MaLLy "Once We're Kings"

"I sit on the clouds, and lyrically outgrown the throne..."- MaLLy

Wordsmiths abound and let us into their world through their written works.  Often times the power of these lines come to life in the form of the spoken word.  Saul Williams is one of the more well known contemporary spoken word artists, which provided inspiration for us to find a homegrown version here in Minneapolis to profile.  Through our colleague Jules Ameel we were able to collaborate and partner with local, up and coming rapper MaLLy to be our spoken word master for the latest motion project "Once We're Kings."

In his own words he explains what it was like to be a part of the project. 
  
"I was pretty excited to shoot this video in Minneapolis because it's my hometown and a place I frequent for recreation. Currently, I'm finishing my upcoming album titled, The Last Great. The project will be produced entirely by The Sundance Kid and is slated for spring release."

We scouted a few areas in the more industrial sections of Minneapolis before settling on a back street location in the north loop. As daylight faded into night and MaLLy started to warm up, we lined up our first shot and started rolling camera and audio.  MaLLy never missed a beat and lit up the night with his stylish a cappella rhymes.


"The production was intense, very detail oriented and very fun. Everybody involved in shooting was professional and that's pretty apparent in the final product! The scene is dark, relentless, and very bleak. I thought the entire ambiance fit with the production and verse I delivered."

As always we are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with.  On that note, a big thanks to our crew who are represented in the the credits, and of course all the efforts of MaLLy.  For the latest on all things MaLLy check his Facebook page.  Visit the following link for detailed information regarding tour dates and destinations.

We have just returned from a 2+ week project abroad for McDonald's and are working hard to get our
bio-rhythms back on track here in Minneapolis.  What a year it's been.  2012 has big shoes to fill.  We're looking forward to the new year and all the upcoming possibilities. 

Happy holidays and best to come for all in days ahead...

MaLLy "Once We're Kings"

Shanghai from floors 53 & 1oo...

The two Chinese characters in the name Shanghai name are 上 ("above") and 海 ("sea"), together meaning "Upon-the-Sea".

As the year comes to a close, it seems appropriate to take a moment and ponder how the landscape of work has evolved: new people, places, projects, all affecting possibilities for the road ahead. We have spent more time boarding planes this year compared with previous years. While travel can be taxing at times, it can certainly refresh one's vision and outlook.

The last project of the year is literally taking us around the world. Montreal, Canada to Shanghai, China, to Sydney and Melbourne, Australia. From Sydney (our current locale) we'll travel eastward bound across the Pacific, passing through Los Angeles and Denver before returning home to our doorstep back in Minneapolis.

As the pre-trip excitement ramped up during the prepping and packing stages, we bounced around a few ideas for "on the road" blog post topics. The excitement is still at the same level, however, now that we are in the thick of travel with long days, time zone jockeying, and the after hours managing of files, time has quickly slipped away leaving little of it to explore the cities and even less for putting together a few written tales of our adventures thus far.

Considering all of theses hurdles, we have managed to take a few moments here and there to visually capture our surroundings. After a 20+ hour flight from Montreal to Shanghai via Chicago we were pretty psyched upon drawing the curtains in our 47th and 53rd floor hotel room windows. A city of this size and stature has you hoping you'll at least have a chance to find that secret, locally known "vista" where all the travel brochure photos have their origin. Our hotel did not disappoint us by surprising us with our our own personal vistas already waiting for us in broad sweeping panoramas of one of the most dynamic cities separated simply by a pane of glass and a couple of curtains.

Up to this point on the itinerary, Shanghai has been the city with the most to take in, and more often than not, an insufficient amount of time to do so. Shanghai is the most cosmopolitan city in China, home to over 23 million people making it one of the largest cities in the world (New York City has 8.5 million). We are staying in the middle of the city (adjacent to The People's Park) and as you can see we had some really sweet views. While the majority of the world is wearing a financial frown, Shanghai seems to be riding a crest of expansion and innovation. There seems to be nothing but smiles and an endless supply of dapper businessmen and women shaking hands to seal another deal.

Since our arrival in Shanghai we have hit the ground running, which has left us very little in terms of leisure time. During those rare moments we have had the chance to take several morning strolls in "The People's Park" conveniently located across the street from our hotel. This park quickly became a favorite for the variety of individuals and small groups of people doing tai chi amid a forest of pines and century old cobbled paths.

The first image taken one particularly clear morning was shot from the 53rd floor of the hotel: a total of 8 vertical captures assembled via Photoshop. The second image is a single frame taken at night from the 100th floor observation deck of the Shanghai World Financial Tower (the second tallest building in Asia). These 600px wide blog images don't do it justice. Take a moment to download the morning or evening image as a PDF for a closer look.

Shanghai from floors 53 & 1oo...

"of Feather & Brace"

"There is a passion for hunting something deeply implanted in the human breast." - Charles Dickens

Every year around this time as the air becomes crisp and colors fall from their lofty heights to the audible crunch beneath your feet, we know it is time once again for the age old tradition of hunting. It marks the passage of one season in time to the next for many who inhabit life in the Midwest.

Although we are from the Midwest, it's a far off assumption that we are all avid hunters and have knowledge that runs deep in this area. The subject of hunting and its importance to this region came to us in a roundabout way a number of years ago during the initial stages of casting for a print based project. We were in search of male talent during the height of hunting season and much to our surprise it was difficult to find men available for modeling via our local talent resources. Ultimately we did end up with our talent, but it was more of a process than we had anticipated due to the popularity of the hunting season.

