Wedding of the Week!

Okay, so it's been a LONG time since I've posted to the blog - I promise to start doing more. But wedding season kept me incredibly busy this year... so I will have lots and lots of pics to share over the coming months!

That said - I'm excited to announce that one of my weddings was named Wedding of the Week from Project Wedding - a site from the folks at eHarmony.

Ted and Christina's event was a blast to shoot. She's a great interior designer up in Moorpark - check out her site when you have chance. Their family was great and the event was stunning... and done on an incredible budget!

One of my favorite aspects of their wedding was the unified design elements - I will show some more pictures of them soon. Her use of black and white, combined with flashes of red really made the event stunning!

Check out the Wedding of the Week profile here!

Dani M

One of the things I look for with models is their ability to provide variety in their poses. In this shoot with Dani, she really found a number of ways to move with the camera, providing a lot of great looks. In some of the last images, she sports a vintage Gucci dress - that really brings out that retro 60s look.

-- click *Play* to check out the show --

Project Dogwalk - Day 1

This is the first day of "Project Dog Walk." Mixed in with my usual blog, I am going to be posting a couple of pictures each week of my walks with Layla. I plan to take out a variety of cameras and will try to let you know what I shoot with. My goal is to notice the details of my neighborhood in the found objects, nature, and unique people that make it up.

Entry 1 - The Sandal
A lone sandal sitting in a driveway.
Shot with Canon Powershot SD1000 Digital Elph
Although this little baby is just a point and shoot, here's the metadata on the shot:
5.8mm, ISO 80, f2.8, 1/250


Entry 2 - PVC
PVC pipe in a fence.
Shot with Canon Powershot SD1000 Digital Elph
5.8mm, ISO 125, f2.8, 1/500

City Paradise

Saw this beautiful short video that I had to put up and share. This filmmaker has a Tim Burton 'stop motion' sensibility combined a bit with Michel Gondry. Hope you enjoy!

Smiling Happy People

Just wanted to put up some pics I have taken of people caught in the act of smiling - when they were least expecting it! Keeping the world bright ~ one smile at a time!

Angle for Depth

Shoot with depth. Find the dimensions to a photo before taking it. How can you create more to an image than a straight-on shot will allow? Angle it. Let the light shine through, the dimensions of the object creep in. Find your unique take on it. Here are a couple of mine:

Julie Style

Had the urge to post a few photos with style. These images capture some excellent looks from Julie. We worked some classic fashion and mixed it up with an edge of funk.

In this particular combo of pictures, I am focusing more on a portrait style than classic 'fashion' look. This editorial feeling, however, tends to grab a more emotional hook into the clothing, rather than having it feel separate and closed off.

Julie has beautiful eyes and great brunette coloring. These really bring out the clothes in the images.

Just wanted to put up a few more pics of my neighbors' Jack Russell puppies - Sweet Pea and Elsie:

Dogs, dogs, dogs. Since getting one, I feel like I have been taking a picture of so many! Which, by the way, I love. They are tricky, however. Because - unlike most people - their undivided attention is hard to come by.

Whether they are wagging their tail, looking for a treat, or just trying to get the attention of the people around them - they are always on the hunt for something!

Now - I should clarify this blog by saying I rarely do classic portrait sessions. So, at this point in my photography career at least, you won't find me with a Beagle in the studio being lured by treats. I am much more of a photojournalistic shooter - so capturing the dog in its element is usually my goal.

Like all portraits, however, the key element to making a dog work on camera is capturing the eyes. While there are certainly exceptions to this rule (action shots, fur specialization, open mouth with tongue hanging out pics), finding the soul of the animal is as important as capturing the soul of a person. It tells a story... and shows a deep level of loyalty and love.

Here are a few recent dog pics. More to come in the following days!

Okay - so I am planning to pick back up the blogging. I know I have been slow in getting stuff up over the past few months, but that's about to change... maybe. Hopefully.

I recently had a chance to go up to the Griffith Observatory in Hollywood. I hadn't been up there since they renovated, and have forgotten how beautiful it is! What a great spot. With new trails, new facilities in the front, and the same great view - it's really one of Los Angeles' treasures.

One of the great aspects of it currently comes from the fires that almost burnt it down. With fires comes great new growth. And the hillsides up there are stunningly green! I had a chance to snap a few pics. The view up there really reminded me what's so amazing about LA - the mix between urban and rural. The ability for the landscape to jump in such a short distance is stunning. And makes for great photographic work.














