Joe & Greta.

Wedding season is coming up fast, and for a photographer that means right now is engagement photo season. Just had a shoot last night with our friends Joe and Greta. We headed out to the campground at Big Rock County Park just outside of Washburn to get these images. For anyone that's never been there make sure to get out there this spring, it's absolutely beautiful. Great light. Watch for more photos from Joe and Greta's wedding later in the season.

Claire Duquette-Ashland Daily Press

 

Over the last four years or so, I've worked with Claire Duquette, editor of the Ashland Daily Press, on a relatively regular basis. I submit the occasional photo, she throws me the occasional assignment. It's a good system. In a recent conversation, Claire mentioned that her headshot was getting a little out of date. So we set up a time to shoot something new. This was a simple, one-light set up in the press room at the ADP, an iconic "newspaper" setting. If you were going to run into somewhere and yell "Stop the Presses," this room is where you would want to do that. I have to resist that urge every time I walk through there. Anyway, start to finish the whole shoot took about 12 minutes, most of which was setup and tear-down, but the end result is a few great images that Claire can use next to her byline. I love these kinds of shoots: simple setup, quick turn-around, great final product. And it didn't hurt that Claire bought me lunch afterwards. Anyone else out there need a new headshot? Call me.

Canoe & Kayak Magazine-Gail Green

This is Gail Green of Living Adventure, Inc. I photographed Gail for Canoe & Kayak Magazine earlier this winter, but I couldn't share the images here until they ran in print. It just appeared in the recent Beginners Guide issue as a two page spread featuring Gail as one of the premier guides in the country. It looked pretty sweet, and congratulations to Gail for the recognition. They actually used a slightly different image for the article, but this is my favorite. I love the water droplets in the air.

Not only is Gail a great guide, turns out she's a great subject too. We were scrambling to get this image before the ice came in this fall and, despite a crazy schedule, Gail found the time to don a dry suit and get out in a boat for these photos. I was shooting from in the water for these, floating in the lake in a dry suit the morning after the first big snow storm of the year. It actually wasn't as cold as I was expecting it to be, but I couldn't wear gloves and still access the controls on the camera. So I would get in the water, shoot a couple frames, climb out, warm up my hands, and get back in for a couple more. Gail was super patient, staying in her boat while I fumbled around, just waiting for me to get the right shot. Special thanks also to Gail's husband, Grant Herman, who held the light stand for me and helped me get equipment (and myself) up and down the icy boat ramp.

I love these sorts of assignments. Fun stuff to shoot. I'm still sitting on a few images from a couple other magazine assignments, just waiting for those issues to come out so I can show them here. Watch for more.

Embellishments-Wedding Dress Shoot.

 A quick frame from a wedding dress shoot for Embellishments Bridal and Gift in Ashland, Wisconsin. Thanks to Karen for the use of a beautiful dress for this shoot. I think we managed to keep it pretty clean, all things considered. Those that read this blog regularly will remember the model; I shot Tatiana's senior portraits early this fall. She did a great job on this shoot too. It's apparently becoming tradition that I ask Tatiana to do ridiculous things for photos. "Here stand in these mosquito infested woods and try to look happy while they suck out almost every drop of blood you have." "Okay, try to keep the train up while you walk out on the ice towards these pilings and, oh yeah, try to look warm." Bizarre as it may be, she guts it out and the photos seem to turn out pretty darn good. Watch for this and some other new images to start popping up in a few places around the area. More to come.

This man makes bad choices. And not just about ties.

 

This is Phil Baker. Phil makes bad choices, and not just about which tie to wear. Phil was one of the attendees at Governor Walkers dinner at the Steak Pit in Washburn, Wisconsin on Saturday, March 12. The invitation only event, as I understand it, brought Phil and about 100 other significant local GOP financial backers together to hear the Governor and Sean Duffy speak. This is how I know Phil makes bad decisions. His dollars (and presumably his vote) are supporting an agenda that will destroy Wisconsin's future. He's undercutting education, local government, health care and a myriad of other efforts Wisconsinites have worked hard to put in place. So if you see Phil, or any of the other folks shown below, calmly and politely tell them you don't like what they're doing. Tell them to support the people of Wisconsin, not the corporate agenda. Tell them education is the key to a prosperous future for the people of Wisconsin, and that includes them. Don't swear, don't argue, don't threaten. Just tell them you don't like what they're doing and walk away.

