Turn Creatives

Reno update 3: Starting to get REALLY good.

2011-06-04T16:26:00.000-07:00

Reno update 3

We made it. And just in time, I was losing my mind in the jeep and wanted out.

When we arrived Stacey and I let Ben and Jered handle check in while we found some slots and a couple cocktails. We're not messing around. Our room seemed to be a mile from the lobby but when we finally got there it's surprisingly nice.

First night was pretty calm, got a little buzz, played a few slots, Jered and Ben were in bed shortly after midnight. Stacey and I stayed out a little longer. This morning started early, we grabbed Starbucks and headed to Peg's Glorified Ham and Eggs- named by Esquire magazine as the 13th best breakfast in America. It was great, but I'm not sure if I'd take it over Word of Mouth.

Then the day took an amazing turn.

These guys took me to the Nevada Museum of Art. Two amazing exhibits were on display. Ansel Adams: Distance and Detail and Chris Jordan: Running the Numbers.

Oh. My. Goodness. Can you say best birthday ever? The Chris Jordan exhibit is one I've always hoped to see.

"Jordan takes statistics that are too big for the mind too grasp and makes them shockingly beautiful for the eye to behold."

Shockingly beautiful is exactly right. I've seen Jordan on TED and loved his work- needless to say I was ecstatic to find myself standing before the actual pieces. Take time to look at it, it's somewhat heavy material to chew on, but really beautiful. http://www.chrisjordan.com/gallery/rtn/#moon

After the museum we hit another casino, played some blackjack, had a handful of free drinks, and made our way back to the room to change and finalize plans for the evening.

More to come tonight...

N.

Reno update 2 - already a little behind, but its Reno, what did you expect?

2011-06-04T11:17:00.000-07:00

Reno update 2
This update coming in a little late, but putting it up for continuity.

Klamath Falls for lunch. What a hole. For some reason (don't ask me) the group landed on Dairy Queen for lunch. Seemed pretty perfect for the town we were in. Barf. That place was bizarre. Don't know if there would ever be a reason to go back. I officially hate K-falls.

We're in California now- somewhere. I don't have a clue where, but northern California looks a lot like southern Oregon.

Miley Cyrus just came on. Neither Jered or Ben changed it. Hmm...

I'm tired of being I'm this vehicle. Its comfortable enough to make me sleepy, but I can't seem to get comfortable enough to actually sleep. There's been constant conversation but I cant tell you what we've talked about. It's all been chit chat and trivial pursuit.

Just hit halfway and our next smoke break. Lord knows I need this.

Reno update 1

2011-06-03T13:33:00.000-07:00

I'm about two hours south of home, in the back of a rental, on my way to Reno for the weekend. It's my birthday trip, should be interesting. I'm going to try to blog the entire trip. I feel like I'm on the verge of something great, regardless of recent changes that may or may not have a dramatic impact on things in my life- more on that later. Maybe.

This morning I was weighing two choices. Do I bring sufficient clothing and toiletries to survive the weekend like an adult or do I bring my light kit?

I often find myself in this situation, and I don't bat an eye at leaving necessities behind in lieu of gear. It's just that way for me. I don't need a lot. I don't mind staying at a hostel over a hotel. I'm don't think I'm "special".

I don't need a lot.

When my travel mates arrived in a Jeep Grand Cherokee and not a Mazda 6, I (happily) didn't have to sacrifice either. Score!

The weather is gorgeous, The Blueprint 3 in the cd player, bottle of fireball in the back, Jered is passed out in the front seat.

I've reached my limit and it's time to pull over and smoke. I can't make it very long before I want to claw my own skin off.

Ok, smoke? Check. Couple shots of fireball? Check. (our driver is obviously not drinking- safety first kids!) back on the road? Check.

Jered's awake now and snapping pictures, Stacey's turn to nap. I can't put down my iPhone. Ben, the trooper he is, still at the wheel. I'm going to get back to my campaign on my newly downloaded NBA Jam game. I'll holler at you guys in a bit. Hope this is fun for us, and you all.

N.

Love [grove]

2011-03-09T14:38:00.000-08:00

Sandi Lovegrove and fam...

I am not playing with you, these people are seriously funny.

2011-03-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

If you live in Salem, and are at least semi fun to be around, (you know if you're not) then go check out the Capitol City Theater (in the Reed Opera House downtown, smartypants. Sheesh, that's what google is for. I'm not going to be here to hold your hand forever.)

Or check them out here http://www.facebook.com/capitolcitytheater

They do improv comedy. It's funny. Go.

Jamalia

2011-02-08T15:09:00.000-08:00

What are you doing this weekend?

I've been a long time fan of Jamalia and have always loved photographing them. They're playing a show this weekend and providing a safe transportation option (aka drinkfest in a strech limo) for fans that want to make the trip to Eugene from Salem. Check them out on Facbook: www.facebook.com/JamaliaMusic

From the facebook event page:

"We are trying to coordinate a stretch Escalade ride for those interested in joining from Salem leaving about 7pm. A small reprise of the Halloween party bus adventure. Again, why drink and drive when you can party and ride? $20 or so per person, contact Christina Lynn on Facebook if interested."

Rainbows Project: Update

2011-02-04T21:17:00.000-08:00

I'm having a blast. I think everyone getting involved in this project is too, as evidenced by this photo of Jacob and Clara.

Remember the Rainbows Project is still going through Wednesday.

Rainbow Project: UPDATE

2011-02-04T14:21:00.000-08:00

So my Rainbows Project has started off with more of a buzz than I expected. Last night I shot for the first appointment and it was great. Elizabeth Schulte and Doug Hoffman hit me up to shoot some promo stuff for the new live concert series they are hosting on CCTV. It's going to be pretty badass. Symmetry/Symmetry was in the studio playing last night. Good stuff.

