Brian McLernon Photography

Hawaii - Christmas, 2008

2009-01-08T23:43:00.000-08:00

PhotoShelter Slideshow Test

2008-10-23T16:24:00.000-07:00

New code from PhotoShelter allows you to make and embed slideshows in blogs and web pages. Looks pretty sweet and I'm giving it a test.

Moving On...

2007-10-16T14:05:00.000-07:00

It's been fun, but I'm moving on. My blog that is, not my studio. My new blog address is http://www.brianmclernon.wordpress.com/ Please update your bookmarks. I look forward to your visiting the new blog!

First Day of School...

2007-09-05T12:21:00.000-07:00

My yearly traditional first-day-of-school pic as we run out the door to First Grade! I did promt the thumbs-up but Miss B was "a little nervous, a lot excited" to be going back to all her buds.

Takhlakh Lake, Mt. Adams area...

2007-09-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

The long Labor Day weekend included the last camping trip of the season at beautiful Takhlakh Lake near Mt. Adams. The route from the south was washed out so we had to go around north to Randle, WA. then south to the lake. Incredible weather, it was a great time to get away and recharge the creative batteries!
Also recently, got invited to a blogger meet-up sponsored by local TV station KATU at their studios. It was a very fun event of local bloggers, and amazing to meet some folks who have been blogging since the beginning (I'm such a newbie compared to them :-) Free food, microbrews and wine (yum!) and even got to be IN a group photo for a change! That's me, front right, third in.

Day 53...

2007-08-07T00:08:00.000-07:00

Fast Cars and Seattle...

2007-08-06T23:31:00.000-07:00

I miss all my blogging friends ;) and sharing what I've been shooting! It has been a summer for the records as many of you know, with the studio renovation and all the circle-of-life stuff. So as a way to try and catch up, here's a few new ones. Shot the F1000 for a local company that creates them for SCCA competition. Very cool folks to work with, it helps being a race-nut.

Met my brother in Seattle for an overnight with Miss B. He was there on Township business all the way from NJ and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see him again. Having cocktails on the patio of the Red Lion Inn, (you folks rock!) we saw several police cars and this something-or-other being shot. Gotta love Seattle!

Portland Historic Races...

2007-07-09T08:05:00.000-07:00

Day 24...

2007-07-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Into the Desert Canyons, Into the Air...

2007-07-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

Day 7...

2007-06-21T01:14:00.000-07:00

Foundation poured tomorrow. We are actually AHEAD of schedule at this point, how cool is that?

Day 6: Jaws...

2007-06-21T01:11:00.000-07:00

Craig, "the surgeon", hard at work in his new Kubota.

New Photo Studio...

2007-06-18T10:52:00.000-07:00

Demolition on my old studio began last Thursday, making way for the new photo studio we're building this summer. Our contractor, pictured below working late into the evening, actually used to own our property, renovating it in the late 70's and then sold it to us, early 90's. He was our first choice when we decided to enlarge the studio and were very fortunate to have him say yes. We're adding on nearly 500 sq.ft. bringing the total to about 800 sq.ft. There is stuff everywhere and even though I'm pretty organized, it's a logistical nightmare pulling gear together for a shoot, but hey, I'm up for it and stoked about the new space!

I'll be posting photos of the progress throughout the summer as it transpires. For those of you who have visited or been photographed here, it looks quite different, doesn't it?!

End of Kindergarten...

2007-06-12T11:32:00.000-07:00

As we wrap up Miss B's first year in school this week I have mixed emotions. She pulled that first wiggly tooth out all by herself Monday morning, another milestone. Where has the time gone? Construction on the new studio starts TOMORROW (yikes!) so it is a flurry of activity around here, heading into the summer. B's school put on a show about China and I shot this at the dress-rehearsal. Even though this is so totally unlike my style of shooting, I enjoy the colors and movement in this shot.

Terry Bradshaw...

2007-06-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

Had a fun shoot last Friday evening out at Langdon Farms for Traeger Grills, "cocktail" (BBQ, really) portraits with former football star Terry Bradshaw, their official spokesman. He was awesome to work with, a real hoot, telling tall tales and very animated, more fun than he even appears on TV. He had to take a few breaks to do some interviews so in the downtime I had a great conversation talking shop with a designer/photographer from Roth's Freshmarkets and he sent me this shot. Thanks much, Will!

Jessica and Tom...

2007-06-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Shot a nice, small wedding two Fridays ago in Hillsboro at St. Matthews Catholic Church. Really cool stained glass panels caught so much light and produced super saturated colors. Made for some awesome backgrounds!

First Thursday at ESA...

2007-06-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

First Thursday at Everett Street Autoworks was a blast. With not much experience actually showing my work, it was a trip watching people move down the line of images, pointing and making comments to their friends. My hosts were extra gracious in allowing me to present my stuff. A guy could get used to all the accolades too!

First Thursday...

2007-06-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be downtown this Thursday, stop by 5th and Everett and check out some of my stuff, hosted by the beautiful Everett Street Autoworks! After all this time, this is only my second photo show opening ever, which is really pretty pitiful.

My show-mate will be Carol J. Anderson, showing acrylics on canvas of flowers, objects and people. So if you enjoy art, restored cars, snacks, good people and Bridgeport IPA on tap, stop by Thursday evening and say hello, 6-10 PM!

Hot Tubbin'...

2007-06-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

This cute little smile is about to change. We've got a loose one on the bottom front, third from center, coutesy of eating an apple. Another milestone gets past...

