Remember to Play with Your New Toys

Just having some fun during this joyous season. You should do the same.







Here at Cobra, we do our killing the same way we take our tea, with our pinkies out.


The latest entry in the Heroes & Villains Series: Freedom. As we know, the greatest freedom is the freedom to leave.

And one more entry in the Cast Shadows series.

Welcome Winter

It snowed immediately after the Winter Solstice. Nice timing. Still no Tauntauns. Though, I imagine Tauntauns will be rather uncomfortable when the snow melts tomorrow.

A Day (Night) Out

Spent an evening out at the Albuquerque Botanic Gardens and their Annual River of Lights. Lots of fun and absolutely beautiful. Heard some people complaining about the cold (it might have been maybe +39 F or about +4 C) but all I could think of was, "well, I could be in Petro." I've never been to Petropavl, but I know some people that are there now. I'm pretty sure they'd say it's warm out.


Still haven't had a chance to head down to the Bosque to check out the cranes. It's on my list.

Nom nom nom! Shark attack!

Dinosaur!


And finally, a lovely little friend from the Snowman Village. Happy High Holy Days Ya'll!

It's been a while...gimme a call...

"Well, I'm gonna try. I'll phone in the results."

Discovering Along the Way

Sometimes you get lost and you set yourself on a journey to find your place in the world. My particular journey took me to some amazing places and introduced me to some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Unfortunately, we could not complete that journey together as I discovered my place in the world. I say discovered because I am not there yet, but I have found the direction that I need to go to get there. There are mixed feelings, about ending the journey and starting a new one, but in the end I know I’m now on the journey that I need to be on. Also, I saw some amazing things along the way. There’s more here. To my friends that are still on the journey, I wish you well. You know where you need to be and you’re already there. Thanks for helping me along the way and I’ll miss you. And we’ll keep in touch. The world is a lot smaller these days.

On Connection in an Isolating Age

"Who am I? Surely, you know of me, yet I must wonder if you know me? Perhaps our paths have crossed, however briefly, though in a manner as to garner some significance. Or perhaps we were indeed well acquainted in a time long since past and a place long since left to the chains of memory.

Does it matter? Is there meaning, value in pleasantries spoken at arm’s length? And I would be remiss if I did not ask this of myself, but is it my doing that the span between your words and mine are far greater than they ever need be?

In a wondrous age where the other side of the world is as easy to reach as it is to take in the summer wind, how is it that more often than not, I do nothing more than cry out into the spaces in between…and hope that through the miasma of shouts and whispers, you should hear my voice alone?

Even this! Even this is yet another seemingly hollow effort to make my voice heard above all others and yet how quickly shall it fall to the wayside?

All of it seems to lie in the immediacy of distraction. Life gets in the way of living, as they say. And in the end, does the string still not require two cans for its voice to be heard, no matter the length?"

Insight

Insight is simply amazing. Gianni Lopergolo is an amazing artist and who knew, that I’ve been following his work all along. I highly recommend picking up his book, Insight. Not only will you be amazed, but you will help contribute to the National ALS Association, its Rhode Island Chapter and the Gianni Lopergolo Foundation.

Additionally, it was very nice to discover that the principles I follow when shooting: capture in camera, keep it simple, looking at everyday objects in new ways, are the same ones that Gianni Lopergolo has used to create such an incredible body of work.

Another Day Out...and About

A Day Out...This time to Santa Fe, NM with a special trip to see the Cathedral Basilica of St Francis of Assisi.

Like Old Memories

Shadows are often like memories, sometimes fleeting, sometimes lingering, but somehow always there. And of course, they both affect the way you see the moment you happen to find yourself.

