EMBRY RUCKER // b l o g

walls

2012-02-07T16:46:00.000-08:00

New Orleans, Louisiana

2012-01-18T12:27:00.000-08:00

Benny Jones of the Legendary Treme Brass Band

I've just gotten back from an amazingly fun trip / shoot in New Orleans - it was my first time there and... well, what a town. Beautiful history, sweet charming 'folks', tons of energy, oh, and the food. We were shooting travel - destination - tourism-ish photos, so we had a great excuse to dive into the local decadence. Whether it was live music, deep fried Po-Boys or a wee taste of absinthe we felt obligated to let the good times roll. We also toured historic graveyards, what was once the 9th Ward & other parts of the city that were devastated in the storm.
A very big thanks to our client & agency - They acted as gracious hosts & made us feel more than welcome.

Kevin Pearce for HUCK Magazine 030

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

I had the good fortune to be commissioned by Huck Magazine to shoot with Kevin Pearce last month. The photos will accompany a recent interview by Zoe Oksanen in issue 030.

I spent the day hanging out with KP at his house in California discussing rehab, old VWs, the constant responsibility that is home ownership and at my urging, the future potential of him raising chickens - he's got a great spot for a coop.

Proceeds from the shoot were donated to one of Kevin's favorite charities.

Protect Our Winters

That kid is an inspiration, an unstoppable fighter & one of the good ones.

Thanks for a great shoot.

2012

2012-01-02T11:47:00.000-08:00

6X7 2012

Back at it for 2012 & looking forward to more surprises & more adventures.

During the quiet spell of the holidays we laid low at home & spent time with friends, family & caught up on some home projects. I was covered in saw dust most of the time. My days were spent building a bed, installing wood floors & putting up some new shelves. Never ending.

Here's to new projects, fun shoots & trips to favorite destinations new & old.

california

2011-12-27T21:33:00.000-08:00

Bull Taco
Cardiff, Ca.

....a couple quick film scans from recent wanderings.

Random + Recent

2011-12-26T08:25:00.001-08:00

ANZA-BORREGO day trip

2011-12-19T10:51:00.001-08:00

Horse Creek, Wyoming

2011-12-13T14:00:00.001-08:00

Giddeon Massie for Bicycling Magazine

2011-12-06T05:03:00.000-08:00

Giddeon's cover is on newsstands now.

Film

2011-12-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

I finally got around to processing some 120 film this week. Looking forward to burning through some more rolls.

Contact sheet from 2011: Kids, Coasts & Clouds

Behind the behind the 4 of 4 promo campaign

2011-11-28T16:43:00.001-08:00

Here’s a look into the creation & evolution of my recent promo mailer project. Inaddition to creating a new 'look' with my designer buddy, we also did a website re-design which I blathered on & on about last month. To promote the new look & new work, I shot aseries of 4 promo cards that were mailed out over the last 2 months-ish and then used a bunch of online 'tools and strategies' toconnect the dots and spread the word. This promo campaign was a multi-layeredeffort combining photography, offset printing, video, and web-basedintergalactic-connectivity. cool, right? Each of the four cards has a URL and corresponding QRcode printed on the back that links directly to each card's creation video. Below is the 4th video - just a little tour around the shop with the sweet sounds of Joy Division in the back ground.

If youreceived all four cards, send me a photo of them all together and I'll send youa signed custom print. of what? i don't know yet & I might not have to worry about that if everyone throws out promo cards as soon as they land on their desk. And if you’re not on my mailing list and want to receivethese cards, or future communiqués sign up on my site when i get that sign up link loaded..

Enjoy.

Big Sur

2011-11-23T21:20:00.001-08:00

Big Sur with the kiddos.

NIKE: ALPHA+VENICE

2011-11-17T13:34:00.001-08:00

Some images from last week's shoot in Venice, CA. for Nike. Great athletes, location, photo dudes & creative crew from the swoosh. This was a super fun shoot that fortunately wasn't overwrought with technical details - there was no, 'we need the front and back of the shirt and happy, yet sad, and spontaneous yet posed to a point that it is no longer believable' - none of that, just a gorgeous gym, beautiful girls that knew what they were doing & the freak scene that is Venice Beach right out the front door. we shot fast, traveled light, & wrapped in time for a nice meal at Gjelina. - nice little Wednesday, right there.

