Photography has always been a hobby since high school when I learned to develop B&W negatives and prints in a darkroom. Then during my years on the road I shot mostly nature - rock formations, the beach, sunsets - especially in the South West. But in the last few years I took jobs that didn't involve travel and so I started shooting another form of natural beauty: professional models. After my work was published in magazines I have upgraded to a professional grade camera and have complete studio equipment. Now I am earning income as a professional photographer.
Below are a few previews, but you can see my complete portfolio at www.modelshooter.net
Bryce Canyon, Utah.
Yosemite National Park, California.
Driving in Utah.
The sun setting on a California beach.
From an airplane.
This is the sun setting over the Rocky Mountains and reflecting off a lake in Littleton, Colorado.
This is the sun setting in AZ as a rain cloud moves in from the south.
The shadow in the middle is cast on the sky by Mt Hood in Washington State.
Working with professional models is nice because they - unlike most people you try to capture with a camera - usually follow directions.
I love tools and gadgets. Back in high school friends called me "Gadget Man" and teased me about carrying duct tape to school. Wish I had this girl for my prom date. Once I started working in the sound, lighting and video industry I was already prepared. But I did learn to upgrade from hardware store duct tape to professional grade gaffer's tape . And each time a new Leatherman multi-plier tool comes out I have to buy it.
My use of pocket tools and gaffer's tape from the AV industry is easily applied to the modeling industry. Here I am repairing a broken dress with my Leatherman tool backstage at a fashion show. This model is Rebecca Barlow , the $10,000 Heavenly Beauties Beauty Pageant Winner hosted by Ferk Enterprises .
And of course gaffer's tape is my secret for wonder. It doesn't stick like duct tape so it's great for fashion shows and photo shoots. But for dance shows (where the boobs bounce a lot but the costume doesn't allow for a bra) or all night parties, I would use duct tape because the adhesive will hold longer and stronger.
How was that for a segue back to photography? Here are some images of models in Louisville who I have worked with. To visit their OMP portfolios, click on their NAME, not their images. All the photos can be seen full-size on my website (banner at top of page).
First, Fiona who appeared on the cover of City Slicker and in Louisville Magazine Derby editions:
And next Megan :
Here are some shots of Brittiny with different color background colors that match her outfits:
And some artistic photos of Nikki :
I used to rock climb in the National Parks out West but there were no rocks in Louisiana. Now that I am back in Kentucky I want to start climbing again.
Balance Rock, UT.
Bryce Canyon, UT.
Grand Canyon, AZ.
Northern CA coast.
Somewhere in Utah I think.
I love to play volleyball and sometimes basketball.
Although its been a while, I also ride a unicycle and juggle - but I'm not one of the guys in Jackson Square making a living at it.
Santa Monica Pier.
Ocean Drive, South Beach Miami.
I am also an amateur writer and have been published a few times, including an essay on Columbine in this Christian Ethics Text book: Kingdom Ethics co-authored by Glen Stassen.
I also wrote a 30 page essay titled LEAVING JESUS BEHIND, The Undisclosed Reason for U.S. Political Support of Israel and the War in Iraq. It is in Live Journal so you can post comments after each chapter.
On Sunday May 22 I was interviewed Live on an Oklahoma City Radio Station about this paper. See my blog for details.
I collect Hawaiian Shirts and have about 30 in my closet. I love to wear them on rainy days and to business meetings.
Things I am NOT interested in: Football, the Pope, drugs, the Royal family, noisy car stereos and toilets that automatically flush.
I'd like to meet:
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PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING:
• Models or those who want to be. In addition to needing print models to be in the magazine, I have also directed three fashion shows since I moved here with more coming up.
With so many networking sites for models and photographers, I don't do a lot of scouting. But I will occasionally give me card to someone who has the right look and figure. The last time I scouted someone, come to find out she lives in LA and is already signed with my company!
Honestly, the industry (especially locally) is changing to the point where agencies are becoming a lot less necessary to find work than they used to be. I can do a photo shoot with you, help you put together a portfolio, start networking and prep for auditions. Those who succeed in modeling will be people who are pro-active, punctual and polite. I sometimes make referrals for jobs and parties, but this market is not big enough to have any legit agencies.
