foster care forum

This is a gallery I shot for First 5, this was a forum organized by Karen Bass. The crowd was rather intense since it was a foster care forum. The community was asked to weigh in on some pressing and rather critical issues. I just took pictures.

amado

So here is my third attempt at a planned photo shoot. My friend Amado who is an avid cyclist (and chest-bumper) wanted some pictures of his cycling team. We decided to have some fun with a tricycle and the packs of bikers at the rose bowl. I had problems with the sun during this shoot (intense midday sun). I got the shot i was hoping for but the quality of the image definitely suffered. I was distracted a bit as well since i had a high school buddy in LA unexpectedly and while he graciously lent a hand with the shoot, we both had our eye on the beer afterwards the entire time.

work picnic/photoshoot

I have had the luxury of being the staff photographer for First5LA since I started here two years ago. This was the first big opportunity to get some quality shots with my Nikon. We decided to make the picnic a photo-shoot also, since we always need new images for our collateral and website. I brought my newly acquired 6 ft wide backdrop and hilarious tennis racquet for lighting. Everything said and done I got a ton of usable shots and had an easy time getting them.

couples therapy

This is from the same shoot as the last 2 galleries, this is all the couples shots we did. It was fun to see them interact in front of the camera. The both work really well for this stuff. It helps that they are sickeningly in love too. It was a challenge to use my Frankensteined ring light for two people (this shoot is still pre flash).

surprise its nate

So this is a gallery of the shots I did with erin as well, these are the solo shots and include the leaf blower magic. I like some of the single light source subdued stuff and some of the old timey card shark shots would be neat with better lighting. I must have used way to high of an ISO to capture these... so they are a little soft for my taste.

Erin

I got a seamless backdrop! I have no idea what possessed me to purchase a six foot wide roll of white paper. This is the first shoot i did on a drop... Nate and his lovely wife Erin came over and obliged me in doing some rather strange things with a leaf blower. Erin also tried out some crazy makeup since i knew I wanted close up portraits shot through the ring light I made. Here is the magic.

Jose Luis Orozco

This shoot was for a concert by Jose Luis Orozco, This guy has a star power with kids that rivals the sway that the "Slippery When Wet" tour had over teen girls. My favorite jam was "Apples and bananas". This auditorium had really crappy light and the quick movements by the hyper kids lead to my first waning for a flash. I can't believe I still only had one lens at this point in my dslr relationship. Here is the high ISO pictures.