Recurring training

At the end of June I attended a workshop put on by my good friend Master Photographer Dave Newman. Dave has operated Newman Photography in the Salt Lake City for 30 years and is how a certified instructor, writer and lecturer.
You can learn a lot from someone like this...and I did. Here are some photos I took during the class.

New logo...

After a great deal of thinking, we came up with yet another logo. This time, I think we are settled and have found the identity we have been looking for.

The original logo had a very fashion-like look to it, but also looked like it belonged to an architectural firm. The next generation was an exercise in getting a P and a W to look like they belong together, but something was lacking and they still were not playing nice.

We had to do a lot of soul searching to really find a symbol that indicates what we are about. Our style embraces both contemporary and classic portraiture with a strong emphasis on overall image design. Our logo now embraces both the creative element as well as pays homage to photography as a discipline and structure. We believe that photographic structure without creativity is boring, and that creativity without structure is just chaos. Knowing and practicing both are the key to the images we create.

I think our logo now reflects this balance.

We are not finished yet, be watching in the next few weeks as you will see changes come to both the blog and the main website. It's going to look really cool!

Boise Idaho Wedding Photographer/ Livin' the dream...

As a boy I spent many hours daydreaming about flying for the Armed Services. My favorite television program at the time was “Baa Baa Black Sheep”, a TV series based upon the famous Marine fighter pilot Gregory “Pappy” Boyington and the VMF-224 “Black Sheep” Squadron. I never missed an episode and during the summers I would set up my “Corsair” (lawn chair on a picnic table with a broom handle to fly with) and fly endless missions, shooting down the enemy and landing at exotic locales. Always the hero. But the military pilot dream ended before it began. I wore glasses, and military pilots didn't wear glasses.

All those memories came flooding back when I met Sarah and Brock. Brock is a fighter pilot for our Armed Services and that's about all I can say about him. In my mind, he's living the dream.

Despite his enviable career, the real dream for Brock is Sarah. Brock shared with me the story of how he proposed to Sarah.

Brock wanted to surprise Sarah with his proposal of marriage and was looking for the perfect opportunity to pop the question. His opportunity came when one of his missions was canceled due to bad weather, and Sarah just so happened to be there when he got word of this. With the blessing of his commander, Sarah got the tour of airplane in sort of a pre-flight manner. The tour ended up on the wing and Brock knealt down to finish his pre-flight of the jet and said something to the effect, “...and finally and most importantly, I have to always make sure that this ring is securely attached where it belongs,” and holds up an engagement ring. Hearing not a sound, Brock looked up to see Sarah's legs wobbling beneath her as she stood near the edge of the wing. He quickly reached out and wrapped his arms around her legs so she wouldn't fall. Pre-flight complete... and Sarah said, “yes”.

Here are some photos from their engagement session, they will wed in July.

City of Trees Pipes and Drums

There is something both comforting and haunting about the wail of bagpipes. It's really hard for me to put into words the feelings that they stir when I hear them. Feelings of happiness, sadness, fear, comfort and nostalgia...all circulate within this sonic whirlwind that the bagpipes generate. It's truly an awesome experience for me to hear them. No other instrument moves me in the same way.
City of Trees Pipes and Drums is a local band that is dedicated to promoting this wonderful tradition. They've played in a variety of venues throughout the Boise Valley and are becoming well known and well sought after. So much so that they are in the process of releasing a CD of their music.
They were in need of a formal group shot, which I was able to provide for them right after their recording session. The shoot went very well, but at the end I told them that the last frame was a "free-for-all" and they eagerly participated. Ironically, the free-for-all shot seems to be the favorite of the group...but it's the formal shot that will grace the cover. I plan to be first in line to buy my copy...order yours at www.boisebagpipes.com.

Professional Photographers of Idaho 2009

What an incredible week! Think about drinking from a fire hose... that was what the PP of I conference was like. The theme for the conference was called "Week of Legends" and the conference lived up to it's name. There was so much good information and so many good speakers, it was hard to take it all in completely. I learned some cool things about location lighting from Doug Box, some great Photoshop tricks from Eddie Tapp and was inspired by David Beckstead with his unfettered creativity in his work. I also got spend some time with Steve Mackly and Dave Newman and got a lot of helpful information and advice.
This conference also marked my very first Print Competition where my work was scrutinized by a panel of experienced and distinguished judges. Honestly, I didn't do too bad for a rookie who had never seen a print competition before. Out of five prints entered, two were scored as Merit Prints and the other three did pretty good as well...ooooragh!
One of my best friends also lives there in Coeur d'Alene and I was able to spend some time with him and his family. I don't think I could have asked for a better week!

Getting ready for PP of I

This year will be interesting. This will be my first Professional Photographers of Idaho print competition, and quite honestly, it's stressing me out. By nature I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and I know that what I enter is going to be scrutinized to a level that I rarely experience. It's all good, it's a part of perfecting one craft...but trying to put what you feel is best forward is a daunting and humbling experience when you know that the judges are good...really good...and they know what good is. The results...watch the next blog.

Boise Valley Judo

Boise Valley Judo is hosting their 71st annual tournament on March 7th (10am?) at Vallivue Jr. High in Caldwell. In 1937, BVJ founder Maseo Yamashita (8th Dan) brought Judo to the State of Idaho and has been a driving force for the promoting and teaching of Judo all these years. Yamashita Sensai is no longer with us, but his legacy lives on at BVJ. Although technically I'm an inactive member (Nikkyu...2nd degree brown belt), I'm still regarded as part of the family and help out every year by doing some photography for the club around tournament season. I suppose I should go back and finish getting my Shodan (black belt).

Father/Daughter Dance

For the last four years I have had the privilege of being the photographer for the ECC Father/Daughter Ball. It really is somewhat of a charity that I'm involved in every year as the proceeds go to support the ECC mission program which is certainly a good thing.
Outside of that, probably one of the most endearing elements of this events is that it reminds me of why I'm a Portrait Photographer. For the past 4 years I've watched several toddlers become little girls, several little girls become teenagers and several teenagers become young women. How cool is that?

The New Year

It's been an eventful year at the studio. This last fall/winter season marks the 2 busiest quarters in the life of the studio. About the time that the economy got bad, business got good. Hmmmm.....
2008 was the year we launched the website with great results. I labored over the decision of where to host it, and how to host it for months and finally bit the bullet in January. I can't imagine life without one now! It's very much like a retail store on the web.
So what about 2009? I plan to expand my aviation image collection as I'm finding many enthusiasts who really dig pictures of airplanes, and there is a commercial market for aviation images as well. I plan to continue developing the portrait and wedding element of the studio, more equipment, more products and (hopefully) more clients. Stay tuned, more to come....