Shooting Spree

about time

2011-03-14T23:46:00.000-07:00

This shoot is a few days old now, but I'm just getting around to posting it. I'm doing another shoot with Briana Tomorrow.

I have been busy lately

2011-03-11T01:35:00.000-08:00

The reasons I have not posted anything recently are long and complicated, but I'ma tell them to you anyway: School (math class), A play (opened tonight) (I play the villain), a movie (t'was shooting this morning) (I play the villian), A second movie (I play the vil... okay, the scientist, but still good), my girlfriend (where does all the time go? That's where) and to top it off: I've been sick as a dog. Fantastic.

I did manage to get several shoots done in the past few days though, and I will post results soon.

Miss Shawna

2011-03-03T22:32:00.000-08:00

This was my first shoot with a youngling - Shawna brought her daughter along, 10 month old Lilian. This proved to be an interesting experience, trying to get the child to react to me in a happy manner; I tried everything from squeaking like a mouse, to singing to the child, to shaking me beard at her and exclaiming "look at the kitty! look at the kitty! It was a lot of fun though, and I'm looking forward to do similar shoots in the future.

Miss Abigail

2011-03-01T21:36:00.000-08:00

A few days ago I shot with Miss Abigail again, and I always enjoy it. I though I would try some artsy stuff, and these are what I ended up with, along with a few of my normal glammer shots.

Miss Kristina

2011-02-27T19:43:00.000-08:00

This was a pleasant shoot. Sometimes the most interesting thing about a job is the conversation, and we spent the entire time in discussion. I went to high school with this young lady, and it was good to catch up. It was damn near dark when we started shooting, but we found a rhythm none the less.

Mr. Nadir

2011-02-24T21:57:00.000-08:00

Nadir is a good friend of mine, on of the many male friends of mine that I had yet to tap for modeling. Looking at the pictures, I have no idea why. This was a fun shoot, with some VERY good results!

Protest #2

2011-02-24T21:07:00.000-08:00

Today we made signs for a protest tomorrow at MJC. I lost count at about 30, but I will be there for the protest itself to take pictures. This was once again about the cutbacks at the college, which have apparently kicked the arts department's collective ass...

Don't silence the arts

2011-02-23T10:28:00.000-08:00

      Today, in lue of my planned model (psh... models.) I took pictures and video of an event at Modesto Junior College that I was a part of. The college is being put in the terrible position of being forced to cut between 8 and 16 MILLION dollars from it budget in the coming semesters, and the idea was broached "hey, why don't we slaughter the arts division? They prolly don't matter..." (okay, so it likely went nothing at all like that, but it's artistic license [get it?]) We rallied outside the presidents office and made sure that they knew otherwise. We put on a pre-mature funeral for the Art as a whole (from traditional art to theatre television, film, we also had a few graphic artists there) and together mourned for our friend. We had several speaks give some beautiful tributes and eulogies as well, very touching stuff.
      I started out taking pictures, which is what I'm used to, but when the speakers started I switched to video. Ugh, video is hard. You have to move, think, and act in different ways to make a shot good. In the end I think I one out, but I'll be sure to study up on my videography before I try again!
     71 pictures, 21 minutes of video with my Finepix s700

two in a row? ouch

2011-02-21T19:50:00.001-08:00

no shoot again today, but spent an hour or so planning my shoot for tomorrow with Miss Kristina. Look forward to it!

My brother's comedy

2011-02-19T13:54:00.000-08:00

My brother Tommy Fourre has been doing stand up comedy for a few months now, here's a link to one of his performances at Modesto Junior College. It's pretty dark, but you don't need to see it to enjoy it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z80N3KtLwSY

Day 15

2011-02-19T12:12:00.001-08:00

didn't take any pictures today, decided a day off would be nice. So instead here is a picture of me while my friend Rob rides by on his motorcycle :)

Day 14

2011-02-17T22:33:00.000-08:00

Today was rainy and dark, and did not go well for my photos at all. I'm not about to let a little water break my pace though, so me and Miss Savannah made the best of it, standing under protection most of the way. By the time shooting was possible it was almost dark, but I promise we will be seeing her in a better light soon! Unplanned shoot, 72 pictures. Next time we'll make sure to bring her out prepared, and I'm thinking a full shoot for her? (full shoot meaning multiple outfits, location changes, and at least 400 photos!)

