Working with a legend.

Not sure that He's actually a legend just yet, but he is to some. Jeff Riedel, a NY based photographer was here this month shooting an ad for NIKE. I was called to assist him. Please understand that I took no photos on this job - I was there to help with lighting and what not. It was really great to watch him work. We photographed a Minnesota Viking running back in the Metrodome locker room. Don;t want to give away too much info just yet. I will post an image when I see it though. The shot above is an ad Jeff did for Adidas.

It was a pretty neat experience. Do people still use the word neat? I do.

Go see his work. He's shot a lot of athletes and celebrities. You have likely seen his work before. Oh, and on top of being immensely talented, he is a gentleman to boot. Do people still say "to boot"?

Jeff's Site.

The value of art.

I have a few sites/blogs that I follow each day. They are all art related, or photo related. Every morning I check them and get a little creative boost for the day. I used to check out art/photo books in college for the same reason. I feel like it is a duty of mine to stay sharp and find images/creations that inspire me or challenge me to think in a new way. Plus I like it. Some of the vintage photos are so great!

These are a few images that I really liked. Being a bike dork, I obviously loved the bike sculpture. I want it. James Micheal Starr built it. Graham Hobart shot it.

The kid is just amazing! I dare you to find a cooler photo! I want to hang out with this guy. He's probably old enough to be my dad by now. This image captures little boy behavior so well. Yep, amazing.

I'm also a big fan of graphic art - especially older stuff. It boggles the mind that people did such great work so long ago. Really dig this "Umph" piece. Good motto for all of us, eh?

Our new president seems to value art, as he has pledged a great deal of money to it. Read about it as well as the first ladies thoughts HERE.

Not saying tax money should go to it - nobody lambaste me. I like to see it valued though. food for thought, peeps. Enjoy the images.

Is this a sign?

So, I took 4 days off of work to go on a turkey hunting this month. I awoke early, well before the sun was up, and hiked into the valleys and ridges of southeastern Minnesota. I was wearing camoflage from head to toe, and carrying a 12ga shotgun. I looked pretty official. Truth is, I am not so official. I have taken on a quest to kill and eat a wild animal to see if I can truly deal with the realities of what it means to be a carnivore.

You see, the meat we eat is almost always prepackaged in a bloodless styro-foam tray, or maybe it comes already cooked. It looks nothing like the animal is was pulled from. So, I am seeing if I have what it takes to do the "dirty work". If not, then I think it is hypocritical to eat meat. I like meat, so I am not wanting to give it up, and have no real intention to. I just want to prove to myself that I can do it.

So, I've entered the woods for 2 seasons now, hunting both turkey and deer. So far nature is kicking my butt. No creatures have fallen under my hand.

However,while hiking those bluffs this year I did stumble across another of natures bounty. The illusive morel mushroom. I in fact stumbled across several. Now, I am not sure what to do to them to transform them into the delicacy they are rumored to be, but I will certainly find out. For now they are dried in a canning jar. If any of you have a great recipe for them, drop me a note.

Here is an image of the ones I found. So far, it seems that perhaps all the woods wants me to have is plant life. I'm no quitter though. Watch yer back wildlife!

I lied, and more Velodrome.

Well, I didn't so much lie as spread a rumor. Escapes (NY Times travel) will continue, but will do so in a shrunken form and will be located in another section of the paper. So, it will not be the same, but will not actually go away. So, please forgive my hasty comments about its disappearance.

Also, I shot the National Sports Center Velodrome promotional stuff this last Sunday afternoon. We had beautiful weather and cooperative volunteers and it went quite well. I do not know exactly how they will be used just yet, but it should be fun.

I got to realize a dream of mine that I have had since 2006. I was able to shoot from the back of a motorcycle while racers rode inches away from me. It was great! I loved shooting this way and it helped us create some unique images.

Here's a sample.