Here is the main image from the Grecian Delight food shoot two weeks ago at Sierra. Grecian Delight is, I believe, the largest flat bread bakery in the country. They wanted to show the vast variety of flat breads that they make. We arranged as many sizes, colors, shapes and flavors as we could fit. As usual, I kept the light simple and tried to make it come from the direction of the window as much as possible. We really liked the texture we got across the breads and were really pleased with how the image turned out. I'm not sure how the image looks on your monitor, but it has a nice golden warm feel in the original version for print. My two favorite subjects to photograph are people and food. I'm happy to be able to shoot both at Sierra.
I'm always looking for people with a unique look, hobby or occupation to photograph. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to shoot some images of the crew at Tattoo City. I've always wanted to do a project showing people with their tattoos because of how unique and different each person's artwork is. Each tattoo tells you something about the person. This is the start of it and hope to continue it as time permits. I was able to photograph all of the artists at Tattoo City but these are just a few of owner/artist Larry Brogan and piercer Kelly LeVake. I would like to say thanks to Artists at Tattoo City for taking time out of their Fridayr night to allow me to come in and start this project. The work that they do is truly amazing.
Robert Hanson, director of Elgin Symphony Orchestra, was a pleasure to shoot. We shot several backgrounds and outfits. He was very willing to let me try different things and we had a very smooth shoot. Robert Hanson, named 2001 Conductor of the Year by the Illinois Council of Orchestras, has been Music Director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra since 1985. Hanson came to the ESO in 1974 as assistant to Margaret Hillis and became Co-Music Director in 1983. Under his guidance, the ESO has become one of the finest and most celebrated orchestras in the Midwest.
The lighting for this shoot was kept very simple with only one main light into a large softbox on the right and a head with a grid as a kicker from back right. The shot where he is conducting we dragged the shutter about 1.5 to 2 secs and allowed the modeling lights to expose. We did the last shots by the sliding glass doors in the studio conference room. Hopefully I can work with him again and try a little more unexpected type of shots.
Haba na haba, hujaza kibaba.
Little by little, fills the pot.
As this Swahili proverb says, all things are possible if you just take it little by little, step by step.
And, little by little, we can make a difference, one person at a time.
In 2001, when I visited Tanzania for the first time as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, I was captivated by the country’s awesome beauty and warmed by the people’s hospitality. I was also overwhelmed by the devastating impact of AIDS, especially on young people. In 2000, there were one million AIDS orphans in Tanzania. This number is expected to reach 1.8 million by 2010. One in ten children in Tanzania under the age of 15 will be orphans. One-fifth to one-third of the children has lost one or both parents to AIDS.
When I returned home, I began thinking about what I could do to help. With Grace Ndunguru Msindai, a Habitat for Humanity project coordinator I met in Tanzania, we founded Haba Na Haba. We are a small but resolute incubator that nurtures local initiatives and empowers young adults, most of them AIDS orphans. Our goal is to build thriving businesses that provide on-the-job training and jobs with fair wages that enable these young men and women to support themselves and create a hopeful future.
Your Purchases Make a Difference
Businesses supported by Haba Na Haba design and produce unique fabric and textile products such as decorative pillows, table linens, and fashionable clothes. We hope you will find these products a wonderful addition to your home as well as a reminder that we all can make a difference in the lives of people all over the world.
Part of the profits from the sale of each item support job training and educational opportunities for at-risk youth in Tanzania.
- Beth Peterson
This is a shot that I took of Beth a while back. I also did a bunch of photography of the pillows that this organization produces in Tanzania. Take a look at their website at www.habanahaba.com
I wanted to add a new image to my portfolio that was kind of techy. Here is what I came up with. I always try to keep it as simple as possible. One grided hard light from back right gave me the hard shadow, a 2nd grided light bounced into a white reflector board on right gave me the gradation on the chrome and a mirror on the right gave me the small highlight on the left side of the iPod. I couldn't get the headphone wire to flow smoothly enough so I just used a colored piece of electrical wire that was originally green (later changed in photoshop) and formed the curves into it to my liking. It doesn't have to be difficult to be cool. I spent probably 2 hours total on this shot. Sometimes they come together quickly sometimes they dont.
I'm going to give it a try. I'm not so sure if anyone will want to read this. But if it turns out to be just a way for me to journal what's new in my life, that will be ok too. It helps if you have a plan on what you want to achieve in blogging. I dont yet have a plan so bear with me as this will evolve. I just finished a photo shoot of an iPod that I will be using in my product portfolio. As soon as I have the image ready, I'll post it here for everyone to see.