To date, "of Feather & Brace" is one of the lengthiest projects we have undertaken, beginning as a kernel of an idea this time last year. It is also one of the most collaborative pieces we have been involved with. From beginning to end, this project has brought together several masters of their craft spanning the filming, on location sound capture, editing, grading, sound design, graphics, and animation of what would be the final piece "of Feather & Brace." While those of us involved are not hunters ourselves, we knew there was a visual story to tell as well as a level of passion and devotion that carries from one generation to the next. Nick Nalezny, our subject as well as the location he recommended could not have been a better fit for the narrative we set out to explore and document.

Editor Steve Shepherd "Shep" of Spotnik commented on the creative editing process.

"The footage really lent itself to a natural, gentle weaving. The opportunity to blend images in a classic way was evident when first seeing the dailies. Because of the strong point of view, and rich varied compositions, it was fun to play with the three different areas: Home Base, getting to "the spot", and being at the spot. Playing not only with the framing, but depth of the shots, letting some of the cuts (or transitions) happen within a shot through a focus shift or movement of a tree or person."

Through Steve we were connected with Oscar Oboza, an expert colorist at Pixel Farm who we were excited to hear was interested in working on the grading / coloring of the project. Oscar provided great insight and perspective, bringing the color to a point that matched the look and feel of the color we attained with the stills we had shot and colored for reference.

Once we had picture lock on the edit and the color work was underway, we connected with Dave Schroeder of Pilotvibe to finesse the ambient location and interview audio captured by Patrick Schaefer. Dave was able to shape the audio in his own unique way adding an ethereal element to the piece as a whole. The original music and reverberating narrative take this project to another level in terms of blending the visuals with the creative element of custom sound design. Eight Hour Day was once again tapped for the design of graphics and credits. Elemental Motion Media brought the graphic design work to life through animating the various components as they do so well.

Every element in the process of creating "of Feather & Brace" has been crucial to the overall final picture. We couldn't have accomplished this without everyone's involvement from concept to the finished project featured here. A heartfelt thank you to everyone we worked with.

We would also like to thank Tony Franklin for his insight, enthusiasm, and dedication to the creative process to help bring this idea from the sketch pad to the screen as a completed motion piece.

Enjoy and please spread the word of this project's launch. A behind the scenes edit is being cut and will be posted in days ahead shedding further light on our time exploring life through the eyes of those that carry on this fall tradition.

"of Feather & Brace"

Earnestine & Hazel's

The South- where roots, place, family, and tradition are the essence of identity. - Unknown

A few weeks back a project for Target's RED magazine had us traveling once again down to the Target House in Memphis, TN. No doubt it’s a favorite location to spend a few days working, as well as time experiencing this fine slice of southern living. While in Memphis, we were fortunate to secure access and spend an afternoon shooting stills + motion at the legendary Earnestine & Hazel's.

The passage of time leaves its mark on places we inhabit, and in turn upon those who inhabited these spaces. Earnestine and Hazel’s at 531 South Main Street in downtown Memphis, TN (having a colorful history as a sundry shop, bar, hotel, and brothel to name a few) is one of these places that has been around long enough to fill volumes with tales of triumph, defeat, jealousy, reconciliation, love won, love lost. It’s a breath of old, fresh air that circulates a certain mystique of smells, sounds, and visuals to all who enter the front door - the wealthy, the poor and everyone in between.

The building containing Earnestine & Hazel’s speaks for itself and the location made for the perfect setting for the test shoot we put together including two local models and a talented wardrobe stylist. Our talent Kaycee and Cassie were wonderful to work with and fit nicely within our vision of this project. Sona Amroyan brought many options for wardrobe and as a fashion designer herself, pulled a few original pieces from her collection to augment what we already had in mind. The still and motion visuals captured are different from what we have done in the past. We implemented a variety of light modifiers, which added to the overall look and helped us push this project in a new direction. The importance of testing is still paramount for us in an effort to create new looks and try out new ideas. There is no fail in a test only learning and building upon a foundation of the tried and true.

Enjoy a slice of life from a historical venue in Memphis, and be sure to check out the next post when we unveil the long awaited “Of Feather and Brace” a motion based tale of hunting one year in the making.

Earnestine & Hazel's

Land O' Lakes in PA...

"Farming looks easy when your plow is a pencil, and you're a thousand miles from the corn field." - D. Eisenhower

It feels as if we've been on the road more than in town these past few months. Travel has taking us nearly everywhere, from east to west and from urban to rural. A late summer project for Land O' Lakes via Colle+McVoy brought us to the beautiful countryside of middle Pennsylvania. We spent two days profiling two dairy farm families that have been associated with Land O' Lakes for many years.

We were tasked with creating stills with guidance from our art director Barrett Haroldson who designed the "Our Story," section of the Land O' Lakes website shown above. Despite the early mornings and late evenings the days went by quickly. Mike, Maria, and their four children were more than gracious with their time. Rural Pennsylvania could not have been a better backdrop to spend a couple of days. Work rarely seems like work amid environs such as this.

We have a backlog of new work and some interesting blog posts in line for weeks ahead. On deck, a lifestyle + fashion based project shot in a former Memphis brothel. The next JC|P Motion installment "Of Feather & Brace," will follow. A short narrative profiling the life of a hunter alone in the woods with his black lab, "Lady."

Land O' Lakes in PA...

"The Bike That Meant Everything"

"When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking." - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Every so often an editorial assignment comes our way that has a different angle than most others and ends up leaving a bit more of an impression upon us. A call from Bicycling Magazine led us to a unique project that would turn out to be as much about an inanimate object as it would the people around it. The diversion from the usual editorial project tasked us with capturing the essence of a road bike, but not just any ordinary two wheels on a frame; this was "The Bike That Meant Everything."

