Who Knew...?

When I was a photojournalist in the military, I photographed a lot of amazing people, places, and things. I was an aerial photographer, which meant I got to do things most people only dreamed about doing. When I transitioned out of the Air Force in March, if someone would have said to me " Sam... you're going to shoot still life. And you're first published book is going to be about glass" I would have told them they were nutz...!!! But guess what, I stepped out of my comfort zone and tackled the challenge of shooting still life.

Before now, I never really realized how much I truly love photography. It doesn't matter to me the subject anymore, it's all about the feeling I get while I'm shooting.

Walk-a-bout...

Today after a late lunch at Machismo Burrito Bar with a few of my friends, we decided to take a walk to burn of some calories. For me, the idea sounded liked the perfect opportunity to capture a few moments. We took a scroll through downtown Norfolk's historic Ghent neighborhood. Very relaxing time to shoot and meditate. With everything that's going on in my crazy world, moments like this are needed from time to time.

The Thirst

Yesterday I was in Richmond, Va. pounding the pavement trying to make connections with a few ad agencies and creative directors as well as doing a little bit of scouting for an upcoming photo shoot. I was very intrigued by Richmond. As soon as I arrived in the city I was ready to pull out my camera and start shooting. Needless to say, meetings took up a majority of my day. But, I was determined to shoot something before I got on the road. The weather was crap but, I didn't care. The only thing that mattered to me was finding a shot. I needed to find a shot. I drove around in the pouring rain for about 45 minutes looking for something that moved me. Then I found it. a moment that moved me to want to pick up my camera, run out into the rain and shoot.

You see, it didn't matter to me what the weather conditions were, how bad parking was, or what was going on in my life at that time. The only thing that mattered to me was that moment in time and the sweet sound of the shutter after capturing the moment.

Stepping Out on Faith...

On Friday, I finally hyped myself up enough to go out and pound the pavement and visit a few ad agencies in the area. My close friend and mentor, Aaron Ansarov , has been really pushing me to step out and test the waters to see where I stand right now; being that I'm just out of the military and starting a new career as commercial photographer.

So, there I was, portfolio book in hand, doing what some might think is the absolute wrong thing to do. I walk into to office after office without an appointment. Just a portfolio and a strong to desire to make it with my art. Sure, a few agencies took my card and told me they would be in touch but, to my surprise a couple of agencies took the time to look at my work and talk to me about me and what I wanted to do with my photography. If you never try, how will you ever know what you can be?