Jonathan Chapman Photography {intrigue}

Marvin Windows - Integrity

2012-01-31T12:35:00.000-06:00

We were excited when Martin Williams approached us to create a series of images to tell the story for the Integrity line of window products. The history of Marvin Windows dates back to the first quarter of the 20th century as a family owned and operated company located in Warroad, MN.

We worked closely with MW creatives at to bring the production to life late last fall. After prepping the various scenes with the correct products, our talent fit seamlessly and often passed for the real workmen on the job site that our location scout had sourced. We managed to avoid all the 2x4's, carpentry tools, and even a fresh concrete pour to carry out our scenes without disturbing the work being performed.

This week we are on the road in San Diego, CA creating some inspiring new still + motion work for Schwinn Bicycles. It's always nice to venture south to California, especially this time of year. Couldn't be a better project, agency, and brand to be working on.

PDN Article Features JCP Newspaper...

2012-01-26T13:30:00.000-06:00

Launching today the March issue of Photo District News (PDN) features an article by Holly Stuart Hughes about the Fall Issue of the JCP Newspaper. We were excited to get the call for the interview / profile and hope you will take a few minutes to check it out. If you missed out on the Fall Issue you can catch up via the link here: JCP Newsprint. The Winter Issue will be printing soon, hitting mailboxes in mid to late February.

XtremeMac

2012-01-17T13:31:00.000-06:00

We're back in the office and excited for the start of 2012after some time away. The firstproject-based post of the year features a production for XtremeMac, a branch ofImation. They came to us last fallwith a proposal for a one-day shoot involving stills and motion, eager topromote their latest Mac oriented accessories. We started the conversation with their Senior IndustrialDesigner who was instrumental in bringing us up to speed on their needs and howwe could possibly collaborate on the project.

The products from XtremeMac range from iPhone + iPad casesto various charging units and everything in between. Our aim was to showcase these products in natural, real lifesettings with our talent interacting with the accessories. One way we were able to achieve this,within the parameters of a one day shoot, was to work in tandem with our DPAlex Horner to capture a similar look and feel to the still content. For each scene we were able to haveAlex mirror the video footage with that of the stills being shot in order tomaintain an overall consistency throughout both mediums. Over the course of the day, we put theXtremeMac line of goods to the test in several unique locations around theMinneapolis area and came away with a broad range of both still and motionbased content.

Under normal circumstances a shoot of this nature wouldprobably be carried out in two or three days, but one long day was what ourbudget permitted. Our intrepid crew was instrumental in pulling it off with allproduction coordinated by Bobbi Peacock. Looking back on this day of shooting it's hard to believe we managed toaccomplish what we did, both stills and motion in so many locations. I'm sure our crew was just asastonished with the number of locations, product and wardrobe changes, andoverall hustling that occurred throughout the day. Project requests for still and motion content continue tobuild and it’s looking to be another exciting year in the business.

Keep in touch with the blog as we will be posting the finaledits from the XtremeMac video in the very near future.

A stop for Cash...

2012-01-03T09:34:00.001-06:00

Johnny was and is the North Star; you could guide your ship by him. The greatest of the greats - then and now. - Bob Dylan

On the road with my family - a southern bound three-week road trip with many stops including Savannah, Georgia where we currently reside. Early in our travels we made an unplanned detour to briefly explore and photograph Johnny Cash's childhood home in the northeast tip of Arkansas.

With some perseverance you can find the Cash homestead at 4791 CR-924 just outside the city limits of Dyess in Mississippi County, Arkansas. Johnny moved to Dyess when he was three and lived here until he graduated high school in 1950. The town began as an agricultural colony during the New Deal. The original township had 500 individually owned and operated farms which were either 20 or 40 acres each. The house was recently purchased by the State University and will eventually become a museum. As you can see it will be some time before it opens as it's currently boarded up and all roads leading to it are heavily washed out. The refurbish will improve things, but no doubt something will be lost that time has gifted it through it's many years of disrepair.

According to his son John Carter Cash, "The rich gumbo dirt here made his spirit strong. His music came from here, as well as his faith and his family. He learned to work hard early in life."

MaLLy "Once We're Kings"

2011-12-21T11:10:00.000-06:00

"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...

Shanghai from floors 53 & 1oo...

2011-12-06T21:32:00.014-06:00

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

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

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

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

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

Up to this point on the itinerary, Shanghai has been thecity with the most to take in, and more often than not, an insufficient amountof time to do so. Shanghai is the most cosmopolitan city in China, home to over23 million people making it one of the largest cities in the world (New YorkCity has 8.5 million). We are staying in the middle of the city (adjacent toThe People's Park) and as you can see we had some really sweet views. While themajority of the world is wearing a financial frown, Shanghai seems to be ridinga crest of expansion and innovation. There seems to be nothing but smiles andan endless supply of dapper businessmen and women shaking hands to seal anotherdeal.

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

The first image taken one particularly clear morning wasshot from the 53rd floor of the hotel: a total of 8 vertical captures assembledvia Photoshop. The second image is a single frame taken at night from the 100thfloor observation deck of the Shanghai World Financial Tower (the secondtallest 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 closerlook.

"of Feather & Brace"

2011-11-14T10:03:00.069-06:00

"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.

Earnestine & Hazel's

2011-11-11T10:28:00.004-06:00

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.

Land O' Lakes in PA...

2011-11-04T09:08:00.064-05:00

"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."

"The Bike That Meant Everything"

2011-10-21T10:17:00.002-05:00

"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

Fall 2011 "Newsprint" Promotion

2011-10-12T10:55:00.021-05:00

"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.

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

2011-10-07T13:09:00.002-05:00

"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.

Full Sail in Marina del Rey...

2011-09-30T08:42:00.010-05:00

"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.

Broadcast spots for St. Elizabeth Healthcare

2011-09-08T12:15:00.017-05:00

"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.

Website Refresh for JC|P...

2011-08-31T13:13:00.016-05:00

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.

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

2011-08-23T15:00:00.002-05:00

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!

Farming Wind...

2011-08-17T13:04:00.006-05:00

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...