Remember, the Rainbows Project goes through this coming Wednesday. Tell your friends. Tell your moms.

Photo nerds: Shot with canon 40d and two alien bee ab400s. Had about 4 minutes to set up and 25 seconds to shoot. Not exaggerating.

Rainbows Project= Pay what you can photography for you, Salem.

2011-02-02T15:13:00.000-08:00

Today I find myself at the beginning of an unexpected, week-long…vacation. What is an artist to do with all of this free time? I’m conducting a social experiment/art-project/give-back exercise.

Yep. I’m going all Radiohead on you, Salem. For the next week I’m calling this the Rainbows Project as a tribute to the band Radiohead’s In Rainbows album. The band, claimed by many to be the best in the world, shocked the record industry and consumers alike in 2007 when they released the album as a digital download only- the kicker? They offered a pay-what-you-like pricing plan.

I want to offer you the same. Lets see how this turns out. Haha!

I’ve had many people tell me “when I can afford it, I’m going to have you shoot my kids/dog/family/etc...” Well, now’s your chance. Right now, you can afford me. For the next week while I’m not working, I’m going to be shooting everyone and everything for “what you can afford”. Name your own price. Typically a basic headshot would run you a hundred bucks. Portrait session? Anywhere between $200-400 depending on how complex the shoot is. This week? You decide. Get your husband/girlfriend/mom/kids/old smelly cat and get in touch with me through facebook or twitter (@nicholaslopez) or email (nicklopez1 *at* gmail.com) Tell your friends. Have them get in touch with me. Have their friends get in touch with me.

Also, this isn’t a time to be embarrassed by what you can or can’t afford, it’s a time to let me feel good about helping out, it’s a time to get some great work done for a steal, it’s a time to participate in something that could be very cool. It’s a time to let me get out there and do what I love. All. Week. Long.

I want to be booked. Slammed. Hustling. I want, at the end of this week, to be glad it’s over. Run me over. Lets do this. Don’t make me look like a fool by not participating.

From now until Wednesday February 9th.

Cheers,

Nick Lopez

Day off

2011-01-19T14:39:00.000-08:00

Breakfast, screwdrivers, creative conversation. Now it's nappy hour.

2011, let me buy you a drink sweetheart...

2010-12-31T23:24:00.001-08:00

2010, you have been a bitch.

This year was quite the roller coaster. I turned thirty, my marriage ended (after 10 wonderful years), I quit (another) good job, I checked off a bucket list item: photographing a friend and hero of mine (Chase Jarvis), I was one of six people personally selected to attend what was hands-down the greatest instructional workshop in 2010 by another of my heroes (Zack Arias), I moved into the tiniest place I’ve ever lived (with no heat), I was devastated by betrayal and I was shown sobering love. I’ve been up and I’ve been down. There have been blindingly bright times and frighteningly dark ones.

Most notable: I stopped photographing. Depression set in, and flat gave up. Despite the peaks that followed the valleys, at some point a few months ago I just quit and didn’t recover.

The year is making its way to the door and I’m asking that it take all of my hindrances with it.

I’m picking myself back up. I’ll be hitting the photo game hard this new year.

2011, you are about to be my bitch.

My favorite Place

2010-08-15T11:04:00.000-07:00

There's this sky bridge thing from a parking garage to a bank or something downtown, I've been up here a million times over the past 15 years. Shot plenty of stuff up here. Sometimes I come up just to take a little breather, gather my thoughts. I took Angela up here last night to catch the sun going down, it's always the best light up here. I love it.

As far as hideouts go, it's my favorite place downtown.

I took this picture with my phone. MY PHONE.

Last Night:

Dance.

2010-08-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

Don't forget. Sometimes, you just need to dance.

ZADP 1.0: Junk Store Superhero

2010-07-17T13:47:00.000-07:00

"My creative Canadian classmate Jordan Cartwright from the Zack Arias creativeLIVE workshop, came up with a great project for the six in-studio audience members to collaborate on, appropriately labeled the “Zack Arias Disciple Project”. Together, we decide on a broad concept, then individually go out and shoot it. It is the opportunity for us to motivate and challenge each other technically and creatively while implementing some of the knowledge we absorbed during the workshop. Our first assignment for the “ZADP” was to do a superhero themed shoot using props from a second hand store or the junk box in your garage" (Excerpt stolen from classmate and collaborator Eric Krebs because I'm lazy and he said it well. See his ZADP 1.0 entry here

This is my submission for the first iteration of several monthly projects to come:

Lets face it, we all work hard, and we all need to blow off some steam from time to time.

Even superheroes.

Is that distress I hear?

False alarm, game on...

All night long...

Everything here shot with a busted Canon 40d and a kit lens. I love to rock the kit lens because it's supposed to be crap. That kit lens is not what's holding you back. Balee dat. I also used two AB400's and one mangled 60" shoot-through that survived the accident that took the life of my AB1600 on the 4th of July. I'll put up a little lighting sketch today.

Once I got the first three shots, I started joining my model in a few beers... and then a few more and well, I pretty much lost interest as fast as I was losing daylight. Not the most professional approach, but man, I had fun doing this.

Business cards and why I don't care if they're the wrong color.

2010-07-14T09:57:00.000-07:00

I ordered some new cards last week and they showed up yesterday. I've had the design in pdf format on my phone for months so I knew exactly what they'd look like. Except when I pulled them out of the box they were not exactly what I expected

They were brown and not black:
Front.

Back.

A lot of what I'm feeling aligns with something that Leila Courey, Art Buyer at Leo Burnett, Toronto said on Heather Morton's blog.

I don’t mind if photographers want to bling out their promos for extra attention as long as the quality of the work goes along with it. What I don’t dig, is photographers spending what looks like a ton of money on business cards, expensive promos or portfolios meanwhile they really need to spend more time crafting their work.

