Hey Matthew!

Kitteh Defender!

2011-11-02T16:55:00.002-04:00

Nothing new to report. So I give you this instead. Enjoy.

Home Shoot: Kiawah Island, SC

2011-09-24T13:49:00.002-04:00

I recently photographed a home on Kiawah Island for a company called Around the House. They specialize in window treatments and interior design. This was an amazing house. Enjoy.

Zombie

2011-09-20T08:42:00.002-04:00

This is my first, very feeble attempt at drawing a zombie. It's obviously grossly disproportionate, but I assure you, It was done on purpose and is meant to add to the style of the drawing. The ink was with a Pilot Hi-Tec C (from JetPens.com) and the color was done in Photoshop CS5. I really would like to try coloring some stuff using a tablet so I have better control over pressure, etc. But this one turned out okay, I guess.

Enjoy.

Is That a Pen Roll in Your Pocket?

2011-09-19T15:26:00.009-04:00

Why, yes it is. I recently picked up some Pilot Hi-Tec C pens from JetPens.com. I loved them. So I went back to order more. Only I didn't. Well, I did, but other stuff found its way into the box as well. Not the least of which is a really rad 122KCal Roll Pencil Case in London Gray. And, when you've got all that rolled up empty space, you have to fill it with something, right? Right. So, from left to right are some of my favorite pens from JetPens.com so far:

1. Pilot Hi-Tec C - 0.3mm Black

2. Pilot Hi-Tec 05 - 0.5mm Usuzumi (Light Sumi Gray)

3. Pilot Hi-Tec 05 - 0.5mm Kurikawa (Chestnut Bark Brown)

4. Pilot Hi-Tec 05 - 0.5mm Blue Black

5. Pilot Hi-Tec 05 - 0.5mm Ultra Marine

6. A.G. Spalding & Bros. Orange Maple Ball Pen (Ohto Ceramic Refill) - 0.5mm Black

7. Pentel Slicci - 0.4mm Black

8. Pentel Slicci - 0.4mm Brown

9. Pentel Slicci - 0.4mm Blue Black

10. Pilot Envelope Address Gel Pen - Extra Fine, Black

11. Pilot Envelope Address Gel Pen - Fine, Black

12. Pilot Envelope Address Gel Pen - Broad, Black

13. Zebra Regal Liquid Ink Needle Tip Roller - 0.5mm, Black

14. Ohto Fude Ball - 1.5mm Red

15. Ohto Fude Ball - 1.5mm Black

I've also got a handful of Zebra Sarasa Clip in 0.4mm (Black, Brown, Blue Black and Gray) that I'm playing with as well. I'll try and review these and update this post with those reviews as I get a chance. I'll most likely replace some of the Hi-Tec Pens with something a little more practical for everyday writing (I don't usually write in colors, although Blue Black is growing on me quite a bit). And I'm not a fan of the Slicci pens as the barrel is a bit narrow for my taste. I might have to replace them with some proper pencils or lead holders since I don't have any of those in my roll. But for now, they're all good pens and they write remarkably well.

I'm glad to have them and hope to get you guys some feedback soon. Go support JetPens.com. They're great and have amazing products that you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere here in the States...

Oracle - Carden Extra 260 (40% RC Plane)

2011-09-12T22:27:00.007-04:00

I had a chance to photograph my father-in-law's latest RC build. It's a Carden Extra 260. It was built and covered by Mark Boguszewski from Beaver Falls, PA. The covering is custom, hand-cut monokote with the only paint being on the landing gear. These pictures don't really do the plane justice... It's a beautiful aircraft and is superbly constructed.

Enjoy.

All of these images were shot using a 5D2 + 70-200 f/2.8 L and 35 f/1.4 L.

A Classic and Something New

2011-09-11T20:58:00.003-04:00

This week was kind of a big week in terms of new additions to my hobbies + interests. First, my step-dad gave me a beautiful Remington 1100 semi-automatic 12 gauge shotgun. I've shot this gun before and it's a great classic firearm. I'm really excited to get out and shoot some clays with it sometime soon.

The second thing on the "what's new" list is a Canon 5D Mark II. I've had my 5D Classic since it was released. That's going on about 7 years or so. It went to Canon recently to have the mirror repaired, and being that I'm at somewhere in the ballpark of 250-300,000 clicks, I figured that it was time to go ahead and upgrade.

I'll keep my 5D as a backup, but The Mark II is a different machine altogether. The color and image quality straight out of the camera is just stunning and it's a wonderful piece of equipment to have. I waited as long as I could on the 5D Mark III (or whatever they'll call it), but you can only wait so long and then you're waiting on whatever comes after that. I like shooting, not waiting, so I bit the bullet and got one. I'm glad I did.

Both of these images were gathered with the 5D2 and 50 f/1.4 at f/2. Enjoy.

Why You Leavin?

2011-08-12T08:25:00.002-04:00

Kinda tough to leave sometimes...

Ricoh GR Digital III

Bamboo

2011-08-05T22:37:00.003-04:00

Another stupid doodle. This time with a Sakura Gelly Roll, Medium. Black on Rhodia Grid paper (grid removed and lines/fill cleaned up in Photoshop).

Little Tiny Lines

2011-08-05T16:26:00.009-04:00

Anyone that knows me knows that I have a strong affinity for pens. It is rare that I walk into an office supply store and walk out without some form of writing instrument. I don't really have a direct preference for a "type" of pen, but I've noticed that my handwriting changes depending on the type of pen I'm using. I get a little bigger and wilder with a Sharpie Extra-Fine than I would with say, a Lamy Accent fountain pen. But I usually just go with the flow (no pun intended) and try to adapt to my writing instrument and use a particular writing instrument for a particular purpose. I don't use fountain pens on an everyday basis although I think they're great for sketching and doodling because of the variance in line width, etc. But I digress.

I love pens so much that I follow a couple of blogs devoted to pens and inks, one of my favorites being over at PenAddict.com. And just this week I pledged some of my hard-earned greenbacks to a new startup project over at Kickstarters.com for a new pen coming out later this year. Which is sort of where this blog post started. The pen I pledged for is called the Pen Type-A. It is, as it's subtitle suggests, a minimal pen. The barrel consists of a finely machined tube of smooth, sturdy stainless steel and the barrel slips down inside of a block of equally-finely machined stainless steel with imperial and metric measurements etched into it. Yup, no cap for this stainless steel beauty. Just a snugly fitting stainless steel housing to keep its tiny nib safe. And tiny is right. This pen is just a housing. It is based around the refills for the Pilot Hi-Tec-C. The Hi-Tec is a pen highly sought after in US markets, and readily available in places like Japan and Malaysia. Fortunately for us homely, landlocked US residents, we have the awesome kids over at JetPens.com to supply us with these fine-tipped instruments in an array of eye-popping colors. What's so special about the Hi-Tec you ask? Well only that it comes in .25, .3, .4 and .5mm line widths. It's precision-engineered tip is a fine thing, indeed and lays down a line of beautifully smooth, rich pigment unrivaled by other pens. It's perfect for doodlers, technical drawing and those of you with small, precise lettering. So why create a barrel just for the refills? Well, the Hi-Tec-C isn't exactly hi-tech in its design. It comes in an unassuming cheap plastic barrel with its most notable features being the sturdy metal tip and affirmative 'click' when the cap is snapped into place.

I ordered a few of these not too long ago from an eBay seller (before I realized JetPens.com had them in stock) but they have yet to show up and the estimated delivery is sometime towards the end of the month. But, I was in Staples a few days ago and what did my eyes behold? No, not the Hi-Tec-C. What I thought was the Hi-Tec actually turned out to be the US "equivalent," the G-Tec-C4 (4 being the .4mm line width). The differences are minimal with just the ink being slightly less durable in the G-Tec, but it'll do for purposes of this post.

I cracked open my new pens and got to doodling. BAM! That's how you do it. Fine lines never felt so good. I wouldn't write a paper with this pen as my handwriting is often heavy and I don't know that the slender tip would hold up well to the abuse I put on pens. But for my doodles and sketches, it's top-notch.