Affinity Web Development...

2007-06-05T14:31:00.000-07:00

My new friends, Brieanna, Jake and Nate needed promo photos for a new project they're working on, so we shot some variations on a theme. They are helping me out with search engine optimization and usability issues. They are really cool to work with and I'm learning a ton! Check out their web site for samples and more info about their work.

Chelci & Nick...

2007-05-17T00:04:00.000-07:00

A sampling of photographs from my most recent wedding, Chelci & Nick, at the Northstar Ballroom. It's a really cool location for mixing different lighting styles and spur of the moment decisions: ambient with strobe or just ambient with fill. You eventually figure it out.

And yes, that is a wombat, a marsupial, I'm told. (Correction: It's a Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps) a small gliding possum native to eastern and northern mainland Australia) Ranks right up there with the strangest wedding guests I've ever photographed!

Great couple, nice friends and an ass-kicking jazz band, what more could you ask for?

Photography Classes...

2007-05-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

Photography classes for Portland Community College's Continuing Education Program have been a great way for me to give back to the photo community and a way to honor the many talented mentors I've had throughout my career. This semester we're at Lake Oswego Jr. High School and in the fall we'll be holding class at Wilson High. I have a very capable group of students this semester and seeing their progression is always a trip but they are blowing me away by how much they are stretching and growing. Well beyond Little Pig!

Broadway Bridge, Portland...

2007-05-10T23:53:00.000-07:00

Detox and Rebirth...

2007-05-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

One of my top five reasons for being a photographer is the access you're allowed or the experiences you get to have, that a lot of people don't get to. A recent shoot for a new client brought that point to mind once again. They are an outpatient recovery clinic that offers unique services, including the first In-home or In-hotel Detoxification Program in the United States that provides around-the-clock care during the detoxification process. My job was to create images of the facility and personnel and the work they do. I liked this shot, with a model as a patient showing a fragile state that must be endured along the way. They do a great thing, and it was cool to be a part of it.

Portland is just out and out in bloom this time of year, and looks awesome! Come visit! A sample, for you to enjoy!

Miss B Turns Six...

2007-04-26T22:22:00.000-07:00

A fellow photographer's blog post about unearthing an old photo of his daughter, and lamenting the fact that they grow up so, so fast, got me to thinking... I've been wanting to post this shot of the 'it' girl for a while, but it was so old, I didn't think I should. Well hey, it's her birthday, so here she is, in a moment of joy, Charleston, South Carolina 2004.

Easter at the Beach...

2007-04-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

Wow, over a month between blog entries, I must have been busy. Where did March go? Lots of "vanilla" portraits, nothing that hasn't been posted here, (but may be :-), client meetings and some travel. We managed to get the family away for a few days to the beach house at Lincoln City over Easter weekend. Five dozen hard boiled eggs to keep the little ones happy, beautiful weather, and we even inherited a beach fire from a young couple who were leaving on our second day, right out in front of the house! It was like "Quest for Fire" where we succeeded in keeping the embers going for the four days we were there! On our last evening, all set to go down, another family had taken it over! We chalked it up to natural progression and saluted them from our deck. Setting up the martini shot, I kept seeing it as a cover (Oregon Coast, Coastal Living?) and left room in the sky for the masthead. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Perhaps it was that first martini...!

Glad to be back!

Musician Photography...

2007-03-02T11:49:00.000-08:00

Can't really divulge what it's for, but I shot some cool stuff for the band this week and here's a few outtakes. There has always been a close metaphorical link between music and photography which may explain why I always enjoy hanging around and working with musicians. Ansel Adams even once remarked, "the negative is the score, and the print is the performance". Whatever it is, I've often found when speaking about mood, drama and timing in photography, that musicians just seem to 'get it'!

Wedding Slideshow v 2.0...

2007-02-27T08:45:00.000-08:00

Wedding Slideshows...

2007-02-22T01:01:00.000-08:00

Slideshow of a December wedding at Persimmon Country Club in Gresham. Sonja and Nathan, long may you run, you have the coolest friends!

Interworks, LLC...

2007-02-21T23:58:00.000-08:00

My friends the Kitchins, of Interworks LLC, do home remodeling (including bathrooms and kitchens!) and commercial tenant improvement. They needed a photo to appear in a publiction for the Portland Business Alliance and this was our collective idea!

Tripping Safely...

2007-02-15T23:58:00.000-08:00

Here's a couple of shots done last week for a relationship therapist showing a light and sound machine she uses in her practice. The visual challenge was to light the clinical setting in such a way as to convey the darkened, relaxing environment they are used in. These are the most unbelievably coolest tools I've ever used! Many years ago, on a break from shooting at a USTA convention, I took the plunge, laid on the couch and put this device on and for the next thirty minutes was whisked away to nirvana. Mind you, this was all in a booth on a convention floor during a trade show! There were many different colored LED's inside the glasses that pulse in rhythm to the New Age music (Ray Lynch) coming through the headphones. I returned to my assignment (awards ceremony) fully refreshed, totally alert and "in the zone". With no lunch! Amazing! Anyone else experience one of these awesome devices?

Business Photography and Portraits...

2007-02-05T22:49:00.000-08:00

A composite of three separate, 1/3 page ads I shot for a client on a theme about choices, flavors and styles. A nice change of pace to conceptualize with the clients and flesh out some images. A lot of Photoshop was involved for the apples and ice cream as you might have suspected. It is so much fun to have a client present to you a project that you can sink your teeth into on so many levels; concept, imaging, digital manipulation, corrections, and fianally, delivery. And when you hit it and they're happy? Oh, man...!

