My Parents Were Awesome

These are NOT my parents but someone else's instead. I stumbled across this FANTASTIC website tonight called My Parents Were Awesome. It is a place where people can come and show off what their parents used to look like, back when they were awesome. Believe it or not your parents were once awesome if only for a day or two. Everyone is stressed out at the moment so take some time off to have a little laugh at My Parents Were Awesome. It wont disappoint.

Musical Inspiration

For my photo essay in photojournalism I will be featuring the music of Olafur Arnalds. He is an amazing musical artist from Iceland. This video was made by Esteban Diacono, an Argentinian motion graphics artist based out of Brazil. His music keeps me going on those stressful nights when everything comes crashing down.

The Best but Better

I've already posted this once but this is a refreshed version. I added a background =]

Executive Portrait

For my executive portrait I had the pleasure of photographing the new Janitor Mrs. Linda. She was really very nice and patient with my awkwardness. 

Amusing

I found this photographer by the name of Ryan Robinson. His work is amusing and full of color. The image above is a cover he did for Time Out Chicago magazine. Below is a video of Ryan building the set for this shoot. After looking at Ryan's website take some time to stop by his blog as well.

Time Out Chicago Cover shoot from Ryan Robinson Studio on Vimeo.

Mystery Google

Has anybody seen this? Google now has a Mystery Google search engine. Mystery Google is unlike regular Google. With Mystery Google you search for something but get what the person before you searched for. It can be really funny sometimes. For Example: I typed GTC Photography into Mystery Google and it searched for this.

Photo Essay

I'm working on my photo essay for photojournalism. My mother is the topic. My mother and her daily struggle. This is just an update on how the project is going. Its coming together. Things are getting tougher for my mom but I know she can handle it.

New Inspiration

When bouncing around the inter web this morning I came across my newest inspiration. The photographer in question is Zach Gold. He seems to favor motion shots. Lots of models in water thrashing around. It might not sound like a good photograph but check him out and see for yourself. He has even done some commissions for my favorite tv show, The Office. All in all his style is really unique and i have been inspired. He makes me want to experiment with motion.

You wont see that in an Apple Store

Silly Microsoft. =]

Fascinating

So my mom rented the movie Star Trek (the new one), directed by the very talented J.J Abrams. The movie was awesome and everyone should see it if you haven't already. One of the main characters is Spock, played by Zachary Quinto. I happen to think he is very pretty. I was on his website, looking through the picture when I saw the name Joe Quinto on one of the pictures. Joe Quinto is Zachary Quinto's brother and also happens to be a photographer. He does a lot of celebrity portraits and musicians. His clients include Epic Records and Roadrunner Records.

Holiday Portraits

Last night the lovely Danica and myself went up to Gwinnett Tech. She got her picture made by Mr. Twitty at the GTC Holiday Portraits. I absolutely love these pictures. The set is beautiful. So get your picture made at GTC.

Executive

Monday we shot for our executive portraits in advanced portraiture. Here is the deal: We pick a name out of a hat. We have to find that person introduce ourselves, set up, and shoot in 15 minutes. Its only a little bit nerve wracking. Last year Brian Hall did a really funny portrait of Chef Kari. If you'd like to see more of Brian's things click here.

Old Inspiration

I was just bumming around my hard drive tonight when i stumbled across this picture. I took this picture years ago with my Sony Cyber Shot. This was one of the pictures that got me into photography. It was only the beginning and its amazing to see how far I've come. I miss that camera. We had some fun times. Now it clicks when you press down the shutter button. It also makes rnererererere noises.

Tom Hollyman

Photographer Tom Hollyman died at the age of 89. Hollyman was the president of the American Society of Magazine Photographers. He trained in photojournalism but specialized in landscape photography. To read the whole story on PDN click HERE.

Fill Flash

This past weekend I went out with Ana to shoot for the fill flash assignment. This assignment was tough and I didn't come out with something perfect. This is my favorite picture from the weekend.

Environmental?

In Photojournalism we have to do an environmental portrait. As I said in an earlier post(were you paying attention?), I went down to the Eagle Gun Range in Macon GA. Obviously this is not a picture from that adventure. I really didn't like what I got at the gun range so while I had the JTL lights checked out I snapped some shots of my grandmother for a possible environmental portrait. I like this picture a lot. I really love reflections.

Day at the Range

Well yesterday Ana went with me to work on my environmental portrait. I went to the Eagle Gun Range down in Macon GA. My sister's boyfriend Will works there. So I took his picture. Well since we were there I made Ana shoot. She shot the 22mm and did really well. Shooting guns is a great way to de-stress and since this photo essay is really getting to us....we took a little time for some fun.

Rated R

Gabriel Wickbold is an amazing photographer. He uses color like crazy and its one of the things I love about his work. If you think you love color then check out his work. It's guaranteed to blow your mind. He has a whole section dedicated to his nude work. So this is not a blog post to show the kids.