I was shooting the Canon 5d marque deuce & kept my 35mm on for most of these, but not all.

Santa Fe, NM. etc...

2011-11-14T16:31:00.001-08:00

wandering in santa fe.

A few weeks back I drove out to Santa Fe to do the Photo Video workshop at 'Santa Fe Photo Workshops' & had a fantastic time - seriously, a great escape & way to focus on what we are all doing. Teaching is a whole different type of awareness & stress & was all kinds of fun. We had a fantastic & diverse crew of participants that came from all over & had different ways they hoped to integrate motion into their still photography world. The SF Workshop crew was great - they've done this a million times & made my first time - painless & enjoyable.

I had a little scholarship deal in which we gave away four $500 discount scholarships & the grand prize winner was further showerd with goodies from Think Tank & LiveBooks - so, big thanks to you guys for helping out.
Anyway, I'm catching up on travels & shoots & new pics. stay tuned.

2011-11-10T14:10:00.001-08:00

Polaroids from Arizona

SAN Diego > SEDONA

2011-11-07T16:05:00.000-08:00

Roadside attractions from my drive to SantaFe, NM. last week.

Oldies but Goodies

2011-10-21T21:42:00.001-07:00

Oldies but Goodies

The Greatest Generations Foundation

2011-10-21T12:50:00.000-07:00

Giddeon Massie for Bicycling Magazine

2011-10-20T12:34:00.001-07:00

Got to shoot with quadtastic Giddeon Massie yesterday in Malibu - gorgeously diverse weather & a smooth lighthearted crew.

Kevin 'deer in the head lights'

future-primitive-retro-tech-overload

2011-10-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

This is a quick little time-lapse shot through the back of my 4X5 that does not see enough use. I was shooting one of the 'moving landing pages' on my new site. At one point I took a photo with my phone of the weird contraption - an old dusty 4X5 that to a passer buy looks like an accordion on a pedestal with a DSLR tucked in right behind - tripods straddling each other - with a black cloth, probably a sweatshirt, definitely not pro looking whatever it was, protecting the ground glass from any glare... 'what's he doing? a magic show?' So I took a photo with a tiny telephone camera that I was most likely going to upload to instagram & make it look all misty & old school & then I realized .... well, i don't know what I realized, but it all felt ridiculous so I just sat there for a while & watched the sun fizzle out.

Rubber Band Gun

2011-10-13T20:43:00.000-07:00

Made a rubber-band-gun for the cub.

polas

2011-10-13T20:38:00.001-07:00

US 395

2011-10-07T13:52:00.000-07:00

Last week's road trip to Tahoe for a dear friend's wedding - i snuck in a little hike on the way home.

"All New Everything"

2011-09-28T13:26:00.000-07:00

Another fun ADIDAS shoot.

2011-09-26T16:56:00.000-07:00

I spent last week in LA shooting Men's & Women's Training for Adidas - as always, a great time with fantastic Crew, Client & Talent. Some more images from the shoot HERE
or
here:

Planning a trip in them thar hills.

2011-09-25T22:29:00.001-07:00

GroupPhoto

2011-09-22T14:07:00.001-07:00

...other guy laying on the floor taking photos & not pictured - http://www.matthooverphoto.com

A couple recent ones.

2011-09-17T17:32:00.001-07:00

Workshop Grand Prize Winner

2011-09-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

OK Tony you can take that sweaty Gorilla mask off now. CONGRATULATIONS!
After my judging panel & I [just me] poured over the literally severals [4ish?] of video submissions we have decided to award the GRAND PRIZE to TONY BLEI.
That's a sweet $500 discount off your tuition to the workshop, A free year of LiveBooks, A backpack from Think Tank and probably a few other things i'm forgetting.

