Fam Jam #4 - Culture Works

Another Fam Jam...more money raised...this time for Lotus Rising Project...here's a few of my favorites from the night...enjoy!

Location: Culture Works

Musicians/Bands below:

Phoenix Sigalove

Apple Siders

The Illies

Battle of the Beans!

My favorites from the Battle of the Beans! The event raised over $20,000. The funds will be given to several college bound Latino students in the Rogue Valley!

Enjoy!

Fam Jam...#3

Another awesome Rogue Fam Jam...my 3rd! They raised $1000 for White Oak Farm & Education Center. Now more kids can go to camp and learn about organic farming!

And for you attendees of the Fam Jam...you can check out the pics from all 3 Fam Jams here! The pictures are in order of the most recent Fam Jam...and I'll keep uploading new pics from future Fam Jams!

Also, here's a little teaser below...enjoy!

Science of Wine Day 2

Another Fam Jam!

Fam Jam+Tease=$ for Winter Spring Center! Don't miss the next one...it's every last Monday of the month!

These shots are little different than my usual. When I photograph an event, I shoot with a high ISO (the shots of the musicians playing at the bottom)...or I try to use off-camera lighting...which isn't always possible b/c 1) the event is in multiple rooms or 2) there's no aesthetically good place to put my light stands. So then what typically happens I put a flash on the hot shoe of the camera...and bounce. In this case, I decided to go old school...flash on hot shoe...no bounce...just direct hard light...nasty shadows! My wife is not too crazy about it...but I like to experiment every once in a while. What do you think or feel? Never do it again...or keep mixing it up? You won't offend either of us.

Fam Jam @ Tease!

I'm blessed...once again I can do my part help others help others (is that correct grammar???). Tease in Ashland and the Rogue Fam Jam team-up monthly to raise money for various non-profits. You have local bands playing their music...and then before you know it, a member from THIS band is playing with THAT band...and it keeps shuffling like that all night! I was graciously invited to document the night...met cool people...listened to some good vibes...and made my karma a bit better - they raised over $600 for the Ashland Emergency Food Bank ! Thank you Julie-O and Michelle!

Enjoy a few pics from the evening!

Save Africa!

This past Friday I had an opportunity to document the Save Africa Global fundraising event at the University Club...the motto for the night was "sip and tip." Good times! Check out this video to learn more...

Enjoy!

Fundraiser!!!

Changes: Instead of auctioning a print, I will be doing a silent auction for a 2 hour photo shoot...bids will start at $75. The shoot will include your images on disc!

When: Wednesday, June 2nd

Time: 5pm-9pm

Where: Suite 106...inside the Landing...see you there...

Extra: From 7pm-9pm - $10 donation=portrait on the spot, including a print.

Greetings everyone! Thanks for stopping by to read my blog! This is a really important blog post...so keep reading!

This coming Art Walk I will be doing a LIVE shoot to raise money for Compassionate Families! About 4 or 5 years back, I did quite a bit of collaborative work with Compassionate Families...so I am very familiar with their services...and they were one of the best agencies I had a chance to work with! Compassionate Families is a non-profit agency (but very, very grassroots) that works with families (especially children) that have lost a loved one due to murder. You can read about them here.

This is the deal...you need to come and show support! The live shoot will be based around the theme of diversity...but that's all I'm going to say, b/c I don't want to spoil the surprise! After the shoot is over, I will post process the images right there on the spot...and my goal is to have a large print on display before the end of the night!!! That print will be auctioned off...100% of the proceeds will go to Compassionate Families. Additionally, once I've completed the post processing...around 7pm...I will be doing portraits for a $10 donation...and you'll get your print right then!

Follow me so far? Cool! Another thing...this one is for up&coming photographers...even hobbyists! I'll be offering 4 days of "don't call it a workshop" thingy. The thingies will be broken down into 4 subjects....shooting manual, composition, lighting/lifestyle shoot, and post processing! Each subject will be about 3-4 hours...it's very fast pace...very hands-0n...and I promise you'll have some practical skills at the end of each "session". The cost is minor...and 100% will benefit Compassionate Families. So what's the cost? A $60 donation! If you want to give more, then I won't stop you! (You'll need a DSLR and a Nikon camera...ok...just joking...but a DSLR is necessary!)

