New blog

To all my T77 friends and enemies I've finally launched my new site. The new site will be the hub for all my creative ventures. This new site includes a blog, which means this will more than likely be my final blog on blogpost. Please take a second to check out my new site, I have my portfolio, blog and my Black Top Society wrapped into one. There's not much on the blog just yet but not to worry, I'll be posting shortly. Thanks again blogspot!

Also, thank you Chris for all your hard work on the first site and thank you Bryce for all your help on the new site. You guys rock.

OEAD Artwalk August 2010

This past weekend was one of the bi-monthly Artwalks here at our lofts. This time around I knew I really wanted to display some photography. I had a photo shoot in mind for months but because of my schedule and the schedule of everyone involved it just wasn't happening. Only two weeks before the Artwalk did everything finally come together. Originally the concept was mime inspired but in some ways I feel we missed the mark and truthfully the outcome surpassed the concept. To my advantage I was working with my favorite team, Brenda B. (my wife and hairstylist extraordinaire) and the very talented Rikki. The shoot had its moments of frustration, controlling the light up the hill was a battle. Feeling a little defeated we headed back to the loft and started the studio portion of the shoot. We went through the motions of a wardrobe and hair change for the next look, but it was the final look that changed everything. It was the last 10 minutes of the shoot when Rikki applied some hearts to her make-up and Brenda B simply let Rikki's hair down. Those simple changes rocked the shoot, and in the end I was a bit amazed at the out come. I choose these four images to represent my work at the Artwalk and from peoples response I would say they were quite successful. I myself, being the photographer look at these images and wonder how such emotion was given & captured. I can only hope those who see these images ask the same.

I'd like to run a limited number of individual prints 20"x30", so if you're interested please email me for pricing.

Thanks again Brenda B and Rikki for all your hard work.

Salon Sessions Shoot

Every year Salon Sessions in Pasadena, Ca. has a competition within its salon. Salon stylists are divided into teams and given the task to organize and execute a photo shoot. This year I was given a chance to showcase my photography skills along side the talented Danielle and Stephanie of team 7. Danielle and Stephanie's idea was to create head shots that focused on the styling and texture of their models hair. They also created a neck piece made of entirely of soda can tabs and under the lights & beauty of the models, it looked like one expensive piece of jewelery. The shoot took about 5/6hrs and in the end everybody's hard paid off. Yesterday, Salon Sessions had a viewing party yesterday and though we didn't win first place, we did nail second place!

As with so many things in life, it was great learning experience and I've already noted what I can do to make things better for next time. I had a great time working with everyone, stylists, models and mua. Hopefully, I can be part of this talented team next year.

Big thanks to Danielle, Stephanie and Salon Sessions for letting me take part in your competition.

Salon Sessions

Jef Bredemeier - Art exhibit

Jef Bredemeier - Art exhibit
March 19 2008 @ Violet Grace 7021 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, Ca.

I was fortunate to be invited to an art show this past Wednesday by my good friend Christian Mejia. Arriving only an hour and a half late to Violet Grace in Melrose, I was pleased to find a healthy crowd of people and some cool art work. Unlike some art shows, this one was full of welcoming smiles. Ross Resnick of Honest Beverages kept the crowd hydrated with his Honest Teas and Honest Ade beverages (with the optional splash of Vodka) while a young lady who I can only refer to as 40D girl (because I wasn't smart enough to ask her name) kept the crowd on their toes with her shutter assaults. I mobilized my own shutter attack on 40D girl, with great success I might add. You can see my pix on flickr.com. Overall this was my idea of a great show as there was excellent artwork and plenty of people ready to have a chat and a few laughs. Artist Jef Bredemeier even found a minute to introduce himself to my friends and I. Good luck to Jef and I await his next showing.

Jef's myspace - http://www.myspace.com/plaidnik
Violet Grace - 7021 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, Ca.
Honest Beverages - www.honesttea.com