UCare + initio - 6 days over 6 months

2011-08-04T11:40:00.001-05:00

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.

New JC|P Branding

2011-07-29T13:11:00.002-05:00

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.

South Dakota Staring Back At Me...

2011-07-21T08:44:00.001-05:00

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.

Do The Waddle

2011-07-15T11:51:00.003-05:00

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.

USA Hockey - Print Campaign via Periscope

2011-07-06T10:01:00.010-05:00

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.

Purina via Colle+McVoy

2011-07-01T15:00:00.000-05:00

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

The Caribbean Pipeline - Rincón, PR -> Part II

2011-06-22T10:18:00.005-05:00

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 I

2011-06-13T09:00:00.010-05:00

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.

Memorex for imation...

2011-06-02T08:15:00.003-05:00

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.

The Year of the Horse

2011-05-25T09:06:00.005-05:00

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.

BSC via Olson, volume 2

2011-05-13T15:22:00.004-05:00

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...

Tim Easton: Joshua Tree, California

2011-04-25T15:15:00.007-05:00

"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...

"Ebb and Flow" - Bicycling Magazine

2011-04-11T15:15:00.001-05:00

"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.

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

2011-03-29T15:17:00.003-05:00

"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.

Specialized Bicycles In Motion...

2011-03-10T13:34:00.013-06:00

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.

BSC via Olson, volume 1

2011-03-07T12:02:00.008-06:00

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...

JCP at the Oscars...

2011-02-28T11:35:00.018-06:00

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!

60 Miles in 60 Seconds...

2011-02-15T09:02:00.040-06:00

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.

One Yoga

2011-02-07T15:17:00.000-06:00

"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.

Hills of Gold

2011-01-27T13:49:00.009-06:00

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…

Joshua Tree

2011-01-17T15:45:00.009-06:00

"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.

LSI - The Epicenter of Playgrounds...

2011-01-06T13:36:00.001-06:00

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.

Winter's hook, line, and sinker...

2010-12-23T13:27:00.013-06:00

After another great year of collaboration with the invoko team, we would like to look back and pay homage to our roots-Unfolding Forms. Several years ago around this time when the ice was thick and the snow was deep, we set out to capture the unique perspectives of an age old tradition in the northern part of the midwest. Our project, "The Life of a Minnesota Ice fisherman," combined the talents of Nathan Strandberg-EightHourDay; Dave Schroeder-Pilotvibe and myself to produce a multimedia piece that was fresh, interactive, and approachable in a slightly unconventional way.

As the former name implies, our current collective is indeed a transition from the old and will hopefully continue to be an unfolding form as we are about to embark upon the new year. Here's to a past project, one that has been a cornerstone--opening doors to new people and places.

Best to all of us in the creative community and the road ahead...

Happy Holidays from all of us here at JCP.

Angry Catfish

2010-12-16T09:15:00.004-06:00

In terms of new combo bike shop / cafes opening up in the Minneapolis area, The Angry Catfish is definitely in the top tier. We had the opportunity to take a closer look through an assignment for Bicycling Magazine. Proprietor and bike enthusiast, Josh Klauck, gave us the grand tour and indulged us with a few stories about resurrecting the former abandoned space to its present state. The renovated space features three work bays for bike repair/maintenance, a retail area with a spotlight on local frame builders, and a full coffee bar with knowledgeable baristas serving up the finest brews from intelligentsia coffee roasters. It's a great space to grab a coffee, put a few bikes on the wish list and all the while soak up the good vibes.

Shadows upon the sun...

2010-12-09T13:31:00.000-06:00

All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him. - Jack Dempsey

As the sun was coming up, we positioned our talent into place for the first phase of the boxing workout we had envisioned several weeks earlier. The morning air was cool and fresh as our boxer began his ritual; breaking down the silence with a speed driven whir of the rope as it met with the rhythmic taps of his feet on gravel. It was a great scene and a nice way to start capturing both the stills and video we set out for.

After this initial idea we moved on to another scene based on shadow boxing. The talent demonstrated various moves and then as we starting rolling video, put them all together to form a seamless moment of classic combinations. The scene was reminiscent of a Rocky Balboa type character training for an upcoming title bout. All we needed was the the old grizzled trainer pushing him to the next level with gravelly words of encouragement.

Towards the end of our time with the boxer, we realized how fit he really was. There seemed to be an endless supply of energy and enthusiasm for whatever ideas we could throw at him. In conversation we found out his real daily workout consists of 3 hours of training each day to maintain his current level of fitness--now that's dedication.

The Evergreen State

2010-12-02T10:20:00.003-06:00

As the year closes out and the winter months move in, it's nice to see a finished project that takes us back to the warmer days of summer...

In the latter part of June we went on the road to Seattle, Washington shooting the first of three "Member Stories," for United Healthcare and AARP. Our subject on this first leg of travel was 81 year old Marilyn Ward, long-time social activist, appreciator of art, book lover, and world traveler. Marilyn proved to be nothing less than amazing, and gave us a real window into her life over the course of the two days we worked with her. We went through a process of capturing video, stills and audio for the final piece, featured above, which will live on a micro-site within the UHC / AARP web space.

Through the collaboration and combined efforts of the Invoko team including: audio designer Dave Schroeder of Pilotvibe and Graphic Designer Nathan Strandberg of EightHourDay. This was the first of many projects we've worked on for United Healthcare / AARP that we spent more time focusing on video capture than gathering still images. The editing was put in the hands of Adam Duguay of Elemental Motion Media who has certainly become a regular part of this past year's motion based projects.

A big thanks to Marilyn for all the time she spent and her patience with our multiple takes and our numerous "can you do that one more time," requests.

Inbox - JCP "archive"

2010-11-29T09:04:00.000-06:00

Thought I'd share the e-mailer that will be hitting email inboxes this week. Keep an eye out and be sure to take look at new work + recent additions to the "archive" section of the JCP site.

Frank's House

2010-11-17T10:55:00.000-06:00

It's there in every one of us; a duality that speaks to the impossible recesses of the mind that blurs the line of what is real and what isn't. It's the part of life often lived in the shadows, walking side by side with the everyday crowd.

