Garden City Findings

Another day in the 'Little Blue House' hood and I'm feeling a bit cooped up...

What to do, what to do?

Grab the camera...

Load the dogs...

Take Sally (the mustang) to Garden City for a joy ride!

Searching for something to spark the brain and the heart...

What did I find?

Old, used.... Used, old...

Cars, doors, mailboxes and more!

Table Top Goodies

Friends, family, photography, music, drinks and one garbage filled ashtray...

Life, death, why?

Things happen for mysterious and sometimes very sad reasons.

We question...

We try to answer...

Life, death, death, life...

When, where, how, why, why, why?

More than likely their isn't an answer other than the harsh fact that everything that lives dies.

Sometime, somewhere, someway...

This diptych was made in memory of all of those who have come into my life, made a huge impact, then left too quickly for me to ever understand.

Photographing Metal

Since I've been home from school I make sure to challenge my eye and mind every single day. So far photographing metal art work has been my biggest challenge and I'm loving it! My dear and very talented friend Cindy Wolff has given me the amazing opportunity to photograph her beautiful art work. (This is one of many art works... More to come soon).

This challenge has given me more drive to open my own studio than any challenge so far. My living room is consumed by my photo equipment and it's working great... For now! I am limited to one strobe on a stand set off camera. I'm bouncing the light into my one umbrella and back out which then hits the many many white cards I have set up with the clamps I purchased from Harbor Freight. Thanks to RMSP I have one nice large piece of paper that I have pinned into the wall/opening that separates the dinning room and living room. I have the paper curved nicely up onto the table I use for my other art making activities!

The best part about this challenge is that I have realized once again how lucky I was and am to be a part of RMSP. Joe Lavine, our studio teacher is a life saver. Without Joe, his amazing teaching style, huge amount of knowledge and constructive criticism I would never have known how to set up anything to pull off a simple product shoot let alone a challenge like this.

I can't wait for the day to work with photographers/artists and assistants like I did last summer.

Eye Color

During my journey to find out just what it is that hits my heart I've discovered my love for the eye! A beings eye is unique to only them. The color, the shape, the lines etc. I love the fact that not one being is the same, not even identical siblings. Here's is a sample of my latest personal project that will more than likely expand throughout my artistic life.

First Snow

6:00AM alarm chimes... snooze... dream... alarm chimes again...

Wife up, dressed, ready for walk...

'Little Dog' cuddle, stretch, up, ready for eats...

'Big Dog' yawn, up, stretch, food...

Kitty patiently waiting, meow, food...

SAC up, dressed, feed four leggeds, step outside, snow...

Long Johns, thick socks, hats, hoodies...

Boots & Gloves - Wife, SAC, Big Dog...

Jacket - Wife, SAC, Big & Little Dog...

All bundled, walk...

SACS work day mornings... home, treats, make wifes protein shake and lunch, vitamins organized and packed, dogs tucked in...

Wife... shower, readies for work...

SAC outside...

Snow, broom, truck, start, heat, warming, 4 wheel, wife's safe for the drive to work...

Breathe...

Camera, tripod, remote switch, photographs!

My Only Blood Grandparent

Through the thick and thin of family issues, good and bad, my Gramma and I have made it out stronger than ever! I wanted to share the photographs I made this past summer on my first of four visits to the 'River House'. Gramma is my only blood grandparent that I have ever known. She is also my only living grandparent. I look up to her even with the bumps in the road that we have hit in the past. The past is the past, the present is here and we don't know what the future will bring.

I'm intrigued with family and relationships. It has been a recent discovery how important the family tree is to me. My Dad was adopted by the most wonderful woman who ever walked this earth, my Gram Rainy. They had a beautiful relationship and I feel as if I'm more like my Gram Rainy than I am anyone in my family. I have so much respect for my Grams choice to adopt my Dad and gives me hope for the choice that I have made for my future expansion of my own family. Thank you Gram for being such an awesome example and grandma to me, RIP.

The only thing that I feel like I'm missing is history. My history on my Dads side, is my Dad and our family who adopted him. I don't know anything other than he was born in Gridley, California. My history on my Mom's side is long and full and I am on the path of finding out just where at least half of me is from. For now I'm focussing on spending as much time with my Gramma as I possibly can. She's now 81 years of age and spunkier than ever! Thank you Gramma for being you and for wanting our relationship to grow.

Truth, life and relation.

I've spend many many hours sitting behind my Gramma while she curls her hair and gets ready for the day ahead.

Gramma taking a walk in her very manicured and beautiful 4 achre yard. Work done by her own hands.

Self portrait holding my families photograph taken in 1979, my birth year. This was taken in one of the guest bedrooms at my Gramma's 'River House.'

Iowa Scenes

Iowa, oh Iowa, how I love thee... This is my second trip to Iowa but this time I had the pleasure of spending my time in the north western part of the state. I carried no expectations about anything only excitement rushed through my veins. I had two purposes on this trip... One was to get to know all I could about my client and his businesses so I could come home and design his sweet logo. The second was to spend time photographing with my buddy, classmate and forever great friend Bob Blanchard ('09 AI, SI RMSP Grad). Check mark on both!

After taking over 750 photographs on the entire trip to Iowa here are a few that I feel capture the scenes where I was so very lucky to spend a short time in the fall of 2009.

Blue Angels

This is dedicated to my Gram, Rainy Curtis. My best friend, the woman who made me who I am today, my biggest influence, my Angel... I will see you again... Until then I'm letting you know via blog, as odd as that might be, that I think of you everyday and sometimes still believe you will be calling me to pick you up for another one on one dinner. I miss you but when I look up into the sky I know you are there keeping a close eye on me and all the others you loved so deeply. I love you and thank you for everything.

My photographic exploration!

