Christopher Grisanti Photography

Just For Fun

2012-02-10T09:34:00.000-08:00

While scouting locations for an upcoming photo shoot yesterday, I noticed the tiles on the ground and became intrigued. So I experimented with my iPhone camera to come up with some motion blur, resulting in the image here. It reminds me of the school carnival booths when I was a kid, where you would squeeze paint from bottles onto a spinning canvas. (No post-production here, other than the border. All done in-camera, without any apps.)

Engagement Session

2011-11-23T16:28:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know. . .I'm not shooting weddings anymore. But I still shoot engagement sessions. And it was a pleasure to photograph my nephew Rob & his fiance Marci in Palos Verdes last Saturday. We had a great time and it resulted in some pretty cool images.

Hotel

2011-10-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

I was in Palm Springs this week to photograph several hotels. One of my favorites was the Korakia Pensione. This place has such a cool, relaxing vibe with a Mediterranean/Moroccan theme. I spent one night at the Korakia, but would have loved to stay there the entire week.

CD Cover

2011-08-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

It was a pleasure to work with guitarist Mick Taras to come up with the perfect image for his new CD, "Over & Over". Mick is a really talented musician who was looking for a photograph with a sunrise mood and he felt that the train tracks in this shot represented his journey through life. Auguri per successo, mio amico!

Jr. Lifeguards

2011-07-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

When I go to the beach to relax & bodysurf, I don't bring any of my pro camera gear. So it's really nice to have a decent little camera available in my iPhone for moments like this in Huntington Beach. One of several Jr. Lifeguard groups going through training this week.

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T10:58:00.000-07:00

Just a wish for a safe and sane 4th of July while celebrating our country's independence.

Grand Central Market

2011-06-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

I was asked to provide some test shots for a company that is considering hiring me for upcoming work. They requested a series of images at Grand Central Market in downtown Los Angeles. This is one of my favorites from the morning photo shoot.

Corporate Party

2011-06-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I photographed a corporate event celebrating one of the executive's 50th anniversary with the company. It was held at a gorgeous home with an enormous backyard. The entertainment was provided by a cool little group called "Wreck N Sow" (get it. . .reckon so?). Other than struggling to shoot under direct midday sunlight, I enjoyed an afternoon of photography at a great location.

Student Session

2011-05-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

Stefanie is graduating soon and will be heading to northern California to begin her college education. We had a great time during our photo shoot and she was so comfortable in front of the camera. How's that for a pretty smile!

Weekend Shoots

2011-05-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

Busy weekend with photo shoots on Saturday and Sunday, including the 90th Annual Children's Horse Show in La Canada Flintridge and the 60th Annual Altadena Guild Home Tour.

Brewery ArtWalk

2011-04-20T16:21:00.000-07:00

I spent some time last Sunday roaming through the Brewery ArtWalk in Los Angeles. It's been a few years since I've gone, but it's a pretty cool event where resident artists display and sell their work at what used to be a brewery near downtown L.A. It's a great place to visit to see some very creative work and be inspired by other artists. (I loved this old door at the location.)

Super Clean

2011-04-12T08:14:00.000-07:00

One of the hospitals I shoot for is preparing to open a new surgery center. I had an opportunity to photograph the new space yesterday and was amazed at the technology for keeping surgical instruments super clean. Think high tech, industrial strength dishwashers and autoclave equipment and it will give you some idea of what goes on behind the scenes to maintain sterile instruments.

Maternity Photo Session

2011-04-08T16:34:00.000-07:00

I had a great time with my friends Lindsay & Rusty recently to photograph them in expectation of their first child, a girl who is due to arrive at the end of May. We chose a few cool locations in Laguna Canyon and had a lot of laughs together during the photo shoot. This was one of my favorite shots.

Palm Springs Photo Festival 2011

2011-04-03T20:41:00.000-07:00

I made my annual trip to the Palm Springs Photo Festival last week and had a great couple of days of relaxation and inspiration. One of the highlights are the nightly slideshow presentations which have been submitted by attending photographers and are entered into a contest. Already looking forward to next year's event. (This shot was taken with my iPhone camera.)

March Madness

2011-03-24T19:45:00.001-07:00

I had planned on posting something about March Madness at the start of the annual NCAA basketball tournament. But we're into the Sweet 16 round, and most of the teams I thought would still be alive are already dead & buried. But it's always exciting and this year is no different. If you've never watched March Madness, you're missing out on some great hoops action.

Charity Event

2011-03-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

The charity event I photographed on Saturday night at the Langham Pasadena had strolling belly dancers entertaining the guests throughout the evening.

Disneyland

2011-03-11T16:19:00.000-08:00

This week's visit to Disneyland and California Adventure with my family was the first time in many years that I remember going without a camera strapped over my shoulder. Instead, I packed light with my iPhone and tried out the Hipstamatic and Lo-mob camera apps for that retro feel. It was a lot of fun!