The original owner and rider, Brad Rogers, saved up enough money from his job to buy the Bianchi SS when he was 16. Expensive as it was, the bike turned out to be the investment of a lifetime providing years of rider satisfaction, adventure and mobility that only deepened an already established love of bikes and biking. Brad's wife and children explained to us how important this bike was to him even after he was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and no longer able to ride. Although his time in the seat had come to an end, the longstanding history continued through his daughter Mikaela who developed a special rapport with her dad's bike and would routinely ride the bike to work until the day it went missing from the storage shed (pictured above) in their backyard. All those years of service and the personal history built up through each push of the pedals were gone. A few months later, thanks to an online posting, the keen eye of a fellow biker, and Brad's diligence in finding his beloved Bianchi, the bike was returned to the family.

Although Brad is no longer here, his bike remains as a tangible memory and a treasured part of the family's shared history. Read the full story by Frank Bures via bicyclingmagazine.com

"The Bike That Meant Everything"

Fall 2011 "Newsprint" Promotion

"Design is an opportunity to continue telling the story, not just to sum everything up." - Tate Linden

Fall is here and so marks the first quarterly installment of the JCP Newspaper. The idea is one that has been in the back of our minds for quite some time. We were looking for a different way to send out the newest work in an unconventional, albeit traditional printed format. A newspaper seemed the most likely answer to what we were looking for. It has the ability to showcase a number of new still + motion projects as well as allow ample room for well thought out and executed design. Unfolding a 17 x 23" newspaper, viewing full spreads of imagery on 35lb. paper seems a refreshing way to share work in an era of all things electronic.

This is the first of four issues that will hit creative mailboxes worldwide over the next year. Be sure to check out the electronic PDF version if you missed out on the actual mailing. You'll find a download link on the home page of the JCP website.

Fall 2011 "Newsprint" Promotion

The Lot: Four Stories, One Space, Four Hours...

"The Lot" is a motion project based on the simple idea of one space telling four stories in four hours. Five models were asked to participate in four unique activities. A minimal storyboard, open to experimental interpretation, and creative vision fueled this project from concept to execution.

Thanks to all the crew and talent recognized in the credits for bringing the idea to life.

The Lot: Four Stories, One Space, Four Hours...

Full Sail in Marina del Rey...

"The sail, the play of its pulse so like our own lives: so thin and yet so full of life, so noiseless when it labors hardest, so noisy and impatient when least effective." - Henry David Thoreau

A recent project for Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles provided us with the opportunity to arrive a day early and work on a test shoot. The main objective was to have a small group of talent interacting on a boat sailing out into the ocean. Bobbi Peacock, our producer, put out the word and in no time at all we were walking aboard a 40' sailboat alongside talent making introductions and greeting the man who would be our captain for the next four hours. As one can imagine the setting was just right for this type of test; the perfect southern California weather coupled with a gorgeous sailboat full of great talent cutting through the dark salty depths.

The time we spent in the harbor of Marina del Rey was quite calm and gave us time to acquire a temporary set of sea legs, but soon enough we found ourselves rising and falling to the rhythm of 6' - 8' swells which our captain pointed out as being most unusual for that area. We faced a few challenges regarding the high seas, but it only added to the look and feel of the stills and heightened the overall sense of adventure. Sailing is all at once calm, dangerous, spontaneous, rewarding, and addictive in that it's nothing like a land based activity.

Keep your sights on the horizon for a future motion piece to accompany the still imagery.

Full Sail in Marina del Rey...

Broadcast spots for St. Elizabeth Healthcare

"Neo Natal"


"Orthopedics"


"Hope"

Our involvement with the Newport, KY based agency Intrinzic began several years ago with several still / print based shoots for US Bank. Todd Lipscomb was the creative director on these past projects and served in the same capacity for a collaboration this past May: five 30-second broadcast spots for St. Elizabeth Hospital. To date this was the most robust motion shoot we have been a part of and took us to a new level in terms of equipment, crew, locations, and overall collaboration on multiple broadcast spots. Todd knew this was our largest motion based production to date and was confident that our approach to "visual storytelling" was a perfect match.

We spent a full week in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky working on filming the five commercials within the St. Elizabeth hospital system as well as multiple locations throughout the greater Cincinnati area.

Our Minneapolis based broadcast producer Peter Mullin of 14Pics, couldn't have been a better fit for this project as he kept us on schedule and guided us along from the initial estimate request throughout the final shot on the last storyboard. Peter really showed us the value of bringing on a broadcast based producer for a project of this size and scope. His combined efforts, with the tireless energy of the agency based producer Megan Pautke, allowed us to focus on the creative elements rather than back end issues such as wrangling new born babies and hiring police to shut down roads.

Eric Schleicher our second camera operator helped us gear up with the latest color profiles from Technicolor as well as recommending the purchase of multiple items including the "Powered Cage," an HDDSLR housing, designed and engineered by Viewfactor that helps smooth out many of the bumps surrounding the HDDSLR shooting experience. Eric also worked each evening making sure everything was ready to go before we started filming at first light each day.

Mark and Luke our Cincinnati based gaffers were great assets with years of experience in the film side of the business. They helped out immensely with both lighting and logistics, offering skills and knowledge that traditional photo assistants typically don't possess on the still side of the business.

While this certainly was a great project, both creatively as well as having the budget to access great people, talent, and locations, more than anything it provided a greater sense of confidence as we continue to collaborate on the film side of the business.

