Along the coast of Oregon

Along the coast of Oregon, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

First off, I want to thank all who checked out, commented on, faved, and stumbled upon my last post yesterday. My stats on flickr showed over 650 view as it was on the explore page. As many of you know, it is always quite an honor to have your work viewed and appreciated, and I again thank you for that!

My image this evening might not reach that level of view I am quite sure, but I kinda like it. I had one of my camera bodies modified for infrared capture a while ago by a company called LifePixel and this was shot with it. I highly recommend it for those photogs with an extra camera body laying around.

Their site is: www.lifepixel.com if you are interested.

I'd also like to pass on a link to a video I saw yesterday. There seems to be a lot of people searching these days for new direction. Some industries have all but dried up, yet there are opportunities all around us. Sure its a search and takes a lot of drive, but rewards are abundant for those who do not loose focus of the dream. For those looking for new opportunities and challenges, this video will most likely mean a lot. Enjoy :)

Reflections in infrared (and a thankful perspective)

Reflections in infrared (and a thankful perspective), originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Life changing moments. Indeed, we all have a few of those. A couple of days ago, I had an anniversary and a reminder of one of mine. I kinda blogged about it a year ago if you want to dig it up, but this post really isn't about that. Its more of a reminder to myself about a bit of personal perspective and progress.

I like the term "self growth". There are many that chuckle at the mere mention of this study. For others, its a life long focus. I guess I belong to the latter club.

Over the past year, one of the daily rituals I have allowed myself to enjoy is perhaps something that I should have been allowing myself all along. I try to start my day with a quiet 20 minutes or so.....in reflection and focus. I use these special moments to give thanks to at least 10 things....usually the first 10 things that pop into my mind. Be it personal, relationships, family, business, investment, comfort, financial, artistic,...from the minutely simple thoughts to the rather complex ......gosh, they just come flying at me actually. In that special time of reflection, I truly give thanks for what I have and what I have achieved. It is in that vibration of energy that I then allow myself to focus on the direction I intend to take myself, not only for the day, but in the near future. Although I don't always get that far in this process, I never get past the morning without at least giving thanks. Seems like a good week to mention this :)

So, on a similar note, I would like to also give a bit of thanks to all who happen to stumble upon this. For the last couple of years, I have been regularly posting images here on flickr, while in turn uploading to my blog and facebook. I have received comments from all over the world, over 200,000 views, been published a few times, been in 2 books, had my images used in a couple of industry brochures, had a few people ask to use an image on their business card, and for all of that.....I am very thankful! It means alot to me :)

And, as I like to do now and then, a musical journey that inspired the image and the post...

Jupiter Inlet Bridge - World Wide Photo walk

Jupiter Inlet Bridge - World Wide Photo walk, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

As I mentioned a couple of nights ago, I didn't get a lot of images I was happy with out of the camera from the photowalk. I originally intended to attack this outing with one body and one lense, but soon modified that approach. At the last minute I decided to drag out the infrared D200 as well. I guess dragging around 2 cameras flapping about along with a tripod might have had something to do with my lack of vision and clarity, I don't know. I kinda like this one though, but also intend to do a little more with it. Look for this one again someday, but for now, its shut eye time. A long day today with a long, long, long day ahead tomorrow.....

More to come :)

Sometimes the grass IS greener

So, as we have all heard many times (probably too many times actually).... "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence." We'll, I guess that just depends on what side of the fence you are on. So I ask you.....what side are you on? Have a close look at it before you hop over. It could be astroturf.....or in this case, well....., my little photoshop secret :)

More from Ocala to roll out this week so check back.....and, oh yeah, thanks alot for stopping by! I appreciate each and every view :)

Check it out larger!

Boardwalk in Key Largo

WOW, a whole year blogging! Has it really been that long? A year ago to this day (well, I missed it by a day actually) was my first post in the blogosphere. While out of town on an event, I decided that my time had come.....to try to post an interesting image with a little thought to go with it........once a day.

Here is the link to that post 

My original intention was to post a variety of images. As a lighting designer for special events, I have had the great opportunity to work on some incredible events over the years. With 2007 being such a great year, the momentum and energy was still quite fresh as I entered this event in California that was the subject of my first post. Well, have times changed alot in a year......wow......but more on that in a bit.

I must first admit that the idea of blogging and sharing images with the world was not really a unique idea or mine at all. A few months before that post, I had been following a couple of other notable blogs. My friend Steve LaRose had started a blog called Life in the Corporate Theater. A daily read for me now. Up until then, he was the first person I had actually known personally that was blogging. Until then, I hadn't even considered it. What on earth would I have to say on a daily basis or view for that matter that the world would want to see? Isn't there enough content out there? Well, Steve taught me that there is always room for another voice.

