Web Site Update

My web site has been updated a bit. There is a new pic on the main page (one of my favorites). There is a new page to link to from the main page (memories). I have also updated my portrait by using the closed umbrella technique that my fellow one lighters will remember. A couple of the pictures for the topic pages have also been changed. Click around when you get a chance. And again.... comments would be appreciated.

A huge thanks goes out to Ty Wooley (AKA Blue Sheep Graphics) for the help with the update. He always does great work.

One Light Workshop

One Light Workshop is a one day lighting class taught by lighting guru Zack Arias. The entire workshop is designed to teach you to capture amazing images with minimal gear…. one light, one umbrella, one light stand and a lot of ingenuity.

I wasn’t too sure what to expect – I have to admit (very embarrassingly) that I had not visited Zack’s site or checked out his work until two days before the workshop. But, based on the excitement of my good friend Bill (and after seeing Zack’s phenomenal work), was anxious to learn from a seasoned pro.

It wasn’t too long into the mixer that I realized that this would be a fun (and very knowledgeable) group of people to be around and learn from. Zack is very passionate about what he does and it is ridiculously contagious.

After we spent a good portion of the day in the classroom, it was time to shoot. The energy was pretty high as we were about to see, in action, what we had been learning about all day.

Here are a couple of shots with the existing light without flash or modification. It wasn’t bad light at all and most everyone could have taken a few great shots.





Now, here we are using the techniques we had learned. A little more dramatic, don’t you think?











The grand finale was shooting on our own. We broke up into small groups and were told to shoot what we wanted how we wanted. Here are some of the pics I ended up with.













I can’t convey how happy I am to have attended the workshop. Zack is a great teacher who truly loves what he is doing. Check out his site if you want to see some really amazing photographs.

A special thank you goes out to our cooperative and personable model, Luke. I would also like to thank Zack for taking time to hang out with us and share his expertise. Thanks to Bill, Erin, Larry and Max for modeling so well during the group shoot.

Hats off to all the One Lighters out there taking and making great pictures for all of us to enjoy.

Here are a few links so you can check out the work of some fellow One Lighters:

Bill Cawley

Erin Vey

Ted Leung

Boone Rodriguez

Justin Lam

Memory Book

When I went to Southern California last November, the plan was to take some pictures and design a memory book for my Aunt Peggy's 50th birthday present. I had gotten quite a library of pictures from my mom and grandmother to chronicle Peggy's life. This is the design that I came up with. She and all of her family love the book and all of the memories it carries. She had not even seen some of the pictures that I included. You can view the showcase here. A huge thanks goes out to Sarah Jane for taking the pic below.

Photography 101

Okay... so I'm a little behind. Better late than never. Right?

Self portraits are one of the first assignments you will get in any photography program. I decided to try out my modeling talents at the same time I experiment with lighting and composition. Not quite as easy as it sounds. :-) I plan on posting at least once a month on this topic so keep checking back. These pics will show what I am focused on improving on photographically, my interests and (hopefully) a bit of my personality. Here is the first batch. Comments are always encouraged.

A Little Fun

Shawnia and I took a quick trip over to Arlington, last weekend, to visit her brother and his family. Neither of us had ever been to Seattle, so we decided to spend Saturday doing the tourist thing. We had a blast exploring Pikes Place Market and the Space Needle. I'm looking forward to our next trip over. Thanks to Scott, Chris, Thane and Em for putting up with us. :-) Here are a few pics from the trip.

Small World

As most of you know I have worked for Spokane Schools for quite a while. Throughout the years, I have come to know many great families. When I was contacted by The ARC of Spokane to take some portraits of five residents at the Valley House, I didn't hesitate. Having been involved with Special Olympics, ENSO and The ARC (through my brother), I was excited for the opportunity. I can't tell you how surprised I was to see Stephanie Zobrist. She, and her brother Will, attended Moran Prairie when I worked there. Will was one of my most successful and talented guitar students. It was great to see Stephanie and take the pictures of the rest of the residents. You can view the gallery here.