Visit my photography website www.modelshooter.net :
And my profile on O•M•P:
Here are a few old photos I took of models in New Orleans. Obviously I have done a lot more work locally - visit my website linked above or pick up a compy of the magazine for those. To see some more old shots from New Orleans, visit my blog for the full size images:
Here is a compcard I made for April and the second is of Inna and Tiffany (now in Paris) with me at a photo shoot:
The picture below is an ad for Southern Comfort that I booked for Erica. It appeared in Stuff, Vogue and locally in the Gambit and on billboards. The second is The Speed Magazine (New Orleans edition) with Erica on the cover:
In addition to the photography, I did the graphic design on these magazine ads for New Orleans stores:
Also, read my blog entry about Kathy who appeared in Maxim Magazine. I sure miss all my model friends from New Orleans!!!
Ladies be wary of men with cameras who want to photograph you claiming to "make you a model" and/or that they are a professional photographer. Make sure they have a credible portfolio and aren't trying to exploit you. ALSO be wary of people who hand you a business card in the mall or at a club claiming to be a talent scout. There are lots of scams out there. A legit agency will never tell you that you have to pay hundreds of dollars for photos. There are some real schools for modeling and acting that also charge a LOT of money for classes, but they can't guarantee you work. In the digital age photography isn't that expensive and what you need to know doesn't take months of classes to learn. See the "Articles" link on my website for more information.
• People who will hire me to work. I do Live Event Production, Photography, Audio, Video, Lighting, Rigging and Staging.
Recently I worked the National Cable Television Association Trade Show in Atlanta. While I do not watch FOX News, I did set up their booth, including the 20' HD screen pictured below:
Since FOX owns American Idol a few of their singers performed and signed autographs. I don't watch that show either so when I went into the green room and asked which lady was Diana and which was Ryan they gave me looks like I was supposed to know them. Also at the show I photographed a Playboy Fashion Show and met stars from Penthouse and Hustler. When I got back home I found a few of the ladies on myspace and added them as friends.
The following pics are of sets of shows that I worked on. First a compilation from my days with Rhyno Productions and the Lessons in Leadership series and then a few shows in New Orleans. This side of the Audio Visual industry is what is known as "Show Services" or "Corporate Theatre."
In addition to the corporate theatre, I have also set up and operated the sound and lights for Concerts; judged Beauty Pageants and managed Fashion Shows. When I lived in Dallas I was Stage Manager for the Dallas Cowboy's Cheerleaders :
So if you need someone to make sure that the technical aspect of your show runs smoothly and direct or manage talent on stage and/or backstage, send me a message.
• Publications that will pay me to WRITE. My written work has been published in newspapers, magazines and books. I focus on religion and politics, but also write humor, advice, reviews, features and editorials on any issue.
SOCIAL NETWORKING:
• Ladies who like to dance to rock, swing, oldies... but if all you want to do is grind, then, well, ok. I am a good dancer and need a girl who can keep up!
• Fans of Rock n' Roll, Classic Rock and Southern Rock. A lot of those old 70's bands are still together and still touring.
• Star Wars Fans. I've seen Revenge of the Sith 4 times now and can't get enough! I am also getting requests from virgins to watch the old movies for the first time with me.
• People who are NOT racist. Need I say anymore? Seriously, if you think those jokes are funny, don't share them with me.
• Ever joined a book club? Me neither. But if you have read any of the books that I have (on the left column under "Books") then drop me a message.
• NON-Smokers. Not that I refuse to meet people who smoke or won't be friends with smokers. Most of my current friends including my best friend and former rooomates do smoke (outdoors) but I want to hang out with some fresh air for a change.
• I'd be happy to meet potential dates here, but I'm pretty content being single. I do like to meet new people and go out on the town. I don't tend to use the net or myspace to meet friends or potential romantic partners from out of town - unless you have plans of visiting Louisville, then I will happy to be your tour guide and show you a good time!
By the way, just because I work with models doesn't mean you have to be one to hang out with me. I'm not gonna spend much time at the keyboard meeting someone. I've put a lot of information about myself in my profile that goes beyond what I do for work and if you think we would get along in the real world off screen, then why wait? Lets make plans and get to know each other in person! You can buy me dinner!
Please do NOT post images in Comments wider than 350 pixels. THANKS!
Music:
70's Classic Rock mostly. I am a huge Billy Joel fan. I don't care for rap or techno, but that's where all the club action is so I grind and bear it.
Here are some of the albums I have and listen to:
The live jazz in New Orleans is wonderful. Where else can you find live music 24/7? I still enjoy the cover bands on Bourbon but also the original music on Frenchman Street.
Do you know what it means
To miss New Orleans
When that’s where you left your heart?
And there’s one thing more
I miss the one I care for
More than I miss New Orleans
-Louie Armstrong
I also enjoy classical music. My favorite composers are Vivaldi, Handel and Bach.
