Lovely East Coast storm weather, springtime.

The thunder and lightning has been incredible.  So nice to get a little storm each and every day of the past week.  Makes me feel alive!!

Word of the Day:  Fulmini:  Italian for ‘lightning’.

Contest Winner – Applied Arts – Bailey Western Hats

I’m very honored to be named a Winner of the Applied Arts Photo & Illustration Annual Contest in the Fashion Category:

http://www.appliedartsmag.com/winners_details.php?id=75&year=2013&headerName=h_awards_winners_photography&clip=1

Chiaro Scuro – New York Photo Exhibit

My work is going to be exhibited in New York next week at Fig. 19 Gallery, as part of a group show for a special and close-to-my-heart charity, The ReesSpecht Foundation.

I created these new images over the past couple of months, in working through some challenging life experiences.  I was working with the name “Chiaro Scuro” – the old art-history term used to describe the use of strong contrast between light and dark.  I not only applied this theme in the photography and lighting, but it was very representative of the subject matter.  Exploring themes of duality, reflection, anger and helplessness, these are a few of the pieces of the ever-growing body of personal work.

I will be in attendance for the opening reception at 6:30pm, Thursday May 23rd at Fig. 19 Gallery in the Lower East Side of NY.  131 Chrystie St., NYC.  The exhibit runs from May 23rd to June 6th. Hope to see you there!

Makeup/Hair:  Melanie Manson

Styling:  Mike Sam

Sharp Magazine editorial released

The editorial I shot of the Lone Wolf character on ‘The Frontier’ was released this week in Sharp’s Book for Men.

Click on the image to see the full PDF story.

Model:  Chris Tschupp, Ford Models LA.

Bailey Western Hats Horse-Back Camping

It was quite incredible that I moved to California and discovered horses.  I was very fortunate to have met a couple great movie cowboys (well, they were definitely real-deal cowboys.  They just happened to work in the picture business).  So they taught me to ride and allowed me to photograph them endlessly.  This became a 12-year hobby and passion, and fortunately even brought a few jobs my way.

A few months ago I shot the new catalogue for Bailey Western Hats Fall 2013.  This season, we took the cowboys (and cowgirl!) out on a camping trip.   Complete with campfire, sibley tent and a seasoned motion-picture-star horse, we had a great day in the foothills of Altadena in Millard Canyon.  Oh the smell and taste of campfire eggs is truly unparalleled.

Models:  Danny Smith, Vision Models and Jamie, Photogenics

Makeup:  Melanie Manson

Styling:  Mike Sam

Sharp Ghost Town

The desert is a magical, yet unrelenting place.  I love it.  Back in January I shot this men’s fashion editorial for Sharp Magazine.  Shot out near Joshua Tree, this is a little gem of a location.  The full editorial will soon be published and I will send a link to the actual story when it is released, but these are some of the out-takes and  location photos.   The earth looks like Mars, the wind sounds like music and the gods seem to be watching you.

Grooming by Bethany Colson

Styling by Luke Langsdale

Scouting today in Nashville

Found this bird in a window:

A homeless man’s squat:

And this great face of the caretaker: