Ice Time In The Off Season

”You do dat, you go to da box, you know, uh, two minutes by yourself, and you feel shame, you know, and then you get free.” - Denis from SlapShot

Final ads from this summer's Bauer shoot via Olson were just received - a couple of selects are featured below. The ads were shot in Atlantic City, NJ this past July at Bauer's "2009 Athlete Camp." Bauer brought in over 20 top NHL players they are partnered with for two days of apparel / product shooting both on and off the ice.

I spent the first of the two days shooting in a locker room environment- fabricated inside a hotel conference room. Five lockers were taken from the Philiadelpha Flyers locker room and trucked to Atlantic City for this shoot. It was tough to visualize how this would look in our early pre-pro meetings. Once on site, all came together quite nicely. One of the locker room scenes I was tasked to capture involved atheletes working with (taping, flexing, etc.) Bauer's latest addition to the stick market - the Vapor X:60.

Check out Bauer's new site- it features dozens of shots from projects I've worked on over the past few years. If you care to go deeper check out the Bauer Blog, specifically the November 16th post where you'll see behind the scenes footage from this summer's shoot.

Happy holidays to all who happen upon the blog. Thanks for checking in from time to time and of course best to come for all in 2010...

Ice Time In The Off Season

In the still of the night...

"They say that nobody is perfect. Then they tell you practice makes perfect. I wish they'd make up their minds." - Wilt Chamberlain

A slower pace is what I associate with trips to the deep south. For me it’s a welcome change when I am visiting my retired in-laws near Lafayette, LA (the childhood home of my Mother-in-law). One evening while driving with my five-year-old son Wes, we happened upon a game of street basketball near the campus of USL (University of Southern Louisiana). The game suggested anything but the aforementioned pace. Arms flying about, the squeaky sound of soles on worn pavement, and a flurry of ball handling captivated us both. I pulled out my camera to grab a few frames as Wes sat beside me.

Editing the images weeks later I am reminded of the sights and sounds -- the rhythm of the players interspersed with the empty metal gong from a missed attempt; a court tired and worn-surely to have been replaced in most other parts. The experience altogether nicely summarizes what I look forward to when traveling to this part of the country; unpolished living that may lack in luster, but as a result makes living seem all the more richer.

In the still of the night...

"This could be the year..." -> Purina

"Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." - George Eliot

As you may recall from previous posts I photographed two dog shows for Purina via Colle+McVoy near the beginning of this year. At long last, I received several of the final print ads featuring imagery from the Palm Springs, CA show. I'm always curious to see the final ads and how the images were worked into the campaign as a whole. On that note, I am very pleased with how things all came together - concept + design + imagery. The project was right in line with my desired approach; working "off-leash," if you will, roaming alongside the A.D. amidst one of the most visual backdrops I've been hired to shoot against.

Thanks again to Colle+McVoy and Purina for bringing me on for this; great people (and dogs) all around.

"This could be the year..." -> Purina

Un Jour dans la vie d'un coureur...

"Run hard, be strong, think big." - Percy Cerutty

In the early morning light a lone runner sets out across an unforgiving landscape. The crew and I worked to capture the intensity of a serious runner in action set amid varied urban landscapes. The test was originally scheduled for early October, but due to the nature of both projects and inclement weather it was continually postponed. November and October seem to have traded places here in Minneapolis, and with a stretch of ideal fall weather, we hustled to get the running shoot back on the schedule. To broaden the post-shoot possibilities, we invited a video crew comprised of Jules Ameel and Alex Horner to gather matching film content alongside the stills I was gathering. It was great partnering with these guys and I'm anxious to see what the final merging of medias will yield.

Once again I cannot say enough how collaboration both renews and inspires creativity. Check out the “archive” section of the website to see additional imagery. Thanks again to the talent and the crew who were a part of this project.

Un Jour dans la vie d'un coureur...

Paula Gren Representatives + JCP

You may have heard I've recently partnered with Paula Gren Representatives and couldn't be more pleased with this collaboration and the road that lay ahead.

"Paula Gren Representatives is a boutique agency representing some of the top US lifestyle, location and portrait photographers. Established in 1997, the company has produced print ad campaigns for clients including: Nike, Bank of America, US Army, Pfizer, Novartis, AT&T and Visa. The company has offices in New York, Boston and San Francisco."