Like all things, however, there are the easy to get "tourist shots." The things that immediately grab a person's attention. As with most of my photography, however, I am looking for an angle - something unique, something new to bring to the table. And the thing that's great about a landmark like the observatory is its detail. Blending some classic early 20th century LA style with classic building elements makes it an excellent place to see things that the average eye might skip.

To me, good photography is about bringing something to light in a captured moment - something that you see in a unique way. This is what most people call 'your eye.' So what goes into a good eye? Most of it's natural, but there are a few things to keep an eye on the next time you're looking at photographs. How well does the photographer use their lines? Do they see lines in the picture leading the eye? What about perspective - do they use both foreground and background - even in close ups? And of course, there is the rule of thirds... I personally think this is a little overused, but - check it out - if you cut the photo into thirds each way - does the picture take advantage of the cross points? It's a classic technique, and people have a natural affinity for it.

But most importantly - is the picture interesting? Does it create a feeling or emotion. The photo below is of a cement walkway with a small plaque. It's a pretty mundane subject, but the image (at least in my opinion) is interesting to look at. Also - notice the rules of thirds as well as the very obvious use of lines. When you take that next snapshot, keep these elements in mind - they will usually grab your viewer's attention!

Laaylaaaa!

This weekend, my wife and I finally did it! We got a dog. And not just any dog - the sweetest dog in the world - Layla. We adopted her from an LA shelter group called Perfect Pets Rescue. She was originally found in the Downey Shelter, and made her way to Santa Monica.

We're not totally sure what kind of pooch she is - but definitely see some Golden Retriever in her, as well as maybe some Spaniel. She also has a distinct under-bite which leads us to believe maybe she has some Pug or Boxer blood, as well.

In any case, this little 2 year old has the most superb personality. From day one she's been absolutely charming and a lot of fun. She's definitely athletic and has the most soulful eyes!


Here are some pics I took of her. I love taking pictures of dogs - their earnest soulful eyes really create engaging images. In this set I had her near our bedroom window for a nice bank of natural light - and luckily, she is an excellent model! I'm sure this isn't the last time you'll see her on the blog!

The Little Moments

Catching the little unexpected moments is one of the great aspects of shooting with a photojournalistic style at weddings and events. Living in the moment and discovering the small interactions that make each event powerful gives me, as the photographer, the opportunity to stop time and capture that little relationship that sparks with energy.

One of the exciting things about that relationship is in the unknown. Usually at a wedding, the photographer only has the chance to get to know the bride, groom, immediate family, and some of the wedding party. But that small circle certainly doesn't dismiss the fact that so many other relationships are taking place within the room. And these 'unknown' relationships can radiate with electricity. More importantly, the bride and groom has a chance to see the beauty of their friends and family during their big day - even after it has already taken place.

To shoot effective photojournalism, it requires the ability to shoot fast. And I don't just mean pointing the lens fast. It means you need the shutter speed to move fast enough to keep crisp pictures. If the ceremony is outdoors with plenty of sunlight, this is usually a pretty simple task. Shooting in dark churches or nighttime reception halls, however, can be tricky. And while on/off camera flash can be a saving grace, there truly is an art to making it look natural.

For photojournalistic portrait work, you really need to find the right balance between aperture and appropriate ISO speed. This combination - when measured carefully - gives you the range necessary to shoot at faster speeds. It will, of course, limit your depth of field - but when shooting people in a busy room, this is usually a good thing. I tend to shoot with f2.8 Canon L series lenses. These offer a wide range of focal distances while keeping a consistent aperture for low light. Really fast prime lenses like the 85 or 50mm f1.2 can open everything up for using ambient light in the room.


Quickly calibrating light is the true art here. Since you need to be shooting manually to get the quality results clients come to expect, there is a lot of background math going on. A good tip is to try and get into the room a little early, meter several areas and keep a running tally in your head. While they may not be exact, they give you a head start in the fast moving process.

Scapes of Land

My wife and I recently spent a lazy day down in Laguna Beach - which is truly one of Southern California's treasures. I was excited to spend the afternoon taking beautiful afternoon pictures of sandy landscapes and beach bums. But wouldn't you know it - I made a rare photog mistake - I walked out of the house without a spare flash card for my SLR! Fortunately, we did bring our fun camera and managed to snap a few pictures - one is down below.

One of the great aspects of shooting landscape photography is the photographer's close connection to the environment. While I tend to make many more portrait and commercial images, I have long had a heart for shooting powerful landscapes. Watching There Will Be Blood win the Oscar for Cinematography due to its sweeping vistas really reminded me how much beauty is out there.

