during renovations periods, in addition to regularly ongoing marketing campaigns.
This sort of imagery continues inside many of the retailers; notably, Estée Lauder has an equally bright and modern storefront and display.
Both airports feature luxury brands. Most have opened in the past year, and my photos are used by both airports for their promotion.
I am not limited to retailers either - restaurants and eateries get just as much attention.
All new concessions and restaurants have ribbon cutting ceremonies; oftentimes the grand opening is a major event, including guest speakers and performances.
Not only are my photos used for promotional campaigns, but at major events, placards summarizing newly opened and soon to open retailers are on display featuring my photos.
An airport wouldn't be an airport without newsstands and book retailers, and I take photos of them as well!
It's just further demonstration of why I love photographing for DC's local airports - everyone who asks me about my airport photography simply assumes all I do is photograph aircraft, but upon explaining the body of work above, they always leave surprised and better informed - it's a side of every airport that few people ever think about, yet is so often taken for granted.