When an artist is more established, or has been off the radar for a while, I can understand wanting to brand/re brand themselves to let it be known that they’re still available for assignment but even still, this won’t sway me. It’s all about the work.

Bingo. Bottom line: IT'S ALL ABOUT THE WORK. I'm just now building my book. I just need people to have my name and my phone number. That's it. Brown, black, blue, green. Doesn't really matter. The info is there. I'll probably re-order a box in the correct color (just because I like all my stuff to match and the printer is a very good personal friend of mine and i get em dirt cheap) but I'll pass these out too. It's the difference between hoping people will remember my name/website/blog and knowing they have the info in their pocket.

I found this post Through Chase Jarvis who really said it best: "Now that we’re clear on that, get out from behind the computer and go shoot something."

I think I will, sir. I think I will...

Strobes and controlling ambient light.

2010-07-05T10:18:00.001-07:00

I was at our annual 4th of July family gathering but I had this blog post on the brain. I had a couple lights and my camera bag in the trunk so I went ahead and set up.

So, I've received some questions about shooting outside with strobes/ controlling ambient light, etc... Some of them seem to be pretty basic, so I'm going to start here, at the beginning with some pretty basic exposure/strobe stuff and if I need to step it up to some more advanced stuff, we'll get there.

So. When shooting with strobes, and when I say strobes I mean a hotshoe flash, an alien bee monolight, or a broncolor pack/heads system- Anything that's not a continuous light source...

The key to remember is that aperture controls your flash exposure, and shutter speed controls your ambient light.
Since your flash duration is going to always be less time than your shutter is open it just makes sense. At full power or lowest power, it's still going to happen faster than could be effected by shutter speed. That's why aperture controls flash exposure. If we can't control the amount of time, we can only control how much light. Make sense?
Ok, more on that later. This post is just to demonstrate controlling ambient light with shutter speed.

I set up my most powerful light (an AB1600) and set it to full power since it was nice and bright out. After chimping a quick test shot that put me at f/8, I set my shutter speed to 1/250th of a second and shot a test:

Sucka-sweet.

And I just kept rollin' with it from there to show you how the exposure on my subject doesn't change with the shutter speed.

Shutter spd: 1/250

Shutter spd: 1/200

Shutter spd: 1/160th

Shutter spd: 1/125th

Shutter spd: 1/80th

Shutter spd: 1/50th
When we get down to the slower speeds it does start to creep it's way in. And basically what's happening there is that there is SO much ambient (in this case sun-light) light that when I slow down the shutter speed so that it's staying open for 1/50th of a second, more light is getting into the lens and blasted onto the sensor from the sun in that amount of time than from my little Alien Bee light. And the reverse is happening at the opposite end of the spectrum, when it's only open for 1/250th of a second, more light is making it in from the strobe than the sun. When that thing fires it it puts out a whole lotta light in a very short period. Thousandths of a second.

Not only is exposure being compromised at these longer shutter speeds, so is sharpness. The longer the shutter speed the more time that ambient light has to come in and be constantly lighting things that move. Like my nephew. You can see in the second example below that I picked up some motion blur because of the long shutter speed. The first one is at 250th for a point of reference, and the second is at 1/50th. With the strobe blast, as i said earlier, it's such a small fraction of a second that it doesn't matter if he moves.

Compare the shadowed side of the face, you can see where in the second image the shadow is filled in by the ambient light. You can also recognize the loss of sharpness from motion blur along the edge of the face and in the hair. It was right after this shot that my light and the 60" shoot through umbrella I was using smashed into the ground. Suck.

Allow me to explain. To my flash, 1/250th of a second feels like an hour. The exposure sequence goes like this:

Shutter opens||||||||||||*flashs fires*||||||||||shutter closes.

*disclaimer* (Yes, there is more going on during this time. Yes there are front and rear curtain considerations and sync and blah blah blah...dont harass me. If you know that stuff, you're wasting your time on my blog right now. I'll get to that, but remember, I said I was starting with the basics.)

Those tick marks represent time that the sensor is being exposed to light. Now, it doesn't know the difference between a flashlight, a headlight, the sun or a glowstick. It just sees light. The longer the shutter speed, the more those tick marks expand out and the greater the effects of the ambient light begin to be.

If we were sitting down having a beer I could explain this to you a million times better. Any questions?

Pacific City SPEC: Official Announcement

2010-07-03T10:30:00.000-07:00

In my last post I gave a vague intro to what we're doing. Here's a video with a little better description, and well, videos are cooler.

Ok... So there it is.

I'd love this to be as interactive as possible, so please, ask ask ask. Follow me on twitter and use the hashtag #PacCitySpec

The next week or so I'll be adding posts covering specific topics- I might have a budget breakdown in the next day or two, then maybe a post on assembling the crew, etc, etc...but the real fun is going to be when we actually get to Pacific City and hit the ground. We'll be tweeting live and putting up content on this blog as fast as possible. We'll get you the twitter names for everyone involved too.

Over the course of this project I hope that we can have a few guests to contribute to the blog that are already working these types of jobs and can give us all some of their pointers for pulling off a production like this or larger. That type of insight is always so valuable.

Sorry to be so brief but I've got to run to a meeting for another project. I'm involved in a pretty cool collaboration that I'm not sure if I'm supposed to talk about yet but I think I can say that we're looking to create some more resources for photographers to learn and grow through an INCREDIBLE organization. More on that later.

Creating Experience... and sharing it all with you.

2010-06-29T03:24:00.000-07:00

The only way for me to figure this out, is to figure it out.

I've made some great strides in my photography and feel like I'm approaching the point where I want to start to transition in to a full-time career as a pro. (Now, there's a lot of debate out there surrounding that word in our field. Let me define what I envision for myself as a professional. My goals are to: 1) Shoot for national level brands, agencies, and/or magazines and 2) Make a decent living that allows me to take care of my family, continue to grow as an artist, and, since I'm being transparent here, have a sweet ride.)

