Clearing Winter Storm

The big snowfall in Washington before Christmas was a winter blast.  It was fun for our family because it fell on a Saturday and we had a great time sledding (and digging out our driveway).  I managed to head out early on Sunday morning as the storm was clearing and shot photos near The Capitol.  Here's one pano and I have a bunch more to put together.

Also, early in 2010, I will be updating the blog with news from some of my late fall shoots...just been trying to tie up loose ends here at the end of the year.  I'm psyched for the new decade at hand.

Nice Product Placement!

Drinking my coffee and reading the Washington Post this morning, I was surprised and thrilled to see my Inauguration panorama framed and hanging on the wall by the door of Washingtonian Magazine's new editor Garret Graff, in the portrait photo of him on the front of the Style section.  Graff is profiled in the article.

First Draft of History

NBC's Brian Williams interviews General David Petreus

Google CEO Eric Schmidt with Atlantic Monthly's James Fallows

Earlier this month I covered an incredible convergence:  The first Washington Ideas’s Forum titled “The First Draft of History” organized by Atlantic Monthly, the Newseum, and The Aspen Institute.

Firstly it was a great convergence for me of 2 longtime clients: Atlantic Media, which commissioned me to cover the 2-day event, and the Newseum, where the event was held.

It was a non-stop show of one major media player after another, be it the journalists who did the live interviewing (Brian Williams, Bob Schieffer, John King, Margaret Carlson, David Gregory, Jim Lehrer, among many) or the newsmaker being interviewed.  A select audience witnessed, and also got to ask their own questions of leaders in business, government, and ideas including: John McCain, Senator Lyndsay Graham, CEO of Google Eric Schmidt, General David Petreus, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Alan Greenspan, and White House Enviromental Advisor Carol Browner.

I shot and coordinated photo coverage with a great media team from The Atlantic. Images where loaded online as the event progressed throughout each day, distributed to media for event publicity, and will be used for future event/sponsorship marketing.

Environmentally Conscious School Shoot

I had a wonderful opportunity to photograph and witness one of the nicest, most environmentally conscious (top LEAD certification), and educationally enriching public schools in America.  Commissioned by Hess Construction + Engineering , I shot both architectural project images and documentary photographs of students interacting and utilizing the newly built Manassas Park Elementary School in Virginia.  Images are not only being used by Hess for their marketing portfolio, but Victoria Bergsagel, nationally recognized founder and director of Architects of Achievement , used the photographs to illustrate her presentation and analysis of the synergy between learning environments, building design, and community involvement to the Council of Educational Facility Planners International.

The design interplays the environmental and learning aspects of the building so that students are engaged in their learning while also keenly aware of the environment around them related to energy and water usage.

Key sustainable design and construction elements include:

-Sloped ceilings painted white aimed at windows thus reflecting more light.

-Daylight harvesting by solar tube skylights (I love these).  The tubes collect sunlight on the roof through a domed prism and reflects the light down into the classrooms.

-Automatic light controls that sense the light in the room and minimize use of electrical fixtures when the solar tubes and windows provide enough light (which is most of the time, even on cloudy days).

Other sustainable features include: natural ventilation, light louvers, ground heat exchange, and rainwater reuse…all these features interplay with the innovative educational programs of the school.

You can see a selection of photos in the “Buildings-Architecture" portfolio of my website.  Photos of the students utilizing the school will be forth coming upon the school's student photo release clearance.

The Sammies-Big Portraits

I have had the honor of photographing the winners of The Service to America Awards (ironicaly refered to as "The Sammies") for most of it's 8 year history.  Part of the job is shooting environmental portraits of the winners several months before the award announcement and program.  The photos are used for press release and as part of the program at the annual awards dinner in Washington, DC.

It's a thrilling thing to both meet and photograph these amazing people who excel in science, security, justice, and other fields of public service.  We shoot the photos on location with the background giving a sense of the kind of work the people perform.  It's also thrilling to see the portraits on giant banners (over 4 feet square) that line the event entrance.

See several years of Sammies winners on the "project" section of kittner.com.

Also find out more about the Sammies and The Partnership for Public Service on these linked websites.

Crazy-Happy About The Mural On Our Building

I am psyched to share my excitement about the tompe l’oeil mural renowned muralist Byron Peck completed on our studio building!

The culmination of a 3 year project I managed, this mural is painted on the side of the building Bobbi and I own in the historic Old Town of Takoma Park, MD.  We navigated the historic work process, involved the community without unduly holding up the project, applied and received matching grants from the Sate of Maryland, and led a fundraising drive in partnership with our community foundation. 

Check out the comments I made at our mural celebration on Aug. 30:

Interior Department Way-Finding Panel

I am thrilled that I was awarded a contract to photograph and produce 2 way-finding panels for the terrace at The US Interior Department's Main Building in Washington, DC. The job includes photographing the spectacular panoramic view, actually the 2 spectacular views (East and South) seen from the building.

I will also provide turnkey project management for the design, fabrication, and installation of the panels. Bobbi Kittner (yes, my dear wife and award winning designer-artist) is providing the design service. The panel will be printed on porcelain by Winsor Fireform Porcelain Enamel, the same company that made the way-finding panel with my panoramic image of Pennsylvania Avenue for the Newseum. The photo on the mast of this new blog was shot of me at work by my assistant, Mike Starghill, as I shot one of the panos for this project.