D123: So Close

Why isn't anyone playing basketball today? March is a special kind of awesome in southeast Idaho. It will be sunny & 60 degrees on Monday, then 30 degrees with snow flurries on Tuesday.

This is about the time that most of us start getting cabin fever. We are teased with a day or two of amazing sunny weather, making us yearn for those long summer days.

Once again I ask myself why I am not in Hawaii with my family...

Manual: Page 105 - Self-Timer Mode

Images:Karen Ard
It looks like Karen has a blast shooting for so many different types of people.


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D122: West Side Story

Last week I shot a 5-day series on the east side of our downtown area. Today begins a 5-day on the west side. The west side has a bit more history, and was certainly more of the iconic downtown during it's early days.

I found this mural in a parking lot this morning, painted on the side of a photog's studio. If I recall, the mural has nothing to do with the photog that occupies the building. I think it was more of a "downtown revitalization" project. I do find humor in the fact that the photog in question is decades away from embracing social media, much like the mural itself.

Manual: Page 190 - Other Accessories

Images:Markus Hartel
Markus has some really moving b&w street images of New York.


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D121: If Only

Today I went fishing with some great friends, I caught the ONLY fish, and we had a late lunch at a great brewery. Plenty of great photo ops, if I had only remembered the camera!

How do I, of all people, forget the camera?!

Anyways, when I decided to hit the road and head back home I saw this wonderful sunset. I took a quick snap from the side of the road, and then thought about getting out of the truck and doing it right. Tripod, better composition, remote release, etc.

As it turns out I was too tired to care and drove home.



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D120: Look Out Paradise, They're Coming...

Today was a very fun shoot with two friends that are preparing for an upcoming tropical getaway. We decided to shoot in the downtown area where I had just completed this week's series.

Here's a helpful tip for you togs out there: remember to ALWAYS bring an assistant when you're lugging lots of gear around with frequent stops. It will make life MUCH easier.

The shoot went very well, and as you can tell from today's image, everyone had a great time. Now begins the process of sifting through the hundreds of images. I'm hoping to have a finished project by next weekend.

Manual: I'm skipping the manual this weekend. I'm almost all the way through it, so I may just skip the manual all together on the weekends.

Images: Also skipping other togs this weekend. I know its horrible, but this weekend is crazy busy. I'll repent to Scott Bourne later.


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D119: Shelter

As I walked around in the rain this morning trying to find the final image for this week's series, I ended right where I began.

Today's image is actually located directly below, the stairs of Monday's image. I have walked past this spot almost every morning this week, and it always gets me thinking.

Who's belongings are these?
Do they sleep here every night?
Have they survived the winter?
How did they get to this point?

When I come across the cliche portraits of homeless people, the images don't really interest me unless they come with a story. I really like when a photographer takes the time to talk with the individual and learn something about them.

This week has been interesting, and I discovered my new favorite coffee shop downtown. I'm undecided on what next week series will be, or even what I will shoot this weekend. That's ok though, I'm on the right path to gaining a little more creativity.

Manual: Page 189 - Notes On Optional Speedlights

Images:Thomas Lowe
I looked at Thomas' flickr images and I really like some of his nature work. Can't wait for summer to come!


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D118: Outward Appearances

Opportunities come in all shapes & sizes. Down turn one down just because you don't like the door you have to walk through.

I had to make a very grown-up decision yesterday. I took a temporary job with a company I used to work for. I hated the job and had no intention of returning.

I start on Monday.

So why did I agree to go back? It wasn't about the money, nor was it about the job itself. I decided that if they were willing to meet ALL of my demands, perhaps I could do some networking in the process. When I talked to them yesterday, they pretty much let me write my own ticket.

One of the big reasons that I was not a fan of the job was because it was working for the federal government. I have absolutely nothing against the government, but the job completely stifles my creativity. I was not created to work in an environment of rule after rule, bureaucratic nightmares, etc. My creative freedom is paramount to my happiness and I refuse to compromise. I don't think there is a large enough sum of money in the world to get me to stay in a job that I hated.

Life is too short to be miserable.

Life was meant to be lived, not merely survived.