This brings up some questions I don't have the answers to.

How do I land jobs?
Where do I find clients?
How much do I charge?
What gear do i need?
How do I get my hands on the gear I need and can't afford?

and on, and on, and on, and on...

Lets back up, because none of this really matters unless someone wants to pay me for my work. I know that in order to land jobs, someone out there in the world has to know that I'm alive. And that I'm a photographer. And that I do good work. Scratch that. Great work.

Ok. Sweet.

Tons of people know I'm alive. A couple hundred people know that I'm a photographer. Where's my work? Oh. On facebook. And there's a bunch of crappy work on a website I set up way before I ever needed one.
In fact, I shouldn't call the images in those galleries "work" because that implies that there was either a client or some sort of organized effort beyond "dude, lets shoot something today".

Bottom line, I recognize it doesn't matter how many people know I'm a photographer if they track down my work and it looks like crap. I need a portfolio that proves I can do the work I'm looking for.

Like most jobs, this one requires experience. How do you gain experience if experience is required just to get your foot in the door? You have to create it for yourself.

So, here's where I've started:

I'd love to eventually shoot for Quiksilver or Roxy. So I made up a fake advertising job to shoot. I gave myself a deadline. I will be shooting this project with as much professionalism as I can muster and treat it as I would if I were actually shooting this for them. These will be the first images that make it into what is going to be my new book. The book I will actually be proud to show and use to represent myself in the future.

I met with my right hand man Jered tonight (well, last night at this point) and we had an initial creative meeting and went over some pre-production. Actually, quite a bit. I'll be sharing all of this information, all the steps and missteps along the way, right here on this blog. I'll hand over my notes, talk about ideas, planning, logistics and everything I learn along the way. There's a ton of stuff that goes into producing a commercial shoot and I'm sure I'm missing 70% of what really goes into it since I clearly have never had a large client ask me to do it before, but I guess we'll figure that out along the way.

This should be interesting, hopefully we'll all get to learn something from this experience. All three of you that read this blog.

Ok, I was going to stop here, but that wouldn't be true to the spirit of what I'm doing here. One more thing:

Jered will be doing a lot of filming throughout this process, because we thought it would be cool to make a video. Then I realized not only would it be cool but it could serve as a way to show a potential client how I operate. The way I handle this production from start to finish is all part of my brand, and regardless of the client being real or phony, this production will be real, and the final images, they'll be real too. This video could potentially land me work in the future. There, now I've been totally honest.

We've decided to shoot in Pacific City (based on a few things I'll cover in a later post) so any posts from here on out will be titled accordingly.

I'm super excited about this, I hope someone else can get something out of it also.

It's who I am.

2010-03-30T11:27:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of photographers out there, but there are
really 4 dudes who's work inspires me on a regular basis.

Chase Jarvis, Zack Arias, Embry Rucker, and Joey Lawrence.

Chase happened to kick me in the butt this morning with a post showcasing more of his iPhone photography, which reminded me that I've been putting off showing my own similar work. I take a handful of photos everyday with my Android based HTC Eris phone and use a couple applications to "funkify" them. I've just put up a gallery on my website called Android. Here are some of my favorites:

See the entire gallery

Outtake from the basement

2010-03-24T17:25:00.000-07:00

Shot some stuff for work today, here's a sample. Does anyone even look at this crap?

Oh yeah. Shot with a busted 40d, kit lens, and a few alien bee lights.

Nichole: My cigar smoking, online gaming, death metal rocker buddy that happens to be gorgeous too.

2010-03-18T11:29:00.000-07:00

I brought Nichole in for my Influence project and she rocked the house.

Shot with a busted 40d, kit lens, an old used up paper seamless, and a few alien bee lights.

As an aside, none of the actual images for the Influence project are going to be shown here or facebook or twitter or anywhere. They won't be seen until the project is complete and printed. Or, if you catch me in a good mood, I've got a few select images on my phone that I show off once in a while.

One more secret lover that I shot dead

2010-02-08T10:55:00.000-08:00

There's no rhyme or reason to todays list, just what's in my head this morning. Hope you find something you like.

Cheers,

Nick

Classic Brad and Gwen. For the kiddies, this is Gwen Stefani when she used to rock.

The Format, one of my very favorite bands:

Sweet live version of this song

The xx, brand new to me, love it.

G Love and Special Sauce- Shootin' hoops.

Pixies

You guys wear me out...keep it up...

2010-02-07T11:14:00.001-08:00

To avoid confusion...

2010-01-24T20:43:00.000-08:00

Man. Since I started as the bar manager at Salem's freshest bar I've listened to a lot of music. Most of it isn't what I'd choose at any given moment. Especially if i was out having a couple beers with my boys. Not to say that the music is bad, because we really do have a great selection playing in the basement at all times. There may be some new readers here (I have strangers pick me out of the crowd, by name, and reference my work, on a daily basis now- only explanation has to be the new job) so I have to assume that not everyone reading this knows me well enough to realize that I'm a huge hip-hop fan... specifically what's coming out of the Seattle scene (as I'm also a HUGE fan of the city of Seattle).

Seattle, as a city, as a scene- artistically and musically inspires my work greatly...
Self portrait I shot on the way back from an all nighter in Seattle.

Seattle hip-hip is just...smart. Give it a chance.

So I thought I'd put some of the stuff that I'm really feeling this week up here for you guys to check out. Maybe I'll start some sort of 'music monday' on this blog...

Macklemore, The Town
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIBdAdnTqqo

Blue Scholars, Coffee and Snow
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qREupDMEPAU

Common Market, Back Home
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf_ViI--kTI

Mad Rad, My product
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ip2VX2aVzU

The Saturday Knights, Motorin'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PRFZ_QCaoA

It's a fair trade...

