Collaboration

Week 29

 

Collaboration

July 24, 2010

The image above is from a collaboration with friend and fellow photographer, Steven Sysum of More Than Sight Photography. Steven asked me to come and help out on an engagement shoot he had scheduled, and I was more than happy to oblige! The shoot took place on the beaches around the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, as well as at the lighthouse itself, right off of scenic Route 1 on the Pacific Coast. It was a beautiful day with a fun couple, and I had a great time helping with the shoot and getting a few shots in myself. Steven put on his creative hat for the shoot, bringing a mirror and paints for the couple to interact with during the session, and it turned out to be a fantastic idea! The couple had fun, and we were able to get Steven some great shots for his clients. 

Some photographers are leary of working with other professionals, thinking they are somehow hurting their own business by helping another's. Now I'm all about healthy competition, but I think there are some that take the idea to an unhealthy place. As professionals, I believe that we should work with each other, let ideas rub off on each other, and support each others' business as often as we can. It not only fosters good will, and encourages professional growth, but is a source of referral business and networking, and helps the industry as a whole by providing positive experiences and better service for our clients. 

To me, competition shouldn't be about winners and losers. Now there will undoubtedly be those that are more successful, and those that are less successful... that's a given in our economy, and I think that is a healthy, good thing. Rather, I think competition should be about two or more professionals in the same field both pursuing excellence. I believe there is room for celebration of each others' victories, as well as for reaching out when needed to lend a hand. 

image taken with Canon 5D MII, 24-105 f/4L lens, 1/250 @ f22, ISO 400

Inter Coastal

Week 28

Inter Coastal
July 13, 2010

I spent all of last week in North Carolina. I have relatives, very good friends, and for this trip - a wedding to shoot in the Tar-Heel state. I traveled throughout Carolina, from Charlotte to Wilmington to Raleigh and the Outer Banks. It's a beautiful state with a lot to see and do, and I certainly only scratched the surface of things to experience there. For instance, there is a wealth of mountain wilderness, from the Blue Ridge to the Smokies that I didn't even come near this trip. Next time....

I did, however get the chance to spend some time around coastal Carolina. The above image was taken in the inter coastal lands of Wrightsville Beach near Wilmington. As I rode along with my close friend that lives in the area and was showing me around a bit, I noticed the expanse of green grasses, waterways and sandy trails that lined the road we traveled. I knew I'd want to come back and shoot, and so when the opportunity presented itself, I headed over to see if I could capture some of the beauty there. Its hard to do the area justice, but I think I was able to capture some of the lands' essence.

image taken with Canon 5D MII, 16-35 2.8L lens, 1/250 @ f18, ISO 400

Kiddos

Week 27

Kiddos
July 9, 2010

Small children are funny. Especially in those pre-2yr old months. They are capable of unbridled joy and laughter one moment and loud, wailing despair the next, infused with insatiable curiosity and possessing of an inherent trust in other people. These little ones are a fascinating look at us as people and at the basic building blocks of our personalities. They seem to display the roots of that which will become much broader and more complex, but growing from the same elements of our spirit and pysche that are with us throughout our lives.

On a shooting trip in North Carolina, I've had the opportunity to shoot with a couple pre-two's this last week, with the above image the result of one of those shoots. A very curious and very active little girl, Sara Kate was hard to keep up with, not wanting to sit still even for a few seconds, and clearly not interested in me or my camera. She was way to busy using the new found freedom of walking legs to run about, checking out every nook and crany of the country club where were were shooting. Stopping for half a second in front of this beautiful floor-to-ceiling window, I captured the above image before she took off running again to the next corner of the room to discover.

I don't have any children, so this is of course is an outside-looking-in perspective, but I look at these kiddos and so many others like them and can't help but wonder at the simple, elemental and beautiful personalities they display. Sensitive and responsive roots of personalities that will grow when watered and fed, for right or wrong. I wonder what roots I will water for my child should I have them? What roots will you water?

My hope for you and I both is that we will encourage joy and put fear in proper perspective. That we will feed the curious mind with new experiences as often as we can. That we will protect when necessary but help the child understand not everything that doesn't feel good is bad. Above everything my hope is that we will teach them that an ounce of love will beat out a gallon of anger, fear and hatred any day.


image above taken with Canon 5D Mark II, 24-105L lens, 1/125 @ f4.0, 400 ISO

What do you Sea?

Week 26

What do you Sea?

