A photograph each day, circa 2010

Been thinking about shooting a photograph each and every day of 2010. Did this same project in 2007, but this was before I began blogging, so I had no practical place to post my daily work. Now, I do.

Considering topical themes to use while doing this project. Do not want to just shoot anything, just snapping as a man without a focus (pardon the pun). I want there to be a purpose, a point behind it all. But there will be times I find something random to photograph, something not planned and apart from theme and particular direction, something so graphically interesting that I MUST SHOOT.

I often like to work with shadows and textures, closeups as well as the abstract. As I have spent the past several years photographing models, I have found some of these predilictions to not be in my work as before. So another goal of mine for this project is to incorporate all of my personal tastes in my artistic projects. Sometimes when I work on my model projects, I find myself in a rut, not experimenting, not creating, just capturing.

And I have found myself extremely lazy with using color. Even though I shoot digitally, it is black and white that I love. Color is fine, if there is a reason, a purpose, a story to tell with the hues. But if color is not a key to the subject I am woorking on, then b/w is my taste. And b/w is what I will shoot.

In the next few months, I also will begin experimenting with RAW capture, to see for myself if it expands my toolbox, or if it is just more work than result.

There is a lot to think about. For months, since I returned from England in April, I have felt not as creative as in the past. I have had good shoots this year, met wonderful people, made new friends. But I know I can do better.

It is also possible I need to find a muse, someone to work with on a regular basis, someone to shoot often, to experiment with, to work out ideas with. After having photographed so many different people the past few years, maybe it is time, finally time, to find someone with the same focus as I, someone to photograph as often as I can.

A lot on my mind ... as always.

Objectivity

About time for TBS baseball broacaster Chip Carey to put away his New York Yankee kneepads, get off his knees, and attempt a little objectivity.

Group shoot at Joshua Tree

No better way to celebrate the intense summer heat this first week of autumn with a group shoot at Joshua Tree. Three photographers, three models, shooting Saturday afternoon until sunset, then shooting for a few hours beginning sunrise on Sunday.

One model, Stax, first shot with me during Labor Day Weekend. This shoot will be her first at Joshua Tree. A second model, Melissa, will be doing her first nude shoot. The third model, Shannon, is a friend of a friend of a friend.

This could possibly be my final Joshua Tree shoot of the year. Now that school is back in session, most college-age model may or may not be available between now and the Christmas holidays. But this has been my most productive year by way of Joshua Tree shoots. After this weekend, I will have photographed 9 models at my favorite desert spot.

1 McMustard, not 30 McKetchups!

As long as I can remember, McDonalds employees will give you as many bags of ketchup as you can carry. But just ask for one bag of mustard, they give you this look as if you just insulted Ray Krok, creator of the mega-mega-mega-million dollar fast food giant.

So to nickel and dime its patrons, ask for any sauce not accompanying your sandwich and you are privileged to pay for it.

So what happens if you order a Big Mac? Good question. Whammo. All the ketchup you want! But ask for a single bag of mustard ... 'that will be 11 cents ... please.'

But wait! NEITHER ketchup NOR mustard come on the Big Mac. So why do they charge for one, but the other, they give out as if it were the most plentiful resource on the planet ... ?

... or is it because Reagan once declared ketchup a vegetable?

(I wonder IF McDonalds will actually respond)

Happy Birthday

Shot by my good friend Doug on my birthday, while whale watching in the San Juan Islands.

" ... Make love not war sounds so absurd, to me
we can't afford to say these words lightly,
or else our world will truly rest in peace ... "

(lyrics borrowed from rock band 'Extreme')

Ain't it the truth ... ?!

All's fair ...

Last beach shot (for today)

Sunset, Long Beach pier.

The beach (sensing a theme?)

An afternoon view from the Newport Beach Pier.

Times past

My friends Guy and Julie, from Phoenix, during their annual summer vacation in Oceanside.

Never a bad day ...

... at the beach. Shot on Wednesday at Laguna Beach.

Say CHEESE!

From a recent photo shoot at my home studio with Sarah LaNoire. Love the eyes. Sarah may be joining us for the Joshua Tree photo shoot in September. Here's hoping ...

The Emerald City

Have not seen my friend Doug since late-February. Have not been to Seattle since 1997.

In a few hours, I will be flying to the Emerald City for a 5-day vacation. Doug and I will see the Angels play the Mariners, we will go whale watching in the San Juan Islands and we will explore Seattle for great photographs, great food and interesting people.

The iPod is re-formatted with new music (well, new for me). The only thing left is to decide whether to wear jeans or shorts on the flight.

Pollock is for the birds?

Either Jackson Pollock's painting style was most popular with the foul sort of crowd, or he was full of ...





... (no, this is not a Jackson Pollock painting)

Sunrise at Joshua Tree

Just returned home from a sunrise shoot at Joshua Tree. This is the second consecutive Saturday I saw sunrise from Joshua Tree with a beautiful nude model. Last Saturday, I photographed Alastrina. This morning, I photographed 'Charlie.' Both models were exceptional.

Just moments before shooting, Charlie said that this was her first ever nude shoot. Well once she shook off the jitters (and her clothes), Charlie began to relax, posing with confidence and with style. Charlie had a certain regal quality about her, graceful and elegant. I was amazed how in so many of the photographs, she would crack a smirk that seemed to say "first time, no problem!"

Alastrina and I had been writing back and forth seemingly forever. I am most certain that she and I began writing last year sometime. Anyhoo, we finally arranged the shoot, and it was even better than I hoped for. She had done a few nude shoots. She was confident, full of ideas, spontaneous ... terrific.

Coincidentally, each model brought an escort which happened to be a photographer. Alastrina's escort was Jason, a photographer I had met at the February group shoot at D. M. Gremlin Studios in Long Beach. But I did not know she was bringing him, nor did I know she knew him, until they both arrived at my place the night before the shoot.

Neither Jason nor Katie (Charlie's escort) got in the way, nor did they disrupt my focus. Actually, they both were helpful and friendly. And each made photos as well.

So not only did the shoots run smoothly, but Jason and I are now arranging an overnight group photo shoot out at Joshua Tree on September 19-20. We will photograph models in the late-afternoon until just before sunset on the 19th, stay the night at a motel near the main entrance, then shoot from sunrise until about 9am or so. Hoping to find about 6-8 models interested in doing the shoot. So far, three models have confirmed with a few maybes on the list.

Bait and switch

Today I had a rather crappy experience with an internet model. This model, who also uses Model Mayhem to find work, saw my profile and sent me an email, commenting on how much she liked my work and that she would love to work with me.

So I looked up her profile, saw her work, liked it, and wrote back with compliments. After a dozen or so emails, discussing shoot ideas and shoot dates, this model then says we need to discuss compensation.

I would have had more respect for her had the initial letter read:

Hello. I love your work. Will you pay me to model for you?

Seven months!

My nephew Elias is now 7 months old. Elias, clapping as his uncle Bill makes one of many, many photos of him, is also cutting his first tooth.

Solitude

Sure would be nice to have the entire beach to yourself ...

Great end to the day

Watching Annie Wersching of "24" play in today's All Star Legends and Celebrity Game made my evening. Shame I never played co-ed softball with her.