2010-01-17T23:42:00.001-08:00

If you beg in front of my studio, you're going to end up on my blog.

Influence: Fried Meat Pies, Magic, And Dino Tarot...

2010-01-16T12:16:00.000-08:00

I've been off Facebook and Twitter for the month of January. For the most part that's a true statement. There was the game last week at the Rose Garden when Doug E. Fresh came out and started beat-boxing...those of you that know me well know that the Portland Trailblazers and hip-hop are like raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens to me. I got excited, posted a pic on Facebook. Sue me.

I've also jumped on Twitter a couple times to check out what a few people have been up to. Whatev.

Point is, I'm still alive. Maybe more than I've ever been. I've accepted a new job, which, I'm stoked to be at and kicked a project in the ass that has been in a perpetual state of pre-production for well over a year.

This project is becoming really special to me. And as such, I'm handling it differently. I normally get excited about work I've done and push it out into the public as soon as possible. Normally with bad editing and bad processing.

Not this time.

I'm playing this one close to the chest in hopes that the final product will be a moving and highly polished body of work that I can share with the masses. I've been shooting non-stop this passed week and it's been a mixture of real hard work, a lot of black coffee, one of the coolest private shows that Salem has ever seen in the comfort of my studio, late nights, early mornings, and most of all people. Some really, really cool people. I can't wait to share this with everyone.

After a completely fulfilling week I took yesterday as a day of rest, though I hardly feel rested. With two of my closest friends along, we hit up Horse Brass, an English pub with an impressive list of ever-changing craft brews, then made our way to Sushiville on NW 23rd for some uni, hamachi, and hot sake before converging on the Rose Garden with tens of thousands of other fans to watch my Trailblazers destroy the reigning eastern conference champions (Orlando Magic).

We left the RG and headed to SE 12th and Hawthorne to get some fried pies from Whiffies (i had the pulled pork), and kind of force my buddy Jered get a Dino Tarot reading.

We made it back into Salem and all i can think about is how badass these fried meat pies were. I'd go back right now, but Whiffies is only open from 8pm-3am. My kind of place.

...Intermittent debauchery, some tomfoolery, and the occasional PG-13 flasher...

2009-12-17T16:36:00.000-08:00

My beautiful wife and I make an appearance in a crazy cool video from Chase Jarvis.

This was probably the best night of 2009.

Chase really gave the best disclaimer so I'll just quote him: "If you're not hip to some intermittent debauchery, some tomfoolery, and the occasional PG-13 flasher, don't watch this"

Go check it out

Where my dogs at?

2009-12-16T16:56:00.000-08:00

I had a couple friends that wanted to do some portraits last night...with their dogs...all...4...

They're a rowdy pack but we had a ton of fun and got some cool stuff. I won't show their portraits before they get them but here's a couple cool outtakes...

Just Do It v1.1

2009-09-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterdays post was short, not due to lack of time but because I had revised 5 paragraphs of words trying to get that very simple point across and finally gave in to simplicity.

Go out and do it. Make it happen. Somebody else is doing it while you're watching Dancing with the Stars...and the irony is that there's a good chance someone less talented than you is working twice as hard and generating more success. Or at least chipping away at it quicker than you.

Then today my morning blog feed pushes this in front of me:

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.– Calvin Coolidge

See the original post

*And photographers, 'A Photo Editor' is a blog you should be reading everyday- seriously, keeping up with current trends and getting the inside scoop from others in the industry is part of the hard work it's going to take to really break in to your market- and things are happening everyday that you need to know about. A Photo Editor (APE) is Rob Haggart, the former Director of Photography for Men's Journal and Outside Magazine.

How appropriate. The post from APE reminded me of one of my favorite quotes. Something I've tried to have around for as long as I can remember, either in my office, my wallet, my locker at work, etc. Somewhere I'll see it regularly and remember. (If you're a FB friend you'll notice I only have one 'note' on my page and it's this quote)

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. - Theodore Roosevelt

Go out and get it people. Make it happen for yourself knowing that there will be times that you fall short, keep going...

Cheers,

Nick

Just do it.

2009-09-27T18:08:00.000-07:00

Get out and do something.

Seriously. That idea...it's good.

Go make it happen.

Lets not pretend its ok.

2009-09-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

We were in the field for nearly a week prior, hashing out the Op Order, planning, rehearsals, dry-runs...sweating, bleeding, hurting...but we were excited.

It was one of the biggest live-fire training missions we would conduct all year. It was fun back then... we had no idea the next day would change things forever- That all those "fun" training missions were going to be all that some of our friends had when they landed in country down the road. We didn't know that in preparation for deployment people would get careless and we'd lose Rubic right there *we miss you David*...it was just supposed to be a training mission.

In the morning we would move to the objective about 10 miles away and carry out the operation. We never made it to that objective, instead, we were told about the attacks and gathered around a hand set on the platoons radio and listened to CBS report the horror. When we finally moved back to the barracks we slept with our weapons. Loaded. No one really slept. Our barracks still had bullet holes in them from the Japanese...the last sucker punch we were dealt. No one had a clue what was going to unfold but we were ready for the worst. I remember being so angry and knowing that I'd never felt anything like that before.

Fast forward 8 years...I feel that way today and every year and I hope it's never diluted. People are still losing their lives...let's not act like things are ok. At least not today.

Worship for Water

2009-09-01T23:37:00.001-07:00

Teachers are everywhere. Everywhere.

2009-08-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I created a post in which I spoke about giving up. The next day, Zack Arias (an Atlanta based photographer I look up to) posted an email from another photographer dealing with the same feelings. 189 comments were left by other photographers, most of which were more or less similar stories.

