Photography for me is capturing the moment, the emotion, and documenting the scene. It could be a picture of someone getting arrested and/or of a child exuding excitement about feeding a wild bird. I also enjoy taking photos of places: nature, glorious mountains, huge glaciers, and colorful creatures like the mighty Orcas of Alaska. And, least I forget, bringing home a photo of the majestic condor in flight over Patagonia, Chile.

     Baltimore, too, the city of my birth, is one of my favorite subjects. Please note my poster of 50 photos of my fave sites in and around the city. It is found in my "fourth" project. That goes, also, for all the city's diverse personalities who make it such a vibrant, exciting and evolving municipality. From attending the annual HONfest in Hampden; to an oldtimers' baseball ceremony (Baltimore Orioles), honoring Hall of Famer pitcher, "Big Jim" Palmer, at Camden Yards; to a literary reading featuring noted authors, such as Laura Lippman, it is a joy for me to bring those events and personalities to life with my photographs.

    That same principle applies to my photographs of places, people and scenes on a local, national and/or a global scale. For example, I would like fans of my photography to view a photo I’ve taken of a person or scene in a foreign country, such as the flight of the hot air balloons over Cappadocia, Turkey and/or of a Myan Temple in Guatamala,  and say to themselves, “Hey, I would love to go there someday.” To me, that would be the highest compliment of my work.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     William “Bill” Hughes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Photographer

    

People come in all sizes and shapes.  Sometimes, they are seen in action , driven and propelled by a sense of a high moral duty as was the case of the peace activist, Diane Wilson - arrested - on the White House lawn.  For folks simply relaxing, I have photo of a young couple sitting on top of a canon on historic Federal Hill. Then, I added my Pop Art Poster of sixteen photos reflecting my week-long trip to Havana, Cuba; and also spotlighted a  photo of a majestic condor in flight over Patagonia, Chile. State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby was featured, too, for speaking out for the rights of women. Her topic  was -  "Women Warriors." I left some room for a sport's icon in this one: "Big Jim" Palmer at Camden Yards; and added a daring High Wire Walker, Nik Wallenda (Inner Harbor); along with a shot of the "Birdboy of Mt. Hood, Oregon." I've been told that no matter what you to do in the visual arts, always try to leave space for some fun. So, I did by displaying photos of a patriotic marching band, playing  "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy;" and finishing, this project, with my creation of a digitalized John Waters, a Baltimore filmmaking icon. (By way of full disclosure, yours truly appeared in four of his films.)

Sometimes, the context makes the moment, as it did when I witnessed a tourist walking ashore at the Pia Glacier in the South American country of Chile. I must tell that you that the ride over Cappadocia, Turkey, in a hot air balloon was very exciting. At a Baltimore "City Fair," I caught a dog, on a really hot humid day, getting himself a much-needed drink. Way to go pooch. Enter Brooks Robinson. He is a Baltimore Orioles' icon and one of baseball's greatest third basemen. He deserved a monument. My poster, "Americana," is featured.  It contains fifty photos on that subject and spotlighted many of the most revered places in our blessed nation. The huge Orcas of Northern British Columbia are splendid creatures and worth a trip across the country to check out. On a journey to the Galapagos Islands, I met the colorful Iguana.  Moving on, I captured a photo of Manhattan, New York City, in the morning, via the ferry ride to Staten Island. Next up was a photo of three energetic runners in the annual Baltimore Marathon. Finally, I ended this project with an "Ode to the Wind" icon from the port city of  Punta Arenas, in Chile.

Let's face it, digital today is the thing in the realm of the camera. It wasn't, however, always that way. Years ago, when I was growing up in Locust Point, I had a little polaroid. I loved going down to Fort McHenry with it. Taking photos of the ships coming in and out of the harbor was my big  thrill. When I got done taking  a roll of films (usually not that many), I had to take it to the local drug store, at Fort Avenue and Hull Street, to get it developed. Then, the painful part followed - waiting.  I had to wait, and wait some more, for the film to be developed. Then, when that process was done, I would find out just how many of my supposedly "great" photos had to be discarded. That was always a bummer moment.  Back in the mid-1980s, the digital camera was put on the market for the mass consumer. Over the years, I've used digital cameras from the top of the line producers. Now, I can keep and edit tons of my photos right on my own memory stick and delete the ones I don't want to save. The camera, too, has undergone tremendous improvements in just about every facet of photography. I realize just how lucky I am to have some of the best cameras in the world avaiable for my use. I keep in mind, too, it wasn't always that way.

 I started this project off with a picture taken on the Colorado River of the Navajo Bridge Twins. We're talking Grand Canyon country. I love history, so I needed to also spotlight General Samuel Smith's monument on Federal Hill. HONfest, an annual city fun happening, is spotted, too. Mt. Hood, Oregon is one of my fave vacation spots, so it was just natural that it would be included.  All of the above brought me to swampy New Orleans and a kid wearing an alligator for a cap. Up next was my "Postcards from the South of India," all four, via my photographs. Enter Laura Lippman! One of America's most famous mystery writers who often does readings around Bmore. The wonders of Alaska never ceased to amaze me. Here, too, you will find a photo of a gigantic glacier next to a zodiac vessel. An ancient Mayan Temple in Guatemala is also featured. Finally, in this project, I submitted a photo of the active Poas Vocano found just south of the border in Costa Rico.

I wanted to finish off my last project - big.  So, standing on Federal Hill, I took a shot of the "Pride of Baltimore II" as she passed by the World Trade Center in the Inner Harbor. Moving on, this is what Northern Spain looked like from Mount Igueldo as we headed into Pamplona and Basque country. Baltimore took center stage next with my poster, it contains fifty photos, of some of my fave sites around the city. I also worked in a shot of Manhattan (NYC) taken from the fabed Brooklyn Bridge. Up next was "The Blue Mosque" which is located in the city of Istanbul, Turkey. Then, I headed as far south as I dared to go - Cape Horn! It can be found at the southern most part of South America. Chile has jurisdiction over it. I also submitted a photo of a cat, as if she were standing guard, at ancient Ephesus, Turkey. The feline creatures are a favorite of the peoples of Turkey.  I  introduced, too, a photo of a joyful crowd celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  Ode to the colors of that festival. I shifted gears and recalled the youthful protest action at the inauguration of President Donald Trump.  Finally, few in Baltimore will forget that infamous "Sinkhole" that showed up on 26th and St. Paul Streets a few summers ago.