At a certain point of the year when the leaves start to lose their grip, those involved with the brotherhood find a secluded place to meet up simply known as "Frank's House" where they are able to take one day, let the guard down and relax a little. Although this one day is a time to unwind, it's difficult to draw the line between business and pleasure; it's a fine line constantly traversed -- why would a day off be any different?

"Let's Go Fly" - Behind The Scenes...

2010-11-09T09:22:00.000-06:00

Just over one month back the JC|P Motion piece "Let's Go Fly" debuted. We now have a completed edit, a "behind the scenes" follow up, which offers a glimpse into how things came together on the day of production this past June.

Thanks again to Elemental Motion Media for cutting this together and as always, making everything look stellar.

Enjoy a little perspective from the production side of the project...

St. Louis + Purina = Best in Show

2010-11-01T13:09:00.010-05:00

About forty minutes southwest of St. Louis lies the town of Gray Summit, home to Purina Farms; one of the most innovative and design conscious arenas in the country for showing top breed dogs.

As we made our way to the main entrance, we were greeted by the well manicured, larger than life, canine topiary. The air was electric with four legged champion hopefuls and their handlers whisking off to the next round of showings or heading back to the grooming area for a quick touch-up. Our main goal was to capture the essence of dog and handler / owner relationships for the next round of ad campaigns for Purina's Pro-Plan and Selects high end dog food via the creative minds at Colle+McVoy.

We spent the better part of a Saturday moving all about the various showing arenas and grooming areas capturing the nature of what it means to be at this level for dog and owner; a rapport that is a manifestation of the endless hours of training and care between them. It never ceases to amaze me how dedicated all participants are to becoming the best in show.

Off to Dallas later this week to guest speak at the "Still 2 Motion" talk put on by the Dallas chapter of ASMP. If you're in the area, please drop by. It should be an interesting evening...

New Band, New Sound, New Look

2010-10-21T15:09:00.001-05:00

A perfect autumn afternoon led us to the halls of a local theater in St. Paul, MN where we met up with members of the newly formed folk band Po' Boy Local 151. Lead vocalist and guitar player Chris Jones, gave us free reign to approach and create a unique look that would launch the new band.

In addition to photographing the band we took in a string of impromptu songs as we worked amid the varied indoor and outdoor locations.

Check out their site for more information on the band and upcoming performances.

Speaking in Dallas = "Still 2 Motion"

2010-10-18T14:00:00.002-05:00

A while back I was invited by Jason Janik, VP of the ASMP Dallas Chapter, to speak at a seminar featuring a couple of photographers who have begun working in the world of video / motion. I believe the call came through as a result of the McDonald's "Work & Play" project we had shot and received a write up on in PDN. The idea of speaking on this subject is timely and appropriate in terms of the increasing amount of motion projects I've been working on for clients in addition to my still photography. I am excited to note that just last week we received confirmation of an upcoming project for Boeing which will be almost entirely motion based.

On November 4th I will be presenting my still and motion work alongside veteran photographer / director Stewart Cohen. I'm very pleased to be speaking with such great company and will no doubt learn a lot from the experience. If you happen to be in the Dallas area on the 4th of November please stop by the Angelika Film Center Theater at 7:00 PM for the "Still 2 Motion" seminar. Until then check out some of the recent projects on the JC|P Motion section of my site.

Olson + Bauer -> Behind the Scenes...

2010-10-07T09:26:00.008-05:00

Up to this point, the blog has been a venue to highlight finished still + video projects; however, for this installment we thought it would be great to add a behind the scenes look at the Bauer Hockey Athletic Camp 2010 via Olson.

Each of the nine players we photographed were suspended on an 8'x 5' sheet of 1.25" Plexiglas set into a custom iron frame sourced by producer Jim Graham of Power Plant Productions. The force exerted by the blades upon the surface of the Plexi turned out to be 100psi per hockey skate blade. With a professional NHL player above, I needed to ensure that he wouldn't come crashing through, which explains the need for the robust dimensions of the Plexiglas.

In addition to the still photos, composited by retoucher Brad Palm, take a moment to view the time-lapse sequence, compiled by Elemental Motion Media, of the crew and the NHL players that converged in Atlantic City to produce the still images.

Let's Go Fly -> Premiere

2010-09-29T08:15:00.004-05:00

The newest addition to the growing JC|P Motion archive launches today. We are proud to present "Let's Go Fly" a collaborative piece brought about by the efforts of a great crew and talented post production team. As we've moved forward into video since the launch of HDDSLR cameras it became obvious very quickly that the most important and essential element to pull together any type of motion based project is seeking and building relationships with those in the film + video industry.

We would like to call out a few individuals that really helped shape and mold the piece from beginning to end into the final piece here on the blog.

Adam Duguay, of Elemental Motion Media, worked with us to finesse the finer points all through the editing process. He has implemented a cutting edge technique to help bring the grading as close as possible to the color corrected stills I initially provided as a guide. In addition to all of the editing, Adam has also brought my logo to life in a new animated form which is featured in this piece and will be present in all video projects going forward.

Katie Kirk and Nathan Strandberg of Eight Hour Day have been with me since the beginning working their design magic to elevate everything they touch to an amazing end aesthetic. Credit for the custom opening illustration goes to Katie and her sensibilities regarding the piece as a whole. She has helped guide us in a different direction graphically from our past motion designs, which has been a welcome change and will certainly influence our approach to the next project. Thank you both for your contribution to the piece.

"Let's Go Fly" is the third collaboration with Alex Horner who worked with us on filming "Un Jour Dans La Vie d'un Coureur" and "Bright Lights: Metal In The City." Alex has always brought a great sense of technical and visual insight to all our projects, and we have enjoyed seeing the various perspectives he provides as our second camera operator.

This piece is the first to have audio captured on location while we were filming and allowed us to bring in Patrick Schaefer. Patrick did a great job and helped educate us on the importance of slating a scene to make sure the audio is synced with the video when it comes time for the editing process. When you hear the birds chirping think of Patrick with boom in hand, mixers set and the record button on.