The event will take place during the June Art Walk...that's June 2nd. The location will be Suite 106, which is inside of the Jacksonville Landing (it's one of the Off the Grid galleries). Joey Thate and Kim Barry have been super awesome letting me use some of their gallery space...and they will also have some of their work up...I suspect surprises from them too!!! The shoot will start at 5pm...and around 7pm I will start photographing whoever wants photos of themselves!!!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 904-338-3901 or at ezra@ezramarcos.com

And if you want to reserve your spot for the "don't call it a workshop" thingy, you can contact me now...or reserve your spot at the Art Walk!

Hope to see you there...and they do too (Kim & Joey on the scooter)!

Marilyn Monroe Soiree at the MOCA!

Saturday night, MOCA had an event to celebrate the Marilyn Monroe exhibit. The event was a fundraiser for the MOCA's educational programs. I was given the honor to photograph the event...which I thank the MOCA for asking me...and it also keeps me in par with my goal to do some type of charitable event every other month!

The night was fun...and exciting...I think everyone smiled when they saw the food! Music was great as well. Trae Gurley kept the dance floor moving! And I got to meet some awesome people like Emily from Studio Orange...she does great work!

Thank you MOCA for the good time...thank you Rebecca!

Click here to visit the online gallery...you will need a password...it's on the card I handed out that night...

Enjoy!

Photogs: Lighting...the old fashion way...on camera lighting...that was the only way to capture the night. I shot with my Nikon SB 800...everything manual...and no diffusers tonite. I didn't feel like dealing with that one piece of tupperware that you put on your flash unit (you know which one I'm talking about)...way too cumbersome and protruding...especially when there's a few hundred people!

Haitian Relief Fundraiser...We Gave!!!

Hey everyone...today was BIG! As a Social Worker, I've helped a lot of people in a lot of ways...but I was supposed to...I was paid to do it (but not much)....but today was different.

When I left my Social Work job, I promised to myself and my wife that I would still help others...it's something I can't help but do. With the situation in Haiti, I figured I'd donate a few bucks...but that just wasn't enough for me. So I decided to do photo shoots by donation...and with the help of my good friend Tan...my photography buddy, Jerome...LaTavia from Fabulous Faces...one of "my" past brides Emily...and her mom...Emily at Anomaly...and Matt at Burro Bags (who helped spread the word massive)...and Carmen at RAP (who also spread the word)...Heather Canada, who posted the fundraiser on her blog (which brought Jennifer from Orlando!)...and many others for sending out invitations via Facebook...and all my twitter followers for retweeting...we did an awesome job!!! At the end of the day, we raised $1300!!!

Again...thanks to all who helped and gave...and thanks to my friend Matt Simons for shooting some video...we'll have a video up soon!

Here's a few fotos from the day...enjoy...

Give!

Make-up Artist will be present! Come out everyone!

The latter part of last week I've been thinking how I can give to the people of Haiti...and I was really stumped. I personally don't have enough funds to make a significant impact...so I just kept thinking of what I could do...and a light bulb went off Friday night...and then I slept on it to make sure this was the right thing to do...and Saturday morning I woke-up knowing I had to do this.

So this is the deal. From 10am until it gets too dark, on Sunday, January the 24th, I'm booking 15 minute photo sessions in front of Anomaly (1021 Park Street - 5 Points). No appointment needed...I'm taking walk-ins! All you have to do is write a check to the Yele Foundation or UNICEF (any amount...just give!)...I'll have stamped envelopes already addressed to Yele or UNICEF...we'll put the check in the envelopes...and then give you the envelope...yes, we're using the honor system...you'll be responsible for mailing the check! During that process, we'll get your contact info so that we can deliver your images!

Pets are welcomed!

Please spread the word to everyone you know...tweet this, facebook it...e-mail it to all your friends...thanks!

Thanks Emily at Anomaly and Matt at Burro Bags!

Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens...First Anniversary!

Today I had the opportunity to document the First Anniversary of the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens...which was a nice occasion to document...especially b/c my family goes here often.

When I drove up the road the place was FULL...cars were parked about 1/2 mile or so from the actual park! Today's festivities included guided tours, an albino skunk, vendors offering everything from beeswax down to citrus trees. They had face painters...Let Them Eat Cake...and live music. Here's a few fotos from the day...enjoy...and visit the Aboretum to enjoy it in real life!!!