Blurb Book

I had heard about Blurb Books from another photographer who had used their website to make his printed portfolio. It looked great, like a coffee table book filled with his own work.

My wife and I had talked a few months earlier about how one of the really disappointing aspects of digital vs. film was the loss of the printed snapshot. For years, we had kept numerous photo albums of our travels, pictures of friends and family. But as I switched to digital, all those kinds of snapshots went to live on a computer hard drive, never really to be seen again.

As a response to that complaint, I decided to make a book from the hundreds of photos we shot on our trip to Europe this past summer. It's a 12" by12" bound book with an 'Image Wrap' cover and premium luster paper.

The print quality isn't quite as dynamic as I would have liked, but as a document of a great trip, it's perfect. I gave it to my wife for her birthday, and she says it's the best and most thoughtful gift she's ever been given. How's that for an endorsement?

Behind-The-Scenes: Web Gallery - 1st Draft

Spent a couple of hours whittling a recent shoot down to this. Got a lot of whittling to go...

Gallus - Cycle Shots

Every couple of months, I shoot some images for my buddy Jeremy's company, Gallus. Each bespoke bicycle is painstakingly custom-measured for it's future owner, hand-cut, sanded, and welded by Jeremy himself, and his work is beautiful.

As a relative outsider to the cycling world, I never knew how much precision and artistry went into the process of building a bike from scratch. I'm trying to shoot video of the entire process, but in the meantime - I thought might share a few pics from our latest session...

I want one.

David Lowery - Music Videos

I just blogged about my friend David Lowery and his inclusion in the IFC 'Icon' campaign. I thought I'd follow it up with a couple of the music videos he's directed. I really like both of these songs, and I think he did an excellent job interpreting them visually.

(Half Asleep video co-directed with Toby Halbrooks)

Inspiration - The Title Sequence

As the photo industry heads toward moving images, I've started keeping an 'inspiration' folder of videos. Lately, I've noticed some amazing work in the title sequences of movies and tv shows. The artists who put these sequences together are brilliant, communicating so much in so little time. The truly inspiring part (to me) is how much storytelling these short sequences do without the benefit of dialogue or exposition.

I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you, beginning with the one that caught my attention first:

Happy Halloween!

styling and sets by Valerie Mangum
www.nickshoots.com

Sierra Nevada x Anchor Steam

Disclaimer: I really hate to use this blog to promote a product, but when that product is an independently owned and operated craft brewery, I figure: Who gets hurt? It may not have a direct correlation to photography, but I sure know a lot of photographers who drink the stuff.

While I think the so-called 'collabo' craze has gotten a little silly, here's one I can definitely get behind. Two of my favorite craft breweries have gotten together as part of Sierra Nevada's 30th Anniversary series of limited-run collaboration beers. Sierra's Ken Grossman and Anchor Steam's Fritz Maytag worked together to produce this "Pioneer's Stout Ale." Enticingly described on the website as "a rich and roasted ale, perfect for aging, and worthy of your finest snifter." Yes, please!

Unfortunately, it's doesn't appear to be available anywhere near me. But then, maybe some generous soul out there will find it in their heart to ship me a bottle.