Rick Fraatz

Diane Morrison

Unknown (If you know who this is, let me know)

Unknown

Boat Builder.

This, my friends, is JW Swan Boatworks. And that's old JW Swan himself at work right there in the middle of it all (although he prefers to go by Josh). I've done a few shoots for Josh in the past couple years to document projects that he's working on. Always fun to catch up and see what he's doing. Josh never half-asses anything and it shows, he does absolutely beautiful work. These are a few frames from the first shoot in a series of four. The goal is to document his progress on the restoration of a 27ft racing sailboat. Can't wait to stop back in a few weeks for the next shoot and see how much more is done. This boat is going to be amazing when it's finished. Watch for more.

Taste.

A food photography showcase.

Taste. Issue 1:

Food photography is complicated. It’s more than just taking snapshots. Great food photography is an art; it captures all the subtleties of a dish. It combines texture, form, and color to create tantalizing images that grab a viewers attention. Any great chef will tell you that plating and presentation— the visual aspects of a meal— are a key component to success.

 

The web is cool. It's fast. It's convenient. Plus, they tell me it's very "hip" with the kids these days. But it's still not the same as print-- real live ink on paper. I love print. I love the colors, the texture of the paper. I love the smell. There's a permanence to print that the web will never have. Print lives on your coffee table, on your night stand, in the basket next to the toilet. It waits with you during a long layover at the airport in Newark, New Jersey. That's why I'm starting to publish some work through MagCloud. This one is mostly for promotional purposes, but keep an eye out for some other more "artsy" offerings in the near future, including a special edition magazine release of my black and white series, {Body}, that was on display at StageNorth last year. Alright, keep it real out there people.

Direction.

It's finally starting to feel like a new year. I know, I know, it's officially been 2011 for more than two months now, but it's finally starting to feel like it, at least for me. As the days get longer and the sun starts shining brighter, I'm actually starting to believe that the promise of spring really is just around the corner; it seemed so unlikely. It's been a hard winter here. We're ready for spring, for something new and green and alive.

I'm also ready for a new direction in my work, a new kind of focus. Last year was incredible in a lot of ways. I was busy all the time. I travelled all over the country for photos. I shot jobs on the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coasts, not to mention the beautiful shores of Lake Superior. I don't even know how many thousand miles I covered to do it, but, simply put, it was a lot. Maybe too much. I want this year to be different.

This year I want to work more in this community. And not because I don't want to travel. I love traveling. I want to do more work here because this is the community where I live. I want to see this area be successful. I'll admit that's partly for selfish reasons, but I'm not sure that's bad. I want the businesses here to flourish, I want the people here to have good jobs and make a decent living. I want this to be a place that rises up from an economic downturn to find a new, more stable economy based on a local market, not distant Wall Street. And I see ways that I can help to make that happen.

I'm not saying that a few good pictures and some graphic design will make this area into a bustling metropolis. In fact, even if they could, I'd rather they didn't. But I am saying that I want to focus more of my energy here. I want my work to have an impact on the people and businesses I see everyday, not just cities and people somewhere else. I'm not sure what that all means yet, but I'm figuring it out. And for starters it means meeting more people here. If you own a business in this area, send me an e-mail, call me, meet me for coffee. Let's talk about what we can do together. It couldn't hurt.

 

The Daily Press-Day in the Life Project.

On February 17th the Ashland Daily Press did a project called a "Day in the Life". The idea is to have 24 hours of coverage that day. Teams of reporters and photographers canvas the community collecting stories and images from everyday life on that day in history. Eventually, the results are published in several consecutive weekend editions of the paper and then collected in a bound book. They do this every ten years. It's pretty cool to look back at past editions and get a snapshot of life in Ashland in 2001 and 1991. People dressed weird back then, good thing we're all normal now right?

