LensEnvy

Inclement Symmetry

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:46:47 -0800

Today we go from one bridge to another.

Though not quite as aesthetically pleasing as the Brooklyn Bridge, this decrepit railroad crossing in Casco Bay proved an interesting subject for photographic exploration.

To get to the point at which this image was snapped, I had to carefully make my way, making sure to avoid rotten beams, out over the tranquil waters of Casco Bay roughly fifty yards away from solid ground. Let me tell you, between the fog limiting visibility to barely 20 feet and the constantly creaking, half-rotten wooden structure, the trip out was quite nerve racking.

As always, the treacherous journey turned out to be well worth it in the end. I couldn’t imagine a cooler way to present this dilapidated trestle than shrouded in a thick layer of fog.

I will be anxious to hear your thoughts on this one!

Classic

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:18:52 -0800

I know this shot has been taken countless times. The image has been permanently stamped into our minds.

However, when you stand there in the shadow of these massive granite pillars, amongst the spider web of steel cables, listening to the traffic fly by a level below, you can’t help but feel a sense of awe.

This thing was built well over a century ago, and with little to no help it has withstood not only the test of time but also some of the harshest carriage, foot, and now motor vehicle traffic anywhere in the world. Take a moment and think about the engineering and brute labor that went into making this iconic crossing a reality.

Humanity has proven, time and time again, that the impossible is within reach.

A Different View

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:28:19 -0800

When one thinks about the Brooklyn Bridge, one tends to dwell on the beautiful stone towers, the staggering engineering achievement, or the historical importance of one of this countries most recognized spans. These are the same thoughts that filled my head as I composed the majority of my images.

It always astounds me how important the photographer’s state of mind is to the final composition of each frame. Take this frame for example. I spotted this guy as Liz and I neared the Brooklyn end of our trek. Seeing him curled up in his winter coat (on a morning where I was dressed in shorts) lying on a cushy trash bag, which I am sure was filled with his entire wardrobe. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel remorse or pity. Instead a gentle smile crept across my face. Watching him lay so peacefully in the warm morning sun, rocked on a regular interval by the quiet din of the morning traffic, how can one not be a little envious.

One of the things about New York that always strikes me is the dramatic and sometimes violent mix of culture and economic status. The affluent all rush from their skyward offices to eat their lunch only feet from the bearded transients crouched at the corner begging for change. Every step on a New York sidewalk is a new experience in the social structure of our country.

Crossing History

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:57:56 -0800

My girlfriend is awesome.

Why you ask? Well, allow me to explain. This summer our fair Elizabeth is participating in a summer internship with UBS in Stamford, Connecticut. Pretty cool huh? Well, everything except the fact that the only housing UBS had available was in the financial district of Manhattan…a cool hour and half commute via subway and train away from Stamford. Due to this tedious commute she must rise and shine everyday at roughly 5 in the morning to make it in on time.

Why is any of this relevant to this image? Well, all of you who get up early for work all week should appreciate this, when the weekend comes nothing short of an act of congress can get Liz out of bed before 9. However, despite the lack of legislation this image was captured at roughly 4:25 A.M. and you’ll never guess who was standing right next to me when I snapped the shutter.

One of the New York landmarks I have always wanted to photograph, the Brooklyn Bridge was just too good to pass up being only a few minutes walk from Liz’s summer housing.

Shooting this epic span, I ran into one of the most challenging problems any photographer faces when trying to take images in a city as photographed as New York. How the hell are you supposed to find a unique angle on a granite suspension bridge, which has been attracting lenses from all over the world for a little over a century?

Uh…lie down in the bike path and get verbally accosted by packs of hardened New York cyclists at 4:30 in the morning. What a way to start the day! Take that Folgers!

Summer in the City

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:24:21 -0800

Well, I survived. The city that never sleeps proved to be one hell of a host.

I decided I would start this series off with a shot of my favorite model.

My darling and I spent the weekend strolling down quite side streets, dining outside, and winding our way through famous museums. I tell you…there is nothing like New York. The city has a pulse, a vivacious under current that sweeps you in and refuses to let you go.

My only regret – and it’s a big one – is that I wasn’t able to focus as clearly as I hoped on my photographic pursuits. Perhaps it was my excitement to see Elizabeth, perhaps the over-stimulation of a city that truly never sleeps, or more likely both. Nonetheless, my initial fervor for penetrating views of America’s favorite town was sadly overshadowed.

Make no mistake. My camera did most certainly make it out of the bag. However, I found it exceedingly hard to stray away from my wide angle. I mean come on! There is so much going on! How can you focus on just one thing!?

Don’t worry, though. I assure you that I have gotten all of my tourist-happy sight seeing out of the way.

Seeing Yellow

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:04:03 -0800

Just finished packing for my big trip to NYC!

This weekend promises to be a grand ol' time. My darling and myself plan to take one hell off a bite outta the Big Apple - visiting various hot spots, wandering the streets, and maybe even seeing a show. I promise my camera will never be far from my side - which hopefully will result in some pretty interesting posts upon my return.

Any requests for subject matter?

SEE YOU ALL MONDAY NIGHT

Toned

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:23:05 -0800

For the final image from the Sam on the beach series, I decided to go old school.

Per usual, I processed this image several different ways. However, after pouring over the color versions, I deemed the toned B+W to be my favorite.

There is something about her expression and pose in this image that just seemed to work well with my monochromatic process. That…or…I am just delirious with exhaustion. Either/Or really.

Simply Blue

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:15:01 -0800

This shot came about thanks to one of my tried and true photographic techniques, shooting without looking through the viewfinder. Yes, you heard right, not a clue as to my framing – just flying by the seat of my pants.

I have found that more often than not letting your instincts guide you will lead you in the right direction, even if it doesn’t feel that way at the time. Shooting at an arms length, for me, has lead to more good shots than bad. It’s tough to get the hang of for sure. You find yourself letting go of your firm grasp of the frame, allowing the mathematical splendor of the rule of thirds fly right out the window. When you come right down to it, it’s damn near photographic blasphemy. Sinning has never looked better.

I wanted to thank you all for your thoughts on yesterday’s image. I cannot tell you enough how much I appreciate your comments. Especially as I step further and further from my comfort zone and into the wonderfully challenging world of portraiture and off camera flash.

You keep those comments flowing people!

In comes the tide, off goes the…

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 20:26:02 -0800

Aloha! I welcome you to the warm tropical beaches of Scarborough, Maine. All right, that’s a lie. The beaches certainly aren’t tropical and though the water was a bit warm by Maine standards it certainly wouldn’t qualify as such in most peoples book.

This shot is quite possibly my favorite from this series. I really enjoy the movement of the water, Samantha’s expression and posture are great, and even the processing here seems to work for me.

I wanted to produce at least one really surreal image from this shoot and I think I finally got it.

As always, your opinion is highly valued! So remember folks – comment early and comment often.

Aphrodite

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:12:05 -0800

Tonight’s title is quite possibly one of the most fitting I have come up with. Why you ask? The answer lies, as you might suspect, in Greek mythology. As the story goes, not only was Aphrodite beautiful, much like Samantha, but she also was born on the crest of a wave. To answer your question, no … I can’t get much more corny.