I look forward to continually refining my work while tapping Paula's insight and experience. In addition to an award winning roster of photographers, Paula offers a truly fresh approach to matching creatives with photographers.

Things have been moving forward nicely and I look forward to a continuation of this on an even broader level. Take a look at their new site and follow the the daily haps via their "hype" link...

Paula Gren Representatives + JCP

Mr. Budd in Memphis, after hours...

I was pleased to learn of another visit to Memphis last week - this time shooting at the Target House for Target's RED Magazine via Minneapolis based Little & Company.

Looking for something a bit different from the typical Beale Street haunts our Memphis based assistant, Peter Budd, recommended we check out Ernestine and Hazel's. A building of this vintage in a legendary city such as Memphis was certain to have a story or two within the walls. Through conversation with locals we learned the bar and grill has weaved in and out of Memphis history as a bar, a dry goods store, and in a more notorious fashion a brothel. Aside from the sordid past of Ernestine & Hazel's, which I'd highly recommend visiting with camera in hand, we discovered an interesting location just a few buildings down. A single flood light revealed a former store front turned grassy vacant lot with the remains of an old tile floor peering through. It seemed a place worthy of unpacking the tri-pod for a few shots including a self-portrait.

Thanks once again to Peter Budd for his work behind camera as well as his after hours role as unconventional tour guide. I always welcome a chance to learn a bit more about the "deep" in the deep south.

This week has a trip to Fargo N.D. in the works for an editorial project. Will work to tap the visual eccentricities a bit closer to home this time, something "deep" other than snow...

Mr. Budd in Memphis, after hours...

Time Out At Temple U. In The Heart of Philly. . .

Following up on the previous post, our second stop for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) took us to the heart of Philadelphia with Temple University's Head Football coach Al Golden. We met at the teams office near campus then took to the weight rooms and field with the coach and players. A video crew interviewed Coach Golden about his involvement in organizing and participating in NMDP drives for new donors. Following in the footsteps of Villanova's head coach Andy Talley, Coach Golden has been instrumental in promoting donor awareness among his athletes and the African American population at Temple.

This week has us off to Memphis for another shoot for Target via Minneapolis based Little & Co.

Time Out At Temple U. In The Heart of Philly. . .

Sunday Morning in Atlanta

"What do you think when you hear the word “church?” Whatever comes to mind, we can guarantee that Atlanta Metropolitan Cathedral (AMC) will revolutionize your definition." - Bishop Flynn Johnson-Pastor

Flying out of Minneapolis on a recent Saturday afternoon bound for Atlanta, GA I was gearing up for a shoot for the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). Our first leg began Sunday morning, a sermon at the Atlanta Metropolitan Cathedral featuring Bishop Flynn Johnson and a full house of the reverent. It was an experience beyond expectation, another amazing one to add to the people / places my camera has provided access to. As I traveled the aisles, weaving in and out of pews, within arms reach of the vocal talent up on stage, the cathedral was electric with energy; the congregation on their feet, arms out, intensity from beginning to end.

As the Bishop Flynn Johnson said in the quote above, my definition of "church" has been revolutionized. Flynn has been instrumental in recruiting many in the congregation to donate bone marrow. The African American population has traditionally been under represented in the NMDP's registry.

Stay tuned for an additional post from this project for NMDP which after Atlanta took us on to both Philly & Richmond.

Sunday Morning in Atlanta

"Without A Trace"

The month of October marks the 20th anniversary of the abduction of 11 year old Jacob Wetterling. In remembrance, Minnesota Monthly interviewed the Wetterlings along with several others who were involved in the initial investigation to solve the mysterious disappearance.

Revisiting the evening of October 22, 1989, Patty and Jerry showed me the exact location where their son Jacob had been abducted. The scene was a country road near the wetterling's home in St. Joseph, about 1 1/2 hours outside the Minneapolis area, and seems mostly unchanged from 20 years ago. Although there have been several promising leads, Jacob has not been found nor his abductor identified.

