Original post from Oct 2012
We were blessed to have the band Downhere perform at our church last night. They are great musicians and put on quite the show! After many years of touring and recording they have decided to end their ministry. I remember seeing them for the first time seven or eight years ago. Over the years they got better every show. I believe this was the fourth time I saw them live.
This is the second to last show and I am grateful to see them one last time…
Original post from Nov 2012
Digital is so much more convenient but I still enjoy shooting film. Earlier this year I spent a couple days in Hatteras, NC to work on a few projects. I packed my uncle’s Hasselblad 500CM along with my digital camera. I wanted to shoot with the Hasselblad because it was a different format than my digital cameras. Working with a camera format that I am not familiar with really helps me take time to think more carefully about each image.
This is a quick scan of one image from that trip. This is the Frisco Pier that received heavy damage during Hurricane Earl in 2010. The image was shot on Fuji Velvia 50. This is the first negative I have scanned in a couple years, I forgot how much ever piece of dust shows up.
I have cropped several recent images in the square format like this, I like it…
Original post from Dec 2012
I made this image at Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce is know for tall rock formations called Hoodoos. When the first light hits them they glow a bright orange. I have never seen anything like it before. I will post a few of my photographs of Hoodoos next. (My Gallery from Bryce Canyon)
I spent the morning photographing the Hoodoos but this little tree caught my eye as I panned along the ledge where I was shooting. This was the only “non-rock” image I made that morning.
One of the keys to photography is to shoot when the light is at its best. That might mean getting up early in the morning for sunrise or waiting for sunset to photograph certain subjects. It also means that you should put your subject where the light is most flattering (like portraiture). Photography is all about light and how it interacts with the physical world. How you capture this interaction will make or break the shot. This is true for any type of photography from macro, landscape to portraiture (especially portraiture!).
I made this image because of the lighting. The light wraps this small tree from behind and turns an average subject (in my opinion) into one that is more dynamic and interesting. The way the light interacted with this little tree is what caught my eye. Look for the light!
Original post from Dec 2012
A big thanks to Wes Fortney for taking this image at Bryce Canyon. Most photographers aren’t fond of the camera being turned on them: our comfort zone is behind the camera. However, one benefit of traveling with talented photographers is the opportunity for great environmental portraits of each other.
Environmental portraiture is exactly what it sounds like; capturing your subject relating to their environment. Wes did a great job showing me working in the environment I was trying to capture that morning.
The fondest memories I have of the Southwest workshop are not of the places but the people. We certainly had phenomenal locations to photograph but the conversations, laughter and stories that were shared really made it a great trip. Wes helped make the trip great for me and many others.
Each image I process helps cement the memories of the fellowship we had with each other in my mind.
Original post from Dec 2012
When I think about New York City, I tend to think about architecture and the many iconic buildings in Manhattan. My favorite building in New York is the Flatiron Building. During construction, many people believed it’s wedge shaped footprint was not strong enough to hold under the high winds exerted on buildings of this height. It was a very modern building for the time.
So far so good: 100 years later the Flatiron is still standing tall. I view the Flatiron as New York City’s underdog. I can think of several times in my life when I was the underdog. I may not have come out on top every single instance but I have also overcome circumstances when some believed I would fail. Can you relate? The Flatiron reminds me of those victories.