The Mojave Desert Preserve

While out here in California visiting my mom, who is recovering from knee surgery, I made a trip through the Mojave National Preserve. An amazing place of utter solitude, and the old buildings remind one of what the west was like from wagon wheels to route 66.

Office Move - Honduran Style

While in Honduras last month - So imagine having to move your office. The local government offices got some new desks, and they were giving away the old ones. This gentleman just stopped by, and picked up his desk. Judging from the condition of the desk, I hope the new ones last as long as that one did.

The Posed Group Photo

So the new thing is Photojournalistic Wedding photography - natural, relaxed, candid. Yes, that's true, but.... A nicely arranged group formal is important too. This shot is from October, we had a nice amount of time and a great location. I remember as I was arranging people, they were kinda lookin' at each other, rollin' their eyes, as if to say, oh, here goes the photographer with this posing stuff. But, this image was selected by both parents for their album, and the bride, plus it was the most ordered print from that wedding.

This tells me, people want photojournalism, but they also want nicely arranged posed formals. It doesn't take that much longer, it also helps to have steps, walls, chairs, so we don't have to line everyone up in a straight line.

Rebuilding after the Fire

My friend Kurt Christenson is a Pastor of a church in Massachusetts, that had a fire last fall. Not arson, just an accidental altar candle that ignited some linens. The congregation has responded remarkably, seeing the loss of the building not as a tragedy (no one was hurt) but as an event that happened and now as an opportunity to rebuild the community, as well as the building. I visited him yesterday, we did some portraits, and I am working on an audioslideshow DVD for the church.

Sakiyna & her friends

Sakiyna contacted me earlier this winter, about doing some portraits of her and her sister. We worked together in the studio, they had great ideas, and we did some creative portraits. Here's a few of my favorites.

The Cheap Grid

OKAY. So I learned this really cool way to make a grid for my portable flash. Yup, an old Garage Sale sign, some black duct tape and an exacto knife. You can see the difference in the two photos of my gorgeous model - not mine, really, it's not my teddy bear, honest. Ahh, I, I, I found it, somewhere.

O never mind. Anyway. the grid makes a very fine spot to narrow the beam of the flash, instead of the wide spray of flash. You'll see some cool stuff from this 99 cent item later this Spring.

Monte Zucker 1929-2007

Monte Zucker passed away last night after a long illness. If you every have a photographer for your wedding or for a portrait chances are that photographer has been influenced by Monte. He was the Ansel Adams of the Portrait photography industry. I remember when I first started learning about portrait & wedding photography, I bought these video tapes of this guy named Monte. He was such a great teacher - little did I know he was the Master guru. When ever I heard him speak, I learned something new.

Many of us parted from Monte formal posing style in recent years, as the culture shifted to a more casual style. However, just like Jazz music, the foundations are still present. Monte Zucker probably had more influence in the field of Portrait & Wedding photography than any other individual. We will all miss him. Say a Prayer of thanksgiving, if you wish, for Monte, his partner and his extended family. Thanksgiving because of the gift he gave to all.

Leonard Pitts

Leonard Pitts is a Pulitzer prize winning columnist for the Miami Herald. He's been writing for years about the problems facing mostly urban poor children, particularly Urban Black children. This past January he had an epiphany. Sick and tired of writing and reading about what's wrong, he has decided to start writing about what's working.

If you are feeling hopeless about the state of the world, you can start to track this column on his website. You'll find that, hey, there is hope in our country. And that hope can be found in people and places all around us.

His web site is http://www.leonardpittsjr.com/what_works.html Check it out.

Kelsey & Co

I came across this photo tonight, which Kelsey chose for her Wedding Album. I love it when brides choose the funky images as well as the beautiful ones for their albums. It gives the album more character.

Cool Use of off Camera Flash

Did I already post this photo? OK so, after I take all the safe pictures, you know, straight on, smile, turn here, face me, SMILE! Then I like to get creative. Here is an example from last year. We did all the family photos before the ceremony (Yipppeeee - I love you Christine) Then I said, ok, you to stay here, don't leave, I'll be right back. Five minutes later, I'm hanging over this balcony, looking down on them. My Flash is off camera,, actually lying on the ground. How cool is this?

Sneak Away

OK Shhhh. Don't tell anyone. but we were so cold we snuck out of town this week for a few days, to get some Vitamin D

Cartoon

I found this cartoon in the new yorker (www.newyorker.com) love it.

bush sings u2

I'm not a Bush fan, but I am a U2 fan, and found this funny, sad and telling clip that someone spent hours editing.