hired gun a photographer’s journal

portrait of the day - shane

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 17:39:29 -0700

I know I’m biased, but you gotta admit this is one good-looking kid.

shooting up the place - big sur

Tue, 26 May 2009 15:40:18 -0700

I don’t know which is more fun - driving this stretch of coast or shooting it. Either way, today is a good day.

portrait of the day - jennifer and laura at thingvellir national park

Fri, 15 May 2009 13:41:43 -0700

See that cliff on the left? That’s the North American Plate. That cliff on the right is the Eurasian Plate. This path is on some of the newest land in the entire world; the space between two continental plates as they slowly move away from each other.

Iceland is a rugged emerald in the middle of the North Atlantic and Thingvellir National Park is merely one of its many beautiful facets. If you ever get the chance go there. Walk between the two largest continents in the world. It’s an experience you’ll never forget.

portrait of the day - b-stroyer (#69) and six foot sarah (#72in)

Mon, 11 May 2009 14:27:56 -0700

You wanna have a little fun this weekend? Try the Ventura County Derby Darlins. They are bone-crunchin’, tooth-spittin’, obscenity-yellin’, garter-belt-wearin’ hell on wheels. You’ll cheer so much and yell so loud that your ears will still be ringing come Monday.

I shot these photos on Saturday and had such a great time doing it. This is a group of strong, confident women who are not afraid to get out there, mix it up, and show the world what they can do.

portrait of the day - nick d’egidio

Wed, 6 May 2009 11:56:09 -0700

I’ve worked before with Nick D’Egidio and I don’t know how he did it but somehow he’s managed to get even cooler.

Any decent singer can cover a Sinatra tune. Some can even sound like Sinatra. But there’s nothing like the way Nick can fill a room with that funny, cock-sure attitude that made Frank such a presence.

portrait of the day - nathen blackwell

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:48:24 -0700

I loved watching my father paint. He would lose himself entirely in the moment, focusing intensely on the smallest detail of the task in front of him, then step back to see the detail in its larger context. He would quietly and patiently build his painting moment by moment, not concerned or even conscious of a beginning or an end; simply existing for each tiny slice of now. An hour could go by with me just standing there watching him and I would be convinced that he was completely unaware of my presence. Then he’d say “Hey, Chum. Pass your old man the burnt umber, would you? I’m all out.” And he’d turn to me with his giant sunburst of a grin, his wild corona of white hair catching the glow from his single worklight.

Watching Nathen work yesterday at the Reagan Library brought all that back to me, smile and all.

You’ll never know it Nathen, but you made my week.

portrait of the day - mardy de santo

Fri, 6 Mar 2009 19:26:02 -0800

In my studio there are only two pieces of art that I didn’t create. One was made by my son. One was made by my father. To those I am adding a piece by Mardy De Santo and I can’t wait to receive it. His still-life works have a simple beauty that, for the patient viewer, gradually unfolds into a complex, mysterious story. His portraits show the same intense power that I strive to achieve in my own. I am grateful to Mardy for sharing his talent with me and look forward to having his work grace my wall.

portrait of the day - sheryl crow

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:46:03 -0800

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’d like to remind you that there is no photography of any kind during the performance.”

Was that a dare?

portrait of the day - paul azinger, ian baker-finch, fred couples

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:07:28 -0800

The Northern Trust Open takes place this week at the Riviera country club. Here Fred Couples, one of the greatest golfers in the world, conducts a question and answer session along with British Open champion and CBS commentator Ian Baker-Finch and former Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger.

The three are obviously good friends and have a an easy, comfortable manner together. They are all masterful storytellers and took turns regaling the room with tales from the tours.

portrait of the day - tim heintz

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 06:39:25 -0800

You don’t know it, but you’ve heard Tim’s music. In addition to putting out his own albums, he’s written music for television and movie soundtracks, co-written for a wide variety of popular artists, and even made quite a bit of the cool, groovy music you hear playing at many of Southern California’s theme parks.

As a musician but also as an individual the best word to describe Tim is smooth. He has a warm, welcoming manner and it only takes a minute to feel like you’ve known him a lifetime. And, as you would expect, his is just about the sweetest family ever.

portrait of the day - fritz coleman

Mon, 9 Feb 2009 06:06:13 -0800

The other day I was waiting to turn into Target. On the center divider was a guy sitting on an upturned bucket with a cardboard sign asking for donations to his unemployment fund.

And in big black letters his t-shirt proclaimed, “Fritz said it would be like this.”

portrait of the day - andrea popa

Fri, 6 Feb 2009 04:38:56 -0800

Designers love gowns; there is nothing like that moment when a room is stilled by the entrance of a spectacular gown on a beautiful woman. And the easiest way for a designer to get that charge of spectacular stillness is to specialize in bridal gowns - the moment is created for you; the doors to the room open and there stands a young woman at the peak of her beauty, the eyes of her family and friends eagerly awaiting her. All a designer needs to do is pile on enough silk and lace and let the crowd’s expectations do the work.

Andrea Popa has a different idea. Of course she has gorgeous bridal gowns, but the challenge she has embraced is to create that moment of beauty and drama for the other important woman at that wedding; the mother of the bride.

She has answered that challenge beautifully. Andrea’s Fashions features a line of gowns that have all the elegance a more mature woman needs and all the glamour it takes to make people forget (for a while) that someone else is supposed to be the star of the evening.

portrait of the day - the hollywood combo

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 11:32:45 -0800

Swing, blues and jive. The Hollywood Combo cooks it all up and serves it with just a hint of n’Orleans spice. Here they are at Joey’s Place with guests Carl Sonny Leyland and Big Jay McNeely.

portrait of the day - anne sweeney

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:17:00 -0800

So. last month the Hollywood Reporter announced she’s number 2 on their annual list of Hollywood’s most powerful women. She’s been given a similar accolade by Fortune Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and I heard a rumour that Marvel Comics is casting her in a six-part miniseries.

Why, then, is she so damned nice? How’d she pass the DNA test for top-level CEO’s? You know the one - where the check to make sure adenine, cytosine and guanine have been replaced with arrogance, connivance and greed.

Hmm. Come to think of it; Jeffrey Immelt was pretty cool, too. As was Jeff Zucker. I may have to look into this. It appears that someone’s not doing their job at the testing facility . . .

portrait of the day - doug brannigan

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:32:49 -0800

Doug is a loyal friend who is always up for any adventure and a dynamite camera operator, and you’ll never meet a more good-natured individual. I’ve worked with him at private events, film productions and television shows, not to mention camping trips and rafting expeditions. Along with his cameras and tents Doug packs such generous amount of enthusiasm that it always ends up spilling onto the rest of us.