Guest Speaker

2011-03-04T20:21:00.000-08:00

I was invited to speak to a group of photographers at the Rancho Cucamonga Photo Club and it was an honor to make a presentation for their meeting last night. I put together a Keynote slideshow in the hopes that it would inspire other shooters to develop their own personal style of photography. It's a little nerve-racking to get up in front of a large audience, and I'm definitely more comfortable behind the camera, but the presentation was well-received and the feedback is better than expected:
Kathy: "On behalf of the RC Photo Club...and for me personally...a very big thanks for your awesome and inspiring slide show! You ROCK!!!"
Paul: "Your work has emotion, beauty and clarity. . .and it tells a wonderful story."
Carole: "Excellent meeting! We celebrated our 100th member and our president and we were blessed with an amazing guest speaker."
Anthony: "You were inspirational and a delight to have as a guest speaker."
And finally, from a young man named Jarel: "God has blessed you to be a light and a source of inspiration. And I pray that He continues to bless you and your family, in all your pursuits and dreams. Your photography is dope."

iPhone!

2011-02-17T19:13:00.000-08:00

After a long self-imposed 4 year wait, I finally bought an iPhone! I've been a Mac user since my first computer, but didn't get an iPhone until now because I held out for another service provider option. My wife said that I've finally stepped into the 21st century.

Movie Screening

2011-02-07T12:30:00.000-08:00

I attended a screening at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival over the weekend of the new movie "LOVE", produced by my stepson. Here's a few images from the festival.

View From Above

2011-01-24T16:12:00.001-08:00

I took the stairs to the roof at a school today to get this shot of kids on the playground. Images from the photo shoot will be used on the school's new website. It's always fun to find a new or different perspective of the usual school activities.

Speed Grid

2011-01-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

I added a cool little lighting accessory to my arsenal of photographic gear this week. It's the HonlPhoto 1/8 Speed Grid, which attaches to a small flash head and narrows the beam of light to create a really nice spot for backgrounds or precise placement on subjects. HonlPhoto produces very well-made and useful items for professional photographers.

After the Rain

2010-12-28T19:31:00.000-08:00

The west coast was hit with a pretty powerful storm recently and it rained relentlessly for a few days. When it finally let up last week and the sun made a warm late-afternoon appearance, I was driving past this yellow house and grabbed a shot with my cell phone camera.

Christmas Spirit

2010-12-21T15:10:00.000-08:00

In an era where Christ often gets pushed out of Christmas, it was so cool to see Nordstrom Santa Anita in Arcadia, CA invite the L.A. Master Chorale into its store to share some true Christmas spirit.
Watch the video here

Security Guard

2010-12-18T15:23:00.000-08:00

I photographed a private school in Los Angeles this week for their website, but my favorite shot from the session was this image of the security guard in the parking lot.

Dog Haus

2010-12-06T19:21:00.001-08:00

Fun photo shoot last night at the grand opening of the Dog Haus in Pasadena. Hot dogs, sausages & burgers with lots of toppings! The place was jam-packed and everyone had a great time.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2010-11-25T13:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you're spending the day with family & friends, and grateful for all of God's blessings in your life.

Triple Hoops

2010-11-19T08:52:00.000-08:00

This set of basketball hoops was in the parking lot of a school I recently photographed for their website. 3-point play. . .or would that be a 9-pointer???

Fall Food & Wine Festival

2010-10-27T17:43:00.000-07:00

The 26th Annual Fall Food & Wine Festival took place on Sunday in Pasadena, and I had the pleasure of doing the event photography again. This fun festival helps support the Huntington Hospital's Trauma Care Center - which is the only one left in the San Gabriel Valley. A light rainfall didn't stop the feasting on samples from local restaurants and wineries.

Egyptian Theme

2010-09-27T17:56:00.001-07:00

I photographed a corporate event on Friday night that had an Egyptian theme decor. This sarcophagus was next to a projection screen, so when a sunset-on-the-Nile shot appeared, it made the perfect backdrop.

Office Shoot

2010-08-31T14:30:00.000-07:00

I've been working with a graphic designer on a book project for a landscaping company over the past couple of years and recently did some photography at their main office. I couldn't resist getting a detail shot of this little robot guy with a hard hat, carrying blueprints.

Vin Scully

2010-08-23T18:01:00.000-07:00

Great news from Vin Scully yesterday. The legendary L.A. Dodgers announcer decided to come back for at least one more season next year! So the voice of the Dodgers will be back. If you're a Dodger fan and have grown up listening to Vinny on the radio, then nothing more needs to be said.

Vacation

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

I recently returned from a nice vacation in the Seattle area, visiting family. We barbecued one evening at Point No Point and I photographed the lighthouse there in the very warm light at the end of the day. This lighthouse, built in 1879, is the oldest one on Puget Sound.

On the set

2010-07-14T08:29:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to work last weekend with my stepson Nate, who is producing a movie called "LOVE". I shot the still photography of the Civil War battle scenes, filmed in Santa Ynez, CA. This is going to be a very cool flick and I had a great time on the set with a terrific cast & crew.

Los Angeles Lakers

2010-06-17T23:18:00.000-07:00

This is sweet for Lakers fans. . .beating the Boston Celtics in game 7 for the NBA championship!

