A Day in the Foothills

My love for mountain biking was rejuvenated just recently while on assignment for Mountain Bike Magazine. I can remember a time that mountain biking and trail riding were pretty much the center of my life. Lunch breaks were spent on local single tracks dialing in technique. Vacations were scheduled around weekend long trail rides. And if I spent a dime it was for a new jersey or bike part.

I'm not sure why my passion for such a killer sport eventually waned. Perhaps work got in the way, maybe the transition to having a young family gave me less time for play, or maybe, like anything, I just needed a break.

Well, my break is over. It's time for my next epic ride. I can't wait to sling a little mud. See you on the trail. Until then, please enjoy a few shots from the assignment.

AIGA 20X20

How does design affect me on a daily basis? What do I see as items of design? What are the things in my life that create a vision for my work, and how do I let that permeate my world?

These are all questions that I asked myself while developing a slide show for a recent AIGA event. Along with several other presenters from our local design and advertising community, I was invited to present a series of images related to design that speak to me. My presentation would consist of 20 slides that would remain on the screen for 20 seconds. What a great idea. I have to admit, though, that it was an idea that at first terrified me.

When it comes to public speaking, so many people have the same thought: NO WAY. It’s an understandable response. I admit it was my first reaction. But after deeper consideration and a little prompting from the event organizer, I was IN! Thankfully so.

As I thought about my presentation it came to me that I’m touched by design from the first moment that I wake. From the alarm clock beside my bed to the chair that I finally fall into at the end of the day, each item in my series demonstrates design in my life. Below are my 20 slides. It’s a grouping of images that somehow spells out my daily interactions with design. Enjoy!

32 Portraits in 2 Days

A few months ago, I was asked to help with the re-branding of a web site for a local financial group. I was told that I'd be photographing up to 32 advisers and support people from a local firm. I was also told that each image really needed to be exceptional and different. "We want personality", the AE emphasized.

Okay, normal people in front of a camera with sort of a time limit. Something different. Something exciting. These images needed to stand out. NO PROBLEM.

With my wonderful producer, Rosemary, we set out to put together the perfect scenario. We needed a few things: A space in the firm's office large enough for backgrounds and lighting, time, a stylist, assistants, and the freedom to work with each subject until we got it.

Can you believe we got it all? And, to boot, these normal people were anything but normal. Each one, perfect. Gorgeous and handsome. Great clothes.

Best of all I was able to work with an AD and AE and agency producer that let me do my job. The team from LKM rocked. Thank you so much. Let's do it again soon.

2 Days And Counting

I always know that Christmas is around the corner when I get the call from my pals John and Nick at Cotton and Crown. Time to shoot their annual Christmas poster. Always a pleasure, guys.

With each year comes a new concept. This year's concept included a Porta John and Santa Claus. While on set I also shoot an out-take video. This one had us (and the school kids gathered outside ImaginOn) laughing. Check out the un-edited video below and the Cotton & Crown version HERE.

United Way of Greenville

A campaign for the United Way of Greenville County fundraising effort recently launched in my home state of South Carolina. I am proud to have been brought in by Erwin-Penland to shoot the photography-driven posters and outdoor ads.

It has always been one of my policies to work with agencies and groups that do good things for people who are less fortunate. Giving back to the community is so important. With winter and the holiday season coming, we’ll all be asked to give. Maybe in the form of money or even a canned good. There are people out there that will need our help. Give a little or a lot, but just give.

As always, thanks for taking a look at my BLOG.

An Amazing Collaberative

After years of considering the benefits of a collaborative effort using my photography and the skills of a retouch artist, it's finally happening. I've been on this search now for quite a while. At times I thought that I had found the right team or the right person, only to fall short somehow. Maybe it was personality or maybe it just wasn't the right time. Now, I feel strongly that the time has come.

It's always been my goal to show the viewer something special, something they can’t see with their own eyes. Still, it has also been very important to me to maintain my aesthetic. Trends like the lens baby, cross processing, de-saturation, over sharpening, or those lovely fake film edges are okay, but should never carry the entire weight of a final image. Some say a trend is here today and gone tomorrow. Riding the wave of a trend might be nice, but to me it seems an unrealistic path. Keeping imagery classic has always been important to me. An image should last longer than the trend it was built on.

Part of what I like about the collaboration I'm fostering these days is attitude. The attitude it takes to see a project through. It's not only what I bring to the table; it's also what the re-toucher brings to the table. How can we both bring out of an image ALL that it has to say? Well, we have to listen. This is a relationship that has been built on listening. It's really like no other I know. I'm grateful. And this is how the story goes:

About a month ago I was called by an art director at an agency in Peoria, Illinois. He was in a pinch. Because of a NASCAR rain out, his photographer was suddenly and unexpectedly unavailable for a shoot that day. Tight deadlines meant the art director and client needed to shoot NOW, rather than wait for the photographer to be available. The MCP team went into action. My producer and I were able to postpone a shoot on my schedule, hire additional assistants, and get the truck packed. In less than an hour, we were on our way to Welcome, NC.

The assignment: shoot stills for an upcoming CAT sponsored contest while a video crew secured footage for web spots.

While loading in equipment and preparing to pull angles and light, I began a conversation with the digital assistant, Jason Dulin. We both thought that the standard NASCAR shot, driver and car on a cyc wall, had been DONE and DONE and DONE. As we talked more about what we could do with the time we were given (about 4 hours total), the collaboration was born and the decision was made to try something else. We're not the first to attempt a departure from the norm and we won't be the last, but for now we're very satisfied that we're on to something. We hope to do more work together in the future and we are dedicated to bringing something special to the table.

Thanks so much for visiting the BLOG today. Jason and I hope you like what you see.

To see more video and stills from the CAT Shoot please visit http://www.cat.com/daytona/home

Blogging

It seems often that I start my BLOG entries this way:

It’s been a while.

I’ve been told by the pro BLOGGERS out there that weekly entries are a must. I was reminded just recently when my wife and I found the rare free moment without kids to actually see a movie, Julie and Julia. It is, essentially, a movie about BLOGGING.

The movie was fantastic. A great story. I have to admit, though, that it left me feeling a bit, well, unworthy of my BLOG. I haven’t been honoring my duty as a BLOGGER. And, the worst of it is that I have so much to say. And as we all know, that’s what BLOGGING is all about.

So, as a BLOGGER I will try to do more. Hell, who knows, one day Hollywood might call and want to make a movie of my life. Doubtful, but possible.