Mele Kalikimaka

On a day many areas on the East coast received 16 inches of snow, we felt a little guilty enjoying all 81 degrees at the beach in San Diego. Then again, my wife and I are from Alaska, we've done our time!

December storm

After half a tree fell outside my window, when I had to run to the post office, I grabbed my camera just in case I saw something on the ride there. As is normally the case with the ocean, it's difficult to capture its enormity, but below is an outtake of the trip.

Arizona, the photographic wonderland

My fascination with Arizona increases with each visit. It's beauty is, quite simply, breathtaking! Here are a few random images from a past trip.

My buddy Jeremey and I goofing off at our 'found' campsite outside of Grand Canyon National Park. Full moon, 32 second shutter, a couple flashes and the ultimate road trip dashboard make for an interesting self (ves?) portrait.

Slot canyons, Page AZ

Technically, I think this was Utah. Very close to the border.

Take 34!

This was a fun personal project. I had this setup in the bathtub! All in all, 34 takes. It was really hard to get the wine to barely catch the inside edge of the glass!

Elixir Strings

A couple shots from a shoot last friday for Elixir guitar strings.

Somewhere between summer and winter

It cooled down today. It reminded me of the chill I knew so well growing up in Alaska. Then again, it was 65 degrees--I think I'm spoiled.

'Bad Day' in a good way!

A recent comp. of another Pioneer ad and a promotional image for Roland of Daniel Powter, www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/danielpowterx21x07x05.

Picturesque Scotland

I didn't have nearly enough time in Edinburgh when I was there several years ago. In fact, all these images, except for the red door, were taken off the top of the same open air bus tour through the city. It's history is staggering and it's beauty breathtaking!

This scene has always looked fake to me! So I added a little blur to exaggerate the feel.

The bus paused enough at a stop sign for me to take five or so photos of this square. Exaggerated layers and some deliberately sloppy photoshop creates a curious look. The red door is the coolest church door I've ever seen! The Scottish have some serious style.

No caption needed!

Rock Americana

I had a cool experience today. Fender corporation is replicating Eddie Cochran's Gretsch guitar and will have a limited number made for sale. For those unfamiliar with Eddie, you can get caught up here, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Cochran. I was commissioned to organize and photograph some of his personal effects to be included on a DVD. We poured over some truly priceless items owned by this incredibly talented young man who's life and potential ended far too soon. I've attached a collage of images, including some never before seen taken by his mom.

Hiking in Zion

Back in July we forded up the Virgin River in Zion, http://www.masterworkimage.blogspot.com/2009/08/zion-remix.html. It got pretty deep in some spots and it was everything I could do to keep my camera dry ; )

Revamp

Considering my last post, I should explain I haven't gone off the abstract deep end! My tv made this fascinating portrait of Pat Sajak this evening and I figured it was as good an image as any to test out larger images on the ol' blog.

London at night

Rangefinder Spread

I haven't received the magazine yet, but I did get a PDF of the spread today. The images below are clickable if you'd like to read the interview questions. Thanks again to all who made this possible by voting during the final cut! Thanks as well, to Rangefinder magazine for the opportunity!

Masterworkweddings.com

I had a good run of weddings recently, three in three weeks last month. A sampling of them is below. Most know of my main site, www.masterworkimage.com, but not my wedding site, www.masterworkweddings.com. More can be viewed there. I never could shoot just one thing, much to the chagrin of my photography teachers. I like to think the same emotions and sensibilities run through all my work, from the five different portfolios on my main site to my wedding imagery. I think of it as photographic cross-training. Besides, it's really hard to put the camera down when it's connected to my hand!

Portfolio work

Images from a recent portfolio shoot. Thanks to Kimberly for an outstanding job with hair and makeup.

Pioneer

Comp. of Pioneer Pro DJ ad shot last week.

Thank you!

I want to sincerely thank everyone who voted for my work in the Rangefinder Magazine contest! I'm overwhelmed by the support received via emails and voting from clients, family and friends alike! My work was chosen to the top five and will be featured in next month's issue of Rangefinder! The initial ten were chosen from over 3,200 websites submitted and the top five via online voting, which can be tricky, as it's a bit of a popularity contest and I'm a hermit! So I must truly thank everyone who voted and passed the link along! Not sure, but there may some images next month on their site, www.rangefindermag.com. I'll also scan and post the spread here, once I receive it.

Thank you, thank you!

I need your help!

Rangefinder Magazine recently chose ten artists for their contest 'Unsung Heroes,' and I was one of them! Although hero I am not, I could definitely use your votes! From the ten, five will be chosen via online voting and those artists will be featured in the magazine! As the self professed 'worst marketer in the world' of my own work, being featured in Rangefinder would do more in that regard than anything I could ever come up with, haha! The voting link is www.rangefindermag.com/storage/contest/unsung_voting.html. Vote as often as you like, every vote is much appreciated! Thank you in advance!!

The Mother Road

As a young boy growing up in Alaska, I played in my grandparents broken down 1968 Ford Mustang. The doors didn't open (or at least I preferred the windows), the tires were flat and the grass that never seemed to get trimmed had secured the car's somewhat permanent spot in the yard. During the summer months, the sun would warm the aged leather interior and I would climb in, push a bunch of buttons and was off cruising any road my imagination could muster! I'm now in California and during one road trip down a stretch of the Mother Road, Route 66, I came upon this scene. The leather smelt familiar --even the thinness of the wheel and not least of all, the freedom of the open road.

Book 'em Dan-o! (Ok, that's lame, but I couldn't think of anything else!)

Got my hands on an advanced copy of a book I shot back in January for acclaimed fitness guru Sean Foy. Over three days the author, two models, makeup artist, art director, photo editor and I came together to produce imagery that would normally have been a week's shoot! And for once, I wasn't the only one getting a workout! I used to wake up the day after shooting wondering why I was so sore. Eventually I realized, photographing is fantastic exercise! Thanks to Workman Publishing, the layout looks great and the end product is very user friendly.

Fly me to the Moon

My uncle is the president of the Air and Space Museum in San Diego, so I was hired to shoot Race to the Moon, the museum's tribute to NASA, recognizing the 40th anniversary of the first moon walk. Had the honor of meeting a dozen or so astronauts ranging from Apollo 7 to Apollo 16 as well as the new director of NASA, Charles Bolden. Held topside on the USS Midway under a full moon last weekend, it truly was an enchanted evening.

The Marine band parting, presenting the astronauts lined up behind the fireworks.

Fish eye view including the USS Midway, downtown San Diego, Coronado bridge and the bay.

This was another events fireworks going off behind us. By the way, I've had a couple people email regarding what settings or equipment I use to get some of my shots, and I don't mind those questions at all. I don't put much tech. info. in my posts because I know it would bore most people, but if you ever have a question, feel free to comment or email me!