Gallery: 22 Faves from 2022

As I reflect on 2022 I realize that it is best described as the year when I finally decided I had to take a step back to make Shawn Pierce Photography is not just the first priority but the only one. This realization led me to find a business coach and also try really hard to get out to network a lot more. This has led to meeting a ton of really cool people this year.

It also meant that I had to make the very tough call to step down from the leadership of two organizations I absolutely adore. First, over the summer, I resigned from my position on the NHPPA Board of Directors. And, effective today, Jan 1, I have officially stepped down from my position as President of the Greater Rochester Camera Club, an organization I co-founded and led since 2015. I did this so I could focus entirely on growing my business and finding my photographic voice away from the race track.

Let’s just say 2022 was not easy. It was a year full of self-doubt and second-guessing. Almost constantly worrying that I am in over my head with this whole studio venture. But, it has also been a year full of unlocked potential. A year where some momentum has started to build and my studio work is beginning to find its voice and mission.

I really wanted to get this gallery out before the end of 2022. But it wasn’t until the relative quietness of New Year’s Day that I finally found the time to sit down and write captions for each of the photos in the gallery. What follows is a selection of 22 of my favorite images taken in 2022. These 22 images may or may not represent my “best” work of the year, nor are they supposed to. They are here to showcase my favorite memories and proudest moments of the year. A private celebration that I am sharing with you.

Childhood Dreams - January

This photo came about when I challenged myself to create a promotional image of the LEGO Stratocaster in the studio. In total it took nearly 6 hours to create this finished image. In the end, it was well worth the effort for the knowledge gained in making it. Plus, as an added bonus, it won the Court of Honor as the best image in the commercial category at the NHPPA Annual Competition.

LRP Historic Festival - September

This is probably my favorite motorsport photo of the year. I enjoy its strong element of storytelling. Taken from the camping area it captures very well what we all love so much about Lime Rock. Find your shady spot, set up a camping chair, and then lounge with some friends while beautiful vintage race cars fill your senses.

LRP Historic Festival - September

The Corvette group shot. Taken from the roof of a fire truck after Sunday in the Park, Labor Day Weekend. The two in front were co-best in show for competition cars. A number of the cars in this shot are concept show cars. A really cool shoot that I’ll remember for a long time.

Steven and his Supra - September

Steven is a recent college graduate who treated himself to his dream Supra after landing his dream job.
This was taken outside the mill building where Studio Two Seven Nine is located. Lit entirely with a Westcott Ice Light.

Trans Am Memorial Day Classic - May

The obligatory wheelie shot.

Kendall Business Portrait - February

Kendall was only 21 when she achieved her broker’s license. The youngest person to do it in the state of NH. She was also my first paid business portrait.

LRP Historic Festival - September

A last minute display shot organized on the last day of Historics featuring the 1968 Corvette Stingray L88 racecar and a 1970 Camaro Trans Am currently owned by Fox Sports’ Mike Joy. Im not sure what the connection between the two cars is other than the similar liveries. Whatever their relationship, they sure do photograph well together.

October 13, 2022

This was the sixth year I documented the Memorial Bridge lighting for Moore Fight Moore Strong. This event, known as #lightupMBC, is to raise money for metastatic breast cancer awareness. The night itself was a challenge this year. Cool, rain, mist, and wind made for very difficult conditions.

"She's Got Next" - August

Over the summer I did a series of photos in the studio with student athletes. I had the goal of creating images that are reminiscent of the promo images pro sports teams put out of their players. The best part was meeting some of the most amazing young people.

The image below is another one from this series.

"The Slugger" - October

LRP Memorial Day Classic - May

This is a shot I’ve been trying for years and finally nailed it this year. I’ve always loved the way the Armco layers throughout the image from this vantage point. It is just so perfect form foreground to background. But to make the shot work I needed to get a tack-sharp car framed up in the break In the Armco at as slow a shutter speed as possible. Not easy but oh so satisfying when accomplished.

