February 2010 Photo of the Month

February 5th, 2010 § 0

Martha's Beach, Washington

I have had a really good week. Colleague John O’Conner inspired me with a few super simple image compositions that he posted to his facebook page. I drew more inspiration from a video of urban trials rider Danny MacAskill. And, was able to witness an amazing light display at my own private beach that allowed me to utilize everything I learned – hint go to my facebook page. I was going to post the beach image that I had on facebook earlier this week as the photo of the month, but I figured it was out in the world already, so why not something new. This month’s photo was taken from the same location. For what ever reason, the sun always seems to come out right around sunset, it doesn’t matter if it is howling, pouring, or foggy and overcast. This is really good for me because I love to take the kids and the dog down there to explore – with my camera of course. The evening pictured here was standard operating proceedure –  it rained all day and then bam, magic. That is the beauty of nature, it is ever changing. This image was captured with a Canon 1D Mark III, 16-35mm lens, Gitzo tripod, Kirk BH-1 ballhead, Singh-Ray LB Warming Polarizer, Singh-Ray 3-stop Daryl Benson reverse grad filter.

All of these positive events have generated a new idea – the experience. A new category on this blog beginning Tuesday. You will have to wait until then to find out more.

One more – I just realized that Singh-Ray has posted an article by me on their blog. Let me know what you think. They used this image as their lead-in.

Where Does Your Inspiration Come From?

February 4th, 2010 § 5

As I conjured up the words for this post in my head, I was convinced that I was going to discuss what has inspired me, what currently does inspire me, and what I think will inspire in the future. Lately, I haven’t been looking to photography for inspiration, I have been looking elsewhere. I have been reading about architecture, painting, and music, and I figured that would encompass what I would write about here. I think that has all changed now though, due to a beer, some in-depth thought, and a long, hot shower.

The video you see here is of Danny MacAskill, an amazing urban trials rider. I would be hard pressed to believe that anyone out there hasn’t seen this video yet, as it has been viewed over 14 million times on youTube. I myself first saw it in May of last year, then again when Heather’s father sent it to me in August, and then again last week when my own father forwarded it on to me. Yes Danny does inspire, if not put you right into a state of disbelief, he defies gravity. And no, I can not ride like him, nor would I really ever want to, I think, maybe I would, never-mind.

The answer came to me as I was toweling off from my shower. The past few weeks, I have watched my 4 year old daughter Jade become obsessed with reading. She wants to be able to read War and Peace so badly that she will try reading to the point that her head collapses on the kitchen table in exhaustion. She falls asleep trying. That was my answer, my moment, my epiphany when this whole piece came together. It’s not that Danny MacAskill can do those amazing things with his bike that inspires me. It’s the fact that he has tried so hard, probably to the point of falling asleep on that machine, which has allowed him to do all of those tricks on his bike that inspires me. The pursuit of something you want so badly that you are willing to fall, injure, fail, repeat, redo, ect., that drive, that stamina, will show you success never before imagined. Danny is proof of that, Jade, will be proof of that. My only hope is that I can continue to fall asleep everyday with my camera in my hand in pure and utter exhaustion from trying so hard. And if not, I know that some of the inspiration is currently sleeping a few doors down.

So tell me, what inspires you?

100th Post! and What is adam | 12? Updated

January 29th, 2010 § 0

Walking in the Weeds with iPhone

In a dark corner of a seedy bar, much like the one in the original Star Wars movie where viewers first met Han Solo, I sat with some very close friends sipping on some really good tequila. The events that were about to transpire would change the course of my photo and writing career for ever. My brother-in-law showed me a camera app that he had downloaded into his iPhone. I immediately logged into the Apple App Store and downloaded it to my phone. And the rest is, at the risk of sounding cliche, is history.

Now, using the iPhone as a creative tool has become a daily occurrence for me. I live by those blasted words of Chase Jarvis, “The Best Camera Is the One that is With You.” I apply that same sentiment to his Best Camera application as well. I try to upload an image to my Facebook, Twitter, Best Camera, and Flickr accounts on a daily basis. Why? Because it makes me feel like I am connecting with my friends, family, and followers. And, because I like it.

Since this is my 100th blog post, which is something of a special landmark for me, I am announcing a personal project that is going to happen on February 20th, 2010. If you are a black and white landscape photographer you will probably know that this is photographer Ansel Adams’ birth date. Adams always pushed the limits of creation, and were he here today, I firmly believe he would be all-for utilizing the digital darkroom, and even an iPhone, for creating on the spur of the moment.