July 1, 2010

Half way through 2010. Week 26. It doesn't seem like the days are going that quickly, but here we are, well into the summer and heading towards 2011. What do you want to have 2010 be remembered for? I think I want 2010 to be remembered for the time I spent pursuing a passion. The image above reminds me of this because the person you see (I hope you've seen the person by now:)), is me standing over a retreating collection of sea-foam that has just run up Sculptured Beach at Point Reyes National Seashore on a recent photo-shooting trip. Maybe for you what makes 2010 memorable is that it's the year you started a family, or the year you reprioritized your life to match your values. Maybe it's the year you got lost so that you could discover. Maybe it's the year you set and hit some personal goals, or healed some relationships that were broken.

Recently I was at a BBQ at a friend's home and we were playing a game of sorts, conversation starters really that asked a question for the group to respond to. Some questions were silly or petty and got a collective "boo" from the group, but most were interesting, thought provoking questions that forced you to think about what is important to you. It was a light-hearted mood, and fun to banter about with answers and explanations, but time and time again the idea that friends and family, the relationships that we have been given are the things that are most valued. More so than money, or things... relationships are what we must have and will do most anything for. As you walk through your day tomorrow and the week and months ahead, think about how you can foster the relationships you have.

There are so many ways to make daily choices that will play a large part in the course your life is taken. Don't let 2010, or any year that follows it slip by with your life on auto-pilot. Make it memorable, make it one you remember, and make daily decisions to that end! Until next week....

image taken with Canon 5D Mark II, 24-105L lens, 1/500 @ f4.0, 400 ISO

Service

Week 25

Service
June 24, 2010

In theory, we all like the idea of it. Serving, that is. There are people out there that are down on their luck. A few because of poor decisions they've made, but mostly through no fault of their own, millions (if not billions) of people around the world could use a helping hand. You might say "The needs out there are so great, how could I possibly make a positive difference?" Well one thing is for sure, doing nothing will not make a positive difference.

I was asked to shoot a work-day for an organization that believes in doing something. Housing Industry Foundation, or HIF for short, is made up of a group of executives from the apartment management and related industries who work to provide assistance to people with a housing-related need. From grants for rent or a security deposit, to work-projects to improve housing for a family shelter and many things in between, the sole purpose of this organization is to help others.

I chose the photograph above from this shoot because I appreciate the movement and lines in the image. The powerlines above, the rakelines in the dirt, the motion as he pulls the rake across.. all interesting to me. Plus, the image illustrates this week's topic well, I think.

There are many other groups and movements small and large, ranging from food banks to the Red Cross, to Beautiful Day and local efforts geared to helping out a neighbor. I hope you will think of a way, big or small to pitch in and serve. I encourage you to make that transition from "good idea" to "where do I sign up?". Go ahead, it's good for ya... and you'll be surprised at the difference it makes. In your life as well as those you help....


image taken with Canon 5D, Canon 24-105 4L lens, 1/125 @ f11, ISO 400

Textured

Week 24

Textured #1
June 19, 2010

I recently started a commissioned series on texture. This is the first image in the series, and one that I really like. Taken of a piece of milled wood being used as a fence panel, this image to me isn't just a visual experience. You can almost feel it. Like a smell that triggers strong memories, I think we can be transported to an environment in some ways just by being stimulated visually.

Another reason I enjoy abstract texture images is that like most abstract work, it can speak to you as an individual. Sure, this is a picture of a piece of milled wood that shows grain and the remnants of a knot or branch within it. But to one person it could remind them of their childhood experiences at a family cabin. Another could see an eye poking out from behind the grain, lending personality and a story to this particular piece of wood, still another could see this as a sort of natural Rorschach, projecting what is in their mind's eye, and so on and so on.

Whatever the image does for you, I hope you enjoy it :). And feel free to let me know! I'd love to hear from you....



image taken with Canon 5D, 24-105 4L lens, 1/125 sec @ f/16, ISO 400

The In-Between

Week 23

The In-Between
June 7, 2010

To me, some of the best shots come from the times in-between what you are supposed to be shooting. Take the image above, for example. I think it captures my friend Joshua's personality, and says something different than the headshots we took that he will use to place on publications, executive profiles, and dossiers for his professional life. Nothing wrong with the headshots, mind you - they came out great, and will serve him well. That's not the point. I just find myself looking for opportunities during my sessions to get those unscripted moments, the ones that let you peek into the person a little deeper. Like the image above that tells you Joshua has joy in his life and loves to laugh, those candid shots are the ones you hang onto even if they weren't what you were there to shoot.



image taken with Canon 5D Mark II, 24-105 4L lens, 1/400 @ f4.0, ISO 400