Hey Mickey

I just wrapped up shooting portraits of a local boxer named Mickey who's turning pro next year. I hung out for his practice, but i wasn't too thrilled with anything that i got, so i tried a few portraits. Mickey was a really nice guy and was much less threatening than he looks in the pictures. I actually though he was so nice, that its hard to actually see him hitting someone. He even hung around after practice and asked me if i need help carrying my equipment. I get to shoot him boxing on Saturday, so well see how that goes. I think we are going to run the first one in the paper, i like the some what mysterious feel that it has to it.

one final detail

I was going back through my edit for work of the pageant stuff and i ran across this image i forgot.

Miss Monroe Pageant

Well, it was an interesting night to say the least. I finished up our papers coverage of the Miss Monroe County Pageant with a look at what goes on backstage during the Pageant. Ive got to say that besides really REALLY bad light, and LOTS self concious women who hate having their picture taken, I actually had a blast. It doesnt sound like a killer assignment when you tell someone that youll be covering a pagaeant, but i was actually pretty excited about it for a while. I dont usually get assignments with lots of emotion built into them but i knew this one would. Overall i think im happy with most of my shots, however, I was really looking for that one storytelling image oaf someone practicing their dance in a hallway alone, or maybe someone praying before they went on. I looked for these moments all night, but i never could find one. Fell free to let me know what pictures you like, or dont like, and what works and what doesnt.

Miss Monroe: Backstage

Here are a couple of features from being backstage at the Miss Monroe Pageant dress rehearsal. I will be shooting the actual pageant all day tomorrow. I really enjoyed shooting the dress rehearsal. The girls were cool with me being there and didn't mind too much me taking pictures. After they got over the fact that i wasn't going to let them strike a pose every time i lifted up my camera. I think the most interesting part of the whole deal was when i walked into the room where they were all eating. They freaked out. A couple of them actually covered up their plates and several more refused to eat if i was taking pictures. One girl covered up the chips on her plate and said her mother would kill her if she saw a photo of chips on her plate. I don't think she was kidding.

More Portraits

I had a freelance assignment with a small farming insurance company to shoot a portrait of a farmer that uses crop insurance. After rescheduling because of bad weather, we finally found a couple of hourse when the weather cleared, to bring out the lights, and shoot some pictures. I started off, as you can tell, doing what i usually do by using one light off to the side. While, it provides decent dramatic light, it gets really old and boring, and i really would like to start adding lights to create that ( and im quoting my friend Dave here) "Super-real" light. Its the kind of lighting that separates the boys form the men. So, i added another light off to the left hand side for 3rd and 4th picture. The last one is natural light, and proof of why it helps to have a way to power your flashes with out plugging them in. It could have been awesome if i could have used the lights in the middle of hs corn field. Oh well.

My lil sis

Two posts ago i posted about taking senior pictures of my cousin. Well, shortly after i took pictures of my sister as well. ( someone who could probably care less about having her picture taken). But it was more for posterity than anything i suppose. My point is, however, that i didnt post a picture on here because i had not edited them yet, and im just now getting around to it.

So, because it took most of my life (and alot of time spent away from form her) to realize just how amazing and important she is to me, here is a pic i shot of her. She's like a little hippie, without the odor. Love ya Sis.

Its Bulls and Blood, its the dust and mud...

I stole the title from a Garth Brooks song from back in the day (were talking late 90's here) when i listened to his music. Anyway, the son is called rodeo and thats what i just got back from shooting.

I have found recently that whatever it is i shoot, i wasn to be closer. I want to be so close to the actioin that i can shoot it with a 16mm lens. Last night, it was the Demolition Derby, and tonight it was the Rodeo. I got there about an hour early and hung out with the riders not really shooting but more just hanging out and joking around with them. When the rodeo started i was able to climb right up onto the top of the chute where the bulls and horse were held before they were released bucking and kicking. I was pretty much right in everyones way, but they were coll with it and volunteered to work aound me with no problem. I even came home with crap on my camera bag. (dont worry Bryan, i cleaned it).


These were my favorites, i couldnt decide which one i liked best. Feedback?

A busy vacation

Its been a while since ive updated and there has been a good reason for that. Ive been on vacation. Not vacation so much as just a 4 day break from working in Monroe and instead shooting senior portraits for my cousin, and the real reason i left in the first place, to shoot Amy and Nathan's wedding in Bowling Green. I think i drove 1,200 miles in about 4 days, but it was definately woth it. I got to spent time with my family who i havent seen all summer, and i got to spent time with friends in Bowling Green, like the good ole days.


The wedding was beautiful . Not just beacuse of the scenery, but because Amy and Nathan are probably the sweetest couple i have ever known. Here are a few of my favorite images from their wedding.






My cousin posing for her senior portrait. I told my aunt that if she made me take a picture of her sitting on a rock or by a tree, i would quit. I think there isnt too much about this that screams typical senior portrait.