Very often, my assignments include group shots of employees of small companies or clinics, as in this case. It is usually a challange to make it new and exciting, especially when a large prop's appearance in the shot is mandatory. Using my camera bag to secure my light stand in a fairly good wind, I managed to fire off about twenty frames, this one their selection, and the best of the lot.

Portrait today in the studio, a personal trainer with a whole lot of energy, a lively personality, and new to the area. If you are ready to step it up a notch and work with a really cool, supportive person in the Portland area, give me a call and I'll hook you up.

Wrestlers Running...

2007-01-10T23:21:00.000-08:00

Shot a series of these back in December but "wrestled" with which one to post, heh, heh. This one's my current favorite.

Christmas in New York City...

2007-01-04T13:14:00.000-08:00

After four years, we finally got the chance to go back to my home town for Christmas. We hadn't been back since Miss B was two, and ten days on the East Coast was jammed packed with family, friends, daytrips and partying! From the Top O' The Rock at Rockefeller Center, Macy's, American Girl, Mike and Matt's apartment in Chelsea, to Toys R' Us in Times Square, it was a fantastic time! A first for us, we created an itinerary before we left, which, while making the trip very sane, did not leave much room for seeing all my local friends. If we missed you this trip, we're sorry we did not get together but we sure made the most of it! Next time, for sure!

December Wedding...

2007-01-04T12:45:00.000-08:00

The weather nonwithstanding, what a great day. Terrific couple, very friendly catering staff, DJ and location, I wish they could all be like this! Thanks to Ginnie at Persimmon Country Club for your assitance and flexibility!

December Work-Sun & Moon Studios...

2007-01-04T12:35:00.000-08:00

Wow, I can't believe a whole month has gone by without a blog entry from yours truly. December is usually a slow month for me but this year, with the big East Coast trip planned and more work than usual, I had two weeks to complete a month's assignments. Here's a postcard promo, shot for Sharri Moroshok of Sun & Moon Studios.

How My Oregon Story Began...

2007-01-04T12:14:00.001-08:00

Our friend Gwen came to visit over the winter holidays and I talked her into doing some studio portraits. She is very special to me because if not for her, I would never have met my wife. Gwen had the permit for the Grand Canyon/Colorado River trip and that's where she introduced us. She also plays fiddle in a CW band but did not have it with her on this trip. That would have been cool to do some shots with! Miss B wandered in, wearing some costume she'd cooked up and wanted in on the action. So I shot a couple of the two of them together and this one's my favorite, Gwen and the fruit of her efforts, way back when, on that river trip that changed everything :-)

dalla VINA Wine...

2006-12-01T11:03:00.000-08:00

My friend Winky Wheeler of W2 Design did the labels for this winery and had me shoot some bottles for her portfolio. Love shooting beer & wine bottles because it's a cool challenge to kick some light back to camera through the bottle. She mentioned this morning she's sending it on to another winery and it may lead to more wine work. Sweet!

Photo Restoration...

2006-11-28T12:27:00.000-08:00

One of the things my clients know they can come to me for is photo restoration. I offer this service with a clear estimate as to how much work is involved and what the expectation of the results will be. On the eve of his Dad's passing, my client brought me this photo of his parents that his brother had uncovered in some attic, deteriorated so badly by some liquid (blood?) that it had actually adhered itself to the glass. Luckily the faces were OK, which saved a lot of time, but the rest was a real mess. A scan, new background, some vingnetting and multiple correction layers later, here is the result. What do you think? After staying up late, spending all those hours learning all those cool Photoshop techniques, it's a shame to let them go to waste, right?!

Vineyard Cats...

2006-11-26T09:41:00.000-08:00

We stayed at a house in Benton City, Washington at the top of a hill in a vineyard, Cañon De Sol. There were four cats living in the garage next door that found us immensely interesting and would hover just outside the door. I shot this on my belly, Thanksgiving evening as they vacillated between fear and curiosity. Packing up Saturday morning we found out why we hadn't seen the kitties all morning. They had all somehow gotten into Gayle's car when the hatch was open and spent the night, closed in, under the seats, out of the wind. As cold as it was, I couldn't blame them!

Happy Thanksgiving...

2006-11-22T07:06:00.000-08:00

We'll be out-ot-town visiting family for few days. Have a great holiday!

High School Portraits...

2006-11-18T07:55:00.000-08:00

Shot some music portraits at a local high school this week and this was one of my favorites.

Senior Portraits...

2006-11-10T13:53:00.000-08:00

Senior portrtaits are a blast to shoot! I especially enjoy doing composites from all the different poses and settings, such as this one. I shot this a few weeks ago and never got around to posting.

SportsShooter.com...

2006-11-09T09:09:00.000-08:00

Recently sponsored and accepted to be a member of SportsShooter.com, an online community and resource for sports photographers and other working photojournalists.
It serves as an informative and inspiring site for anyone who aspires to be on the sidelines capturing great moments at their favorite sporting venue. Check out my new page!

Fall Girl...

2006-11-06T10:31:00.000-08:00

Taking down the Halloween decorations over the weekend, Miss B decided the scarecrow had to stay out on the porch. That made a great opportunity for a photograph!

Band Portraits...

2006-11-05T14:03:00.000-08:00

Robin Jackson, band portrait for Vagabond Opera.