Enjoy three of the five final broadcast spots, edited by Tate and Craig at Cincinnati based Red Echo Post. Watch for a longer "director's cut" at the Motion section of the site in days ahead. This additional cut will feature footage that the confines of a 30-second spot just couldn't incorporate.

Broadcast spots for St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Website Refresh for JC|P...

It's a whole new day here for us as the JCP website refresh goes live. Over the past few months we have been working closely with Eight Hour Day to refresh the website including a revamped "Archive" section with numerous new galleries of imagery as well as an all new "Motion" category. Nate and Katie at EHD have been behind almost every element of JCP design for close to 10 years. I can't imagine the business without their insight, amazing talents, and friendship.

The highlight of the new "Motion" section is the JC|P MotionReel. The reel has been a long time in coming and is finally available for viewing along with all of our previous motion pieces. Adam and the team at Elemental Motion Media once again surpassed all expectations in terms of the final edit and are always bringing something new to the mix; their editing, audio, and animation talents have always paired with the design elements from EHD in such amazing ways.

The site has been restructured from Flash to HTML 5 which will allow for viewing on mobile devices i.e. smart phones and tablets. The behind the scenes credit for the coding / rebuilding of the site goes to John and Martin at Kilohq who have been great to work with and have come up with solid alternatives to the original flash based site. Thanks guys for weathering the numerous tweaks and subtle design changes. No one I've ever met understands the back end of the web more than these guys.

I would also like to recognize the tireless internal efforts of John Fontana. He has been in constant "update" mode for quite some time as well as integral in communication between myself, EHD, and KiloHQ. John always sees what we all seem to miss, whether pairing images, writing / proofing copy, or suggesting something totally foreign, he has been the backbone on all things JC|P for quite some time.

A new print portfolio is also on the way back from the printer which will coincide perfectly with the new website updates. It's been a busy time but an exciting time for us here and we are very excited to share the new content, design, and layout.

Enjoy the new site and of course any comments or feedback are always welcome. Next up on the schedule is a project for Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles that will take us up to the Labor Day Weekend.

Website Refresh for JC|P...

APA + Apple Lecture Series: "Discussion on Motion" in Chicago

I am pleased to have been invited to speak as part of the APA / Apple Store Fall Lecture Series: "Discussion On Motion." The lecture will take place at the Lincoln Park Apple Store in Chicago, IL on September 26th at 7:00 PM.

It is truly an honor to be brought on by the Midwest Chapter of the APA, and to share the series spotlight with Vincent Laforet. If you are able to be in the windy city on Monday September 26th and would like to know more about the realm of HDDSLR Motion and how it's inspired and broadened almost everything we're involved in; I encourage you to join me for an evening of sharing and discussion.

Look for upcoming reminders via our social networking sites and here on the blog. I hope to see many new and familiar faces in just over a month.

The next blog post will unveil the newly refined JCP website with many updates including the addition of the JCP Motion reel. We've been staying busy behind the scenes and in between projects. Looking forward to days ahead!

APA + Apple Lecture Series: "Discussion on Motion" in Chicago

Farming Wind...

Who has seen the wind? Neither you nor I but when the trees bow down their heads, the wind is passing by. - Christina Rossetti

Travel and projects over the past few years have taken us along Interstate 10, in route from Los Angeles heading southeast towards Palm Springs, California. Along this route, amid the desert landscape, the highway slowly unveils thousands of white blades rotating in the distance.

The San Gorgonio Pass wind farm, home to more than 3000 turbines is situated in a valley adjacent to the San Jacinto Mountains, which is one of the windiest places on earth. These propeller topped giants stand out not only from their sheer numbers but also their gargantuan size. The wind farm generates enough electricity to power the entire city of Palm Springs and beyond. In order for the blades to turn, the wind must be blowing about 12 to 14 miles per hour which is then transferred to a collection point below and sent to a sub-station. This geographic location is unique as the wind blows hard enough to power the windmills over 300 days a year.

On a visit through the area earlier this year, we spent some time at the wind farm shooting a collection of motion and audio clips; working to capturing the inspiring presence of the blades from as many unique vantage points as possible.

Like many of the personal projects undertaken, there is a vague idea as to what will come to life with the final visuals. In between projects we were pleased to once again collaborate with Adam Duguay and his team at Elemental Motion Media. They not only combed through the footage and delivered several rounds of edits, but mixed and mastered the audio with some effects that accentuate the imagery.

Turn up your speakers and enjoy the latest JC|P motion endeavor, a short narrative of this turbine filled landscape...

Farming Wind...

UCare + initio - 6 days over 6 months

Retirement is wonderful. It's doing nothing without worrying about getting caught at it. - Gene Perret

Smiles, laughs, and good times may be the best way to sum up the experience while working with some amazing seniors for UCare via Initio during the first half of this year. I think this may be one of the more unique projects in terms of time spanning different seasons, locations, and our subjects.

We began in the dead of winter on the north shore of northern Minnesota, kicking off the campaign in Duluth and then traveling to Blue Fin Bay, over to Nisswa, and finishing up the northern loop in Aitkin, MN. As we headed out early one morning the outdoor temperature was -27º F! For a moment we thought it was incorrect, but one brush of the cold on your face and it was a sober reminder of how true it was.

As the weather warmed up, we set out on the southern Minnesota tour which took us to Mankato, Faribault, and Winona. We even managed to see a little bit of our neighbor to the east with subjects in La Crosse, and Eau Claire, before heading back to the Twin Cities.

With the promise of summer on the horizon, our final chapter took place here in the Twin Cities. We spent time at the Como Conservatory, Stone Arch Bridge, Gold Medal Park, and One Yoga studio finishing what we had started several months ago.

