A Step Forward

Well, I landed a new job in a portrait studio doing professional photography. I am only shooting portraits, which I have never really done, and mostly it is with children, but I feel it's a strong start in the world of professional photography. I have already learned an incredible amount of information about how to shoot portraits in a studio, how to frame and light a portrait properly, and how to sell photos. To celebrate, this post is just a grab bag of some shots from my collection that are just sort of fun and interesting, there really isn't a theme. Let me know what you think!

I am thinking about trying to start selling some of my artistic photographs, so if anyone is interested in having some original hand signed prints from an amateur photographer that they sort of know online for very cheap, let me know. Much love. <3

Foggy day in Reno. Cat-hat-man.

Black Rock Desert. I chased this poor creature for a mile trying to photo him in the middle of nowhere. He died of heat exhaustion.

Rancho San-Rafael Park. I was feeling as lonely as this picture looks.

Rex.

My good friend Jordan at Pyramid Lake, Nevada. The water was nearly freezing.

Taken on my summer cross-country bicycle tour. This thing was like 4 inches long.

Pipe Dreams

I have an extreme fondness for tunnels; being in them, photographing them, and looking at them. If you've ever walked down a long tunnel in complete darkness you probably know what I mean. It feels very surreal, lonely, and claustrophobic. I enjoy the feeling of being in a tunnel, the scarier the better. These are some of the tunnel shots I've managed to collect. I've found most of the tunnels in the area where I live so it's always awesome to discover a new one while traveling. Most of these are self-portraits, set up with a timer and a tripod. Once in a while I can convince a friend to go exploring with me at 1AM.

Nighttime Adventures of Cat-hat-man

Night exploration is one of my favorite activities. People are sleeping, it is quiet out, the air is clear and chilled, and the world looks and feels completely different. You can dance, you can sing, you can take weird photos, you can wear costumes, and you can be yourself without reserve. If it's not something you've tried, TRY IT. Cat-hat-man is one of the photo-adventure characters I like to take out once in a while. That crazy cheeky cat is always up to something he probably shouldn't be. These all kind of have a grungy feel, which is typical of many night-shots unless you have a really good SLR camera. I am saving for a new one, but until then there are these.

This is actually two photos, edited together obviously.

Just a big park with a lake. Great for exploring at night.

Several photos edited together again. I was bored.

Reno Balloon Races: tunnel perspective.

At the park again. It looks like a fire in the distance to me.

Silhouettes

Silhouette photography has always been one of my favorite types to shoot. Something about the simplicity of the shots really interest me, I'm not sure what it is. I've based my photo style around silhouettes for the most part, and they comprise a large portion of the shots I consider to be decent. I also do most of my shooting in the dark when normal people are sleeping in their beds. It's a nice excuse to explore the city, find new places, climb things, and sneak around. I've been in the sewers, in abandoned buildings, in restricted areas, in every tunnel around, and generally anywhere with interesting lighting.

This was taken under a bridge with a friend. It's a mesh of 5 photos taken from the same position while my friend switched places each shot. We're both zombie fanatics and it was supposed to take on the feel of a walking zombie horde. Execution was a little lacking, but I still like the idea. I might re-shoot it.

This is my victory pose at the end of my cross-country bicycle tour this summer, taken in Virginia. I mailed about 40 postcards with this photo out to anyone who helped me, including the countless strangers who fed me and let me stay in their home.

This was taken in a biology building still under construction on university campus. The top floor had these giant metal containers. I made my friend climb into one. I thought it had this cool, industrious sort of look. Steam punk maybe. Funny story, the next time I went I got caught by the police and banned from campus. Luckily I graduated earlier that week. The cop actually aimed a gun at my friend and I from the second story as we were trying to jump the fence and said "FREEZE, DON'T FUCKIN' MOVE." So scary.

Reno has balloon races every year, including a morning dawn-patrol and then a mass ascension of about 100 hot air balloons. I go every year and usually get some pretty good shots. It's worth seeing at least once if you live anywhere within a few hundred miles of Reno. This one is a little grainy because it was so dark, but I like the composition and style enough to keep it in my collection. Behold: Cat-man.

This is my all-time favorite photo that I've taken. I found this tunnel in the wilderness between Reno and Sacramento. People say it reminds them of "A Clockwork Orange." It wasn't what I intended but I like it.

TMNT

These are three separate turtles I found alongside the road while on my bicycle tour this summer. After the photos I moved them all into the brush off the road. I'd like to believe I saved their lives, but the roads in the Midwest were just too appealing for the turtles to NOT sunbathe on, so they probably went right back immediately after I rode off. Every time I saw a squashed turtle, and it was ALOT, I died a little inside. I got three ninja turtles on my camera, but Michelangelo dashed away too quickly. Who is your OVERALL favorite TMNT character and why?

Leonardo

Donatello

Raphael

Forever Ocean

Took this photo during a ride across the country on my bicycle this summer. I wanted it to feel as surreal as possible. Think you can guess where this is?

Oh, the discoloration on my back is from a gnarly sunburn I got during the first week riding.

Numero Uno

I've started this blog as a way to receive some helpful criticism. If you have any suggestions, or if you just want to say something nice, please feel free.

The only foggy day in Reno this past winter. This way taken directly behind my apartment building.
Yes, I am wearing a cat-hat.