Therapist Portrait...

2006-11-05T13:55:00.000-08:00

Psychologist portrait this week for web site and Psychology Today's Therapist Directory.

Award Winner...

2006-11-03T13:56:00.000-08:00

The pumpkin shot in the previous post was created to take part in a Jack O'Lantern contest on a photo lighting site called Strobist and guess what? It won! Woo Hoo! You may have to scroll down a bit, I couldn't get it to link exactly.

Happy Halloween...

2006-10-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

Halloween, All Hallow's Eve, Fright Night, etc., has always been one of the "high holy days" for me, my friends, nephews and family. I shot this in my driveway this evening and thought about Halloweens gone by. We were never able to afford store-bought costumes growing up, so, hours of effort went into making originals each October attempting to top last years, while we dreamed about our candy haul and self-righteously mocked anyone who wore those fake-looking Ben Cooper costumes. Nowadays, we get ready by decorating the house, watching "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" "Abbott & Costello Meet Frankenstein" and after Miss B goes to bed, "Halloween", the original and still the best of it's genre, with Jamie Lee Curtis. Miss B has three costumes this year: a crayon, Tinker Bell, and a pink poodle for all the pressing, social engagements of her busy, 5 year-old life. How things change. Have a great evening, everybody!

Jewelry in the Studio...

2006-10-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

I mentioned in a previous post that I would be reshooting this Karen Moyer necklace in a more interesting fashion. Since I shoot for quite a few artists, I always ask a lot of questions as to how they are planning on using the photos. An image like this would never even be considered for a juried show, competition, or gallery submission because of the "props", but in advertising, hey, anything goes!

Precious Stones...

2006-10-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

Shooting precious stones in the studio today and getting some interesting effects. A deceptively simple lighting set-up with one little Speedlite and some black felt yields some other worldly features. As one of my mentors, John Shaw, used to say, "the closer you look, the more there is to see!"

Wonders of Walking...

2006-10-23T16:53:00.000-07:00

Shot yesterday for my friend Judy Heller and the Wonders of Walking Pumpkin Caper 5K, held in Beaverton. Wonders of Walking promotes a healthier lifestyle with the benefits of walking fast. I've known Judy for several years now, but only got a real sense of what she does, working the event yesterday. Great crowd, fun time and cool photos on a crisp fall morning!

Proud Dad...

2006-10-12T22:40:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the "50's Sock Hop" at my daughter's elementary school. One thing I've noticed about your kid starting kindergarten is that YOU make a lot of new friends. This is my new friend, John, taking a picture of his daughter competing in the hula hoop contest. His daughter and my daughter are new best friends from school. To see them play together is like watching one brain in two bodies.
Lucky shot to catch the flash, sure, but what struck me was I can almost feel the pride he does, capturing this moment, as she is the last one "hoopin" in her contest. Never got to see his shot (hope I look cool, Daddy-O!) and oh yeah, I did blur the background. I had to. There are too many lawsuits out there :-)

Yakima Weekend...

2006-10-09T16:41:00.000-07:00

Went to Yakima, Washington this past weekend for our annual October visit to Grandma's, picked up lots of produce and tried out some new toys (thank you, UPS man!) Stopped at Jones Farm for some incredible pumpkins, butternut squash, gourds, Cinderella and albino pumpkins and to play in the maze, of course! Beautiful day in the hops capital of the world (and we all know what hops are for, don't we? ;-)

Out Back, Back to School Night...

2006-10-06T14:46:00.000-07:00

Stuck my head out the gym door at Back to School Night this week and found some young men shootin' hoops. Was such a nice little evening in our quiet little neighborhood!

Another Wedding Detail...

2006-09-26T09:35:00.000-07:00

Wow, Blogger has been super slooooow this week, anyone else notice this? I know I recently did a Wedding Details post but then I ran across this at a wedding last week and wanted to include it. I haven't seen one of these on a cake in ages!

Studio Portrait...

2006-09-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

Dr. Marnie Loomis, in the studio last week for a portrait session. Images to be used for her website, brochure and speaking engagements.

Glass Art...

2006-09-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

Two glass artists in the studio last week. I love shooting glass with it's abundance of reflections and highlights. I'll be experimenting with the necklace again this week, a technique I learned from a screen saver photo! You never know where your next inspiration may come from!

First First Day of School...

2006-09-11T10:15:00.000-07:00

Well, today is a big day for us around here, the very first, first day of school for Miss B! Lots of excitement having breakfast and getting ready and a "two-thumbs-up" attitude for the day to come. The 55th Drive Army set off on a beautiful morning and a little trepidation kicked in when it was time to say goodbyes. I'm sure every parent knows how special and stressful this morning can be, but the whole family did their part and it was great! Whew, Bloody Marys anyone?

New Toys...

2006-09-08T17:25:00.000-07:00

So, I had a chance to work with some brand new equipment today. Matt Wilson of Brightstar Consulting needed some dramatic portraits of himself for his website and marketing materials and I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to experiment. Personally, it's been a huge year of transition for me. I can't deny that it feels totally different in terms of positive growth. I am in the process of getting rid of a ton of old equipment I no longer use, upgrading my existing travel & studio kit and learning new technologies. For this shot I used just three little Speedlites, four Pocket Wizards, some blue and orange gels, and a homemade cardboard snoot. When I think of all the gear I'd use in the past to get this very same shot and how easy and fun this setup was, I'm amazed at how important it is to continually push yourself to learn new ways of doing things!