Day 13

2011-02-17T01:30:00.000-08:00

Kelly today. Do any of you photographer out there have a system? One that gets your models to cooperate with you, to get their emotions out? Well, Kelly broke mine. It took me 15 minutes before the first shot really seemed to work, all because I had been trying to work the wrong angle. Usually acting is hard for a model, so you need to get the conversation steered to a subject that makes them feel things. Kelly turned out to be a great actor though, and once I started giving her the proper direction things went swimmingly. When working with experienced models or "civilians", being a coach to them is just as important as knowing when to release the shutter. 102 pictures today.

I finally have a business card

2011-02-16T08:47:00.000-08:00

This will make the approaching and signing of models much easier now. Card designed by Charice Early.

Day 12

2011-02-15T15:03:00.000-08:00

Today I shot with Mr. Michael, a friend and colleague of mine from the theatre. He made for a good model, and brought multiple outfits with him. On a longer shoot I will often ask the model to bring a suitcase of choices, but usually there is only time to work with one outfit in these small shoots. He was mainly after theatrical head shots, and we certainly did those, but we took a full range anyway. 102 shots total.

A good start to the week (day 11 )

2011-02-14T21:25:00.000-08:00

Today went well. I started with Miss Keisha, but I think she got bored with the project. Maybe modeling isn't her thing? Oh well, amusing none the less. In the end Cassandra came back though, so we shot again. I met her a few days ago, and we've done... 4 mini shoots together? All fun so far. She's teaching me that I need to pull back a little, as all my shots are head shots. Not really the worst thing, but I could diversify a bit!
30 minutes shooting, 25 pictures of Keisha, 90 of Cassandra.


Keisha

Cassandra

Fast Forward

2011-02-14T19:52:00.000-08:00

I want to start getting this account current, so from now on I'm going to up date on most days when they happen. Here is an update of what I'm skipping over:

Save as Draft

Shooting Spree Day Three

2011-02-13T02:43:00.000-08:00

Today was Hillary, and the same old shot I took the last two days on the shady side of the tree was NOT going to work. Not that I didn't try, but Hillary just thrives on sunlight. Simple fix though, we moved around to the sunny side. The photo started working then, simple as if we had turned a key. If I really want these pictures to do right by her though, we are just going to have to go to the beach. I don't think she'd mind!
~20 minutes of shooting, 91 pictues

(written two weeks after photoshoot)

Shooting Spree Day Two

2011-02-13T02:20:00.000-08:00

Today I worked with Miss Vivian. I went to the same spot with her as the first day, but the result came back differently this time. I love getting the model talking with me during the shoot, learning about them so I can better get their emotions to the surface. Normally when I get a model taking about their (boyfriend girlfriend husband wife what have you) I get joy to come back from them. Not with her. With Vivian the conversation took a different route, and she welled up almost to the point of tears. Was it what I wanted? No. Was it beautiful? I really enjoyed working today. Yes Sir. ~20 of shooting, 99 pictures

(written almost two weeks after the shoot)

Shooting Spree Day One

2011-02-13T01:48:00.000-08:00

The first day of shooting was a success. I had one shoot lined up with my friend Sara from school, but that quickly turned into three shoots (Sara, Elana, and Cassandra). I started off with a bang, taking what is now some of my favorite pictures, even if they aren't my best. We met met up at school, I choose a likely looking location (the large tree in the quad) and we went from there. Roped her boyfriend into the shoot as well. 20 minute shoot, 134 photos.

(written two weeks after the shoot)

It begins

2011-02-12T17:07:00.000-08:00

Feb 12, 2011
Over the next few weeks I am challenging myself to grow as a photographer by doing at least one photoshoot every weekday (An exercise which I have entitled a Shooting Spree). My models are the people in or around my life, my locations wherever I happen to be. I will find the people, the places, the angles and the moments it takes to take the best pictures, everyday. In the past 2 weeks I have taken 12 photoshoots, and I have learned much. I shall catalog my experiences and learnings here, as well as post results so that you, the reader may see my growth and maybe grow with me.