The thought here is to celebrate one of photography’s legacies right along with one of the newest technologies out there and see what happens. My mission is to photograph for 12 hours straight, traveling all over the state of Washington, from 8 am to 8 pm, using only my iPhone. As I shoot, I am going to edit in-camera/phone, and then immediately post to my Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and Best Camera accounts using, you guessed it, Chase Jarvis’ Best Camera app.

I would love for everyone who follows to get involved and help direct the journey. As the images come across the web on February 20th, tell us where to go next by sending us a simple e-mail. Your favorite town, meadow, forest, waterfall, bar, street, sandwich, drink, etc. could get captured and posted right after you told us about it. And if you know where we are in your area and would like to be part of the convoy, that would be great too. The only catch is that the only camera/video equipment you can carry with you is your iPhone. And if you don’t have an iPhone, you can bring your Blackberry or any other phone for that matter, just not your Nikon D3, Canon 1D, or super HD video camera. The objective here is to discover a new side to creativity with as little burden as possible. “Free the mind and the soul will follow.”

This project, which is inspired by two extremely talented photographers, both of whom have changed the way photographers photograph, and who inspire me on a daily basis to push the limits of my work, will commence on February 20th at 8 am.

UPDATE -After having a long phone conversation with friend and fellow photographer Younes Bounhar this past weekend, I would also like to add this idea to my project. On February 20th, whether you are in New Jersey, Canada, Tokyo, or France, grab your iPhone, take some images, and upload those images to a gallery of your own entitled “iphone adam 12″ on your website, blog, etc. Then send me the link to your gallery and on the last day of February I will add all of those links to a posting of my own highlighting what can be done photographically with just an iPhone.

Optimism is Contagious

January 20th, 2010 § 2

Our Daughter at 1 © Jay Goodrich

My wife Heather sent me a text message a little earlier today stating that she was sad. To which I replied asking, “why?”. I then received a laundry list of items that were on her mind. This list contained the typical things that bother almost any person on this planet regardless of career, lifestyle, or monetary worth – money, job status, family members, etc. This of course led to me immediately calling her.

I am not always the positive cheerleader, I have many a dark artist day as well. However, I tend to be very positive when others are completely down. Searching deep into a very untapped well, not really, but tapped only in time of need. I told Heather that some of the things on her list were completely uncontrollable. If they did indeed happen, there was nothing to do but ride the coaster and see where it took us. Some of the things could be controlled, with some really good drugs and alcohol. And, the remainder, had other people’s pain involved, pain that we have been through, so it wouldn’t be hard to guide them to a positive ending.

This whole conversation got me thinking about the rest of the United States. If my wife, who is one of the most positive humans on this earth can become sad right now, how bad are the countless others? Or all of the people in Haiti? Is 2012 really going to happen? This all led me to thinking about those super remote tribes in the Amazon. Have they changed because the U.S. is in a recession? Probably not. They may have been changed by the ever increasing climate issue that the whole planet is contributing to though. This then lead me to the realization that maybe we are all truly connected by six degrees of separation. And if we are in fact connected, does that mean by some miracle a good deed generated by me could help some person 20,000 miles away, who I have not met or may never meet?

As I was driving home from the gym and our phone conversation ended, I passed my sign. I looked to the side of the highway and there was this simple, giant, white billboard with only the words “Optimism is Contagious” written on it. If that was not a sign, I don’t know what would be.

So that is my message to everyone who has read anything that I have ever written. OPTIMISM IS CONTAGIOUS. Act and think optimistically, because you never know, that person 20,000 miles from you, whom you have never met and may never meet, could get a huge dose of optimism from you.

The Best of 2009 – from Jim Goldstein

January 13th, 2010 § 0

My friend and colleague Jim Goldstein has posted a Best Photos of 2009 from 124 photographers that read his blog. Have a look, there is some really great work. In addition, I couldn’t create a post and not add a new image. I took this while testing a Canon 5D Mark II. What an amazing camera!

Parking Garage, Vail, Colorado © Jay Goodrich

January 2010 Photo of the Month

January 12th, 2010 § 0

Common Mergansers, Grand Teton National Park, WY © Jay Goodrich

This month I was looking for something I haven’t posted a ton of lately…a wildlife image. I have been really focused on landscape photography for some reason and that barely touches the gammut of what I shoot. I captured this image last spring while working on a project about Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. What really intrigued me about this scene is the colors and textures generated in the water while these common mergansers were feeding at Oxbow Bend in Grand Teton National Park. The textures are a little bit distracting, but I feel by being confusing, they draw the viewer right to the heart of the image the – the wildlife. Two other things came together in this photograph to help with its design – the overcast conditions which created those textures and the fact that the birds all lined up in a row. Captured with a Canon 1D Mark III, 600mm f4 lens, 1.4x teleconverter, Wimberley Head II, Gitzo tripod. Mastered in Lightroom and Photoshop.