Last Camp of the Summer...

2006-09-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

The last camping trip of the summer is always bittersweet but was a great time with the family. We managed to get our favorite top-secret spot along the McKenzie River which afforded great river views of rafters and wildlife, such as this little visitor to our kitchen. I had to leave camp to shoot a wedding on Saturday so we didn't do any rafting or kayaking, but the weather was great, and the time spent in nature was sublime!

Wedding Details...

2006-08-31T01:17:00.000-07:00

After years of shooting stuff in the studios, what can I say, I'm drawn to the close-ups! A few recent weddings...

Blacklight Photography...

2006-08-23T20:18:00.000-07:00

An opportunity to explore a genre I've never worked in, blacklight photography, presented itself recently. One of my Oregon clients manufactures fishing lures that he designed fishing the Columbia & Willamette Rivers. He's using a new plastic that responds to blacklight and asked me to shoot it showing the awesome colors. Sure, I said, no problem. Then I hit the web to do some "blacklight photography" research! You'd not believe what's out there regarding the subject. One of the most unbelievable was this website. I'd definitely like to spend more time going down this rabbit hole!

Sarah & Dallas...

2006-08-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

My good friends Sarah & Dallas got married last weekend out at the Grand Lodge in Forest Grove and I got to shoot the day! Very well-planned and choreographed, the day went smoothly and their song list was incredible. They are both fabulous dancers and when they hit the floor for their first song, Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me To The End of Love" it was an emotional high and there wasn't a dry eye in the house! All the best, you two!

A Toast...

2006-08-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted. Between Rogue River trips, family visits, weddings and reunions, and trying to sneak in some mid-week Oregon camping and exploring, it's been an incredibly full summer. With working and playing so hard, it's a constant struggle to remember to smell the flowers, or in this case, the champagne, along the way. So here's a toast to all my loyal readers, thanks for your comments, I'm back!

New Website...

2006-07-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

There's a new website for Brian McLernon Photography this summer! It's been up for about a month but I thought I would mention it here to get some feedback. Since I learned HTML, I've enjoyed writing my own pages and coding. I like having the control and being able to update my page whenever I want instead of having a webmaster do it on a schedule. All of the portfolios have been redone with Flash and David Ladd of Quik Internet wrote me the nice rollover code for the opening page. I want to get as many photographs in front of a visitor as quickly as possible, without them having to click anything! Give it a test drive and let me know your thoughts, ease of use, smooth flow, etc. Thanks!

Independence Day...

2006-07-05T15:57:00.000-07:00

Started off the day with this shot of my backyard, then headed out to Hillsboro to shoot Tom Cox for Metro Council, walking in the 4th of July parade. Headed home to set up our first-ever block party-cookout on our front lawn. The kids decided on "Monsters, Inc." for the pre-fireworks movie (rear-screen projection via laptop and projector) and even the adults got into it! After dark it was time for the light show! A great time was had by all, already planning next year's!

Jazzman...

2006-06-23T23:22:00.000-07:00

In the studio this week, David Cooley of the David Cooley Band. I have to see this guy in concert, he had us all movin' to his music (thank heavens for auto-focus :o) Lots of Van Morrison, my fave. Even got to sing a little "Ain't No Sunshine" with him while I shot!

Father's Day at the Track...

2006-06-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

Didn't even think about the significance of Father's Day, my Dad & auto racing, until I met this guy and his son, celebrating the day by taking in their first race together. They declined my offer to take their picture (a total stranger :o !) but I felt compelled. Thoughts of you, Dad!

Talked shop with this friendly photographer from Bridgestone Tires while waiting for the race to start.

Think the McDonald's crew actually eats McDonald's food?

For some more cool race-action photos and some humorously accurate commentary, check out my friend Ted Miller's blog.

Happy Father's Day...

2006-06-17T23:26:00.000-07:00

To my brothers, who both showed me how to be dads, and especially to Bob Hunsicker, Fred Boshers and George Mirabelli, who made the effort and helped a kid from Jersey keep his head on straight.
Family portraits in the studio today~

Champ Cars In Town...

2006-06-17T02:35:00.000-07:00

Last year's Series Champ, Sebastian Bourdais, got to hang out with Miss B at the local McDonalds, his sponsor. She even brought him an Otter Pop, and, world traveller that he is, he'd never had one before! She offered to show him how to eat one (push up from the bottom) and he was as cool as can be, not nerdy at all like the media likes to portray him. Go to the track on Sunday, Portland and enjoy the race!

Nailing it...

2006-06-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

Shot a Milwaukee Midget Tournament on Saturday and I had this shot in my mind as the one I wanted to make as I walked from my van to the field . Many sports photos lose context when the ball is missing from the shot, so I thought if I could frame the ball within the pitcher's body, it would make a killer image. I removed the lens hood and wrapped my hand around the lens barrel to line it up, and shot through a hole in the chain link fence. After a few attempts I realized I wasn't in the right position so I just watched and moved around for a few pitches, trying to line up the pitcher and the pitched ball. I finally found a spot that would work but it was really tight and meant shooting right over the catcher's head with the batter to one side, the ump to the other. After a few pitches too soon or too late, I got this one. I always try to go into shoots with an open mind, allowing images to happen or come together in the process. Rarely do I have an exact shot in mind and force reality into creating it. The nice thing about digital photgraphy is to immediately know that you nailed the shot you saw in your mind's eye.

Prom Night in Portland...