Here's Tony's winning video submission:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7akj0Lx8ZM&feature=youtu.be

Now, just because our Grand Prize Winner has been announced, does not mean everyone else is a 'looser' - we're all winners here & more importantly, there is still $1500 at stake!
3 more $500.00 discounts/scholarships for the workshop. plus some other stuff.

HELPFUL TIPS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE YET TO SUBMIT A VIDEO:

-If you are signed up already - submit a video.
-If you haven't signed up yet, but plan on it - submit a video
-If you aren't even sure you want to go to this workshop because you know everything already & don't think a week in beautiful Santa Fe dedicated to learning & immersing yourself in your craft is worth it - submit a video anyways.... why not?

We'll [Royal 'WE'] will announce the 3 'other winners of equal awesomeness' [runner's up] on the 23rd, so, you have plenty of time to wait until the night of the 22nd & take your phone/video camera out of your pocket point it at your face and say something... or just whisper something... or just stare at the camera which will look like you are staring at me when i watch it and send the 'pick me as a winner' vibe with your eyes.

2011-09-13T15:33:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone - as i posted before, with the help of Santa Fe Workshops I'm donating 4 scholarships to my motion/still workshop which, if people get busy & sign up, will be super fun.

here's details on that one.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Embry-Ruckers-StillVideo-Workshop-in-Santa-Fe/100856820019869

....and while i'm at it & have a few people's attention check out the photo contest at Santa Fe Workshops:

SUMMER (The Photo Contest)It’s lazy, it’s hazy. It’s fun-in-the-sun, and it’s fading fast. It’s SUMMER, the theme of our second photo contest for 2011, and it closes September 21.

A season of faces, places, textures and moods, there’s a personality to summer, and it’s yours to capture, define, or interpret. Color or black-and-white, an object, a person, a location, a moment—the magic of summer lingers in your images.This is a contest that has it all. Truly stellar prizes, totaling over $13,000 and including:- a workshop of your choice in Santa Fe- a Nikon COOLPIX P300 Digital Camera- a Bron Imaging California Sunbounce Micro Mini- a Think Tank Photo’s Airport Security V2.0 Rolling Camera Bag- a Calumet 42x78” Aluminum Frame and Three-Fabric Panel Kit- a range of Nik Software- a Blurb gift certificate for $500- a VisualServer web site account for one year- a Sekonic L-358 Flash Master Light Meter- Santa Fe Photographic Workshops gift certificatesTop-flight jurors:- Kathy Ryan, the Director of Photography for The New York Times Magazine- Scott Thode, the Editor-in-Chief of VII magazine- Sean Kernan, nationally known fine art photographer- Katherine Ware, the Curator of Photography of the New Mexico Museum of Art- Reid Callanan, the Director of Santa Fe Photographic WorkshopsAnd the topic of SUMMER—wide open and relevant to all of us, no matter what type of photographer we are.Eligibility: The contest is open to all photographers over the age of 18. Registration: $40 for 3 images. Image Format: 72 ppi jpegs, 1,280 pixels on the longest side, RGB.Deadline: 21 September 2011.Full details: http://www.santafeworkshops.com/contest/

Custom

2011-09-10T21:14:00.001-07:00

Custom Oury grips for little's bike.

Mobile test

2011-09-08T10:49:00.001-07:00

Workshop UPDATE:

2011-09-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

Motion: A Guerilla Approach to Expanding Your Vision to Motion.
We are extending the deadline for contest videos until the 13th. There are some real gems posted up on the facebook page - but we'd all like to see some more!
Here's what's at stake:
1st prize is a $500.00 discount off the motion workshop's tuition + LiveBooks is donating one free year [!] a $400.00 value + Think Tank is pitching in a Street Walker Backpack + other great stuff.

*** We are also extending 3 other $500.00 discounts [for this workshop] to the next 3 best video submissions - so send some in!