Artist Highlight

Phillip Tolendano is an amazing photographer with a very distinct style of his own. His work is like nothing i have ever seen. ButI like it ! His project Days With My Father is by far my favorite. I cried my eyes out. Everyone should check him out.

Mi Madre

This is my mom. I love my mom. I've decided to highlight my mom for my photo essay. She is going through a lot right now but you'd never know it. She has to basically take care of my grandmother. We just found out my grandfather has cancer so she is going up to South Carolina multiple times a month. She runs two households. About 6 months ago she lost her job and is still putting in long hours trying to find another job. My mommy doesn't know yet that she will be my photo essay, wont she be surprised! How can she say no to me??? (very easily actually)

oh and I used a fill flash for this picture. =] its trial and error there

Fantasy Shoot

The other day my friend Casey let me shoot him for my fantasy assignment in advanced portraiture. It did not end up looking as I had hoped so I'll have to reshoot. I wanted a darker and creepier feel to it. I tried to shoot it again yesterday but my flash stopped working so it looks like another take is needed. This is one of my favorite shots.

Past Due

It's way way past time I highlighted Jeremy Cowart on here. I love love love love his work!!! His use of post production texture and effects fascinate me. This is what I want to learn how to do. He works with a lot of musicians and such. If you'd like to check out his blog click here. The photo above is the artist Imogen Heap and its my favorite image from his website. These two seem to work together a lot which makes my inner artist happy.

Interview

So this week I had the chance to sit down with Ana and do a little interview. She asked me about the Pride Parade as well as many other things. To listen to the entire interview click Here. Enjoy!!!

The Indian Festival& Pow-Wow

Today Ana and I went to the 10th annual Indian Festival & pow wow at Stone Mountain Park. It was an interesting event. We might even have gotten Ana a topic for her photojournalism essay, but I wont spoil the secret. My favorite thing of the day was the dancing competition. All the colors and costumes were a sight to behold. We even saw someone from lower quarter there. All in all it was an awesome day.

Little Patriot

Today Ana and I went downtown Atlanta to shoot the Veteran's Day Parade. It was a fun day and an interesting parade. I checked out a Vivitar 285HV flash from the school. It seems like an old school flash but thats coming from someone born of the digital age. I really wish the flash I ordered would be here....like now! All in all it was a good day though.

Help Portrait

So I was just bumming around the internet today and I found this really cool website. Help Portrait is a charity that encourages photographer from around the world to come together and use their talent to give a gift this holiday season. On December 12 photographers from all over the world will gather together to take a portrait of a needy person this holiday season. Its a chance for us to use our talent to give hope to someone who needs it. There is a location in Atlanta and I'm really inspired to go. If you'd like to check out the actual Help Portrait Atlanta website click here. Check out the video below.

TOTALLY AWESOME~~~

Check out this video made by Dabe Alan. He filmed it in stop motion while being tattooed. I love tattoos and its amazing to see it done like this. Check out Dabe Alan on flickr.

Holiday Portraits

So everyone has been working really hard on the set for holiday portraits. I've been working on keeping the blog up to date but I would really appreciate it if anyone who takes pictures would send them to Ana's email. Check out the GTC holiday portrait blog.

Flash Basics

Today I went out shooting for our Wednesday Walks with Ana and Mr. Twitty. We went our to attempt to learn how to use a flash. It was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. Amanda let me borrow her flash which is a Nikon SB-600. This is a basic tutorial on how to use that flash. Hopefully my flash will be in soon!!!!!

So, I'm kind of a Dork

I'm fascinated with Fisheye Photography and I'm kind of a dork. So, rather than buying a fisheye lens, I made my own. It was really simple. Check out the How-To. It isn't perfect but at least its something to play around with. All I did was...

1.)Get a lens cap and drill a hole through it

2.)Get a door viewer. or a peephole as I call it

3.)Glue the peephole onto the lens cap and voila.

This is what it looks like. And this is an image that I took with it.

Check out this interview

I was searching on Youtube and I found this interesting interview with commercial photographer Greg Hren. He seems to have an interesting point of view on the industry right now. This video makes me want a sticker on my car that says Photographer.

Pride 2009

Like my last few posts have mentioned that I was at Pride Fest 2009 this year. It was so much fun and I got some good pictures. The one posted here is one of my favorites. =]

chasing the shot

I'm on the prowl for a feature. This photographer is not playing around. Its do or die time, the final hour. I have a good feeling about today. I'm coming back with a shot. Ana and I are going to the Pride Fest again today. This will be my motivation.

Repent Repent

Today Ana and I went to Pride Fest. We talked to a lot of people and it was a very new experience. The thing that got to me most was the Bible thumpers. I'm not going to get into religion on here because everyone's beliefs are different and I respect that. Lets just say Ana and I got a talking to from some religious folk. This is a shot I got of one such religious folk at the entrance to Piedmont Park. I look forward to going back tomorrow....or today depending on the time I finish this post.