So there you have it. My first impressions of the Hi-, er, G-Tec pens from Pilot. I can't wait to get my actual Hi-Tec pens in from Japan (and some more from JetPens) and then get my hands on the Type-A pen. Above are some images of the pen and a quick doodle with the pen of a piece of wood. Notice in the macro images how precise the lines are and just how magnificently black the pigment is. Now THAT'S fine!

By the way, despite what my blog-following preferences might lead one to believe, I'm not an addict. I can stop anytime I want. Really. Anytime. Especially after I get my Hi-Tec pens. And the Kaweco fountain pen I've had my eye on (also at JetPens). Then I'll stop. (Insert nervous laugh here.)

Adios.

Simon Came to Sleep

2011-07-29T21:30:00.005-04:00

Simon came over to play with Jack today. But they slept a lot. Here are two that I snagged of Simon with the GR Digital III. The one has a pretty good reflection of me in his eye. Kind of creepy but way cool...

On a techie gear-head note, the more I use the GRD3, the more comfortable I get. It's such a great little camera and is suited so well to being pushed around in post. In the image where I'm reflected in his eye, I was only about 6 inches or so from his face and there's hardly any distortion at all. Just a really great little camera. Most people are turned off by the 28mm fixed lens but it's a dream to shoot with and really opens up some unique possibilities.

Both of these were edited in Lightroom 3 for white balance, exposure, etc. and then pulled into Photoshop and treated with Nik Silver Efex Pro.

Enjoy.

Rise Up

2011-07-29T11:45:00.002-04:00

Yet another strange little doodle. Again, pen and ink. Color in Photoshop. Enjoy.

It's a Great, Wide World

2011-07-28T18:56:00.002-04:00

So I finally have some images scanned from my Horizon 202 Panoramic Camera. It's a really unique camera and if you've never used one, I'd suggest picking one up if you can get one on the cheap. It's quirky as most Russian-made cameras are, but it's completely mechanical (as in it requires no batteries for operation) and the swing-lens movement is like clockwork. It's all buzzing gears and spindles in there. Super cool camera.

These were all shot out west while on my honeymoon. All of the images were shot on either Ilford FP4 (ISO 125) or Ilford Pan F+ (ISO 50). I'm actually very pleased with the images.

I sold the Horizon today as I don't really have a use for such a specialized camera on a day-to-day basis, but I will definitely pick another one up if I ever take another trip where landscapes are going to be a big part of the experience. Enjoy.

Thai Chili

2011-07-28T16:19:00.004-04:00

Stopped in for lunch at Thai Chili across the street from my new job. Great food and the people are awesome. Started off lunch with some wontons, followed by Pad Khee Mao and then finished it off with a fortune cookie. And I had a Thai Iced Tea to drink, which is my favorite. So all in all it was a good lunch. Oh, and the leftovers were even better.

To top it all off, I told the waitress how much I loved Thai iced tea and that I couldn't make it at home the way they make it in restaurants so she gave me some tips on getting it right. Score!

Images with the GR Digital III. Processed in Lightroom and then some custom curves applied in Photoshop. Enjoy!

I'm Just Not Quite Sure What to Do With My Hands...

2011-07-27T15:38:00.005-04:00

Especially when I have nothing to do but doodle... Just one of those days, I guess. Black Uniball Vision Needle on Leuchtturm Dot Grid Paper. Color in Photoshop which is cheating, I know. But I didn't have a tablet so I had to use the good ol' mouse. That counts for something, right? Enjoy.

A Shout Out and a Lesson in Cooperative Competition

2011-07-27T11:29:00.009-04:00

I know this is my blog and posts are supposed to be about me and my work. But as an artist (?) I'm always looking for inspiration in other people's work. I follow lots of photographers, designers, illustrators, doodlers (like myself) and just general art folk. I like to look at their work and see what others are doing. See where the trends are taking us and learn a few new techniques along the way. I think that as artists we can all grow from opening our minds to each other and learning a little, while at the same time, giving a little in return.

I had a great teacher once that harped on what he called "cooperative competition." It's the idea that we, as artists, should continue to be competitive, but also to not leave your competition so far behind that it starts to harm and devalue the market in which you work. An example of this, and the situation that brought about his lecture about cooperative competition was actually sparked from me. My first class with Tom was a basic design class. The majority of our projects involved cutting design elements out of colored paper and layering them, texturing them, etc. to achieve different effects. It was a heck of a class and one that I immediately regretted taking during the summer semester with only 9 weeks. The first project was to take an image from a magazine, cut it to 3x5" and draw it using 7 different techniques. I was under the impression it was due a day later than it actually was. The school had a "deadline or zero" policy and Tom was a strict enforcer of this. He saw my frustration and my effort that I had put into what I did have done and gave me 10 minutes to get something turned in. He encouraged, but did not require, the class to help me mount my work and get it turned in. Rather than just leaving me to flounder, several classmates jumped in and helped me trim, mount and wrap my project. I think I ended up with a 40 on that project, thanks to my classmates help and left the class with high marks in the end (albeit with a slight struggle to recover from that first sub-50 grade). Letting me take a zero for the project wouldn't have benefited anyone in the class and would have only reflected poorly on the program to have a student fail a class. We're all heading in sort of the same direction, so I think it's important to help one another get there. Stay competitive, but don't sacrifice the integrity of your art and your field for self.

With that said, I'll get back to my "inspiration talk" with a little shout out to someone who's work I admire very much. She's a wonderful photographer, and lucky for me, I don't have to go far to see her work. She's my wife. She's good at so many things and her work inspires me so much. She and I are a great story of cooperative competition. While we're both in the same field, we make it a point to work with one another rather than against one another. Together, we can be so very successful.

Lately, her personal work has skyrocketed and she's really been doing some amazing things over on her blog. You should definitely take a moment to see her work and add her to your list of daily reads. You'll not be disappointed.

The illustration in this post is one I doodled out while sitting at work this morning (yes, I'm a doodler among other things). It's black ink on white paper originally, but 2 Photoshop layers and a quick blending mode adjustment brought it to it's current state. I rather like it. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this post. It's one I've been aiming to write for some time, but hadn't gotten around to it until now. So tell me, who inspires you?

Best,
Matthew

A Weekend in Anderson

2011-07-25T09:44:00.006-04:00

I went up to Anderson, SC this weekend to hang out with my wife's family up there. We had an amazing time hanging out, grilling hamburgers & hot dogs and playing with the little ones. We managed to successfully remove a wheel stud from Tyler's truck, clean out Poppa's shop with all the cool stuff we wanted and lose a handful of Alston's custom-wrapped arrows. It was a blast. Friday before we left, I got my Ricoh GR Digital III in the mail. It's my second one and one I won't be getting rid of. It's such an amazing camera with a really special drawing style that is suited perfectly to the kind of images I explored this weekend. Most of the above were shot in and around Poppa's shop behind their house. They were all shot with the GRD3 in Aperture Priority mode and processed in Nik Software's Silver Efex Pro.

Enjoy.

Out West Looks Better on Film (Part II)

2011-07-07T10:55:00.002-04:00

Here are a few more images from out west. These were all shot with my Fuji Klasse and either Ilford PanF+ (ISO 50) or Ilford FP4+ (ISO 125). I really, really like the PanF film a lot. That ISO 50 makes for almost no grain and it kind of forces my camera to shoot wide open or close to it so I get those soft backgrounds that I love. The PanF and Fuji Klasse was a great walk-around combo for me out west. Light weight, reliable and sharp all around. I definitely think I'll be scanning some of these larger. Enjoy!

Out West Looks Better on Film...

2011-07-07T10:37:00.004-04:00

Here are some more images from our trip out west. This time on film. All of the above were shot with a Contax TVS on Kodak Ektar 100 rated at box speed. I actually sold the Contax right after we got back because it's a little bulky for me personally, but after seeing these images, I wish I had kept it... The panoramic images (both horizontal and vertical) were shot with the TVS on Panoramic mode. Such a cool feature. I might be in the market for another one one of these days.

Enjoy.

