Planes, Automobiles, New Work, and Snowboarding

Thought I would check in while I have a break in the work load. We had a pretty busy spring with a lot of Higher Education photo shoots coming in during March, April, and May; another USDA large production shoot; and various corporate assignments. Also during that time I was able to reconnect with some college friends out on the slopes in Tahoe and hit Utah with the family for another great spring break.

Personally, getting caught up with some old friends was a highlight of the winter season. We haven't seen each other in probably 20 years. Facebook got us all reconnected and when the invitation to meet in Tahoe for a week of skiing (snowboarding for me) was suggested, I was all over it. Traveling out on the plane I wondered what the week was going to be like. Not having been with these guys in twenty years, this could be a really long uncomfortable week. We got in late, (I met my other friend who flew in separately) got in the car (our third friend) and headed to his house. It was a feeling out period that night just getting settled. The next morning (around 5 to get to the mountain early) it was like nothing had ever changed. We had a 2 hour drive and just fell into how we were 25 years ago with all the joking and goofy stuff we did in college. Needless to say the week was one of laughter, joking, soul searching, good powder days, and some great memories. Below is a short video, camera work by me, edited by my friend Peter Lien:

My assistant and I had a busy time trying to fit in all the assignment requests that we had this spring season. At one point I had to fly to Ohio from Baltimore, then after two 12 hr days Ohio to NYC, grab a car, get to the location, shoot all day drive to NJ, get on a plane, get home, drive to Delaware the next day, come home, shoot in Baltimore the next day, shoot in DC the last day, Whew!
What we ended up doing in NJ was just to drive home with the rental car that we had. That took 45 minutes on the phone with the car rental agency to see if it would be cost effective to do. In the end it wasn't. We drove to the airport and were about to turn in the car when I thought to give the counter a try. I ended up working with a very nice counter person and we were able to work the whole thing out. It just goes to prove that face to face time can work to your advantage. The funny part about this is we're trying to make up time and get back to the home airport (trying to beat when we would have gotten in via air). We just passed the Delaware Memorial Bridge and I'm about to take the speed up when I see in the rear view mirror flashing lights. I'm like sh#t not now, we were making great time. The officer asks us what we're doing and proceeds to tell us that we've been driving without any lights on. My first reaction is "oh I'm sorry, it's a rental and I most have switched off the lights fumbling around to get some of this electronics off. I keep on saying I'm sorry and he goes"would you shut up for a minute, I'm not done talking, you were also going like 75 in a 55". Well at that point I'm figuring ticket time. He then starts asking us where we're going "home to Baltimore" we respond. Where did you come from "I say NY, my assistant says NJ". Now the officer is getting confused. He asks where did you start from. My assistant's response is well Ohio officer". I'm like "he doesn't want to know where we started in the course of the week". The officer just looks at us and says "stay here and I'll be right back". I'm thinking he probably thinks we're fugitives from justice or something. He comes back and gives me a warning, WHICH I HAVE NEVER GOTTEN. He says "keep your lights on, don't screw around with the dials, and keep your speed down. We were so lucky.

Anyway here are some snaps from my iphone during our travels. Also check out the website. I've got some new work in the corporate , educational, and the new video of Carson Kressley in the video section. Enjoy.

BWI Airport, on the way to Ohio

Clients under table during a fire drill

Ode to Lauren

Dissection lab, MA

Rhode Island Airport

Ready to travel again

Frogs Legs, YUM!

Ohio

Football gone bad

Location unit 1

Peter Lien in Truckee, CA

Holiday Bowling Lanes, Heber, UT

My son Alex outside Red Iquana, Salt Lake City, UT

Corporate bathroom

NYC subway, on our way to Brooklyn for morning shoot

Great time shooting Carson Kressley

Last week I had the opportunity to shoot stills and video of TV personality, Carson Kressley (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy on Bravo, How to Look Good Naked on Lifetime, Carson-Nation on OWN network) in his apartment in NYC for Philadelphia University. We had a blast with him from the moment we got there. I was taken by surprise when we got to his apartment and he opened the door, took our coats, and asked us if we would like anything to drink. It was so refreshing to not have to deal with a publicist or a handler. Carson was very accommodating throughout the whole video/still process and boy does he have a quick wit. Here are some shots from the shoot. And again, Carson, thanks for inviting us into your home, being a good sport, and making us laugh during our experience with you.