To capture great detail in landscape images, the image maker's goal is to open the camera up to let the light in while tightening the aperture to create strong depth of field. Smaller apertures and larger focal distances allow the camera to catch a much clearer view of the landscape. When using an SLR, a nice wide lens when shooting a sweeping vista in the daylight can help insure this. If you have a point and shoot - most are automatically equipped to handle this exact situation. Below is a small French mountain town called Moustier Saint Marie - details in this image run deep, allowing the colors of the ravine, houses, and flowers to stand out.


Another great technique is to use a foreground object to actually limit your depth of field. By focusing on a flower, tree, or person, you can blur out the landscape and create a nice subtle wash of colors. You still capture the beauty of the landscape, but focus the eye on a specific object.

One of my personal favorites is finding an open field, beach, or valley to shoot - then track down a single, unique object within the location. A lone house on the vista or a tree amongst emptiness. Above is a park setting I shot - the empty bench and lone tree create a sense of two old lonely friends, spending time alone. To heighten the emotion, I washed out the colors and strengthened the silhouette.

Some of the great landscape photographers master specific elements or style within the landscape. Ansel Adams - one of the all time greats - defined black and white images within the US National Parks. Similarly, young up and coming shooters like Saul Santos and Rarindra Prakarsa bring the modern power of color and motion to their images. Check them out if you have a chance - their images are amazing!


When shooting weddings and portraits, landscape can play a major role. The beauty of the location can often be as powerful as the main subject. I love to try and find a way to mix the two - creating a powerful scenic overview. A human subject, like a plant or building can become a part of the landscape and add it's own unique element.

Yoga Yoga

Wow - it's been a while since I have blogged... I knew this would happen! But, I am back - at least for now.

A couple weeks back I had a chance to shoot photos for a friend of mine that is a yoga instructor. We had kind of a limited space to work in, considering the size of the room and the colors. However, I think we managed to put together some interesting shots.

One of my main goals with the shoot was to create a very athletic yoga look. Often yoga images soften down the subject in order to create a more peaceful style of imagery. But one of the aspects of the exercise I have always found so interesting is the total muscle control required to do it effectively.



In this session, we used harsher lights and tried to limit the bland background. I also focused on creating a processed harder edge to bring out the muscle definition.

Bangin' the Drums

(Just a note: This article has nothing to do with photography, but I kind of got in the mood looking at some pics I'd taken a while back.)

Have you taken the time to bang a drum lately? I haven't, and boy do I miss it. They are loud, pounding and great relievers of life's daily stresses.

The oldest known drums are from 6000 BC.

The talking drums of Africa can imitate the inflections and pitch variations of a spoken language and are used for communicating over great distances. (Wikipedia)

Drums are instruments built by stretching a membrane across an opening in a vessel. The sound originates from the vibration caused when you strike the membrane, called the head, with another object.

There is some debate as to who the greatest rock drummer of all time is. Is it Neil Peart from RUSH? Or John Bonham or Keith Moon or Lars Ulrich or Animal from The Muppet Show?

Back to something of relevance - these pics were taken at a cultural day in Buena Park, CA. People from the town came down to the city recreation office and joined in a day of music and performance. There was this great drum circle session with people of all ages and cultures.

Day of the Bride

Wedding season is just around the corner and schedules are starting to get busy. Brides are trying on dresses, grooms are staying out of the brides way, and plans are getting more and more stressful!

Weddings are one of the best lifestyle photographic experiences. People have planned for a long time to put on a beautiful event that will be remembered throughout their lives. Every detail is in order and every guest is checked. And right up until the big day it can be a logistical nightmare - and often hard on the couple.


But that day - the big day - something happens. Things turn magical. And at that moment, a photographer is graced with one of the greatest honors - they are allowed to join the family in one of the most special moments of their lives.

One of my favorite aspects of wedding photography is the preparation period. As the bride gets ready for her big day, the energy is magnetic. Even in today's society where people often live together before matrimony, there is still an unmistakable vibrancy that burbles to life as the makeup and gowns go on.


As a male photographer, one of the keys to catching this moment is to be as personable and non-intrusive as possible. This period is where excellent photojournalism comes into play. The bride and her court are too busy to worry about set up shots, and you certainly don't want to be the most memorable part of their morning... so - it's always a great idea to try and become a fly on the wall - even when you're in a cramped space like a hotel room. If you are able to do this, you will find the real emotion of the day burbles to life and those great portraits find their way onto your memory card.

