Nor should he. To get a better-than-average shot of musician Ramsey Lewis at the Beavercreek Weekend of Jazz, he climbed up a circular stairway, crossed a catwalk and went down another stairway to get to the other side of the stage.
“It was completely dark, and the only light I had was the glow from my camera’s display screen,” said Alonzo. “But it was worth it, since I got there just in time for him to flash that bright smile.”
Being in the right place at the right time is what he can count on with his everyday consistency. He ventures out, rain or shine, in his Oregon District neighborhood every day to find interesting subjects.
“Even though the area is small, I still haven’t run out of things to take pictures of after all these years,” Alonzo said. “I’ve seen a workman hanging above an intersection, a motorcycle driving through a rainbow of color, and slanting shadows making lines across a brick wall.”
Of course, an inexperienced photographer would not be able to get the exact shot that Alonzo is able to capture. That workman looks like a tiny Lilliputian character from the perspective and angle that Alonzo uses. The image of the motorcyclist is taken looking into a shop window to get reflected hues. He recognizes the beauty of shadows on everyday objects and buildings.
Another moment he captured this past year was at the WGI World Championships on April 20. During one percussion show, the drummers were being drenched in thrown paint. Alonzo used the quickest exposure setting to capture the dance of colors in the air surrounding them. To see more of his “best of” photos, visit www.adamalonzo.com/photos/2013.
“If all goes well during 2014, I will reach a milestone of taking photos every day for 10 years,” Alonzo said.
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