A Photo Assistant\'s Grip Kit | A Photo Assistant

A Photo Assistant's Grip Kit | A Photo Assistant

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Photo School, or Not? | A Photo Assistant

Photo School, or Not? | A Photo Assistant

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Why You Need to Diversify Your Presence as a Photo Assistant on the Web | A Photo Assistant

Why You Need to Diversify Your Presence as a Photo Assistant on the Web | A Photo Assistant

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White-out

Took a walk today, exercising my new "Walk-by" project, in which I take haphazard, spontaneous snapshots with my digital point-and-shoot. I love it! It really gets you thinking about photography in ways I never imagined, especially when I see an image like this. Today was a beautiful fall day, probably 60+ degrees, and yet, in this photo, you'd think it was the middle of January in Minneapolis.

Spoonbridge

Spoonbridge is the main attraction at The Walker Art Center's Sculpture Garden.

Fill the Boot

Today I went for a long bike ride. I had just returned home from the DMV after failing my written test to get my MN driver’s license, as my CA DL is about to expire in a few weeks. I couldn’t believe some of the stupid questions that were on the test. I would rank Minnesota’s test even more stupid than California’s! So, anyway, I decided to forget my driving woes, grabbed my point and shoot and jumped on my bike.

It happened that it was rush hour, so I took the Greenway east into the heart of the Twin Cities. I decided to get off on the surface streets to see if I could find something interesting to shoot. A few minutes later, I came to a busy intersection where some firefighters were running around in stopped traffic. As I got closer, I could see they were actually walking down two lanes of cars taking donations for Jerry’s Kids. It kinda gave me a warm fuzzy seeing our Minneapolis firefighters making a huge contribution to helping the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. It’s all part of the Fill the Boot campaign that Minneapolis and many other firefighter unions across the country are participating in to help Jerry’s Kids.

The driver in the truck above surprised firefighter Linda from Minneapolis Fire Station No. 7 with a $100 donation! Now that’s what I call filling the boot!

Surfing in Minnesota?

For a few weeks now, I have been wanting to photograph the windsurfers on Lake Calhoun , but every time I’ve had the chance, there’s been little or no wind. Finally, this afternoon, the winds were whipping up good on the lake. So I grabbed my sandals and headed on over to the beach.

The Lakes, as they are affectionately called by Minneapolitans, are at the heart of South Minneapolis where sailors, bikers, rollerbladers, runners, and parkway cruisers are plentiful. When there is a good wind, you can find the boaters and windsurfers going crazy out on the water. Lake Calhoun is the only lake I have seen windsurfers, since nearby Lake Harriet and Lake of the Isles are a bit more sheltered and not near as windsurfer-friendly. Actually, there is quite a healthy population of windsurfers who congregate here, and there is seldom a day that goes by when there isn’t at least a couple die-hards out chasing the wind.

Busy, Busy, Busy!

I have spent the last couple weeks working diligently on a few different projects.

First, and foremost, I have been shooting some models/actors for my portfolio. I have been successful finding some models who want head shots and some fun urban/fashion shots for their books also. I have worked with four people thus far and have had some great results.

Secondly, I have the closest thing to an actual working website that I’ve ever had! Yay! Check me out at www.timophoto.com. I’m pleased with the design that I’ve implemented and think it will serve me for some time. I welcome your feedback and comments. Thanks.

I’ve also been shooting some bands, both local and national. The biggest highlight recently was shooting Drowning Pool during their show at The Cabooze. I was also privileged enough to meet Seether at Taste of Minnesota and shoot some production shots for MRTC, as well as some meet and greets for 93X. And, I recently met a local all-girl band called Sick of Sarah who asked me to come into their rehearsal space to shoot some candids for possible use in future publicity and promo shots. Their self-titled CD release party is August 8, also at The Cabooze. I’m really looking forward to getting more involved in shooting some concert performances and hopefully more music stuff in general.

Last, but not least, I have secured a cool little studio space in the Northeast Arts District. Stay tuned for more on that.

Leeza Gibbons - Sheer Cover Photo Shoot

This clip is from a photo shoot I worked on in Hollywood back in April, 2008. Yours truly appears a couple times... and yes, I even have some lines! HA!

It's a toss-up...

Last week I went to the Taste of Minnesota to shoot some production shots of an interview my brother was doing with the band Seether for MRTC. I like this better.

Uptown

Unedited photo.

A Little Kayaking Anyone?

On Saturday I met Dave and Carl. Two kayakers who are making a 1300-mile voyage around Lake Superior in their kayaks. Dave and Karl are from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. They started on their journey May 28th in Thunder Bay, and expect the trip to take approximately two months of continuous, day-to-day paddling. You can learn more about their voyage and follow their progress at www.bigwater08.com.

I talked with Dave on the beach at Split Rock State Park campground, while his fellow paddler Karl had gone off to check on something near the campground. We chatted about their trip, preparations, kayaks, and of course, the weather. Dave was very enthusiastic about the trip thus far, despite some of the inclement weather. Gratefully, however, they had missed all the serious storms since their start, almost two weeks ago. Once Karl returned, I introduced myself and we all talked a little more. It seems Karl has been troubled by a stiff and sore neck, no doubt from all that paddling and the hard ground he’s not accustomed to sleeping on, eh!

I found myself quite envious of these guys who get to take the summer off to paddle around the largest freshwater lake in the world (by surface area).

Day Hill Trail

So, I’m back in Minnesota....

I drove up to the North Shore Friday. For me, it’s like going to church. I find peace, serenity, and good orderly direction in nature.

I first came up the the North Shore with my grandparents when I was a kid. I have so many fond memories of those days. When I see those roadside agate shops and log cabin souvenir stores, I can remember when I visited them for the first time with grandma and grandpa. Those memories are like going home for the holidays for me. Some of the scenery has changed, in the way of those roadside Highway 61 stores and cabins, but the land and the feel of the spirit is the same... just grand.

There’s a rock on the top of Day Hill Trail at Split Rock State Park that I take sanctuary in. I remember visiting Split Rock Lighthouse for the first time with my grandparents, but I don’t really remember if we made the hike to the top of the trail back then. There probably wasn’t even a trail back then, for all I know. I like to sit and take in the view of Split Rock Lighthouse to the north and the majesty of Lake Superior all around me. I can recall all those great memories from my childhood as I soak in the magic of the North Shore. I can feel god touch me and nurture my being as I breath away my troubles of the modern world.

At the top of Day Hill trail is a stone fireplace, just sitting there, all by its lonesome. The story goes, that Frank Day owned the land way back when. He was soon to wed his sweetheart, so he began building their new home. Not long after he had started building, the misses called the wedding off, for some unknown reason. Devastated, Frank halted the construction, and... no one really knows what happened after that. But, the fireplace still stands at the top of Day Hill trail, looking out over Lake Superior, as a testament to all the lonely hearts on the North Shore.