"Do your re-shoot now"

2010-06-05T20:43:00.000-07:00

As a photographer, I know that it's very difficult to walk away from an assignment with the "perfect" shot. Photographers are their own worst critics, and usually find fault or room for improvement in their images. Sometimes you wish you could just start over with a photo shoot and create the image you should have gotten. I watched a lecture by renowned professional photographer Joe McNally and he made the comment that he prefers to do his re-shoots now. In other words, don't kick yourself later when editing your photo shoot. Get the shots you really want now, before leaving the job. It reminded me of a photo shoot about a dozen years ago where a manager hired me to photograph a band for some promotional material. They rented a club in L.A. and wanted "live" shots of them playing onstage. Well, without an audience, there's just not the same vibe as a real live show. I took the shots they requested, but felt like there was room for something more creative. So I asked the band to go upstairs into the dingy old billiard room and gather around the pool table. I liked the mood created by the small tungsten lights hanging from the ceiling, so I didn't add any supplemental lighting. A few puffs of smoke from a band member's cigarette floated across the table, and I had the shot that ended up being everyone's favorite.

Natural Light

2010-05-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

Every time I shoot an event at The Athenaeum in Pasadena, I'm blown away by the gorgeous late-afternoon light that pours through the columns & panels into the courtyard. This shot is from an event there last night.

Final Wedding (Really!)

2010-05-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

So, after nearly 3 years of a self-imposed retirement from wedding photography, and about 1-1/2 years since I agreed to just one more, I have shot my final wedding! I agreed to take this one on for Brianne & Garrett because I've worked with Brianne's family in the past and she just wasn't willing to allow anyone else to document her special day. I couldn't say no. With the help of a fantastic second photographer, Will Cole, we had a great time and captured some terrific moments throughout the day. Here are a few favorites:

Trombonist

2010-04-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

I recently photographed students at an inner-city high school for an upcoming presentation. This kid playing the trombone is about as cool as cool can be.

Megan

2010-04-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to photograph a tall, beautiful high school senior recently and we had a great time during our photo shoot. Megan has all the ingredients to make a top model, but she's focused on graduating from high school and moving on to college to study business administration. Best wishes, Megan!

Palm Springs Photo Festival 2010

2010-04-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

This is my second year attending this great event in the desert. There's so much to learn and the opportunity to see other photographer's work is a cool way to be inspired. Throughout the week, there are workshops, seminars, contests, presentations, portfolio reviews and parties. It's an annual event, so if you missed it this time, put it on your calendar for 2011.

Opening reception at the Korakia Pensione.

Joel Meyerowitz, left and Jeff Dunas. Meyerowitz is a well-known photographer and author who was instrumental in getting color photography accepted as a valid medium and also photographed the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Dunas is the director of the Palm Springs Photo Festival and a published fine art photographer.

Courtyard at the Palm Springs Art Museum

Party & wine tasting after the evening presentation at the Palm Springs Art Museum

Palm Springs Photo Festival volunteers, Duc and Linda.

Graduating Soon. . .

2010-03-23T14:55:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed a cool photo shoot recently with Scottie for his high school grad portraits. This guy is talented (musician), smart (going to college), good looking (has a cute girlfriend), comes from a great family (his dad is a pastor) and just has "success" written all over his future.