Anyway, the Press hired me out for a 12 hour shift on the 17th. I was on with reporter Daniel Kaeding from midnight until noon shooting photos to go along with Daniel's interviews. And let me tell you there are some characters out in the middle of the night. In all honesty though, we met some really cool people. Long story short, there is way more going on in the middle of the night than I ever realized. I can't tell you much more than that until our section runs in the paper, but make sure to pick up the special editions of the Daily Press on March 19, 26, and April 2. I can promise you there's going to be some cool stuff in there.

As a little teaser, Claire Duquette, editor of the Ashland Daily Press, is letting me a run a couple images here on the blog. This was our first stop of the night after leaving the Daily Press Office. We didn't make it far, just down the hall in fact. This is the night shift team in the newspaper's press room, printing the papers for February 17. They scramble in the middle of the night to get the news off the press and bundled so the delivery guys can have it on your doorstep bright and early. Just a few of the people working through the wee hours of the night to make your morning a little better. Check out more on March 19 when the first special edition hits the racks.

Another Goodbye.

 

For the second time this week, I've been searching through my archive for photos of a friend that passed away. Rick Fairbanks lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on the morning of Tuesday, February 22, 2011 surrounded by his family in their home. If you're a regular reader of this blog you'll remember this post from earlier this fall: www.hiredlens.com/blog/2010/10/8/sponsor-a-paddler.html. I will always cherish the time that I shared paddling with Rick and learning to love the Lake in the same way he did. It was truly an honor to know him.

Memorial Services will be held for Rick on Friday and Saturday at Saron Lutheran in Ashland, Wisconsin. The Friday service will be held at 5 p.m. and will include prayer and sharing of stories. Saturday at 9 a.m. the family will be at the church for visitation and a formal funeral service will be held at 10 followed immediately by a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall in the basement of Saron Lutheran. All are welcome.

Saying Goodbye.

The problem with knowing incredible people is that sometimes they go away. And the vacuum that's left behind when they go is immense, and painful. I spent yesterday morning searching through my old photos for images of a friend who recently passed away. This is easily the worst part of being a photographer. In the last several years, Bjorn Norgaard ended up in front of my lens over and over. He was a skier, a dedicated environmentalist, and above all a loving friend with a kind soul. He always greeted the world, and me, with a warm smile.

Early on the morning of February 20, 2011, Bjorn was killed in a hit-and-run while skiing on Chequamegon Bay. The details of the accident are tragic and unclear, many questions remain, but the one certainty in the midst of that confusion is that Bjorn will be sorely missed. The world has lost a great presence, and we are all poorer for it. As I mourn his departure, my thoughts and prayers go out to his parents, his family, and all of his friends (of which there are many). In this sorrow, at least know that he touched more lives than you can ever imagine. We'll see you later on, Bjorn.

Races at Mt Ashwabay.

Covered the Ski and Snow board Races for Mt Ashwabay. There were some really talented young riders out there. I think pretty much everyone, including the middle school teams, would have put me to shame. To avoid the embarrassment, I opted to walk the hill instead. It was pretty inspirational to watch some of the racers though, I always like watching people push their limits.

For me and the camera it was also an exercise in pushing the limits of cold. Other than the usual cold fingers, I had the same problem as last time where the auto-focus started to freeze. Even before it stops working all together it lags behind a little and I start to get out of focus images. I ended up shooting in manual focus for a while, but that's awfully hard with athletes moving that fast. I need to find a better way to keep that from happening. Other than keeping it in my coat between shots (which is mucho inconvenient), I'm not sure what else to do. Is it crazy to make a sweater for your camera? Hmmm. Anyway, a couple more from the races:

 

Photography Workshop.