Extra

A while back I had the wonderful opportunity to work as an extra with Jeff Goldberg as he photographed the University of Colorado Health Sciences Library in Aurora, Colorado. As I mentioned previously it was a wonderful opportunity to see how to work with models/extras in terms of directing and ultimately using them to make a great shot even better. Well, I am happy to announce that now you can locate my now oversized cranium on the web! I honestly don’t know who long these have been online, I pretty much forgot about them, so there you go. Jeff has done an amazing job capturing the identity of the space I can’t say I am surprised. His portfolio showcases his prowess and working with him just showcased his passion and professionalism. Be sure to check out his work.

Personality

From people to pets to places and things, everything has it. Sometimes it’s easy to find and sometimes it takes a little work to find it. What I love about photography is that the “work” isn’t work at all.


And if you haven't noticed, I am a nerd. And for those of you that already knew, you know that today IS giant robot day. Also, you may remember this isn't our fine robotic friends first appearance on these pages. Anywho, lets focus on what's really import...giant robots are awesome.

Junk in my Trunk

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got quite a bit of photo junk that I keep in my trunk (or at least one of them) and at times it seems like I have too much, from battery chargers to card readers to card cases. I wanted to get it all a little more organized, but unfortunately couldn’t find anything commercially available to that met my exacting needs (I’m very picky. Just ask anybody that has watched me during a toy shoot.) So, what’s a dashing chap like myself to do? Why make my own of course!

All wrapped up and ready to rumble. You can’t see it, but the belt is sewn into the back so it doesn’t get lost.


If you want to get technical, it’s a tri-fold wallet with a D-ring belt clasp.

Four pockets in a compact size to get me started. As you can see, it’s got room for a Lexar Multi-card ready and USB cable, and Canon and Fujifilm battery chargers (yes, I use more than one brand of camera. I like to be flexible and besides, one is a digital point n’ click). The pockets are even big enough to hold on to four Gepe Card Safe Extreme cases (which in my opinion are the best card cases available). And best off all, it’s all now grab and go.Oh yeah, I rock.

Day Out...at the Rio Grande Zoo

Several things always happen when I go to the zoo, including

1. Having the best-at-the-time-but-will-undoubtedly-make-me-sick-later green chili cheeseburger.
2. Drinking loads of warm water, but still get dehydrated.
3. I try fitting words like "pinniped" into everyday conversation. (the word varies, but you get the idea)
4. Dippin Dots.

Some bonus events from the day included

1. Added some shots to my continuing series “Cast Shadows” and experiments with “HDR.” (Check it out here).
2. Got pooped on (not so much a bonus, but worth mentioning. It was one of the lorikeets that you could happily feed.)

Enjoy!

HDRing animals is fairly challenging.


Look, a pair of lorikeets, which my be more exciting than a lorry of parakeets.


Cast Shadows

Joker's Wild

Freakish playing card imps. What will they think of next?


(In case you have no clue regarding the title of this post, this is from the Legend of the Dark Knight line done by Kenner a while back. Turns out I don't get rid of anything.)

Life Less Frightening

Wouldn’t that be nice? A life where everything just fell into place and you didn’t have to worry. Would that really be worth it though? This past year has been quite frightening, and looking back on it, that’s a good thing. During it, not so much, but looking back in retrospect, sure it all works out for the best.

I shot few events this past year, but that’s not to say the year was uneventful. I was able to get reacquainted with an old event that I had lost enthusiasm for (the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta) as well as had a wonderful time at an event that has become near and dear to me and that I will always try to support (the Denver Film Festival).

Those weren’t really the frightening bits though. Those were the safe bits. That’s one of the things that I am still learning to face: stepping away from what is “safe” and attempting something that I thought I wouldn’t have the strength to do. It seems this past year held quite a bit of that, from leaving the safety and comfort of a home called Denver and moving to New Mexico (where I feel much more like a fish out of water than when I moved to Denver), to quitting a job that was supposed to be temporary but instead became a family (thanks for the jacket by the way, I love it).