Guerilla Video Workshop Scholarship, October 26-29 2011

2011-08-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

Years & years ago I went out to Santa Fe for a photography workshop. It had a pretty 'profound' effect on me - I had never been around that many other photographers in a learning scenario. I never went to photo school or took the impossible-to-get-into 'darkroom' class in high school. I was fortunate enough to learn most everything I know from a few key mentors, inspirators, expensive film based trial & error, and workshops that spoke to what I wanted to learn.
My first workshop with Doug Merriam was so pivotal that i returned for classes with Kurt Markus & Andrew Eccles. The crew at Santa Fe Workshops & the instructors were so open, friendly, helpful & accessible that it made the week in New Mexico feel like a retreat.

This October I've been asked to come out & teach a workshop on the marriage of still photos & moving images in a workshop we're calling: Motion: A Guerilla Approach to Expanding Your Vision to Motion.

It's going to be fun & hopefully informative. And to sweeten the deal & maybe open the doors to someone who might not usually be able to afford a weeklong retreat in Santa Fe - We're going to give away 4 x $500 scholarships.

HERE'S WHAT TO DO:
Make a video that shows me & 'my judging panel' why you should get the scholarship - it can be anything you want, begging, pleading, a day in the life, showing your broken car window where all your equipment was stolen, shot with a phone or a cineflex, whatever... lets try to keep them under 3 minutes. I'll post the details for uploading soon!

try uploading videos to this Facebook page: let me know if anything is not working in the comments.

Now bear in mind, I've never held a contest of any sort so take it easy on me, I'm still sussing out the details.

Winner's will [should] be announced September 9th.

Grand Prize Winner will receive:

$500 scholarship**** thanks to Santa Fe Workshops & Me!

LiveBooks is donating one free year [!] a $400.00 value to the winner.

Think Tank is pitching in a Street Walker Backpack

3 Runners Up win:

$500 scholarship****

All attendees at the workshop will receive:

- At lest one high five*
- 15% off a LiveBooks website.
- Keen insight **
- Probably a margarita***
- Fresh Air
- Field Notes notebooks, generously donated by my dear friend Draplin
- Think Tank Photo Bag promo code that gets you a 'free bag' [not sure which one] with any purchase over $50.00 [actually all submissions might get this...]

* can be substituted for a firm hand shake with eye contact.
** might not be from me.
*** virgin or real - up to you.
**** scholarship can only be used for this particular workshop.

YOB: CASBAH. SD,CA.2011

2011-08-16T15:40:00.000-07:00

Last week, my old buddy JoeI Muzzey & I went down to the Casbah in San Diego to record Joel's interview with Mike Scheidt of the Doom Metal band YOB.
He's the guitarist, band's from Oregon, amazing sub-genre i didn't know much about - something different every day.

They are touring for their new album called 'ATMA' which was released today. We made a little video & it was very cool to collaborate on something like this - there was no client, no assignment, just an experiment in crazy-loud, high-minded, face melting, head banging, DOOM.
I got whipped by so much hair while filming it felt like i was in a carwash.
It's an acquired taste - but worth the effort - if you're going to watch it, turn it up... Let me know what you think.

Kentucky for the Weekend

2011-08-10T10:51:00.001-07:00

Caught up with some old friends & new fish.

Tidy Up. Hey 'Followers' of the blog.

2011-08-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

Cleaning up the Blog a bit.... lots of distractions over there >>>>>>>
I might be 'migrating' the blog - does that matter to anyone? 'followers'? i can just send out a new url if you want to subscribe to the RSS, right?
yay? nay? anyone care?

'I used to live here'
I came across this old Toyota truck last week when i was up in San Francisco & the memories came a flooding. This was my car and sometimes home for many years during the 90's - I had a cap on the back to keep prying eyes & the weather out & built my own carpet kit out of 'liberated' wood & remnant carpet [rose]. It had a gutless 4 cylinder, manual transmission, tape deck, cloth seats, stock everything. I could fit everything I owned in my little 4x4 & still have room to sleep. I slept in there in -18 degrees in the Bridger Bowl parking lot in order to get fresh snow, watched drive-in movies from the tailgate, saw sunsets & sunrises, caught air, peeled out, and she even sat in storage for a few lonely months while i was, uhh, 'unable to drive'.
She made it from Louisville to Wyoming and back several times, all over Colorado, Utah & New Mexico, Montana, Washington, Canada, Oregon - she was broken into in the lower Haight in SF & the mountain bike, surfboard and sleeping bag were still there in the morning... and finally to Bend where I lived for a few years & we parted ways.
Now I know why 'Old Timer's' always seem to gravitate to restoring the cars of their youth - i want it back.

insta

2011-08-01T20:25:00.000-07:00

...a few of this week's instagrams - using the app feels like a taking a polaroid that you can instantly give to people all over the world... the images feel timeless yet impermanent. I'm giving them a bit more life and dragging things out on my blog.

