Running On Empty

Lately my life has been challenging to say the least. I am in my final few semesters at school, the economy is bad here in Vegas, and the cherry on the sundae was my brand new laptop was stolen. I didn't lose any data but I haven't been able to shoot much digital. I have been working on my advertising class and shooting tons of Polaroid on the streets.I felt I needed to update this blog though. Here are a couple shots I've done for my class. I usually don't post class stuff but I don't have anything else. Hope you enjoy.

Home For The Holidays

Holbrook, Arizona

Shamrock, Texas

These are a couple catch up shots from my Christmas trip back home. The Holbrook wigwams are a Route 66 legendary motel. You might recognize it if you have seen the movie Cars. The art deco masterpiece is from the town of Shamrock in Texas. These are the types of places I will be documenting in my upcoming project about rural America. Stay tuned for more details.

O, The Weather Outside is Weather.....

Don't you love the friends that will do anything for you? I have a few go-to guys that I keep on the back burner for those special projects. I had a class where I had to do a weather assignment. I instantly got the idea to play on the world of the sun. I figured since I lived in Las Vegas it's an easy shoot. We have sunshine 360 days of the year right??? Well I decided to shoot this shot on one of those five days of rain. It was overcast and drizzling the whole day. I had to wrap my lights up in plastic and stick it out in the rain to get this shot. I was amazed how easy my lights made daylight. Mitch pictured here was amazing to work with. I have so many out takes and my cheeks hurt by the end of the shoot he was so funny. I will have to post some of those later. All I can say is there was a chicken and a shovel involved. Hope you like the post. More to come tomorrow.

Takin' It To The Streets!

I like to head down to Las Vegas Blvd with my cameras and friends to unwind and see whats happening on the streets. We usually hit Fremont or LVB. I love these spots because there are always new tourists with the same crazy faces scattered among the crowd. My favorite subjects are the people that live on the street. They usually have a great story or are just so crazy they become a story. These folks are true to life. The guy in the first image was just chilling in a construction walkway at City Center. He was drawing the best eagle I've seen drawn on the back of a pizza box with a ball point pen. I had to stop and chat with him. He didn't have much to say except that he loved to draw so when he found a pen and hunk of something, he just drew. The second guy was so happy he was, " Only twelve dollars away from a room!" I snapped his picture and gave him a couple dollars to put him a little closer to his room. The third shot here is something I see a lot living in Las Vegas. A dad is pictured here with his daughter and son watching the girls dance inside the casino. Probably not the best way to spend time with your kids on the family vacation. All these people were found within a square mile of each other. Probably the main reason I love shooting in Las Vegas.

Blue Powder Days!!

Sometimes you have to get away. You have to drive far and wide to see some new things and experience the wonderful world around you. Some friends and I went to Brian Head, Utah for the weekend. We were blessed by the powder gods with blue skies and deep fluffy powder. Three days away from cell phones and email in a beautiful cabin resting on the slopes recharged my batteries. We rode a lot those three days and even built a jump next to the cabin. You can see my friends in action in the photos above. Klye Fitzpatrick (top), Matt Mcnulty (middle), and Jordan Villasenior (bottom) seen here in the photos, rock the jump. The time flew by and it seemed like Sunday came to quick but the trip was one for the record books. I don't know if I'll ever have a better ski trip.

Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures

Have you ever been in an area that is unfamiliar but you needed desperate help? Sometimes these places are void of people to help. When you are in these places you are on your own. These are the times when our survival skills are tested. We can either cower inside ourselves or muster up and face the challenge. Can you walk down that dark alley to get to that service station pay phone? Will you put up your car title for money to pay the light bill? Are you going to go down to the Bail Bonds, pay the money to get your cousin out of jail at three am? This is the time to decide. Now is the moment when you will know what you are made of.

Solo Kicks Down 66

This last semester I took a night photography class. It was an advanced class so it was a lot of field shooting. One of the trips I planned was to the Salton Sea in southern California. We planned to go during a nice moon to get some nice moonlit landscapes with the mannequin I had just acquired. It was over the Thanksgiving break so we had plenty of time. As break grew nearer less and less people were able to make the trip. It was like an Agatha Christie novel. With a stubborn spirit I decided to make the trek alone. I loaded my mannequin, Harold, in the car and headed south on Hwy 95. I caught I40 west and decided to scout some spots on old Route 66. The old highway runs pretty much parallel with 40 for a long way. It was nice to have the total free time to stop when ever I wanted. As I worked my way southwest I went through Twenty Nine Palms. I was photographing a boat when Dan came up to me asking what I was up to. You have to love a neighbor looking out for one another. After we talked some photo talk, Dan figured out I was semi-harmless. I spent the next hour talking with Dan as he led me through his property scattered with old cars, military vehicles, and other assorted implements of destruction. A wonderful detour that I might not have gotten otherwise. I piled back in the car and bombed through Joshua Tree Forrest, Mecca then the Sea. Since I was shooting night stuff I went and scouted for a long time. Long enough to arrive to the spot I wanted to shoot with storm clouds in the sky. My moonlit landscape idea was toast and the wind was too crazy, even with a tripod. So I called it a night and grabbed a room at a motel. I woke up the next morning to rain. With one more night scheduled in Salton I decided to pack it in and admit defeat. Just for kicks I committed myself to take the Old Highway the whole way home, or as much of it as I could. The choice was a great one. For the next twelve hours I chased the clouds that the previous night ruined my moonlit landscape. After the storm the clouds had reduced in size and were perfect for scenic skies. I took some of my favorite shots I've ever shot on that trip and nothing went to plan. The trip was surprising and full of American wonder. I'm glad nothing worked out.


Amboy Roy's


Amboy School


Twenty Nine Palms Harbor


Dan's Frontyard, Twenty Nine Palms


Dan's Bulletnose, Twenty Nine Palms


Bombay Airstream, Salton Sea


Pamela's Beauty Salon


Dead Gas Station


Desert Market


Temple House