Nikon update

2010-03-06T18:31:00.001-08:00

A couple of months ago, I posted here about switching systems from Canon to Nikon. Now that I've had some time to adjust to the change, I wanted to share some insight with you, especially those who are also considering a similar move to Nikon. I'm going to focus on the differences in the cameras involved: The Nikon D3 and the Canon 1D Mark IIn. These are both professional DSLR (digital single lens reflex) workhorse camera bodies. The D3 is newer and so is more advanced, and has a 12 megapixel sensor, vs. the 8 megapixel 1D IIn. But I'm not concerned with "pixel-peeping" here. This is about observations in the use, handling and overall thoughts on the look of the images straight out of the camera.
INITIAL REACTION
When I first picked up the D3, it had a very solid feel of quality. It's a relatively large camera body & somewhat heavy, but that's the feel I want from a pro level DSLR. It has a nice, tactile grip and I've always been a fan of vertical shutter release so that your hand is in basically the same position whether shooting in landscape or portrait orientation. The buttons and knobs are large and well-marked, and for the most part, easily accessed. But my first reaction was that I liked the feel of the Canon body better. I'm sure part of that reaction was due to the fact that I had shot with Canon for nearly 20 years. But the placement of the controls and the large rear control dial on Canon really felt better, especially in the vertical (or portrait) position. I noticed that the stretch of my thumb to the dial on Canon was much more comfortable than on Nikon, which requires a longer reach to the multi-selector dial (in the vertical position). This made it more difficult with Nikon to quickly scroll through the AF selection points when going from landscape to portrait. It's still something that I'm not completely comfortable with and it could just be a matter of time before I come to "grips" with it. Something else that jumped out at me on the D3 is the beautiful 3" LCD monitor on the back. It really helps in reviewing images and setting controls to have a nice large high resolution screen. And, to go along with it, the center button of the multi-selector dial can be set to zoom in during playback for a quick close-up to check focus.
FOCUS
One of my issues with Canon was the low-light focusing capability. It just seemed to struggle when light levels dipped to evening/night levels. So I was thrilled when I noticed how quickly the D3 latched onto the subject in low light. Very fast and very accurate. The flip side is that the D3 does have difficulty with low contrast subjects. It really needs some distinct contrast or it will hunt for focus. I'm sure part of this is due to the fact that not all of the AF sensors are the crosshair type, so if I'm using an AF point outside of the 15 crosshair sensors, focusing will not be quite as responsive under certain conditions.
HIGH ISO
I've never shot with a camera that produces a cleaner image at high ISO settings than the D3. Even at 3200-6400, files are pretty darn smooth considering the ability it's giving you to shoot in dim lighting. I love that Nikon kept this pro body full-frame sensor at 12 megapixels, which allows it to maintain very low noise while pushing the ISO up. This was another issue that concerned me with Canon. Every new body pushed the megapixel limits of cropped sensors, unless you go up to the 1Ds series, which retail for about $8,000. More megapixels is not always the best solution to better image quality. There are other factors involved.
FLASH
There seems to be a general consensus that Nikon has the superior flash system. I tend to agree and have been very impressed with the consistency of the flash. I was equally impressed with the build quality (SB-900) and that Nikon includes a diffuser and color correction filters with their top level speedlights. However, at close distances, Canon handles flash exposure more accurately. The Nikon, when in tight, tends to overexpose.
LENSES
Another industry consensus is that Canon makes better prime lenses, while Nikon's fast zoom lineup is tough to beat. For the work I do, I prefer a couple of fast (f2.8) zooms, like the 24-70 and 70-200, instead of an arsenal of prime lenses. So I'm quite happy with the quality and performance of the Nikon lenses. The image quality produced by Nikon optics is outstanding.
IMAGE QUALITY
This is certainly a subjective area. To my eye, Canon produces a slightly warmer and straight-out-of-the-camera sharper image than Nikon. But Nikon's colors are so beautiful and seem to render a more film-like color quality. Nikon also takes a less aggressive approach to in-camera sharpening. So, initially, the images may appear a bit soft, but really only require the photographer to add sharpening in post-production to suit his or her needs or preferences. I also noticed that Nikon exposures are a bit lighter than what I was used to with Canon and I've begun to appreciate the shadow detail more apparent with Nikon image files.
MISC.
-I miss the small lug at the bottom of the Canon grip which allowed a hand strap to be attached without having to use the tripod socket as a connector. Nikon does not have this feature, so a connector plate must be attached first, adding bulk.
-Canon handles strong backlit conditions much better. Nikon underexposes way too far in similar situations.
-Nikon's auto white balance does a better overall job in most lighting conditions.
-Batteries get a lot more mileage from Nikon.
-The sound of the mirror slapping open & closed during exposure on Nikon is classic.
-I love all the customization options to tailor my D3 to my shooting style. But I'm really a minimalist and would love a pro camera body with fewer bells & whistles, scaled down to the bare necessities. Sometimes, technology just gets in the way.
CONCLUSION
One system is not better than the other. They both offer professional gear and there are strengths & weaknesses in both Canon and Nikon systems, so there are trade-offs either way. My personal preferences and shooting style prompted me to make a difficult decision to switch over to Nikon. To be honest, at first I really thought I had made a bad decision. But it was mainly because I had grown so comfortable with Canon and there was a learning curve in getting acclimated with different controls on new tools. But as I became more familiar with Nikon, I gained confidence in not only the camera system, but in my decision to make the switch. I had actually been a Nikon shooter many years ago. My suggestion is. . .if you're comfortable with your system, don't switch. It's an expensive move and the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side. But if you really find yourself longing for a different feel and see some real benefits in another system, then do what's best for your photography. The bottom line is that the camera isn't creative. It's only a tool to help you create your images.

Sports Photography Exhibit

2010-03-05T12:34:00.001-08:00

The current show at The Annenberg Space for Photography in Century City is a real winner! It features the work of Walter Iooss and Neil Leifer, two of the greatest sports photographers ever. These guys created amazing images, mostly in the era of film and manual focus/exposure cameras & lenses. Highly recommended, but go soon. . .it ends on March 14th.

High Tech Radiology

2010-02-15T09:36:00.000-08:00

From a recent shoot in the radiology department of a local hospital. A green filter was added over the off-camera flash to add some drama and a high-tech feel. Background remained unlit to keep the mood in that dim florescent state.

Teacher

2010-01-28T18:27:00.000-08:00

I had a photo shoot this morning at an elementary school, and had the pleasure of watching this amazing teacher captivate her students with her teaching methods. She used a lot of rhymes and catchy phrasing to get the key points across and it worked really well. She was so enthusiastic (without being annoying) that you could see in the children's faces that they wanted to learn.

Vineyard

2010-01-18T12:50:00.000-08:00

A busy weekend of photography work took me from Pasadena to Santa Monica, ending with a photo shoot yesterday on a vineyard in Paso Robles. I'm so thankful for the jobs that come in and I appreciate the people I have the opportunity to work with.