Common struggles amongst all of us. I'm going to go ahead and say that this probably applies to just about any field.

Well, today Zack posted this video...and it's impact on me and countless others has been immeasurable. Please take a minute to watch this...this series of events was no mere coincidence, and it has touched my life today.

**The player on my blog is a little wonky and cuts off part of the frame. Watch the video here on Zacks site. http://www.zarias.com/?p=440

Dear God, Please help me do well so I don't get my butt kicked by a bunch of girls

2009-08-13T22:35:00.000-07:00

OK. So I just got home from the Cherry City Derby Girls practice where Ryan Rogers (The man behind Salem Now!, Stereo Salem, Culture Shock, SPARK, and CCDG -also the one who created the image in this post) introduced me to nearly 100 derby girls as the photographer who would be doing the league (league?) portraits. Wow. That's an intimidating group of ladies. Tough and beautiful at the same time...they were all super nice and receptive.

It was my first derby experience and they all seemed to derive a little joy from learning this. They'd taken my derby virginity. I'm telling you...menacing and hot. It will surely not be my last. What an intriguing sport. It's confusing to the natural senses of a regular guy like me. If a girl puts in the effort and shows up in thigh-high's and a mini skirt- don't shove her down on the ground. That's pretty much a generally accepted rule in the circles I run in. Not here. One of the girls I had the pleasure of speaking with (while she was icing down an injury) admitted to specifically enjoying knocking down the girls that think they look extra cute. Hmmm. It was so much fun to watch these derby girls in action... some of them skate so skillfully they look like they're just floating around like some sort of ass-kicking pixie. I think this derby stuff is totally underrated and I can't wait to be involved in serving it up to Salem.

Anyhow,
Ryan showered me with compliments I'm not sure I deserved but now I have to deliver the goods. Lets hope I can produce at the level he (and this pack of ladies that could all kick my butt) is expecting.

Wish me luck y'all.

A post for the record.

2009-08-11T19:50:00.000-07:00

Today I feel like the creative gap between where my work is and where I want it to be, contrasted against my current age, and the age I feel like I should be proud of my accomplishments...it's just too great.

If i take a 9-5 and just punch the clock day in and day out...well, I'm young enough that I could still grab some sort of decent pension. I think. Truth is...I don't have a clue about that stuff. I don't have a clue about that sort of thing because I've always known that I would be an independent success and I'd "take care of myself".

Hunh.

I'm beginning to tremble under the weight of my self-doubt and today I'm ready to give it all up.
I'm scared I wont succeed. I may even be scared I will succeed.

There.

I got it off my chest. I'm not quitting...I get tonight to feel sorry for myself...then tomorrow I rework my goals and shorten my time lines. I'm not working hard enough, that's all. In a conversation with a friend earlier I suggested their goals weren't ambitious enough...and here I am, eating my words. Again.

*Now someone save a copy of this for my E! True Hollywood Story. It'll be a nice touch.

-Nick

Oh yeah. My new site is up. Tell me what you think...or don't.

Salem's Cyclists and Skaters

2009-08-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

So tonight began Salem's Lifesource Mountain Bike Short Track series which was held at the Oregon State Fairgrounds. There was a lot to see, tons of great riders, and it just looked like a blast!

Also happening at the fairgrounds is some free skate time at the seasonal skate park. Some local skaters were there along with some of the boys from Dokument Skate Shop. I'll let others do all the writing, I'll just get to the pictures. There are going to be a lot more photos form this event (like, entire galleries) going up on my new site. I'll re-post when they're up. This series goes on for like another 3 weeks. You really should go check it out one of these Mondays.

Need Product Isolations?

2009-08-07T11:36:00.000-07:00

I think that product isolation shots are some of the coolest looking photos. Maybe I'm a big nerd. Either way, if you're looking for this type of work, I'm your guy. I put a few fresh examples below:

More recent work...

2009-08-05T13:09:00.000-07:00

Another sample, most recent...

NEW LOGO!

2009-07-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

So.. if you follow me on Twitter (@nicholaslopez) at all you've probably heard a little talk about some identity work that is being done for me. The work is incredible and I love how it's coming along. We're still early in what will be a long and thorough process but I really wanted to get peoples reactions to what we've landed on for the new logo for Nick Lopez Photography. Here are to color variations, tell me what you think!

Iris Festival + Mobile lighting

2009-05-19T05:03:00.000-07:00

New Turn Creatives vid gives overview of gear and some way better samples of the parade photos than facebook offers.

Watch Now

Kalyn

2009-05-12T13:03:00.000-07:00

Kalyn had quite an audience as we worked a few weeks back. My hat is off to her working under the watchful eye of 10-15 strangers hanging around because they thought she was some celebrity. She did a great job and produced some wonderful images.

This guy even parked his car along side the road to watch. He left in a hurry when i turned my big ol' 70-200mm on him.

Skyler Bowers- Only one I'll let go before i get the printed proofs delivered.

2009-04-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

I really try not to have images I've made for someone spread across the internet before they have hard copy proofs in their hands, but sometimes I just get so excited about a shoot i have to leak one or two...

Another setup shot...

2009-04-06T18:04:00.001-07:00

These guys had fun...

2009-04-06T17:54:00.001-07:00

2009-04-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

Coming very soon

2009-04-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been away for so long (the 3 of you that look at this blog) but Brocky Diesel and I've had a crazy busy weekend- And we've got tons of great images to show for it. Stay tuned...good stuff headed your way.

Hooper.

2009-03-10T14:20:00.001-07:00

Rained out.

2009-03-08T00:25:00.000-08:00

Started shooting tonight and as soon as i got everything set up...rain. I know, my fault. Got one off before i called it quits. What do you guys think of this one? I'm still on the fence.

Started shooting tonight and as soon as i got everything set up...rain. I know, my fault. Got one off before i called it quits.