A Thrift Store Film

2011-07-05T19:59:00.003-04:00

Jenna and I went to Bradley's Market a few days ago and stopped in at a little thrift store on the way home. At the register, Jenna stumbled on a single roll of 400 speed film with the Winn Dixie brand. I haven't seen a Winn Dixie store open in probably 10 years or more. But it was $1.00 and I like to play with films and see what they'll do (or won't do) so Jenna was kind enough to grab it for me. Well, 24 underexposed, grainy, horribly-colored exposures later, I've got an image or two that I kind of like.

The film was awful, but hey, what do you expect for a long-expired roll of film from a store that hasn't been around in some 10 years?

Wheeeee! Just havin' fun...

Found Some Old Images...

2011-07-04T22:42:00.002-04:00

Just a handful of images I found while perusing my hard drive. All were shot with a Canon 1D Mark II N and either a Canon 50 f/1.4 or a Zenitar 16 f/2.8 Fisheye. I actually really liked the 1D, but it was cumbersome to use and I let it go early. In hindsight, it would have made a great knock-around body. The IQ was interesting and at higher ISOs it handled differently than my 5D. The market is dropping on them so maybe I'll pick another one up one of these days.

Anyway, these were all shot at a little car meetup in Charleston, SC. Enjoy.

Show Some Klasse

2011-06-30T22:26:00.005-04:00

Here are a few images from my Fuji Klasse (here's an image of mine at left). I had kind of forgotten about these because I dropped them off before I moved and just had a chance to get them from the lab. This was my "test roll" with the Fuji Klasse 38 f/2.6 (almost identical to the Rollei AFM35). There's not a lot about this camera by way of the internet, but it's pretty straight forward. It's a high end point and shoot from Fuji, replaced now by the Klasse S (38 f/2.8) and Klasse W (28 f/2.8).

The lens is very sharp and the camera is built solidly and is beautiful to hold. I took it out on my trip to Vegas and touring the west so I'll have some images from that in a day or two.

It's a great performer with Aperture Priority and autofocus (with the ability to scale focus if you wish via a small dial on the front of the camera). Not many bells and whistles but I was rather impressed by it. All of the images below were shot on Ilford FP4 rated at box speed. The images above were shot on expired Fuji 1600 rated at box speed. I'm not so impressed with that film as it's very grainy and had bad color shifts. But the images are still sharp, which is a testament to the Klasse and it's beautiful little lens. Enjoy!

A New Toy: The Olympus 35RC

2011-06-29T20:54:00.008-04:00

I got a new toy in the mail today. An Olympus 35RC (see left and click on the name to see a write-up by Ken Rockwell whom I respect very much).

I've always kind of wanted one of these and finally bit the bullet and grabbed on off of the ol' auction site late last week. The postman dropped it off today and I shot a quick roll of 200 speed film with it to make sure it worked ok. And it does. Great little camera and the metering is spot-on (no pun intended). It's a tiny little camera, coming in just a teeny bit thicker than my Canon G10. I can almost squeeze it into a pocket, but it's small enough that I'll be able to slip it in my satchel when I'm on the move and it won't take up much space. It's light and fast and just a great little camera. I usually like to shoot in Aperture Priority but this little guy shoots in Manual or Shutter Priority which is a little different for me. I'll get used to it and I immediately started thinking in terms of shutter speeds so it took no time to master it. The little shutter speed dial on the top has Bulb, 15, 30, 60, 125, 250 and 500 so it's not to hard to figure out if you know the Sunny 16 rule what your aperture will be and the little guy is kind enough to show you in the viewfinder when you push the shutter halfway. Other than setting your ASA and shutter speed, there isn't a whole lot more to it. The little 42mm f/2.8 lens is razor sharp and the focus is nice and smooth. The RF patch is bright and easy to follow and since it has such a short focus throw, there's not really any chance of trouble with repeating lines (fences, etc.). Oh and being that it is a 42mm lens, it's a perfect "normal" focal length for 35mm which I like.

All-in-all, I think this will be a fun little camera to shoot with. I've got some film on order so I'll be able to play with it more when it comes in. A few photos are above. And one below of Jenna with her new Vivitar Ultra Wide and Slim.

Experimental Film Project (Part 1)

2011-06-27T10:23:00.008-04:00

My wife got this crazy idea to run slide film through a hot dishwasher and then dunk it in ice water and then dry it off and roll it back into the cassette and then shoot it. Well, we didn't have slide film, so we used some 200 Color Print Film and then we forgot to take it out of the dishwasher so we heated it up on the stove in some hot water and then dunked it in ice water and then dried it with a hair dryer and then shot it.

It's interesting to say the least... It was wild to see that because the film wasn't flat anymore, where I focused and where the plane of focus is, are WAY off. I kinda like it. :)

I ordered 150 12 exposure rolls of this 200 speed film from ebay so we're going to do a bunch more soon. Stay tuned for the results.

Just Messin' Around

2011-06-25T17:04:00.001-04:00

Playing around with the Canon G10, a 580EX II speedlight and Nik Silver Efex Pro. Man, I love that software! So great for black and white conversions. I think I may have to go with the color version as well.

Enjoy.

A Few from Here...

2011-06-24T21:09:00.002-04:00

Went out today with Mark and Jenna to look at an old church. I still had some film left in my Olympus OM-4 from last time so I took it along with me to finish off the roll. I love shooting with the OM-4. It's small and light and the multi-spot metering is solid. It's probably my favorite SLR to shoot with. Sorry Canon AE1P... You were my first, but not my favorite.

For the three shots above, I used some expired Fuji Pro 160S and shot with my 28mm f/3.5 Zuiko lens. One of my favorites!! The shot of the tree was wide open at 3.5. At full size, you can see the log is tack sharp with the tree behind it just out of focus. It's really an amazing little lens. I love the amount of separation I can get with such a wide lens. Lovely.

Anyways... enjoy.

One More from the Road

2011-06-23T17:01:00.011-04:00

This is another image from my trip out west but I thought it deserved its own post... It's a 180° panoramic (6-image stitch) from my G10 processed in Photoshop using Nik Silver Efex Pro. I LOVE that software for converting to black and whites. This one is best viewed large, so give it a click (and then click again so it'll zoom in) and scroll around.

Enjoy.

Honeymooners

2011-06-23T14:38:00.013-04:00

Left: Jenna Catching a nap in the Atlanta Airport
Right: View from the Gate windows

Left: Fountains at the Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
Right: View of Caesar's Palace from Bellagio Fountain, Las Vegas, NV

Left: Vegas Sign, Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV
Right: Paris Hotel and Taxi, Las Vegas, NV

Left: 4 Queens Casino, Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV
Right: Man at the Slots, Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV

Left: Room 117, Debbie's Hide-A-Way, Page, AZ
Right: Bird House, Debbie's Hide-A-Way, Page, AZ

Left: Flamingo, Debbie's Hide-A-Way, Page, AZ
Right: Exterior, Debbie's Hide-A-Way, Page, AZ

Left: Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Right: Light Shaft in Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Left: Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Right: 4x4's at Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Left: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Right: Rock Formation, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

Left: Desert Highway, Nevada
Right: Desert Sunset, Nevada

North Rim, Grand Canyon

My wife and I just got home from our honeymoon in Vegas. We stayed at New York New York Hotel on the strip for 9 nights. About halfway through our trip, we rented a car and headed out to the Hoover Dam, Red Rock, Antelope Canyon, The North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Valley of Fire State Park. Driving through the desert was amazing and we saw some of the most beautiful scenery and met some of the most amazing people. We stayed one night at a little place called Debbie's Hide-a-Way in Page, Arizona. It was the quirkiest, most special place I've ever been and we loved it. It's located on a street called "The Avenue of Tiny Motels" and while the street was lined with lots of tiny motels, none of them had the charm of Debbie's Hide-a-Way. We're already trying to figure out when we can go back to see Canyon X and stay at Debbie's again...

I carried several cameras both film and digital and have a handful of digital images to share with you. My film is off at Dwayne's Photo in Parsons, KS being developed. When it comes home, I'll be sure and upload some of those as well.

All of the images in this post are from my Canon G10. It was nice to have a [almost] pocketable camera with me to keep my travels light when hiking and walking about.

Enjoy the photos! There will be more to come, I promise.

Gonna Be a While...

