We gather with our friends every Friday for good food and drink, great conversation and an opportunity for lots of laughs. This is our version of Happy Hour. It’s the stuff that the kids will remember when they have kids, and for the adults a chance to feel the week’s troubles melt away—if only for the evening.
Armed with my camera, I attempt to capture the essence of one warm spring Friday. Another truly Happy Hour.
Another issue of Classic Play has been released and it’s another inspirational, gorgeous issue. Check out my feature there, and all of the lovely photos and stories. The issue is all about Food—one of my favorite subjects.
Sometimes I look at the photos I’ve taken and it couldn’t be clearer that I love what I do. Here are a few of those types of photos, shot for client Ellie Bellie Kids for their site www.classic-play.com.
This is one of my all time favorite images. I shot it at a local farm. A simple, magical photograph.
Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can. ~Danny Kaye
When my four year old gets himself dressed in the morning every pattern and color is represented—all in one outfit. There’s a confidence there that can be misconstrued as a lack of experience. But as we get older, we don’t necessarily get more fashionable. We get more uptight!
Kids are not easy to work with during photoshoots. They require far more wrangling than (most) adults, but I inevitably wind up with terrific shots. How does this happen? Well I have a theory. Kids aren’t racked by thoughts like: I look fat. I hope my double chin doensn’t show. I hate my smile. My nose is big. These neuroses don’t show up until much later in life. The kids just have fun with it, and it shows in the photos. I think we grown ups can learn a thing or two from these little models. They’ve got it all figured out.
I plan to shoot more weddings this year. I don’t advertise so it’s all word of mouth. One bride tells another, or friends tell friends “I know a guy who shoots weddings.” With that in mind, I thought I’d post a bit about my approach.
Most people expect the same thing from their wedding photographer. There’s a shot list that starts off something like this: we need a shot of this uncle, that grandmother, the center pieces (that the bride and her sister spent hours agonizing over), oh! and the kids at the wedding, the ring bearer, etc. There is no shortage of photographers who are more than happy get those shots, and then take a formulaic approach to capturing the rest of the event. But a wedding is too organic for that. Sure, there’s a definitive beginning, middle and end, but there are so many fleeting moments that make their day unique. Those moments—those photographs—are often the couple’s favorite(s).
The day is fleeting. I want the images to be timeless.
Happy New Year to all my clients and friends. 2009 was one of the most challenging years I’ve ever had, but it was also a year of development for my photography and of course, graphic design is ever-evolving.
Here’s a look back at a few of the assignments and projects from this past year. Now onward to 2010!
From the Slow Food Web site: Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.
I believe in this movement and am working on a photography project taking photos of chefs involved in this movement in the Baltimore/Washington area. Here are a few from the shoot.
Chef Antonio Baines
A delicious house special with locally sourced eggplant. It was amazing.
The interior of Tapas Teatro
México City
He's a private mariachi, a mariachi for money. He'll play what you want him to.
I recently visited México City. I was there specifically to shoot video for three short films on urban mobility projects for EMBARQ and CTS México. There’s a lot of work left to be done in the city and the surrounding state, but projects like Métrobus and Eco Bici are big steps in the right direction that will help close the gap between the classes by providing safe, affordable and most of all efficient transportation options to every citizen and tourist of the DF (Distrito Federale).
The city is sprawling and diverse. In some areas, I felt relaxed, safe and happy. In others I felt eyes on me as I carried valuable equipment—the sale of which could feed a Méxican family of four for several months. Nevertheless, I was there to take video and photos, and that’s just what I did. I hope you enjoy a sampling of the photos. Read More »