View from my hotel in Orlando

Listening to U2 “Discotheque”

Chip Mitchell is a friend of mine and fellow photographer (chipmitchell.com). He lives in Richmond, and we periodically get together in Williamsburg for lunch with a little general discussions about the industry. He’s really good at what he does, but likes golf better than photography. I’d rather take pictures than breath, so we always start from that subject base line. Last time both of us needed head shots so we traded off shooting each other. Shooting another photographer is easy cause we understand the process, and at this point we all realize we are full of crap, so we can cut the vain image nonsense and have a little fun.

Listening to Elvis Presley, “Big Hunk O Love”

I was shooting an article on Grow Interactive and had set up this mostly black and white graphic image to illustrate the process they develop, when one of the studio dogs came trotting through the frame. It only added to both the idea and the moment, so I got her back and held her attention for just a moment to “watch” what he was doing. Didn’t think of it at the time, but now it remind me of the iconic RCA image of the dog listening to it’s master.

Listening to, Anoushka Shankar “Si No Puedo Verla”

Worked a 15 hour day yesterday on a still/video project and still had a 2 hour trip home, so I stopped for some food in hopes it would keep me awake on the drive.

Listening to Pink Floyd, “Time”

Every morning I see the lights of the this building before the sun comes up, so I decided to shoot it every morning for several days and see what the differences were. The best news from the idea, each morning I had to shoot it just a little bit sooner cause the sun is coming up earlier. Sounds like warmer weather is on the way.

Listening to Koop feat. Yukii Nagano “Summer Sun”

We needed to wrap, it had been two long shoot days, we were going into overtime, but we went for 2 more shots. The results, one was the lead image for the article, the 2nd was the selected for the cover, and just won Addy Gold. Thomas Edison said “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

Listening to Haydee Milanes, “El Guije”

Had a recent assignment from Distinction Magazine to photograph a Drew Ungvarsky, owner of Grow Interactive. Despite his dramatic success in the industry, he still rides his bike to work most everyday and keeps his business in Norfolk, vs heading to one of the logical media capitals (read NYC). I needed to get a cover shot, so the idea was shoot him in front of his building and down the city street holding a bike tire. I almost instantly had this exact image in my minds eye, and despite dodging traffic and a cold January afternoon, it came together just like the plan. Nice to see it all work out.

Listening to Synchrotone, from Black Hawk Down.

I was shooting at restaurant in Williamsburg (La Yaca) for Distinction Magazine and noticed this little element in the kitchen. Always hard for me to pass up a subject that includes a little red. I think my grandmothers house was the same way.

Listening to Sonia Dada, “Deliver Me”

Out scouting today and ran into Ms. Lilly

Listening to Randy Newman, “Lover’s Prayer”

Another image I made that day of random shooting. On these types of shoots sometimes you get to give a little direction, sometimes you just have to watch, and anticipate the opportunities. When I saw these boys carrying the colors for the morning secession, and I jumped in front and shot. Not sure I could have ever directed a better moment. I don’t want perfection in this type of approach, I  want to capture something that’s real. Real trumps perfection.

Listening to Terence Trent D’Arby, “My Dark Places”