Midnight Lion Dance

Chinese New Year holds a huge celebration of family, friends, lions, and firecrackers. On Friday January 27th at 11:30pm to Saturday 1am there was a Midnight Lion Dance in China Town, Philadelphia to celebrate the Year of the Rooster... I arrived to China Town at 9:30 to figure follow the route and just enjoy China Town. It was awesome to experience a time of celebration in China Town for the New Year. The Lions and Firecrackers were very appealing too; the lion dancers seemed to be having fun and working hard, and the firecrackers excited the people watching. A few things to take away from this New Year celebration would be I'm very glad I brought ear plugs, firecrackers shoot out, and I need to get something to possibly breathe in smoke easier. 

Smiling at family while holding a lit firecracker. 

Running along with the lions. 

Lion dancer makes their way through the streets of China Town. 

Firecrackers strung from 3 stories up. 

Firecrackers igniting in front of the Lion Dancers.

Lion Dancers dancing in front with Center City in the background. 

Lion Dancers through a phone. 

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Nick Koehler Photography

Women's March on Washington D.C.

January 21st, 2017 brought approximately 500,000 people to Washington D.C. to march in protest over more rights for groups being discriminated against. The march started at 11am and people continued to march through the streets of D.C. through Sunset and later. This experience was amazing to be able to capture moments and be submerged taking photos in a group of 500,000 people. 

"You better be happy your mother didn't kill you."

"The Proud Father of a Planned Parenthood Employee"

Staring fearlessly at a instigator of march. 

"You have very little love in you"

14th Street filled all the way back to the Mall. 

The amount of people was amazing and surely made it a experience and interesting story to capture. 

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Pittsburgh Architecture

Pittsburgh has beautiful architecture. The views and photogenic atmosphere of Pittsburgh make it a really easy city to photograph. I was recently in Downtown Pittsburgh and decided to go to one spot particularly to get some different inner city views of the buildings. 

Nick Koehler Photography

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Model: Emily Hoover

A friend of mine, Emily Hoover, has modeled for me for a few years now on small occasions for creative photoshoots. We decided to do two different studio shoots, two on location shoots, and a shoot in downtown Pittsburgh. The first studio shoot was of a light sweater with red stripes, and the second shoot was of contrasting colors (black on white). Then we traveled to a small coffee shop called Convive and took some photographs with the beautiful coffee and design. After that we traveled into Pittsburgh to take some urban kind-of-feel images. Then for lunch shortly before we called it a day we traveled to Primanti Bros in Market Square of Pittsburgh and took some quick images with the Pittsburgh known sandwiches. This set of photographs is one of my favorite portrait sessions based on the spontaneity and the overall feel of the images. 

Nick Koehler Photography

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Allegheny National Forest

My friend and I took a trip up to the Allegheny National Forest to capture the essence of winter and the nature surrounding. The Allegheny National Forest is about a 2 hour drive, which once you get to your destination there is a lot of hiking. We spent the day in the forest then headed home right before sunset. The cloud cover had become too great for the sun to show through for a nice sunset. Here are some images I took from this day!

A scruffy bull staring at us while we capture images. 

Water drifting down past the snowy banks and moss. 

Ice pieces lay spread out across a wet grassland.

Ice crystals formed a thin layer above the thicker ice. 

A beautiful stream we found when navigating through the ice road.

Ice we combatted to find some different spots to photograph. 

A fern peeking at the stream behind the tree.

Nick Koehler Photography

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Foggy Day

Fog is a beautiful outcome of rain. Rain is looked at to be negative and not exactly the most happy subject on Earth. From a photographer's standpoint rain and fog created surreal images and draw beautiful attention to the landscape and/or scene being captured. 

A couple days ago there was rain and fog rolled in on the lake in a park near where I live and I was excited to go out and capture the moments it had to offer. Water resting on top of the frozen lake helped create vast reflections and add interest and color to the shots. Here are some of my photos. 

Landscape orientation of the sunset reflecting in the water on-top of the frozen ice. 

Magic Hour (Right after sunset) clouds reflecting. 

Sunset reflecting in the water on top of the ice. 

Water spread across the frozen lake. 

This is a pier type building and walkway which is locked off but was able to get a shot shooting through the gate. 

Nick Koehler Photography

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Mexico

A family trip to Riviera Maya, Mexico where iguanas, coatimundis, and beautiful stars were seen. The vacation happened late July early August. What was intended to be a week of relaxing on a beach and soaking up the sun turned into a photo adventure. Riviera Maya was the destination of our resort and we saw Tulum, Xel-Ha Park, and did a little snorkeling. 

Iguana basking in the sun. 

Coatimundi reaching for food tourists threw in the grass for the animals.

Milky Way shooting out of a beach hut during one of the warm summer nights. 

Tulum ancient mayan ruins on the coast of Mexico. 

Iguana basking in the sun in front of Tulum.

Snorkeling in Xel-Ha. 

Riviera Maya, Mexico was a great vacation with a lot of experience and for me to see another part of the world. 

"It is better to travel well than to arrive." - Buddha

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The Trip

"The Trip" happened in late June early July of this past summer (2016). This trip was a trip around the state parks of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. My friends, Jared, Luke, and JC embarked on this trip late June early July. 

Day 1

"The Trip" started in Pittsburgh and our first stop was the Allegheny National Forest.         76.6mi - 1hr 50min

The next stop was Elk State Forest, which we saw a few Elk.. Of course!                                          45.5mi - 1hr 12min 

After Elk State Forest, we moved on Sproul State Forest.                                                        32.1mi - 57min

First time experimenting with Steel Wool. 