2006-06-11T10:24:00.000-07:00

Received a last minute phone call to do prom pictures last night for Trillium Charter School's "Midsummer Night's Dream" and got a chance to try out my new background from Pro Photo Supply at the same time. Between the fog machine, disco balls & lights, pulsating hip-hop music and my strobes flashing, it was, like, sensory overload! The staff was great, the kids were terrific, and a lot of the poses resembled this one. I love all the personalities in this shot, just starting to bloom into their adult lives.

Recent Work...

2006-06-09T14:48:00.000-07:00

Tired of those pyrotechnic palm trees, already? I've heard from a few of you to post some recent work so here's a few. The track meet photos are from Western Oregon University and the dental office exterior is from Vancouver, WA. For the dental office shots, I wanted to test the limits of a new Canon 580EX flash I just bought. I used it in conjunction with a much stronger Lumedyne unit outfitted with radio slaves and colored gels. The intent was to make the strip mall office look more dramatic against a twilight sky. Arrived just in time but the orientation of the sky prohibited a sunset background. Probably not the best situation to judge the flash's performance, but it's always fun to play with a new toy! As always, let me know your thoughts!

Palm Trees in Portland...

2006-06-03T00:59:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a night! Tonight kicked off the Rose Festival here in Portland with a fireworks display over the Willamette River, and the family all went down for some riverside viewing. Had a blast with G & B and got to make a few images. This one's my favorite so far.

Welcome Race Fans...

2006-05-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend has always signified the start of summer to me, and, special memories of my Dad. He initiated me to the world of motorsports and always fostered my interest. He had a part-time job as a special policeman at Trenton Speedway, working the inside of turn one. In the late fifties & sixties, in the days before well equipped safety crews, if you crashed in turn one at Trenton, after he got you out of the smoking car, you got to meet my Dad. He mysteriously always came up with tickets to the races for my brothers and I, and would wave to us from time to time, somehow knowing right where our seats were. We did not find out until much later, going through his things after his death in 1968, that he'd worked all those days in trade for our seats. We joked about it then, if he wasn't dead already, Mom would've killed him ;)
Trenton Speedway was only a little over a mile from our house and we would skoot right over there on our bikes when we heard those engines whine. We had so many places to sneak into the track and unlike today, could get right up to the drivers. That's how I met Mario Andretti in my ninth year:
After college in the late seventies/early eighties, after girls and parties and photography, I started going to Indy every May until the mid nineties, when the politics of racing started ruining tradition, and a new family and more adult resposibilities kicked in. I still go every other year or so and on one occasion, met up with Mario again, signing bottles of wine from his new winery. I gave him a copy of the old photo (I just happened to have with me :) and we laughed at how much we have changed. We then switched poses for a new one:
So when people ask me today, how come I like auto racing so much, I just tell them it goes back a long ways, a different time, when nobody I knew liked auto racing, except my brothers, and especially, my Dad.

Wedding Marketing...

2006-05-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

Been working with some cool new software to create web slideshows for immediate presentations. Here's one that showcases my wedding photography. Check it out!

Trojan Comes Down...

2006-05-21T19:40:00.000-07:00

The Trojan Nuclear Power Plant's cooling tower was imploded this morning at 7:00:12. I got up at 3:30 AM, made a Thermos of coffee, then met up with another photographer buddy of mine, Dave Lutz, for the drive up and a battle plan. We decided on an ultra-secret road/viewing area that only a couple of hundred other people knew about also :) Got all the gear set up and fired away like madmen while the whole thing took about 4 seconds to come down. Right after, some guy in the crowd said "Well, back to bed!" and that about summed it up. It was an interesting collection of folks who left their cozy beds on a balmy morning to watch an extremely short historic event. We went back to Dave's to view our take and then home to catch a nap before a long shoot this afternoon.

You Dirty Rat...

2006-05-19T00:12:00.000-07:00

The latest (Oops, hide the kiddies) from Rick Moore Sculptures. There are some neat photos on there of this piece in clay form before "the process".

Beating the Heat...

2006-05-15T21:55:00.000-07:00

Sprinkler time! Portland hit 92 degrees today, so in between trips to the doctor's office, library, and ballet class, Brenna found a way to keep Dad busy and stay cool herself at the same time.

Mother's Day at the Mountain...

2006-05-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

At Gayle's request, we all got up early and trekked up to Mt. St. Helens to do the tourist thing and get in some short hikes. It was a glorious day in the Northwest. With lots of snacks, water, juice, and sunscreen, Brenna held up great. Even with all the crowds, the Mt. St. Helens viewpoints are still a place of quiet contemplation for me. It is difficult to wrap my brain around the vast evidence of destruction and attempt to comprehend the power of nature and the awesome forces that were unleashed on that morning of May 18th, 1980. But seeing my two loves against that incredible background gave me a sense of hope, that I am seeing some remarkable forces of nature right there in front of me, like the mountain, continuing to evolve, change and grow.

Happy Cinco de Mayo...

2006-05-05T10:28:00.000-07:00

Another interior for Interworks, LLC, shot this week. The vibrant colors of the flooring are repeated in the southwestern props and styling, just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Ole'!

The Music in Her Heart...

2006-05-04T14:34:00.000-07:00

Shot portraits on Tuesday of this wonderful lady, Doree Jarboe, Director of Vocal Music at Grant High School, for an award program where she is the recipient.
We started with some formal ones with a canvas background then moved on to some more relaxed poses/lighting. I felt like I was in the presence of true Portland royalty, she is just the coolest person. I can only imagine how many lives she has touched and changed over the course of her 44 year teaching career. When I met her on a shoot about five years ago, we talked a lot about the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus", shot on location in her choir room at Grant. She had so many interesting stories to share about the experience! To learn more about this amazing lady read this!

