Awesome Things A-Brewin'

What's better than getting a beautiful print? How about getting that sucker custom-framed? This is a version of “Mondrian Salt Flats” that I just had done for the 2012 Kellicutt International Photo Show. I'm honored to have had that photo selected as one of the 45 finalists in the competition (from over 1000 submissions, I hear), and the last round of judging will be of the physical works, which will be hanging at the Coastal Arts League Gallery & Museum in Half Moon Bay.

I'm really excited about this print. It's on glossy paper, and my friends over at Bay Frames mounted it behind anti-reflective museum glass, which lets the vibrancy of the print really shine through. The moulding is the same as I used for the first framed version of the print; it's a nice, deep cherry color that fades to black as it reaches the mat. It complements the colors of the salt ponds perfectly. The image will certainly be up against some stiff competition, but I can't wait to hear what the judges think of it.

Some of you may recognize this as the same image that was selected for the Pictory Magazine's “Infrastructure” feature. Here's the story behind the image:
Viewed from “Eureka,” the largest airship in the world, the vibrantly-colored Cargill Salt Flats of Redwood City, California present a Mondrian-esque scene. After over a century of salt production, Cargill Salt announced plans in 2006 to decommission the flats. Now, six years later, debate continues to simmer over the future of the 1433-acre plot: many environmentalists want it to be restored as bay wetlands, while Cargill hopes to develop housing for 30,000 residents.

Saab Story Saabs Back to Life

After four months with no engine and two wheels, we made a big push last night and got Saab Story Saabing again. Not only does it roll, not only does it run, but it moves under its own power! And it idles nice and smooth, like someone falling down an interminable flight of stairs…

Of course, that's not all… It'll smoke up a room faster than you can say "Why'd y'all pick a Saab, again?" Also, it spits like a Cobra, drops fluids like a heroin junkie, and has more exhaust leaks than cylinders. (To be fair, if you look underneath the passenger compartment, it does look somewhat reminiscent of a top fuel dragster…)

This is what the ground looked like after we ran the car for awhile and then shut it down. As we ran it, things gradually improved, to the point where the ground no longer gets damp when we fire it up.

Also, if nothing else, you'll note that the front-left wheel exists in this photo, which is more than we could say for a very long time. We learned how to have nice things after graduating from The School of Slightly Softer Knocks.

That's all kind of an afterthought, though, because the car blows some pretty sweet smoke rings. Welcome back, Saab Story.

"Pride" is not a four-letter word

I wrote this a couple days ago to a friend of mine (also a photographer). I think it's applicable to all sorts of situations where one needs to represent him or herself, such as when writing entrance essays. Hopefully you find it interesting as well:


I think my own philosophy on modesty and pride is that all of us are on this path of learning. Some folks are farther along than others.
Modesty is knowing that I have a lot farther to go — a lot more to learn — and that there are people who are farther along the path than me.
Pride is knowing how far I've come to get to this point. It's knowing that there were compromises and hardships in making it to this point, and knowing that I am farther along this path than some other folks.

In my personal opinion, to sell my work, I don't have to pretend that I'm the best in the world; I'm not. But on the other hand, if the customer doesn't understand that I'm proud of where I'm at, regardless of how far I have yet to go, then I'm selling myself short. If the customer sees that I have potential, but doesn't also see that I have accomplishments, then I've got to change something to help them see the balanced picture.


My small suggestion in all of this is that if you're not excited about your portfolio, then keep practicing. But if you are excited about it, then you've got to let it out, at least a little bit. You have to realize that there are people who are better than you, but also that there are people who aren't quite as good. Clients have to know that you're excited about how far you've come, even if you're more excited about where you're going.

A Google Day at the Beach

Googler Tim Quirk (far right) interviews the five surviving original members of The Beach Boys at Google's Mountain View headquarters. The band members are (left to right) Bruce Johnston, David Marks, Brian Wilson, Mike Love, and Al Jardine. The band is on tour to support the release of its 50th anniversary album, "That's Why God Made The Radio."

It's pretty awesome to see and photograph a band that was so prolific, and that has become so firmly entrenched in our culture. I mean, 50 years, 29 albums, and (reportedly) 100 million albums sold; holy smokes. And clearly I wasn't the only one excited to be there, because the room was packed.

An audience-member listens as Mike Love answers her question during the closing Q&A. Love seemed to do the majority of the talking when questions weren't specifically directed to other members of the band.

Love glances at a member of the audience (lower-right) as the band-members sign autographs after the interview.