Rosa’s shoot

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Last night I went shooting with Rosa down in Hollywood. We had a good time looking around for spots and catching up on life, but, since we hadn’t really set out with a spot in mind to shoot it was more social than shooting I would say :)

I’ve known Rosa a while now – meeting her, somewhat, through her cousins that I went to high school with. She’s done various pageants and things, and spent a while living in Japan… how is that not cool? Makes me feel like my traveling around Europe can’t even begin to compete.

Anyway, we just barely missed sunset which you’ll see in the photo below. And while there was full moon and some really cool backdrops we found to try and show that, I didn’t have a tripod so we couldn’t really get a shot I liked with the moon in it… oh well, next time.

The up top was an idea Rosa had from another photo she had liked. This was right before I started using another 580EXII for rim lighting… but, of course, this one ended up as my favorite shot – even though you lose her arm in the darkness.
The one below was shot during the last little bit of light at sundown.

So much editing to do

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How gorgeous is this shot of Jaime? Seriously… I love this girl. It’s official, I’m able to make such great photos of her – our shoots are never dull.

Well, I’ve been doing a lot of editing recently. The majority of my time has been spent either pursuing work and building connections. Or I’m working on images to catch up from the last three weeks. Bottom line is that I need to get a working laptop for when I travel – I still haven’t had a real chance to edit the sports photography I did in Michigan.

I’m half done editing the Zamora wedding, I have some gorgeous photos from that, too. I’m pretty much done with Jaime’s shoot I think… then again I’m sure there are a few more images I can pull from it to edit and really make them jump off the screen.

Tomorrow I shoot with Rosa, which should be a blast. And then Friday with Athena, and I’m stoked for that shoot – her idea is going to fucking rock!

Another terabyte… silly weddings

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Last weekend I photographed the Zamora wedding in San Jose, CA.
Both Ray and Elizabeth looked amazing and incredibly happy throughout every moment of their beautiful Saturday. The day started off with a bit of rain – which is good luck – before clearing up into an amazing afternoon.
I spent the entire day with them and captured some really amazing shots throughout everything. I’m still working on their images and would say I’m about a third of the way completed – which is no bother since they’re enjoying their honeymoon together.

I’ll be running updates to my wedding portfolio with images from the Zamora wedding very soon. Until then, only the two images above have been added, please go take a look since they’re higher res here.

In other news… I filled one of my extra harddrives this weekend. So, I had to go out and purchase another terabyte drive – which are damn cheap now. So, it took me two days to move around 100s of gigs of images and move my Lightroom catalogs and everything… but, I’m running at full steam again! Which means back to all the editing that this little delay put me behind on.

Among those images are more shots of Jaime.

I swear, she’s my muse.

More updates to come! I have a lot of work to catch up on this week. Not to mention more work to go find! A few shoots to plan out.

Dos Mas…

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Just doing a quick update after a day of much editing.
Two more images for your enjoyment/critique… This first image is post processed more than I normally would process an image. But, it’s very close to what I was going for and I think I nearly hit the mark. I’m not a pro at artsy photoshopping… my post processing is typically very clean and vibrant – journalist with a twist of color. So, this type of shot is different for me to try and create.

This is another image from the series I shot with Jaime last weekend. Another one of my favorites, the lighting we were able to create that night was just so much fun.

Both these shots will most likely be in my portfolio some time tomorrow afternoon.
But, it’s gettin later, my eyes are hurting, and I’m ready to crash.

Good night world!

Two weeks to catch up on…

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I’m finally back in Los Angeles after tons of traveling the last two weeks.
I have five model shoots, four sports events, one vacation (not mine), and one wedding to edit… Needless to say, I’m going to be extremely busy.

I’m in the process of getting images edited and uploaded to both my blog and my portfolio. So, I’ll keep this post short, and instead simply share three other images with you all.
The above image of Kelly was shot in Michigan at a furniture store in town. They were great and not only allowed me to shoot on short notice, but also gave me all the time I needed to make my images.

This image of Talisha was shot at the Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority house where I was staying while in Michigan. Talisha was great, and totally open to the wacky idea of “let’s wrap your head in ribbon and see how it looks”.

This is one of a number of great images I shot of Jaime while I was home in the Bay Area. I love this girl, so much fun to go out and shoot with, and we always come home with great shots. I’ll have more later from the night part of this shoot, too.

Back In Action

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I’m back!
After nearly two weeks of traveling and shooting I’m back in Los Angeles. I had an amazing time in Michigan, so much shooting, so many people to see… it really was awesome.
I returned home only to leave for, well, home, a day later. I returned to the Bay Area to photograph Ray and Elizabeth’s wedding in San Jose.

