Oregonians...

My Mom, Aunt, & Grandmother

My pretty mother, my super sweet aunt (who passed away in 1994), and my grandmother with her 2nd husband. Unfortunately, I don't know my grandmother well...dang, I can't even understand her when she talks!  All these pics were taken before I was born...I believe in the mid to early 70's.  My 2nd cousin sent them my way...thank you Miriam!

And this is why we take pictures......wow....

Jane!

Mini shoot with Jane.  (She stood in front of the cameras for my Take A Shot class.) 

Enjoy!

New to me...

Due to popular demand, I have decided to post a couple of pics of my "new to me" car. After driving a pick-up truck for over 8 years...and driving a manual car all of my driving life, I bought a 1992 Mercedes 300E with an automatic transmission (I miss stick).

I bought the Benz with the money that I sold my truck with. I say this, because some people might think I have changed. Sorry folks...I'm the same Ezra...I just needed a good running car...my pick-up had issues...and I didn't want to dump anymore money into the thing. The Benz was the only car within my price range that ran and looked good!

So that's my story...and I'm sticking to it. And for all those who pray...keep my car in prayer...if this thing breaks...oh, crap...it's going to cost a pretty penny!

Four years later...

About four years ago, when we visited Oregon as part of our scouting trip (to see whether or not we'd consider moving here), we took a trip to the Redwoods. Below is a picture I took during that trip. Well, earlier this week, my parents were in town from North Carolina...so we took them on a day trip to the Redwoods. I was lucky enough to find the same trail you see below....so naturally I retook the shot.

46 months later...a few changes...

A few extras...enjoy!

Mt. McLoughlin Conquered!

First...make sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post...I have included a present!

Shortly after I moved to Oregon, I set 3 goals for the summer...climb Wagner Butte, Pilot Rock and ultimately Mt. McLoughlin. Below is Mt. McLoughlin, which I proudly completed this past Saturday with one of my hiking/dominoes partner Bobby !

Since college, I've never been too crazy about goals...I even admire Gary Fong (one of those ex-rockstar photogs making a living selling products) for not having any...but in the past 2-3 years, I have become a "Goal Person." It's not so much that the goal gives me direction (though it does), but a goal is like telling the universe, God, you, and me what's going to happen...I'm publicly telling the future!

With that said, not all of my goals get met...things happen...curve balls. But the key with setting goals is not to become dismantled when you don't achieve your goal. Everything happens for a reason...reset that goal and go after it again!

Here's Mt. McLoughlin below. 9,495 ft. It's a dormant volcano...thank God! We climbed up the right ridge...which is on the east side of the mountain.

The top left is a couple hiking with the peak in front of them.

The top middle is from the peak looking down upon the path (along the ridge).

The top right are some cool formations most likely left after it's last eruption.

Bottom left is Bobby showing us the path down!

Bottom right is one of next summer's goal - Thielsen - it's way in the back.

Here's a poorly shot collage a thousand or so feet below the peak...this side of the volcano appears to have collapsed! The peak is in middle of the other "peaks."

And here's a gift...click here...it's goal #3 for next summer! Feel free to use it as your desktop wallpaper...or print it...frame it!

Wagner Butte!

As you know...I've been on a mission to climb a few mountains this summer...it's what happens when you live in "Flat Florida" for 26 years!

This past weekend, with the help of Kevin Bendaw, Bobby Arellano, and Hector 'Revista Caminos' Flores I conquered another mount on my list to climb...now all I have is Mt. McLoughlin to conquer! The pic below is Wagner Butte (7,200 ft). Below that pic is Kevin (my hiking partner)...and to the right of that pic is the rest of the crew. The bottom pic is Mt. Ashland in the foreground...and then Mt. Shasta in a distance. Enjoy!

For all my Florida Friends...these mountains are literally in "my backyard." Just a few minutes drive to the trailheads...I'm living in a fantasy world that's REAL!

Pilot Rock!

Where do I start? Well, I have a few goals for this summer...it all revolves around my fear of heights...and the excitement of being on top of a mountain!

Goals:

1) Climb Wagner Butte

2) Climb Pilot Rock

3) the ultimate goal - Climb Mt. McLoughlin.

I can scratch off Pilot Rock! I had some serious fears thinking about this one. Several people told me Pilot Rock is the scariest of the 3...and it is scary! The top right picture shows the rock we had to scale to get to the top (with no special gear...just my hands...gym shoes...and Kevin). Thank you Kevin for showing me the path...that was incredible!

This was a major feat for me...especially because you had climb a pretty steep rock...steep enough that if you messed up, you weren't coming off the mountain conscious or alive!