2011-06-10T13:35:00.003-04:00

Gonna be a while until I post anything, but I promise good things will come. My wife and I are heading to Las Vegas in 2 days for a 10-day adventure around Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon and a few other favorite spots out west. Until then, here are a few shots from a new camera I just picked up.

Contax TVS with Fuji 1600 converted to black and white in LR3. Trying out some darker processing. Meh... Enjoy.

Moving on Down the Road

2011-06-01T17:51:00.004-04:00

So about a week ago, my wife and I packed up our stuff and hit the road for the midlands. We're in Sumter now for a bit. Then? Who knows? We found this awesome little house to go look at and are keeping our fingers crossed that it'll still be available when we get back from our Vegas honeymoon later this month. Maybe we'll get lucky. It really is the perfect little house. Quirky like us. Small and simple and, well, it's just us.

I'll be in touch.

Adios.

Oh, and for all of my photo nerd friends out there, these were shot with the Fuji Klasse (Original 38 f/2.6 Version) on Kodak Ektar 100 film. Processed and scanned at Walgreens. No post processing at all.

Earth Day. Be Happy.

2011-04-22T07:53:00.002-04:00

I did this a while back for fun. And now I get to post it on Earth Day. :)
Be nice to her. She takes good care of us...

Enjoy.

Now THAT'S a Vacation Home...

2011-04-22T07:45:00.007-04:00

Images from a recent architectural shoot. Most of these shot with the 5D and 35L. Enjoy.

Jam for Japan

2011-04-02T11:39:00.003-04:00

Just a quick poster design for a good friend of mine (and coworker) who is throwing a super rad benefit show/art auction to aid in the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts in Japan. Come out and support the show if you get a chance. Good music at an awesome venue with lots of great art to choose from.

Enjoy the poster and, as always, C&C is appreciated.

Let it Snow!

2011-03-06T11:42:00.007-05:00

I recently had a shoot at Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Three days on the mountain, some 3,000 images and a torn-up clutch leading to a tow-ride home with 2 blown car dolly tires all led to a handful of excellent images for their image catalog. All in all, it was worth it. Cataloochee Ski Area is a great place and they were great clients. Thanks to all the models for your time and effort and for braving the cold snow (especially you few that had never donned skis before) and to the staff for putting up with our constant clicking and intrusion. A special thanks goes to the Ski Patrol for getting me down off the mountain in a sled and a huge thanks to Skis and Tees in Maggie Valley for loaning us lots of awesome gear for our models to wear. We couldn't have done it without all of you guys. And, no shoot would be complete without my love and assistant, Jenna Brown whose images compliment mine so well and who made a 3-day shoot on top of a mountain half the work.

Give the images a click to see them larger. And for all the gear heads these were shot with a combination of Canon 5D and 40D with the 35 f/1.4, 50 f/1.4 and 85 f/1.8.

Enjoy.

Stan Gray and the Stingrays

2011-01-31T23:07:00.007-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted anything. These are a handful of images from a recent shoot with Stan Gray and the Stingrays. Awesome dudes with amazing personality and rockin' music. Check them out here.

All images shot with a Canon 5D, 50 f/1.4, 85 f/1.8 and 17-40 f/4L with AlienBees AB400 Lights.

Enjoy.

Like Fireflies

2010-11-08T22:10:00.003-05:00

Charles Towne Landing. Charleston, SC.

Ricoh GR Digital III

Circa Survive & Friends at The Music Farm

2010-10-21T13:16:00.006-04:00

Saw Circa Survive, Dredg, Animals as Leaders and Code Seven at the Music Farm in Charleston, SC last night. Just a few shots with the GRD3. Enjoy.

A Day for Us

2010-10-18T10:10:00.001-04:00

Ricoh GR Digital III

Blume

2010-10-15T10:31:00.004-04:00

Last night was the Blume art show in Charleston. Took the GR Digital III with me and grabbed some black and whites at ISO1600. I love how organic and almost film-like they feel. The GRDIII has been a real joy to learn and play with. Enjoy.

The Progression of Getting a Tennis Ball Into One's Mouth

2010-10-09T14:11:00.004-04:00

Jack's obsession with tennis balls...

Ricoh GR Digital III

2010-10-08T10:44:00.002-04:00

Autumn.

Ricoh GR Digital III

Reed & Lynn Wilson

2010-09-26T11:04:00.009-04:00

Shot a wedding yesterday with my teammate and better half. Here are a few selects from my camera. More to come on her blog.

Enjoy.

All images shot with a Canon 5D + 85/1.8 + 50/1.4.

5757 Palm

2010-09-24T22:01:00.003-04:00

I recently did a shoot for Wild Dunes' bi-annual publication "5757 Palm" in which they interviewed homeowners about what brought them to Wild Dunes and what has kept them at Wild Dunes. The above couple are the Zolins. They're really amazing people and Mrs. Zolin was kind enough to pack me a bag of homemade cranberry-chocolate biscotti on my way out the door.

Enjoy.

And Some More

2010-09-09T11:48:00.003-04:00

A couple more from the Pentax 645 in Old North Charleston.

Yay.

The Bandit

2010-09-09T11:37:00.004-04:00

Recent images in Old North Charleston, SC from my (now gone) Pentax 645 on Kodak Portra 160NC.

Enjoy.

Old North Charleston

2010-09-06T22:47:00.006-04:00

Row 1: Veterans' Hospital, Naval Hospital Building, Basketball Goal

Row 2: Kitchen (Military Housing), Kitchen Sink (Military Housing), Front Porch (Military Housing)

A few images from old North Charleston, SC. Take with a Leica Minilux on Fuji Pro 160S.

Charleston, SC with the Bessa R2a

2010-09-05T14:31:00.005-04:00

Row 1: Historic Home with Myrtle, Foliage, Cobblestone Drive

Row 2: Charleston Harbor, Harbor Pilot, Iron Railing

Took a short stroll downtown with my new Bessa R2a + Nokton 40/1.4 and Ultron 28/1.9 lenses. Shot on Fuji Pro 160s. Drugstore scan. Minor color/exposure adjustments in Lightroom.

Enjoy.

Tristan Restaurant

2010-09-01T22:19:00.003-04:00

Top: Tomato Salad + Artisan Beet Salad

Bottom: Quail & Pasta + Salmon & Risotto

So I suppose it's time I post a few images from a recent shoot I had at Tristan restaurant in Charleston, SC. The chef there is an amazing and incredibly gifted person. His dishes are fresh, exciting and wonderfully delicious. If you're in the Charleston area and looking to have a great meal at a restaurant with a top-notch chef and a cool, quiet atmosphere, Tristan is the place for you.

Bon Appétit.

Jenna Brown Photography

2010-08-20T13:23:00.005-04:00

Sketched out a new banner for Jenna Brown's Tumblr. Go have a look see and soak up some of that beautiful work she has on display.

Enjoy.

NYC in B&W

2010-08-18T11:50:00.014-04:00

Row 1: Statue of Liberty, Katz's Deli, Subway Patrons

Row 2: Homeless Man with Cats, Flying Pigeon Near Rockefeller Center

Row 3: Homeless Man in Chinatown, Site of Ground Zero, Carnegie Deli, Horse in Central Park

Row 4: Pigeon on 5th Avenue, Empire State Building

Here are a few more images from my recent trip to New York City. Street shots that I thought fared better in high-contrast black and white.

It was interesting to shoot with just the G11. The limits of the camera held my attention better and I think I came out with more interesting shots than if I had been shooting with my normal rig (5D/1D Mark IIn + Lenses). The small, unobtrusive, lightweight point and shoot really opened up a lot of availability as far as carrying it places. And it drew much less attention than it's bigger, DSLR counterparts.

Click on the individual images to see them larger.

Enjoy.

New York in an Instant

2010-08-17T19:56:00.006-04:00

A few instant snaps from a recent trip to New York City.

Polaroid Mio with Fuji Instax film.

Hello Professor!

2010-08-10T16:07:00.003-04:00

What happens when you have a new pair of glasses, too much free time and a dog that's too lazy to give a damn?

This happens.

Canon 1D Mark IIn + Canon 50/1.4: 1/250 @ f/1.4, ISO 3200 (H)

Just a Couple More...