My Girls

2011-07-26T17:59:00.001-07:00

20110724

2011-07-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

Mollusk Surf Shop

San Francisco, Ca. 2011

Swan Oyster Depot

San Francisco, Ca. 2011

The California

Auburn, Ca 2011

full moon over the lake.

2011-07-16T22:40:00.000-07:00

395 Road Trip

2011-07-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

The Greatest Generations Foundation

2011-06-14T13:54:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was traveling on behalf of The Greatest Generation Foundation with 12 WWII Veterans to old bomber bases in the UK & historic battlefields, beaches & hedgerows in Normandy in observance of the 67th anniversary of D-Day. I kept thinking of it as a 'less than once-in-a-lifetime opportunity'.... Truly amazing guys & something I won't soon forget.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/embryrucker/sets/72157626962628132/

Mattson Two Video

2011-06-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

or watch it bigger HERE

iTunes

English Channel

2011-06-11T14:14:00.000-07:00

Kentucky

2011-05-27T15:49:00.001-07:00

Kentucky SlideShow

El Mirage

2011-05-16T17:03:00.000-07:00

Shinya Kimura

Stewart Surfboards

2011-05-06T11:14:00.001-07:00

We caught up with Bill Stewart a few weeks back & were fortunate enough to watch him shape the first of a new surfboard design he has been dreaming about. He has taken cues from everything he has done in the past, both successes & failures - observed what others have done & managed to create something steeped in history, yet original.
Sounds like good photography, right?
Maybe one day I'll find the time to ride one of these things again?

watch below or open here:

Derby Days & Spring Monsoons

2011-05-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

I brought the brood back to KY last week & had a great time despite the weather.

Nike Vision: The Next Wave

2011-04-21T17:43:00.000-07:00

The Nike Vision: Vintage Collection site is up & the design is pretty cool. We shot both stills & motion & it looks good all tweaked the same way.
Here's the wrap up of the actual shoot back in December...

http://www.nikevision.com/nsw

The Mattson Two

2011-04-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

A couple images of Jonathan & Jared Mattson.
The Mattson Two
The nicest guys & amazingly talented - thanks for the private show!
Their practice space is the bedroom in which they grew up in Cardiff, Ca.
The two of them are one of a kind.

Alex Morgan for Nike

2011-04-13T17:34:00.000-07:00

Some recent images of soccer player Alex Morgan for Nike.

Bethany Hamilton For People Magazine

2011-04-12T17:46:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to meet & photograph Bethany Hamilton last week - she is such a trooper. Great gal & an amazing spirit. She's out & about promoting her new movie Soul Surfer.
To survive, to rise above & get back in the water, to work & work & get better than you ever were, & now to be one of the absolute best. Happy, humble & inspiring.
Thanks Bethany!

http://www.jkand.com/pages/blog/

Good times with Adidas!

2011-04-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks for another great shoot guys.

All the players in a shoot are so important to the overall outcome. It can't be overstated. When everything works like it should or better it really is a pleasure to get up in the [wee hours of the] morning & go to work.

We're not breaking the mold here or saving the world from herself - We're selling stuff & taking pictures of people running, jumping, playing, & doing what they do.

An honest day's work for an honest day's pay... We could be doing worse.

The crew is a team, the crew is family.

from today

2011-04-05T22:55:00.000-07:00

Think Tank Airport Security

2011-04-04T23:01:00.000-07:00

Another day scouting a high school that doesn't resemble mine at all. Not only did we not have a football stadium, we didn't have a football team. As usual, it's a great pleasure to be able to peek into another world. Best part of my job.