Without further ado..."Let's Go Fly"

Curves and Discs -> Zimmer Spine

2010-09-23T10:12:00.000-05:00

Our good friends at nFusion out of Austin, TX brought us on once again this year to continue to build as well as update the image library for Zimmer Spine that we started in 2009. This year we spent two days shooting in Minneapolis at a local hospital as well as Zimmer's recently remodeled HQ.

We've had great success in the recent past, securing a local hospital for a few projects and suggested to nFusion that this facility be used as the main location for the first day of shooting and production with Zimmer Spine. Having access to a real operating room helped our talent to ease into the roles of portraying a surgical team working alongside a Zimmer Spine representative. With an optimal environment such as this, it made it much easier to achieve a realistic look as well as increase and take the overall production value to a higher level than they were used to.

Our second day of shooting was spent at the Zimmer Spine headquarters in Bloomington, MN where various doctor / patient / Zimmer Spine Specialist scenarios shaped up nicely throughout the day. From conference room seminars with reps and surgeons, to a hands on practical experience in an on-site operating room, we had amazing surroundings for every scenario with each shot layered in realism and contemporary architecture.

As always a big thank you goes out to producer Bobbi Peacock and all the crew and talent who helped pull together two fruitful days of shooting in a variety of locations.

Next up- we'll be departing for St. Louis shortly to spend a couple of days amid the environs of a dog show at the "Purina Farm;" shooting once again for Purina via Colle+McVoy. I am really looking forward to this project as there seems to be no shortage of visual options with camera in hand at a dog show. There will no doubt be a post coming from this in the future...

Ice Time...

2010-09-09T14:19:00.016-05:00

”A fast body-contact game played by men with clubs in their hands and knives laced to their feet.” - Paul Gallico

Another year of sharpening skates and taping up hockey sticks has come to a close at the 2010 Bauer Athlete Camp where travels took us once again on the road for Bauer via Olson Advertising. Encompassing two days of shooting in Atlantic City, our time was divided between the ice rink and an elaborate indoor setup at a local hotel.

Day one took place at a local NHL practice rink not far from the legendary boardwalk city. The ice arena became the playground for a series of individual skill tests and scrimmages between all the participating players and we had the privilege of better than front row seats to a great exhibition of what goes into being a pro and taking to the frozen stage in the NHL.

The second day involved a large sheet of plexi-glass and nine pro players in full gear, but that's all I'll disclose just yet. This will be the subject of a near future blog post w/ a sweet "stop-action" video that unveils a behind the scenes look at how the most interesting part of the shoot came together.

Although I'm not an avid follower of hockey, I always come away with a new found appreciation for the masters of blade and stick after spending a few days on their side of the frozen hallowed ground they know so well.

Nothing to do...

2010-09-03T10:43:00.011-05:00

A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in. - Robert Orben

A recent evening with my son Wesley, up north, at the lake. Our fourth year together on this trip to a cabin just outside of Ely, MN. Just Wes and I and some time away at a favorite place.

Let's Go Fly... -> Part II

2010-08-24T11:52:00.002-05:00

"Kites rise highest against the wind, not with it." - Winston Churchill

With any project there is always a degree of production which invariably focuses on the "details." The recent kite project, which is taking shape nicely to be the next JC|P "Motion" feature, was no exception as we brought on talent, crew, equipment, and props-both large and small.

The largest item procured was a beautifully maintained 1971 MG B roadster brought to us by the owner Al Anderson through a contact at Quality Coaches. The classic British sports car provided an alternative option to American iron. With the top down, the car provided a micro environment to photograph our mother and daughter amid wheat fields, tall grasses, gentle rolling hills and an almost infinite sky. On the smaller end of the spectrum we combed the internet and worked with a local prop stylist to secure several varieties of kites- not knowing what would work best to tell the narrative we had loosely storyboarded.

In between seemingly non-stop travel over the past couple months, we've been in contact and conversation with our editor at Elemental Motion Media who is taking the reigns of editing, color, and audio for this project. We're also partnering once again with EightHourDay and look forward to the design elements they'll be bringing to the final piece.

The details are what tie it all together. We're getting close to the final cut; our next installment to the JC|P Motion section of the site. Check back soon as "Let's Go Fly" is nearing completion.

St George's University - Full Circle

2010-08-12T12:12:00.000-05:00

The third time is a charm as the old adage goes which applies to our recent collaboration with the Halo Group creating another round of hospital / physician based imagery for the Grenada based medical school, St. George's University.

Similar to the last shoot we used a very minimal amount of lighting, this time from LED 1x1 Litepanels via Cinequipt. Small, portable, and extremely efficient, the LED panels provided a quality of light right in line with the client's vision as well as our desired workflow. We've been using these and other continuous light sources as often as possible in recent projects allowing for video capture alongside our still scenes with minimal change in equipment versus that of traditional strobes.

As always a big thanks to Bobbi Peacock for producing the shoot along with our wardrobe stylist Deborah Fiscus as well as Ashlee Ellert who took care of all our hair and make-up needs.

We've spent a lot of time in hospitals and clinic based environments as of late. A sure sign of the current and future visual needs of clients...

"Work Flex..."

2010-07-28T16:04:00.008-05:00

"Yoga is invigoration in relaxation. Freedom in routine. Confidence through self control. Energy within and energy without." - Ymber Delecto

Our last full day of photography, shooting for LA HÄCH design, at General Mills Headquarters included a few pleasant surprises, one of which was a flex employee who turned out to be an avid practitioner of the ancient ways of Yoga. We met out on the manicured grounds just outside of the main buildings and were greeted by a nimble, able bodied yogi named Katie. After spending a small amount of time, we realized how adept our subject was at holding various poses and transitioning herself from one move to the next.

Analogous to the balance of body and mind, the General Mills "Work Flex" program has allowed employees like Katie to integrate their full time hours within their personal schedule needs. Thus far the flex program has been a success and has quickly become a viable option for those who need an alternative to the traditional 9 to 5 model.

We've been running at full steam- shooting, working files, shooting, working files... Coming up next week we will be working with the folks from nFusion on a project for Zimmer Spine.