Enough with mythology, lets get back to photography, shall we? This shot was one hell of a pain in the butt. Not only was Samantha forced to stay still as the frigid water splashed over her, but I myself was almost entirely submerged as well, moving my camera up and down in rhythm with the waves as to avoid a very costly water damage bill.

I know some of you are just dying to hear how I am lighting all these, right? I thought that might be the case. Don’t worry, I have you covered, over on my Flickr account, I have uploaded an EXTRA SPECIAL PHOTO for all you die hard strobists out there. Before you ask, yes … I did have all that equipment dangling precariously above the water. Would you honestly expect anything less?

Bring on the comments!

Sam by the Seashore

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 20:44:40 -0800

Today, as promised, Samantha and I hit the beach. Make no mistake, when I say we hit the beach, I mean we hit the beach. She and I rolled out onto Higgins with three light stands, two cameras, four bags, and somewhere along the way we picked up what appeared to be some type of cockier spaniel.

The dog quickly decided we weren’t the people to follow when we trudged all that equipment into the surf. Oh that’s right, we had my three lights as well as all the paraphernalia that goes along with them right out there with us in the quickly rising tide.

After spending three hours waist deep in the chilly North Atlantic, getting my entire wardrobe soaked with salt water, and trying (mostly in vain) to keep the sand from getting into my equipment we walked away with some pretty cool shots.

Stay tuned boys and girls, things will only get better from here!

Urban Beauty

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:56:16 -0800

This series has certainly been a lot of fun. It was fun to shoot as well as fun to process. Though I know I have at least ten to twelve more shots that are post worthy, this will be my post from this series.

Don’t worry though! The photographic fun is just beginning. Tomorrow, I am meeting a friend from college for pizza and beer and we all know what pizza and beer leads too…a photo shoot! Then, on Saturday, Sam is coming back down for a second shoot. So those of you who feared you had seen the last of our fair lady can sleep well knowing she’ll be back!

Hope you guys have enjoyed this series as much as I have.

Work It

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:29:48 -0800

Tonight I started my nightly editing ritual with thoughts of posting another more “traditional” image, something along the lines of my previous post, Center Stage.

However, after pushing out a few images that did in fact fit that description, I fell back into my old ways. I even processed images both ways. This shot being an example of this technique. I started by pushing this one through Shop as a traditional image, then went back and tweaked it, Mark Fleming style.

I stepped back and looked at both images … and well, you can see which one I walked away with. Definitely a ‘mark’ shot – edgy to the max, contrasty, colorful, and of course has a dynamic range that has been tweaked to hell and back.

However, I do know that not all of you enjoy my over the top style as much as I do. So, for those of you, who are furrowing your brow, check out this more serene version over at Flickr.

Above all – let the feedback fly! I have talked to Sam and we are both eager to hear your thoughts. Though, I would ask that any criticizing be done with a blood alcohol level under the legal limit. You know who you are.

Change Up

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:38:47 -0800

You people have to know me well enough by now to know that there was no way I would let this series go by without taking at least a few of the shots to the limit. I have a syndrome, what can I say.

Most of this shoot was shot with the softer ‘glamour’ look in mind. However, I did toss in a few ‘edgy’ compositions. Take today’s shot for instance. I started by having Sam stand in the corner of this disintegrating ammunition hold. Then, after laying down on the dust and grime covered floor, I had her lean over the camera and give me as much attitude as she could muster.

Though I am sure this set up looked quite peculiar from the outside, it definitely lead to some pretty sick shots.

I went to town on the processing to bring out that ultra-grunge feel. I wanted to accentuate the juxtaposition between her soft curves and the hard edges of the cracked concrete.

It is always fun to process a series of images differently. It’s amazing how different two shots can be, despite being taken only minutes apart at the same location with the same model. Oh photography, what a furtive mistress you can be!

Center Stage

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 17:54:25 -0800

Today we find our beautiful model, Sam, seated inside one of the several heavily graffittied bunkers that make up Fort Williams.

It took quite a bit of sweeping to clean off a spot big enough for her to sit, though the dirt and dust were nothing compared to the dubious odor that seemed to hang in the air. I tell ya, being a model isn’t all it’s cracked up to be!

The most unnerving part, however, and why I decided to title this post as ‘Center Stage,” is that during our session we were joined by no less than 20 wandering visitors. I mean, I suppose you can’t blame people for being curious, especially when you take into account the fact I have a beautiful girl in a dress, two umbrellas, light stands, various camera equipment, and constantly flashing bright lights – and don’t forget that all of this paraphernalia is located inside a decrepit WWII era bunker.

Oh well, enough chatter for tonight…back to editing!

Pretty in Pink

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 20:35:54 -0800

I’m back folks!

I know it has been a while, but I assure you, the images you will be seeing over the next few days will be well worth the wait. The reason being that I met up with a friend, and aspiring model, for a glamour style shoot today.

Everyone, I want you to meet Sam. She spent most of the afternoon with me crawling around one of my favorite locations, Fort Williams. This dilapidated World War II era fort is heavily tagged and wonderful for those stereotypical ‘urban grunge’ type backgrounds.

Between crouching in dark corners and being constantly plagued by questionable odors, Sam had quite a day of shooting. She kept a great attitude though, and most certainly kept me on my toes.

I am anxious to hear your thoughts on this particular image, as I’m sure is Sam. So lets get those comments rolling people!

Also, stay tuned – more shots from today’s shoot are on deck for the next few days.

34

Tue, 3 Jun 2008 18:58:45 -0800

Took a little dive into the archives for this guy. Still running low on post worthy material, though I am trying to work on setting up something for this weekend. Cross your fingers everyone!

A few notes on today’s image, I used three separate frames to capture this scene. Think panoramic just vertically. Also, I processed this guy as an HDR, then ran it through my LucisArt plug-in, and finally tossed in a little curvy cross-processing for good measure.

See ya soon.

Sculpted

Sun, 1 Jun 2008 18:32:03 -0800

Hello all.

I am sad to say that Elizabeth has officially moved into her new digs in the Big Apple. I shouldn’t say that I am sad – I mean I will certainly miss her – but she is gonna have one hell of a summer living with her 3 best friends in the coolest city in the world. Hey, isn’t there a movie coming out about that? Weird.

In any event, I just returned from a quick visit to Connecticut this past weekend and figured I better throw an image up. I mean I can’t expect people to stick around when I don’t update!

It’s not phenomenal, just a little experimenting I did with a neutral density filter a few days back. But in this case at least it’s something and something is most definitely better than nothing!

More exciting updates to follow!

Sock Drawer

Sat, 24 May 2008 18:36:37 -0800

The name for this one comes from a little inside joke between Ryan and I. When we entered this room we quickly realized that this was the final resting place for what appeared to be almost all the bureaus in the building. Drawers and cabinets lie in various states of destruction all over the floor.

One bureau, which was leaning against the far corner, had a bright red sticker on the top most drawer. This neon sticker read simply, “SOCKS.” So naturally, Ryan responded to this blatant insult to humanity by responding, “If only I had a place to put my DAMN SOCKS!”

Don’t worry, I have repeatedly informed him that his career in stand-up is waiting.