New images on the site

2011-03-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

A little re-tooling on the site & some new recent images.

I was out in Colorado last week taking a few photos for Runner's World. It was great to get out there again & see some old friends & old haunts - Boulder was amazing as always & I finally made it to Pemba Sherpa's place - thanks for the recco Mike! I was pleasantly surprised by Denver - cool town with a great skatepark, a ton of cycling trails & open space near the river. Haven't been there forever.

A grateful "Thank You" to all the runner's & crew i worked with - I applaud your altitude & attitude.

Santa Fe Photographic Workshops in NYC

2011-03-16T21:37:00.000-07:00

I'm honored & excited to be a part of the SFPW this May in NYC. I was asked to do a
workshop on our guerilla approach to the symbiosis of shooting motion while shooting stills.

Almost every shoot i have been a part of in the last 2 years has had a video component on some level & figuring out how to keep the look / feel / vibe consistent is one of my favorite parts.

Learning, directing & shooting has definitely been an adjustment, but one i believe has created stronger moving & still pictures & most importantly, it has be amazingly fun to learn about... it's like 'yeah, you know how to ride a bike, it's no big deal anymore - then you learn how to juggle - then you figure out how to do them together... constant challenge & growth.'

I've had 'video guys' on shoots before & i had no clue what they were doing while i was shooting. Now that we are all using HDDSLRs & i can see, shoot or direct the same way i see the still image. It's an invaluable ability that allows you to maintain your vision throughout an entire project & ideally, knock the sock off your client.

So, anyway, May 6-8th in NYC my 'alma mater' Santa Fe Photographic Workshops will be conducting 3 different workshops that look like a ton of fun. My photo/video workshop promises to be loose, fun & informative & I guarantee a good time!
Sign up, lets hang out.
http://www.santafeworkshops.com/photography-workshops/workshop/778

If that's not your cup of tea, check out Andrew Eccles' workshop, I can vouch for that guy.

I know this workshop is in direct conflict with the running of the Kentucky Derby, but trust me, There Will Be Mint Juleps.

...and here's an image that has nothing to do with the marriage of still photography & motion, nor with New York, but, I thought the post should have a photo...

Feel free to ask any questions either here or through the SFPW.

Antler & Co.

2011-03-15T20:13:00.000-07:00

I came home to a great box from my friends at Antler & Co. Cool attention to detail.

National MS Society

2011-03-02T15:21:00.000-08:00

Here are some recent ads for the MS Society's new campaign. Met some fantastic people, learned a lot, traveled to some new places [Fresno!] & had a great time all the while....

Big thanks to Mark, Shawna, K-vu, Ryan & all the genuinely inspiring subjects that let us into their lives.

This campaign will be showing up digitally in times square this month - if you are around & catch it, let me know how it looks.

20110222_Tahoe

2011-02-22T20:48:00.000-08:00

Took the family up to Tahoe for a few days on the lake. Perfect week.

Big Sur, 2010

2011-02-17T08:59:00.000-08:00

Just got some film back from a road trip up the coast with the family over the new year.

The process is so different now, both the shooting, loading, wondering, & the waiting... the waiting might be the part i miss most. When you lag for weeks like i did you end up with some images you barely remember taking.

Big Sur, 2010

Kodak 400NC

Hookey

2011-02-03T14:17:00.000-08:00

My Dad, ECR Jr. was in town for a few days & we took the rascals out of school for the day & explored the SD Safari Park. Pretty much empty, pretty much perfect.

5D/35mm1.4 [managed to leave the GF1 at home for a change]

January in Encinitas.