Nikon

2010-01-07T08:26:00.000-08:00

It's the beginning of a New Year and I'm starting over. With my camera system. After nearly 20 years as a Canon shooter, I've made what has been an agonizing decision to switch over to Nikon. (I should say switch back to Nikon because that's what I used B.C. - Before Canon). The reason the decision was so difficult is due to the fact that I really like Canon equipment and have become very comfortable with it. So why the switch? Well, there have been some auto-focus issues that I've worked around over the years. But, more recently, I've been waiting for Canon to produce a pro camera body on a full-frame sensor, without excessive megapixels. Each new Canon release has been with higher megapixel counts - mostly on cropped sensors - making for larger image files and more storage space requirements. High resolution is a good thing, in many instances, but not the most important factor. I think you reach a point of diminishing returns, but Canon kept cramming these sensors with more light-gathering photo sites. Meanwhile, Nikon has gradually built up their pro camera bodies to offer more of what I'm looking for: a full-frame sensor while keeping the megapixels at a more moderate level, which makes for a cleaner (less visible "noise") image, especially in low light situations. They also make an unbeatable system of fast pro zoom lenses, along with a better flash system. Is Nikon better than Canon? No. They are both outstanding. It's just that Nikon offers a better arsenal of gear for my needs as a photographer. I wanted Canon to build the camera I was hoping for. But Nikon built it instead. The D3, pictured here. I ordered some equipment last month and have been learning my way around the controls and handling of Nikon cameras and accessories. I hope to post a follow up here in the future to share some insights into my experience with the switch. Stay tuned. . .

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

Here we go again. Did 2009 really last a whole year? Sure doesn't seem like it. . .it went bye so fast. Let's hope & pray for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T10:40:00.001-08:00

Best wishes to all for a very Merry Christmas. The real celebration of this special day is the birth of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. Sometimes it's hard to see beyond the glitz and stress of the holiday season. But strip away all the excess, and the true Spirit of Christmas will be revealed.

Maternity

2009-12-19T09:53:00.000-08:00

Another busy week ended with a photo shoot at a local hospital to add new public relations images from the maternity and labor & delivery departments. This one is of a newborn with her loving parents.

Dessert

2009-12-05T18:16:00.000-08:00

One of the many desserts on the buffet tables last night at an event I photographed in Pasadena at the Langham Hotel. Mmmmm.

Snack Shop

2009-11-20T16:56:00.001-08:00

Whenever I photograph schools for their websites, the images are generally design elements needed to build their site, along with the usual student/teacher shots. But today I'll give some recognition to the behind-the-scenes assistants and volunteers. In this case, the women who provide service with a smile at the snack shop of a private elementary school.

Location Lighting Seminar

2009-11-07T11:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I attended a Location Lighting seminar by Joe McNally, a very well-respected photographer & author whose resume includes Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, Life Magazine, and many more. This guy has so much experience with quick lighting setups in tough situations. And he demonstrated his skills in live-action photo shoots on stage. I always come away with something new that I can put into place in my own work.

Photography Contest

2009-11-05T15:30:00.000-08:00

I was honored to be chosen by the Reflections art program at a local elementary school to be a judge for their photography contest. The photography was divided into Kindergarten-2nd grade, and 3rd-5th grade entries and I was really impressed with the prints presented to meet this year's theme of "Beauty is". Each print had to be judged and awarded points in three different categories. The most difficult part was not being able to award every child with a prize. They all did a terrific job and I hope that they continue to improve their skills in photography.

Warm & Fuzzy!

2009-11-02T16:52:00.001-08:00

One of the final weddings I photographed two years ago before shifting my photography focus to other areas was just an absolute blast of a wedding day with Lindsay & Rusty. We had such a great time and it really showed in the images. We have kept in touch and I even shot a "Trash the Dress" session with them last year. Well, all this time later and out of the blue I received the best email message a photographer can hope to receive from a client. Here it is:

Hey Chris,
I was just looking through all of our pictures because someone asked me for a few. I was reminded of all the fun we had with you while taking our engagement pictures and how much fun our wedding was. I think that this is the greatest compliment to your pictures. You have an amazing ability to capture the moment and what was happening and at the same time make it this beautiful, artistic, and timeless. I am very sad for all the couples who will never have your pictures of their wedding while at the same time so happy that we do. You are an amazing photographer. Thanks for the memories....Can't wait to make more.
Lots of love, and glad we have such a talented friend with a great family.
love
Linz and Rus

I am so grateful! Thank you both from the bottom of my heart.

Model Headshot

2009-10-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

I love working with models. They are comfortable in front of the camera, don't require much direction and are willing to work early in the morning for the best light. Kali wanted some new headshots for her portfolio, so we set up a photo shoot and had a great time getting the shots she needs. This is one of my favorites.

Royal Treatment

2009-10-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

I'm fortunate to be a professional photographer. I love what I do and have had the privilege of working with some really great people. But sometimes, clients go out of their way to make me feel appreciated. At an event I photographed this week at Brookside Golf Club in Pasadena, not only were my contacts polite and accommodating, but they invited me to sit at their table and enjoy dinner with them. They checked with me to make sure I had finished eating before resuming the event and then at the end of the evening told me what a pleasure it was to work with me. Wow! I should be the one thanking them for giving me the opportunity to shoot for them. It was a great reminder to always treat others the way that I would like to be treated.

Food & Wine Festival

2009-10-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

It's a pleasure to be involved with the Fall Food & Wine Festival in Pasadena, now in its 25th year. This is really a great event and a nice fundraiser for the trauma center of a local hospital.

Sushi

2009-10-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

An event that I photographed on Sunday night had a nice selection of munchies, including sushi set out next to a mini tower of chopsticks.