This is the one she picked for the presentation.

Happy Birthday Brenna!

2006-05-02T12:21:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a milestone! Our daughter Brenna celebrated her fifth birthday last week in fine style. Here she is with all her presents and cards from out of town. She had no trouble waiting till the big day as the postman was delivering the packages beforehand. It is truly amazing to see how much she has grown in such a relatively short time. We had some very good friends over that evening to celebrate the occasion and after cake and candles, Bren informed us all that she is now looking forward to turning six. Oh, please, please, slow down!

Interiors...

2006-05-02T12:08:00.000-07:00

Delivered prints to my client, Interworks, LLC on Friday of this kitchen remodel they recently completed. I love shooting interiors because you often have to deal with all these light sources to get the shot to look right. Sometimes you have no usable light sources and you have to get creative. Strobes, reflector cards, spots, snoots and grids are some of the usual tools I use to get the drama going. Also, it's just plain fun going into people's houses, seeing how the other half lives and making it look it's best.

Fantasy Art...

2006-04-25T10:05:00.000-07:00

Sculptor Rick Moore was coming over this morning to drop off a new piece for shooting but something came up. I pulled out some of his other work I had shot previously and made a few promo cards. His stuff is really out there and pretty incredible to view. Check out Rick's work at www.rmooresculptures.com

One for Ash...

2006-04-18T22:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all the kind comments. This basket from Hawaii reminded me of some of your photo subjects! From a friend's house, Easter Sunday.

Backlighting & Teles...

2006-04-18T22:31:00.000-07:00

Love the effects of backlighting and telephoto lenses together! From a friend's back porch, Easter Sunday.

A Bug's Life...

2006-04-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

From large groups down to one little insect, meeting photographic challenges drives me on. This Stagmomantis Carolina, more commonly know as a Praying Mantis was discovered on my brother's porch one afternoon. I quickly set up my tripod & camera, outfitted with extension tubes and a close-up lens and proceeded to compose my photo. Ever so slowly, the mantis turned its head in my direction, revealing either a dilated pupil or a contracted iris. Either way, it's eyes were completely different! Shooting from the side, I could only see one arm as the far one was obscured in the praying position. I thought, if I could manipulate this pose, I may have a more interesting shot. So in what could only be described as a Zen moment, I grabbed a sprig of grass, and oh-so-gently and slowly raised the foreground leg to produce some separation. The mantis continue to hold this pose for 36 frames of slide film and was still looking at me as I left the scene. Being able to live stories like these are why I love photography so much!

Intimidation...

2006-04-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

Shot Jesuit High School Boys and Girls Track teams yesterday in Knight Gym. In the past, I used to be intimidated with having to photograph such large groups, but those days are long since over. It's really pretty manageable if you think of it like putting a rather large puzzle together, there is a place for every piece. You definitely need good people skills, be direct when speaking, make eye contact, and even though it's a large group, treat them all as individuals, which they are. It can all go to hell rather quickly, however, if no one is paying any attention to your directions, pushing, fighting, throwing up, etc.

Carla & Cliff...

2006-04-12T00:45:00.000-07:00

Putting together some new marketing materials for my wedding photography as the romance season is starting to book, I ran across this cool image of a terrific couple, Carla & Cliff. Teresa Flynn Kohl and I shot their wedding at the Portland Forestry Center and this is the shot I remember most. A bubble in her mouth is just too perfect! A fun image of a really fun couple!

Come Monday...

2006-04-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

Here's one from last summer as I'm getting acquainted with some new technology. It was shot on a little Canon A85 and is a classic example of being prepared and ready to go when life happens and is a good reason to always have a camera nearby. We had been listening to some Jimmy Buffett in the van since the weather turned, on our many rides to and from daycare. Brenna would often ask to hear a song over & over a few times, as many kids do, feeling comfortable with the repetition. We had no idea she'd been memorizing this song. With our friend, Doug, over and a bottle of wine opened, Miss B asked to do a song. I said sure, and started to shoot this video. This is what came out to our utter surprise! The camera shake is from me laughing so much while trying to remain silent!

Parents and Parenting...

2006-04-07T11:35:00.000-07:00

As many people do, I never really gave parenting (or insert your current affliction here) much thought until I became one. The above two images are variations on a similar theme, both tight studio portraits of that special bond between parent & child. Creating intimate moments like these in the studio are often a challenge, but these two sittings were a pure joy. It is great energy to be around. After a while, the emotional closeness becomes evident on both ends of the camera. I have grown to be a parent, and by being a parent, continue to grow.

Daycare Day on Broadway...

