model rockets

My assistant Matt enjoying some down time on a recent shoot.

Yes that is a 16 foot model rocket on top of the jeep. It weighs 35 pounds empty and launches up to 25,000 feet. For an example check out this YouTube clip.

I loved model rockets when I was a kid. Loved them! Not the big ones of course but the small ones that take an hour to put together and even longer to paint if you care about the final design work. The Big Bertha was my favorite. In 7th grade my school had a model rocketry class that you could take as an elective. So for 50 minutes every day at 9:40 I would sit in my model rocket class and build. We learned about real rockets of course. We learned about the space program, we learned about aerodynamics and the atmosphere. But in the end all I cared about was launching my rockets; seeing them go high, sometimes exploding, sometimes flying sideways. We always had a ton of fun-

salt flats

Shooting at the Salt Flats. I love this place. It's so barren, so big and open.

san diego

I was in San Diego for a shoot last week. Shot this with my iphone the first evening.

During high school I basically spent the summers at Huntington Beach even though I lived about 40 miles inland. I had a 1986 Toyota Tercel two door hatchback. The car was faded red and had a mismatched orange hood. It didn't have a radio or air conditioning. I bought it for $200, it got 40 mpg.

One July morning my friends and I were driving down the 55 when all of a sudden the engine revved to 8000 rpm -my clutch had gone out. We pulled over, pissed that we were going to miss a sweet beach day. I had it towed back to my house. The clutch was going to be $300 to fix, so I sold it to my neighbor. After that we started using my friends car and my main mode of transportation around town became a mtn. bike.

award

The ED site was awarded Communication Arts web pick of the day for 6.18.08. Once again I have to give props to the phenomenally talented Eric Kass over at Funnel.

summer as a kid

When I was a kid I spent a lot of summers in Northern Cal on my grandparents ranch. I learned to chase rabbits, build things with scrap wood, shoot a 22 rifle and fish for trout using a tree branch and worms. It was great fun...some of the best memories of my childhood. I'll be going back in a few weeks to shoot the spots and places where my memories are the strongest. Can't wait!

sponsorships

In elementary and junior high I wanted nothing more than to be a professional baseball player with lots of sponsors. I ate and breathed baseball. I started playing when I was 5. Second base was my specialty. Growing up in Southern Cal I was a huge Angel fan. I would sneak a small radio into bed at night so I could listen to all of the games. When I was 14 I worked out a deal with one of the guards at the back entrance to the stadium; the deal was autographs for entrance. During those days only about 5-10,000 people came to the games, so I spent my summers on the first row behind the Angels dugout. Whether they won or lost I wouldn't have a voice by the end of the night. I even jumped onto the field for a foul ball once. I thought I was going to prison for life. Security just smiled and said don't do that again.

I quit playing baseball when I was 15. I turned to running instead. By the time I was 17 I had turned into a decent runner with some potential. My nights were spent with dreams of being sponsored by the time I was 18 and making the Olympic Trials. Future injuries dashed those dreams.

After all those years of dreaming I finally have my first sponsor. I've just signed with Lowepro. They are a great company and I'm excited to be working with them.

pdn photo annual

It's always an honor to win awards and be recognized within the industry. A special thanks to my designer Eric Kass and developer Mark Helton. As always they were fun and easy to work with. Both are tremendously talented.

I won my first award when I was 17. I had recently picked up a camera for the first time and my high school teacher urged me to enter some photographs in a county photography competition. Much to my amazement I won. It was a toned image of a rusty handle on a wooden gate. Nothing special, nothing fancy. But it helped me develop a life long passion for the art.

david archuleta for people

Shot American Idol's David Archuleta for People Magazine. It was a fun shoot. David was great, a bit overwhelmed for sure though. American Idols crew was really easy to work with. Sam the producer was extremely helpful and accommodating. My favorite two-line conversation from the day:

In the Limo on the way to the game:

Sam- What do you think of the motorcade?
D- (looking around at the 12 police cars and motorcycles plowing a path on the freeway) Look at the people driving by, they're taking pictures of us. They probably think I'm the president or something...

traveling

My assistant Matt. He really wanted the RV. I love traveling with Matt. He's super chill, hasn't lost anything yet and keeps things rolling smooth.

walking across america

I found BJ Hill walking along a country road headed to his home state of Massachusetts via California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota into the south and back up to the north east. Yep he's walking across the country. Really cool guy. He's carrying a book with him asking people he meets to write a message to the future President of the United States.