L.A. County Fair

2009-09-30T21:27:00.000-07:00

My family & I made our annual visit to the L.A. County Fair today and I decided to indulge in a delicious funnel cake with strawberries and whipped cream. Mmmmm!

Keyboardist

2009-09-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

This is from an event I photographed last night. Check out the tie!

Hampton Inn

2009-09-17T16:55:00.000-07:00

I traveled up to Elk Grove, California (near Sacramento) to photograph some commercial property for a client on Monday & Tuesday. When I checked into the Hampton Inn, they were out of standard rooms, so I got a free upgrade to a suite! What a nice, clean room. Very comfortable and roomy. And there was a good full breakfast buffet waiting for me downstairs in the morning. Thumbs up to Hampton Inn! I'd definitely stay there again.

Bouncing Light

2009-09-11T11:16:00.001-07:00

I photographed an event this week for the National Charity League Juniors. They asked for a few informal group shots. Since I did not bring studio lighting with me, I looked for a spot where a small light (Canon flash) could be bounced into a white area to create a larger light source for a group photo. I stood on a low stage with a projector screen hanging on the wall behind me, swiveled my on-camera flash to point directly at the screen, and created this portrait with nice even lighting. While I would prefer to bring in light more from the side, the large white screen worked very well in this situation.

Blue Panther

2009-09-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

The elementary school that I photographed this morning for their website has a panther as their mascot. But, this isn't just any panther and it does look familiar. That's because the artist who created the Pink Panther had a grandchild who attended this school many years ago and he re-created his famous panther as the school mascot. . .but in blue.

Final Beam

2009-08-27T16:09:00.000-07:00

The Huntington Hospital is in the midst of an $80 million expansion to their emergency department. On Monday, construction crews lowered the final steel beam into place and the hospital P.R. department held a small ceremony to commemorate the event. Completion of the expansion is expected by December of next year. It was a pleasure to be there and photograph the festivities.

California Philharmonic

2009-08-09T20:43:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to photograph the California Philharmonic Orchestra last night as part of the "Festival on the Green" summer concert series at the Arboretum. It was Movie Magic night, so they played several pieces from movie soundtracks. My family was able to enjoy the concert and a picnic dinner while I photographed the event. Great evening under the stars in Arcadia.

Beat the Heat

2009-08-06T22:01:00.000-07:00

It was nice to have some time this afternoon to cool off at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center. Swimming a few laps really felt good!

Youth Boxing

2009-08-02T18:28:00.000-07:00

I had never photographed organized boxing before, so I was pretty excited to shoot at the Duarte Youth Boxing Show yesterday. The event was governed by USA Boxing and showcased the talents of amateur boxers ranging from age 9 to mid 20s. This image is of two 9 year olds in the first bout of the day. I was really impressed with their skill and quickness.

The End of a Busy Week

2009-07-25T21:09:00.000-07:00

I'm grateful for all the work that came in this week, but I'm glad it's over. A long, busy week is finished and I can take a little break from the action. One of the events I photographed was at Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena. It was outdoors and it was hot! But as the sun went down, it cooled off nicely and this shot really captured the mood of the evening.

Alive

2009-07-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a series of images for a local hospital that will tell stories about lives that have been saved by skilled medical staff and emergency procedures. This image of Tom (which I shot against the garage at his home) is not the one chosen for the ad, but I think it fit the mood of the story. Tom had a heart attack in the stands at a football game. Paramedics treated him at the scene and rushed him to the hospital, where a cardiologist was able to open the blocked artery and save Tom's life. Pretty intense. It makes me wonder. . .are you appreciating every moment of your life?

Catholic Schools

2009-07-10T08:26:00.001-07:00

I recently photographed two very large Catholic high schools in south Orange County for their websites. They both have beautiful sprawling campuses and have pumped a lot of money into new additions. One of them spent $110 million dollars on a brand new athletic facility!

Dodgers

2009-07-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

We went to the Dodgers-Rockies game on Monday and Andre Ethier hit a 13th inning home run to win it for the Dodgers. It was one of those perfect nights for a baseball game in L.A. My sons even managed to get themselves on the giant video screen! Of course, like typical L.A. fans, we left early (after 11 innings) and missed the game winning hit. Here's a couple of shots I took from the first row of the reserve level. I've always liked the way the infield is groomed by the grounds crew. Pretty cool.

Looking Ahead

2009-06-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

I photographed Ricky on the afternoon of his high school graduation. Something that made this photo session special is that a family friend generously offered to pay for the photography as a gift, and it was done anonymously. This is a shot that his father suggested because he wanted to see Ricky "looking ahead", into his life after high school.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

2009-06-14T21:01:00.000-07:00

The Lakers have done it again! They have won the NBA championship for the 15th time in franchise history by beating Orlando, 4 games to one. Kobe Bryant not only won his fourth title, but also took home the MVP award for the championship series. Congratulations, Lakers!

Photo by Getty Images

On a sidenote, the celebration in L.A. began tonight shortly after the Lakers won in Orlando, Florida. Crowds developed in different parts of Los Angeles in what should be a fun time for Lakers fans. But, of course, the loser thugs who manage to crawl out like roaches and try to riot instead of celebrate have once again crashed the party. Is it really necessary to throw rocks & trash cans, light fires, fight and try to overturn police vehicles? I would love it if L.A.'s police chief gave the OK to open fire on these idiots.

