After The Rain

I love the colors that come out after the rain... Rich earthy browns and the subtle greens of new life... The yellow rays of new sunlight contrasted by the pale blue unsoiled sky. The rain washes everything away. If only it could wash away those pollutants in our lives that keep us from doing and being the children that God has made us to be. Those things that keep us from doing the things we really ought. The things we love and those things of virtue that generations past used to know... once. Before technologies and entertainment became God. Well I hope this Christmas we all find time to do the things we love and love the things we do. Bless others and share in God's gift of life creativity & life.
<-My Backyard / My Work's->
Well, I have some rolls of black and white that need processing and a couple of projects I want to start on soon hopefully. Maybe after Christmas I will find the time.
Merry Christmas!!!

A Man With A Story (You Would Love To Hear)

These past two weeks I have had the pleasure of enjoying two great performances by two artists I sincerely love! One I love because their music has changed my perspective on so many things in this world since I discovered them and the other because he is a dear friend and wonderful person, not to mention exceptionally talented entertainer/musician. Haha! That reminds me of the Slashie Awards in the movie Zoolander! Anyways... My friend and musician Lee Koch recently played a show in Long Beach at the dive bar Que Sera (close Serra... but no cigar). It was good to see him and finally congratulate him on completing his first record. BTW - He will be having an album release show in his home town of Ventura on January 10th. So mark your calendars! Well anyways, while we were there my brother and I decided to take some photos and and if things work out Lee may in fact be using one or two of them in his album layout... if we're lucky! ;-) I know, obviously the goal is to get paid to have your work used in a design but nothing really beats being able to help out a friend and musician you believe in through collaboration. Especially on what should be their breakthrough album! I've heard it! It's fantastic!

The other band I saw this past Sunday was the little known Cincinnati sensation Over The Rhine. This is the best band I have ever heard live and by far my favorite band still gracing this world with their graceful presence. We are still working some photos we took at their show so I will tell you all about that when I post them.
So until then, please enjoy these juicy photos taken with our Mamiya C330 of the Talented Troubadour himself, Lee Koch...

New Toys / "I want! I want! I need! I need! Gimme gimme gimme..."

So I have recently discovered what most men in their midlife begin to struggle with. The need for TOYS! But in my case it's not boats, trucks or motorcycles... It's cameras. And instead of midlife it's mid-twenties. Don't get me wrong, I have always enjoyed getting new photography gear and often bought expensive equipment when need. The trouble now is that a lot of the camera's and gear I am lusting after I really don't need! And so I begin to get creative in my mind. I think of all sorts of paper thin excuses of why I NEED a new Rollie or Nikon rangefinder camera. It's not like i buy them or anything. I mean, if I had 3 grand in my bank I might... But no! I tell myself, "No Brandon! Pace yourself! You must spend your money on more important things... Like rent... And food!" It's good to be able to eat...
Recently I was able to convince myself that I did need a camera and bought it. I got an amazing deal too. Meet my new GS645S Fuji rangefinder. Well, he is a little shy but he is not ashamed of his work! Wow! This camera is great! It is lighter than any of my 35mm cameras but it shoots 30 frames medium format on a roll of 220! Basically I get 3 times the resolution per image and it is even more portable than my 35mm setup. So what is the practical need for such a camera you may ask? Family and large group photos at weddings. I can shoot a photo of a group of 20 people and have the ability to see in vivid detail the expression on each and every one of their beautiful smiling faces! This lens is unbelievably sharp too! And for $185 it was a steal!



Hopefully this one will hold me off for a while. At least until Christmas.