The week that is to come, and the day that was (ptII)

Here are a few little summary updates:

1) Chris Perry, a fellow photographer, passed on a lead for me to contact another area photographer that needs some help this spring.
2) Chris also got a call from a Cheer team that needs pictures. No other info, but it's this spring as well.
3) I also heard that there isn't any money in models or action sports photography....no kidding. BUT, it's what I want to do. I will figure out a way to make money.
4) I head to the middle school this week to work with sixth grade students to prep for career day. I won't be able to share any of those pictures, but I can keep you all updated with this project. I love career day!
5) Found a costume store in Pittsburgh's Strip District. I also met Kristin (sp?) that is a recent MUA grad and MAC Pro (?). Drop me a line!!!
6) I also found out that my future MUA niece is heading to the greater NYC/NJ area this summer. HOPEFULLY, the contact I give her can help her out....and the favor can be returned.
7) The picture that I had displayed at Fe Gallery will be heading to the west coast for a private hanging. Not sure if the whole set will go, or just that specific image.

Valentines Day Shoot

I had a photo session Wednesday with a Valentines Day theme. I didn't do the feather boas or hearts or even candy. Just more on the beautiful, sexy side. The goal of the shoot was to get some images for a newspaper advertisement. I did get some good shots, but I don't know if the paper would allow any of them in an advertisement. The model and I are finishing up the shoot this afternoon and only have one more scene/wardrobe to shoot with. It's should take less than 30 minutes to do. Hopefully, I can get the image I need out of it for the advertisement. If not, then I can do flyers for some businesses and friends.

This image was taken with a single light (high and camera right), black background and one of the various chairs I have. I might have had a reflector at camera left, but I don't know if it was angled properly for fill.

The model was putting her head down and flinging it back to toss her hair. It took several tries to get the timing and the hair right. I was pretty happy with this one.

Still around

I'm not gone or dead and apologize for no updates.

I still haven't been able to shoot the concept shot that I spoke of recently. So I have to modify it a little.....

What is it you ask? (Because you all reall really want to know right?)

It's a family portrait with a twist. I tell people all the time that I don't want to do things that are already being done. Too boring. But without giving the idea away, I will have to be a lot ambiguous.

For teh setting, I really wanted to do it outside in the snow, and I have to work within the family work/school schedule. It is a crap shoot to get all the elements of snow, 6 people and willingness to pose, all together at the same time. So instead of a shoot all together, I will use Photoshop. I am going to set up the background and lights then put the family in one by one as they are available. After all the shots are done separately, I will place the best image of each person into a final composite image. It's not how I originally wanted to do it, but it will have to happen this way in order to complete the shoot within the time window that it needs to be completed.

Things you don't want to deal with

Animals, kids and WEATHER!

I gathered almost all the props needed for my concept shoot. Do you know how fun it is to shop for a BEACH BALL in November?

We were supposed to have snow tonight through Wednesday, but it appears that there is a warm front hanging around and temps will hover in the mid 30's....not cold enough to get and keep snow on the ground.....which is exactly what I need for my shoot. (We have RAIN right now).

Soooo, If the weather doesn't cooperate, I will have to play it week by week until it all comes together.

Weekend (to come) update

Well, it finally stopped raining. It's been more of a mist, but water from the sky nonetheless. The sun is now out (drying my grass so I can mow it) and the season's first football game is slated for this Sunday. Soccer is still a week away. Photographically I am still trying to get last weeks scrimmage game edited and posted to the sales site. But alas, we have company coming and the Clean House crew hasn't arrived so I have been picking up the slack. LOL Another item on the football front is a raffle item. I will be donating a sports poster to every home game of Potter & Raccoon Football/Cheer. I have the mock ups on paper and need to scratch one together before the game on Sunday. I suppose I have about 6 hours of work for that.......need more hours in the day and days in the week.

I booked a wedding for early October. It's a small one so not a lot of stress as normally associated with the huge production weddings.

This week I had talked to a dog groomer about doing a little referral work. Still need to work out details, but hopefully she can send some of her clients my way. I will be getting some prints for her to put in her salon in the upcoming few weeks.

