Cotton Candy in the Sky

Yesterday evening, right at the beginning of civil twilight, I rushed over to the edge of the bench to photograph our beautiful city, foothills and mountains with this giant orange and blue cloud formation hovering above. (see the photograph by clicking older post below) While I was shooting I had a feeling the photograph (or photographs, considering it's made up of 5 different images) would turn out beautiful but I just wasn't done using my shutter button for the day... The light was gone where I'd been pointing my camera so I took a breath, shifted my head to the West and BOOM, more light and more color!

To me one of the most important points in photography is to turn around from the scene you're so engrossed in and scope out your surrounding area's... You never know what you'll find! 

Boise Sunset - February 22 2011

This is where I live! This is what I love!

monogamous...

Hanging out with myself...

at this moment I spend the majority of my life with myself...

it is peaceful...

it is mind bending...

it is time consuming...

it is rewarding...

it is confusing...

it is hilarious...

it just is... 

and I just am...

A play on your eyes - evolution.

I'm evolving...

My photography... My art... My body... My life...

I'm evolving...

Mountain View High School Millennium Dance Team

I had the great pleasure of photographing the Mountain View High School Millennium Dance Team last week. The photographs will be used for the annual calendar they produce and sell to raise funds for their team. I have yet to photograph a group this large. 14 total. It was the most challenging photo shoot so far when it came to my lighting situation but one of the best flowing shoots when it came to my subjects. It was so fun being surrounded by such high caliber athletes again. Thank you to all of you wonderful ladies for being so great throughout the whole shoot. And a huge thank you to the coaches, Christina Shell and Tamra Nefzger for the opportunity to photograph these wonderful athletes! 

These are my favorite photographs from the shoot...

• Baseball jersey's  •

• Hip Hop •

• Senior's, Junior's, Freshman/Sophomore's •

• Kick •

• Officers •

• Prop •

New Logo Perhaps?

...in the works...

Strobe, Macro Extension Rings and Eye Balls

A few weeks ago my brother-in-law checked out one of my up close and personal self portraits. He noticed how cool my contact looked but wanted to see more... in so many words. Today I read my friend and fellow photographer, Jeremy Koons' blog post and was completely inspired. (Hitting the link to his post is highly recommended) I've been using my macro extension rings like crazy lately so I decided to put these recent inspirations together. Remember to click on the photographs to enlarge them!

Experimenting with and without a small softbox... creating catchlights.

Experimenting with distance and angle of strobe...

 and distance and angle of eyeball to camera lens...

Focus was a crapshoot but oh so worth the challenge!

Small softbox combined with daylight and tungsten lights...

This is where Jeremy's link comes into play!

Notice the size of my pupil... pretty small.

Nearly landed the focus on Iris but happy with the reflection of eyelashes.

Only using the small softbox...

Eye had adjusted to the dark and POW, hello pupil!

Focus is on the outer edge of contact.

Strobe without softbox.

Focus on ridge or rim of eyeball and contact.

(Love the black reflection of the rim against light background)

The light flecks above and to the right of catchlight is the reflection from the strobe off my camera.

Focus on the bubbles and blemishes on the outside of contact!

I'm not sure where I'll be going with this experimental photo day but these just may show up again somewhere!

Social Media Revolution - It can be your friend if used correctly!

Valentine for AIDS - 2011

Since 1994 the Flying M Coffee House has been hosting a community art show called Valentine for AIDS.  To me, this is the most fun art event of the year. Hundreds of artists of ALL AGES donate their work to help support SNAP (Safety Net for AIDS Program). The silent auction lasts 10 days (February 3-13, 2011). If anyone has a spare hour it's well worth taking the time to check out the awesome art work and maybe throw down some bids at this most amazing and very important cause! Here are a few photographs I made during the artist opening.

Flying M is always packed at the artist opening! Mingle, mingle, art, art art!

My very supportive life partner took some time off her busy schedule to be my date!

7 years in this show thanks to my babe!

My art piece is a little above Amy's eye level... dancing feet, titled E-MOTION!

Have to be okay with physical closeness when attending this shin dig!

View on my friends! Art is so cool!

Searching & Researching

I've been having some tough times finding inspiration and motivation... Pretty normal for this time of year but now I know the second I get in this mode I need to do what I can to GET OUT! Research, research, research! The difference this time around is my research is of my Grandmothers photography. I've finally dealt with her passing (coming up on 10 years ago in May) and feel emotionally strong enough to go through thousands of her slides. All I can say is, I am inspired thanks to my Gram! I can't wait to see what comes out of this bump in the road!

Colorful Inspirations!

There are three people who have made the biggest positive influence on my life and most recent art endeavor. One of course is my best friend, soulmate and wife, Amy. Second is my life savior, angel on my shoulder and Grandma, Rainy Curtis (Gram). Third is my creative thinker buddy, soul friend and most amazing blown glass creator, Megan Ekstrom. I honestly don't know where I'd be without these three pushing me to be the best person and best artist I can be. Thank you all for not giving up on me even during those so called 'crappy days'!

Here are a few samples of my newest project... 

Macro photography of Meegs beautiful glass!

Color me, please!

I've noticed I've gone off on my low saturated / black and white kick again so I've decided to take a different turn. Even though the Robin's are chirping and the plants are budding, it's still winter and cold outside. So yesterday I took some much needed time to clean out my studio, set up the tabletop, seamless paper, white cards, light stands, tripod and camera. With COLOR in the front of my mind I decided my subject should be something not so obvious but extremely inspiring to me...

Here is one example... Can you guess what it is?