At this moment...
05.25.09
Spent Memorial Day at the Arlington Park Race Track. I haven't been there since maybe 2001. I've never shot horse racing before (I'm not really a fan of horse racing) but I figured it would be a nice way to spend Memorial Day with my family. I didn't place any bets. I tried my hand at panning. Not the most successful but not too bad either. My issue was that my shutter speed was too slow as I wasn't paying enough attention. Hi-res versions available here.
05.24.09
S has the best smile ever. Ever. I'm so thankful (and very blessed) to have her in my life.
And she just happens to make really delicious handmade granola bars (as demonstrated by the below).
Today I did a photoshoot for a friend. She needed a new headshot for an audition so she asked me if I'd be up for the task. I've never really done posed portraiture. I mean, I've taken my fair share of portraits, but not many where I was kind of directing the person whose photo I was taking. I tend to prefer a more photojournalistic style, but I have to say, I am quite pleased with how the photos turned out. Hopefully she is too. I also ended up snapping a few engagement photos of her and her fiancee. These were taken in the park by my apartment. I was thinking the sun would be my enemy (I brought along a couple of wireless triggers and flashes, plus my light bouncing disc but they weren't necessary). Thankfully there were some nice shaded areas. I liked that there was a gentle breeze as it created some nice movement in her hair. These were shot with the spectacuar Canon 85L mm f1.2, possibly the best portrait lens.
05.19.09
S and I shared a sundae at Margie's on Montrose...
05.17.09
Before Adventureland.
05.07.09
Last night I used just a bit too much laundry detergent and kind of created a slight mess at the laundromat...
05.04.09
Last week I had an opportunity to meet two extraordinary and inspiring indviduals, Staff Sgt. Dameon Wilson and visual journalist Jacob Foko.
For the past eight years Sgt. Wilson has been in the U.S. Army. While stationed overseas in Iraq, Sgt. Wilson's vehicle hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and Sgt. Wilson lost his left eye. Upon returning back to the states for rehabilitation, Sgt. Wilson received a Wounded Warrior Scholarship from Colorado Technical University Online. This past March Sgt. Wilson completed his Associates degree (the first member of his family to attend college) and is currently enrolled for his Bachelor's degree in Information Technology.
Staff Sgt. Wilson
In 2003, visual journalist Jacob Foko came from Cameroon, Africa to the U.S. unable to speak the language. Prior to coming to the U.S., Foko had been a staff photo reporter for Cameroon Radio and National Television, and Libre Afrique. His celebrated work, "Cameroon's 100 Faces of Poverty" was shown simultaneously in the nation's ten states. His list of humanitarian interests, documenting poverty, education and health issues led him to Africa Express Magazine, Africa International Magazine, and Jeune Afrique Economie, headquartered in Paris. He created the Cameroon Association of Humanitarian Photojournalists.
An invitation in 2002 by the U.S. Ambassador in Cameroon to speak about the challenges of being a photojournalist in an unfriendly political environment and a nomination for a photojournalism award by the Global Health Council brought him to Washington, D.C. He became a member in the American Society of Media Photographers. French-speaking Jacob mastered English before his move to California to pursue his Bachelor of Arts in Visual.
In 2008, Foko produced The Flux Mothers, a short documentary on the victims of the Congo 1997-2000 civil war. Foko journeyed to the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville) in Central Africa from January to March 2008. In the Republic of Congo, Jacob met with Dr. Anne Tafaro, the founder of the organization Urgence d'Afrique, translated as Emergency Africa. She is helping young single mothers and children who were raped and abused during and after a devastating 1997-2000 civil war. Foko documented the lives and hopes of young mothers and their children. His film and photographs focus on a remarkable project that will help these victims of war gain self-sufficiency through job training and build classrooms and a health center.
Learn more about Foko's non-profit organization, Global Humanitarian Photojournalists.
Jacob Foko
Jacob Foko
Staff Sgt. Wilson and Jacob Foko
Jacob Foko
Staff Sgt. Wilson
More photos can be found here.
On Sunday morning S ran 20 miles, so I stayed back and made buttermilk pancakes and blueberry syrup.