2010-07-27T06:10:00.006-04:00

Just a couple more images from my recent trip to Savannah, GA. These were shot with a Canon G11 and [obviously] processed in Lightroom. Enjoy.

Above: Trolley Stop, Below Top: The Reader and the Gamblers, Bottom: The Driver

Savannah Is So Hip...

2010-07-07T12:00:00.010-04:00

I recently took a trip to Savannah, Georgia with my better half to spend a night on the Savannah Riverfront and to get a cool new tattoo from Ron D. down at Anonymous Tattoo on Bay Street (photos of that to come later). Accompanying me in my shorts pocket was my brand new iPhone 4 fully geared up with the ever-popular Hipstamatic app. All of these were shot with the Helga Viking Lens and Float Film.

Enjoy.

The Yellow Car. Savannah, GA

Tours & Gifts. Savannah, GA

The Lion's Den. Savannah, GA

Stairs. Savannah, GA

Savannah Riverfront. Savannah, GA

Escalator, Hyatt Regency Hotel. Savannah, GA

Conceirge, Hyatt Regency Hotel. Savannah, GA

The Tattoo Artist. Savannah, GA

Film from the Top of a Mountain

2010-06-13T22:11:00.004-04:00

A few images from a recent trip to Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley, North Carolina for a 2-part photo shoot. These were all shot on a Leica Minilux on Kodak Portra 160NC.

Enjoy.

Cataloochee Ranch

2010-05-27T09:16:00.010-04:00

I recently had a shoot up at Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. This shoot was focused on interiors and a little bit of the things the ranch offers to their guests (home-cooked meals everyday, horseback riding, etc.)

I'm headed back in a couple of weeks to shoot some lifestyle photographs for them with some of their guests enjoying the ranch.

Stay tuned for more images from the second shoot!

Best,

Matthew

All images were shot with a Canon EOS 5D & 17-40 L at f/11, the burger was shot with a Canon EOS 5D & 50/1.8 at f/2

Formula Drift at Road Atlanta

2010-05-10T10:42:00.005-04:00

Scion TC's (The yellow and black one, driven by Tanner Faust has a NASCAR engine)

2010 Chevy Camaro

Left: 2011 Dodge Challenger, Right: Supercharged Ford Mustang

Nissan 350Z (Last year's Road Atlanta winner)

BMW 3 Series with a BMW V10 engine (One of my favorites of the competition)

I went down to see Round 2 of the Formula Drift competition at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia this weekend. Not a whole lot to say except, "Wow!" These guys get it. Two cars come screaming down a hill at 90+ miles per hour and the drivers whip them around sideways and a foot apart. Really a must-see experience.

Lots of cool cars and even more cool people. Twenty hours in the sun never felt so good.

Enjoy the photos. There are more on my Flickr account here.

Oh! Olympus!

2010-04-30T17:52:00.005-04:00

The camera gods must be pleased.

I just can't get over how sharp and contrasty and colorful the little Olympus 35mm film cameras are.

Once again, I dug into the few cameras I had left from the fire and pulled out the Olympus AF-1 Mini (Weatherproof) with it's darling little Olympus 35 f/3.5 fixed lens, quiet operation and snug pocketability, it's become another favorite for my messenger bag. I just wish I had known what these little guys could do sooner.

I do hope you'll enjoy these in all of their unedited, lo-fi beauty. Shot with the Oly AF-1 Mini on Kodak Portra 160 VC. (Left to right: Airplane, Crane, Barn — All in North Charleston)

Oh, There You Are Little XA...

2010-04-21T13:41:00.010-04:00

I purchased an Olympus XA about a month ago and hadn't had a chance to use it until yesterday. I was out at Pawley's Island, SC attending (and shooting) a wedding and thought it might be fun to pull out the little pocket-sized point-and-shoot for some snapshots of the beach house and surrounding area.

With it's quick little f/2.8 lens and ultra-compact profile, it made for a great companion all afternoon. Photos were shot on Fuji 800 speed color film and scanned at a local one-hour lab. No edits.

Enjoy the images!

Loraine Oh, Ten!

2010-04-17T11:37:00.015-04:00

I had a photo shoot yesterday with Loraine. She's a senior at the College of Charleston and an amazing person. She went into the shoot open-minded and not really knowing what to expect, but in the end, I think she was pleased with what I gave her.

We shot at three locations (her carriage house, a fountain and on the rooftop of The Restoration Hotel). Above are some of my favorites from the day. All images were shot with a Canon 5D and 24-70 ƒ2.8 L.

Enjoy and congratulations to you, Loraine!

Mju Who?

2010-04-17T11:19:00.005-04:00

So I recently received an Olympus Mju (µ): 1 in the mail. It's small, light and automatic. And it reads DX codes up to 6400 ISO. It features a fairly sharp 35 f/3.5 Zuiko lens and it's small. Did I already say that? The lens is a tad soft in the corners wide open (no control over that, unfortunately) but the colors are nice and the center is sharp & contrasty.

Anyways...After taking it out of the box and frowning at how used it was (The eBay auction said it was in good condition...not hardly. I'd give it a 6 out of 10 at best.), I popped a fresh battery and a roll of Kodak Portra 160 VC in there and headed out to the back yard with the pup to try it out.

There's not much to it. You point and click and it whirs and snaps and advances the film and you're ready to go again. I liked it so much I bought another one with the hopes that it'll be in better condition (This one has sticky light seals and some kind of weird goo coming out of one of the hinges which is most likely oil of some sort, but I don't like it so it's gotta go.).

Anyways. For $5 per roll developed and scanned to CD at Walgreens, I'll shoot this guy all day long. Especially since it just looks and feels so freakin' rad. And since I've got a whole shoebox full of films.

Enjoy.

Jack on White

2010-03-24T10:55:00.007-04:00

While shooting some products for a local company today, I got the idea to put my dog Jack up on the seamless. He normally wont sit still for a photo, but I think he was so damn confused about being up on that table that he didn't know what else to do.

So, there you have it. A mug shot of Jack. Or should I say, pug shot?

(Bad, I know. I couldn't resist.)

Canon 5D w/ 50mm f/1.8 (Nifty Fifty), f/11 @ 1/125, ISO 125.

Light 1 was an AB400 at the background. Light 2 was an AB400 with softbox just above camera left.

Nic Nac Turns 2

2010-03-01T10:06:00.010-05:00

Saturday was my nephew's birthday. Well, the party at least. He was born on that weird Leap Year Day (February 29) which means when he's 20 he'll only have had like 5 real birthdays.

Anyway. Thought I'd share some of the images from his party. Nothing spectacular or anything awe-inspiring. But he's pretty much the cutest kid ever and, um he was at Chuck-E-Cheese with like 40,827 other kids. So yeah. It was a party to say the least... Definitely made me want to drink, though. Probably had something to do with that big gray rat and the dancers in the red polos. I dunno.

Anyway. Enjoy the photos.

Shot with a Canon 5D & 50 ƒ1.8 (Nifty Fifty), ISO 1600 and probably around ƒ2 for most of them. No flash.

Beck 2 Beck 2010 "It All Sounds the Same to Me" Tour

2010-02-16T22:04:00.010-05:00

So very recently I made a comment about all of Beck's music sounding the same, which was immediately followed by a college professor of mine (for whom, I might add, I have a great deal of respect) telling me that I needed some "quality Beck time" to work on my ability to discern Beck song from beck song.

All of this talk of Beck the musician eventually trickled into the mention of Glenn Beck. Now while I'm not particularly a fan of Glenn Beck, I am fairly conservative and my [former] professor, whom I respect greatly, is quite frankly not conservative. However, we questioned Glenn Beck's ability to sing and agreed that while he may not make music his seemingly unending rants about the Obama administration and everything they're not doing right all sound the same.

Thus, the Beck 2 Beck 2010 It All Sounds The Same To Me Tour! Get your tickets now. I'm sure they'll go fast. I mean, damn, where else will you hear the ravings of an extremist right-wing madman juxtaposed onto the ravings of a multi-instrumentalist post-modern pop musician? I can just hear it now. And I'll be darned if it all doesn't sound the same.

*Edit: I have to give my good friend Mike Rogers props for suggesting a new name. It's definitely a better fit. Thanks Mike. Please, please go check out his stuff. He's one of the best designers I know. You can find him here.