Day 2

After waking up in Sproul State Forest; we moved onto Tioga State Forest.                           9.6mi - 18min

Ansonio Park was our next stop. Which we didn't find much so then we moved onto Worlds End State Park. Which led us to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.                                            61.3 mi - 1hr 39min / 91.5mi - 2hr

Played with Steel Wool again. Got chased out of the woods by Coyotes. 

Also able to see the Milky Way for the first time around 1am. 

Day 3

We then we traveled onto Hickory Run State Park. Which turned into us going a little further and traveling to Ricketts Glen State Park.                                                                                101.4mi - 1hr 55min

Day 4

We then visited a Wolf Sanctuary. 2.1mi - 4min. Then Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. 100.8mi - 1hr 53min

After the Wildlife Management Area. We then traveled to Patapsco Valley State Park.         175mi - 2hr 52min 

Then we traveled to the Humpback Rocks outside of Shenandoah National Park. Which gave us a great view, and a up close with Turkey Vultures.                                                                162mi - 3hr 7min

Day 5/6

New River Gorge is there our next stop which we arrived at sunset which seemed to help us out! We were there for 2 days.                                                                                                                                            91.8mi - 1hr 28min

Day 7

After getting to see almost every square inch of New River Gorge we made way to Cucumber Falls.                                                                                                                                            95.6mi - 1hr 33min 

We traveled to Quemahoning Reservoir and then back up to Pittsburgh.                             47.3mi - 58min / 68.3mi - 1hr 30min. 

Total travel: 1422 Miles / Total Time: 7 Days (30 Hours Driving)

"Travel - it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller." - Ibn Battuta

Thanks to Jared, Luke, and JC for the awesome memories and stories. 

 

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California

In March of 2016 I received a text from my Aunt inviting me to join her on a journey to San Francisco and Yosemite National Park. The trip happened in mid June; June 14-20th 2016. This was not only a great opportunity, but reconciliation for my home for I once lived and grew up in, San Francisco. Moving to Pittsburgh when I was seven from San Francisco was a big turning point in my life. Having to start over and make friends in a place that was all to unfamiliar other than winter trips or summer vacations to visit family. Adjusting to the North East lifestyle and culture was a big step for me, but an important one. Pittsburgh is where I began my passion for photography. Pittsburgh is where I found myself and where I want to go, but... San Francisco has always been where I felt at home; so receiving that text in March was not only an opportunity to visit, but to capture moments and memories that'll last me a lifetime. The trip started of course with a flight to SFO from PIT; which upon arriving my Aunt and I got a rental car and proceeded to our hotel in Fisherman's Wharf. We visited many destinations of views I had researched before hand for photographs and great vista points to capture; here are some of the photographs below...

Day 1

The first stop was Muir Woods National Monument. This destination gave a great aspect of the Redwood trees.

Twin Peaks being our first vista point, but second stop; offers a great view of the San Francisco skyline below. 

Day 2

First stop day 2 was Alcatraz. 

The cells for "dangerous inmates". Solitary confinement cells. 

The small size of the cells for prisoners. 

An outside view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Alcatraz Island. 

The Coit Tower was our next destination which had a beautiful view from atop it.

Last stop for the day was Lombard Street. 

Day 3

Moving our way towards Yosemite National Park; I saw this tree by it's self in a field. Wanted to show the solitude of the tree. 

River running below in the Yosemite Valley. 

El Capitan right after Sunset during magic hour. 

Yosemite falls from the perspective of the Yosemite Valley.

View from Glacier Point right before sunset. 

Tunnel View right before the sun disappeared off the rocky walls surrounding the Yosemite Valley. 

Day 4

The 17mi Drive outside of Monterey, California. 

Fog was rolling in to create a feeling of peace to this tree growing alone.

Then a stop in Monterey to see the harbor seals. This seal hopped onto this anchor and posed for a photo. 

Day 5

5am early rise to catch this sunrise filling in the bay and Golden Gate Bridge. 

Quick stop in Sausalito across the bay of San Francisco. 

Then to a different perspective the Golden Gate Bridge for sunset.

Day 6

Slept in and enjoyed Fishermans Wharf. In afternoon took the Van Ness and California cable car to this destination where I was able to capture this shot of the cable car in front of the Bay Bridge in downtown San Francisco.

Sausalito for the sunset and magic hour. 

Houses on the hill with the San Francisco skyline behind. 

Day 7

Walked around downtown San Francisco and explore City Hall a little.

Checked out the outside view of Alcatraz from Fisherman's Wharf before returning back to the hotel to get ready to get on our flight back to Pittsburgh.

This trip was a great time and I will have it as a memory forever and images to prove it. 

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Short Trip

On Saturday November 12, 2016 my roommates and I traveled to a few spots around the Poconos Mountains in North Eastern Pennsylvania. The purpose of the trip was to get out of the apartment and go explore a little bit of the places north of Philadelphia. The spots we touched were "Hickory Run Lake", "Boulder Field", and a part of the Appalachian Trail upon the "Delaware Water Gap". We ended the night watching the stars appear at the "Delaware Water Gap" and then slowly made it down the trail. 

 

Hickory Run Lake in Hickory Run State Park during the time of the sun slowly dropping below the tree line. 

A sunlight area below the Hickory Run Lake. 

A tree growing out of the abundance of rocks in "Boulder Field" in Hickory Run State Park. Sun flare striking through the branches of the tree. 

On top of the Appalachian Trail in the "Delaware Water Gap".

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