 

Taught my first photography workshop on Saturday at the Bretting Community Center in Ashland. Thanks to everyone that came and made it a great class. Special Thanks to Jason McCarthy and the BCC for putting it together. I definitely owe Jason a nice cold beer for all his work pulling strings to make this happen. This being the first workshop I've taught in this format, I was little nervous to see how it would go, but everything came off without a hitch. Of course, it didn't hurt to have a class full of fun people to work with; everyone was super laid back. Better yet, it seemed like most everyone actually got something out of it, so I think it sounds like we're going to do some more events like this. If you're interested watch for another beginner level course sometime in the near future, and hopefully an intermediate level program later in the spring. As the weather gets nicer the goal is to teach these classes outside, which should be way more fun. Can't wait to teach another one. Keep it real out there people.

More from Mt. Ashwabay.

 

Here are a few more promotional images shot for Mt. Ashwabay Ski and Recreation Area. This is an on going project for me this winter. And a great excuse to get out on the hill myself, but I'm still getting used to skiing with a pack full of camera gear. There's something about carrying a bag full delicate/expensive equipment that makes you choose really conservative lines of descent. Weird how that works. Watch for more as the season goes on.

P.S. I'm still looking for those high school Juniors that want a Winter Senior Portrait. Anybody ready? Give me call (262) 305-9187. Or send an e-mail to hiredlens@gmail.com.

 

Special Olympics.

Dressed up nice and warm Saturday morning to shoot some photos for the 2010 Special Olympics hosted by Mt. Ashwabay Ski and Recreation Area. It was a great morning; not too cold, but still definitely winter. About 30 athletes made it out for the event with some teams coming from as far away as Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to compete. Races included 50M, 100M, and 500M snowshoe races as well as 500M, 1K, and 3K cross country ski events. It was smiles all around from the coaches and athletes all day. Pretty fun. Check back in the next few days for a Flickr account with all the photos from the event.

 

Winter Senior Portraits or "How to be cooler than everyone else in your senior class."

Okay, everyone knows that you get your senior portraits shot during the summer (or maybe the fall, if you put it off all summer and then need to squeeze it in last minute before the photo deadline). But why? Is summer everyone's favorite season? Probably not. There must be a current high school junior out there somewhere who loves winter. Then why not get your senior portrait taken in winter? Are you a skier, a snowboarder, a snowmobiler? Do you just have a totally kick-ass winter wardrobe that makes you look awesome in the snow? Whatever the reason give me a call. I've been eye-balling some great places to shoot portraits in the winter, all I need is a few subjects. Book a shoot before February 28, and get 10% off the package price. This is the perfect way to set yourself apart. Do something different. Isn't that the whole idea anyway?

New Year.

 

It's 2011 and I've already had the first shoot of the new year. Got a call from my friend Joe at Mt. Ashwabay Ski and Recreation Area on New Years day asking if I could shoot some promotional photos the next morning. (Sidenote: I'd never been out on their cross-country ski trails before. If you nordic or skate ski check it out- great terrain, well-groomed, no crowds.) The morning of the 2nd turned out to be a beautiful morning, but ridiculously cold. The autofocus motor in one of the lenses actually froze solid. Had to stick it inside my coat until it started moving again. Amazing blue ski though, and the frost on the trees was absolutely incredible. Since Joe talked me into getting up early to take photos in the cold, I talked him into putting on some skis and being a model for me. That's Joe in the second photo carving a few tele turns for the camera (How do you like the depth of field in that one, Joe?). I'm going to shoot a few more things for Mt. Ashwabay through out the season, so keep your eyes peeled for more.

FACEBOOK.

Well, I did it. I took a flying leap into the fast-paced world of something called "social media" and started a Hired Lens Photography page on Facebook. Have you heard of Facebook? Apparently, it's kind of a big deal with the kids these days. Who knew? Anyway, if you happen to be on the cutting edge of technology, like myself, you can sign in and "Like" the Hired Lens Photography page. Then you'll get posts about shoots, sales and promotional events (I have a couple cool ideas up my sleeve for the new year that you're not going to want to miss), and you can get stirring updates about what I happen to be doing at any moment in time like "Hired Lens Photography is now drinking coffee." Or "Hired Lens Photography is cleaning his camera." Or "Hired Lens Photography is wrestling an alligator. And losing." All likely scenarios. Alright everyone, now get out there and "Like" me. Here's that link again: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hired-Lens-Photography/183620948316362