Enjoy.

PS. Images all courtesy of Google Image Search. Know the owner? Let me know and I'll credit them. Created completely in Photoshop CS3 (Yes, even the type...GASP! Look at those PIXELS!) on my trusty old MacBook Pro.

How Often? Oh About Once Every 20 Years or So...

2010-02-14T08:48:00.004-05:00

So Friday, February 12, 2010 was the first time in like 20 years that Charleston got any significant amount of snow. At least enough to stick to the ground and not create a hazardous icy mess like we usually get. So, being that snow for us is like Disney for 5-year-olds, I naturally had to take the camera out to snap some photos.

I used a Canon 45 ƒ/2.8 TS-E and 70-200 ƒ4 L for all of these, mounted on my trusty Canon 5D, of course. The 45 TS-E was new and I've been dying to really get out and use it. Really loving it so far and most likely for all the wrong reasons.

Enjoy the photographs.

Habitat for Humanity T-shirt Design

2010-02-04T07:57:00.005-05:00

I recently entered a t-shirt design in the Charleston Habitat for Humanity t-shirt design competition and won. So, with their permission, I'm posting it here for you all to see. If you're not up to speed on the latest the Charleston Habitat for Humanity has to offer, please check out their website here. And if you can, head out and help them help someone in need.

Enjoy.

Birthdays Look Better on Film

2010-01-29T20:48:00.004-05:00

My fiancee surprised me with a new camera for my birthday this year. Nothing super special as far as cameras go, but she knows how much I love old cameras and found me a cool Mamiya 1000DTL with a 55/1.4 Mamiya-Sekor lens and a 135/2.8 Vivitar lens.

Ran a roll of Fuji 800 Pro Z through it to test the meter and what not and got the above shot of our pug Jack.

Quite the birthday surprise, indeed.

Enjoy.

The BBQ Brothers

2010-01-19T15:33:00.003-05:00

Here's another from my shoot with the BBQ Brothers Band in Charleston, SC. Obviously heavily processed in the Dragan fashion, High Pass, Curves, etc. Definitely one of my favorite images and their practice space was just begging to be over-treated.

Shot with a Canon 5D, 17-40 f/4 L & 2 AB400's.

Enjoy.

32° Isn't So Bad When You're In Love

2010-01-03T21:08:00.006-05:00

Hung out in Columbia today for the Ansel Adams exhibit at the Columbia Museum of Art. It was damn cold outside. Good thing I had my love by my side to keep me smiling and warm. Great way to start off the new year.

All shots taken with a Ricoh GX200, 24mm f/2.5, ISO 64 (Glass building shot at 50mm f/3.5). Aperture Priority, RAW converted in Lightroom 2.

New Love

2009-12-28T18:07:00.006-05:00

So Santa brought me a new love for Christmas. His full name is Professor Jack Pugglestein, but he just goes by plain old Jack. He's a 9-week-old Puggle (75% Pug, 25% Beagle). He follows me everywhere. He's pretty much awesome. And he sleeps a lot.

Enjoy.

The BBQ Brothers

2009-12-14T12:24:00.004-05:00

Recently went over to take some photos of the BBQ Brothers band. They had a really cool practice space full of vintage items and equipment. Not to mention they're super amazing guys. Here are a few individual portraits of the guys. I'll post some more from the shoot a little later.

Shot with a Canon 5D & 70-200 f/4 L, 2x AlienBees B400 Strobes (1. Camera Right with 24x36 soft box, 2. Bare bulb behind subject).

Enjoy.

Greenville & Beyond

2009-11-16T08:53:00.013-05:00

It's been a bit since my last post. I've definitely been busy shooting and have actually gotten a bit of design work here in the last couple of weeks as well. Lots going on.

In the middle of all of that, I made some time to accompany my other half to Greenville, SC for her cousin's wedding. On the way home yesterday, we made some time to hike around Table Rock, Caesar's Head and took a late afternoon stroll around downtown Greenville. We stopped between Table Rock and Caesar's Head to eat at Aunt Sue's Diner for lunch and had some great home-cooked meats and veggies, and then made a bit of an unexpected stop at Rush's in Columbia for a hot dog and a coke before making the last little bit of our 3-hour trip home. The colors were amazing and the air was incredibly clean and clear. Definitely made for some nice photos...

Canvas

2009-10-12T21:32:00.011-04:00

Took a break from my real estate photo project on Sunday to shoot some stuff for a local hair salon here called Canvas. Their new site will be up shortly and featuring the photos I did. See above for a few teaser images from the day. I'll keep you guys updated on the status of the new site so you can see it when it's all finished.

Enjoy.

All shot with a Canon 5D and 24-70L & Olympus 35/2.8 (Adapted) with 2x Alien Bees B400s.

Nick Gets to See the Ocean

2009-09-22T20:39:00.005-04:00

Met the family down at Edisto Beach, SC this past weekend. The little guy is my nephew, Nicholas. Shot with a Canon EOS 5D & Olympus 35/2.8, all images shot wide open.

Indie Shorts Film Festival (10.3.09)

2009-08-19T23:39:00.003-04:00

Recent poster design I did for the Indie Shorts Film Festival coming to Charleston this October. It's put on by The Greater Park Circle Film Society and the Carolina Film Alliance (yay for free plugs) and is going to be pretty much awesome.

Enjoy the artwork and come out to support the fest if you're in the Charleston, SC area.

Created using Photoshop and Illustrator CS3, Stock images from various web sources (Google, iStock). Font: Din.

Sunset at 2

2009-08-06T17:58:00.003-04:00

Headed out for a couple hours of shooting with a friend today. Not a whole lot going on in Charleston that I haven't already shot so I played with some filters for a bit. The above image was taken around 2pm using a Canon 5D, 50mm 1.4 lens and the following filters: 2 Polarizing filters, a 1-stop ND filter, a 2-stop ND filter and a 4-stop ND filter, a Cokin graduated 2-stop ND filter and a Cokin graduated sunset filter (thus the sunset appearance). Shot at ISO 50, f/22 @ 30 seconds.

Stay tuned for some Diana stuff from today, too.

Enjoy.

Get Your Pig On

2009-07-28T11:13:00.004-04:00

Had a (really) quick photoshoot this morning for a Piggly Wiggly Grocery Stores Employee Handbook. Start to finish (including editing time) was 3 hours. Phew. Knocked that one out in record time. Maybe Guiness Books will pick me up and make a story out of me. Until then, I'll just keep my camera by my side...

Enjoy.

Save the Pandas!

2009-07-27T09:10:00.005-04:00

My better half so lovingly gave me a Hong Meow edition Diana camera for Christmas last year. Yay! Happy Christmas! Unfortunately, I'm rather lame and put off using it until just recently. Boo! Hiss!

Well, just recently, I took it out for several rolls of fun, only stopping because the little plastic piece that holds the film spools broke. Do not despair my good blog followers, for I have fixed her good as new and will be shooting with her in the near future. Yay! Camera repairs!

So, above are a few shots from my first couple of rolls. I have yet to scan the selections from the last roll, but I suppose I'll do that at some point, too.

Image Left: Two images stitched vertically of an abandoned building on Hwy 17N between Mount Pleasant and McClellanville, SC.
Top Right: Marshlands on Hwy 17N between Mount Pleasant and McClellanville, SC.
Middle Right: Abandoned fishing boat on Hwy 17N between Mount Pleasant and McClellanville, SC.
Bottom Right: Alternative view of the marshlands on Hwy 17N between Mount Pleasant and McClellanville, SC

Enjoy.

Crime-Fighting Super Twins: The Mighty Flynns

2009-07-26T17:32:00.002-04:00

A friend and former co-worker hired me to photograph her 4-year-old twin boys. They were LOADS of fun to work with and both are absolutely beautiful little boys. It was a true joy photographing them. Now I just gotta hope that their mother loves the photos as much as I do...

Enjoy.

Gear: Canon 5D & 24-70/2.8 L lens.

Jenna Brown Photography

2009-06-24T10:37:00.004-04:00

This is a recent logo I put together for my lady mate's brand new website. I don't normally post design stuff here, but seeing as how it's something I do from time to time, I thought you all would appreciate the variety.

