Cowboy Up

Thought I would give you something else to look at since it has been so long since I posted.



I took this at the Laton Rodeo, right before the rider was let out of the gate. What I really like about it is the hands reaching in and framing the flag on his shoulder.

Laton is a small town, located in the middle of the country in the Central Valley of California. The rodeo is by far the biggest event of the year for the rural community. All around you see cowboy hats, spurs and huge belt buckles.

I really think this picture captures that small town America look. It's simple like the town, you always have a helping hand from the community, and you're modest, like the rider who is looking away. The riders hands are worn from hard work, much like the residence of the small farming community.

I feel that this is what journalistic photography is all about; portraying an entire event, community or demographic with a single photo. It's a tough job, and I am by no means saying I did or do a good job doing it. But being a photographer in the media world, means telling a story. I think this photo tells that story and tells about the community where it comes from. I didn't run this photo in the newspaper, but it was favorite.

What do you think?

America the Beautiful

So it has been a while since I have posted, so I thought I would throw up a picture I took a couple of days ago. Just the right thing to help finish out the week. Here in California, it's starting to feel like summer and flowers are blooming, matching perfectly with our clear blue skies. I snapped this shot in Caruthers, Ca at a Veterans Memorial Site. These roses were just planted a few months ago, replacing the dead flowers and foliage that was there before.

Entering a new world...

So here is my first video-blog, I hope you enjoy. I had a tough time posting the video with google video, but I think I solved the problem.

Photos of the Past

Here are some past pictures that I have taken. I haven't been blogging very consistently, so I thought I would treat you to some past shots. This blog is meant to get some exposure to my work, and for that to happen I need to put more of my work up. I hope you enjoy.



This photo was taken at a Carnival Church in Caruthers, Calif. The service was held in the bumber cars, and if you look really hard, the title of the music she is playing says calm assurance.




This is a photo of Hooligan Mike on a country road in Lemoore. To the left is a giant tamato factory. Funny where good pictures happen.



This was the shot I was going for the whole time. I took it the same night as I took the one above, but at a park in Lemoore. Sean has always been a great model and looks so good doing it. I added the words "Live Free" in photoshop, a message to all you reading this.



This is from my very first expierement with strobing. I took it at a park at 3 in the morning with a 25 year old camera and a really cheap flash. Baisically I held the shutter open and strobed her from down low. I really wanted this crop and framed the picture like on site. Lauren is a beautiful model, but was a pain to work with that night. Most of the time she is ok though. She loves the camera

Building Faith

Members of Riverdale's Assymbly of God work on the roof of thier future sanctuary. The enourmous 30,000 sq. ft. church is almost near its second year of construction and will be completed this fall.


I drive by this church on my way to work all the time and I see these lifts sitting next to it. For the past three months i have just been thinking how cool it would be to get a shot up on those lifts of the cross with some clouds. Now it wasn't the greatest cloud day, but they still got the job done. The church members, who are the ones constructing the sanctuary, were more than willing to take me up 50 feet in the air and get a shot of them working on the roof. They are good people there.

I'm Back

Ok, so after a little hiatus from blogging I am back with a new post. I will have a few more post up in the next few days with some photos and info.
Life has been crazy. Both in good ways and bad ways. But hey you can't be afraid to live right?
So I got a new toy and I am in love. Why wasn't I on a mac sooner?
Here are a couple of photos that I took with my mac books on board camera. Please feel free to laugh at my expense.

How important is your $5000 camera?

It is comonly said that if you want to be the best, you got to have the best. Everyday more and more people are finding their way into the world of photography, either with a simple point and shoot or high-end DSLR. How many times have you seen a soccer mom carying a 20d only to take pictures of her two smiling children with cake on their faces on their birthday. I am not saying she doesn't have a right to have one, it is just funny that people have $1000+ cameras to do a job that a camera worth a few $100's would do. Even if you are a profesional photographer do you really need that $5000 camera with the $2000 lens. Ken Rockwell has written an excellent article here that explains this situation much more better than I could.I hear that newspapers are contemplating buying the newer and much more expensive cameras becuase the quaility they need could be acomplished by a much cheaper camera. So taking this article to heart, I will take a page from the book of this fine photographer and start my own cell phone picture collection.

Here are my first few pictures:

All I have done is convert these to black and white and adjust the levels a little. Not a bad start right?