2008 Picture of the Day

I want to produce a photo per day as a mental exercise in creativity and resolution. As a professional photographer it is sometimes challenging to find and execute a photograph that conveys the moment or idea. I want to explore different techniques and styles of photography, especially as it relates to people and commercial uses. It is my hope that pushing myself on a daily basis will boost my creativity and ultimately my photography skills. 2008 promises to be a lynch pin year. A photo per day is not anything new to photographers. I see it as a great tool to learn and expand my skills and vision. Let's roll.

Some self-imposed restrictions:

Goal: Take and present at least one photograph per day for the year 2008 that illustrates my photographic expression.
Presentation will be on the blog and a flickr set.
Any subject matter, theme or style is okay including commerical jobs. Anything is fair game from snapshots of the kids to full on commercial photos. I will however strive to produce and present a good, solid, artistic or expressive image as the POD. It won't necessarily be the best picture of the day, but one that I want to put as the photo of the day for any reason.
Diptych and triptychs are okay as long as they tell a theme, idea or uniqueness.
Digital or film okay.
I won't always post daily, but will keep the POD in chronological order. For example, film and processing may delay a post but I will come back to it.
Blog posts will be categorized as POD 2008. This will make sorting out blog posts easier.

This photo isn't from 2008 but this post needed a photo!


This is part of my Windows project. It's an abandoned house next to the American Tobacco Trail in Chatham County. The shot was taken with my 105 VR Macro lens. I like the window as a backdrop in this one.

Jacobs Family Portrait session

You may remember one member of this family from a previous session I held with Mariana. Her family was thrilled with those photos and I was honored to take their family portraits over the holiday season. Our shoot went well with Pullen Park not being very busy. When I saw the park bench I immediately thought of doing a tryptech shot of the family. It's best viewed in a larger size to see the family expressions. I like the effect of putting three photos together to make one larger image. I envision each image printed individually (probably 5x7) and smartly framed on a layered mat.

Stay tuned for more photos. I just wanted to put up a quick peek for Mariana and her peeps on the west coast.

Close at hand.

A study in form: eggs

I received a wonderful book for Christmas. Mariana Cook's 'Close at hand'. It's a hardback book with hundreds of black and white images that Mariana created over a three year time. She challenged herself to look at things differently and take at least on photo a day for a year.

I'm giving serious thought to challenging myself to a photo per day. Her photography is super in it's simplicity. The egg shot was tried as a way of experimenting with her style. Shooting white on black is challenging.
I don't usually read book reviews in the monthly magazines I get. I usually pass them up for the more technique or inspiration articles.

However, this book was listed in the recent PDN issue as one of the best books of 2007. Of all the book reviews listed as the best, this is the only one I read. Imagine my surprise when I found it under the tree. I literally had read the review less than 24 hours prior. Sarah had read the article and picked this book out as the one I would like. Marriage is funny like that.

Tech notes on the shot: Inspired by Mariana Cook's recent book.
SB-600 directly above the eggs. I took a Gary fong thing and stuffed it with plastic backing (foam stuff) to further diffuse the light. I then wrapped the dome in a large piece of black foam to create a tube extending about ten inches from the fong dome. Fired via pw onto a black board with a black board background.

A holiday thank you

As 2007 winds down I want to take the opportunity to thank my customers over the last year. It's been a great year with work than any previous year. 2008 is already looking good. I also want to thank my family. They have completely supported my professional photography endevour with no questions asked. Hannah has allowed me to test more lighting set-ups than any six year old should be exposed too. She's a trooper and also turning into a great photographer herself.

I hope this holiday finds all of you in good spirits and looking forward to a prosperous New Year.

tilted wine and chocolate peanut butter balls

Some recent shots I've been doing to boost my food portfolio. I really like the tilted wine glass. Anyone care to guess how it was done?

The holidays are a great time for food photography. A family friend has made a tradition out of chocolate peanunt butter balls. She happens to be staying at our house this year and that afforded me the chance to photograph them. They taste super!
The chocolate balls were shot with my D300/105 VR macro combo and one softbox to camera right. The surface is good old wrapping paper.

floating nut

Show us your Nuts!
This is my entry into the December photography contest on Jugalbandi. I've never entered before but I really like the site and it's loaded with information. Their theme this month is Nuts! If you've followed this blog, you know I like some nuts.

I took the photo with a Nikon D300 and my favorite lens, the 105 VR macro. I used two strobes fired via pocket wizards. I taped five pieces of paper to make a light tent around the nuts and fired away.



Let the judging begin!

room for stock

Stock photography is slightly baffling to me. At least the Photoshelter Collection stock photography is. They really are slightly different and look for the more abstract and, dare I say, 'grunge' look.

It's not a photography I'm comfortable with but I really want to boost my stock collection. To date, I have not sold a single image. You need to have hundreds of images in the library for the sales to start coming in as well as being noticed for your work.
So, I wondered around parts of Raleigh looking for sites that might trigger the Photoshelter editors. I ended up in a thrift shop called Father & Sons. It's a really cool place that will be on my list of locations for props. I also want to bring my daughter there. She would have a scream!

Free Engagement session

This is a portrait from my last engagment session and it reminds me how much I enjoy doing engagement sessions. I've offered this before and I'm sure this won't be the last.

One FREE engagement session for one newly engaged couple. No strings other than signing a model release. You will get one 8x10 custom print and six 4x6 prints.

The rules: The shoot must be done in January or February. Not a studio shoot, but on location.
Must be engaged and want to have your photo taken. Send me an email. First come, fist serve. This offer expires December 24, 2007.

Pecan crusted pork loin

Roasted Southern Pecan-Crusted Pork Loin
Bourbon Scented Peach Demi-Glace

Sweet Potato Hash w/Applewood Bacon, Scallions & Jalapenos

Collard Green-Goat Cheese Tartlet topped with Carmelized Vidalias

Chef Billy Raney came over Sunday and created this wonderful plate. It's a portfolio building session for both of us. We spent about 2.5 hours working on the set up and different table top looks. It was our first project together and I think it came out pretty darn good. It tasted great too.

a walk in the park with Shelley and Jimmy

I met Shelley and Jimmy yesterday afternoon for a wonderful engagement photo session. Shelley was a bridesmaid in a wedding I shot last year. She's actually in one of my all time favorite wedding photos. It's great shooting a referral! It's definitely a good sign for the business.

We met in Pullen Park and I tried to keep the session easy and low stress. Just get out there and get some photos of two people who clearly love each other. I think it's great when a couple value photography and want something that will help them remember a special time in their lives. It's one of the very same reasons I first started shooting seriously six years ago.


The dog was great. I get a little nervous bringing in pets, but Sydney was a charm!

I tried playing with some sun flair on this shot. It's a tough technique because you basically can't see what you're shooting due to the brightness!




I know Shelley and the girls will be reading this. I'm saving the best ones for later!