11.18.2009

Hows about a cold Beer?

I have been doing a Photo/ Drinking project that I have been calling 52 Beers in 52 Weeks.  Check out the link for the story and the reviews, but here are the photos from the first three beers/weeks.  Look for bigger productions and some how to's and set up shots in the future, please send comment or questions.  







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Wonder why I nerver shared these?




I am not sure why I never shared these with you. Here is quick session we had at the Sunkist packing plant in Fillmore.  Pat Beckley is a sic skater from Ventura, CA and we got our shot and beat it.















This scene is so surreal to me.  This contraption offers a lot of control and makes you feel like you are flying. Click Here to Read More..

11.14.2009

Live Music Photos

Paul Miller with Vegas Crimes invited me out to the Gothic to shoot the band and enjoy the show.  Here are a few selects.



Band:  Lola Black

Photo:  Conk


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11.08.2009

Denver Urbans



Here is a bit of graffiti that is inspiring some more urban style work from me.  This is a three image pan; working with multiple images allows for greater overall image and detail quality  I will be working with multiple image compositions more and more, but not just in the panorama format.  You can expect to see some diptecs and triptecs as well as collages.  I also have a few other ideas that I look forward to  experimenting with that I am not yet going to discuss here, but you will see when the time is right.
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10.31.2009

10.30.2009

SnowReports Moves to Denver


I have made my way across the desert west to the Rockies of Colorado to make my home.  This isn't  my first time living in Colorado, but Denver is a new city to me and I see my new Colorado with a fresh set of eyes.  I am eager to return to all that the mountains have to offer from fishing to hiking, 4x4 to snowboarding, mountain biking and endless opportunities for photography and travel throughout the state.  I have been here for nearly a month and Denver has already seen three snow storms, our last being the largest at two days and nearly 15" of snow.
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10.04.2009

Movin

On the go once again!  Made it to Bryce, Moab and now to Vail.  Stopped by some of my favorite eateries and am chillin with some good friends.  Here are a few rad images from the cruise.

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9.25.2009

Sunset at the Point

Here are a few quick images from this evening's sunset.



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9.24.2009

Rincon

I took an awesome coastal hike in Carpenteria, CA overlooking Rincon.  I did not bring my camera bag, but I did have a point and shoot.  Here are a few of the images from the sunset hike.














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9.10.2009

Anyone like Spyders

I found a spiders stretched across our drive way, I think he means business.














Does anyone know what kind of spider this is?
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ButterFly Nebula

Amazing photo of the day on a rad Astronomy website.  Checkout the Nebula.

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9.09.2009

Daily Dose of Links.

Here are a few quick links to keep your appetite under control.  

 3o dates with 30 Hotties.- a commical look at dating.
Design/Inspiration/Tech- always posting ridiculously cool ideas.  Lots of a creatives here.  
Big Picture-this site always has amazing images for current events.
Jermey Jones winter storm predictions here-  Jermey is one of the best big mountain riders

Here are some more Photography driven links.
Platon- definitely a classic
Anthony Ghiglia   -a good friend and amazing surf and travel photog
Gallen Rowell  -  one of my favorite landscape artist.  
Strobist-  a cool site full of information on adding flash photography into your bag of tricks.

I hope that you find these links entertaining and inspiring.  Please feel free to share any cool sites that you check out.


CONK



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9.05.2009

The Opinionated Diner Food Review 2

When I find a restaurant that far exceeds or fails to meet my expectations, I feel compelled to share my experience in a restaurant review.  In this installment of THE OPIniONATED DINER I visited the Wine Cave at Ventura Wine Company.  

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Jerry's Deli

Here is a quick food review of Jerry's Deli found just off the highway in Mission Viejo.

Natalie and I traveled south to DelMar to enjoy a day at the races and see some old friends in San Diego. We both have our favorite eateries throughout SD and we like to make it a priority to visit one or two each time we return, but this time we stumbled onto a deli, just off the highway in Mission Viejo, as we raced home late for work.


Jerry's Deli is a little NY style deli is tucked back in the corner of a small strip mall, the quintessential local secret. I found it to be a little bit of sandwich heaven. For my taste, a great sandwich always starts with awesome bread and is filled with only the best quality meats, cheeses and veggies. This place had it all from a perfectly crusty baguette to the softest squaw as well as some home cooked roast beef and hand prepared meatballs.