It's true I'm on a treck to find out just what my style of photography is at this point in my life. One of my classmates nailed me the other day when I sent him an image to critique... He asked "what does this mean to you?" Ah, ah, duh... was my internal thought which resulted in a couple days of complete frustration while I frantically tryed to figure out that question. And finally the answer is... I need to dive into my work even deeper than I ever have before!

In my research of photographers and works that I love I have found that I needed to add to my software filters. Thank you to Richard Cornelius, a fellow RMSP '09 SI grad and his most amazing photographic skills some of my troubles were helped immensely. (Please look up Richard's work, you will all be very impressed!) He has like interests in subjects and also post editing. Without him I would still be scratching my head and asking myself, how do they do that? Thank you from the bottom of my heart Richard, you have saved me.

These are a few photographs that came out of a shoot a handful of RMSP students went to capture, including Richard who nailed it and made one of the most beautiful and original art works I've ever seen!

If you're wondering just how did I create this work here you go... First off, I went to the best photography school in the USA, possibly the world. (Yes that's my opinion but seriously if you go you will think the same thing!) Second I used Lightroom and Photoshop CS4 to capture the global edits that I needed. Lastly I used the Topaz Adjust filter made by Topaz Labs to create the final edit look and feel that you see bellow. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did while creating them every single step of the way!

To the local Missoula skaters and wonderful models, thank you.

Siblings

I've been doing a lot of thinking about my own family and how much they mean to me... One of the best things that ever happened to me was having my sister as my sister! I can't describe the relationship because everyone is different and has their own sibling connection or even disconnect. The ladder, I will never understand but then again everybody is different even if you share the same genes.

I have been blessed to have the sister that I have. We are both lucky to have the Mom we have. She raised us to stick together no matter what. And let me tell you a lot of 'no matter what's' have happened but we are still together!

This next series is an exploration of siblings. I'm feeling that in my photography future siblings and family will be a huge focus for me. Here is an introduction!

(The portrait of my sister and I was taken by my Bro-In-Law and edited by me. It's a little on the fuzzy side but I give him props for being so interested in snapping the shutter!)

Challenge Yourself

So I've been doing a lot of research on other photographers and noticed something about my work... I need to challenge myself more. Push the envelope. See, feel and photograph more and diverse subjects. Follow my heart.

Buildings have been a large part of my life... Mostly because my Dad is the best contractor to ever walk the face of this earth. Lucky for me he raised me on the job site. I learned so much from him and his crew I know for a fact my creative eye would not be the same without that experience. Unfortunately my Dad is out of the business. Who would want to be known as a contractor after what has happened in the industry in the past 10 to 15 years? It's just too bad because my Dad is so very talented but never received the credit that he deserved... And or never allowed himself to receive the credit that I and others like me gave him. He was lumped into the pile of SO CALLED 'contractors' who threw up a house in less than a month with less than quality work put into every second of that tiny building time period. So I believe this is where my next photographic interest is coming from. I'm not sure where it will go but buildings and construction is in my brain.

Today I went out and photographed a few different old abandoned houses that are still standing in downtown Boise. I'm also not sure what my statement is quite yet... This has been an idea in my head since I was a youngster while swinging the hammer and or shooting the nail-gun building strong sound houses. I know for a fact that I'm kicking myself in the butt for not documenting my Dads amazing work. He should have a coffee table book, who knows someday he just might!

I've been promoting my photography to friends and family since I returned home in August from Rocky Mountain School of Photography. Also I've had a new spark in my Graphic Design skill and it feels better than ever to open up Adobe Illustrator and work that pen tool like never before! So far since I've been home I photograph and design as much and as large of a diversity as possible. No, I do not have only one interest in either, I just love it. Rocky Mountain School of Photography opened my eyes, finally! I've been waiting for that type of education for years and I didn't even know it until last winter when I hit a wall... I knew that all I had to offer in this world was my art work but how, just how was I going to do it? Education was the only thing that saved me. I'm ready to spread my wings from friends and family to a broader crowd. Businesses, musicians, anyone and everyone who can use my skills and services!

So for now I'm a creating fool, camera's, computers, Adobe Software galore, acrylic paints, spray paints, wood carvings, house siding, printing, archival ink, paper, canvas, MUSIC, slideshows, lenses, remote switch, time lapse movies, iStop Motion.... and that's just the beginning!!!

Been a long time...

Holy Cow what happened!?! I figured it was time to get back on here while I'm creating my website and updating the look of my company design. I'm back in Boise after graduating from the SI program at Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula, MT. Yes, I've been back for over a month and it's been nuts around here. I'm making sure to make as many photographs as I possibly can. I'm also learning new computer programs and expanding my knowledge in Lightroom and Photoshop, well CS4 all around and it's fan-freaking-tastic! I will be updating my blog way more now that I feel my feet under me so stay tuned for more fun SAC action. For now I'll leave you with some work I made yesterday. Beautiful weather we're having! Enjoy

Rocky Mountain School of Photography!

Hey all! I'm just checking in to let you all know how much this school kicks ass. If anyone is interested in photography and would like to build a career out of it DO DO DO look into RMSP! I seriously can't find any words to describe how amazing this school and everyone involved is. Life is going to finally taking off... Well the photography and art part that is! I can't wait to learn more. We're in week two. My mind is scrambled but stoked at the same time.

Hope all's well with everyone else:)

~SAC•s~

New at this!

Okay, I finally did it. Made a blog that is! I'm heading off to school in a couple days so I figured why not try this out before I get too crammed to be able to figure it out. Above I have posted my last painting for the next couple of months. I didn't quite nail the glare but you get the gist! Enjoy and take care! Leaving you now with a little quote:

"Don't give up. 

Just be you. 

Because life's too short 

to be anybody else..."