For all my Florida friends, click this to see Pilot Rock from afar!

Enjoy!

Buying a Camera...because I'm going Pro!

Not too long ago I wrote a couple of blogs on buying cameras...inexpensive cameras to entry level DSLRs. Well, this post is about buying a pro camera because you want to go PRO.

Let me preface. If you want to go PRO...you shouldn't be using an entry level DSLR or those shotty kit lenses. Those things can sort of get the job done...sort of (not really)...but when you're charging people for your services, you need to be rocking some quality gear.

Let me pre-preface. Don't become a PRO. Don't become a PRO especially if you are married. Don't become a PRO if you are married with children. Don't become a PRO if you are the only breadwinner in the family (like me). Oh...and most importantly, don't become a PRO if your picture making skills are kind of weak (sorry to be so blunt). If your work is weak...make it strong and then open shop....only if you're not married with children...and are not the only breadwinner. (For all you photogs who have a spouse that make good money...or for that single dude living in some $300 studio apartment consuming PB&J, Ramen, & PBR...consider yourself blessed).

Now about cameras...you need something good...and the lenses need to be good too...or else you nullify your camera.

If you are shooting consumer work (weddings, families, seniors, etc...) then I think you can get away with a D90 and higher. If you're making some good money, then I say jump to a D700. It's full frame...the ISO is pretty kick ass. Now if you're not rocking big $, then a D90 is suffice...the ISO performance is legit. I prefer a D300s because all the "buttons" are right at your finger tips. My good friend, Jerome, would say the D7000 is better than the D300s...and he might be right...but having the ability to change your ISO, White Balance, etc... at your finger tips is crucial...especially when your shooting events, weddings, and candid family images.

Now if you are shooting commercial work, then you need to be shooting a D700 or higher. Yes, I'm a hypocrite for saying this...I don't use a D700 or higher...but I am that guy that is married with 3 children...and I'm the only breadwinner in the family. Additionally, I make the most of my equipment...and ultimately, for my style of shooting, my models (subjects) make the photo...they bring the energy to the image. Your ability to establish rapport with your model can make a mediocre camera make super awesome images! But use a really good camera regardless. The really good camera can help you through some really adverse situations. Trust me...you want to make your job easier...efficient...and professional...and so does your client!

If you're taking money from people to shoot, then you need to be spending about $1600 or more on your camera...and you better be rocking at least 2 cameras! If you're are shooting commercial work, expect to pay over $5000 for a pair. And don't forget to get good lenses...nothing cheapy...and 95% of the time, I'd stay with Nikon lenses.

[Segue] If you're a Canon shooter...then I'd think a 5D or higher should be suffice. For commercial work, I'd go 5DMII or higher. Sorry that I don't have much more info...but I'm a Nikon shooter.....

If your shooting anything else...you are on your own! I hear Sony makes a pretty good product...and if you are using a Hassleblad, then I'm wondering why you are reading my blog...hmmm?

Oh..read this.

Oh...read this too: In no way am I saying you can't start a business while you are married and have kids...and are the only breadwinner. I'm just saying that it's much easier to start a business when your single...or have a spouse that's making a routine pay check. Starting a business takes a lot of time and money...and when you're married and have children, that time gets compromised...and money (that's another story)...

13 years...

This is where we hung-out with the kids...with pizza...in the back of the MDX...to celebrate 13 years of Rana & I being together...going back to the dating days ( Valparaiso University)...

This is just 15 minutes from where we live. I miss Florida, but we don't have views like this...

Tease...of Tease in Ashland...

Charitable event tease...at Tease.

Hip-Hop goes to the White House...

It's crazy thinking Hip-Hop was hardly ever played on the radio when I was growing up (unless you were in NYC). Really...I had to stay up super late on a Saturday to listen to Mad Linx on some community radio station...88.5 WMNF! And believe me, I had the cassette tape in the deck...recording!

It was sometime in the early 90's that I heard (and recorded) Common's Soul By the Pound on WMNF (thank you Mad Linx). Common was pretty obscure then...but not anymore...it blows my mind away to see a Hip-Hop artist joking and having a good time with the President (1:31 minute mark)...who would have ever thought this day would come?

And by the way, Mad Linx was so nice to let me be a guest on his radio show back in 1996...I was talking about how I was going to college to study Communications...and I wanted to go into radio. After two years of studying communications, I switched my major to Social Work...but I still have a minor Speech Communication...nothing goes as planned?

Revisiting Reylius...

I get a really strong feeling from these images...had to revisit them...

Jacksonville, FL

Reylius.