This is my favorite Bach piece: Cello solo in G:
HERE is the perfect combination of my love for Classical music and Classic Rock music: Dueling electric guitars performing Vivaldi's Presto (third movement of Summer from the Four Seasons)
I gotta admit, I am a music snob. People playing instruments and singing with harmony is music, downloading noises off the net and remixing them or cursing into a mic is not. Look at that image of Bach's sheet music - Can Usher write that? Can M&M play it? I don't think so. I really hate it when people blast their car stereos with rap music. See, bass sound is non-directional. Those frequencies are heard independent of the rest of the track and so it's just annoying. Turn that $H!T down, no one thinks you're cool.
Movies:
Here are a few of my favorites:
Television:
The West Wing, Real Time with Bill Maher and The Daily Show with John Stewart are a few of my favorites. I also enjoy Law and Order, Monk and am still a sucker for reruns of America's Funniest Home Videos, The Cosby Show and of course M*A*S*H.
Cable/Satellite: The History Channel, Discovery Channel, National Geographic. OK, I admit, sometimes I watch the shows on E! like Wild On, but for the most part I really don't care about celebrity gossip. I have my own life to worry about without thinking about which rich snobs are dating other rich snobs.
I watch the news but its so repetitive repetitive and sensational. TV news used to take what was important and make it interesting. Now they take what is interesting and pretend its important. I enjoy PBS.
I don't watch any of the reality shows. Since when is being in a mansion with 20 beautiful women who want to marry you "reality?" Or being stranded on a desert island eating roasted rat "reality?" And since when is jumping off a helicoptor on to a boat and eating cockroaches "reality?" They get non-actors and then tell them to act. So while they may be playing the part of themself, they are acting, but they are poor actors. I'd rather watch a show where writers write the script and actors act the part and directors direct. I find no joy in someone's artificial suffering for amusement and ratings. EXCEPT for the height stunts on Fear Factor because those look like fun. And my friend Dexie was on it. See my blog.
UPDATE! I have finally discovered a Reality TV show that I can thoroughly enjoy: 30 Days on the FX network:
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It’s done by Morgan Spurlock who made the documentary: Super Size Me. In the movie he tapes his life for a month as he eats nothing but McDonalds.
In the introduction to 30 Days he narrates about his experience going to the Oscars in a limo, but explains that since he lost, he had to get a job. For a while he and his girlfriend were living the good life with money made from the movie, now they are truly going to live the simple life. I’d like to see Paris Hilton try this:
In the first episode of 30 Days he and his fiancé live on minimum wage. At 40 hours a week, after taxes they barely make enough money to get by. She walks to work, he takes the bus. Morgan gets injured at work but has no insurance. He gets a second full time job. This is truly “Survivor.â€
The show points out that minumum wage has not gone up in 8 years, but Congress has increased their salaries by $27,000. Later episodes hook up people of different cultures, religions, geographies and politics to live together for 30 Days. For example, they take a Christian Man from West Virginia and he lives with a Muslim family in Dearborn, MI. They have an atheist wife and mother live with a Christian family in Dallas. A middle aged white man who lost his job due to outsourcing lives in India for a month and works at a call center. A minuteman lives with a family of Mexican immigrants and a pro-choice advocate lives in a church sponsored home for pregnant teens (that teaches them the perils of abortion).
What makes 30 Days so brilliant is that while other reality shows create conflict, 30 Days creates dialogue. A friend of mine was on Fear Factor and she told me that the producers encourage contestants to trash talk each other. Arguing and fighting makes for good ratings, so reality shows turn people against each other. 30 Days leaves them alone to talk about their differences and learn from each other. I think we should send Bush to live in Iraq for 30 days.
It’s on every Wednesday at 10 pm EDT on the FX network. Check your local listings.
Books:
For work I am reading Digital Fashion Photography and Glamour Photography Workshop.
I am currently reading Rapture Exposed by Rossing (a debunking of the FALSE Left Behind theology) and God's Politics by Wallis.
I don't read a lot of fiction. Recently I have read Moore and Franken.
For almost five years I was on tour with best selling business authors Steven Covey, Tom Peters, Ken Blanchard and Robert Cooper so I know their material pretty well. Click here for pictures from our events on the road with the Lesson in Leadership lecture series.
Heroes:
Jesus Christ of course. Unfortunately his teachings are largely ignored by too many Christians - especially those with TV programs - in exchange for using Christian dogma to focus on homosexuality and abortion. Read the gospels, especially Matthew 5-7. Jesus said some profoud things that we ignore at our own risk. Here are two modern heros who understood and practiced his teachings:Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ghandi