Going Up

Fri, 23 May 2008 09:40:42 -0800

I know. I know. I have been seriously slacking on the posting lately. Truth be told, I have been trying to spend as much time with Liz as possible, as she is heading off to NYC for the summer in only two days! I don’t know what I will do without my favorite model! Though, I am sure her relocation will prove to bring yours truly and his lens, back to the Big Apple! Just think of this lull in the action as a prelude to the exciting posts from New York this summer.

Today’s image is a shot I took from the second floor lobby. I couldn’t pass this magnificent couch without catching at least one frame. Luckily for me the symmetry here worked in my favor. I say luckily because there wasn’t a ton of room to maneuver my tripod in this tiny lobby area.

Upon further review of this image, I thoroughly enjoy the juxtaposition between the elevator doors, which are cold and steel with the solitary warm wooden panel of the janitor’s closet. The couch, which not only anchors the scene, provides an excellent boundary between the two. The mix of textures is also wonderful within this scene. Everything from the cracking paint to the woven floral pattern on the couch comes together to bring added depth too this image.

I promise posting will pick back up before to long!

Seat by the Window

Tue, 20 May 2008 17:03:22 -0800

Here is a view from the stairwell of the nursing home. As you can see the paint is practically dripping off the walls. The ceilings had cracked, the walls decayed, and the floors had begun to turn green with mold, all of these happenings within a mere three to four years. Abandonment is a vicious thing. It kills from the inside out, a parasite feeding on its host until finally it kills the host itself.

Wandering through these decrepit hallways, one can’t help but feel a connection to the past. Standing, alone, where once people milled about, living their everyday lives. There were files strewn about, medical records of patients’ long dead, calendars filled with events, and even a few personal photographs. It’s much like walking into a history book, or perhaps a time machine.

The second image is a self-portrait that was taken in the curved mirror of what was once a surveillance camera housing. Ryan and I have made it a habit to take at least one self-portrait in every building we explore. I think this one trumps all previous attempts in regards to creativity, though.

Putridity

Mon, 19 May 2008 17:52:46 -0800

Sorry folks. I’ve had a hectic week and as a result have severely lacked on the posting end of things.

Never fear, though, I am back with a view inside the Renaissance Nursing Home. The first room that Ryan and I entered turned out to be the kitchen. Before you all ask, I will tell you that, yes, the lights were on. It appears that the electricity has yet to be turned off, weird, I know.

The kitchen was, as you can see, quite disrupted. There were various and sundry food items strewn about the floor and even a hospital tray or two.

My favorite part of this room, and the reason for this shot, was the gross green tile that lined the walls. The already putrid green was made even more repulsive by the layer of mold growing on it. Oh boy, I don’t even want to think about the fun stuff my lungs got outta this trip!

Vistor Parking

Fri, 16 May 2008 19:29:16 -0800

Abandoned nursing home meet everyone, everyone meet the abandoned nursing home.

That’s right people. The daring explorers of all things derelict are back, and back in style!

The aging building you see before you is what is left of, the Renaissance Nursing Home in Biddeford, Maine. This once state of the art facility was built in 1950 and as far as we could tell was shut down sometime between 2005 and 2006. During that period of time it had served not only as a nursing home but also as a working hospital.

I had driven by this place on numerous occasions, each time wishing I could get my lens and myself inside. This week, with a little help from my Bostonian companion I finally got my chance.

Stay tuned this week for interior shots. Let me tell you – of all the abandoned places I’ve been, this baby most definitely makes it to the top!

Beautiful decay

Wed, 14 May 2008 18:58:12 -0800

For this shot, Liz and I climbed into an old munitions hold located beneath the fort. Oh yes, into a munitions hold in 4” heels. Any questions?

The room proved to be an interesting lighting dilemma, mostly because the ceilings were barely 6 feet. I wanted a moody look here, but since the ceiling was so low it was hard to keep the light from bouncing around. A nice little grid spot certainly would have helped.

In any regard, I particularly enjoy the post on this image. It has that little something extra that I always look for in portraits. The skin is smooth, the wall gritty, and the overall image somewhere in between. Now if I could just figure out how I pulled this off.

Oh well, I suppose that’s part of the fun.

Cornered

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:40:14 -0800

Here we have another frame from our trip to the heavily tagged bunkers of Fort Williams.

What initially drew me to this local was the rough and tumble appearance of this concrete fort. In fact, you may remember this spot better from one of my previous posts, here.

After almost an hour and half doing up some glamour style make-up and getting a bit funky with her hair, I tossed Liz into one of her favorite black dresses. The juxtaposition between her soft pale skin and the hard cold concrete was really fun to play with.

The posing turned out to be the hardest part. Not because of her unwillingness, but rather due to the sudden drop in temperature over the past few days. Once again, I have to give the girl props for trudging around an old fort in heels and a dress.

Dolled Up

Sun, 11 May 2008 20:22:55 -0800

Finally! I made it out today and actually spent some quality time behind the lens.

I decided to keep with my location lighting theme and get in some more practice with my darling Elizabeth. Once again she proved to be a pillar of support, getting all dolled up and drudging around old Fort Williams in heels and a dress.

I shot enough images to keep me busy for some time now, so don’t you worry, there will be plenty more where this came from.

Tried to get a bit more intimate with my framing this time. Hence the tight crop here. As always, let me know what you guys think.

Sky’s the limit

Fri, 9 May 2008 18:52:50 -0800

Watching these guys push the limit makes you realize that true talent is really something to behold.

Whether you are flying down a mountain at speeds upward of 80 mph, racing two wheels through the forest, skating around an asphalt jungle, or being towed behind a boat extreme athletes take sport to a whole other level.

These guys practice day in and day out, contorting their bodies, pushing each and every muscle to the absolute limit. Their dedication to their craft is inspiring.

Drops of Twilight

Thu, 8 May 2008 18:56:38 -0800

Drops of Twilight

Tonight we are going to the archives seeing as I am exhausted aftering having spent the past ten hours at work and just finished unpacking yet more boxes. Did I mention that I hate moving?

What you see here is a bit of fun that Liz and I had while on the shipwreck shoot. She, as per her usual attitude, decided she wanted to play in the water. Mind you the water is roughly 40 degrees, but hey, who am I to question.

In any event, this is her attempt at flirting with the man on the moon. Enjoy!

Splash and Grab

Tue, 6 May 2008 17:31:57 -0800

After four days of filling the car with boxes and trekking across town, I can finally say that everything I own is once again under one roof. I hope.

The fact of the matter is that whether you are moving a few blocks or a few hundred miles, packing all of your earthly belongings sucks! My favorite part of this whole ordeal were the “Ah, so that’s where that was,” and the ever popular, “And I needed this why again,” moments.

In any event, I hope to have all things back up and running within the next day or so. That said, I should be back to posting on a regular basis. Thank you all for your patience!

Moving Day

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:41:26 -0800

Considering I will most likely be missing a few posts over the next few days, I figured it would be appropriate to tell you all why.

As you have probably guessed from the above subject matter, I am moving this weekend. Luckily, this time it is only a few blocks, not half the state. However, none-the-less it is still a major pain in the A$$.

I have spent the past few hours cramming cardboard boxes with my belongings and let me tell you, no other activity will make you hate your belongings so much! Trust me, it gives spring-cleaning a whole new meaning.

In any event, if I do fail to post during the next few days, no worries. I am just throwing all of my belongings into a massive bon-fire. Follow the smoke, you’ll find me sooner or later.