Manual: Page 00 - Manual at home, me at coffee shop

Images:Today I looked at a photographer that deals in restaurant photography. I will once again leave today's photog nameless, as I have my issues. The issues actually had nothing to do with the quality of the images, they looked great. However, the design of the website was absolutely horrible. If you're going to have a web presence, do it right. I didn't even finish looking through his portfolio, due to the fact that I couldn't stand navigating his site. Fail.


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D117: Barriers

So many of us spend so much of our lives keeping people out. How often you make the proactive choice to let them in?

Locks were created out of necessity to secure one's property. Historians believe that the first locking mechanism first appeared some 4,000 years ago. Someone, somewhere came to the conclusion that people had to be kept out, for any number of reasons. We've been erecting various types of barriers ever since.

I wholeheartedly agree that locks & barriers have their place in our world. However, I can't help but wonder what our society would be like if we eliminated some of those barriers. Frequently, when I am walking around taking pictures I get funny looks from people. Most of them dismiss me and travel on their merry way, but every now and then someone will stop and engage me. These are the people that I love talking to. The act of walking up and starting a conversation means that they have one less barrier to overcome. For me, there are few things more refreshing than having a lengthy conversation with a complete stranger.

I think this is why I'm such a fan of anthropology. People absolutely fascinate me, on almost every level. I could sit for hours and just listen to people tell me about their lives. Every now & then I'll get a chance to just sit and listen to a senior citizen tell me about their life. Let me tell you, those moments are some of the most rewarding things I have ever experienced. Our elders have a ridiculous amount of knowledge, if we're only willing to listen.

My challenge to you is to drop some of those barriers once in a while. Engage people, learn about them. Give back when you have the opportunity.

Most of all, LISTEN!

Today's image was not what I originally set out to capture. I was trying to get the composition right on a train heading under an overpass. When I was cursing the lock from allowing me to get closer, the idea just kind of popped into my head. Score 1 for new ideas!

Manual: Page 116 - Photo Information

Images:Feuza Reis
Great family lifestyle work. Its getting really close to that time of year for me, so I'm trying to soak up as much inspiration as I can.


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D116: Special Delivery

Mr. Hooker, I have a delivery for you. Please sign here.

signs & then opens package...

Prescription-strength reality, take with water.


Life can be looked at much the same as a mathematical equation. If things aren't adding up, you're probably overlooking a variable.

Do you give up? Hell no, you keep plugging along. You dust yourself off, pick up your camera, and keep shooting. When Thomas Edison was working on a better light bulb, he didn't just find a solution. He also found a thousand ways NOT to make a light bulb.

In much the same way that I like my "horribly bad" photos, I also like my "mistakes" in life. Everything in this life can be turned into a learning opportunity. You just have to change your way of thinking.

Did you have a photoshoot go horribly wrong? Learn from it & move on.
Have you been stricken with debt due to GAS(Gear Acquisition Syndrome)? Make your "debt" work for you.

The point is, innovation isn't born out of complaining & pessimism. When one door closes... make your OWN door! Climb out the window! Do whatever it takes to keep the forward momentum going.

Manual: Page 114 - Single Image Playback

Images:Karlin Connell
This morning I took a look at Karlin's family images. Just what I needed to brighten up the day! I have a family shoot coming up this spring with a family that is very dear to my heart, and she inspired some new ideas to really communicate the bond that this family has.


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D115: Getting Out Of My Comfort Zone

This mon-fri I decided to confine myself to the east side of our downtown area for my images.

The rules are simple:
1. All travel has to be done on foot
2. I can only shoot with my 50mm
3. I can only use the available light

I'm hoping this will help me overcome my "composition block" I've been experiencing. My hindsight is a perfect 20/20 when it has come to composition lately. I'll be editing in post and realize a few little tweaks I should have done. Its not just about getting-it-right in-camera, I'm also working on getting-it-right in my head.

After I was satisfied with today's image, I stopped at the coffee shop inside of our local co-op. If you read my posts, you know that I'm a huge supporter of local businesses, so stopping in was a no-brainer. I enjoyed a great cup of coffee and I'm thinking perhaps I'll do this week's posts from there?

Manual: Page 113 - More About Playback

Images:Dan Mitchell
Today I took a look at Dan's nature images. Great stuff there, reminded me that I need to start planning my summer photo weekends.


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