Long Overdue Music Video - Thoughts?

In lieu of a more timely posting...

Check out this nearly finished music video for the NYC band Gold Streets and email me via my website with ideas for the final missing element. (Website link on right side of page.)

My NYC Festival Premiere...

Prisoners

A man is hired to do an unusual but seemingly straightforward job. Then things start to go wrong ...

an award winning film directed by Lawrence Kim has been selected to appear at

The Big Apple Film Festival

Saturday, November 7th, 2009 at 6 pm

Please join us for the premiere screening of the film,

this is the first narrative film I have DP'd and the entire program promises some great work.

There is a party following the screening sponsored by Stella,

hold on to your ticket stub for admittance.

BUY TICKETS HERE (Do it soon as this will sell out):

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/85040

*Make sure you purchase a ticket for "Program 21."

Free Airfare through October 8th!

Almost forgot the shameless self promo...

Jet Blue's "All You Can Jet" pass means free airfare for any clients booking work near a Jet Blue city in the US or Central/South America. Contact via my website for details.

Why do I only post in Nevada?

In a twist of meta-irony not lost on me, I was approached by security while shooting this sunset shot on the top floor of a Vegas parking garage. "You can't be taking pictures of that from up here... Since 9/11, we're a lot more careful."

Apparently the fake New York is just as much of a "target" as the real New York. My retort about being from New York and how I am able to take pictures there freely was not met with the anticipated chuckle, but in stead a blank stare. At least he didn't ask me for my memory card, I guess.

It was my intention to keep this as a travel blog, but due to the pace of travel lately and the fact that almost everything I'm shooting is for publication and thus cannot be published here, it's been challenging. That aside, I'm stepping it up and starting to post on the regular: behind the scenes, motion picture work, interviews with subjects and other photogs / filmmakers, other cool stuff, so check back often...

That's the sound.

I headed north through the desert from Vegas on day 6 towards Reno. After stopping to take some landscapes of a desert lake, I was surprised to look up from my ipod to see the pictured gentleman in my mirror, with some lights and fanfare... Unfortunately it wasn't a parade behind me but an apparently very brief "reduced speed zone." After procuring my documented punishment for exceeding the speed limit, I hesitantly utilized cruise control for the remainder of the day.

About 20 minutes (and $57) later, I caught up with the officers at the only rest stop for over 100 miles. After assuring me that they weren't following me, I asked if I could shoot a quick photo to post on the blog, and here it is, again far delayed. Officer Cavanaugh and his partner offered helpful insights into other things to see in Nevada besides their cruiser in my rear-view.

Day 2... Delayed.

Admittedly I've slacked significantly in this travel blog idea, but I will do my best to catch up to speed... Days 2-5 were mainly spent doing legwork on the photo projects from Vegas where I was lucky enough to stay with Rich and Leslie. Rich played a gig (or several) on new years, but Leslie took me out to the most hipster of new years parties in one of Vegas' only high rise buildings where we got to see fireworks over the, err, skyline.

In addition to getting to hang with Rich and Leslie, my friend Lori happened into town from San Francisco and kicked it with us for new years. Good times.

(Photos by Leslie)

Nevada Road Trip:

Day 1

Made the 300 mile drive from Phoenix yesterday, I left right before sunset. I was anxious to get to Nevada to start shooting all the things that make this such a unique and intriguing state. As there was very little along the way, this is the best I have to offer for today.

I feel it necessary on this, the first daily post, to

pay homage to my rental car, the Chevy Malibu, as we have had many an off-road adventure throughout the American West. Fuel efficiency, quick pick-up and a resistance to showing signs of having been driven on a frozen lake in a blinding snowstorm or through a burning forest on barely navigable logging roads while dodging mountain rams and deer. Thank you to Avis for your all-encompassing "Loss/Damage Waiver."

So in lieu of any people on day one, I offer you the best images I could make in the 20 minutes of daylight I had alongside highway 101 outside Phoenix. I suspect had there been 5 more hours of daylight, the rest of the journey would have looked much the same. Although, I think I figured out, albeit 20-some-odd years later, what "purple mountain majesty" refers to.

12/29/08