Maine Rodeo

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:17:15 -0800

Oh, that’s right, we have rodeos in Maine. Ours just involve burgers, beer, and hell of a lot of fast moving H2O.

I thought it was about time to bounce back to the April 20th white water shots. After all, I did promise these guys I would throw up some shots.

Despite the horrible lighting and lack of vantage point, I was surprised to see that I did come away with a few cool frames. I did toss a bunch of post at these guys though, anything to try and spice up the bland mid-day light.

I am currently trying to organize a waterfall run with these guys in the not to distant future. No promises, but if I do get them to secure a date, you guys will be the first to know!

Colorize

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:33:44 -0800

Per Bradi’s request, I borrowed Canon’s 60mm super macro and ring flash to do a little macro work with my girlfriend’s gorgeous eyes.

The above image is the result of nearly an hour trying to get that puppy to focus properly. I did learn one thing though, and that is that this photographer is NOT cut out for heavy-duty macro work.

Anyways, hope you all enjoy an angle of Liz that doesn’t involve a pink dress or the ocean for once!

Fight Club

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:43:42 -0800

As promised my buddy Ryan in his usual attire.

Ryan and I have always been fans of the cult classic film, Fight Club. After all it is about a bunch of guys, one imaginary, who gather together two times a week to pummel the hell outta one another. What self-respecting 20 something male wouldn’t love such a cinematic journey?

In any event, I posed Ryan here with that film in mind. The pose, ink, rope, and most importantly lighting are all designed to emphasize that whole ‘back-ally-kick-your-ass’ look.

A successful attempt? You tell me!

P.S. - I am also taking suggestions for tomorrow's post.

Mistress of the Sea

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:42:30 -0800

I am sure that some of you out there are probably getting tired of seeing this pink polka dotted dress. I do apologize for the recent monotony, however, I did want to process through this batch before moving to far ahead.

Rest assured though, I will try and scrounge up something new for tomorrow’s post. Perhaps one from Ryan’s stint in the abandoned skate park.

But lets get back to polka dots for now. This image turned out to be one of my favorites of the shoot. Something about her pose here that really intrigues me. It’s mysterious and sultry all at the same time. I also really enjoy the fact that she is standing in ankle deep water as opposed to in the usual wave wash. The light shining into the water has a pretty cool effect, I think.

Thoughts? Comments? Ideas for tomorrow’s post? Lay um’ on me people.

Fact or Fantasy

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 19:18:52 -0800

Most people don’t give models much credit. I mean they are just pretty faces that stand in front of the lens right?

Wrong! Models have it pretty darn rough. Not only do they have to perform at a moments notice, putting on whatever face/emotion necessary for the occasion, but they also need to be equipped to do so in pretty much any environment. No kids, not all models are shot in cozy studios with iced lattes just off camera. Most get up early and head out into whatever the photographer has decided to throw at them that day.

Take my gorgeous girl friend for instance, I had her standing in the surf for almost an hour, and remember folks, this is Maine!

I decided to post this shot to emphasize the change that she was able to make–from freezing and tired to elegant and joyful in the blink of an eye. Beat that Tyra Banks!

This one’s for Larry

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:41:41 -0800

I apologize for the random change from location lighting, but I did promise my white water buddies that I would post some shots from this weekend.

I spent this past Sunday in a small town in Western Maine by the name of Steep Falls. What’s in Steep Falls you ask? Well, ordinarily not a whole lot. However, this past weekend the river was clogged with colorful boats.

These guys had gathered for what is referred to in the white water world as a ‘rodeo.’ The rodeo, which was in memory of a departed friend, was a display of aquatic acrobatics, each boater competing to see who could pull off the sickest trick.

Overall it was a great experience. I got to hang out with my friend Tom, who you might remember from THIS shot, and got to meet a bunch of cool people. The only downside to this whole ordeal was that I was shooting in probably the worst lighting conditions I have experienced in quite some time. Not only was it harsh mid-day lighting, but … well it was harsh mid-day lighting, that’s really all that needs to be said.

Luckily I made some friends who are willing to indulge my photographic desires and head out again – this time after the sun has dropped lower in the sky!

More lighting experiments tomorrow, stay tuned.

Ferris Wheel Princess

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:40:14 -0800

I don’t know what happened. I went from not having nearly enough material to edit/post to now having four shoots in as many nights. The images are piling up, and I couldn’t be happier.

This latest burst of photographic inspiration has not only lead to some pretty darn cool shots, but has also pushed my knowledge of location lighting to the limit. Reading, When it Clicks by Joe McNally every night, and trudging my gear out into the world every day has most definitely improved my lighting skills.

Take this shot for instance. I knew I wanted to show the beautiful colors of the spring time sunset. I also knew that I wanted my lighting set-up to be as dynamic as possible. My challenge was to incorporate everything into one frame—especially the skeletal Ferris wheel.

The end result is EXACTLY what I have been looking for. A edgy twist on the classical late afternoon portrait session.

Make sure to leave your thoughts, and I will be more than happy to reveal the lighting set-up for anyone who wants to know.

Lost at Sea

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:42:15 -0800

It’s a gorgeous day, mid 70’s and not a cloud in sight, a perfect day for a walk on the beach. That being the case, I decided it would be a great day to head on down to one of my favorite spots for sunset, the wreck of the Howard W. Middleton. (See previous shot HERE) As I’m driving, I think to myself, “Hmm, I wonder how I could spice up this shoot?” I came to the answer almost immediately – throw a half naked chick in there!

Luckily I just happened to have one with me. As many a photojournalist will tell you, always come prepared! With a quick trip to a phone booth for a change of costume, Liz was ready to frolic on the seaweed-covered remains of the Middleton.

I have to tell you guys, she is a great model. Staying out there all night, while I fumbled around trying to get my temperamental Speedlites to work. She even got in the frigid water – going as far as to get totally soaked – don’t worry pictures will be up within the week!

Anywho, lets all give her some props here people! Also, thoughts on the photo would be nice too.

Ta Ta for now.

You won’t like him when he’s angry.

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 03:56:25 -0800

My latest personal challenge, though there are many, has been to take on the world of location lighting.

What has sparked my interest in the wonderful world of artificial light you ask? The answer is the one and only, Joe McNally. This 25-year veteran of the National Geographic has made location lighting not only his specialty but also his passion! He has mastered everything from dramatic low light portraits to lighting an entire B52 bomber with only Nikon Speedlights. The man is a magician with light.

I saw Joe speak for the second time at this year’s Photoshop World. His lighting seminar was fabulous and extremely educational. Not only can the man light any scene under the sun (no pun intended) but he is also a pretty awesome speaker, funny as hell.

Now, enough inspiration, lets get down to the nitty gritty. What we are looking at here is who else but my pal Ryan lit by a total of 3 canon Speedlites. I dropped my white balance to 2800 K to throw the background blue and wrapped a red handkerchief around my key light (580EX II). The mix of colors and dynamic, grungy background I think comes together well for a unique and highly stylized portrait.

Did I mention we didn’t finish up this shoot till around 4 a.m.? We started at 1 a.m. You have to admire friends who are willing to stand around half naked in an abandoned skate park for four hours in 40-degree weather.

Crushed Composition

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 01:32:25 -0800

Another junkyard capture, this time on a bit more abstract level.