As a whole the project couldn't have gone smoother - thanks to our hearty subjects and crew. We were sorry to see this project end.

Next week takes us on the road shooting location / lifestyle imagery for Lowe's.

UCare + initio - 6 days over 6 months

New JC|P Branding

Some exciting changes are on the very near horizon here at JC|P! In between projects we've been keeping busy with industry partners on a newly refined website, portfolio, promo campaign, and the JC|P motion reel; something that's often requested but until recently has always been, "in the works."

With all the recent motion work augmenting the still projects, it became apparent to give a bit more thought as to how we might incorporate this into the overall brand. Today's post offers a sneak peak at the new branding badges designed by Eight Hour Day that represents both the motion and photography side of the business.

The time, energy, and expense that it takes to "freshen up" the brand has always proven well worth everything that has gone into it. These changes are integral and rewarded with even more interesting and exciting partnerships. We look forward to rolling things out and even more, where the road ahead will take things.

New JC|P Branding

South Dakota Staring Back At Me...

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind. - Seneca

The land of South Dakota flying by in blurs of blues and greens dotted with the lights of progress filled the frame of my window as we headed west a few weeks back, in route to South Dakota farmers and the land they work. The project involved documenting the early summer stage of farming, crops and those who tend to their well being using the latest in agricultural technology.

It was a muddy endeavor, with all the rain prior to the shoot, but we worked alongside some of the best in the business to produce another visual library of imagery. I look forward to the "mid-season" portion of this project which looks to take us to various farms in Texas. No doubt different people and places, but similar in their endeavors and desires for a great year working on the farm.

South Dakota Staring Back At Me...

Do The Waddle

The Minnesota Zoo launched a new exhibit featuring Spheniscus demersus or better known as the South African Penguin. We were brought on by Clarity Coverdale Fury to partner on creating a 30 second t.v. spot which involved two separate shoots. The first had us filming the penguins in their holding area, prior to the exhibit's opening, against a white sweep. You'll see the footage from this shoot at the end of the spot where the penguins waddle on white towards the camera. The second shoot had us on working on location at the zoo alongside the dancers who choreographed the "Waddle Dance." Our talent were actual zoo patrons who after given a brief dance lesson by the choreographers, were then filmed jumping, shaking, singing, and waddling. Thanks to the crew and everyone who helped pull it all together. There were smiles all around and it couldn't have been a more exciting way to spend a summer day working.

The spot began airing here in the Twin Cities shortly after the 4th of July. Some of you may have already seen the commercial and even caught yourself singing the catchy jingle "Penguins do the waddle" by the end of the broadcast. For those who haven't, take a moment to check it out here and learn how to do the waddle.

Shortly after the debut of the commercial, one of our colleagues pointed out a behind the scenes edit that the Mn Zoo was promoting on their site. The video features many members of our cast and crew working together to capture the essence of the Waddle. Take a look at what went into making "Do The Waddle" for the Minnesota Zoo.

It was a great project to be a part of and we are very excited about the final cut, edited by Schnitt Edit here in Minneapolis. Before the summer slips away make sure you head over to the Minnesota Zoo and practice your waddle with the South African Penguins.

Do The Waddle

USA Hockey - Print Campaign via Periscope

By the age of 18, the average American has witnessed 200,000 acts of violence on television, most of them occurring during Game 1 of the NHL playoff series. ~Steve Rushin

Hockey is fast paced, hard hitting game, contesting the skills and might of individuals and teams alike against one another on the ice. This is not a game for the feint of heart and is often a very physical sport which can take a toll on the bodies of adult players, let alone the younger versions of these giants. Most players start when they are very young and before they are celebrating with their teammates, Stanley Cup in hand, they have to put in the time and effort learning the fundamentals of the game and honing their skills starting in the peewee leagues.

In a recent initiative by USA Hockey, the board members have voted to remove body checking from the peewee leagues in an effort to curb career ending injuries. Young players will learn the basics of solid game play and gradually learn how to body check the right way. When players reach the Bantam age level of 13-14, they will be able to play with body checking and physically withstand the force that is involved, hopefully minimizing the number of serious injuries.

As part of the campaign launch we were brought on by Periscope to create three unique print ads for USA Hockey promoting awareness of the dangers associated with body checking at a young age. We worked closely with Patrick Weld and Carmen Roselles at Periscope to bring the concepts to fruition.

It will no doubt be interesting to see how this shapes the future of hockey in the next 5 to 10 years. Thanks to all for making this a great shoot and we look forward to seeing the ads in print.

USA Hockey - Print Campaign via Periscope

Purina via Colle+McVoy

We were happy to discover Communication Arts put the spotlight on a recent campaign we shot for Purina via Colle+McVoy up on the Home Page of their website. It's always great to work with a top notch team and see the results of our collaboration receive a little attention. More imagery from the project can be seen in the previous blog post All Paws and Tails in Palm Springs - Purina

Purina via Colle+McVoy

The Caribbean Pipeline - Rincón, PR -> Part II

Surfing soothes me, it's always been a kind of Zen experience for me. The ocean is so magnificent, peaceful, and awesome. The rest of the world disappears for me when I'm on a wave. - Paul Walker

Following up on our last post "The Caribbean Pipeline - Rincón, PR -> Part I," we are excited to share the final motion edit profiling surfer Ramse Morales, his life both on land and in the water near the town of Rincón, Puerto Rico.