2011-01-25T10:55:00.000-08:00

oldies from Bali

2011-01-17T20:29:00.000-08:00

Oceana

2011-01-11T15:31:00.000-08:00

Oceana, Ca. 2010
GF1

Rallye

2011-01-06T09:48:00.000-08:00

I saw this old IH Scout Rallye the other day while I was out riding my bike - It looked perfect sitting in the mossy shire so i stopped for a quick photo. The owner walked out of the woods with a muddy skull in his hands - some sort of bobcat or coyote or something with a head the size of a grapefruit. We got to talking about the car, The interior is a really distinctive plaid fabric & as soon as I saw it I remembered having ridden in one once. The first time I went snowboarding, $5.00 day at Steamboat. Friends & I piled into a similar Scout & plowed through the morning light in the Northern Colorado mountains. Snowboarding, in a way, lead me to photography & photography has, in a very real way, given me my life. So, what started as 'oh look cool car' turned into waves of nostalgia & reminded me of endless possibilities. Keep your eyes open.

iPhone & PictureShow

Morro Bay

2011-01-05T15:27:00.000-08:00

Golden Gate Park

2011-01-05T10:33:00.001-08:00

Los Angeles Gun Club & Upcycling for the holidays

2011-01-04T16:52:00.000-08:00

Santa Monica

2011-01-04T13:54:00.001-08:00

Good old fashioned Family Road Trip.

2010-12-27T14:27:00.000-08:00

We're taking the family up the coast through Big Sur tomorrow. Looking forward to taking our time & taking it in.

I spent a good portion of Christmas @ the vet with a sick chicken - that concept doesn't compute to many people, didn't compute with me either until i had kids & then they fell in love with their pet chickens. Pecky didn't 'make it' as they say & while i'll happily fly to Argentina or Kentucky to go bird hunting I came to the realization that once they have names & they've eaten out of my hand, I'd just rather not see the proverbial chicken running around with it's head cut off - the neighbors tolerate a lot as it is. Other that that? the holidays have been great & we're looking forward to dragging it out another few days.

Lets all wrap up 2010 safe & happy.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all my Friends, Family, Coworkers, Conspirators & Motivators for a fantastic year - I'll be sure raise a few glasses over the Holidays for the year to come.

We don't do Holiday cards - you can look at this snowy road instead.

NIke Vision

2010-12-15T11:38:00.001-08:00

We had a fantastic shoot with the crew from Nike & Nemo on Monday. Southern California gave us exactly what we needed - the sun set into the ocean as we wrapped & I haven't seen it since. A great big thanks to everyone involved - we had some unique props, vehicles & locations - the extra effort was worth it for sure.

DDC

2010-12-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

Popped by to see my old friend Aaron a while back - shot the shit, picked up a few Kentucky editions & shot the shit some more. Aaron made me my very first business card way back in 1998 [?] and now we're all using his little notebooks to remember with pen & paper what our little addled brains let go.

Dual 30's & a view.

Lowrider bed & wool beer cozy + media management system. as they say, 'be prepared'

a couple recent fall + winter pics

2010-12-08T13:15:00.000-08:00

Bulliet overkill

2010-12-08T12:59:00.000-08:00

lalaland

2010-11-28T19:17:00.000-08:00

Views from the Huntley & Lauren @ The Focus Studio

GF1

Bartie Bowling

2010-11-19T13:05:00.001-08:00

road trip.

2010-11-19T13:03:00.000-08:00

ahhh, clip tests

2010-11-15T17:30:00.000-08:00

I had forgotten about these serendipitous occurrences - just spotted these oldies of Adrian Lopez from a Circa shoot, circa 2003[?]

AI

2010-11-03T15:35:00.000-07:00

Good help is hard to find

2010-11-01T18:50:00.000-07:00

We wrapped up another great shoot for Adidas last week in Portland - I seriously love visiting/working in that town.
Here are some photos of the 'hired help' - i use the term 'help' loosely as you can see they did nothing more than prance around ruining everything they touched.
Most [if not all] shoots have some form of stress /strain/ struggle/ wrench in the works / unexpected malady or what-have-you. When some such potential daywrecker shows up it's good to have a solid group of people on hand that can roll with the punches & have some fun.
I think everyone does a better job when they're happy & if grabbing your junk on the 50 makes you happy & better at your job, then I'm all for it.

OK

2010-10-20T16:54:00.000-07:00

So, I've been on the road a lot the last month or so - I've been trying to sporadically update the blog but haven't yet put all the pieces in the right order...
here's a start.