I walked by this scene twice, and though I thought about shooting it the first time, it wasn’t until my return trip that I finally found a good perspective.

I wanted to show the chaotic design as well as the layers upon layers of detail. To accomplish this I got as low as the mucky ground would allow, tossed my weight onto my haunches, and shot wide.

I am really pleased with the end result. Who knew junkyards could be so much fun.

Oh, and no guard dogs…very disappointing.

The Claw

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:22:43 -0800

Figured I would mix things up a bit tonight.

I have found that my short trip to the junkyard was really one of my better photo excursions. The veritable plethora of subject matter was astounding. Almost everywhere you looked–or stepped–there was a new composition.

I choose this particular shot to emphasize the sheer power of this hydraulic claw. The low angle increases the feeling of power and lets not forget the pile of crushed thousand pound cars behind it.

On a bit of a side note, my first video tutorial [HDR in Lightroom] will be going live on LayersMagazine.com this Friday. Stay tuned for the link!

Wipe • Out

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:25:37 -0800

Per Ryan’s request I decided to share what most don’t see. When things DON’T go smoothly.

Yes, that’s right, even pro riders don’t land every trick. In fact, when they start to crash and burn you know you’re getting the good stuff.

For instance, this attempted kick flip looked sick, whether he landed it or not. Take the second shot of this series, for example, and you would never know he missed the landing.

Let me tell you, there’s nothing quite like spending a day out on the glassy water of a central Florida lake, watching pro wake boarders flip through the air. Oh, and did I mention it was a cool 75 degrees? Yeaaaa…Maine in April? Not so much!

rec·la·ma·tion

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:50:24 -0800

CLICK FOR LARGER VERSION

I apologize for my divergence from my current wake series. I promise the aerial acrobatics of my Florida friends will return soon enough.

I couldn’t resist posting this puppy tonight. Especially after putting nearly two hours and over 40 layers into her. Don’t worry I have included a screen shot of my layer panel, HERE.

I stumbled across this scene while driving home from the grocery store. The site certainly isn’t new, as I am sure you can tell from the sheer amount of debris that has accumulated here. Rather, I just happened to be driving by at magic hour and couldn’t help but notice the gorgeous light.

Knowing the light wouldn’t last much longer. I raced home, grabbed my gear, and rushed back. I managed to find an access point where the chain link fence had been broken, and with that I began my shooting spree.

I am going to allow you all to choose what you want to see tomorrow. Your choices are either another junkyard shot OR another dose of adrenaline served up Florida style.

The choice is yours brave souls, choose wisely!

Backward Glance

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:38:13 -0800

Tonight will be a short post as I have spent most of the afternoon trying to finish up some tutorials for LayersMagazine.com. I will be sure to let you know as soon as they go live!

As for today’s photo? Well, it was quite an interesting shot to catch. To grab this shot, Shaun had to maneuver our boat right up behind Robby as he was pulled out of the water. Just for a point of reference, this shot was taken on my full frame 5D using a 17mm. So, yes, we really were THAT close!

The Dragon

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 01:52:42 -0800

Here you see pro rider number two, Robby Jacques. His aerial skills proved to be equally as impressive as Mr. Murray’s.

Robby was an extremely clean rider, performing pokes, grabs, and spins with the exacting precision. His style was unique and incredibly fresh.

This kid was truly a joy to shoot.

Splash Down

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 01:20:01 -0800

Our day of shooting was not all focused on professionals. Oh, no. In fact some of my best images came from a 16-year-old neighbor of Shaun’s who ripped up the water on his wake skate.

For those of you who don’t know, a wake skate is exactly what it sounds like. Basically you take a skateboard deck, loose the wheels, and plop it in the water. No boots, no bindings, only a pair of skate boarding shoes and skill keep you attached to the board.

This guy ¬– who had only been on a wake skate for a little over 10 months – blew my mind. Performing kick flips and shove-its like he was born on a board. His talent and perseverance were inspiring.

Take this shot for instance. This is how he started his run, getting a running start and leaping off the back of our chase boat and onto his board. This kid has talent, look for him soon on the professional wake skating circuit.

Aerial

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:42:26 -0800

I’m baaaaaack!

That’s right folks, your friendly neighborhood photographer has returned from the land of fun and sun 22 and apparently a guru.

As some of you are already aware, I was up for two Adobe Photoshop Guru Awards. One for best of photography and the other for best of show, both of my images won in each category! It was one heck of a thrilling experience let me tell you! It is certainly an intense and surreal feeling to get onstage in front of roughly 2,500 people.

The conference was fabulous. I met some awesome people, attended a ton of great classes, and enjoyed the fabulous weather. However, Photoshop wasn’t the only thing on my plate while in Florida.

Thanks to my friend Bess, who has been shooting wake boarding for several years now, I was able to set up a shooting session with two of wake boarding’s top riders. The rider you see above is the one and only Shaun Murray!

Murray, who has been the top athlete in his sport for years, even having his own video game, was refreshingly a really cool guy. Very chill and extremely down to earth, allowing us to come to his house and photograph him behind his boat.

I assure you that there are tons of new images heading your way. However, for tonight I will leave you with the king of wake.

See you all tomorrow!

It's Party Time!

Tue, 1 Apr 2008 15:17:03 -0800

Off to the Sunshine State for some quality time with my good buddy Bess and of course all the Photoshop guys!

See you all next week!!

Snack Time

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:07:37 -0800

Snack Time

Apologies for the delay, I have been busying preparing for my upcoming trip to Florida. That’s right, Tuesday I board a plane destined for the city of fun and sun, Orlando. My time in the theme park capital of the world will not be spent strapped in, upside down, with faux mouse ears on my head, however. Instead, I will be joining nearly a thousand of the world’s best photographers, designers, and artists who will be attending this year’s Photoshop World Conference. I am super excited to see all the top Photoshop professionals in the industry and to cram my head full of all the Adobe based information I can!

This will be my second time at the conference, and my first time being nominated for a Guru Award. My image, “Hang Time,” was chosen as one of three finalists for Best of Show and my image, “Night Crossing,” was chosen as one of three finalists for Best of Photography. We find out the winners at the opening ceremonies on Wednesday, wish me luck!

Today’s shot, as you probably have figured out, is another from the Saco Drive in. The most intriguing part of being in this location was that, since the drive-in obviously hadn’t been plowed out, we were all standing in knee high snow. The only respite from the avalanche type conditions was the area around the projection booth/snack bar. Here the wind had whipped the snow away from the building, uncovering a tiny piece of asphalt.

Thank you all for your suggestions for tutorials. I shall begin my writing after my return from Orlando. I’ll be sure to keep you all informed of my progress.

Summer Nights

Sun, 30 Mar 2008 03:38:53 -0800

All right, so I don’t know what life has been like in the rest of the country. However, here in the great white north (A.K.A. Maine) we have received well over 100 inches of snow. The last of which came down…yesterday! Yes, yesterday.

Personally, I have given up all hope of spring, summer, or even temperatures above 20 degrees. This being the case, I collaborated with my fellow Hunt’s employees on a summer themed photographic outing. What brings thoughts of summer you ask? Why an old fashioned drive-in of course! Real old in fact, the Saco Drive-In is the second oldest operating drive-in in the United States.

