Ever hear of a Heart/Lung Machine? Consider yourself lucky. In the most complicated surgeries, the functions of the heart and lungs are handled by one machine. That’s right: Your heart can be stopped and lungs can be non-functioning. This thing keeps you alive when your options are slim. Now, product photography isn’t exactly my main thing, but for the right client, I’m all in. Ably Assisted by assistant Andrew Cope, these sales model machines were, of course, grubby, […]
Clover make those point-of-purchase terminals we’ve all used at coffee shops, but they also do much more for restaurants and other small businesses. They and their creative partners, Closed Loop, were filming another digital spot in Denver, and were nice enough to ask me to do the stills. Here’s Chef Porter cooking up a storm. Shot by Joe Baran, the 100+ shot day featured the interior of Greenwich Restaurant on Larimer Street. In fact, they made the artisanal pizza lunches! Goodness. Get […]
What a cool concept. Inspired by modern social media photographers’ love of high-speed sync flash techniques, my friends at Network Affiliates made a couple ultra-hip TV spots showcasing the style. We got a big studio, filled it with a killer crew (2 assistants!) and got to work. Our Art Department really had the hard part: Making fake auto glass, tools, cut-out letters, and tools appear to be flying through the air! Some of them actually were. But the best part […]
This month’s shoot with Bighorn Co. was real blast. The goal was to make a piece raising awareness of the union workers around you that you might not even realize are in a union! We got to use the beautiful C2 studios in Denver, with makeup styling by Beth Ryan, and had a blast meeting these folks as they filed through: Teachers, fire fighters, nurses, etc. Studio shoots are always enjoyable. We got the tunes and hot cocoa going, and […]
Production stills are generally a great experience, especially when you know the crew well, and the product is just gorgeous. This month’s shoot for Uplight was no exception. The DP was Brook Aitken, directed by Waypoint films’ Jed Mortenson. Our location was this beautiful modern home in Boulder. Production stills are often more efficient than booking two separate shoots: Stills and motion, but they do take a little time although you can shoot some during filming. Questions about doing stills […]
Let’s talk business portraits, AKA headshots. Last month, I had the pleasure of doing a new round of photography for Bachus & Schanker, whose faces you know from TV and billboards. Kyle Bachus and the creative team are so great to work with, as they’re always miles ahead of their competition. In this case, they decided we should spend extra time with each attorney to capture them on unlit seamless for the designers to cut out and manipulate later, depending […]
Why, why, WHY do we sometimes see different things on our monitors? Occasionally I hear about image brightness or color. Surprisingly though, not too often. When I edit an image, do you see it the same way I did? Depends. Computer monitors, like almost anything else in the world of tech (thermostats, tire inflators, your Subaru’s speedometer), need to be calibrated to be consistent. What does that mean? Calibration means setting up a device to a specific set of standards. […]
It’s always nice to see your work A. Blown up huge and B. Used for a good cause. My friends at Komatsu recently adopted the playroom at the Central Illinois Ronald McDonald House. They fully tricked out the whole place, installing a movie area, several multiple-player game stations, and toys of all kinds including yellow trucks! But, just to make it even more fun, they added a giant 15-foot mining truck decal to the wall, a photograph made by me […]
You make sure the gardener, cable guy, plumber, and roofer are insured, right? Often trade licensing carries a liability insurance requirement, but photography does not. You should still require it. Liability means that if the photographer, or any other contractor working on your property, breaks something or hurts someone, they will be responsible for it, not you or your company. Altitude Arts carries $2 million in liability, plus other additional coverage. Here’s a standard “Acord” certificate. Once you confirm that […]
This month’s shoot was super interesting. This year, tax filing deadlines were extended into summer, but that wasn’t the only issue with filing. Getting together face-to-face is another challenge. So, H&R Block introduced a revolutionary and sanitary new way to file: On your front porch. While their offices remain open, this is a new option. They pick up, prepare, and drop off. And everything is distanced and sanitized. Pretty innovative, and extremely customer-friendly. We also spent part of the day […]
