Words Of Wisdom: Grace Coddington/Norman Parkinson

"Always keep your eyes open. Never go to sleep in the car or anything like that. Keep watching, because whatever you see out the window or where ever - it can inspire you."

- Grace Coddington, quoting Norman Parkinson.

Fort Worth, TX

Guru R.I.P.

It is a sad day for fans of classic hip hop, as the incredible MC half of the group Gang Starr has passed away after a long battle with cancer. Guru, born Keith Elam, fell into a coma last month after suffering cardiac arrest. It was rumored he was recovering, however, so his passing comes as an especially shocking and sad development.

Gang Starr's record 'Hard To Earn' will always hold a special place in my heart. It was a huge part of the soundtrack to my teenage years when I was just discovering hip hop, spent every minute I could skateboarding and had just begun to learn photography. All three of those discoveries helped shape my sensibilities and develop my taste in art and culture.

Thanks for the amazing music, Guru. Rest In Peace.

photo © Michael Benabib

Words Of Wisdom: Matthew Rolston

I'm trying to get in the habit of writing down interesting and/or original perspectives on the business and the art of photography. I stumbled upon this one last night and decided it would be the perfect inaugural post in what I hope will be an ongoing 'Words Of Wisdom' series:

"I think it's good to remember that what I do - even though I use computers and I use high technology - is truly hand-crafted. This is a bespoke business. Everything we do is custom."

- Matthew Rolston, from the documentary 'The Art Of Fashion'

Spring Sky

It's that time of year in Texas - right between the grey cold of winter and the oppressive heat of summer - and the weather could not be more beautiful.

Spent the afternoon yesterday retouching an assignment on my balcony, listening to music and sipping a cold Sierra Nevada. Wish that I could spend every day like this: relaxed, working and enjoying the sunshine. Just perfect...

Tanya Foster of the Dallas Film Society

I shot this portrait of Tanya Foster, President and CEO of the Dallas Film Society, for an article promoting the DFS's inaugural Dallas International Film Festival, which kicks off this week. In it's first year without the illustrious AFI brand, the festival is still screening plenty of interesting-looking films including:

- 'Dock Ellis and the LSD No-No,' an animated retelling of the Major League Baseball player who allegedly dropped acid then pitched a no-hitter in 1970.

-'I Am Love,' an Italian film starring the always amazing Tilda Swinton, the photography of which looks incredible.

-'American: The Bill Hicks Story,' about Houston native Bill Hicks, one of the smartest and funniest comedians who ever lived. (I know - I've already hyped this one. I can't help myself.) If you happen to live in Dallas and plan on seeing this film, you will most definitely see me there.

I would be remiss not to mention some of my filmmaker friends whose work will be showing at the festival as well:

'Earthling' by Clay Liford, 'HOLD' by Frank Mosley, 'Brotherhood' by Will Canon, and 'Carried Away' by Tom Huckabee. Congratulations and good luck, gentlemen.