As a direct result of this incident, the Wetterlings created the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center; a non-profit organization. Through Patty's lobbying efforts, many states now have child offender registries and a national offender database was created after the passing of the Jacob Wetterling Act by Congress in 1994

In spite of the Wetterling's plight, they have continued their efforts over two decades to find Jacob, and simultaneously have helped other children from undergoing the same fate. I am thankful to Brian Johnson at Minnesota Monthly for bringing me on for this piece, as well as the Wetterlings for their gracious time revisiting the story and site of this tragedy.

"Without A Trace"

An afternoon with the symphony

I wasn’t expecting my first opportunity to catch a performance by the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra would come about with camera in hand. Kat Dalager, of Campbell Mithun, called with a project for Fiserv “provider of technology solutions to the financial world.” The shot was to fit in line with existing campaign imagery highlighting the orange square within Fiserv’s logo as the “hero” in the scene. In this instance it was the music stand within the orchestra setting.

Art directed by Wendy Hanson, and produced by Humble Monkey Productions, all the elements came together quite nicely. The members of the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra were more than generous with their time, despite it being quite warm and their being dressed in full performance attire. They even gave us a few abbreviated performances.

The last part of the shoot had the orchestra members moving out into the seats acting as symphony patrons. We shot multiple frames of them grouped together in all areas which, when layered together, provided the look and feel of a full house of spectators. Retoucher Brad Palm put the finishing touches on the ad and as you can see the before and after shots tell the story of how the final pieces came together.

An afternoon with the symphony

Brother Ali -> Director's Cut

This past June I had the opportunity to spend a couple of days behind the scenes capturing still + video content with hip-hop artist Brother Ali, producer Ant, and friends. These studio sessions became part of Brother Ali's latest album "US," which is releasing worldwide today. Rhymesayers created a trailer for the album a little over a month ago on YouTube and it is fast approaching 100,000 views.

To coincide with today's album release I am happy to present an updated "Director's Cut," version which includes additional JCP footage to include a still collage at the end as well as design elements from Nathan Strandberg of EightHourDay. Thanks to Ben Cohen, Nathan Strandberg, Jules Ameel, and John Fontana for your contributions to this piece as well. Spread the word and check out the album today...

Brother Ali -> Director's Cut

Twin Cities Polo Club

The summer months have kept us running with some really nice projects allowing us to collaborate with a variety of new clients. We’ve been trying to carve out time for some testing / personal shooting for my book. A while back we heard that Minneapolis has a polo club and immediately knew this would likely offer a rich array of potential options. My colleague John got in contact with the Twin Cities Polo Club and arranged for us to take in a practice on a recent Thursday evening. The polo grounds are located about an hour outside of Minneapolis on a vast acreage of farmland that couldn’t have been more picturesque to shoot at. After checking in with Gaston, the club manager from Argentina, we were free to roam, behind the scenes of the world of polo. For the short amount of time we spent and our limited knowledge of polo, I am quite pleased with the imagery. To see more images from the Polo Club take a look at the latest two galleries of work at the “Archive” section of my website.

Twin Cities Polo Club

The Hills Were Black...

Recent travel through the Black Hills area of South Dakota included a night on Horsethief Lake, less than a mile from Mount Rushmore. The name "Black Hills" translates from the Lakota Paha Sapa, and has been described as an "island of trees in a sea of grass." Illustrating this was the view out my front door just before mid-night where everything was perfect with the exception of the occasional passing vehicle. Upon taking this shot, I realized they actually added a little something to the scene, and henceforth my evening...

The Hills Were Black...

US Bank Revisited...

Earlier this year we did a shoot for US Bank via Intrinzic based out of Newport, KY and we just wrapped up another project this time focusing on the "Flex Perks" rewards program.

The crew and I set up just below a ridge on a golf course before sunrise to take advantage of the early morning light. With our talent in place with golf attire and Flex Perks card in hand, the scene couldn't have been better to capture the desired shot. Over the course of the two day shoot we learned a bit more about life in Kentucky. Todd Lipscomb--creative director--is the lead singer for the Kentucky Struts which have been described as: "Unabashedly from Kentucky, the musical approach of The Kentucky Struts is not unlike the unique flavor you get from Kentucky itself. Playing mid-tempo rockers not unlike the feel of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers or them songwriter’s blues like that of Mr. Bob Dylan the boys represent their own take on American Rock, they’ve found a voice for themselves and anyone else with big dreams in a small town."

Check them out online and watch for their upcoming, second album. I am hoping they'll tour and make their way north.