The landscape and surf couldn't have been richer in terms of a backdrop to shoot amid. This was the first motion project that I really spent a great deal of time shooting "hand held." I also brought on a couple of new pieces of equipment. While in the ocean shooting stills and capturing motion, I relied on the Ewa Marine water housing, recommended and rented from Chris Sheehan of Shelter Studios. This couldn't have worked better for getting close to the action both under and above water. What really brings the piece to life is the P.O.V. shots taken from the tip of the surf board. I was able to capture all of this using the Go Pro Hero Camera which was mounted on the tip of the board and recorded Ramse as he paddled out, popped up and surfed a nice variety of waves.

Enjoy this motion profile of a new found friend in a new found place...

The Caribbean Pipeline - Rincón, PR -> Part II

The Caribbean Pipeline - Rincón, PR -> Part I

The Western coastal town of Rincón, Puerto Rico is considered one of the top surfing spots in the world. As a winter time destination, swells have been known to reach 25' high rivaling the famed North Shore in Oahu. Although similar to the Pacific surfing hot spot, the Atlantic version was relatively unheard of until the 1968 World Surfing Championship was held at Domes beach where the above images were shot. The quality of the surf became apparent outside of the local population and gave rise to several great destinations along the Western coast including Rincón. With its laid back vibe, consistently good waves, and a surf culture permeating all walks of life, it's the perfect destination on the Atlantic Ocean.

Travel to Puerto Rico earlier this year took me to Rincón where I spent some time profiling Ramse Morales, a local surf legend who is highly regarded as one of the best. Everyone I asked pointed me in his direction as the local to connect with for all things surfing. Ramse quickly became a great friend and was more than gracious with his time in front of the camera, whether on the board or in his beach dwelling apartment (home of a wide selection of his many custom boards). At one point I even took a lesson myself with the local legend. Check out his site, see if you can find the five shot series of yours truly riding waves for the first time ever!

Enjoy a little slice of Rincón through the point of view of a true local. If you find yourself heading to Puerto Rico, a trip to the west coast as well as a lesson from Ramse would no doubt be highly recommended. The Surf's great nearly 24x7, 365 days a year...

Remember to check out the accompanying motion piece in our next post to get an even more in depth view of surf life on the Caribbean Pipeline. It was a really interesting shoot including some underwater filming which I look forward to sharing.

The Caribbean Pipeline - Rincón, PR -> Part I

Memorex for imation...

Just over a month back we completed a 3 day project for imation shooting a mix of lifestyle and product based imagery for the brand Memorex. From "portable music players to iPod® accessories and Blu-ray players to flash drives, CDs and DVDs, Memorex products fit your life."

The first two days took place on location in a private home north of Minneapolis, and the last day was staged in a home in the Deephaven area. Both locations were sourced by Anne Healy. The architecture of the first location really set it apart from the other houses in the area and would have blended seamlessly into a cityscape in Holland. The interior was no less spectacular than the exterior and provided a perfect backdrop of lines, shapes and textures for the shoot.

The featured products included an array of portable electronics and gaming accessories that were utilized by the talent in a home environment. We had a wide variety of scenes to create and capture ranging from a mother and her children spending time together, to sisters grooving to music, to a family preparing a meal in the kitchen. Over the course of three days we were able to cover these scenarios in addition to several others.

As always a big thank you to everyone on our crew. Our intrepid producer Bobbi Peacock and her assistant Luke Olson did a fantastic job making sure everything ran smoothly. Ann Marshik and her stylist assistant Heather Hall provided us with a great selection of wardrobe and props to create the proper mood for our scenes. Hair and make-up was handled by Ashlee Ellert who always keeps our subjects looking their best. All of the assets were managed by Karl Herber our digital tech, and last but not least, our photo assistants Josh, Bryce, and John kept us fluid and ready to move when the time came to set up the next scenario.

The last shot pictured shows the crew after three days of hustling. As always, smiles from start to finish. A big thanks to everyone at imation / Memorex for bringing us on for a great production and fine collection of images. Keep an eye on the Memorex site as well as in stores for the full roll out of this new library of imagery.

Memorex for imation...

The Year of the Horse

Earlier this year Todd Lipscomb, front man and lead singer for the band The Kentucky Struts, contacted us about collaborating on a project regarding the band's new album, "The Year of the Horse." The idea behind the project is to have an original piece of art created for each of the twelve tracks that will debut once a month throughout 2011, until the album is released in its entirety.

Our contribution for the May release of the track "When" was shot on location at Sunnyside Stables in Rosemount, MN. We worked closely with riding instructor Maria Crane to coordinate the use of her two horses and a couple models to round out the shoot. The location and all participants in the project worked out really well, and even the weather did its part to provide a wide range of options within the rain, sleet, and sun of the early evening. In addition to the final selected image, you can see some additional outtakes above.

We are very excited to have a hand in this month's artwork and be a part of the album as a whole. Fans of the album can make a donation on the Kentucky Struts' website and in return receive a print of the current artwork of which all proceeds will be donated in the artist's name to Speak Up For Horses - a horse rescue foundation based in Falmouth, KY.

Enjoy the artwork and the fresh tune "When" from the Kentucky Struts. Stay tuned for the June installment of The Year of the Horse.

The Year of the Horse

BSC via Olson, volume 2

As promised in our "BSC via Olson, volume 1" post we have a time-lapse of our two-day studio portion of the shoot as well as examples of the stills we were capturing. The time went rather quickly as we were all focused on making sure every last detail was covered.

A big thanks to Bobbi Peacock for juggling this production, as well as Janna Chin and her assistant Lorraine Goddard for their constant smiles amid the massive task of prop and wardrobe wrangling. Thanks to Raoul at Flashlight for suggesting we try the Euro Mola light, which worked out great, and as always, thanks goes out to Sarah and Bob at Orbit for the studio space we always look forward to working in. Lastly, thanks to Mark Pakulski and Adam Hoganson at Olson along with everyone else who helped pull this together. Always great partnering with you guys!