The Huntington Gardens

While I primarily snap pictures of people, I have long had a passion for capturing images of flowers, trees, and other plants. About a month back, I took the afternoon and traveled to Huntington Gardens in Pasadena to see what the winter had to offer in terms of bloom. As I expected, the incredible gardens didn't let me down. Separated into sections based on the natural topography of the plant life, The Gardens offer a wide array of gorgeous foliage.


Unfortunately, I waited until pretty late in the day to go. I only had about an hour and a half until closing time and found myself in a hurry to cover the park as fast as possible. In some ways - much like wedding photography - this turned out to be a good thing. It forced me to make choices and react to existing light. However, it didn't offer me the widest opportunity to access various levels of light.


Early in the day, I found myself shooting a lot of greenery. I spent a bit of time in the rose garden, Japanese Garden, and tropical section near the water banks of their small pond. At the pond, I was able to grab the shot above - a backlit image of a Bird of Paradise against the water. With the sun nearing its last moments in the sky, I used the light to pick up the orange in the flower and give me a small reflective element off the water itself.


As the sun began to set, I found myself in the desert section. I actually spent much more time here than expected. Since LA is basically a desert, the conditions are perfect for the plants. Some of the cactus groves were stunning - one of which I captured above. I'm not certain what type of cactus this is, but its' got a gorgeous green / purple / white combination of colors.

Daytrip to Ojai

Yesterday, my wife Angie and I took a trip to Ojai, CA for a little rest and relaxation. Neither of us had been before, and what an amazing treat it was. The city is made up of artists and the downtown has a beautiful shopping district.


We did a little shopping, had lunch, and took a hike on an amazing trail that overlooks the Ojai Valley floor and the gorgeous farms that exist there. I, of course, managed to snap a few pictures (check out the pic above) - but didn't feel like I had enough time to really capture the beauty of the area.


I find that I like to spend a couple of days in a town before I really get to know it. Capturing the obvious elements like popular architecture and city landmarks is a pretty simple task. But the truly exciting aspect of shooting pictures in a community is finding the hidden soul that lies beneath. And the best way to do that is finding the nuances of the town.

I managed to snap a couple of beautiful shots on the trail, overlooking the town. But I also tried to snap some images of the art that surrounded every aspect of the community. If you're in southern cali, take a drive up there one afternoon - it won't disappoint!

Portraits

I read a NY Times article yesterday about popular surnames. Turns out Williams is the third most popular surname in American culture. Pretty wild. A lot of Williams out there.

So how do so many families from the same last names have such unique identities? It reminds me a bit of taking portraits. How do so many human bodies with so many of the same features generate such unique images?

The great part of taking pictures of people comes in the variety of human form. No one person is exactly like any other person. Their physical features and personalities range widely, and then you as a photographer can work to accent these things - bring them out with light, color, and environment.

One of the great basic tests of this comes in the form of a yearbook. Check out your yearbook from high school or junior high. The portrait settings for hundreds if not thousands of kids are exactly the same. The environment is set, creating the most base level photographic experience for everyone involved. Yet personalities still shine through. Timothy Greenfield Sanders and other great portrait photos often use the same techniques (at a much higher technical level, of course).

To me, however, I love concept-driven portraits. Images that capture the person, but bring out the qualities of their personality through props, locations and light. Annie Liebowitz is arguably the most well-known living master of this. Working for Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone, she employed (usually) subtle metaphors for her subject's personality and dropped them in the photo. Combined with excellent technical ability, her photos bring out something much deeper than the aesthetic aspect alone. Something inside the soul of the picture.


I have included a couple of environmental portraits in this post. One uses make-up and costume, while the other is focused on the light of the subject.

New Family Pics!

Hey everyone! Hope you had a great weekend. I spent a lot of time in the digital post processing lab working on some family portraits for some friends of ours. Great family and cute kids! Some pictures are below. I'm sure I will show some more in the coming posts.

One of the really great aspects of taking photos for the Krichevers was their great spirit! Such a fun, sweet family with a great attitude toward life.


I had a chance to really work on some of the new color techniques I have been learning in this photo set and think they came out pretty solid. One of the interesting things about shooting photos of adults and children is the difference in their skin tone. At such an early age, you can really see that a child has a much lighter skin tone that needs to be balanced with the darker, warmer skin tones of adults. When putting together portraits for families, it's really important to find the most natural presentation possible - unless the shoot focuses on high-contrast or B&W photos.