As always, the folks at Intrinzic were great to work with...

US Bank Revisited...

My traveling companion is 5 years old...

Earlier this summer my son Wesley and I took our third annual 4-day trip to Ely, Minnesota including a drive along the shore of Lake Superior. I describe these trips as our "Thelma and Louise," get-aways.

This will be a short post as I think the pictures say it all. What I can say is I love this guy and I love this time...

My traveling companion is 5 years old...

Privacy Filter...

"I really believe that we don't have to make a trade-off between security and privacy. I think technology gives us the ability to have both." - John Poindexter

Privacy has always been at a premium and seems even more so these days with the ever-present electronic devices gracing our personal space. Borrowing from the principles of a polarizing filter for photography, the new flexible, slim, film-like "Privacy Filter" fits over a cell phone or computer screen and was the recent subject of two ads created for 3M via Gage.

The privacy filter allows the user to see what appears on their device and thwarts the gaze of onlookers by allowing light to pass through in the direction of the user and turning dark when viewed at any slight angle. In doing so, this keeps others from potentially seeing something unintended for them. We set up one scenario on a light-rail car to depict a typical commuter setting. For the second scene we used a medical office lobby to demonstrate the necessity of privacy and the efficacy of the screen filter. After a full day of lighting, adjusting the blindfolds on the talent, and shooting the product in use, it’s safe to say the images convey the overall message associated with using the privacy filter.

Always something different... Another interesting shoot with a great crew and agency / client to collaborate with.

Privacy Filter...

Minneapolis -> Duluth via Bicycle...

My wife and I recently set out on our bikes from our doorstep in Minneapolis, pedaling to Duluth and the shore of Lake Superior over a three-day weekend; a little a break, sans kids, in the good ole' summer time. Riding a total of 192 miles we traveled amid constant rain for the majority of the trip. The weather finally eased for the last leg leaving a shroud of mist and fog over the landscape before us. At this point we were riding along an old railroad bed, converted to a paved path named the Willard Munger Trail which travels from Hinckley to Duluth. According to the MN DNR the Willard Munger is the longest paved trail in the world. Whether it still holds that claim or not it's a beautiful ride through one of the most scenic areas of Minnesota, one I'd certainly recommend and gladly repeat.

Minneapolis -> Duluth via Bicycle...

"Boardwalk"

"Ocean, emotion, and constant promotion," is how Time magazine described the location of my most recent shoot--Atlantic City. The project for Bauer via Olson kept us far from the water most of the week, but upon wrapping we headed straight to the legendary Boardwalk. First built in 1870 as a means of keeping sand out of hotel lobbies, the concept bloomed and has been an integral part of the east coast, and New Jersey lore ever since. Flanked by saw-grass and sandy beach on one side, and an array of decaying small shops on the other, it doesn't appear that a whole lot has changed if you ignore the more modern casinos / hotels towering overhead. It certainly appears "Always Turned On," and it wouldn't be what it is if it wasn't a bit rough around the edges.

"Boardwalk"

Cord - (kord) any long, cylindrical, flexible structure...

My knowledge of spinal cord implants and the products available for such procedures was limited, at best, until the recent project for Zimmer Spine via nFusion; both based in Austin, TX. With many hours of pre-production, headed by Humble Monkey Productions, we set out over two days capturing various vignettes revolving around the products and the individuals involved in the process, from company representatives; patient / doctor consultations; to recovery room scenarios. Never a better profession to offer a glimpse of so many things. Like it or not, just as you are getting interested or start to grow weary of a subject you are on to something completely different and new.

That being said, we're off to Atlantic City, NJ to shoot up to 30 NHL players for Bauer via Olson. Yes!

Cord - (kord) any long, cylindrical, flexible structure...

invoko -> Part III: Twilight In The Forest...

"These 'Twihards' wander, wide-eyed, down trails in the misty Hoh rain forest under giant trees festooned with moss, 'trying to see what Bella saw.” - Olympic National Park ranger, Jon Preston

Today’s post is part III in our series of previews for the upcoming launch of the website for the collaborative venture - invoko, I am pleased to share another glimpse of our Seattle experience; this time a sliver of our time spent in Olympic National Park. We were fortunate enough to hike alongside Ranger Jon Preston who described in detail the abundance of flora and fauna in the area as we strolled amid the lush environs. The area is designated as 95% wilderness and stretches 73 miles along the coastline as a completely protected National Park. I am still in awe of the vibrant greens that surrounded us - fresh scents of forest mixed with the salty Pacific Ocean mist.