Just released new video campaign

New, hot out of the editing suite is our latest video campaign for St Johns School of Law. This was a three day project shooting two days, fourteen subjects, in Queens, NY and one day, four subjects, in Manhattan. The concept was testimonials from faculty, students, and alumni that would be used in an interactive viewbook for St Johns School of Law. For budget constraints we kept the crew small (myself and an assistant) and had our client handle the interview. Because of the time constraints, we tried to work with available light for almost the whole shoot.

All editing was done by Brett Abramsky

Check it out.
https://vimeo.com/album/1831120

Boy Scout Motto: Always Be Prepared

I never made it all the way through The Boys Scouts. The farthest I got was getting half way through The Webelos. I did like the blue uniforms in Webelos with the patches and the sash. I just couldn't put all the energy into Boy Scouts at the time.

It's funny, one thing has always stood out for me that came from those years way back when: Always Be Prepared.

A perfect example was a couple of weeks ago. I was hired to shoot a group shot for an international hotel chain. After seeing the mock up and an example of what the client was looking for I was thinking this will be a simple minimal lighting shoot. I'm bringing two assistants because we budgeted for two. On the drive down I'm telling the assistants that this shot should not take long and should be a simple lighting set up. We brought every light that we have "just in case" but I'm thinking "no way, one light, done".

We get to the location and the first hurdle is clearing the cars from the set (parking lot) which was to be the background. Second is picking camera angle and moving the scissors lift into position. Third is dealing with the wind which just happened to pick up and the temperature which was rather chilly. At this point I realize what I thought would be an easy shot turns into something a heck of a lot more involved. Luckily (after talking with my assistants that morning) we had everything we needed. The group shot of twenty-five employee's shot from above took six lights, various clamps for support in the wind, heaters, and some fun loving people. Here are some production stills from the shoot.

Time to catch up

Great Moments in Fatherhood

The first words (saying dad), the first successful potty experience, the first day of school, first soccer goal, first base hit, the list goes on. These are those proud moments in my life as a dad.
We just had another milestone recently when both of my sons had to shave for the first time. Needless to say I wasn't ready for it but my wife pressed me into the process after buying all the supplies. Both of these guys were rocking the "latino stach" (my wife is latin). My younger son was reluctant to lose the look saying it added to "his look". In the end we got it done. It really made me realize that we are getting older. Now the older one is starting to drive. Practicing with a stick shift is definitely an experience. My poor Honda CR-V. Anyway here's a shot of my son before the big shave.





We had the opportunity to photograph down in Arkansas for a couple of days at a college recently. This was during all of the unsettled weather that the south mid west was having.
This was a shot of a cloud formation while we were driving to shoot at a location in a stream. We were worried about getting the shot in before the downpour. The cloud almost has a reverse funnel going up instead of down. We got our shot (three people taking samples of water) by working quickly and giving good direction. The sky opened up five minutes later. Later that evening I watched in fascination the storms moving across Arkansas on TV. The stations had Doppler radar on for the whole night giving detailed info to various counties that were in the path of the numerous tornadoes that were forming. Coming from the East Coast it was definitely a different experience. We were lucky to not be hit but a town approx. five or so miles a way was not so lucky.




Last but not least, check out the website. I've posted new work up in the Education portfolios from some of the educational jobs that we did this spring season.

Enjoy
Until next time...

Just Checking In

My assistants and I have been very busy since the last time I posted. Most of the work has been along the I-95 corridor. We've been up and down so much I think we've put a groove in the road. A couple of trips to NYC, a couple to Philly, throw in some in Baltimore, one stop in Delaware, have been our MO for the past couple of weeks. Just trying to keep my head above water.

One project I wanted to share was one I recently completed for LIM College. Based in NYC, LIM specializes in majors pertaining to the fashion industry. In addition to working on their admissions photography through CCA, an agency out of Albany,NY, we were contacted to work on a series of NYC transit ads. The concept was "where business meets fashion". Real students and faculty were cast and asked to bring/wear apparel that epitomized the concept. In addition to the still shoot on white we shot video at the same time of certain subjects to be used in admissions pieces.

Everyone brought their own style and personality to the shoot. Some will come in with preconceived ideas of how they should look and others would just stand there with no idea. It's my job then to get them relaxed and to pull that uniqueness out while our "models" are standing in the sterile environment of a white background. I also wanted the experience to be stress free and fun since it was the first time posing like this for most of the subjects. In the end I think we shot twenty some subjects and all were fun to shoot. This is a sample of some of the ads.

Until next time......













Actual ad on the subway (thanks to Stacy Lautzerheiser, awesome designer) for snapping this shot.