invoko -> Part II: Nella Cucina...

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

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

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

invoko -> Part II: Nella Cucina...

Center Stage with Bain Boehlke

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

Center Stage with Bain Boehlke

"Ola 2"

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

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

Stay tuned…

"Ola 2"

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

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

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

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

Barron's -> Mr. Frels

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

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

All came together quite nicely.

Barron's -> Mr. Frels

"The Bikery"

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

"The Bikery"

Rain + Snow + Ice

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

Rain + Snow + Ice