The behind the scenes time-lapse is quickly becoming a part of our regular routine and we will certainly be doing more of this in the future.

We have just returned from a week long broadcast project in Cincinnati and are gearing up for another motion as well as still project next week. Keeping busy - the outlook for spring and summer has us on the move and having fun...

BSC via Olson, volume 2

Tim Easton: Joshua Tree, California

"We like to say we live on the edge of the middle of nowhere..." - Tim Easton

Described as a "contemporary troubadour," Tim Easton is a consummate traveling songwriter. From his Ohio roots through stretches in Paris and Prague, Tim grew his credentials with stints in NYC and LA, leading to his latest encampment in the high desert country outside of Joshua Tree, California. For Tim, traveling seems both the inspiration and the reward.

We caught up with Tim earlier this year via a connection made at a Joshua Tree's Ricochet - a social hub where travelers and locals alike stop in for coffee, homemade cuisine, and to catch up on the latest happenings. It was here that we first made contact with Tim Easton via Rosa who was instrumental in connecting us for this project.

After conversing over lunch at Ricochet, Tim took us to a location known by the locals as Area 54 - the backyard of the Joshua Tree National Park. We spent time in this area of the high desert capturing his story along with a few original songs inspired by the area. Outside of Joshua Tree, Tim has played stages around North America, Europe, and Japan with such artists/influences as: Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt and M. Ward to name a few.

The Tim Easton project is as close as it gets to an ideal creative endeavor for me. It had all the elements that continue to fuel my passion for what I do. Tim Easton was more than gracious with his time and knowledge of the area. He allowed me to do what I love to do: get close to interesting people in great locations where I can let my creativity flow in tandem with creating new visual content.

A special thank you goes out to: John Fontana who captured our on location interview and ambient audio, Eric Schleicher "Filmerkid" who was brought on for both editing and color grading, Pilotvibe handled our audio mastering, and Michael Lizama who was tapped for graphic design - both title and credits. Elemental Motion Media brought Michael's graphics to life with their amazing animation skills.

Enjoy a glimpse of our time in a place richly layered in - music, artists, and mystique that continues to pull people towards Joshua Tree year after year.

Some interesting days ahead to kick off spring and summer. We'll be traveling to a number of places both near and far, for a varied palette of clients and projects...

Tim Easton: Joshua Tree, California

"Ebb and Flow" - Bicycling Magazine

"When I woke up the next day, the air was cool and clear. The sun was bright, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. I packed my gear and got back on the road. My tires felt fast, and I felt alive in a way I hadn't for some time."
- Frank Bures

We are often unaware of how our past has a way of meeting with the present, bringing us full circle. The two wheeled journey of writer Frank Bures "Ebb and Flow," is one of these stories that takes him from Minneapolis to his hometown of Winona, MN - a 150 mile journey to attend his 20th high school class reunion.

Although we were not with Frank during his initial ride, we did have the privilege of documenting some of the likely visuals of his trip. The March issue of Bicycling Magazine features the personal account of Frank and his trip home after 20 years. Present meets past via bicycle along the Mississippi River.

"Ebb and Flow" - Bicycling Magazine

All Paws and Tails in Palm Springs - Purina...

"His name is not wild dog anymore, but the first friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always." - Rudyard Kipling

From time to time we are able to revisit a former project to update a client's image library with new content. The start of 2011 opened up with such a project for Purina via Colle+McVoy in Palm Springs, CA. We were last out in the area during January of 2009 at the Palm Springs Kennel Club dog show and back to refresh the campaign with some new imagery.

As can be expected for the Palm Springs area, the weather cooperated beautifully for Purina's "This Could Be The Year" campaign. Over three days of fierce competition, we photographed 15 different breeds ranging from puppies all the way up to the finalists being evaluated for the coveted honor of, "Best in Show."

Dogs at this level show an incredible amount of concentration, obedience, and training. It's quickly evident how much goes into each potential champion after spending time around the dogs, their owners, and handlers.

We had a chance to speak with a few "junior" handlers who historically get into the sport as a result of growning up in or around the business. Dog handling is a profession that tends to reach over several generations. Photographing these younger handlers was on Purina's wish list as there are fewer younger people working their way up through the ranks compared to previous generations.

By the end of the shoot we noticed our abilities to recognize and differentiate the various breeds had improved as well a sense of what it takes to raise a best in show champion.

Thanks to all at Colle + McVoy for another great shoot as well as everyone at Purina for allowing us to get close to the owners, handlers, and dogs during the often intensely competitive moments.

All Paws and Tails in Palm Springs - Purina...

Specialized Bicycles In Motion...

In the "Hills of Gold" blog post from late January, we mentioned that a full motion piece was in the early editing stages- a project featuring two technical mountain bike riders in the hills of Palm Springs, CA. The featured riders rode and donned the latest in both bicycles and equipment from Specialized Bicycle Components.

A little over a month later we have received and are excited to share the final edit of this spec motion project from editor Danny Schmidt.

Enjoy the debut of the latest JC|P Motion piece here on the blog and watch for it at the motion section of our website in days ahead.

Specialized Bicycles In Motion...

BSC via Olson, volume 1

Now that the grip of winter is slowly losing its hold and we are firmly rooted in the new year, it seems appropriate to look back at the various projects of 2010.