Niner for Zero Niner before Zero Niner of Zero Ten

January 8th, 2010 § 14

Rattle Snake, Texas © Jay Goodrich

Here are 9 images of mine from 2009, posted right before the ninth day of 2010. They may not be award winners, but they all contain a congruent theme – a little bit of my year.

This year has been full of transition for me. My overall mission was really simple – to become a better photographer. What I did not realize was that the journey along the way was going become one of the best experiences of my life. I have a long background of design influences and education, but until this year really haven’t felt like I was able to capitalize on it. This rattlesnake image was that turning point for me. Simple and clean with a strong sense of line.

Red Fox Kits, Colorado © Jay Goodrich

We had a red fox den about 3 blocks from our home in Colorado this past spring. There were 5 kits. What I love about this image has absolutely nothing to do with the photograph itself. It reminds me of the day I took it. I brought my daughter Jade out there with me and she sat quietly right next to me experiencing this amazing evening, tripping the shutter whenever I whispered to her to do so.

Courthouse Towers, Arches National Park, Utah © Jay Goodrich

In April I drove over to Moab to shoot the sunset. This group of images became my testing ground for learning new HDR techniques. I learned more than I have ever thought possible in the past 12 months and this image was just the beginning.

Son and Wife 5-4-09 © Jay Goodrich

Then there was the beginning of May. I don’t think I need to explain this image. Just know it was the second happiest day of my life precluding the day my daughter was born.

Sunrise on the Hayden River, Yellowstone N.P., Wyoming © Jay Goodrich

Currently my favorite place on the planet. I know that is a pretty tall order, but Yellowstone captured my heart when I was 5 years old looking through albums of photos that my parents took there before I was even born. They have shots of grizzly bears licking the windshield of the car along the roadside. A time of our own naiveté, before we as a culture realized, that this was going to end badly for all of those included.  I got to travel here for my 45th time this past summer for a very special project that we will be unveiling in the coming months.

Private Residence Out Building from the Air © Jay Goodrich

I had existing clients hire me to shoot architecture aerials. So cool.

Private Residence, Colorado © Jay Goodrich

And new clients  give me the keys to projects with complete and total creative freedom.

The Secret Stash, Martha's Beach, Washington © Jay Goodrich

And then there is the beach that is 3 blocks from our Washington Home. My latest project. And hopefully a new book surfacing earlier next year.

Sunset behind the clouds, Martha's Beach, Washington © Jay Goodrich

An finally, my local beach again last week, a day before the new year. Putting all that new knowledge to work – a 4-image merge that looks exactly like the scene as I witnessed it. Shooting it with a fisheye to open the sky up, to express the fact that we should all dream big, the sky is indeed the limit, which is in fact no limit at all. Happy New Year, may yours be better than any before.

A New Year’s Post – Resisting is Futile

January 2nd, 2010 § 2

A Special Place © Jay Goodrich

I have taken close to a hundred black and white images in 20 years of photographing. Yep, 100. That is it. I don’t even think it’s a recognizable percent of my total images to date. My old excuse was that I didn’t want to house another film in a fridge that was already packed with Velvia, Provia, and some straggling Kodak packages. An excuse which has been busted for five years now – the timeframe I have been shooting with a digital camera. So what’s the deal? Am I one of those guys who scoffs at imagery with a lack of color? Am I ignoring all of the founders of modern photography? Did Ansel Adams’ son steal my girlfriend in high school? I think I am a little bit of a creative? Or am I? Can I not walk my talk? What’s my major malfunction? Maybe I am a stubborn shit who thinks color is the nectar of the gods, and believes that you can have my saturation slider when you pull it from my cold dead fingers?

Without being able to come up with a viable reason as to why. I have decided to throw caution into the wind and “Go for it”. “This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy!” As Clark Griswald stated in the movie Vacation, just before jumping into the pool with Christi Brinkley. Do you hear the tires screeching to a hault? Well maybe I shouldn’t take it that far. My wife reads this thing from time to time you know.

Resisting is futile. Like a two finger glass of Don Julio 1942, once it hits your lips…It’s 2010 now. Next item up for bid is a…brand new desaturated image, make that 101 baby.

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