Tourism in the national park is way up this summer due to the filming of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight in the nearby town of Forks. According to a New York Times piece, “30 percent of hikers are there to immerse themselves in the Twilight landscape (and, presumably, to catch a glimpse of a vampire of their very own)”.

Ranger Preston said that he was contemplating putting together a “nature program on bloodsuckers (mosquitoes, flies and lampreys)."

Vampires or mosquitoes, it’s well worth a visit if you are in the Seattle area and can spare a day away from the city.

invoko -> Part III: Twilight In The Forest...

Hip Hop From The Pulpit

Hip Hop Sermons, community development programs and a diverse congregation are all pieces of Senior Pastor Efrem Smith's world. Early one morning I made my way to North Minneapolis to create a series of portraits for Outreach Magazine. Pastor Efrem Smith is one of the founders of The Sanctuary Covenant Church which began in 2003. His mission from the start, has been to unite people of all ethnicities and backgrounds into one common church. His congregation is currently over 1100 people. If you are interested in a sermon featuring "The 4 Elements of Hip Hop" (break-dancing, the deejay, the emcee, and graffiti art), check out his Wednesday night service.

Hip Hop From The Pulpit

"Who'sh 'ere?"

Just over a week back I traveled amid the farming community of Crawfordsville, Indiana for AgriSolutions, via the agency Colle+McVoy. The project was the perfect "Americana" assignment leading up to the 4th of July.

One afternoon at a local restaurant, dining on true country fare, we discovered we were a few miles from the location where the movie “Hoosiers.” was filmed. As every small town diner menu seems to offer, in addition to food, was one side with facts and history of the area. One particular anecdote was the origin of the word “Hoosier."

When approaching a man's home in those early frontier days, you shouted from afar, "Hello, the cabin!" to avoid being shot. The inhabitants would then shout back "Who'sh 'ere?" (who's here). As it became slurred together over time, the country folk came to be called Hoosiers.

We heard a few different versions of the word during our stay - none as interesting or compelling. Good times and great stories with folks who are truly, living off the land…

"Who'sh 'ere?"

Brother Ali -> "Street Preacher"

"Brother Ali vow solemnly not to die while the music is still inside of me." -Brother Ali

I spent two days behind-the-scenes at The Hideaway studio in Minneapolis to document Brother Ali working on his next full-length album. "Street Preacher" is the album's current working title and it is slated for release on Rhymesayers Entertainment in the fall of 2009. The album will feature an array of live instrumentation arranged by Twin Cities' famed hip-hop producer Anthony "Ant" Davis. One of the best aspects of being a location photographer is the access given to people and places. I was able to hover in the studio with little to no constraints - shooting nearly every possible angle. Keep an eye on the "Archive" section of the website for additional Ali imagery. There will also be a future blog post that features a video edit - both stills and video captured during the time I spent.

Busy times, doing some very interesting things with some great people. I've never been more excited about what I do...

Brother Ali -> "Street Preacher"

Target House Turns 10...

A decade has elapsed since the opening of Target House: the collaborative effort between the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Target in Memphis, TN. As a way to both celebrate the anniversary and promote awareness, I was brought in to photograph a print ad depicting a few of the children who are currently patients at St. Jude's staying at the Target House. To date, 1,337 families have benefited from the fully operational apartments offered to long-term patients and their families for free, providing a "home away from home" amidst a very challenging time in their lives. The experience was an inspirational one and I think the imagery is a testament to the strength and courage of the children I met while on location. Shot back in March, look for the print ad that was just released at Target stores, in magazines and of course on the Target website.

Target House Turns 10...

At the Core of Genius -> Apple

Innovation mixed with minimalist design have always set Apple apart with a premiere line of products. The opportunity to shoot for them came about a little over a week ago; a call I was obviously excited to receive. I worked alongside a San Francisco based video crew shooting every possible angle, both in front and in back of the store. Needless to say, it was a great way to spend the better part of a day. I like to think that my shooting style lends itself to a "less is more" approach when creating images. The Apple store was a great venue to explore clean lines within a monochromatic environment peppered with a variety of textures. With that in mind, I was able to capture the patrons filtering in and out of this unique space with my own view of the core of genius.

