Another year gone, ... what a ride!

It's tough to believe that I'm already at the end of my first full year of self-employment. It's been a hell of a year; things have gone better than expectations and that certainly bodes well for 2006. Here are the highlights:

New Clients:
• McGraw Hill
• Warren Miller
• New York Post
• Power & Motoryacht magazine
• St. George/Zion National Park Convention & Visitors Bureau
• OnRequest Images
• Ramada Inns
• Spectacular Homes of the Pacific Northwest (by Panache Partners, publishers of coffee-table books)
• Several Seattle-area architecture and interior-design firms

Travel assignments:
• Massachusetts
• Tennessee
• Kentucky
• Texas
• Utah (twice)
• Oregon
• Vancouver, British Columbia (twice)

Oh -- today's images are from one of the Ramada shoots.

Here's to a specatular and peaceful 2006!

Weekend Redux

Other than my obtaining a sprained ankle from having slipped on a rocky riverbank, the weekend in Oregon was a complete success, ... we didn't really do much of anything other than explore riverbanks and seashores, skip lots of stones across the aforementioned rivers, and watch some mighty lovely sunsets. We did watch my favorite movie, too -- City of Lost Children. It has the most amazing lighing and set design I've ever seen.

Today's images are from the trip, ...

Road trip!

Time for a photo safari/R&R trip. Headed for southern coastal Oregon, Port Orford, to be exact. Gonna see what I can see. Right now I'm in a motel room in Vancouver, Wash., which is just about half-way to my final destination. Hope this clear weather holds for the weekend; the Oregon coast is a lovely part of the world.

As for today's photo, here's a taste of what's to come.

Another week speeds by

It's true; time flies when you're working your ass off.

Revelations? People aren't always as they seem; no good deed goes unpunished, and if you don't set firm boundaries people will dutifully try their best to take advantage of you.

Tip? Write up the agreement before the shoot. Don't get lazy; you're sure to get bitten in the ass otherwise.

Today's photos don't really have anything to do with anything other than they fit my mood. They're from an art project I did to illustrate the seven deadly sins.

Here's a contest -- tell me which ones these are!

More new clients!

So far this week I signed on with a stock agency called OnRequest images, and landed a new real-estate client. The good news just keeps rollin' along, ... but I don't want to get *too* cocky, lest the photo gods smack me down. Just let me be happy.

I'll be brief, as it's approaching midnight here. Today's image is just something I shot and then simply dropped in a gradiated background, ... it's representative of my emotions of late.

Anti-Turkey Day

Does the definition of a workaholic include a compulsion to ignore holidays? Anyway, my wife's out of town for the weekend so I'm spending the weekend working on tying up loose ends and completing a couple outstanding projects. Nothing too exciting, and I'm planning mac-n-cheese for my T-day dinner, which is one of my all-time favorite comfort meals.

The studio renovations are nearing completion, too. All that remains is to paint the new window panels and remove the stovepipe from the former owner's woodstove. Next step will be to build a permanent cyc wall so I won't have to deal with paper backdrops anymore.

Wondering what a cyc wall is? Check out today's link: ProCyc.com

My studio is fairly modest at 500 s.f., but it's perfectly suited to the kind of work I do.

In that vein, today's photos were taken in my studio; the first is from a family-portrait session and the second is a product shot of a Japanese toy.

Not feeling particularly profound today, but thought I'd try a bit of photo wisdom: You can't make a good portrait until the camera disappears from the equation. Once the subject is so comfortable that they forget their photo is being taken, you're home free.

Time sure flies, ...

Guess I've gotta be more disciplined about this; it's been nearly a fortnight since my last post. My recently-revived workout scheme has been foiled by a separated rib from repetitive stress combined will bull-headedness. Basically, I didn't listen to my body and hurt myself, so no workouts for about six weeks. *sigh* So much for my planned return to the land of the svelte.

In any event, the mystery client I'd mentioned in my last post is now a reality -- Warren Miller Entertainment, he of those gnarly extreme-skiing films. I'm doing all their product shots.

I've also landed a new local architectural firm and a real-estate agency as clients. I really enjoy the architecture work. Someday I'll keep track of a typical interiors shoot and catalog the whole process. I think it's fun, but I expect most will find it quite tedious.

Now *there's* a solid closer -- come back soon to read about the tedious details of my life!

As for this posting's image, it's a cover shot from a publication called Sustainable Industries Journal. The feature story was about how the U.S. Army is actually using some environmentally-friendly building techniques and infrastructure technologies. The assignment was this: illustrate the obvious dichotomy of the devil-may-care armed forces with caring for the enviroment. The editors were pleased with my result.



Oh -- and I've also discovered that I'm Reverse Pocky.

You Are Reverse Pocky

Your attitude: rebellious and clever Non-conformist, but curiously a trendsetter With you, up is down... and it's a wild ride!

Take the Pocky quiz!

Working like a madman and loving every second of it

Busy, busy, busy -- a very good state for a self-employed person. Working on several new clients (I'll share the names once I've signed contracts; I'm not comfortable with being cocky, as the universe has a way of slapping me down every time I get overconfident), and putting the wraps on several other projects. Also joined the Columbia Tower Club in Seattle yesterday; hope it brings lots of new networking opportunities.

Today's photo is from an interiors shoot earlier this summer; the photos are destined for a coffee-table book called Spectacular Homes of the Pacific Northwest, which is due out sometime early next year.

Sunday Bloody Sunday

OK; nothing but yardwork today. It was all about wrestling with the trimmings from a very large and very point holly hedge that the prior owners of our place had let go. According to the neighbors, it hasn't been touched for more than 10 years; it was 25 feet tall in places. Did I mention that holly is pointy? Reference today's title, ...

Anyway, I was wondering what to post for a photo that's somewhat topical, but decided to go for something antithetical instead.

Looking for a bunch of cool adjectives to describe my day

OK; this thing is cool. Today was filled with post-production work and follow-ups with current clients, as well as a meeting with a financial planner from my business networking group. Jeezus, am I ever square.

I think I'll try to post a photo every day; here's another favorite -- it's of Spooky Canyon in southern Utah.

First post - Texas trip with a new lens

OK; here we go. The first of what I hope is a lengthy relationship with all things blog. I'll begin with a couple of images made in Texas last week using my new favorite lens - the lensbaby (I love if when you call me baby). Comments and questions are welcome; this is an interactive experience, after all.