Ben Harper!

I'm really not sure if I'm allowed to show these pictures on my blog...b/c the venue had me sign a paper that stated I could not use the images on my website...well, this is my blog...not my website...hahaha! So, Mr. Harper...if your secret investigators snoop out my blog, I want you to know, I really won't profit from this blog post...I mean, perhaps a local band will ask me to shoot their show at some ratty venue...and they will compensate me with unbelievable exposure...as they say...(that's my sarcasm coming through)!

Unto the show....this was one of those nights of "firsts". First, I have never seen Ben Harper live! This was the first time I attended a concert that had assigned seats...and this was the first time I shot a concert!

Thanks to EU and Rachel Best Henley, I was given the opportunity to shoot the show...well, a very small part of the show. The deal is, I had a press pass...a photo press pass...and I could only take pictures for the first 3 songs...and from 2 assigned locations. But it was totally worth it! Thank you Mr. Harper for a good time!

So here's a few pics from the show...I hope everyone is enjoying "the unexpected" that lands on my blog. My blog is like a Cracker Jack's box...it comes with surprises!

Another Massive Slideshow!

Here's all the shots from the Retro shoot a while back...I think it's over 700 frames...again, you can see the shoot in progress...the minor adjustments...and the ridiculous amounts of repetition!

A few things that I've been thinking about:

If you really want to do something or make something happen...

You'll figure out a way to do it. You can't wait for someone to do it for you...you can't wait for your lucky break...it doesn't typically work that way! You have to do it yourself...and then naturally, you'll align yourself with the right people and they'll keep an eye out for you. But it's your passion that will make you succeed!

You have to work REALLY HARD! I mean...REALLY, REALLY HARD!!!

Create your own path...don't copy-cat someone else's path...it won't work...there's too many differing variables!

Don't expect overnight success...that's rare...

Be ready to drop everything you're doing at any given moment to further your progress in whatever you are trying to pursue...and if you are mentoring someone...then you should be super ready to drop anything that's happening to learn more!

Be inspired! Look to someone else (whether online or someone in person or even someone historical) that's doing/did what you want to do...look at their great work...their achievements...and be inspired!

Don't become stagnant...go back to being inspired...your progress should be ever-evolving!

Don't think whatever you are doing is great...there is someone always better than you...way better than you! If you think your work is the best...you will become stagnant...and full of yourself...and no one likes that!

With what was mentioned above...respect your work...enjoy your gift...don't beat yourself up thinking you'll never be that awesome lawyer that all lawyers look up. Respect your achievements within the proper perspective.

With what was mentioned above...again...do learn from your mistakes so that you can improve!

This one is specifically for my photog friends...aspiring photog friends...newbies (which includes me), etc...

You don't need anyone to teach you how to use your camera...or how to use Photoshop, Bridge, or Lightroom...really!

You CAN teach yourself! Grab your camera manual...google something...buy a used Scott Kelby book (his books will teach more about photoshop than you'll ever need to know)...play with the buttons on your camera...read some super outdated forum post...grab your flash or studio strobes...wait until sunset and photograph your friends...or that neat, interesting person you met last week...make mistakes...think about how you can fix your mistakes...look at Chase Jarvis' website or Nick Onken's...and then go out with your friends and try photographing them at sunset again....bring your strobes...and improve...this how you will really learn!

This is for everyone...you have to have PASSION...if you're pursuing whatever you're pursuing to make more $...blah...wrong reason! You need to be passionate...whatever it is that you are trying to do, needs to be pumping in your veins! It needs to be an Organic Pursuit! If you can't live without being a doctor...then you have Passion...and you will be a doctor (hopefully focusing on prevention and holistic approaches)!

Enjoy the slideshow!

The Clothing Warehouse collab shoot from ezra marcos ayala on Vimeo.

Eco-Friendly Fashion Show!

This past Thursday was a first...I photographed a fashion show...typically not my thing...but if it's Eco-Friendly, then I think I can manage!

The fashion show was a collaborative effort. Aura Salon, Aveda, Violet, Sunrise Surf Shop, & Whiskey River put it all together!

What's up with this collage???...today I was putting up a ceiling fan...and it was so technical, so I think this was my subconscious trying to break free from the regimented feel!

A Day in the Life of the Grimsley's Slideshow!

As I promised...the Grimsley's slideshow! This was from a full day of shooting...a real life shoot! I hung-out with the super-cool Grimsley family and documented their day! If you're interested in "A Day in the Life of Shoot," you can get more info here!

Enjoy! And check out the Macs...it's a Mac family!

Music By Ziggy Marley - "I Love You Too".

A Day in the Life of... from ezra marcos ayala on Vimeo.

Cars!

Lately my blogs have been pretty diverse...so here's another...a direct result from my 1950s Retro Shoot. Johnny Angel's Diner has these car shows on a routine basis...so the owner asked if I could snap a few shoots...and here you go! My favorite car is the white & turquoise station wagon! I also got to ride in a souped up Mustang...which only gave me acute anxiety!

Enjoy!

A day in the life of...

During my family sessions, I try to create an environment that will help the family be themselves...to help the family interact with true emotions...but this is always difficult to achieve within a two hour window...in the middle of some park. So I decided to offer "A day in the life shoot" (which should be on the website very soon). A day in the life is exactly how it sounds. It's me living with your family for a day, documenting the things you normally do! It's a photo-documentary of your life...it's really REAL!

[Segue]

Yesterday, I got to live with the Grimsley's! I got there in the morning and caught breakfast and the kids watching Saturday morning cartoons...we walked the neighborhood, went to the Riverside Arts Market (RAM), watched a soccer game, went bowling, played outside, watched TV, ate dinner, cleaned up......ok, you get my point...I really did live with the Grimsley's!

Here's a few shots from the day...I should have a slideshow soon so that you can experience the entire day...enjoy!

Tanya of Southern Charm Events (& family)!

This past Saturday I hung-out with Tanya and her family (by the way, Tanya is a wedding coordinator...visit here )! Tanya's family gathered for the holiday weekend...the kids had an Easter egg hunt...and the rest of the family did what families do...talk, catch-up...oh, and eat!

Here's just a few pictures from the day...enjoy!

The Briefcase Part 2

First...another big thank you to today's participants - Amanda and Marc...and Wardrobe Stylist - Danielle Dyer...and Jerome and Angel...who helped out...thank you!

This shoot was a part 2 of this shoot.

A few things here:

1. Left the shoot not knowing if I captured what I was going after...and it stressed me out...I suppose this is a good feeling...but I don't like it...I hope this is the last time!

2. Stuck to a plan...wish I could have deviated...but as us photogs say, I'm running out of good light...or as Marc told me...we're chasing the sun...

3. Marc Boese is my professor who got me into photography...pretty cool that he became a participant...another full circle connection...

4. I sold my 17-50mm lens...hence I can't get super wide...hence, Angel let me use her Nikon D700 for the "jumping over me" shots...bad move...now I want to go full frame...

5. I want Profoto lights too...I hear they're good for action photography...

6. I think I'm done with running shots now...but I'm still wanting to do a BMX freestyle shoot...and breakdancers...hit me up, if you're out there!

Enjoy!

The Clothing Warehouse...straight off my website!

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