Another huge influence has been Trey Ratcliff from Stuck in Customs. I link to him on this blog. His HDR work has always amazed me and as a traveler and visual artist, he has been quite an inspiration. I have traveled quite a bit in the last few years, but Trey's work has taught me to view scenes like I never have before. One of those mysteriously wonderful things about the internet, a friend you might never actually meet!

Of course, there are other countless blogs as well that talk shop about camera's, techniques, and software. While these are a necessary stop and quite informative for an aspiring photographer or imaging artist, they are certainly not the type of posts you would see outta this guy! I have never been the salesman and selling gear or software is, well, lets just say.....not my style.

So, enter me. Actually, I had no idea that I was gonna stay current with this. Not sure why though. I used to back pack Europe every summer and have logged several hours of recorded thoughts. Verbal diarrhea perhaps to some, but great therapy for me I guess. There is something quite cool about listening back to a random thought or rambling session I recorded on a train traveling the country side of France 16 years ago! I don't think I had a clue what my life would turn out like back then......and that was totally OK. (I kinda feel that way now, the more I think about it). Putting coherent thoughts together in a somewhat readable and interesting format, (unlike the taping rambles of years past) however, was going to be my biggest challenge.

At the point I started this diary, things looked quite brilliant on the horizon. Big jobs, out of town opportunities, personal travel, self assignments.......there was quite a lot I was looking forward to sharing. The posts of events I was looking forward to sharing this season, however, started to become a little disappointing. There were either multiple events on the same day making it impossible to capture all of them, or large time spans of nothing. Not quite the season that we were all hoping for.

I guess that's what brings me to this image. A bridge. To where? Can anyone see what's on the other side? Does it matter? Is the bridge at least safe to walk on? Will it be there to come back later?

Alot has happened in my life over the last 3 years. Challenges, frustrations, disappointments, ..... I know, we all have them. Life is good though. In fact, change is good.....if understood and embraced. Sure, sometimes you have no idea what's on the other side of these life changing courses, but you have to have faith. Faith in your decisions, faith in your future, and faith in yourself!

With all this change and uncertainty in the world these days, its hard to tell what's ahead and over the bridge. I can almost guarantee one thing though. I'll be there blogging my way through it, sharing my challenges along the way, and working on my artistic creations (and perhaps, taping some more verbal diarrhea to listen back to!)

Thanks for listening :)

(oh man, the fire alarm is going off......gotta run!)  

What happened to the water

There's a little place just a bit out west that I like to call my "secret" place. Well, its not really a secret, I just haven't seen any images posted from here. Not much to it really, just a quiet path, a few trees, a small bridge, peace and quiet, and alot of water. Wait a minute......what happened to all the water!

I was a bit shocked when I headed out there this evening. Bone dry. My gosh, thats supposed to be an intragal part of our water supply I think. Yikes. Bring on the rainy season...and quick!

I dragged 2 camera bodies out there on my walk. A D300 and an infrared converted D200. I decided to work on one of the infrared ones as I ERASED and FORMATTED the other card before I emptied it! Niiiice one Mike. Guess everyone gets an opportunity to be a dumb ass now and then (hahaha)

Serenity Spring (ok, I made up the name)

So far this season, the only predictable thing seems to be my daily post of an image or two. Having started the day with emails of 2 more canceled events (1 of which was an indirect result of the "Madoff the Jackass" fiasco), it was nice to have a great site survey for a last minute upcoming event. This one is up in a really nice area of Florida near Ocala in the Horse Farm region....beautiful area! Lose an event and gain another. Tis the season of rolling with the punches.

So, what's all this have to do with the image Mike. Well, not much really except for the fact that this was taken up in the same area about 2 weeks ago in Silver Springs.....

Anyway, having just returned from the hike upstate, I'm beat....more on all of this later :)

Lighthouse at Key Biscayne

Upon arrival to this location, on a Sunday mind you, I was a little disappointed by the crowds of people. What should I expect on a Sunday.....right? Looking for a clear shot became a recurring disappointment, except for on my way out. As I looked over my shoulder at the canopy of palms, I decided to stop. I held the camera to my eye, tilted up, and bingo....no people!

An afternoon at Bok Sanctuary

Although I have returned to the hotel room exhausted and barely able to focus and type this blog, I still feel the strange need to post! This image was captured at a place called Bok Sanctuary in the middle of the state a few months ago. I think I am gonna take the long way home tomorrow and see what else I can find between Tampa and West Palm Beach.....but now, its time to crash! Look for images from our Superbowl Party to come soon.

Follow the tree

One of the coolest things about being on a photo workshop is to see how everyone else sees the same area. If you are ever considering it, I think its a great way to spend a few days with like minded people. Moose Peterson and the great folks at the Digital Landscape Workshop Series ran a pretty well oiled machine....a nice balance of shooting time, classroom sessions, and inspirational talks.