McDonald's "Work & Play" -> PDN Feature

2010-07-20T15:17:00.002-05:00

Our latest JCP Motion feature "Work & Play," produced for McDonald's, was recently featured on Photo District News / PDN.

A nice write up that highlights and reveals the projects inception from start to finish. Thanks to PDN for this feature and once again a big thanks to all involved including Elemental Motion Media who brought the stills + video together in this final edit.

We're off and running in Atlantic City this week shooting at the 2010 "Athlete Camp." The project has us profiling 12 NHL players for Bauer Hockey via Olson.

Legs up...

2010-07-12T22:56:00.024-05:00

"To get away from one's working environment is, in a sense, to get away from one's self; and this is often the chief advantage of travel and change." - Charles Horton Cooley

It's mid-summer and we're living it up, shooting in seemingly all regions of the U.S., meeting an eclectic group of subjects, shooting for a variety of clients. Enjoy a little slice of life from the first stop of this weeks project in Houston, Texas...

On the beach for UHC + AARP...

2010-06-30T09:38:00.020-05:00

A vacation destination to rival that of Florida's hot spots, the city of Myrtle Beach has been welcoming visitors for over 100 years with its pristine Atlantic waters and soft sandy beaches. Last week we had the chance to spend a few days in North Myrtle Beach profiling Andrew and Julie Pytosh for the first of four United Health Care "Member Stories" under the badge of invoko. Our scope for the project included interviews by Dave Schroeder - Pilotvibe, art direction by Nathan Strandberg - EightHourDay, and still + video capture provided by myself - JCP.

I'm excited to look back on this first leg of the project documenting AARP supplement members knowing that the crew and I have raised the bar in terms of collecting content and implementing video into the overall endeavor where appropriate. As I've mentioned before, there's never been a more fascinating time to be in the business taking part in the merging of the still + video media realms. The new gear we've integrated as well as partners in shooting and post production are keeping things quite exciting as we move forward with new clients and expanded project requests.

The latter half of June and most of July have us running at full speed with travel to NYC, Houston, D.C., and Atlantic City. Check out the blog and keep pace with us as we share new people, places, and content.

Let's Go Fly... -> Part I

2010-06-17T15:19:00.030-05:00

"Imagination is the highest kite one can fly." - Lauren Bacall

As we quickly approach the longest day of the year, we decided to take advantage of the early light and spent the better part of a Saturday morning out in the countryside flying a kite. The project featured the use of new still + video equipment and allowed further exploration into the creative capture process.

Stay tuned for upcoming posts and the eventual final edit, Let's Go Fly...

An early influence and memorable subject...

2010-06-08T10:51:00.076-05:00

It's one of nature's ways that we often feel closer to distant generations than to the generation immediately preceding us. ~Igor Stravinsky

Upon a rare dig into the archives of some of my earliest images I discovered a sheet of negatives from a shoot I remember and look back on with fond memory.

While I don't have any "got my first camera when I was eight," stories, I do remember a mid-90's visit to my Grandmother's house in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul, MN. On any given spring, summer, or fall day you'd find Grandma in her backyard, sitting on her back porch swing, glass of lemonade with book or magazine within arms reach. Never in a hurry, always having plenty of time to genuinely listen to whatever topic surfaced; a quality she possessed that seems evermore valuable in today's time and space.

On this particular visit I arrived with a bit more zeal than was typical, my latest camera purchase at the hip- a new 85mm portrait lens ready to try out with a subject I knew would be more than willing and happy to oblige.

I am often asked about what steps or influences shaped my decision to tread upon this path and profession. My Grandmother on my mother's side, Garnet Rice, was the person most likely to have camera on hand, at the ready. She traveled near and far including multiple trips overseas. If I remember correctly she proudly stated she'd been to all fifty states, which for a woman of her means and her era, was quite a feat. There were always piles of 4x6 picture packs laying on her dining room table- she always ordered "double prints" so family members could take home their favorites.

Here's to being inspired by those before us; no doubt my work has a thread of my past woven into it. The road has gotten easier in many ways, yet more difficult and sometimes unnecessarily more complicated in others it often seems.

Grandma Garnet passed close to 10 years back - a vibrant and active woman of 93 years of age. A favorite person who still inspires, encourages, and smiles upon me. For this I am thankful and humbled...

Work & Play -> Final Cut

2010-05-25T14:45:00.006-05:00

While capturing video footage is the talk of the industry, we've learned quickly that any footage is only as good as the edited, final viewable product. Without a solid editor, colorist, and a person equally skilled with audio, most footage would remain just a series of clips stored on a hard drive never to see the light of day.

Over the course of the past year and a half I've been working to hone my video capture skills and have had the opportunity to collaborate with variety of editors. The process is always an intriguing one as it always adds more shape and voice to the content than I anticipate. We all have a vision when we set out to create new work, and in the video realm the aforementioned partners are essential to really make these ideas come to life.

This latest video piece is an augmentation of the still project shot for McDonald's over 4 days in Houston this past February. The crew and I worked to capture video clips in a variety of places, between shots, once our still needs were met. John Fontana also gathered ambient sound amid each of the stores we visited. To add to the look and feel we used a prototype glide track manufactured by Humble Monkey Productions which added a nice element of movement to each scene captured.

After wrapping the project in Houston, I got in touch with Adam Duguay of Elemental Motion Media Inc. in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. We had been talking for a while and through conversations I became really interested in his approach to merging stills + video in an edit and just as important his ability to color grade video to match still imagery. A few weeks after shipping him a drive of select stills, raw video and audio we received the first edit which left us here at JCP in high spirits of what had been achieved. With a solid edit taking shape and continued dialogue between Adam and I, we were able to further refine and match up the stills and video content quite nicely.

Enough about our process. Take a look and I hope you enjoy- it's been a long time in the works. In addition to the blog it'll be featured at the JC|P Motion section of the site.

Our clients at McDonald's couldn't be happier with the final joint still / video rendition. With iPad in hand I was psyched to share this and other JC|P video projects at the recent AtEdge Face-to-Face event in Chicago last week, as well as several agencies in the following days. The estimate requests that are coming in are a sign that people are really excited about the merging mediums and are looking for ways to integrate both options on projects, large and small.