Over the last month, I've been lucky enough to travel to Fresno,Ca, Seattle,Wa & Boston,Ma shooting a new campaign for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society - real loose genuine lifestyle photos with a 'day in the life' feel. We met some absolutely amazing people with MS & I learned a ton about human strength, dealing with the unfairness of life, & rising above the bullshit of despair & carrying on with grace.
Thanks for that.

Mixed in with the travel for the MS shoots I was able to do a couple day shoot for Adidas in LA. First time working for Adolf Dassler's Shoe Co. for me & everything was aces, great crew, fun shoot... cant wait for the next one. Again, thanks to everyone involved I'll try & get some pics up soon, but for now, here is one from our scout day.

...and a few from Boston...

random phone pics from last week in Boston

2010-10-16T15:35:00.001-07:00

Ben Sollee

2010-10-10T17:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes things work out so that you get to take photos just for fun or out of personal interest. It was pretty random how Ben Sollee & his music were introduced to me - A friend from Kentucky sent me a link to his amazing Cello music & mentioned that Ben was coming to California to start his tour. Turns out his tour was powered primarily by bicycle & we had some mutual friends - a couple calls were made & i was able to meet up with Ben & his traveling crew for a few portraits & a private show at a local bike shop.
So, there it is. great guy, beautiful music, doing cool things.

Thanks Ben.

lads

2010-09-28T15:18:00.000-07:00

a few more

2010-09-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

While in Ireland last week, i was fortunate enough to catch a Hurling match - Eire 'og couldn't quite pull it off. more to come on this match.

And I caught the local Clare Stages Rally - which i had seen once years ago & regrettably didn't get to photograph... this was a good trip for redemption photos. Last time i was in Ireland, i had 20-30 rolls of 120 ruined by a forced x-ray screening... remember those days kiddos?

A quick trip to KY for Opening day of Dove Season.

2010-09-21T17:28:00.001-07:00

another couple from IRE.

2010-09-17T16:24:00.000-07:00

Went out on a 'Hawk Walk' today with my father - learning & experiencing things i never knew about is one of my favorite things.

Ireland for the week.

2010-09-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

these boots.

2010-09-09T11:36:00.000-07:00

2010-09-08T17:46:00.000-07:00

time flies...

2010-08-30T20:18:00.001-07:00

Glamping in Portola Valley from EMBRY RUCKER on Vimeo.

In SF for a few days.

2010-08-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

a couple from last week in Wyo.

2010-08-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

Recent Video with Tristan Prettyman

2010-08-08T20:51:00.000-07:00

Tristan Prettyman from EMBRY RUCKER on Vimeo.

We shot TP last week for Bicycling Magazine in North County San Diego - Kind of a day in the life type thing - if you visit bars & botanical gardens all in the same day... which, fortunately, she does. This little video was compiled out of bits & pieces between shots.

20100801_WY

2010-08-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

Heading home from a great trip to Wyoming. A few days in Jackson attending a wedding, & a few days up in the Wind Rivers.
here's a quick one:

Self Magazine, July 2010

2010-07-28T17:06:00.000-07:00

20100726

2010-07-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

.....waaaaay back in the early / mid 90's i was living in Missoula [go Griz!] & while I had always loved photography & fiddled around with it in sporadic attempts to capture what i saw or where i was... i really hadn't a clue.

On a friend's suggestion i took a very basic photo class in the evenings at Rocky Mountain School of Photography. I learned the basics, shot my 1st rolls of slide film & really got into it. I had previously thought that photography was some sort of random game of chance that occasionally gave up cool photos. I really liked learning how to pre determine how I wanted the image to look & then know what to do to create predictable results... sounds basic of course, but, this was pre digital & film & processing wasn't cheap & I'm easily impressed.

Recently i did a little interview about shooting video along with stills on shoots for the RMSP blog - got me thinking about those dark ages.

Read the interview here:

And since i don't think i've ever posted without a photo - i'll attach this old one of myself & the illustrated man Max, from a Japanese guy with a 4x5 polaroid view camera while we were 'working' in HI.