Rhett's Roost 5K - October

I was asked to second shoot the Rhett’s Roost 5K to raise money for cancer research. Runners dressed up as their favorite superheroes and ran the 5K on and around Ogunquit Beach. I chose this image to include here because it really captures the joyous atmosphere of the whole event.

IMSA Northeast Grand Prix - July

My absolute favorite time of day to photograph Lime Rock Park is right at the end when the long shadows come across the back straight. The Corvette C8.R looks so good framed up in that patch of light between the shadows.

Oyster River Bobcats at Whittemore Center - December

In December I was asked to cover the Oyster River Bobcats U12 team who earned the opportunity to play a game at the Whittemore Center, home of the UNH Wildcats. Now, I LOVE hockey, and this was my first chance to shoot a game. It was so much fun. The photo is the shot that tied the game with just over 2 minutes to go in the third period. The game ended in a 5-5 tie.

LRP Historic Festival - September

An early morning detail shot of the ultra-rare 1963 Corvette Grand Sport. This car is the fourth of five cars built before the program was halted prematurely by Chevrolet. I can’t begin to describe how much of a pleasure it is to see and stand close to these historic machines and even more of an honor it is to document them for Lime Rock.

There is just something about the way the early morning light rakes across the shape of this car that screamed for a black & white treatment. I can honestly say I love this photograph. One of my all-time favorites.

Pollinator Bottle - September

This image is the result of an internet outage forcing me to finally take on a challenge I’d been meaning to tackle for months.

The challenge was to create a magazine-quality marketing image using a local product. To really push my knowledge and creativity. So, a few months previous I bought this bottle of hard cider from North Country Hard Cider which, at the time, was located just a building over from my studio. Literal neighbors. Couldn’t get more local. I brought it back to the studio and it sat on a shelf for months. Then, one day I showed up to work to find the internet was out. While trying to decide what to do since I couldn’t do what I needed to do I noticed the bottle sitting on the shelf, in the exact same place, and decided to finally do it. Well, 6+ hours later, I had this completed image. A lot of trial and error went into making it and I am very proud of it.

GridLife Circuit Legends @ LRP - August

This was something I’d never seen and think it’s crazy cool. During the drifting event photographer Larry Chen, who is a bit of a legend in my line of work, followed close as the drivers did their thing in a Toyota Supra with cameras attached to the nose. I mean, I get gear envy in the media room sometimes, but Larry has a Supra?!

Avery's Senior Portrait

I’ve known Avery since he was 5 years old so it was a pretty special moment to capture his high school senior portrait. I just love this photo of him.

"Thin Ice" - February

This thin layer of ice on the rocks is the result of us having a warm spell in February, which caused a lot of melting, making the rivers run fast, followed by an extreme cold spell. The ice forms as the spray from the fast-flowing river lands on the frigid rock and freezes on contact.
This was taken just for fun through the window of my studio (it was too cold to go outside) and it ended up being my highest scoring image in competition. Go figure.

IMSA Northeast Grand Prix - July

There are few sights in this world that bring me more child-like happiness than a full spectator hillside at Lime Rock Park. Having that color, that humanity, on the grass just brings LRP to life. And nothing brings the crowds to LRP like IMSA.

Are we trespassing? - October

I took this while on a Photowalk around Portsmouth with my buddy Matty V. We were supposed to be a Lime Rock that weekend for Fall Finale. It was my chance to go just for fun and I was bringing Matty along to share the joy of VSCCA. But the day we were scheduled to leave my childcare tested positive for Covid and I was forced to back out. Since we couldn’t be at LRP we made a point to still get together over the weekend to shoot and decided an aimless walk around Portsmouth would be just perfect. It ended up being a great day and this is probably my favorite image from our walk.

Olive - December

Im not a great photographer dad. I barely take any photos of my daughter with my “real” camera. But, I was able to get her into the studio for our XMAS card. This is not the photo we used on our card, but it is the photo I chose to send to my parents on canvas as gits.