At the Core of Genius -> Apple

"T" for "Texas"

As the saying goes: "Everything is bigger in Texas," and surely the two acre, indoor, Leon Springs Dance Hall just outside of San Antonio is no exception. United Health Group hired us, the invoko team, to put together an interactive piece featuring a senior dance / social event they were sponsoring titled, “For the Love of Country.” Bolo ties, flashy belt buckles, cowboy boots and hats were the prevailing attire for the folks we encountered during the event. We were fortunate to meet an incredible array of elder “ladies and gentlemen,” with great stories that nicely complemented the existing textures of the local. Some great content (stills, video, and audio) were acquired. Texas - yes Texas…

"T" for "Texas"

invoko -> Part II: Nella Cucina...

"The gentle art of gastronomy is a friendly one. It hurdles the language barrier, makes friends among civilized people, and warms the heart." -Samuel Chamberlain

As a follow up to the initial preview of invoko on the April 24th posting, I am pleased to share another installment of the collaborative Seattle experience. Anchovies & Olives is the newest addition to the local flavor of the Capitol Hill neighborhood, and the fourth restaurant to open at the hands of Ethan Stowell. Guided by head Chef Charles Walpole, we were able to catch a rare glimpse nella cucina (in the kitchen) of the behind the scenes efforts taken to transform the catch of the day into a memorable dining experience. Stay tuned for the next preview post...

The invoko team actually spent a couple of days in San Antonio, Texas this week producing an interactive piece for United Health Group. The setting featured seniors dancing / socializing at the immense two acre Leon Springs Dance Hall. A more colorful and festive time it could not have been. I look forward to editing this work- both stills and video.

invoko -> Part II: Nella Cucina...

Center Stage with Bain Boehlke

The McKnight Foundation recently announced the newest recipient of the Distinguished Artist Award 2009—Bain Boehlke. As the founder of The Jungle Theater: a 150 seat performing arts theater in Minneapolis, Bain has been a dedicated thespian, director and set designer for over 50 years. This is my second year photographing the award winner for the McKnight Foundation via Velvetpeel. On par with last year, this assignment has proven rewarding in terms of getting to know a soulful artist. The visually rich theater environment provided an abundance of visually unending options. I’m proud to say that The Jungle Theater is a cornerstone of my neighborhood and certainly one of the gems of South Minneapolis.

Center Stage with Bain Boehlke

"Ola 2"

"Ola 2" is the recently edited second short of the video test produced back in December using Canon’s 5D Mark II. Some creatives at Colle McVoy recommended that I talk with Ben Cohen for the part II edit. Ben’s an up-and-coming video editor from Minneapolis who specializes in digital media production. He has produced, directed, and edited videos for many top agencies. Aside from working on award winning, integrated ad campaigns, he has also created original content including: music videos with exclusive Mtv premieres, multiple features in some of the web's biggest blogs and much more.

Thanks Ben for your suggestions and creative insight as I learn. Also, thanks to Ola Betiku our model and Adam Hester who assisted me on this project with “ideas” more than setting up stands. I am pleased to say collaborations such as this are becoming more frequent and I’ve never been more excited about the possibilities around the corner. I have no plans to become a full time film or video based shooter- rather find opportunities to capture segments of video to pair and cut together with my still work. It’s all about the web. What keeps me interested and psyched to be in this line of work is partnering with those who are at the top of their game in joint creative ventures.

Stay tuned…

"Ola 2"

invoko -> Part I: Beyond the bend in the road...

"There is a road in the hearts of all of us, hidden and seldom traveled, which leads to an unknown, secret place." - Chief Luther Standing Bear

The launch of invoko is near - a new collaborative side venture jointly marketing the talents of: sound designer Dave Schroeder--PilotVibe, graphic designer Nathan Strandberg--EightHourDay, and myself--Jonathan Chapman Photography. While the three of us have independently teamed up for a variety of projects in the past, invoko's nascent voyage took us to Seattle, Washington. With a local, Seattle based, producer at the helm, our efforts yielded an array of content from the city itself and the surrounding environs. I am pleased to share the first preview of imagery we came away with--surfers from the Olympic Peninsula, and look forward to highlighting other segments of the Seattle journey. In the near future I will be announcing the debut of the full collective multimedia experience - invoko.

invoko -> Part I: Beyond the bend in the road...

