The Farmers

Well, I've been talking about this shoot for over a week now. It's about time I post a few outtakes. These have been altered a bit by the art director, Chris Just. Chris and I met when he was working with The Buntin Group in Nashville, TN. He's now at Erwin Penland in Greenville. We're still working together and I'm loving it. (think he's loving it too)

This trip took us almost 3000 miles. Out to Eastern North Carolina and then back to Boone, NC. Over to Tennessee and down to Georgia. We finished down deep in South Carolina and then back to Tryon, North Carolina. Incredible. Great farmers and great photos. Can't wait to see the final posters hanging in BiLo.

Thanks for following.

2700 Miles

Today I asked Mike how many total miles he has traveled for the farmer shoot. 2700 miles. I told him he could be in San Francisco by now. I suppose that slow and steady is the best way to travel from farm to farm, sleepy town to sleepy town. Mike wraps up today with his last farm shoot and will have plenty of images and stories to blog in the next few days. For now, here's two from yesterday's journey.

Update From the Road

While Mike is out shooting, I (Rosemary) have the pleasure of updating the blog with his latest images and shenanigans. Mike's on a multi-day shoot capturing farmers and their produce. The gig is taking him to NC, TN, GA, and SC (I think in that order, but it's tough to keep up). This project tickles his fancy and mine too. It's refreshing to remember that some of our food does in fact come from our own state or just a state away, rather than always being flown in from another country or even continent.

Mike will give a full report or two once he returns. For now, I'll share the quick mid-trip recap he gave me today: "Hundreds of miles. Good food. Good music. Bad weather, but the locals don't seem to mind it. Think my accent is getting twangy."

Seems pretty accurate. Except the accent. Mike is, afterall, from Rock Hill so his accent probably isn't getting any twangier.

On to the images. Here's a few of my favorites that Mike sent today.

ADRIAN CRUTCHFIELD: Private Party

I shot Adrian Crutchfield for the first time about 8 years ago for the Arts and Science Council, Charlotte, NC. He was a young and rising talent on the scene. Not to mention, he was in High School. Since then, he went on to college somewhere down in Florida, oh yeah, Florida State and majored in music. Adrian completed the program with flying colors and is still making great music.

Adrian came to me a few months ago and said, "hey man, you're my photographer and I need an album cover." That's all I needed to hear.

Here it is. Please check it out.

I wonder, if I'm his photographer, is he my horn player? Hope so, the guy rocks.

Best to you, Adrian. Keep rolling brother.

Benji Hughes Esquire Magazine

Early this morning I got an e-mail from a photographer here in Charlotte. A guy I know, but not well. He sent me a link to one of my photos that had been published in Esquire Magazine. The message said, "great work, wish they would have given you a credit line."

Hey, it happens. Fortunately the magazine was kind enough to do two other important things: pay me and post a by line to the on line version. I'm happy with that credit.

Anyway, Benji is a friend and I love this image of him. Actually I would have picked a different one but he insisted, "the chicks will understand, they'll get it." Okay with me.

So, thanks to Benji for letting me photograph him and thanks to Esquire for using the image. I love, LOVE, seeing my work in magazines. Next time I want the cover.

http://www.esquire.com/features/music/benji-hughes-review-0409?click=main_sr

My Girls.

The family! Really, this is one of the best parts of having a studio at home. Since I moved from the big ole cavern I've begun to feel very refreshed. My eye for imagery has been given a new view on life. As the world crashes in around us and doom hangs overhead let's all remember the important things in life.

Our family, our friends, the good people in our lives. Let's all be thankful. Let's all have one really nice thought. Hell, maybe that's even enough to bring us out of this bleak economic time.

Peace and love.

Mike

Another Great Shoot With Wray Ward

I’m so excited to make this post to the BLOG. Wray Ward and Glen Raven have been friends and clients for a very long time. Jennifer Appleby, president of the agency now, designed my first logo package. It’s in my prior post. I’ve known these guys and respected them for years.

This ad series sets a benchmark for me. Thinking back it could really be the 10^th or 11^th year I’ve worked with GR and Sunbrella. But this set of ads is different. It’s a departure from the ordinary lifestyle image of models enjoying shade on patio furniture under awnings.

These ads and the concept, taking furniture and adding a very human nature (movement) to them, is brilliant and fun. The challenge was to think in a different dimension. Hundreds of images had to be captured. Angles had to match. Light had to match. The puzzle was intricate. I love the result.

Thanks to Wray Ward's John Robert, Brandon Scharr, Belle Rape, and Karen Smith AND Mind’s Eye (Atlanta). Great time and great work.