We had arrived at this location here in the San Juan Islands outside of Seattle, WA for an afternoon shoot. I was personally on a mission to do a little infrared capturing of the warm fields of dry grass and these most unusual trees.
Hope you like :)

A bay along the coast

Well, although I have a file of about a million images that I can pull from to blog about daily, I still love diving in to the unprocessed and creating something with them. I hope to start Geotagging someday, because, to be honest with you, I have no idea where this was taken. Well, I take that back, kind of an idea. Somewhere along the Oregon Coast, the lighting and cloud cover was calling me to pull off to the next turnoff to capture what I could. The mid day sun was a bit contrasty, so I pulled out my infrared camera to capture this scene. I also processed a black and white that I think is more powerful, but my mind is a little focussed on the light show I am loading in in the early AM tomorrow, so I decided to post this colorful one. Hope you enjoy!

Field

There are times when I know exactly what I am going to blog and then there are times like now. When I am not on an event, traveling, or ranting about something absurd, I have a file of images that I pull from. This one got chosen tonight. Not sure why, I just kinda like it. As far as the story....well....I have none. I can't even remember where I took it. Its definitely somewhere in Florida, perhaps in Everglades National Park. And as far as what I did to get this look, well, I can't remember that either. Wow Mike, incredible bucket of information here.....geeezzz!

Hope you like it anyway!

Porcelain tree

Its posts like this that I realize that I am all over the map in my techniques. Jack of many, master at none...LOL. This was an infrared image that I almost got rear ended trying to capture. I was looking for a turnoff coming across the state a while ago. The guy behind me apparently needed to get across the state in a real hurry! Some people just don't appreciate "braking for the sake of art." Anyway, I applied a few textures....some from Trey, and a couple from others. I like the porcelain look. Its been a while since I processed this one so I don't even remember where the other textures from. Thanks to whoever it was! Enjoy :)

Highlands Hammock State Park

As I sat on the railing of the small one way bridge in Highland Hammock State Park a couple of weeks ago, I had a vision. This my friends, is not it. In my minds eye, I saw a great high contrast black and white image of these beautiful trees and the reflection. In the digital darkroom, I had a hard time creating what I originally wanted to. That being said, I reluctantly post this.

Churchill and Roosevelt hang'in out in infrared

I had a few other images ahead of this in Que, but this one's cutting in line like a French woman in line at the bakery. I am traveling now and a little delayed in Atlanta, so I am posting a bit early. As we were bouncing arround in the bad weather, I worked on this image a bit. I usually post an image after I have worked on it and looked at it again a few times more, but it was itching to get posted. It was an infrared capture that I totally worked over. There are a few texures from a variety of places. I hope to remember where I got them from and give credit later. Enjoy!

By the way, there is nothing that seems to piss off an airline passenger more than having to step over some pinhead sitting on the floor right near the exit ramp. I needed a place to charge the laptop and about 30 minutes ago, this area was clear! I gotta get outta hear before I get trampled by the angry mob!

Flagler Whitehall

Here's another infrared shot taken along the bike path the other day. I inverted color channels, applied a few textures, twisted a few pixels, used some mask layers, and , well, here we are. Not really alot to show for all my time.Thats it, tommorrow, where looking at a hypercolored HDR parrot!

Infrared on the bike path

The bike path in Palm Beach stretches almost the whole length of the island. Its a beautiful ride along the intracoastal with views of some of the nicest homes in the area. I shot this near the Flagler museum in infrared, and applied various textures. Enjoy!

Mid day capture from a beach by the Cheeca Lodge

As the events were all being set up, I snuck off to a beach just to the south of the hotel and captured this Infrared shot. I created and enhanced the image with a texture I shot yesterday. It was nice to take a mid day break and chill in the AC. It was another hot one today!!! Feels like August in South Florida now. More images from the event to come soon.

A cool afternoon

A cool afternoon, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

This was taken with my converted D200 camera. It was converted by lifepixel. Takes a little work in photoshop swapping channels and working with contrast to create this. Enjoy!

Happy Mothers Day!

I've been spending a little time, well, maybe more than a little time....all right WAAAYY TOO MUCH TIME trying to get a nice word-press theme. I have, however, successfully uploaded word-press it to my server, configured it correctly, and connected a flickr account to it. I then exported this blog over to it. This all took a little time, but it was quite fun. I am, however, looking to display larger images on the blog. Is that too much to ask? I have searched a bagillion themes, maybe even a maquillion, and can't find what I want. Anyone have any suggestions? I think that I am going to have to design one or modify one. More on that later. Anyway, this blog theme and address on blogger will have to do for now. I gotta shift gears and focus tomorrow and get a few things done. I head to Vegas on Tuesday for a show and am there till Friday, then head to Miami for a wedding thru Saturday. Should make for some awesome images! I am sure I will be posting along the way. For now, here is a IR shot of a cactus garden from Arizona last month.