Thanks to all involved on this and other projects. Lots in store on the horizon and I look forward to continued collaboration...

Compellent -> Fluid Data

2010-05-21T14:49:00.002-05:00

Inundated by data these days, it's hard to imagine where any of us would be without a way to process and store all the 1's and 0's that have become a part of everyday life.

The Minneapolis based Compellent: a company devoted to finding effective storage solutions for companies all over the world, recently held their yearly conference, C-Drive, which put us on location to capture formal portraits of various patrons attending the event. We had a small space to set up our lighting and backdrop which encouraged a more personalized experience with subjects and crew alike. Over the course of two days, we met people from all over the world and heard a few good stories about their hometown or their favorite outing while here in Minneapolis.

With art direction being a bit more moody and dramatic, the portraits are a departure from my typical daylight based approach and style. I am pleased with where they ended up and could see this project as a catalyst for future photo endeavors.

American Photography 26

2010-05-14T11:39:00.002-05:00

This past January we entered a few images in the American Photography 26 contest- shots from a shoot for Purina via Colle+McVoy. A recent e-mail notification came through announcing the above image had been selected for award.

Out of 8000+ submitted entries only 132 photographers were chosen to showcase their work on the American Photography 26 site. Congratulations to all my peers who made the selection for 2010.

Off to Chicago next week for another project for the N.M.D.P. followed by the AtEdge "Face to Face Chicago" portfolio showing event where I'll be meeting with creatives from both Euro RSCG and Abelson Taylor.

An evening at the Rodeo...

2010-05-07T14:02:00.007-05:00

"I admire bull riders for their passion and the uniqueness each one of them has." - Chris Le Doux

A call came through recently from Preston Kelly looking to commission an image of a bull rider being thrown from a bull for an ad for a national health insurance company. If this were Texas I'm sure it wouldn't have been too hard to locate, but here in the Midwest, it wasn't quite as easy. After reaching out to many folks in the local Minnesota bull riding and rodeo community, as well as producer Bobbi Peacock and some local scouts, we managed to secure a location and an event to capture the desired rider image as well as some additional still + video content for personal / portfolio use.

About an hour southwest of Minneapolis in Henderson, MN sits High Island Arena where the annual Friday and Saturday evening rodeo event was scheduled. Having secured full access to roam amid the event we found an unused horse stall which couldn't have worked better to set up a small portrait area. Once the Kino Flo Diva Lights from Cinequipt were in position for still + video portraits we set out to capture some behind the scenes shots, as well as scout the ideal position to capture a rider being thrown off a bull.

The rodeo was no doubt a true slice of Americana, steeped in rich tradition and history. It was certainly a visual place to spend a few hours and we had a great time working with all the people that keep this sport alive and well.

JCP Site Refresh + "Motion" Category

2010-04-30T15:28:00.002-05:00

The photography business is in a constant state of flux and the merging of the world of still and motion seems near the forefront of what is being discussed in terms of new creative content.

Over the past year, we have worked to evolve visually and have been a part of several video based collaborations. As time marches on and projects come and go, a whole new set of work has emerged. An update to the website seemed obvious and became something we worked hard to get underway between projects.

We didn't feel the need to reinvent from scratch, but rather take on a solid refresh of everything that was good about the old site, along with new additions to spotlight fresh work and our recent ventures into the world of DSLR video. We once again tapped Nathan Strandberg and Katie Kirk, of Eighthourday, for the redesign / update which now features larger portfolio images, a sleeker, cleaner appearance, and a new section entitled "JC|P Motion;" dedicated entirely to our video and interactive based projects.

Take a moment to look around the renewed JCP site and be sure to spend some time with the new section JC|P Motion where you’ll find our newest piece "La Vie..." based on the still imagery of the Runner shoot produced near the end of last year.

St. George's University

2010-04-23T10:18:00.000-05:00

Grenada may seem an unlikely place to establish a medical school, however, St. George's University was founded on this Caribbean Island over 30 years ago. The medical school currently boasts nearly 8,000 graduates practicing medicine worldwide.

This recent project for St. George's University was in fact my second - both this and the first were in collaboration with The Halo Group out of New York. For this campaign our backdrop was a Minneapolis area hospital which offered up some amazing access to the realistic medical environs we were seeking. With our talent in place and the various scenes lit, it felt a bit like being on the set of a fast paced medical drama. After trying a couple of lighting options, we realized the lighting from our modeling lights (kicked into umbrellas) actually had a more natural look. With some minor gelling we were able to achieve the desired look + feel while pairing with the existing fluorescent lighting.

Thanks goes out to Bobbi Peacock for producing another seamless project, as well as Janna Chin our wardrobe / prop stylist, and of course Ashlee Ellert our expert on hair + make-up.

The only thing missing was a visit from George Clooney- a'la early E.R...

# One

2010-04-13T10:50:00.034-05:00

'What doesn't freeze us makes us stronger.' - Tommy 'Hurl' Everstone

A recent shoot for Bicycling Magazine had us catching up with four "bike-centric" people / places in the Minneapolis metro-area. The story hails Minneapolis as the No. 1 bike city in America!

Considering we are a land of frigid temperatures, icy roads, sandspit, and boiler-plate ice, for part of the year, the elements do not take pity on the lone two wheeled bicycle. The fact that Minneapolites ride in these conditions at all speaks to the passion and dedication of riders here in the metro. The Twin Cities have nearly 130 miles worth of bike paths and bike lanes in the streets with over 8,000 individuals using them to commute to work. We were fortunate enough to photograph a few of the many prominent bikers and bike shops/cafes Minneapolis has to offer.

The Golden Arches of Houston

2010-04-09T13:18:00.001-05:00

The last shoot for 2009 took place in Burnsville, MN for McDonald's at a newly remodeled store, which led to one of the first shoots for 2010 in Houston, TX. Under the golden arches once again, the main difference between the two shoots, aside from location of course, was a greater focus on what happens behind the scenes as a crew member. In particular, our aim was more directed at capturing a day in the life of crew and managers who play a vital role in the day to day operations of a McDonald's restaurant. We were granted access to all of the behind the scenes areas which allowed us to float around freely capturing images + video of all the elements working together to make a successful operation.