In my random ramblings about pirates, I mentioned that Columbus took about four months to cross the Atlantic. During that time, I imagine a time where time itself felt removed, where the world seemed slow, and the only purpose was to make it to tomorrow in the hopes that land would appear on the horizon. And when land was spotted, what an adventure to be had! But more than that, again there was the fear. Fear about a new land, a new set of challenges and another step beyond what is safe. I mean, for four months, the ship had become home, and now what was to become of them?

Now, I’m not a big history buff, but I feel like one of those sailors. I’ve done something similar; said farewell to my friends and family in Denver, moved to New Mexico to build a new home, and then what? In four months, there will something new to challenge, to experience, and ultimately to be afraid of.

But that’s the way it will always be, won’t it? This year just feels like all of it is happening at once, I think partially because of what’s happening with the world. You can let the fear of the unknown stop you, or you can overcome it. You don’t have to do it in one fell swoop. Take it in steps, go as far as you are comfortable, take a break, then go one step further. Hold onto something familiar to give you the strength to continue, be it family, friends, or even hobbies or music (or a ratty blanket you’ve had since you were small). In the end, life will always be frightening, so just take it in stride and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

(Wow, you think I could have put in any more idioms? I almost tried to work in “cowboy up” so that I could work in a “cowboy versus pirates” comment. Maybe next year.)

A (Dog's) Day Out

In case no one told you, animal photography contains its own set of challenges.

Still Waiting on Awesome

But this was pretty cool nonetheless. And yes, I had pirate ships at the airport and no, no one seem phased by my penchant for oddity.


And, just because a friend of mine mentioned it here on his blog (you should check it out, lots of good stuff), yes, this is blurry. Is it art? Who knows. Unlike the example Andrew shows, my image has intent in its use of blur, which can clearly be identified. I'm not so sure about the example, but I haven't spoken with the photographer so the intent could just be very subtle. I think that it looks like was taken from a car as it passed the tower, but that's me.

I think that we are far beyond the technical limitations faced by such men as Cartier-Bresson and Steichen (who by the way, manage to take sharp images as well as hauntingly beautiful soft images) that a soft image with clear camera shake needs to be evaluated much more heavily before calling it art. Still, clearly the image has generated discussion which art should do, so perhaps it is art. But if that is the case, then I wonder if our standards have fallen along the way. Who am I to say? I generally take pictures of things molded out of plastic and intended for children of all ages.

4 Months

Four months. It took Columbus just over four months to sail across the Atlantic to the new world. Can you imagine, leaving hearth and home, friends and family and not even knowing if you will ever come back again. I think the worst bit of it is knowing that as much as you promise that time and distance won’t keep me from your mind, I will be nothing more than ghosts and gateways. Time, distance, and the adventure that will undoubtedly begin after four months adrift will certainly lead to just as many memories lost as there are memories gained. Yet one can still dream the dream, that you will never be just a memory, that friendships last longer than forever, home is where the heart is (and a piece of it will always be with you), and of course, that pirates and ninjas will always be mortal enemies until the zombie apocalypse, at which point they will team up to create an unstoppable force of shear awesome rivaled only by the one Chuck Norris.

A Lack of Tauntauns.

As much fun as reliving the first half of The Empire Strikes back is every other week, there is a serious lack of Tauntauns, as is evident by the following pictures.

April's Fools

This was yesterday.

This was today.
As they say, what a difference a day makes.

I Found This.

I found this. I actually hadn't realized I lost it. We all know that architecture and I don't necessarily mix well, but I am constantly fascinated by the construction of said architecture. Just think about how much is built just to be able to build a building. Boggles the mind, don't it? Additionally, turns out this was taken just on a day out, before I even began the day out shooting. Nice.

Same Snow, Different Day

Yesterday, my pants literally froze with the amount of snow and ice caked in them. Today, I roamed Denver, enjoying a nice Thai Tea from the Pacific Mercantile. If I had a sled, I think I would have joined those frolicking in the snow. Still, it was cold like that planet in Empire. (not the drug trafficking film staring John Leguizamo, but the greatest film in the Star Wars saga.)