I ordered the house prepared roast beef, upon the shop owners recommendation, only to find that it was prepared to a perfect med-rare and layered on squaw bread and topped with lettuce, tomato, onion and just enough mustard to complete this perfectly simple and delicious sandwich. My lady opted for the other house specialty, the meatball sandwich. This sandwich started with a hunk of baguette that was just crusty and firm enough to stand up to a "wet" sandwich, but soft enough to not overpower the delicate textures of the home-made meatballs or make work out of chewing. They topped the meatballs with their house made tomato sauce and then provolone cheese before it was toasted momentarily to melt the cheese and complete this dime of a sandwich. Simple and delicious.

Stumbling onto a great find of an eatery or sandwich shop is always welcomed, but to do it by chance, on the road, as you race north up a freeway and select an off ramp at random makes the find almost seem like destiny. I hope that anyone traveling through Mission Viejo has the opportunity to tryout this hidden gem just off the Highway 5 at Crown Valley Pkwy.








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8.15.2009

Snow

















































I have made the decision, with my precious Natalie, to make the move back to the Rockies.  I am stoked to return to the rivers and crags, the meadows and snow covered peaks, brooks, streams and raging rapids.  I am in love with the Wild Colorado and am eager to make the transition back to such beauty and adventure.
  Here are a few images from my years in Colorado, I can't wait to return.

CONK

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Interior Real Estate Photography

 I have been recently doing a project with lighting interiors of real estate that are currently for sale.  It has been shown that great photos can seriously stimulate buyers emotions when it comes to letting there guards down.  Checkout this image of a bedroom.  I will post a point and shoot image below that you would likely see in a for sale brochure and you can compare them and see for yourself.





































This is the point and shoot version.
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8.06.2009

Wedding in Santa Cruz


Natalie and I recently made the drive up the coast from Ventura to Santa Cruz to catch up with old friends and see them joined in matrimony.  Being amongst the tall trees is both humbling and spiritual and I can't imagine a better place to make a lifelong commitment to your best friend.

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8.05.2009

Flying through the neighborhood.
























Natalie is a pilot and she likes to take me for flights. Here is a look at our hood from 3000ft. My house is the one with the red X on the roof.

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Everyone appreciates a great Sunset.













Here is a favorite landmark in Ventura CA. Two trees and a gorgeous California sunset.
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X Games back in LA.

I haven't been to the X Games since they were in San Diego in 98. I am living back in Cali for a bit and made it down to the Staple Center for some of the gnarliness.  I arrived without a ticket but my camera and a few lenses in a brown paper bag in hand.  A little resourcefulness and I am in.  $20 for box seats is a pretty sweet deal. For me, I find that getting in with  your camera is so much of the challenge.  This was a super casual evening for me as far as shooting was concerned.  Check out some of the images I was able to capture without evening leaving my seat. Oh yeah, big ups to the people who let me into their box for the event! Awesome! 








































































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7.19.2009

Lee Koch Live at the Historic Ventura Theatre

I pretty much jump at the chance to hear certain musicians play, Lee Koch is on the those special artists. When I had met Lee in passing early in the week, I learned that he would be opening for Greg Alman that coming Friday. " I'll shoot, help me get in!"

One week later, a few smiles and shakes of hands and I am receiving my photo wristband and I'm in like Flynn. Here are a few selects from that night. Enjoy and get out to hear Lee Thursday nights at Watermark.





















































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7.14.2009

Portrait of Lee Koch

Ventura's music scene is real rich right now and one of Ventura's hugest music scene supporters and awesome musician gave me the opportunity to photograph him for a personal project.



Lee Koch hosts a weekly music experience at Watermark on Main in Ventura, CA, where he invites some of his best musician colleagues and friends to play in an open casual club on the third floor of the restaurant. Although he is always inviting an eclectic menagerie of merry musician, Lee always has his harp with him and can put on an awesome show himself. For anyone who has the opportunity to see Lee and Friends, make it to W2O on the third floor of the Watermark on Main in Ventura every Thursday evening. Click Here to Read More..

7.10.2009

Take a BIG First Bite

My photography has taken me in many directions over the years but has always been about the stuff I love. My latest project has been working with artificial light on location with both large and small strobes. This is a chance for me to photograph one of my favorite things, FOOD. I have worked a bit with food in the past but I am always up for a good challenge. I worked with a restaurant in Ventura, CA for my project. Shannon Rice at The Watermark on Main hooked me up with a few sexy plates and some space to shoot. One of the plates was a light summery and delicious salad. The second and more challenging plate was a rack of lamb. We shot a smaller plate and it turned out looking , mmmmmmm. I was stoked with the lighting but would like to fine tune some of the food styling elements and dial in some go to compositions and backgrounds. Look for more to come, we will take a glance back at a few images from earlier this year as well as creating skate, music, food and beverage images, with snowboarding images to come with the snow.





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