B-Rock Session Early Look

2009-03-07T11:05:00.000-08:00

Early look at a shot from my session with Brock Bowers...more to follow, very soon.

Early look at a shot from my session with Brock Bowers

STOP TAKING PICTURES...

2009-02-25T09:50:00.000-08:00

of people in gas masks!!
My morning blog roll, facebook, rss feeds etc. inevitably led me across more photos of some strobist, flicker, or model mayhem group doing something that probably was fun and probably was good for the community- HOWEVER, you stop benefiting the photographic community when you decide to put a gas mask on any of your models.

This is just my opinion but I'm sure many agree with me. These shots are drearily commonplace and often predictable. Somebody finds the mask and decides it's a priority over location, lighting, composition, exposure etc. So you end up with an underexposed shot with bad light in someones bathroom of a terrible "model" and some fake blood or latex or worse: both. If no one ever takes another photo of someone in a gas mask we'd still have too many. There's no clever angle...it's all been done. You put a gas mask on a model it ruins the shot. Period. That's a rule now.

What shot sends you over the edge? The bride holding the marriage certificate behind the grooms back? Mom, Dad and baby feet? I know there's a trite shot you've seen a million times (chances are you've seen me post one here on this blog) lets get some comments and conversation going on this...

Zack Arias...Oh my goodness...

2009-02-20T00:52:00.000-08:00

I drafted and re-typed 7 different ways to intro this video, but nothing really worked. Just watch.

Until i can figure out the embedding watch it here: http://blip.tv/file/1785698

http://www.zackarias.com

Day trip to Bend

2009-02-11T21:06:00.000-08:00

Had a great day yesterday, Jason Oliver and I ran over to Bend for a little business, a little Thai food, some photos, and a little surprise gelato on the way back. Here are some of the photos from the day.

Amtrak Police Arrests Photographer Taking Pictures for Amtrak Photography Contest

2009-02-04T16:24:00.000-08:00

From Cameratown.com:

February 4, 2009 -- In December 2008 Amtrak police arrested Duane Kerzic who was taking photos with his Canon EOS 5D and Lensbaby at Penn Station in NY. Duane was out taking pictures of trains in hopes of winning Amtrak’s annual photo contest along with the $1000 prize. According to published reports, Duane was standing on the platform taking pictures of the trains as they came and left from the station. As he was walking out of the station, he kneeled down to tie his shoe only to find Amtrak police hovering over him when he stood back up. Duane was arrested after refusing to delete the photographs and was handcuffed in a cell while police "figured out" the charges. It seems that once they realized that photographing in public places wasn't a crime they gave him a citation for 'trespassing.'

The Stephen Colbert report ran a great and very funny "Nailed 'em" segment on this story. Well worth watching (see video below).

The only part of this story that doesn't completely add up is that the Amtrak Photo Contest 2009 ended in July 11, 2008. I guess it could be assumed that Duane was capturing images for the 2010 contest? Either way - it's amazing how 9/11 has affected our security. On one hand it's great to see Amtrak police watching out for us, while on the other hand people looking to take pictures with a camera, in a public place, should never be harrassed - especially when the company itself sponsors a yearly photo contest asking its riders to do just that - take pictures of our trains!

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Nailed 'Em - Amtrak Photographer

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Paul McCartney Appearance

Funny Political Videos
More Funny Videos

Man who catch fly with chopstick accomplish anything.

2009-01-23T12:43:00.000-08:00

"No offense, Mr. Miyaji, but I don't think you understand my problem... "
Miyagi: [interrupting]" Mi... ya... *gi* understand problem perfect."

I think people have mistaken what I was trying to say in a recent Facebook update that read: “[I have] 10,000 photos from last year, and they’re all garbage.” And shortly after updated the post with an adjustment claiming that number was closer to 20,000.

This was not to deprecate my work. There are a lot of images I’ve created over the past 2 years that I really enjoy. A single session may produce anywhere between a few hundred and a few thousand shots only to yield a handful that will be kept, edited, and delivered. So in reality, out of 20,000 exposures, it is expected that most are going to be considered “garbage”. Another example: Out of two very similar images, one with only minor differences from the one that is ultimately selected the other will be archived to an external drive never to be seen again. “Garbage”.

This statement was also not to solicit compliments. Thank you for the kind words.

I recently experienced an epiphany that has changed the way I view not only myself but also the way I view my own work.

It’s been a positive experience overall. I realize that in the past I’ve tried to cut corners, push the limits of exposures to make up for crummy lighting. I assumed that expensive gear would make me a good photographer. I submitted to a “spray and pray” approach to shooting certain things. And many times I shot with no rhyme or reason. Probably the worst offense is that I was not nearly critical enough of my own work. Sure, there have been a lot of photos that my mom thinks are great. My wife is also very complimentary. (Thanks, Honey.)

I’m not being hard on myself. I’m being a realist. With the goals that I have for my career, my work, my life…I cannot afford, nor do I have time, to accept anything less than my very best effort. Plain and simple, old fashioned hard work, practice, education and ultimately, experience.
.
In Karate (and many other martial arts) there is a colored belt ranking system as a visible indication of the students’ progress. As students pass through the ranks taking grading examinations they are awarded with different colored belts to represent their rank, or “Kyu”.

Now surely the same performance that earned a karate student his last belt, will not earn him his next. Even though he was at the peak of his Kyu then, he is expected to have grown and that progress should be demonstrated in his work.

So I guess that’s where I am. I’m ready to improve, to compose well, to light things properly, to cultivate creative concepts…I’m ready for my next Kyu and the work of my last belt will just not be acceptable.

Ken Rockwell makes a ton of great points here.

No lights, no people, no zoom...awesome day.