With temperatures hovering in the mid-teens we set off into the knee deep snow that covered the parking area of the drive-in. Tony had his newly purchased 5x7 view camera, Tyler had his Bronica 6x6, and what was I toting you ask? Well, I was committing an act of sacrilege by carrying the only digital camera in the bunch. Damn purists!

Here are my two keepers from the trip. Tomorrow, I shall share some shots of my two camera clad companions. Stay tuned people!

Oh, and no one gave me any tutorial ideas! Are you people telling me there isn’t a single thing that you would like to learn how to do in Photoshop? How about Lightroom? Come on ladies and gentlemen – what is it that you desire?!

Change of focus

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:28:51 -0800

These two shots were two of my personal favorites from the weekend. These shots, for me, really embody what it’s like to be with the little peanut.

I used an unusual technique to capture both of these shots. As you may have noticed, Mel Mel isn’t the main focus in either of these shots. Instead, I have drawn your eye away from her and to a separate part of the scene.

I enjoy using this technique in photojournalism because it allows the viewer to experience more than just the main subject of the image. You will also notice that there is a strong visual guideline in both of these shots. This allows your viewer to be drawn through the frame, stopping to take in each part of the composition.

Yes, these are the things I think about while lying on my brother’s floor photographing my ten-month-old niece. Pretty ridiculous huh?

Melly Belly

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:18:13 -0800

It’s official. My niece is the cutest baby ever. Yes, ever…like in the history of time.

Alright, enough mushy stuff for one day. This little series was a blast to shoot. I swear that this little girl is my best subject. Why you ask? Well she is totally in love with the camera. Or, as I am sure she sees it, the big black box that follows her around the room.

She is such a ham, as you can see, grabbing the lens, smiling, giggling. The antics and the angle gets even better when I drop down to her level. This technique seems to be the best vantage point I can achieve. It brings you in to her world.

I started with these as color shots, her great red shirt and colorful booties. However, when I took a minute to sit back and look there was something that clicked and I asked myself, “hmm, I wonder how this would look in black and white.”

The result, as you can see above, is a much more simplistic and graphic approach. I enjoy black and white because it forces you to focus on the details, the tones, curves, and intricacies that make up the image. For instance, before this turned black and white I almost missed how great you her smile is on the last frame.

Any thoughts? Comments? Concerns? Do tell.

Also – I am currently working on several tutorials for Layers Magazine online. If there are any techniques that you would like to see turned into a tutorial let me know!

Oooh Pretty Light

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 18:37:08 -0800

Now ten months old, this is Melanie Elizabeth Fleming’s second time appearing on this site.

I was fortunate enough to spend some time with her and her Dad (my brother) this Easter. As everyone knows by now, spending time with me most always involves a camera. This time, to Melanie’s delight, it also involved a flash.

She was in the process of showing us all her new talent – crawling – when I popped off a test flash. She stopped dead in her tracks, turned, and made a B-line for my flash.

Being the photog that I am, I kept popping off shots as she pushed her little self across the carpet. Of the many I took, this one would probably have to be my favorite. I love the quality of light on her face as well as the look of pure fascination clearly visible in her eyes.

Good lord she’s cute. I can’t imagine what life is going to be like when she’s finally able to walk – talk – drive – fly? Who knows, that’s the great thing about childhood. The sky is the limit!

Tidal Treasure

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 05:00:00 -0800

A second shot from the Middleton wreck.

With this image, I wanted to keep the vintage look in regards to my processing, however, I couldn’t get myself to loose all the color. So, in usual fashion I decided to go with my patented cross-processing technique.

What really drew me to this composition were the unusual patterns visible in the sand, especially at low tide. It’s pretty cool to see how the water reacts to any obstruction, twisting and curving digging out a new path to its destination.

Heading to Connecticut for the weekend. Hopefully I shall return with some post worthy images.

Happy Easter all!

Howard W. Middleton

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 04:53:58 -0800

Taking advantage of a particularly low tide today, I decided to make my way down to Higgins Beach and have another go at the wreck of the Howard W. Middleton.

I felt that given the subject matter a black and white toned image would work perfectly for this shot.

After doing some research I found this article about the Middleton on Wikipedia.

“Howard W. Middleton Shipwreck

The Howard W. Middleton wrecked at Higgins Beach on August 11, 1897. A coastal schooner, the Middleton was behind schedule and was sailing at night. In dense fog, the vessel, bound for Portland with a load of coal, strayed off course and struck a ledge in the mouth of the Spurwink River. The fog was so thick that the crew didn’t realize there was a community at Higgins Beach and went ashore at Cape Elizabeth. The Next day the fog lifted and it was discovered that the ledge had ripped a hole in the vessel below the waterline.

Tug boats came from Portland and tried in vain to pull the Middleton off. A dew days later, filled with water, the keel broke with the action of the tides, and the vessel was declared a total loss. The Middleton was stripped for salvage, and most of the coal was saved. It has been said that the legitimate salvage crew worked by day and a clandestine group worked by night. The group of locals put up enough coal to last three winters. In September of that year, a storm drove the Middleton further inland. The remains are still visible on the beach near the bank of the Spurwink River.”

IV

Fri, 21 Mar 2008 03:19:28 -0800

Ladies and gentlemen, I now present the one, the only, the beautiful Elizabeth!

Per my request, my lovely girlfriend was kind enough to humor me while I messed around with my new flash set-up. I have recently been trying to perfect my strobe techniques using my Canon 580EX flash units. This seemingly simple task has turned out to be more challenging than I expected.

Now you all know I am a true blue Canon addict, I love my company through and through. However, in the area of off camera flash I must admit Nikon with their innovative Creative Lighting System have the upper hand. Though, still bleeding red and black, I continue to struggle through.

If you have any inquires regarding the lighting set-up for these shots, just ask and I’ll be more than happy to share.

Oh, and tell me this girl isn’t the most adorable you have ever seen. Do it. I dare you!

Wave Wash

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:05:58 -0800

Another shot from my cold day at the beach, once again using the 1Ds Mark II.

The ocean never fails to amaze me. The simplicity and rhythm of the waves, the pungent and relaxing aroma, the sand beneath your feet, you just can’t beat it as a photographic muse.

Mix the constancy of the waves with an extended shutter and you get yourself one hell of a relaxing afternoon at the beach. Minus the frigid water, soaked clothes, and roughly a pound of sand that now has to be removed from your car, house, and hair, of course.

After the storm

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:56:51 -0800

In a vain attempt at enjoying this brief glimpse of spring weather, I headed down to the beach today to pop off a few shots.

Armed with our store’s newly acquired (used) 1Ds Mark II, I strolled out onto the sand just as the sun was beginning to dip behind the sunrise. And what to my wondering eyes should appear? Why, three washed up lobster pots. A photographer’s treasure indeed!

I regret to admit that these traps where not found where they lie. Instead, they had been washed up during high tide and therefore were a good fifty yards from the rolling surf. Oh, that’s right folks, your humble photographer dragged three waterlogged lobster traps fifty yards down the beach and into the surf.

That wasn’t half as fun as standing ankle deep in the frigid Atlantic, trying to keep my tripod steady in the shifting sand, while composing this shot. I know, I know. It’s a tough job…but hey, someone has to do it. Right?

Here’s lookin’ at you

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 02:20:51 -0800

So this is my friend Ryan. Upside down.

