Month: June 2009

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Time for new batteries…

My AA nimh rechargeable batteries just aren’t holding up like they used to. No surprise, since I’ve had them for close to FIVE years now. Yeah, they lasted that long with regular use in my cameras and flashes.

I was told about a company called Thomas Distributing that carried the Maha/Powerex brand a long time ago, and I decided to try them out. One of the best moves I ever made. If you want reliable batteries and chargers, go here:
Look around all you want, but when you are done browsing, get these batteries:
…and this charger:
Though, I must admit, this charger looks pretty cool (I haven’t ever used it, though):
I am hoping to get another five years out of my new batteries. I hope the Powerex brand is still just as good as it was when I got my last batch.
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zzzzzzz…

Yes, I am so tired and about to hit the bed hard. I’m also a bit sunburned and very sore all over. But, it was worth it, because we got some GREAT photos for the next BFS record.

The art director, who flew in from NY, told me that he handled the artwork on all the Modest Mouse 7″ singles out right now. I’m already a Modest Mouse fan, and had considered picking up the records. Now I definitely want one!!!
That’s it for now. I’ll post again when I get caught up with everything (which feels like never at the moment).
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No new posts…

Sorry, but you probably won’t hear much from me for a few days. I’ve been slammed with shoots all weekend and am doing another major label album cover shoot all day Monday. Then, the next few days will be filled with even more shoots, probably until next saturday or Sunday. In other words, don’t expect any new posts this week.

If I do post, it may just be a quick tidbit, because I really have a ton of work to get through. But, I promise to post any interesting photo related things I come across if I have time. Oh, I did get two Holga cameras for ten bucks each today. Plus, I found a propack of 120 film in an old bag tonight. Makes me want to bust out one of the Holgas (I have four now – got my first one in 1996 or so) and take a few artistic pics…
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Father’s Day gift for the photographer…

Check these out: 

  

I’m sure it’s too late to order these for your photog father, seeing as how father’s day is tomorrow.  However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a head start on your Christmas shopping!  These came from www.cufflinks.com and are made very well.  They are made from a heavy metal and the black coating (enamel, maybe?) seems very durable and shiny.  
Normally, I’m not into the novelty cufflinks, but these ones seem just low key enough for me.  I think I’ll wear them tonight…
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Flower power…

I had a photo shoot this morning and work in the office/studio during the afternoon. However, my evening was spent hanging out with the boys outside in the backyard. They played with their toys and I played with mine – mine being the Canon 5D mkII, a 50mm f/1.4 and some macro extension tubes. You’d be surprised at what you can find in your own yard, if you look close enough…

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Some like it hot…

I had to go out last Saturday night and get some shots for the cover of Quick’s pool feature. It basically highlights some pretty cool bars that also off a pool to play in. Well, it was quite a hot and sticky evening, but my Canon 5D mkII and I braved the oven-like weather and came back with this shot:

For those of you more interested in the geeky technical stuff than the girl in the bikini, I’ll fill you in…
Camera – Canon 5D mkII
ISO Rating – 4000
Mode – Manual
Shutter Speed – 1/8 sec
Aperture – f/5.0
Lens – 16-35mm f/2.8L (used at 16mm for the image)
Flash – 580ex, set to auto minus 1 stop, zoomed into either 35 or 50mm (I forget exactly)
Image taken at 11:37pm in downtown Dallas, by the way.
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A few mentions…

So, I was told that my name popped up a few more times recently, here and there. I’ll share the links:

The above link lists me as being “talented”, which is very flattering, I must say. It’s a whole lot better than being called the “average” or “sucky” photographer, which would not be so flattering!
Not really a shout out in the body of the story, but the cutline very clearly points out my efforts on the new Rhett Miller disc. Very nice to receive more than just the standard “photo by” credit.
Not quite a “mention”, but more like a picture of my backside.
Oh, and I forgot to go download that radio show podcast from a couple weeks ago where i was mentioned. I’m going to go track that down right now…
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Multimedia Journalists take note…

This is a good little article to read if you want to know where the money is:

Newspapers and traditional media are scaling back, and in some cases, closing up shop all together. This article gives a good perspective on other avenues where a multimedia journalist (photog, writer, blogger, videographer, etc… all wrapper up in one) can go to continue his/her trade. I read the story in print, in the current issue of PDN earlier this month. However, I thought the online version was worth linking to, after reading David Leeson’s comments regarding the story:

An informative article by PDN writer David Walker about life after newspapers. I loved my life as a newspaper photojournalist. I experienced a privileged life, where wealth was not measured by a bank account but rather in the diverse riches of human experience.

I am not a daily newspaper photographer anymore but the good news for me is that I have been able to remain a photojournalist. My camera is capable of recording motion and sound with video.

For me, and many others, a new era of photojournalism is before us. There is no equal to the power of the still image but it is equally beautiful to produce “images” that move and speak.