Barron's -> Mr. Frels

I shot this week for Barron’s – a financial magazine from the publisher of the Wall Street Journal. It was my first shoot for them and I am pleased to say it was a direct result of an e-mail promotion that left my computer last week.
It had been a while since I’d shot in downtown St. Paul, and I was a bit leery of what we’d discover in terms of locations. The subject was William B. Frels, a great name indeed, who works with Mairs and Power Inc. - Minnesota's oldest, continually owned and managed investment firm.

The editor noted a historical backdrop might make sense since the company's website features some vintage imagery. My assistant and I scouted a few blocks adjacent to William’s office and decided to take our subject on a little walk. We began shooting a few selected spots – starting with more standard locales leading up to the more unconventional. Our final stop was an old loading dock cut into the side of a building from around the 1920’s I’d guess. It looked like somewhat of an unsavory place for an executive to spend time, however, the lighting was amazing and despite the darkness and dirt, it was nice of William to humor me as I asked him to follow my lead. We spent about 10 minutes and William’s only comment was “you’re the expert- I trust your judgement.”

All came together quite nicely.

Barron's -> Mr. Frels

"The Bikery"

Assignment work this week led me to Stillwater, MN via Bicycling Magazine where I photographed Oliver; avid bicyclist and mastermind behind the innovative bakery and bike shop under one roof--The Bikery. Originally from Belgium, Oliver worked as a restauranteur in Bellingham, WA before moving to MN. The Bikery features European inspired pastries, as well as fresh roasted coffee, both prepared daily on site. It comes as no surprise when I learned of the overwhelmingly positive support from bicyclists and cafe patrons alike. The Bikery is a must see if you are ever in Stillwater.

"The Bikery"

Rain + Snow + Ice

Battling the elements last week, my crew and I found ourselves immersed in the icy remnants of winter on a shoot for Nebulus via Dalton Sherman. Produced by Humble Monkey Productions, the shoot involved coordinating local police, fire, and rescue experts, as well as, their corresponding vehicles based in Hudson, WI. This harrowing rescue scene is one of the examples of what we achieved for the day. The final selects are with the retoucher and should be ready soon.

Rain + Snow + Ice

Memphis Greats

I found myself down in Memphis last Thursday and Friday shooting at the Target House for Target via Little & Company. Another great shoot here - kids finger painting on a white seamless (a recipe for some pretty engaging imagery). After shooting, my assistant and I strolled to a couple of famous places: Sun Studio where Johnny Cash and many other greats got their start. Johnny walked in as an appliance repairman, by day, who was looking to record an album. The second location down the road was the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968. Both locations tell quite a story- one the starting point, the other the ending point. Both greats live on and Memphis offers a tribute to both which I'd recommend checking out.

Memphis Greats

Mr. Byrne...

My camera took me out to The Carrot Agency yesterday - taking shots of a couple of their latest recruits for their website. Out strolls David Byrne or at least a younger stunt double. Actually it was Daryl Kluskowski – a former VP / Creative Director at BBDO as well as owner of SkullBoy Worldwide – check it out if you haven’t already. Darry had a bit more in mind than your typical head and shoulders portrait. All he needed was a pistol in each hand and he would have been one part Yosemite Sam, one part, Elvis, and well, final part - Mr. Byrne.

Mr. Byrne...

Toronto's Maple Leafs -> Olson / Bauer

I was in Toronto and Boston the week of February 23rd shooting another round of images for Bauer via Olson. I have to say these shoots and the access we get provides a pretty fine backdrop for shooting. From locker room to ice, I followed Vesa Toskala and Luke Schenn in Toronto and Tim Thomas in Boston. We mounted a couple of cameras this time (one above and over the goal, and the other on the glass) to snag a few new / different angles. Images are now signed, sealed, and delivered to Olson and above are a few that I thought pair well together highlighting the Toronto leg of the trip. Love the work: especially crew and athletes who always have time for that extra “try this angle,” shot.

Toronto's Maple Leafs -> Olson / Bauer