Whenever the opportunity arises for an in depth look behind the curtain, we usually come back with a greater appreciation of the people and the effort that goes into producing the end product; after four days and 7 restaurants, McDonald's is no exception. From the kitchen staff, to window washers to the shift managers, everyone's role is essential for the golden arches to continue to stand tall upon a solid foundation as one of the most recognizable brands in the fast service industry.

Once again we were able to carve out time to capture some video - this time using a beta glide track type dolly system courtesy of our friends at Humble Monkey Productions. I look forward to sharing this final edit in days ahead.

Bright Lights: Metal In The City -> Final Cut

2010-04-02T09:13:00.014-05:00

The final video edit of "Bright Lights: Metal In The City" is complete. After much conversation and dialogue surrounding both the edit and color, editor Alex Horner has put the finishing touches on the final cut.

As mentioned in the post on February 2nd, Alex was brought on to capture video alongside the stills I was shooting on this test project involving a car + model amid the streets of the Minneapolis Warehouse District.

The end goal was to cut together a very short narrative, a piece that would match the look and feel of my stills. This is something I am working hard to refine as we dive deeper into the world of video. It's exciting to continually learn what works and what doesn't.

Alex has done a great job with editing, grading and even providing an original track by Composer Steve Horner, his father. I really like where the final piece has ended up. I might add headphones certainly accentuate the experience.

More video on the way. Just shot a still project for the N.Y. based agency The Halo Group at a local hospital here in Minneapolis. We wrapped a little earlier than anticipated so we quickly shifted gears to capture a little video. This content won't likely be used or licensed by the agency, rather will hopefully inspire and cultivate some ideas for another project down the road. The content will likely make its way into my first "reel" which will be coming together soon.

As always it's a great to collaborate with other professionals in the creative industry. Things are changing quickly in some interesting and exciting ways...

New Portfolio + Bonus

2010-03-29T13:24:00.016-05:00

Just received word that the new portfolio has been printed and is in route from Asukabook. This will be the third portfolio I've partnered with them on and I couldn't be more pleased with the print quality and their attention to detail. Things seem to get a bit more refined each time we update the book. Upon receipt we'll slip the books into our custom designed cases which compliment the JCP brand nicely.

In addition to receiving the printed and bound book we were recently notified by an Asukabook representative that the portfolio is being featured as the "monthly pick" to be showcased on their website. Check out JCP Portfolio for a sneak peak.

Upon receipt I'll be showing the book both locally and nationally in person as time permits. Paula Gren will of course start showing nationally very soon.

Keeping the wheels in motion...
While we're spending many of our hours on a refresh of the website, collaborating on multiple video projects, and discussing the iPad and it's infusion into the business, we are still giving equal treatment to our printed materials.

Stay tuned - later this week the full motion video "Bright Lights: Metal In The City" will make its debut.

Behind the scenes in scrubs...

2010-03-22T14:00:00.018-05:00

Modern medical equipment and accessories are rarely a part of most peoples' daily thoughts, however, at Universal Hospital Services (UHS) it's their focus and has been for nearly 70 years. As the country's leading supplier of outsourced medical equipment, UHS has a presence in all fifty states making sure hospitals have what they need to perform their duties. My crew and I were privy to a behind the scenes look at what goes into keeping up and supplying the medical community with the best technology has to offer during a two day photo shoot.

Working closely with the creatives at Schermer Kuehl, we set out on day one to help tell the story of the receiving, cleaning, repair and eventual dispatching of the rental equipment from one of the main warehouses in Minneapolis. The second day of shooting involved scenes demonstrating actual delivery and use of the equipment by hospital personnel in a medical setting. The next time you see a Baxter pump, IPAP, or other such equipment there's a good chance it came from UHS.

Another interesting project, roaming and collaborating with the A.D. and talent amid a varied backdrop of visual options. I found myself noticing / shooting more silhouettes than is typical. In this case they really seem to highlight / tell the story of UHS.

Stay tuned- our next post will be 100% video. The final edit is complete from the video portion of the, "Bright Lights, Metal in the City..." auto-shoot test. After a long string of e-mails and phone calls with the editor I am really pleased with not only the edit but the color / grading on the final piece...

Sing It LOUD

2010-03-08T17:15:00.015-06:00

"Without music, life is a journey through a desert." - Pat Conroy

As a long time resident, it's no secret Minneapolis and our neighboring city of St. Paul have a varied and eclectic number of options in terms of live music. On an otherwise quiet Friday afternoon before the lights went down and the amps got cranked up, we had the opportunity to spend time shooting local band Sing It Loud for their currently signed, Epitaph record label. As golden rays poured through the side windows of the Band Box Diner, our first location, we caught up with each of the five members of the band and learned a little more about what makes them Sing It Loud. Throughout the various locations over the course of the afternoon, we picked up on the individual traits of the five members along with a tight knit, cohesive nature they exuded as a group. Many thanks to the band for keeping the crew and I entertained during the shoot. It was a great way to spend a Friday afternoon. Their new album is due out this coming May...

invoko sets sail...

2010-02-26T10:15:00.011-06:00

invoko officially launches next week - the new collaborative side venture jointly marketing the talents of: sound designer Dave Schroeder--PilotVibe, graphic designer Nathan Strandberg--EightHourDay, and myself--Jonathan Chapman Photography.

When at the site be sure to check out the trailer for "The Emerald City Rediscovered," an unconventional take on Seattle and some people and places you typically won't hear of. The full version of this piece will debut in days ahead.

In the coming weeks and months we'll be hitting the pavement, talking to a varied list of local and national clients, spreading the word about our new collaborative effort of mulit-media / interactive storytelling. A great team, telling stories in fresh and innovative ways!

Un Jour Dans La Vie D'un Coureur -> Final Cut

2010-02-16T14:11:00.008-06:00

As promised in last November's post, the media portion of the running test is up and ready for review here on the blog or in the JC|P Motion section of the website.

Superior bound one frosty morn...