2006-04-04T21:31:00.000-07:00

We see pictures like this one all the time in trade & industry magazines but I've recently learned what a logistical nightmare they can be to pull off. When I received the call in late December from my client, Martin Marietta, I had no idea how much time would be spent trying to get this one photograph. MM manufactures and installs the composite material used in the roadbed of the newly renovated Broadway Bridge, crossing the Willamette River, connecting east & west Portland. Vying for an industry mag cover, their idea was to highlight their material with a shot of the bridge opened up, showing their product on the underside of the opened span, with the city of Portland in the background. And, they reasoned, if the bridge was open, they wanted a huge mother sailing through on her way in or out to sea for added drama. Huge, but not so full of cargo that it obscured the bridge. The only dock east of the Broadway that can handle ships this size is "O" Dock, a grain loading platform. No problem I thought, I'll just call up the bridge commission, get a schedule and find out when a big honker is leaving, get out there, set up, and get the shot. Well the first opportunity to do it landed on Christmas Eve and, as committed as I am to my craft, I was hoping beyond all get-out that I wouldn't have to peel away from family & friends to do it and that's exactly what happened. They never got the ship loaded in time, night fell and it didn't leave the dock until two nights later, ruining any chance of a daylight shot. With no ships coming or going for a few weeks, our cover possibility disappeared, although I did submit some cool nighttime shots they didn't use because, well, it was nighttime. At least fifty phone calls later and six times where I got the call, got out there and then waited in the rain for a few hours only to find out loading was slow and the ships wouldn't leave till dark, one cloudy Monday, my ship came in, as it were. Only problem was, that was my daycare day with my little four-year old daughter and she would have to tag along, trooper that she is. With a forty-minute lead time, I threw all my photo gear (two cameras, digital AND film, tripods, filters, etc.) a blanket, and as many My Little Ponys as I could rustle up, into the van and raced across town to the location. When I got all the gear set up and saw the red control lights stop traffic from crossing the bridge, I knew it was finally gonna happen and my hands were shaking as the span started to lift. I did a final focus on the cameras, held a cable release in each hand and was yelling to Miss B "here she comes!" like we were watching Mt. St. Helens getting ready to blow. When the Liberty Glory came into view, five months of prep came to fruition, and my chest nearly burst as I fired away. I only wish I had gotten a picture of Miss B, happily playing with her Ponys on a blanket in the foreground, while the silent, massive ship cruised by in the background, one for the scrapbook. Although they rejected it, this one with the yellow dump truck and the bus in the lower left was my favorite, showing many forms of transportation all at once. My heartfelt thanks go out to Beth, Tony, Abby and especially Nancy who went out of their way to help me do my job and get the shot.

Snow Fun...

2006-04-02T15:21:00.000-07:00

We're on Spring Break around here, so we went over to Sunriver and Mt. Bachelor for a few days of fun in the snow and to recharge our psychic batteries. Ski lessons for Miss B were a bust but the tube runs were a huge hit! Cruised around Bend and Eagle Crest for a while and really got a sense of why I miss the desert so much. I'd like to write more, but our table's ready!

Art Stuff...

2006-03-29T01:42:00.000-08:00

So I finally got to do an artist portrait of my friend and graphics legend, Winky Wheeler, after I had to bribe her to get me a portrait referral! Along with being a great designer, illustrator, cartoonist and all-around good person, she's also a major source of referral business for me, high-energy and terrific to work with! I liked her portrait so much, I made it into a promo card! While I was in the mode, I made a few more from a recent shoot with a new client, Lisa Pfaller of Lisa Marie Sculpture & Bronze.

Blue Bridge...

2006-03-27T12:39:00.000-08:00

Once the scene of Oregon's record high-speed car chase at just over an incredible 150 MPH, the Astoria Bridge to Washington is long, straight and impossibly narrow. I have no height or bridge phobia but having to cross this one always makes me sit up and pay extra close attention. Returning home from a shoot in Illwaco, WA early Friday evening, I thought it might be nice to get some shots of the bridge in silhouette against the setting sun. But arriving too late for that, and not really wanting to scout out an eastern location visually free of telephone wires in the dark, I remembered an old Life cover of Three Mile Island by Greg Heisler. Before digital cameras, he used tungsten transparency film to produce a spooky blue-toned photo of the two cooling towers. Switching gears, I shot east instead, into the gathering night. Easily able to set my white balance to a lower Kelvin temperature with my Canon digital camera, I quickly shot several images with a similar look and feel, this one my favorite. As an added bonus, halogens from the nearby Cannery Pier Hotel created some nice highlights on the foreground pilings.

Spring Arrives...

2006-03-21T08:04:00.000-08:00

We've had some really great weather lately in Portland, coinciding with the arrival of spring. Brenna and I got out to the park this weekend to have some serious fun on the play equipment and give Mom a break. This girl can go for hours! I don't know how she does it. I was getting nearly nauseous and dizzy trying to get this shot, while she kept saying "faster, faster!" As much as I love winter, I'm always glad to see the crocus and forsythia blooming, signaling that warmer weather is on the way. Won't be long now!

Great Day in the Studio...

2006-03-17T10:30:00.000-08:00

Busy day in the studio yesterday, three jobs in one day, woo hoo, I love it! First up was a portrait of a credit union president for her newsletter. When she arrived, she had on this cool mink coat, so after our session, I brought her back on set with the coat for some fun shots. Then my buddy, Roland Simmons (a very capable photographer with a keen eye for composition) came over to work out some lighting set ups and shoot some portraits of me. I got him to sit for a few and this is my favorite from the take. Then a new art client brought by four incredible bronze sculptures to shoot for her portfolio (thank you, Leslie!) All in all, a great day spent in the studio, getting the work done and having fun.

Persistence...

2006-03-16T17:17:00.000-08:00

Persistence. That's what it takes to make it in this business. I think of things like this river when things aren't going my way. How if I just keep on keepin' on, things will turn again. Eventually, this rock will cease to be, but in our lifetime, it will only change shape. How much do I need to "change shape" in my lifetime?