Artist & his/her tools...

The last few days I have received a few compliments for my pictures. It's goes like this --> "Those are great pictures...you must have a good camera?" Don't take offense if this was you...you weren't the first...nor the last. I bet every good (and even bad) photographer has heard this and will hear it again! But, I still want to make a point.

You're at the restaurant...you have a good meal. Do you credit the stove for your awesome food?

Great painting...you must be using some awesome paint brushes!

Wow...you jump real high...what kind of shoes are those?

Seamstress, your clothes fit so nice. What kind of needles do you use?

Michael Jordan's shoes did not make him play well...nor the Gatorade!

Bike ride from Talent...going towards Phoenix...enjoy!

Mt. McLoughlin

I mentioned in an earlier post that one of my major goals this summer is to climb to the top of Mt. McLoughlin. I've been waiting for a clear day to get a glimpse of this enormous volcano...so I can show my friends and family on the East Coast.

Goals can be scary...even intimidating...but I'll just take it one step at a time...and pray that my fear of heights doesn't dominate my desire to get to the top!

Enjoy!

Cassette Tapes & Hip-hop...

Sometimes I think that as a photographer I shouldn't talk about Hip-hop...as if it's some kind of taboo...like I'm supposed to keep it a secret that I actually grew-up on this music. But I can't help it...I love this music...it's a part of who I am...and that's not a negative thing! I'm a responsible father...I work hard...and I can deal with all kinds of people, regardless of race or socioeconomic placement. (Now why do I even have to preface this with that?)

For all of you CD/iPod kiddos...you need a little history on the cassette tape...so it's imperative that you spend the next 8 minutes getting educated!

via Rolling Stone

An image for image sake --> Modern day B-boys on the run...enjoy...

Black Butte...Shasta...

Another few shots for my friends & family back East. The family & I took a short day trip to check out the area. We drove into California about an hour or so. This is somewhere on the base of Mt. Shasta...with the town of the same name below...and Black Butte...a dormant volcano...I hope...enjoy!

Goals...

Last year I decided to jot down some goals...I decided to break away from the Gary Fong "goal-less" Buddhist ways. It was pretty cool to look back and see what I have accomplished...and I wasn't disappointed with my shortcomings either - those are lessons learned...nothing lost...sort of?

√Hire Amanda Sosa Stone - everyone should!

√Create Commercial Portfolio book

√Travel to Chicago!

√Purchase 50mm 1.4 & 35mm 1.8 lens - this was crucial!

√Get work published 5 times

√Network better - yes, I think I have Social Anxiety around complete strangers...?

√Move to Oregon! Yup, that was a goal...can't believe it happened...the power of thought!

My 2011 goals are written down...I read them once or twice a week...that helps me stay focused. This years' goals are bit more detailed...I have a list of about 30 people I want to meet...amongst many other awesome goals!

Here's a few images from this past year that are for my latest promo campaign...enjoy!

You Eat What?

I think my wife found this on some website that sells shirts...sorry, I don't know what website???

Jay-Z & Warren Buffett

So I was reading Nick Onken's Blog (which I recommend all photographers to check out)...and he dropped a linkto a video interview with Jay-Z & Warren Buffett. It's a pretty good interview...and some insightful messages worth listening too.

That's my preface.

I love Hip-Hop. I grew-up with it...my older brothers listened to it...so I listened to it...(and I'm talking about Newcleus, Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, LL Cool J, Run DMC, Beastie Boys, etc...)! And as I got into my teens, I still loved the music. They spoke a language that I could relate to...they expressed ideas & feelings that aren't supposed to be expressed publicly (and the rebel in me loved it). Additionally, if the music didn't have you thinking, then you were smiling (Hip-Hop has a carefree vibe to it at times).

And then in the late 90's I got hooked on Reggae (and mostly because Hip-Hop went in another direction). Reggae is great...the message is strong...and the vibes just catch you and keep you!

Now as of late, some of my favorite Hip-Hop artists like Common, Q-Tip, Nas, & the Roots have recently dropped albums that have brought my heart back to the music of my youth. They have a message that I can relate to. So this goes back to the Jay-Z interview...he stated that a lot of artists go with the new thing...the trend. In his case, he keeps it real...real to his situation in his present life...hence, a 33 year old man, like myself, can relate to the music. So it's neat...for the first time in Hip-Hop we're seeing a group of guys who previously targeted a very young market, now marketing to 28-40 something year olds. To me that's pretty damn impressive and makes me so happy...I wanted to love Hip-Hop again...and I can!

God forbid this ever happens...enjoy the visuals (photographically speaking)...