(FUNNY)Nike Little Penny Classic Commercial (FUNNY)

I miss watching commercials like this...

Inspiration

On Saturday I got the chance to hang out with and photographer two pretty inspiring skateboarders Sid and Josh for D&A Clothing. These guys are seriously passionate about skateboarding. Not matter how many times they did a particular trick, if it didn't feel right to them, they would do the trick until the move was perfect and sound in every way. Talk about drive and ambition, it was amazing to me to witness these guys giving 200% for a sport they love so much. The harder they pushed, the harder I wanted to push. Screw being tired, there was no time to think about that. When the people you are photographing are giving you their best, it would be an insult to them if you didn't give them your best in return.Saturday was truly an inspiring day.

Is it the gear or you?

I came across this video on YouTube of noted photographer Terry Richardson. What I find crazy about this video is that he is using a snapshot camera to do a major shoot...Crazy!!! But, it goes to show you that it's not all about the gear you have, it's about the person behind the camera.

Spot News

So I'm on the interstate trying to fight through traffic to get home when I decided to turn off the highway and go a different direction. little did I know that I was about to see a gas truck tip over and explode just ahead of me. I think it was commercial photographer Chase Jarvis who said " the best camera is the one you have beside you". Well, in my case it was in my pocket. I shot this quick image with my iPhone before the state police everyone move back off the interstate off ramp. Just because you don't have a top of the line camera with you doesn't mean you can't pick-up whatever you have around you to capture a moment. Never underestimate the power of what you have beside you or in your pocket.

Making Myself More Uncomfortable

On my last post, I talked about doing different things and making yourself uncomfortable. The other day I was asked to shoot two aspiring models in a hookah lounge. Sounded like some thing new and different to me so, I jumped at the idea to do something different taking me out of my comfort zone.

Making Yourself Uncomfortable

Yesterday evening I officially got started on a personal project that I have been thinking about doing for awhile now. I got the opportunity to work with the very talented model/dancer, Mandy Faber. We took a few shots on the beach out East Ocean View here in Norfolk, Va. It stormed a little bit before we were suppose to shoot, but the weather cleared by the time we got out there. (Thank God!!!)

I decided to start this photo study on dancers because I found myself becoming too comfortable with what I was choosing to shoot. I have been limiting my experience lately to merely the people that closely surround me and has a creative its never good to limit yourself. Besides, my passion for photography stemmed from my curiosity about people and the human condition. I love life... photography is my way of connecting and staying in tune with it. With that being said, I encourage each and every person reading this to allow yourself to see something different today. Take time out to have a conversation with someone new, someone different than your normal group of friends. If you have a camera, I don't care if its a cell phone or the latest top of the line camera out there. Take the time to take at least one photo of something you normally wouldn't shoot. Make yourself uncomfortable.

Organic...

Got the opportunity to work with the guys over at Drive&Ambition Clothing again, this time we came up with an idea to do a guerilla style commercial video shoot with an extremely fresh hip-hop band called "Upperclassmen". We did the shoot in front of mini-mart corner store in the Park Place section of Norfolk. It was definitely an experience I will always remember, for about an hour or so we had the entire neighborhood rocking to the purely organic sounds of a funky drummer, bass player, songstress and dope emcee.

All the footage was shot using a Nikon D90. It's been my goal since I got the camera to push it to the limits to see what the camera can do. So far, I'm liking the feel of the camera. The only problem I have is I keep wanting to put the camera to my face to shoot stills when I'm capturing video...??? Guess that's just the photographer in me...

Before I forget, I want to give a special thanks to the cops for not shutting us down. We had no permit to shoot, could have been a disaster.