3 Pointer

2009-06-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

Derek Fisher of the Lakers made a memorable 3 point shot with 4.6 seconds left in last night's game to tie the score and send the game into overtime, where the Lakers went on to defeat Orlando and take a 3-1 series lead for the NBA championship. GO LAKERS!

Photo by Wally Skalij, L.A. Times

Olvera Street

2009-06-11T16:36:00.000-07:00

My family & I recently took the Gold Line train into L.A. and visited Olvera Street. Something that is not lacking there is color. Bright, vivid color. These little guitars are a good example of the color explosion that hits you while walking through this Los Angeles landmark.

Amanda

2009-05-29T15:48:00.000-07:00

Amanda is so close to graduating from high school that she can almost taste it! She was very comfortable and candid in front of the camera, so it made my job a breeze. Best wishes, Amanda, for success in whatever you decide to do after graduation.

Stained Glass

2009-05-24T20:03:00.000-07:00

One of the schools I recently photographed for their website is a Catholic school in Huntington Beach. The stained glass in the church sanctuary is some of the coolest I've seen, including this unique panel of a surfer!

Home Tour

2009-05-09T10:39:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I photographed both the preparation and event day of the Altadena Guild Home Tour. There were 4 homes on the tour and it was fun to be the official photographer since no other photography was allowed at these private residences. Here's a few images, with a couple of my favorite outdoor lounge areas.

Horse Show

2009-05-05T19:26:00.001-07:00

The 88th Children's Horse Show took place recently in La Canada and it was a pretty cool event to photograph because, along with the usual riding & jumping competitions, the children got to dress up and have fun on the first day of the show. Here's a few of the different costumes the riders wore.

Old Building

2009-04-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

I photographed a very cool old building in Pasadena last week. The property management company will be using the images to entice potential tenants to the building's offices. The detail in the original construction at this location is incredible.

Middle School Boxing

2009-04-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

This was a first for me. I've photographed many schools for website development over the past few years, but I've never worked at a school that taught boxing to middle school students. I couldn't believe it! I mean, it was cool to watch and photograph. The boys were supervised, wore protective headgear and were having fun, but these are young children and I was surprised to see this type of physical education. . .pre-high school, outdoors on a dirt field. Wow.

Volunteers

2009-04-22T17:43:00.000-07:00

This image is of a volunteer. Someone who gives generously of her time to help others. She was honored recently along with hundreds of others, ranging in age from 15 to 97, at a local hospital that greatly appreciates the thousands of hours its volunteers put in each year. I learned a lot about their dedication just by being there to photograph the event. They were treated to some great food & drinks, along with the recognition they deserve. Congratulations!

Engagement Session

2009-04-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

Engagement Session? Does that mean I'm also going to be shooting this couple's wedding? Yes, it does! Officially, I am no longer shooting weddings. When Brianne first told me last year that she wanted me to be her photographer, my defenses went up. But she was familiar with my photography from work I'd done for her family, and said that she and her fiance Garrett would like me to come out of "retirement" for one more wedding. All she asked at the time was that I just think about it. Fine, I'll think about it. And she gave me the space of a few months to think. I suggested she consider her second choice, just in case. Her reply was, "I don't have a second choice." In her subtle relentlessness, she somehow persuaded me to agree to document their special day. The wedding isn't until next year, but we did the engagement session last Saturday and we had a great time! As you can see, Brianne chose a cool, retro style baby-blue dress and it was the perfect complement to her pretty baby face. Garrett went with the classic never-out-of-style jeans & t-shirt and this couple looked terrific together. Brianne & Garrett. . .thank you for choosing me.
I'm honored.

Freedom Concert

2009-04-08T14:56:00.001-07:00

Saturday evening, I photographed the largest event I've ever been hired to shoot - The Freedom Concert. Presented by Robert & Denise Zeilstra, this 2000 guest party at the brand new Grand Ballroom of the Pasadena Convention honored the men and women who protect our country. Military, police and firefighters were treated to dinner and entertainment as a great "thank you" for their service. Celebrity guests and musical artists entertained the crowd throughout the evening and everyone had a great time. Fellow photographer Serena Montenegro helped me with the event coverage. There are a few images posted here, but if you'd like to see more, click here to view the Slideshow.

LPGA

2009-04-07T11:12:00.000-07:00

While in Palm Springs for the photography festival, I also had an opportunity to photograph the celebrity pro-am round of the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship. It's a great day to attend because of the loose atmosphere prior to the actual tournament.
It was a gorgeous day in the desert!

NFL legend Franco Harris.

Paula Creamer, one of the cutest pros on tour.

And another cutie, Natalie Gulbis (getting a hug from Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger), who is also on this season's Celebrity Apprentice TV show.