Stop worrying. That’s my gig. Nobody thinks more about lost files more than me. And that should give you peace of mind! That and the fact that Altitude Arts’s backup system is battle-tested. Here’s why your files are safe: Every shoot, as it’s put onto my editing computer, immediately starts backing itself up both locally and in the cloud. Just copying the files onto my machine puts them in five—FIVE—places: Two cards in the camera My editing machine My local […]
Dr. Smith is a brilliant surgeon. He can fix up your hands chin, eyes, neck. Pretty much anything that makes us look or feel a little older than we actually are! Wisely, his marketing consultant decided to make a new round of photos of happy clients, and even the even one of good doctor himself. If your practice could use a makeover, give me a call. I’m happy to work with offices big and small on print, advertising, and web […]
Photographing an inside story for a magazine is always great, but getting to shoot the cover is really an honor. It’s validation that the art director both thinks highly of your work, and trusts you with their baby. Meet Joe Beeler (and follow him on Facebook!). Joe is a cancer survivor and awareness advocate, who is taking his cause to Mt. Everest base camp later this year! He’ll be on the next cover of Good Health magazine, published by SCL Health. […]
It’s always nice to see my friends at WaterPik. I love their flossers and brushes, and the creative team up there (Fort Collins, Colorado) is top-notch. So, when they were gearing up to shoot a new product video, I was happy to be asked along. Idolum was the production company, with talent from Donna Baldwin. The Director/DP was Sean Leman, and the gaffer was David Strong.
For the last several months, I’ve been on the road for Komatsu. They’re gearing up for a event in Las Vegas, and are stocking up on original photography of modern “intelligent” machines in action, as well as the people that operate and support them. The images are to be used in two huge trade show displays and a new advertising campaign. In addition to visiting construction sites in several states, we even spent a day photographing workers in their Chattanooga, Tennessee excavator assembly […]
A referral from a colleague, an energized, creative client, and a Saturday to ourselves: The ingredients to a successful web re-design. Dr. Susan Kutis, DDS, needed a whole new media library for her refreshed web presence, but a busy office made that difficult. So, the troops volunteered a precious weekend. With that kind of dedication, it’s no wonder their patients keep coming back!
The folks at Crosspoint had created another poignant ad campaign. All they needed was a crew to bring it to life! Usually, they shoot video. This time, however, they needed all stills, in layers, which would then be animated to resemble not only an ersatz dolly move, but to demonstrate the crippling absence of a loved one. Produced by the unflappable Megan Shuler and masterfully composited by Art Director Rick Koch. Chris Gerding did the lighting, and Dylan Kiszlowski art […]
This past fall, the Adams 12 School District sought a little help with a measure to, among other things, expand their high school-level trades program. The welding, graphic design, auto repair, and computer science tracks were so successful that they routinely had to turn students away! A series of original photographs of tiny kids assuming the roles of teen-agers was used to support mail, outdoor, and broadcast campaigns. News flash: The measure passed!
Good question. Our new system is cool and fast, but those little CDs that used to come in the mail (a week later)? Well, you probably won’t miss them. So here’s a step-by-step guide to saving and backing up your shoot. Enter your final shoot (not proofs) URL and password. Note the download button. Click “Download” then “Select All” That’s it! They’re on their way to wherever your downloads go. You can download individual files as well—Just select them one at […]
I made it my mission this summer to get my photo files delivered in the fastest, most client-friendly way possible! I wanted the process to be interactive, and for you to get your final files fast, even when hundreds of proofs and final hi-res photos are involved. No more snail-mailing CDs! After a ton of research and beta testing, I chose my new delivery system—Photoshelter, which acts as a one-stop interface for sharing media. What this means for you: You’ll get […]
This month, the best-in-the-business marketing folks at O’Meara Ford reached out for a special assignment. They have, you guessed it, a vintage car collection, and wanted to highlight a couple of the standouts with a group shot spanning 100 years. You’re looking at two Model Ts and a Model A, a 30s truck, a 50s Thunderbird, a 70s Torino,and a 40s Fairlane 500. Looking forward to more classic car shoots with O’Meara!