He's had a good trip thus far. Except for the punk who stole his gear in the middle of the Nevada desert.

You can read about his travels and cause here.

dane

Dane. I found him enjoying a nice spring morning. I'm from Southern Cal, so when it starts warming up I find myself thinking about the beach.

I had a Nash skateboard when I was a kid. It was basically a longboard. Once I went camping with my family. We car camped. There was a big hill leading into our area. It was steep and long. I walked to the top and started my decent. About halfway down I hit a rock, I flew about 40 feet through the air. I picked pebbles out of my hands and knees for a few weeks.

sports

I love sports. I love being active. I started playing t-ball when I was four. I played baseball until I was 14 when I broke my arm; I never got my swing back. After baseball I took up pole vaulting. It was fun, I almost killed myself. When I got bored of that I started running long distance. In college I ran the 5000 on the track. Running helped me cope with things. I've never wrestled though, thought it would be torture to run in plastic bags and starve myself to cut weight.

steak

Martin for Men's Fitness Magazine. He was cool, a bit self conscious but had a story to tell. Said he was going out for a steak dinner after the shoot. I used to wait tables at a steakhouse in Alaska. It was fun. The Steak was good. I liked the porterhouse, medium rare. The service was fantastic, as long as I waited on you.

rig

We were headed back from a shoot in Southern Utah last week. I spotted this guy and his rigged setup. My assistant grabbed the camera and I pulled up along side. He loved the attention, sporting us the hang loose sign.

spring and cold

It's supposed to be spring here. It's not. It's cold. There's snow. Savannah enjoyed the first five minutes of the shoot, then decided she was done.

family

Family, San Antonio-

hallandale beach

Found this scene in Hallandale Beach, Florida. I felt like I was on a deserted movie set. After a few minutes of shooting, the owner came out to make sure I wasn't "messing with his ride." I asked to take a portrait of him on his sweet ride, he went back inside.

windy

Shooting for Smart Money Magazine. Yep, the wind wreaked havoc!

50 ft up

Shooting 50 ft up on a 3 ft wide catwalk with no rails. I'm afraid of heights- I often have falling dreams, not sure what that means though.

big walls

Big walls everywhere. Yes, that's me working hard-

train

Heading down to Arches NP and Moab this week to shoot a project. Should be sweet! Last time I went I found this train. I hit the breaks, made a u-turn and shot it.

buick '73

I was doing some more location scouting and then out of nowhere I found this!

track

The last season of racing for this track was the summer of '99.
I found old schedules scattered everywhere-

Location scouting for an upcoming production.
I love how vast and open this place is-

clothes

I trespassed to get this shot. It was only for a few minutes; there were no dogs or fences.

moon

I love mountains. I also love big skies.

tree

If you know who is responsible for painting this wall, please let me know.
-I want them on my team-

rec center

Location scouting for an upcoming shoot. Reminds me of the good part of my childhood.

bus

I was waiting for a pedestrian---got a bus instead.

riders

Found them up a canyon somewhere in central Utah. Really cool kids.

ralph

Ralph was cool. I think this shot might spur a personal project.

trailer

I think it was occupied-

girl

Found her between Ft Lauderdale and Miami.

some walls

I love walls, they inspire me for some reason. Shot in Dania Beach, FL.

boy scout

I was a boy scout growing up. It literally saved my life.

miami and my holga

So, I love my holga. Taken in Miami. The guy was European, (French I believe ?!?) I asked him about the U.S. flag trunks----- but he didn't understand what I was asking.

caddie

Found in Miami Beach. It was for sale- I almost bought it.

angela

Shot in Corona, California.

dollar wash

I was only half tempted to do a load while I shot-

pool

new photo blog

I will be posting random shots of my travels, family, found objects, people and places. Kind of a get to know ED photo journal type thing.