Palm Springs Photo Festival

2009-04-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

The Palm Springs Photo Festival describes itself as "an intense week-long event for Professional, Emerging and Serious Advanced Amateur Photographers". This is the first year that I've attended, and even though it was only for two days, it was a great experience. There's so much going on - from classes and workshops to portfolio reviews and presentations. The festival base is at the Korakia Pensione Hotel, where the sponsor suites are set up to share knowledge and introduce their products.
I had the opportunity to check out a yet-to-be-released camera. The brand new Leica S Series features the S2 camera body. It's a medium format digital SLR in the body of a 35 mm camera. The Leica reps just received two of these working prototype cameras from Germany, along with 4 new lenses. Not only was I able to handle and shoot with this new system, but I was allowed to photograph it, too. I have to say that it is not only the most gorgeous camera body I've ever seen, but it's crafted in a way that it just molds to your hand. The controls are laid out in a very cool minimalist way and it appears to be built like a tank. Leica is legendary for the quality of their cameras & lenses. The S system will be very expensive when it becomes available later this year, and while it won't be for everyone, it will be a hot topic of conversation in the photography world.

March Madness

2009-03-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

The greatest basketball tournament in the world is in full swing as the annual NCAA March Madness invitational soars through 2nd round action this weekend. It's such a fast & frenzied paced series, with many games decided on the final shot, that you would enjoy it even if you're not a big basketball fan. One team out of 64 will eventually "cut down the nets" as the champions!

High School

2009-03-11T16:48:00.000-07:00

Wow. . .it seems like a month just passed in the blink of an eye! So, it's time to post something new.
I had the pleasure of photographing one of Southern California's great high schools this morning in preparation for their new website, which is about to begin production. I was very impressed with the time and effort that the Mater Dei staff put into planning the photo shoot, and it really made my time there go so smoothly. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished website in the next month or so.

Surfmobile

2009-02-09T17:29:00.000-08:00

This is not the best quality image I've ever made, but considering it was shot through a dirty windshield with a cell phone camera while driving 70 mph on the freeway in a light rain, it falls within the "acceptable" category. Anyway, this big old station wagon carrying an enormous surfboard and driven by what appeared to be a 300 lb. Jerry Garcia look-alike just had to be photographed. Surf's up, man!

Big School

2009-01-26T13:26:00.000-08:00

I photographed a huge middle school in the San Fernando Valley this morning for their new website. With enrollment at about 2200, they are currently over their capacity by about 600 and have to bus some students to nearby schools. Though this image only shows a few of the early arriving students, the campus is a shining example of overcrowding in our school system. And despite the best efforts of teachers and administrators, there's just not enough individual attention available.

Morning Workout

2009-01-12T18:54:00.000-08:00

The early morning workouts at Santa Anita Race Track are pretty fun to watch and a great place to photograph interesting subject matter. It was a picture-perfect day, but I really liked this pre-dawn image of a speeding grey thoroughbred shot with a slow shutter speed to capture some movement. I think it has an almost ghostly appearance.

Inspired

2009-01-02T12:30:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure why, but I'm always inspired to get out and shoot when there's fog. Something about the mood it creates. So I got up early this morning and searched for some local subject matter that would look cool in the fog. (These were shot mostly with my lensbaby to really enhance the moodiness.)

USC Football

2008-12-31T10:34:00.000-08:00

I took my sons yesterday to the USC campus to watch the Trojans football team practice for their upcoming Rose Bowl game against Penn State. We were fortunate after the practice to meet Coach Pete Carroll and get a quick photograph with him. Fight On!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T10:45:00.001-08:00

I have to admit that I was feeling like Charlie Brown this Christmas season. The fast-paced, worldly & commercialized version of this special holiday really got to me. I felt the stress and strain many people feel this time each year, and especially this year because of the economy and constant barrage of bad news. The Spirit of Christmas seemed to be pushed aside. Jesus has been squeezed out of his own birthday celebration. Christ has been taken out of Christmas. It has become X-mas. I heard more "Happy Holidays" greetings than "Merry Christmas". If you're a Christian, you realize how sad this is. On the other hand, I understand the true meaning of Christmas and I'm grateful for the gift God sent us - a Savior. Jesus was born to save us from our own sins. . .to re-establish a personal connection with God. He loves us! And that's the greatest gift of all.
So, look past the glitzy facade and materialism today. There is a deeper, more spiritual meaning to this day. May you find peace in your heart and a spring in your step, just like Charlie Brown did after hearing what Christmas is all about.

Private Party

2008-12-18T11:09:00.000-08:00

A recent private event that I photographed at The Langham Pasadena had an amazing buffet of desserts, which included a flowing chocolate fountain. This was in addition to the delicious dinner they served, and it appeared that many guests ate lightly at dinner to sample all the great sweets. Have you ever had a chocolate snobinette?

Christmas House

2008-12-14T16:34:00.000-08:00

I've been busy, so I'm going to try catching up over the next few days. I was recently hired by an interior designer to photograph a Victorian home she decorated for a special Christmas home tour. Every room had something different and the details were incredible. Here's a couple of images.

New Blog

2008-12-03T13:35:00.000-08:00

In response to a recent story in the L.A. Times Sports about the lack of identity for former Los Angeles Rams football players, I decided to start a blog to hear from Rams fans. It's off to a good start! If you are (or were) a fan of the Rams, please visit and share your comments.
Check it out here:
REMEMBER THE RAMS

Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T21:10:00.000-08:00

It's at the end of the day on Thanksgiving and I'm so grateful for my family. We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving dinner, prepared with love by my wife and everything was delicious. I'm happy to say that I even left some room for dessert this year!