Always a pleasure to see Dr. Mark Danzo of 20/20 Lasik. He and his team are always up for whatever marketing challenges are thrown at them, and darn it, they’re not so bad to look at either. This month, I did a series of them individually, offset on a bright white background. Their marketing people will be slugging graphics and Q&A in those bare fields, and running them in-office. By the way, if you hate your glasses, tell Dr. D. […]
What a campaign! My clients at Network Affiliates wanted to emphasize the pain felt after the death of a loved one. We made an entire 9-vignette TV campaign (3x:30) consisting of before, after, and in-between scenarios brought to life by Crosspoint Digital’s VFX geniuses. Check ’em out: “Turn to Dust” Personal Injury :30 “Turn to Dust” Worker’s Compensation :30 “Turn to Dust” Social Security :30 Basically, each vignette consisted of a bare-bones set, and layers were added […]
This month, I was asked by Western Union to photograph not only a couple interview subjects, but a little bit of behind-the-scenes as they continue a video tour of the U.S.. They understood that their associates would be moved not just by the stories told, but even somewhat by the process. Above, videographers Ed Done and Lowel Pearce interview our first subject of the day. Adding making-of stills to the project, said the client, would create a “Living, MTV-style feel […]
This fall, I was back at Komatsu’s Arizona Proving Grounds for some more giant truck fun. Our challenge this year was to show these mining trucks performing various tasks like accelerating uphill, being loaded, and dumping. Keep in mind they’re approaching a million pounds full, and the driver is about twenty feet up. Sun, fun, and yellow trucks. I don’t wanna grow up! Mix a sexy subject with an awesome team of producer and videographer, and you’ve got all the makings of a great […]
Interesting new developments in location business portraits were afoot in 2014. Early in the year, Blue Onion Creative Director Mike Heinrich called to discuss new portraits for their redesigned site. He wanted great expressions and interesting colors, but he also mentioned context. He wanted to see more of his peoples’ faces, but more of their environment, too. We shot that first day with a shorter lens, but one designed to keep the background soft. Sharp eyes, non-distracting backgrounds. We both […]
Colorado Correctional Industries is one of those things you never knew you didn’t know about. Their mission is to both instruct and hire Colorado inmates for everything from saddle making to cheese production! These offenders can then apply their new skills to life outside, and have a head start on a new career. Moore Creative and I spent some time behind bars photographing just a few of the participants and their efforts. One of the most interesting is a dog training program […]
Location photography is a great challenge. Add in humans, non-professional talent, kids, and (gasp!) animals, and you’ve got yourself one interesting day at work. Here are a couple examples of location shoots form the last few months. The first image is from an Adams County Schools campaign, the next is from a legal print ad, billboard, bus tail, etc. Both feature amateur talent, but the differences are clear: In the world of location photography the variables are so many, that […]
“I don’t want to be photographed just standing there in the hallway,” attorney Bill Babich said. “Do you know of any diesel truck graveyards?” I didn’t. But after a few minutes on the phone, I had the nice people at Active Truck Parts, literally halfway to Omaha, on board. You see, Babich specializes in transportation law, and was interested in demonstrating that for the cover of a new legal directory. I was excited to spend the morning far away from […]
For the 140th Anniversary of St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, Exempla Healthcare wanted to make a splash in the daily papers. They commissioned several images for their 8-page Business Journal slick insert that day, but the cover was the most fun to create. The challenge was to show a colorful celebration amidst construction of their new, state-of-the-art hospital building. The designer cobbled together stock shots of models, confetti, construction, etc., until this concept was born. “Keep the cranes in!” were my […]