2009-01-21T10:17:00.000-08:00

So i woke up early yesterday, watched some inauguration coverage and left the house with a photographic agenda. I swung by the dive bar i work at to grab a (half price) rockstar and hit the road. I didn't quite know where i was going, but i knew what i was after. I wanted to make some images using no lights, including no people, using only a Canon 50mm 1.8 on my 40D. I really just wanted to try to take it back to the basics and exercise my composition muscle. I found myself sloshing through the mud, laying in the road, probably did a little trespassing (?), climbing on things I was certain had to be dangerous to climb on and just had a ball in general.

Here are some of the photos:

President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address

2009-01-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

Full transcript as prepared for delivery of President Barack Obama's inaugural remarks on Jan. 20, 2009, at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many.

They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.

We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

An open letter to Chase Jarvis

2009-01-19T22:17:00.000-08:00

Chase Jarvis,

Let me start by saying I am neither a great writer or great photographer. I don't claim to be either, don't aspire to be the former. I'm posting this on my blog so that others may read it and if someone wants to point out grammatical errors, nitpick spelling, or critique format, well, they're missing the point. I refuse to revise all night and I think most will be able to intuit what I'm trying to illustrate even given the shoddy writing.

I recently came across your work and was beside myself. Incredible. Not only are you obviously a fantastic photographer, (you know that- we all know that- no need to tell you more of what you get all day long on Twitter and Facebook, and that's not a jab at anyone- I'm a member of the "Chase Jarvis takes better pictures with an oatmeal container pinhole camera than i ever will in my entire life" group on Facebook too) but something that struck a chord with me was a few words on the bio page of your website probably skipped over by the average fanboy:

"...a gifted leader..."

I recently closed the books on a ten year army enlistment and think I understand a thing or two about leadership. I've had some very poor leaders, I've had some I would confidently follow into hell and back and I did my very best as one myself. Now before I over-dramatize this let me pull it back in-

I've had a few run-ins with some old school photographers- great photographers that are unfortunately not "2.0". Guys that thought sharing, encouraging or (apparently) even being polite to, a young aspiring photographer with an entry- level consumer DSLR would come back to bite them in the pocketbook. Or they're just big jerks. Either way these guys perpetuate the elitist photographer stigma.

(*note* I understand many ask questions that could easily be answered with a few quick keystrokes at the google dialog box. I've always tried to be appreciative of an expert or professionals time. I try to limit my questions to things that come only from experience, only from doing. Or I honestly value the opinion of that particular person. I know how to search, I know where the FAQ's are. I know that you (chase) are not hiring.)

A few nights ago i watched this video from your NYC Photoshelter Talk and was blown away, it's like you read my mind and called out all those "old" guys. And yeah, I watched all 55+ minutes of it. And more than anything I appreciate your commentary on good business, community, hard work and "the black box" in general.

You get it. And you're in a position to spread it. Thousands and thousands of people look to you for an example to emulate and you are doing a better job at it than the little guys like me could ask for. Ya know? Beyond exposure and gear and...there's so much more to it. Crap, thank you. That is industry leadership.

I ran across someone on twitter recently who commented "@chasejarvis hmmm. why is THE FAMOUS chase jarvis following ME?..." To which you replied: "I'm following u because I want u to push yourself with photography."

Whoa. That is seriously cool. I thought to myself, dang, I wish i had access to a guy like that. I started following you on Twitter and BANG- my blackberry (that's right, until I can get an iPhone on a network that doesn't suck down here, I'm a blackberry guy- and i shoot Canon!) blows up with a message: Chase Jarvis is now following you on Twitter. Rad.

"The Secret To Success In Photography" was profound. I know I'm not where I want to be as a photographer, not even close. I want to compete at a professional level and that is going to be a while and before reading that it seemed like forever- like the day may never arrive. Now I'm able to identify myself as "somewhere in the middle of my journey to be great" instead of just "not great" and that is a huge paradigm shift for me.

Anyhow to wrap up all this cheese, I just want to express my appreciation for what you're doing in our industry. Hopefully this ideology will will continue to grow and that down the road I'll be in a position to do just what you're doing now for the photographic community.

I am truly motivated again...

Be Undeniably Good.

2009-01-19T10:13:00.000-08:00

Chase Jarvis has been a huge inspiration for me since the minute I first saw one of his images. The guy is 35 years old and already an incredible success in the commercial photography industry, not to mention the youngest photographer to be named both a Nikon master and Hasselblad master.

He posted something up on his blog that I found to be incredibly encouraging and well, anyone who wishes to succeed in anything, be it playing guitar, learning to speak korean, or photography, should read this post from his blog: http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2008/12/secret-to-success-in-photography.html

And while you're at it check out some of his awesome videos:
Kung Fu

Ninjas

Plus many, many more at chasejarvis.com/blog

A few more

2009-01-18T22:04:00.000-08:00

Beach Trip!

2009-01-18T20:43:00.000-08:00

So today me familia rolled to Lincoln City. I always find a way to sneak in a few pics. After entirely too much fried food and before a couple giant scoops of ice cream from Snack Attack, I captured these.

Portland Roadster Show

2009-01-14T16:21:00.001-08:00

These are a few shots i took at the roadster show, i was there to shoot something far less interesting than these vehicles i found.

Peter Blanchett!

2009-01-13T23:39:00.000-08:00

My good friend Peter Blanchett- If you've seen the Hollywood blockbuster, Twilight, then this isn't the first time you've laid eyes on Peter.

Felix Monet

2009-01-13T23:36:00.000-08:00

Felix and I got together for a impromptu lil' shoot at the house- sneak peek:

Lauryn- Senior Pics!

2009-01-13T23:26:00.001-08:00

I was lucky enough to get to shoot Lauryn's senior pictures, i had a blast and she always looks great.

Bobby Hooper- LA road trip.

2009-01-13T23:24:00.001-08:00