My Latest Addiction

I tried crack today, and I liked it.

My Gig As A Photo Teacher/Professional Model

During tonight's photography class I reviewed setting the ISO, talked about figuring out a usable minimum shutter speed and discussed more about how aperture affects the final picture. I decided I wanted to give my students some hands on experience with setting these controls on their cameras as I explained it. I needed a subject for them to photograph and I needed enough light for them to use a fast enough shutter speed so as not get blurry pictures due to camera shake. I recently purchased some used hot lights for $20, so I fired one up and sat myself down on the hot seat...man that light was seriously bright.






photo credits: Adam Findley
post processing: me

I seem to be drawn to a type of abstract photography where it takes a moment to realize what you are looking at. So naturally I was drawn to the picture I received below in response to homework I gave out last week dealing with shutter speed. Aside from showing what a tenth of a second shutter speed can do to a speeding train at close range, I really like the diagonal lines fanning out from the right side of the frame with hits of red color against the gray background. And what I think is super cool here is the perfectly still tree branches reflected in the speeding train's window. Well done Travis.


photo credit: Travis Cripps

Another Photo Shoot

Helped Candi out on another photo shoot today. Candi and I scouted out a sweet location near a stream at the Stanford Dish, while Enma took care of Teria's hair and makeup. We debated whether a sign saying "no fishing" constituted "no trespassing" or not. Our location did make for quite the show to dish walkers on the bridge overhead and our answer on trespassing came soon after when some guy in a white unmarked Chevy Suburban claiming to be Stanford Police told us we were trespassing and needed to pack up. We had already nailed the first shot so a location change was in order anyway. We headed over to Lake Lagunita and found the perfect spot for shots two and three.


scouting out locations


setting up the fake sun


Enma the stunt double


"That's a wrap" - time for Teria to get warm

It's a Boy! It's a Girl!

Bryan and Tauna announced they are having a boy and a girl due August 11th. They already announced twins at Christmas but only recently found out the sexes of the twins. I am so excited for them! I will now soon have two nephews and two nieces and will surely be a serious contender in any cutest nieces/nephews contests!

Random Quotes

Candi, for no apparent reason: "By the way, do cows attack?"

Rob & Adrienne

Photo Shoot - Behind The Scenes

My friend Candi needed a few models last minute for a fashion photo shoot in Santa Cruz because her scheduled models had bailed. I recruited Joanna who recruited two of her roommates, Brianna and Keena. Andy and I were recruited for the two jobs every guy wants: grip and gaffer on a fashion photo shoot.


Candi scouts out locations


Picking out clothes




The girls get ready


Candi in action




Outtakes I took with my Holgamod lens


photo credit: Andy Bradshaw
Modeling can be very tiring



Image #22,000: Andy gets his model face on

Random Quotes

Jessie, while being seated at Chile's: " I hate sitting with my back to the room...I feel like I could be ambushed...I grew up in Wyoming."

Random Quotes

Bailey: "I'm not really much of a broacher."

Random Palo Alto

Random Quotes

Maret: "Is anyone here talented at writing me songs?"

Cataract Falls

Cataract Falls is a series of approximately nine separate waterfalls on Cataract Creek in Marin County. These two pictures are only a small part of two of them.

Random Quotes

me: "I know why I'm so tired - it's because I fell asleep on my bed last night."
(In my world this comment made perfect sense...I was still dressed, the bed was still made and the lights were still on. It was not the best night of sleep.)

Image #21,000

Taken while doing headshots for Tim Hawkins's landscape design website.

Kayaking Half Moon Bay

Rayne, Sara and I had ourselves a well rounded Half Moon Bay adventure: Loaded the bikes into Rayne's truck. Biked from Venice State Beach to Pillar Point. Watched surfers at Mavericks. Rented kayaks. Paddled the harbor. Interacted with the one of the indigenous sea lion population. Identified various waterfowl. Dodged fishing boats. Trespassed on an abandon pier. Surreptitiously flipped Sara's rudder up with my paddle then successfully blamed it on Rayne after she noticed it a good 20 minutes later.

photo credit: Sara Smoot

The Methow Valley

Only you can prevent radiator boil over.

Random Quotes

me: "Hey Megan, check out the guy with funny glasses at your 8 o'clock."
Megan: "Let's see...12 o'clock [pointing forward], 6 o'clock [pointing over her shoulder], 9 o'clock [pointing to her left], 8 o'clock [pointing to her 8 o'clock]...Ah ha, got it!"

Image #20,000!!

Cousin Bailey B delivering the goods to the basket!

Random Quotes

Bailey: "Why are they heeere?!?!" [said while jumping up and down in frustration about the boys visiting from next door]

Extreme Sledding

I love Winthrop! After breakfast we shot skeet. After lunch we went sledding. After sledding we pulled a truck out of a ditch. All in a day's work in the Methow Valley. Snorting an ice cold line of pure snow up my nose. This would be Mike and Rachelle's next Christmas card if only we had remembered to include Carter and Damian. Carter's jump may have won him most air but possibly only because we don't have photographic evidence of little sister Sydney's spectacular launch. Bart and Velma - always frolicking in the snow.

Todd & Taylor

Alamere Falls

Saturday was perfect weather for handstands on the beach and a waterfall. Sara and Maret provided the handstands and other graceful feats; made possible by the several thousands of dollars their parents spent on ice skating and gymnastics lessons. God provided the waterfall.

Technically a waterfall that falls on the beach, or in the ocean, is a tidefall. Alamere Falls is one of two such tidefalls found on the California coast.

The North Face provided us with steady footing; each of us sporting a pair of Hedgehogs.






Random facts of today's adventure gleaned from my new toy:
Distance: 10.00 mi (includes .02 mi r/t from
car to bathroom)
Elapsed Time (moving): 3:26:13
Avg Pace: 20.37/mi
Avg Speed: 2.9 mph
Max Speed: 5.0 mph
Ascent: 3630 ft (I think I pressed start after already ascending 15 ft of stairs at the beginning of the trail)
Descent: 3645 ft

Random Quotes

Sara Beth: "Now all I need is a jog stroller and my life is complete!" [after receiving an early Christmas present: a toy Air Burst Rocket kit]

Fire Dancing

Helping Candi out with a photoshoot of my friend Curt in Santa Cruz