I am sure that after seeing his antics for this long you have stopped asking the ever-present question of, why? However, just incase your curiosity hasn’t been quenched just yet, I will indulge.

See, while in the same location as his famous flowerpot jump, we came across these beautiful arches. Seeing an opportunity to express his modeling expertise, Ryan bounded up onto a bench and pressed his body awkwardly into the arch. The unusual part comes when I tell you that all this was done while inverted!

More often than not I find clicking the shutter is the easy part of the photographic equation.

Crossroad

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 03:03:25 -0800

Scenes like this are why I love Boston. Where else can you find a century old building sitting in shadow of a glass glazed modern skyscraper.

The oldest surviving public building in Boston, The Old Statehouse lies at an incredibly busy intersection in the financial district. The modern day skyscrapers that surround this historic site are in sharp contrast to this building, which once housed the seat of colonial government.

Usually cast in shadow, I came around the corner of State Street to find this Bostonian wonder bathed in golden light. The sunlight light was being reflected off the golden windows of the building next to it. The mixture of natural light with the reflected light from all the skyscrapers was magical.

This is another image I processed almost entirely in Lightroom. The technique for tone mapping my images inside of Lightroom has certainly peaked my interest. I will be sure to include more shots processed this same way in upcoming posts.

Freeze Frame

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 15:14:10 -0800

From high wire to high-flyer, I told you this guy does some strange things for the camera.

While touring some of the locations from the filming of last year’s best picture winner, The Departed, we came across these oversized flowerpots. Ryan, being the ever-mindful citizen that he is, jumped onto one and promptly ran through the dirt to the other. Seeing this fascinating display of youthful neglect for public property, I immediately asked him to do it again, but better!

The result is what you see above. Take one over stimulated twenty one year old. Add two enormous flowerpots and a dash of fervor and you get one interesting photo.

I processed this photo almost entirely in Adobe Lightroom, using a new technique, which I will soon be adding to my LayersMagazine.com tutorials. The technique mimics the look of HDR tone mapping, while keeping a tad more realism. Stay tuned for updates on the tutorial.

VOTE for me!

Watch your step

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 03:35:16 -0800

Yesterday Liz and I decided to head down to Boston to visit Ryan.

We spent the day walking around Bean Town exploring the various and sundry sights, sounds, and smells the city had to offer. We had a great burger at a authentic Irish bar in the financial district, shopped our way from one end of Quincy Market to the other, and even visited the scene of the famed Boston Tea Party.

However, we toured the city OUR way. What does that entail you ask? Well, I walk around camera poised while Ryan and Liz do increasing strange activities they feel are photo worthy.

Take this shot for instance. Ryan saw this pipe handrail and decided to tightrope walk it. Being the ever-watchful photographer, I quickly dropped down and shot him from below. The resulting series I feel is quite unique. I love it when quality images come out of pure boredom.

More Boston boredom tomorrow.

Apocalyptic

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 06:37:58 -0800

It’s funny. While I was shooting this location, ideas of the death and destruction caused by the human species were the farthest thing from my mind. Now, as I sit here and digitally thumb through these images, I can’t help but imagine this scene being similar to that the day after humans finally reach extinction.

I recently watched a show on the Discovery Channel (to which I’m addicted mind you), it was titled ‘Life After Humans.’ A truly fascinating show, it documented what scientists predict life will be like in the years after humans die out. What will happen to our buildings, our streets, our homes, and even our pets?

For me, this scene above just brought to mind that show and the images of rot and decay. The wood scattered over the ground, the rusted out boiler and steel plated warehouse, the grey ominous clouds, and even the complete absence of vegetation.

Welcome to the industrial un-revolution. With industry came power, wealth, and the very beating heart of our prosperous nation. However, has anyone really stopped to think about what the cost of those achievements was? We have put at risk our water, our land, and even the air we breathe. At what point does the cost become to high?

Urban Sprawl

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 04:52:29 -0800

It amazes me sometimes the impact our society has on our environment.

Everything from the air we breathe to the soil we plant is dirtied by our presence. Our impact here is undeniable. The groundwater runs black, the sky drips acid, and all the while we turn a blind eye.

What once was lush and green, now sits derelict, rotting beneath shades of grey.

PER REQUEST. A BIT BIGGER ON FLICKR.

Spanning the Gap

Sun, 9 Mar 2008 05:50:18 -0800

I apologize for my disappearance over the past few days. Believe it or not, I have been sitting right here in front of the computer. However, rather than doing my usual editing, I have been pounding out three separate assignments. Editing not only the three restaurants for Down East, but also two portrait sessions. The saying, “it never rains, but it pours,” certainly seems applicable.

Luckily, after two late nights and god knows how many hours of screen time, I am finally winding down.

The other good news is that I should be heading out for some personal shooting time here in the next week. This combined with my new editing tool, LucisArt, should lead to some interesting blog activity. Stay tuned, more frequent updates are promised!

As for tonight, another archive shot run through LucisArt. Working on this guy really made me realize how much I enjoyed my time in NYC. I must return, soon.

I call it ‘CUBE’

Thu, 6 Mar 2008 04:49:00 -0800

Original, I know.

This guy popped up on my radar while browsing through some of my archives today. As you probably have figured out I snagged this shot while wandering the financial district in good ol’ NYC. I had seen a shot of this very same sculpture on one my favorite photo blogs, Stuck in Customs, and thought I would give it a shot.

Processing here involved a new toy that I am currently playing with. I will tell you more after I have experimented on a few more images. Though, as you can see, it is already quite exciting.

Apologies for the short post – still have my restaurant shots to edit. Due tomorrow! Gotta love editorial deadlines!

Americana

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 06:54:49 -0800

Tonight’s post will be a short one – check time of post for reasoning.

I shot my second of three restaurants today, The Maine Diner. It was your typical American Diner, oversized portions of good food, friendly faces, and talk of local politics and the sports team of the season.

Liz was kind enough to offer her services as hand model for the day, so our loose pants on we headed out for a day of Down East dishes. After some homemade mac and cheese, lobster pie, and a hearty portion of friend clams neither of us thought we’d be able to walk out of the restaurant.

I enjoyed the "behind-the-scenes" look to these shots. Gives you a feeling for working at a diner I think.

Signs of Spring

Tue, 4 Mar 2008 02:23:14 -0800

Last week I got a call from Down East Magazine. The assignment? Shoot three restaurants, voted on by Maine’s top chefs, in three days.

Today was my first restaurant, a trendy café in Brunswick. The fare consisted of large platters of market fresh vegetables, overstuffed deli sandwiches, and numerous designer teas.

The location was gorgeous. Located in a refurbished mill, the brick walls and floor to ceiling windows contrasted well against the steel diamond plating lining the counter. It was a joy to shoot, and hey how can you beat an assignment that deals out free food?

Tomorrow is the Maine Diner. Wish me luck!

Tigress

Mon, 3 Mar 2008 03:16:44 -0800

It may not look like it, but you are looking at the number one female fighter in the United States. Lisa Kuronya, the captain of the U.S. Olympic Team, is one lady you don’t want to piss off.

I shot her hitting this bag for a good ten minutes and let me tell you that each hit the bag took felt scarily real. Those of you who think women don’t belong in the world of boxing should sit down with Lisa and Liz, two of Portland’s finest fighters.