While in town I put together a fairly extensive photo shoot with one of my favorite girls, Jaime. She’s beautiful, great in front of a camera, and just a really fun person to be around. We had so much fun and created so many amazing photos. I really can’t wait to finish editing them.
For now, here’s one shot… done in downtown San Jose with available lighting… I had turned off all strobes for this…

To Casey, Jency, Talisha, Kelly, and Jaime… I’ll have your images soon… I plan to work on them all this week. To Ray and Elizabeth, I’m working on yours, too!

Fall has arrived!

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Fall is here!

Well, even though it definitely doesn’t feel like it here in Michigan yet… it’s Fall. the leaves are changing, and nights are much cooler. However, the 75+ degree weather during the day will definitely throw you off…

I’ve been wanting to update everyone about my trip so far and just haven’t been able to find the time. But, that’s a good thing. I’m staying busy, I’m seeing a lot of people, and I’m doing a lot of shooting. For example, the image above was created in the middle of the day… in between Jency’s already very hectic schedule she was able to squeeze me in to create this shot.

Unfortunately my Volleyball photos are forever lost :( I was pretty bummed, but, things happen and I thought they were on my portable drive when cleared off both the desktop and CF card they were on. Oh well…
I shot soccer yesterday, too. I have some pretty incredible shots from that. Let’s just say I’m pretty much ready to buy the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L USM IS after using Casey’s lense yesterday. I love my Sigma, it performs well and has taken many award winning shots the last couple years… But, it’s time.
Anyone want to buy a 70-200 Sigma EX DG Macro?

I’ll try and get soccer up later tonight… maybe.
I’m about to head out to go shoot Football :D Anddd after that I have a lot of friends in town that I’m really excited to see. So… not sure if you’ll all be so lucky.

Fire up Chips!

CMU and You, er, Me.. uh… I’m back?

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I’m back in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, this week. Here at CMU.
I can honestly say I never thought I would be back here. But, things change, people change, and “nevers” become “maybes” – or in this case “how ’bout next week?”‘s.

I took the opportunity to redeem some airline miles I had accumulated over the years to fly back out to CMU. so far things have worked out great. I’m having a lot of fun, I’m seein some old friends, and I’m doing a lot of shooting too.

This particular shot of Casey I did last night in the studio. Man, things have changed a bit since I went here. the students managed to break two of the three studio lights… so the department is down to just one. I used a studio light with a softbox, and one of my own umbrellas with a 580EXII for this shot – all set off with Pocketwizards.

This is one of my favorites from that night, and will eventually make it to my portfolio when I have some time. However, the screens here in the computer lab I’m in are scratched and smudged… so I’m not too sure exactly how good a job I did on touching this up.

Hopefully I’ll have some Volleyball to share that I shot on Tuesday (it may have been accidently deleted off both Casey’s harddrive and my portable drive :( )
If not, you guys will have to wait til tomorrow when I have some shots of Soccer to share. Football on Saturday, too!

Keep it real.

My work on other sites

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I always take it as a HUGE compliment when friends of mine use my photography for their images anywhere… I remember in school when tons of the athletes and various friends I had were using my photos as their defaults for Facebook and Myspace.

Well, Justin Imamura, long time friend and an extremely talented musician recently submitted some of my images to be used on his musician profile on various sites. We saw this one last night when he was showing me stuff online.
While they didn’t credit the photo to me, both are actually mine. The top image was last weekend at the Chronic Cantina (see previous blog posts) and the lower one is actually shot in San Francisco at Warped Tour back in June when I spent the day shooting various bands. Please feel free to check their webpage here.

Today I leave for Michigan.
I’m heading out to visit some old friends, teach a couple workshops, shoot three or four models, and three different sports events. There is also a birthday party and various other things to attend… Needless to say, I’m going to be busy – and I can’t wait.

So, my gear is packed, my cameras are all charged, I even have my light kit carefully wrapped and packaged for flight.
Leaving the house in about 10 minutes :D

Be sure to continue checking updates next week. I’ll be updating from Michigan. Gotta keep you all in the loop.

Peace!

New location, new updates

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Check out this location…
How freakin’ cool is that?! I’m gonna have to find a model to photograph here before they clean up whatever the hell it is they’re doing… I’m thinkin night shoot, hot girl, construction clothes – or lack there of – and some rockin’ lighting.

If any of you down here in LA want to help make this happen, give me a call or shoot me an email/text. If not, I’ll find someone :)

In other news my portfolio is now updated, so now you can view the images I’ve shot in the last week in the Models section.  There is also one new surf image up, too.
I’m also planning a trip right now… so, during that time you will still continue to see updates of everything from fashion/modeling, to sports, to possibly a little journalism – returning to my roots.

So, go check the port, see if you like the new work. Comment it, or just email me like some of you have.

Peace out homies!
More shooting this weekend, stay tuned.