Cheers.

A Day for Dads

2009-06-22T09:39:00.003-04:00

Canon 5D & 50/1.4

Went over to Dad's yesterday for some chicken on the grill and good family time. Snapped a few photos of my nephew and snuck one of my grandfather (his great-grandfather) stealing some Father's Day love.

Cheers.

Oyster Shack

2009-06-21T10:37:00.003-04:00

Headed out 17N with a friend of mine for a day of shooting. Found an old oyster shack and decided to snap a few photos with the Lomo LC-A+ and some new Kodak Ektar Film.

Enjoy.

There's Redemption

2009-06-13T21:15:00.003-04:00

The Bottom Of The Glass from Jenna Brown on Vimeo.

Hello Blogger friends. Meet Jenna Brown. She's my better half I suppose and dipping her toes in this art house, indie film market a bit. The Bottom of the Glass is her first venture and a magnificent one at that. Definitely worth the 3 minutes and 45 seconds it will take you to watch it. I think we can definitely all relate.

Show some love and visit her site, too.

Martha Lou's and a Farewell

2009-06-13T21:01:00.004-04:00

Parting ways with my Canon G10 so I thought I'd take it out for one last hoorah before sending it off.

Martha Lou's Kitchen. East Bay Street, Charleston, South Carolina.

The Term "Photo Booth" Just Got More Awesome

2009-06-12T09:53:00.005-04:00

What's cooler than having your picture taken by a pro photographer at one of Charleston's hottest Spoleto parties?

How about taking your own photo with a pro studio setup right there on the spot?

That's what the 200 attendees of the recent Addicted to Bad Ideas Spoleto SCENE after party (hosted by none other than the very cool, very chic ReadCharlie.com) got to do.

Rather than walk around awkwardly asking people to pose, I decided to set up a photo booth so that people could take their own pictures with all of their closest friends rocking their hippest poses and rad new party duds.

See more of their wild party shenanigans in the Photo Booth's very own Flickr set here.

And for you techies out there, the gear was a Canon G10 on a tripod with two AlienBees 400's and a couple of eBay remote triggers for the lights and camera. I used Savage Super White seamless paper for the backdrop.

Been a While...

2009-05-30T09:16:00.002-04:00

Haven't posted in a while. Don't really have time to do so right now, but will maybe tomorrow when I have a day off. Got a Vivitar 285HV and shoot-thru umbrella for outdoor portraits (basically a fill light as it's not powerful enough for much more). Thought I'd try it out for some indoor portraits. Just a little photo fun.

Gear: Canon G10. Vivitar 285HV through a white umbrella, Wireless triggers. Cat.

Fun at One.

2009-05-04T21:49:00.003-04:00

Here are a couple of photos of my nephew and stepmom at a family reunion over the weekend.

All photos shot using my dad's old Minolta X700 with a 40mm f/2 lens on Ilford Xp2 Chromogenic (C-41) black and white film. It's my first time using the XP2, but I'm pretty pleased with the results. It seems to have better midtones and contrast than the Kodak counterpart.

Enjoy.

Mister E

2009-04-30T22:48:00.003-04:00

Mr. Ernest Andrade, that is. He's executive director of the Charleston Digital Corridor. This is a take from a recent 5-minute photo shoot (literally) for Ernest down at his new space.

Canon 5D & 24-70/2.8 L with a 540EZ flash bounced at 45°.

X Pro

2009-04-27T21:52:00.002-04:00

Just got a new little film camera (Canon AF35ML) so I ran a roll of Sensia 200 through it and kindly cross-processed it C41. Just a little film photo fun for you. Enjoy.

Nick Nack Turns One

2009-04-25T23:29:00.003-04:00

Got the house to myself tonight. Sitting here with the cat and thumbing through old images. These are a couple months old, but thought I'd share them regardless.

That guy up there is my nephew, Nick. And the pretty lady holding him? That's my sister Mandy. She's a super mom and he's one hell of a kid. It's hard to resist a little one's uncertainty about his first birthday cake.

Enjoy.

(All images shot with a Canon 5D w/ 24-70/2.8 L & 540EZ flash bounced off the ceiling)

America: For a Limited Time Only

2009-04-20T22:43:00.005-04:00

Gear: Canon 5D & 50/1.4, f/1.4 @ 1/320, ISO 1600

While out shooting the other night, I came across an American flag proudly displayed on the wall of a sandwich shop. And interestingly enough, their specials board was tacked up right below it with the header "For a Limited Time Only."

"How appropriate," I thought to myself as I clicked off a couple of frames on my 5D.

If we're not careful, this uncanny coincidence will become the "I told you so" of our democracy's untimely death.

Greetings from Sunny Tennessee

2009-04-17T08:24:00.005-04:00

Gear: Canon 5D & 100/2.8 Macro, f/2.8

Not really though. In fact, it was pretty dreary the whole time. Saturday was great which was nice because that was the cookout, and the reason for the trip. So all in all it was a wash. See my previous post for details on the trip if you'd like. The above are just a couple of snapshots from the trip that I thought I'd share. The photos are a Black Angus on the left, Ornamental Peach (I think) on the right. They don't really go together, per say, but since they were across the street from one another, I thought it appropriate to pair them up. Besides, two entries yesterday and one already today. I think I'll spare you separate entries for a boring bull shot and yet another flower. Both shot with a Canon 5D & 100/2.8 Macro (both at f/2.8, I might add).

Enjoy.

i5k: Run/Walk/Shuffle

2009-04-16T21:37:00.001-04:00

Gear: Canon 5D & 24-70/2.8 L, f/2.8 @ 1/1600, ISO50, +2 Exp. Comp.

Photo shoot #2 today was Charleston Digital Corridor's i5K run.

It's the only footrace in Charleston that is held at night. And funny that it is, because as I was making my way back to the starting point for the after party, I overheard a group of runners saying how glad they were that the race was at night because the last thing they wanted to do at 6 in the morning was run. I always thought runners were morning people. I guess that's what I get for thinking.

The photo above is my girlfriend Jenna before the race. Shot on a 5D with a 24-70/2.8 L and edited in Lightroom 2.

Welcome to North Carolina

2009-04-10T20:48:00.001-04:00

Headed up to Crossville, Tennessee this past weekend to visit with some long-lost relatives and give my Great Uncle Gordy a proper farewell. Being the simple man that he was, a hot dog and a cheap, cold beer was all it took. After all, that's exactly the way he would have wanted it. Add in a cigar or two and you've got Gordy to the "t."

On the road home, just over a hundred miles south and east of a bit of a nasty post-winter snow storm, nature called and the North Carolina Welcome Center happened to pop up on the roadside mileage indicator so I shifted over to the slow lane and made my way into the beautifully-adorned rest stop for a much needed break and a short walk in the brisk spring rain.

Captured a 3-shot panoramic from the lookout with a Canon G10. Sort of appropriate for the weekend. Leaving some family behind and setting old Gordy off right, I got to look back one more time at the fleeting spring storm and the Blue Ridge Mountains shielding the lower states from it's wintery grasp. A quick nod to the Heavens and a last look around, and it was back to the car for the last 300-mile stretch back to Charleston. Enjoy the photo.

Canon G10: 28mm, f/8 @ 1/80, ISO 80

There's No Place Like Home

2009-03-26T14:06:00.000-04:00

I helped a friend about a week ago with a 2-day photo shoot for G Magazine out of Greenville and WNC Magazine out of Asheville. The house featured here in this blog was the one for G Magazine. The owner is a former Art Director/Illustrator for Charleston’s very own Post & Courier Newspaper and has since held various jobs teaching, freelancing and creating unique works of art from recycled home goods, the largest one being his own home. Crafted of recycled sinks, bathtubs, barn wood, banisters and even an old staircase and accessorizing each shelf, nook and cranny with beautifully-placed antique ornaments and signs, his home is a work of art in it’s own right. And if their home wasn’t enough of an art project for you, then consider birdhouses set atop recycled mattress springs with thatched rooftops made from old coupon and match books or a small bird lawn ornament set atop, again, a recycled mattress spring and expertly rusted so it has just enough vintage feel to fit in with the likes of the rest of the unique collectibles scattered throughout this northern South Carolina home.

