Asante

A few months ago on my first of 3 flights to Florida, I was sitting next to a rather important man. We talked...meaningful talk. He asked why we chose to relocate to Southern Oregon...asked about my kids, etc.  I told him I was a photographer...he worked for some medical thing...he wasn't very specific. At the end of the flight he stated, "Good luck, Ezra." I told him I would see him around...because it's a small valley.  I remembered his name. Roy Vinyard. As soon I as I got to Florida, I googled his name for his contact info...all in effort to send him a kind email. I do this often.  No such luck...his email isn't public. But I did find out that he is the CEO of  Asante Health System...the largest healthcare provider in this part of the state.

Fast forward  half a year...and Asante contacts me...they want me to photograph their annual  Carpenter Awards Celebration...in addition to doing a few portraits of Dr. Brian Gross.  I landed this little gig thanks to a fellow chamber member (Linda Farland). It gave me the opportunity to reintroduce myself to Roy. He remembered me.

On a flight to Florida in February, I was sitting in front of 3 guys that had just started a t-shirt company.  They got on the plane drunk...and got drunker!  It was a 5 hour flight of drunken madness. They were super obnoxious, rude, inconsiderate, loud...and just straight up offensive!

I think you get my point. Always be on your best behavior!

This is my favorite picture from the Asante event...enjoy!

Because I couldn't resist...

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 3

Science of Wine Day 2

Science of Wine Day 1

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.

Oregon Shakespeare Festival Appreciation Event!

Food+Drinks+Music+Singing+Dancing=Perfect Evening!

This event hosted by Oregon Shakespeare Festival...an appreciation event for those who work hard to continue expanding the audience at OSF. A Super Big Thank You to OSF & Freda Casillas for giving me the opportunity to document this event!

Enjoy!

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!

Dawn...commissioned!

One more local (Jacksonville, FL) blog...to fulfill a promise! This is my good friend Dawn...she was my co-worker when I worked at Duval County Public Schools as a Social Worker. Recently, Dawn was commissioned...the ceremony was at One Ocean . Dawn will now be "Social Working" for the military (after she survives boot camp!). Enjoy!

MOCA+Contemporaries=Canadian Mist...Mistology!

The blog title says it all...to learn more about the Contemporaries click here!

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!

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!

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!

Happy Birthday, Emily!

Emily's b-day celebration at the Underbelly!

Art Walk (Things you learn...)

Last night I went to the Art Walk and realized that the world is really smaller than that old saying or song, "It's a small world." Let me explain. First, I met Mark Hubbard over 2 years ago while taking video production courses at FSCJ. Through our friendship, I've met a good deal of his friends...one being Super Curtis. Second, about 3 months ago, I met Matt from Burro Bags.

Meeting these two people has probably been the most unique experience ever...and has introduced me a whole new host of friends! Words are too hard to explain...but for example: I'm talking to Crystal that I met earlier this week via a pretty long string of people...she says, "I'll ask my roommate Roy." I say, "Roy who?" She says, "Roy B." I say, "Really...he's your roommate! I asked him already. So you know Hubbard and the crew..." Crystal, "Yes....." Now repeat conversations similar to this...and that sums up last night...and heck, the last month!

Here's a diagram that poorly displays how everyone is connected...and I left a few people out simply b/c my brain can only retain so much info...and I'm sure more of these lines could connect, but then that could cause you to go cross-eyed?

By the way...it's Matthew Abercrombie...not Abercombie???

Innocent bystanders who showed up at 229 Hogan St. And art work by Crystal!

The Wedding Party's 1980s New Year Party!

So if you weren't at the Jacksonville Golf & Country Club hanging-out with the folks from the Wedding Party last night...then you were missing out!

Let me give you a brief synopsis of how things went down...

First, Jacksonville Golf & Country Club set things up real nice...and the food was wild...in a good way. It was fun food...food that was it's own smoke machine...food that was eaten out of egg shells...apples wrapped in bacon...asparagus that was fried in batter. Now, my vegan palate didn't permit me to partake...but it appeared everyone was enjoying the food...enjoying the taste...and enjoying the manner in which it was consumed!

And then we had some fun with this crazy backdrop...Karate Kid...and Mike D from the Beastie Boys showed up. Everyone was digging the props...especially those SUNGLASSES...and Heather Canada was sharing some love!

And then things got Real Hot! Jeff from Deland Entertainment taught everyone a few moves...and then he decided to entertain us...and some were entertained...I think that's someone holding up dollar bills? Shortly after, I caught some of the Wedding Party crew bustin' a move on the dance floor! Go Heather, Go Heather!

Here's a extra little treat...hope everyone enjoyed...and thank you to the The Wedding Party crew for letting me hang-out with you all!

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!!!