In a year's time, we certainly made a lot of new contacts and reaffirmed established relationships too. It's always interesting to see which project the end of the calendar year rests upon. The final for 2009 finished up with a project for McDonald's which offered some nice work as well as new contacts in the business. The final production for 2010 was for Boston Scientific via OLSON, creating a new library of imagery in several varied environments.

Over the course of a 5 day period we spent 2 days at the main Boston Scientific headquarters, 1 day at a local hospital, then two days in studio with our friends at Orbit to finish up the production. Once again, our thanks to a great crew, numerous models, and the folks at OLSON and Boston Scientific for a successful shoot. We have a behind the scenes time-lapse post forthcoming from the two studio days.

Our next post will feature the latest JCP Motion installment! Lots to be both excited and thankful for in days past and in days ahead...

BSC via Olson, volume 1

JCP at the Oscars...

Although we weren't physically present at the Oscars in Los Angeles last night, JCP was represented in a printed promotional piece for McDonald's - put together via DDB out of Chicago. The ad / brochure was distributed at a dinner sponsored by McDonald's prior to the awards ceremony. The three JCP images are the first two images on the top row at left and the third image in the second row from left.

We were happy to have the opportunity to contribute and be a part of the 83rd Academy Awards!

JCP at the Oscars...

60 Miles in 60 Seconds...

Last week we spent two frigid days roaming the furthest reaches of northern Minnesota. Our project had us photographing seniors enjoying a variety of outdoor activities amid the winter environs for UCare via Initio. It was certainly the coldest production I've ever been a part of. At one point my car showed the air temperature reading -27 degrees. All things considered, the shoot came together amazingly well with a great crew and some very hearty subjects.

With early mornings and long drives between locations, we put the iPhone to a little time-lapse test. We've been excited to try out a new sleeve designed and engineered by our friends at Canopy Co. Pairing this with a simple car mount and a few newly discovered Apps was a fun way to burn up some miles.

This short film was shot and edited entirely on the iPhone. While the various editing Apps certainly had their limitations, we were able to add text, color grade, and pull in an audio track from the iTunes library on the phone.

Enjoy an early morning hour of our drive along HWY 1...

The crew and our last location - on the lake with Ken, our ice fisherman.

60 Miles in 60 Seconds...

One Yoga

"One Yoga is a nonprofit yoga organization that offers health and well-being through the practices of yoga, specifically inclusive of those who traditionally lack access." - One Yoga Mission Statement

A new location, a new practice space, and a revamped website are breathing new life into the One Yoga Studio. We spent two afternoon sessions with Kris Kiel, the executive director, and her talented crew of yoga teachers creating a series of portraits for promotional use. At the time of the shoots, final preparations were underway transforming the space into the tranquil One Yoga studio that will be used and appreciated for years to come.

The grand opening took place last Saturday and all indications point to a successful day of re-introducing One Yoga and welcoming members of the community with free classes every half hour. If you haven't already, there's no time like the present to stop by, roll out your mat, and be present for a great session of revitalizing mind, body and spirit.

One Yoga

Hills of Gold

The secret to mountain biking is pretty simple. The slower you go the more likely it is you'll crash. ~Julie Furtado

Adventure can take many forms and often times it's what or whom you bring to a situation that really shapes a golden moment. Although we booked two extra days for some pre-arranged test shooting after our recent Palm Springs project, the time really seemed to fly. We made the most of it one morning by meeting up with two local mountain bikers in a place referred to as the The Goat Trails of Palm Springs. Awake by 4:30 and on location and shooting within the hour, we captured both stills and video from various vantage points of the two riders. They made their way through the mountainous terrain described as, "a plethora of single-track that varies from swooping, flowing, gradual downhill to gnarly exposed, steep and loose technical goodness."

The motion edit is underway by a new editor whom we've just begun to partner with. It will debut soon via the blog and JCP site. For now enjoy the still images and yearn a bit for the snow to start melting followed by some, hopefully early spring riding…

Hills of Gold

Joshua Tree

"It's the Joshua Tree's struggle that gives it its beauty." - Jeanette Wells

At the end of our time in California last week we were fortunate enough to spend a couple days out in the environs of Joshua Tree. This is a place that has a particular draw for a diverse group of people from famous rock and rollers to spiritualists and artists to name a few. It seems people from all walks of life have passed through the area at one time or another, and we were happy to add our names to the long list of those who have come here before us.

We met up with a few locals and spent some time with musician Tim Easton, had a bite to eat at the Ricochet Cafe and turned in for the night at the Joshua Tree inn just a few doors down from Gram Parson's final resting place. Stay tuned for upcoming content from these and other adventures from Joshua Tree and down the hill along highway 62.

Joshua Tree

LSI - The Epicenter of Playgrounds...

Whether we realize it or not playground equipment has been a part of most of our lives ever since we can remember. It's one of those things that is assumed to just exist, but where does it come from and who builds this stuff?

Behind some of the most creatively engineered and highest quality equipment is Landscape Structures Inc. (LSI) a company located in Delano, MN that has been building and installing commercial playground equipment since 1971. With over 50,000 structures worldwide, it's easy to see that LSI is definitely a leader in their industry. Little and Company brought us on to document the inner workings of the factory where all the magic happens. From welding raw materials, applying the primer and color coats to the final inspection before packing and shipping, we had the privilege of seeing how it all comes together as a top notch product ready for installation at a playground near you.

For the next week or so we will be on the road heading to Palm Springs to photograph various canines once again for Purina via Colle+McVoy. The warmer weather will be a welcome break from the deep freeze we have been going through. Look for a few shots from sunny California in our next post.

LSI - The Epicenter of Playgrounds...