2010-02-09T15:12:00.016-06:00

"To say that Lake Superior is the greatest of the Great Lakes is to say much, but it draws no picture of the vastness of this haughty queen of fresh water who has a copper crown, the iron hills for a footstool, and the coldest blue eyes in creation…" - W. Ratigan, Pretty Tall Water Here, in Shipwrecks and Survivals (1969)

Awaking at 4:30 a.m. on a recent morning, my assistant and I set off for Superior, Wisconsin on an assignment for Chicago Magazine. Our subjects were a husband & wife team, originally from Chicago, who made an unconventional late career change. Taking up a new life together, they have focused their efforts on the monumental job of salvaging 6 million board feet of virgin lumber from three free standing, 133 year old grain elevators along the shoreline of Lake Superior.

The images above were shot just minutes before we arrived, traversing Lake Superior as we left Minnesota for Wisconsin. While not an idyllic mid-winter destination, from a travel agent's perspective, I always welcome the chance to head north, shedding a bit of the city for however long I am able. For me it's the first glimpse of Lake Superior that signifies the arrival of "being up north." Travel north this time of year and at this time of day offered a new perspective to a fondly familiar place.

Our next project takes us due south to Texas for a week of shooting - a nice project + destination I certainly welcome this time of year...

Bright Lights, Metal in the City: An After Hours Project...

2010-02-02T14:50:00.003-06:00

Talent at the ready, four wheels and a skin of metal punctuated with a blue and white emblem translated to quite a visual afternoon + evening in late November. The shoot was loosely storyboarded as: a model, a car, and some pre-scouted locations within Minneapolis' Warehouse district. The logistics and weather came together perfectly to shoot this project which had been brewing for some time. The vehicle was acquired via Euro Cars in Eden Prairie and Matt our talent from Caryn Model and Talent Agency. As with the Runner shoot we brought in Alex Horner once again to capture video assets alongside the stills I was gathering.

I am always working to find something new to shoot- a person, place, or subject matter that I've yet to spend time amid. This was my first foray into shooting anything auto related. I approached visually as I have other unrelated projects and am very pleased with the imagery we came away with. Thanks to the crew for hustling this one together- seems to be the trend these days and I don't foresee it changing. I guess that's what keeps it interesting...

The video portion of this shoot should be out soon - I look forward to announcing in a future blog post. For now please check out the gallery of additional stills at the archive section of my site. I am also planning an upcoming e-mail blast based on one of the shots. Keep an eye on your inbox as this will hit very soon.

We've been keeping busy and have some exciting things in the works including a new portfolio- almost all new imagery. We've had a couple of pre-showings with local buyers to get feedback on image selects + pagination. Response has been very good with only minor tweaks suggested around pagination and flow- based on color palette and image selection. We'll be ordering up the books and anticipate them hitting the streets around mid-March...

Under the Golden Arches...

2010-01-19T14:44:00.018-06:00

"If it's flipping hamburgers at McDonald's, be the best hamburger flipper in the world. Whatever it is you do you have to master your craft." - Snoop Dogg

Just when I thought 2009 was over, one last hurrah came up days before the new year to shoot a project for McDonald's. It was also a nice first project to arise as a result of my recent partnership with Paula Gren of Paula Gren Representatives.

The project offered more creative freedom than is typical. I was told to "do what I do," within and outside the walls of one of McDonald's newest restaurants; one that features the latest in terms of design and architecture. Upon first glance the interior layout and design reminded me of something one would see in Holland or another northern European country known for their avante garde designs. The overall modern look and feel of the store didn't take away from the time tested expectations of the golden arches.

The project involved a pre-shoot casting in the restaurant, gathering a varied pool of "real" talent; everyone from toddlers to teens to seniors. The end product was a library of images - "a day in the life" from an employee and customer point of view. Young and old, people were genuinely psyched to take part. The content we came away with is as unique as the new look of the updated McDonald's.

I've got to say whether working or eating - people are truly "lovin it."

EightHourDay + How Magazine

2010-01-05T11:50:00.004-06:00

Recently EightHourDay was asked to be featured in the June 2010 issue of HOW Magazine. The 6 page article will feature an interview with Nate and Katie as well as an array of their work. In maintaining their small business feel they asked me to capture their day-to-day life(style) as an intimate design couple. The shoot took place at EightHourDay's studio and presented a rich palette of options suitable as stand-alone images or as backgrounds for the portraits. As always it's a pleasure to work with talented folks in the industry. I look forward to seeing the article in the summer issue of How Magazine.

A happy New Year to all who follow the blog. The best for all and the industry as we move into the new decade...

Ice Time In The Off Season

2009-12-22T14:32:00.000-06:00

”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...

In the still of the night...

2009-12-10T09:22:00.000-06:00

"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.

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

2009-11-30T08:24:00.000-06:00

"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.

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

2009-11-16T16:36:00.000-06:00

"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.

Paula Gren Representatives + JCP

2009-11-12T09:15:00.002-06:00

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...

Mr. Budd in Memphis, after hours...

2009-11-03T08:05:00.003-06:00

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...

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

2009-10-26T07:04:00.016-05:00

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.

Sunday Morning in Atlanta

2009-10-16T13:47:00.003-05:00

"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.

"Without A Trace"

2009-10-09T08:28:00.002-05:00

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.

An afternoon with the symphony

2009-10-02T11:17:00.002-05:00

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.

Brother Ali -> Director's Cut

2009-09-22T08:47:00.030-05:00

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...

Twin Cities Polo Club

2009-09-18T08:07:00.002-05:00

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.

The Hills Were Black...

2009-09-11T09:27:00.006-05:00

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...

US Bank Revisited...

2009-09-08T15:38:00.028-05:00

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...

My traveling companion is 5 years old...

2009-08-28T12:35:00.007-05:00

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...

Privacy Filter...

2009-08-21T10:00:00.010-05:00

"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.

Minneapolis -> Duluth via Bicycle...

2009-08-14T09:12:00.006-05:00

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.

"Boardwalk"

2009-08-03T11:03:00.006-05:00

"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.

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

2009-07-27T14:15:00.000-05:00

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!

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

2009-07-17T08:30:00.008-05:00

"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.