The Offer

Much to my shock, this woman actually bought the necklace.

Glee

This is another shot from Thursday Night Live in Mountain View. Loved the expression, and the offbeat composition suggested itself with just a bit of cropping.

I was pretty pleased with my shots from the event, and you can check out my favorites from the night over here.

Drum Solo

Took the train up to the city yesterday, and went shooting around the Market Street/Union Square area. This guy was drumming up a storm near Market and Powell, beating on some old paint cans and anything else he could get his hands on. I got this by swallowing the last vestiges of my pride -- laid down on the ground and shot up while he performed.

Sing It

Every second Thursday during the summer, Mountain View (where I live) closes off all the vehicle traffic to their downtown, and opens the whole thing up to pedestrians. They have classic cars, booths from the Sunday farmer's market, fire trucks, and generally some sort of outdoor band. Local small businesses go nuts!

In short: the whole thing is a little like a well-intentioned episode of "stuff white people like", or as my SO puts it, bourgietown. That said, people show up, and there's something to the idea that the street photography just shows up on your doorstep.

This shot is from the performance by the Spazmatics -- they were jamming out to Eye of the Tiger, and the lead singer ran out into the audience and picked out someone to start singing with. Not sure if the dude was a plant for the band or not, but what man in bourgietown could refuse an opportunity to belt out a few lines from the 80s? ;)

Up

Shot this as I was walking through the 'Via Shops', which separate the Bellagio and Caesar's Palace:

Not much of a fan of those 'other people's art' shots, but I just saw this composition hanging there, and I had to take it. :)

Broke

Shot this in the same place I took Viva Las Vegas two years ago on my more recent trip. Liked the hangdog look and the grit.

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Heads up if you're into street photography: Brad from Citysnaps, and two of the guys from CaliberSF are having a reception today for some stuff they're hanging at DwnTwn, a skate shop in the Tenderloin.

I'm a fan of Brad's work, and if you run into him on the street, he's super friendly. Be sure to watch for him giving prints back to people he's photographed out on the street -- neat guy.

Girls and Dreams

I dreamt last night that I was on that shore in Inception, and I had washed up there having lost my camera in the sea. I went to file a Lost & Found on my d700, only to find that either the pens didn't work (one exploded), or the paper was too glossy to write on. I kept waking up, utterly convinced that my camera was somewhere lost in the ocean, covered in brine. So vividly did I believe this, that I would immediately go back to sleep, because it was the only way I was convinced I could find it.

I'm not really sure what this says about me.

This is a shot I got from Mill Valley. I ended up going here for the Scott Kelby photowalk, since the one in the Mission had been booked solid months out, and my time horizon for booking things is just not that far out, Google Calendar use or not.

It was incredibly cold and overcast, and there was just not a lot going on at that beach. Not really into landscapes, but I kept seeing the pattern between the tide and the beach, and the contrast between the two in that overcast light. Throw in the girls on the beach, and I saw this. The undulations and curves make it for me -- definitely my favorite shot from that walk, and I went looking for something from the beach after last night's dream.

The Kiss

Shot this at a wedding I attended last week. I've shot precisely one wedding in my life as the official photographer, and it's not something I would willing repeat for less than large sums of money. Lots of reasons for this, but mainly that the official wedding photographer has to spend a non-zero amount of time worrying that the official photos get taken, rather than goofing around shooting from the hip to catch kisses like I did here. :)

The Star of the Show

This is another shot from Vegas. Took this one at a party at a club in the mirage, at a party put on by a company called Qualys. They had a dance floor with lots of techno, fog, and crazy lights going. Not being much of a dancing man, I hung back and got pictures of the crowd. This one jumped out to me instantly -- love the crowd around the central figure as much as that guy himself.

Vegas Delights

I just got back from my trip to Vegas, and despite feeling like I was kicked by a mule, I had a great time. Two conferences, a zillion people, a few really good dates, and some moments where I could feel the good shots in the air around me.

I got this particular picture at a Ratpack-era steakhouse called the Golden Steer. The place is located just off strip, and positively breathes with the life of Vegas, circa 1958. Dim lighting, red leather booths, wood panelling, waiters all in tuxedos, some of the best prime rib I've ever had, and impeccable service.

Mid-way through our meal, I noticed they were bringing out a birthday cake for the family at the next table. I picked up my camera, alert for the possibilities of birthday-candle light (one of my favorites), but instead got Roman candle/sparkler light.

One of my favorite things about photography is that not only does it force you to develop a vocabulary for light, it eventually forces you to be a connoisseur of light. Dappled? Noon sun? Window? Reflected-off-metal-ventian-blinds? Art-festival-translucent tent light? I'm still finding light I've never seen before, so I try to keep this gallery in my head, so when I see something new I know it.

There's something gorgeous about the light from these fireworks in this enclosed space. I suppose each individual spark is specular, but there are so many distinct bits and pieces that the overall effect is to kind of produce this gorgeous light which is still hard, but with a hint of wrapping to it as it falls off. Couple that with the candid moment at dinner, and I got a look I love.

Freedom

Heard Prop 8 got overturned yesterday, and thought of this shot from last year's Pride Parade. I like to believe that seeing a photo like this is all the proof you need that everybody deserves the right to get married to who they love.

Heaven's Gate

A few weeks back when I was in South Carolina (chasing after alligators), I ended up leaving via the Charleston airport. It was a small airport, and really pleasant, with a lot of southern hospitality -- kind of the opposite of some other airports I frequent.

I shot this waiting for my girlfriend to get through security -- saw the woman standing there in the light, framed by the window and the row of chairs, and the shot took itself form there.