Liz, who is rated 5th in the nation, is no chump either. Both these women are living examples of dedication, training, and ferocity. Their hits are just as hard as the men training next to them.

Take it from me, this isn’t Taebo class, this is boxing.

NOTE: I have completed my documentary project on the Portland Boxing Club. To take a look at the project, done in traditional black and white, check out the 'stories' section on my website.

Port City

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:52:26 -0800

These will be the last of the Holga shots. I figured I’d go out with a bang, so I decided to throw two in together.

What you’re looking at here is, on the left, one of Portland’s premier attractions, the Shipyard Brewing Company. If you haven’t sampled one of their fine brews, then I most certainly suggest you do so. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

On the right you catch a glimpse of Portland’s unique streets, where pot holes reveal cobblestones and gourmet coffee is no more than a few steps away.

Portland. What a great town!

Simplistic Experimentation

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 23:46:07 -0800

As you all know my photography is usually anything but simple. I am big fan of intricacy, especially when it comes to lens work. However, while out with a $20 plastic camera why not give simple another shot.

The result? Well, you’re looking at it. In my opinion photography doesn’t get much more simple than this. Color, line, shape, and tone, this shot is pretty much a summary of my freshman year 2D Design class. However, it is the simple design elements here that attract me to this shot.

NOTE: The weird looking strip in the left is in fact a piece of the image next to this one on the roll. Another wonderful Holga trait is of course, guessing as to how far you crank before your next exposure. So basically what you’re looking at here is an accidental double exposure. I think it adds to the shot. Your opinion?

Adventures in film

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:34:17 -0800

I know I promised more boxing tonight. However, last night I decided to venture out onto the streets for a bit of a photo excursion. The only thing different about this excursion was that I was armed with only a Nikon F3 loaded with Tri-X and my trusty Holga loaded with Fuji Reala. That’s right, not a mega pixel in sight!

Thanks to my pals at Portland Color I was able to get these babies processed and scanned earlier than I thought. As such, I figured I might as well share the hyper saturated, vignette laden, light leaking beauty with you guys. Gotta love a Holga!

I do have a few more, however, being the sportsman that I am, I will leave tomorrow’s post up to all of you. So what’ll ya have?

A.   More Holga
B.   More Boxing
C.   All of the above

Out Back

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:45:01 -0800

The title of this shot is the only direction that Ryan and I received when we asked the location of the Portland Boxing Club. When we arrive, “out back,” we were greeted with this decrepit brick building. If it hadn’t been for the bold red smoke stack emblazoned with chipping paint, spelling out ‘boxing,’ we would have thought we had made a wrong turn.

This building, straight out of Rocky, is home to the Portland Boxing Club. The men and women who work out here on a daily basis must survive the grueling work out as well as frigid temperatures, the cracked concrete floor, and nearly constant icy drafts. Though, as club owner and trainer Bob Russo said, this building only helps to make them harder.

These guys and girls train day in and day out not for six-pack abs, or to loose their holiday gut, but to survive their next bout. They aren’t yuppies packing themselves by the hundreds into cliché fitness centers. They are athletes, athletes competing in the original extreme sport. A sport where blood still mixes with sweat, and those brave enough to enter the ring whether they leave victorious or not, deserve the utmost respect.

I will continue with more boxing tomorrow. However, in the meantime I have a few updates for all of you. As some of you may know, in the past I have contributed tutorials to Photoshop User Magazine. A few weeks ago, I was asked to contribute a few more to Layers Magazine online, to check out these tutorials head on over to LayersMagazine.com or click HERE and HERE.

Also, as a special treat I have included a video with today’s post. I am in the process of getting into video Photoshop tutorials and that being the case I am messing around with some pretty cool new software. So, if you are interested in seeing just how today’s image came to be, click HERE.

Bird's Eye View

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 02:55:21 -0800

What makes a good photograph?

Some might answer a strong point of interest, overall sharpness, or one that depicts the qualities of good composition.

I disagree. There are three things that make up a good photograph: patience, timing, and a little bit of luck. All three came together in this photograph.

We were following these guys up and down Interstate 295. I have snapped probably a hundred or more shots out the window, however, I knew I had to catch at least one from a different vantage point. I remembered that I had caught some nice views of the traffic earlier this fall from atop an overpass.

We buzzed past these guys and hurried up onto the overpass in just enough time to catch them as they cleared the snow covered asphalt below.

As it turns out this was one of the most successful shots from the whole experience. I guess that’s where the luck part comes in.

Winter Warriors

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:35:28 -0800

With a surprising vote of 5 to 2 the trucks have it!

Why on earth would one drive up and down a snow covered high way, window open, getting pelted by various forms of frozen precipitation? Cause it’s a damn good story, that’s why.

These guys get called out of beds at all hours of the morning. Groggy and severely decaffeinated, they saddle up and prepare to tend to the several hundred miles of interstate roadways that traverse our frozen state.

Their faithful steeds rumble to life in the night, creaking and groaning as pound after pound of sand and salt are loaded in. Gassed up and fully loaded they head off into the night.

Now who said gallantry was dead? What these guys weren’t ready for? The two crazy kids determined to chase them all over god’s creation! Not only were we following these dreary eyed travelers on their appointed rounds, your faithful photographer was hanging out the passenger side window snapping their picture.

Scary? Sure. Cold? You bet! Worth it? Is that even a question?

NOTE: More trucks tomorrow.

Rough Rider

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 03:52:50 -0800

You all might recognize this little guy from yesterday’s shot. I liked him enough to give him his own time in the spot light.

Once again I’m exhausted so I figured it’s about time to get you all involved again.

For tomorrow’s post would you like to see:

A.   More Playhouse
B.   Misty trees (another take)
C.   Plow trucks
D.   Portland Boxing Club

The choice is yours – choose wisely young Skywalker, the future rests in your hands.

Play Time

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:35:15 -0800

I apologize in advance for tonight’s concise post. I have recently started a new training regimen in hopes of shedding my holiday flub and getting back to my fighting weight.

All right so fighting weight might be a bit of an exaggeration – however – no matter what my end goal I can tell you this much, after a lengthy stint at the gym I only about good for this paragraph, a glass of water, and some quality time with my pillow.

The condensed version: I snagged this shot at the same park as my previous two posts. There was something quietly eerie about the vacant play set. Maybe it was just my recollections of the terrifying intro to Nickelodeon’s classic 90’s show Are You Afraid of the Dark.

Monolith

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:15:45 -0800

Tonight we find ourselves back in this tired hollow, the mist creeping through the ashen timbers, the icy ground reflecting the endless grey sky above.

The most amazing thing was, that even though I stood less than a hundred yards from a busy intersection, I felt completely alone. The caws of the crows were my only company as I made my way through the inch and a half of slushy water that covered the ground.

I saw this tree, separated from the rest, single, solitary in its existence. A lone wolf of sorts, who would have thought a tree could survive such a rebellious life. I dropped to the ground, my knees resting in a half an inch of slush, and lowered my camera – 17-40mm attached – to within an inch of the water.

I took this shot without even a glance through the viewfinder. A shot composed entirely by chance. It’s amazing the results you get when you leave things up to chance. Makes me think that perhaps more in our lives should be left up to chance.

Perhaps.