Below are a few selects from the shots I grabbed from the sidelines during the shoot. Enjoy.

Gear: Canon 5D w/ 24-70 L, Natural Light

Maybe the Dentist Isn't So Bad After All...

2009-03-23T23:09:00.000-04:00

So what do you get when you combine one rather unorthodox dentist and three beautiful assistants? You get Doctor Kent C. Scott, DMD and his staff; Allison, Sydney and Jacque. Great attitudes and smiles abound, you're sure to leave this office with a smile. Even if the results of your cleaning are an appointment for a filling. Had a photo shoot at his office today and thought it good fun to post one of the outtakes from the staff portrait. Enjoy.

Gear: Canon 5D w/ 24-70/2.8 L, 2x AB400's w/ Softboxes

What's On My Plate

2009-01-13T18:36:00.001-05:00

Hello and happy new year to all.

It's been quite a while since I've entered anything on here. Which almost makes me a liar because in my last entry I said I'd post shortly. And I didn't. But, here is an update regardless.

Let's see...The last time we were together, I told you about losing my job and getting a new camera and a part-time job offer. Oh, and how I was renovating my new place and that my downstairs neighbors would be a British couple. Those things are true, true, semi-true, true and false. Unfortunately, my downstairs neighbors are not British. But they are people I know from town and will certainly do. After all, they have to listen to me walk around up here and all I hear from them is the occasional slamming of their porch door as they embark on their day's (or night's) adventures.

The teaching thing hasn't quite worked itself out yet. I'm having a communications struggle with the other girl involved and haven't landed a lesson plan yet. But we're working on it. Semi-diligently at best.

As for the renovations, they are almost complete. And no, I didn't take status pictures. To be perfectly honest, I was so tired of painting and trimming and moving that by the end of it I didn't give a damn what the place looked like or what anyone else thought of it. So it is what it is and I like it and that is that.

I did, however, land a semi-permanent position as a Graphic Designer for the Charleston Digital Corridor which is a super company located just a couple of blocks from my new place. I'll be working with a slew of clients and helping out a bit with their branding and the branding of some of their newest business ventures. And there's also another big opportunity on the ever-approaching horizon that I won't mention yet for fear of karma's reaction to counting my chickens before they have hatched. But if something comes of it, I'll let you know.

And last but not least, I am helping out a friend get her online magazine started. It's called Charlie and it's pretty much a collaboration of writers and connoisseurs of all things music, food and fashion in Charleston, SC. Being that the budget is low, nay, nonexistent at this point, I've opted to help out from time to time with some photography (and perhaps a story or two if she'll let me get my hands on a keyboard). So, without further ado, I present to you some of the images from my first excursion with Charlie (the magazine). The images include a warehouse gallery owned by Eye Level Art, a couple of local DJ's (Hunter Bazaco and Tony Mele) still mixing it up old-school using a plethora of vinyl on Technic turntables (which you can read about here) and finally, a local boutique by the name of Goga where, as a lady of Charleston, you might find just the right dress or sweater for that perfect Friday night spin.

So here we are (all images were shot using a Canon 5D and either a 24-70/2.8 or a Pentax Super Takumar 35/3.5 lens, adapted):
Thanks for stopping in.
Best,
Matthew

Shining Like Fire

2008-12-12T17:51:00.001-05:00

So I'm coming back into Charleston from Mount Pleasant this evening and crossing the Arthur Ravenel Bridge I looked towards the Port of Charleston and was thinking how unbelievably bright and clear the sun was shining. No haze. No humidity. It was 57° (according to the thermometer in my rearview) and a perfect evening to have the sunroof open going over the bridge. And just as I was about to look away, I caught the sun glancing off of the gray-white railings of the bridge, shining like fire. I thought to myself, "How lucky am I to see all of these beautiful things created in this world. And how much of it I take for granted."

I've been away for a bit and with good reason. I've had a few major changes in my life the last few weeks. The first and biggest is that I lost my job. It was of no fault of my own, but the economy just couldn't support the creative staff the agency had on board. Last in, first out they say. So out I went along with nine others. It came as quite a shock. I sort of felt like a criminal being read my sentencing. It was almost as if life slowed way down for a second, but not in the fairy tale way that it slows down when you see the girl of your dreams walking through the door at the end of the hallway, or the way it feels when you hold a puppy and it doesn't care about anything in the world except the two big human arms keeping it safe from the terrors of this world. It wasn't like that at all. It was slower and more dramatic. And slightly unnerving all at the same time. And then it just moved after that and everything happened rather quickly. So back to retail. And freelance. Which I almost prefer. Not the retail as much as the freelance.

Second, and not quite as importantly, I've started renovations on my new place. I think maybe I'll take some photos of it tonight before I get started and that way I can show a bit of a work in progress as I work through it. It's the second floor of a great little Charleston single on Coming Street. Beautifully remastered on the outside and with a few fresh coats of paint and some air fresheners (it's been empty for a while) I think it'll be good as new. And apparently, my downstairs neighbors are a charming British couple. Perhaps I should invest in some tea.

Third, and equally as important as the second, Jenna was kind enough to sneak me my Christmas present early. And oh what a great thing it is! She got me a Hong Meow Edition Diana Camera. I'm quite the avid collector of all things photographic and seeing my love for the rare and outlandish, she thought it fitting that I have on of the limited Hong Meow Dianas. Sparkling white and fitted with all the charm and elegance of a true Diana camera, the Hong Meow will take a center stage presence on my camera shelf and might even find itself tucked away neatly in my camera bag for those days when a plastic lens will do just the trick.

And finally, I've been offered a position with the Yo Art Project as an instructor of Photography and Graphic Arts. It's such an amazing program and it really is going to be something very fulfilling for me personally and a great opportunity for some extraordinary children to experience the love and admiration for art that I have come to enjoy. Sharing the wealth just took on a whole new meaning.

So, that's my situation. Some good, some not so good, but every cloud has a silver lining. I'm still turning mine inside out to find out what it really looks like. It'll get there. And one way or another I'll keep food in my stomach and clothes on my back. I am, afterall, an artist. And we artists do have to starve from time to time. Thus the Starving Artist motif makes its way coyly into my lifestyle.

I'll be posting again shortly. Stay tuned.

Adios.

God Don't Like Ugly

2008-11-05T17:31:00.001-05:00

It's been quite some time since I've pulled out the film cameras. Honestly, I haven't shot a roll of film in at least a year. Probably two. Shame on me, right? (The rest of you are saying, "This guy's nuts! What on God's green earth would possess him to do something like that?") I don't know. Perhaps it's influence from friends who are shooting film (Jenna and Chris, you're poisoning me with your analog ways) or maybe it's that I'm sending the ol' trusty 5D off to be cleaned and I need to shoot with something in it's absence. Whatever it may be, something has gotten into me.

I just picked up a beautiful little Yashica Electro 35 GT Rangefinder at an estate sale here in Charleston and tucked away in the bottom of the bag was a nifty little Kopil shoe-mount light meter. Bonus! So this meant two things: 1. I finally have a nice, clean, working rangefinder camera and 2. I now have a working light meter for my Pentax Spotmatic SP (whose light meter has failed, as most of the Spotmatic cameras do).

I took a trip up town to see the Coastal Carolina Fair and thought it the perfect opportunity to try out my new Electro and my Spotmatic/Kopil combination. I shot some expired Kodak Ektachrome 200 pushed to 800 ISO (which I've never done before) in the Spotmatic and some Kodak Tri-X 400 B/W film in the Electro shot straight 400. Afterall, the Yashica is well-equiped with a Yashinon DX 1.7 lens. Mmmm...creamy.

The results? Well, the slide film exhibited ugly, red and green hues with a noticeable amount of grain (very unlike slide film) and the black and white was, well, black and white as usual. My impression? Eureka! That's the stuff! Images that look like they're straight out of the 1960's. (See above and below.)

So I've got the film bug. I'm sure you'll see more of it as it becomes available. In the meantime, I urge you to hit the closet and dig out that old 35mm. It could probably use some much-needed attention.

Adios,
Matthew