Wednesday and Thursday I worked at the studio above Head to Toes Salon. I am hoping to get the key to the building next week. I put up insulation and hung some drop ceiling then I swept and vacuumed. Once I am in, I can start high school senior marketing. The poster is almost done and I had Lori D look it over and she gave me the "not bad for a non-graphic artist" comment. I took it as a compliment. :) I also pushed a logo design job to her this week. Can't wait to see that too.

The invitations for the Fe Gallery have been proofed. I will pick up printed versions next week and electronic versions will be forthcoming. The exhibition opening is Sept 12th. The pre-orders for the printed catalog are available, if anyone wants to order one, they are just under $40. I can send you an order form if you send me an email. Remember, this catalog is almost 300 pages, glossy FULL COLOR paper. It is a top notch production. The artists are from the 13 counties surrounding Pittsburgh PA, but more than that, they may be the next best artist to be. Given the limited print run, it's a $40 well worth it.

I also contacted the middle schools counselor's to begin work on this school years Career Day. Last year was so fun for me, I want to bring it to "the Next Level".....if you will. I proposed two presentations. Depending on which one is selected, will depend on how much work I have to do over the next 4-5 months. I hope they pick Idea#2.......when they do come back with the acceptance I will let everyone know what's in store.

Hot topics today

My business cards are shipped. I should get them by the end of the week. Woohooo!!

I am also putting together a page for a football program. You know, the one that you buy when your kids are in sports. I did it last year too, but when I printed it out, I think it got scanned in and all the colors were screwed up and it looked pretty bad. The image was fine, but after it left me....not so good. This time, I am trying to get on to the committee that puts together the program, so my advert will be PERFECT.

On that front, I am still working on the price lists and my senior pictures poster. Two VERY important items for this month.

Trying to focus

Working essentially 9-5 away from the Internet and phones makes it tough to line up talent to work with during the off hours. So right now I am developing a concept for a new book project. This will allow me to shoot portraits at what would normally be inopportune times.

Yeah, I have done this before (a book project) and it failed miserably. This might too for all I know. The toughest thing about a book is getting started and following through LONG TERM. The concept is good, in my mind anyway. I hope I can sell the idea to others and then it will take care if itself. Besides, a photo a day is a book in a year.

Until the concept plays out a bit, I won't divulge much more....to jeep you all coming back and to keep form embarrassing myself.

Winter icescapes

These were shot in February 2008. I didn't take the time to edit them so I went through recently and did a little editing. Some of these may be presented to be put on display at the coffee shop too.

River and roots


Ice


Layers


Icesausages

Around town

I am trying to get some content, some images, creative quality in order to put up some pictures in the Hallowed Grounds coffee roaster here in town. When I first started out in my teens, I loved landscapes. Now, it's sports. So to purposefully seek out landscape images is a stretch for me. Sure I see beautiful imagery all around. But properly capturing that view, is more difficult than it seems. I always tend to be drawn to the details. Abstract images. Parts of the greater.

Here are some images from last week.

Warehouse


Shadow Stairs


Door


Path to forgiveness


Rectory


Escape


Back alley


Hidden messages


Abandoned


Sign

Weekly update

I haven't much to report on the photo front. Everything I have is focused on getting the house in order for my departure in less than 4 weeks. The three projects I have scheduled are not falling into place as I had hoped. No BIG surprise, but disappointing nonetheless.

As far as photography goes, I have some pictures (proofs) to show Hallowed Grounds. I will drop those off today. They are going to be a set of pictures for the store that shows each step of the process of making a cup of coffee. From the bag-of-beans to the customer sipping the coffee. I have about 75-80% of the images I need, but still need to refine a few and re shoot a few. I wasn't totally happy with the outcome of this first shoot last month.

I did meet with someone to do a family portrait. I told her we can wait to see what the weather does over the next few weeks the try to shoot either the second or third week of April. I can then get the images to her before I leave May 1st. (Or I can proof online and mail the prints).

Last week I heard that the basketball tournament we shot last February and early March actually made a little bit of money. It's probably not enough to justify doing it again next year though. But I might be able to buy gas for the car this week.