FRP Journal

Category: Uncategorized

  • New Project – Aerial Landscapes

    I’ve embarked on a new personal project. It’s actually a mashup of an existing project and a new tool in my kit. The new tool is a drone, and the existing project is my Americana series. While I don’t see this as a continuation of that existing body of work, it’s still early days.  

    I love travel and exploration. When I’m on the road I’m happiest far from the interstates or main thoroughfares. Give me a byway or back road any day. That’s where my Americana series has lived for the better part of 2 decades. The through line to this new body of work is a curiosity of humankind’s interaction and imprint on earth’s natural landscape.

    I’ve been flying as much as possible lately to log hours and practice. Recently, I noticed I’m gravitating to an old familiar subject matter – quirky or unique occasions where humans have inserted their stamp onto the natural landscape.  

    I’ve noticed this new perspective lends itself to the subject matter I was exploring in my Americana series. It’s different, but I like what I’m seeing so far. There’s something magical that happens as the camera lifts from the ground and the wide expanse opens up. It reminds me of the same feeling of anticipation I’d get in the darkroom as a black and white print would start to emerge in the tray. In both cases, I know generally what’s coming, but that doesn’t diminish the magic of the reveal. 

    I’m at the point where I want to revisit some of the original locations I shot from the ground. I want to see how the aerial perspective changes the mood or impact of the images.  

    The aerial perspective has also got me thinking about subjects that didn’t necessarily work from the ground. Urban sprawl is a great example. I always found it difficult to convey this concept from the ground. The image here of Koko Crater on Oahu and the hint of the housing development in the foreground is exactly what I’ve always seen in my mind’s eye, but could never convey from a ground perspective.  

    I think these images are an interesting start to a new phase of this project.  

    Let me know what you think?

    Koko Crater, east side

    Salinas River, San Ardo Oil Field

    South Bay Salt Works

    Koko Crater, west side

  • Getting Around Honolulu

    Getting Around Honolulu

    I love Honolulu. There’s something about it that reminds me of New Orleans, where I lived and worked for a decade. It’s overgrown, hot & humid, unkempt in places. I love that about both cities. It also shares a quirkiness with New Orleans. It’s more subtle. New Orleans tends to wear its freak flag on its sleeve, but you don’t need to look too deep to notice island life has its own unique style. Take personal transportation. The forms and sizes are varied. Personal style expressed via helmets, or not, flip flops, shorts, and even the vehicle themselves.

  • Photography assignments during a pandemic

    Since mid March all my photography assignments and commissions have dealt with the pandemic in one way or another.  Gigs were non-existent over the first several months of the pandemic as everyone tried to figure it all out.  But soon after, jobs began to trickle in. 

    Some clients wanted (or needed) to lean into the pandemic, using its visual cues as story, design and compositional elements.  Those jobs tended to be editorial assignments telling the story of the times.  

    There were also commissions I shot where I had to make everything (and everyone) look normal, while following strict pandemic safety protocols behind the scenes.  

    Surprisingly, most BioTech went dormant, unless they had a direct connection to Covid-19.  Labs were being shuttered, thankfully only temporarily. 

    For me, it’s been an interesting year.  Assignments have been challenging, but equally rewarding.   

    Here are a few of those Covid related projects I’ve worked on over the last several months.  

    Larry and his wife Cherie tested positive for Covid-19 early in the pandemic. They made a full recovery though still suffered some lingering symptoms. We photographed the couple in (from outside) their home for Scripps Health.

    Larry and his wife Cherie tested positive for Covid-19 early in the pandemic. They made a full recovery though still suffered some lingering symptoms. We photographed the couple in (from outside) their home for Scripps Health.

    One of the first assignments I shot coming out of the lockdown was a portrait if Michael Mohr of Mohr Financial Group for CityWire out of the UK. Michael tested positive for Covid-19 at the end of March. I shot this by myself, without crew at a time when we were still uncertain about transmission. This “socially distanced” portrait, shot in early May, acknowledged the worldwide uncertainty and angst prevalent at that time.

    One of the first assignments I shot coming out of the lockdown was an editorial portrait of Michael Mohr, Mohr Financial Group, for CityWire out of the UK. Michael tested positive for Covid-19 at the end of March. I shot this by myself, without crew, at a time when we were still uncertain about transmission. This “socially distanced” portrait, shot in early May, acknowledged the worldwide uncertainty and angst prevalent at that time.

    Local client Anderson Plumbing Heating & Air needed to reassure their clients that they were still open for business and taking all precautions to keep both their clients and their employees safe given the new normal.

  • Back to the Streets – PetCo Park

    The MLB regular season wrapped last night. Playoffs start tomorrow. Until then, a couple of images from the last Padres night game for the 2019 season.

  • Back to the Streets – The Beach

    Things quiet down a lot around here after Labor Day. I suppose that’s true for most cities. The kids head back to school. Summer vacations are over. However, the weather doesn’t suddenly flip over the Labor Day weekend. Especially here in Southern California. In San Diego the weather remains warm and inviting into November. Some would argue year round. Post Labor Day is the perfect time to head back to the beach. Warm winds and chill vibes.