Have I mentioned the “People on Location” thing?Well, the good folks at SourceGas took notice, and commissioned a series of their actual employees doing what they do: Working around the neighborhood, using their computers, and taking care of their customers. The challenge was to utilize actual employees, and photograph them in several real-world situations all on one day. We chose a new neighborhood that they actually service in northern Colorado, borrowed a couple model homes (also future customers), detailed the […]
Another dry winter in Colorado has come and gone. In fact, as soon as the client mentions snow, I see the clouds retreat and bluebirds start building nests. That’s how it always goes, right? Almost always. But in this case, Crosspoint was actually helped out by mother nature. Just a couple days before this shoot for Source Gas in Castle Rock, several inches actually fell. Add to that the indefatigable fake snow crew from FX West, and you’ve got a regular winter […]
Meet Gordon. Gordon likes to run. 100 miles at a time. But he also runs a successful law firm in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His unusual hobby caught the eye of Blue Onion Advertising’s client, Needles, who feature real customers in their national ads. We photographed Gordon on a record-breaking unusually warm day in mid-march in Boulder. Up before dawn, two locations and countless poses down before lunch. Hopefully, invisible to the client is the work that goes into this kind […]
Yes, that is one question you want to ask to your gardner, your mover, even your corporate photographer. Only the most experienced vendors carry liability insurance. Coverage that indemnifies you and your firm if there’s any sort of accident or damage at your shoot. Paul carries a multi-million dollar liability policy to protect you. Just ask your controller if they prefer that their vendors arrive insured. No, really. Ask them! I’ve never needed to make a claim, but that’s the way I like […]
This month saw an assignment both challenging and gratifying. I was asked to shoot a bunch of new image photos for Goodwill of Southern and Western Colorado. They’re going to start popping up on in-store banners, vehicle wraps and print ads all over the state, and they all feature Goodwill’s clients and friends grinning ear-to-ear. In addition to the thrift stores we all know so well, with Goodwill’s support job seekers, individuals with disabilities, families in need, senior citizens and other members of […]
I had the pleasure this week, as part of a cross-promotion with a corporate client, of photographing the cast of Legally Blonde. We had a great time wrangling multiple dogs, delivery boys, and, of course, blonde bettys. We’re already looking forward to next season’s opening.
Crosspoint Productions and Art Director Dylan Kiszlowski produce TV and radio commercials and edit them in Hollywood fashion. And I’m lucky enough to be their stills guy. The spot they shot this week was both amazing and scary. Dylan built a crazy car buck on a sled, and surrounded its “driver” with airbags, fake glass (silicon!) and air cannons. And it was all shot at 1000 frames-per-second on a Phantom HD. The resulting TV spot will catch your attention. Be sure […]
One of my healthcare clients is sponsoring a big, high-profile outdoor concert series at a local performing arts center. The challenge? Tie live music in with community healthcare. I think my client, Justin Fales at Exempla Lutheran, nailed it. Composite by designer Zander Renault.
Winter in Greeley. The joke was: We have to wait for a clear day so we can break out 200 pounds of fake snow and do the Family Going Skiing shot. Our task was to shoot a handful of new people-on-location images for the revamped website of ChemMasters, an Ohio-based chemical company. They make stuff that keeps your driveway from crumbling and, apparently, it’s all best applied by Nate here, our buff model. We ran through our rather ambitious shot list ahead of schedule […]
Is it Architecture? Is it Product? It’s Archi-Product! This month, I got to step into the great John Elway’s house, nervously, with all kinds of pointy tripods and heavy lights. It was for a shoot for Vantage Controls in Philadelphia, and my old buddy Brandon Nelson, who make the most beautiful, customizable lighting, media and climate controls anywhere. Elway recently upgraded his home to 100% Vantage, and we were there to show off the results. The wall lighting controls glow […]