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!

"Portland is a city where young people go to retire."

I got tagged in a post in Facebook...this was the link...thanks for sharing Jason...this is pretty funny!

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!

Rewind...Rickolus outtakes!

Back in May, I was asked to photograph some promotional pics for Rickolus' latest album (thanks for that portrait you drew of me). Here's a few outtakes that we never submitted to the label company...I know some of you were eager to see them? Here's the actual promo pic...and the actual pic from this set that was submitted.

Outtake #1: The smoke effect wasn't exactly right...it didn't spread out evenly...

Outtake #2: Tree through the head...and the fence in the background...more smoke! Cool halo though...

Outtake #3: Lack of smoke...and the fence again. But the finger shadows are pretty wicked!

Tease...Medford, OR!

Here's a little tease from today's shoot for the cover of Revista Camino's February edition. And here's another! Thanks to Lava Lanes & Ric Donnelly for letting us use the place. The cover shot & more pics to come in early February!

You Eat What?

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

Talent & frost...

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)...

Happy New Year...to my family & friends!

So I've been trying to explain the new place where I live to my family & friends...well, this sort of sums it up. The parking lot to condo we live in...with the mountains in the back. The parking lot is pretty boring...but those mountains - incredible!

Happy New Year...come visit me so we can climb the mountains together!

B-boys!

I've been holding back on these for a while...click the image to see more!

This shoot was for the cover of Revista Caminos' January cover.

Thanks to Wicked-Fx (the b-boy crew) & Hector for putting together the shoot...it was a lot of fun...and was my first "official" shoot in my new town (valley?)!

Enjoy...and don't forget to click the image or here!

Freeze...or Else...

When life was good...before they chose the wrong path...

Goals...climbing mountains!

So I have some goals coming for the new year. One of those goals is climbing to the top of Wagner Butte in the Spring (right now, there's a bunch of snow up there...so that's not happening quite yet)!

Climbing Wagner Butte is only part of my goals...it's like a practice run. My main goal, for this summer, is to climb Mt. McLoughlin...when it clears up enough, I'll post my own pic!

And by the way, for my Florida friends, it is rainy, windy, and very cold today...and getting colder...sigh...

Bowling...and such...

We went bowling today at Lava Lanes...it was fun...haven't bowled in probably decade or so...and the two little boogers got to bowl for the first time!

Due to the holidays, I'm home a bit more...so, it's been interesting observing my 5 year old daughter and 2 year old son interact. They have such an interesting bond. They are very close...they're like glue (ACTIVE glue)!

For those who know me well, know that I have several brothers and sisters...but none are my 100% "full blooded" siblings...hence, I really didn't grow-up with any of them but maybe for 3 or 4 years...and my brother and sister from my father...I never grew-up with them at all! So it's been interesting watching this sibling bond...watching how much they care for each other...and the little reservation they have for getting in each other's "personal space" (I have a lot of personal space!). It's just cool seeing that bond...

So that's been my holiday gift...and bowling!

My daughters bowling shoes that she temporarily inherited...enjoy!

FYI: I bowled a miserable 126...???

Happy Holidays & a few facts...

Read below the pic...some cool stuff!

We've been in Oregon for 3 months...so I'd like to share a few facts about Southern Oregon:

- Most people think we're crazy that we moved here from Florida...or they say, "I could never live in Florida." Mosquitoes and Humidity seem to be the major detractors...and something about alligators eating people?

- University of Oregon vs. Oregon St. University (the Civil War?) seems to be quite as intense as Florida vs. FSU &/or Georgia!

- It doesn't rain here much...it rains more in Florida!

- The sun does shine here...at least in Southern Oregon...we've had like 7 days straight of scattered clouds or better!

- The winter is mild...40's & 50's...but I still miss a 70 degree day...and may not see one until late May...or June? Pray for me!

- It snows...a lot...but only if you live 6,000-7,000ft. high up in the mountains...we live at about 1,800ft...we've only seen snow once...and it was fun!

- Everyone drives a Subaru...including us!

- Vegan is not weird!

- Every time you go to a bar, you'll need to learn your beers all over again...they love microbreweries here...me - good ol' Rolling Rock will do the trick!

- And that is not my Snowmen fixture...it's the neighbors...hope they don't mind???

Happy Holidays...enjoy!

I wish...

A couple of months ago I (uh, Chase) bought my wife (& kids) this Subaru Outback...it's so cool...the best All Wheel Drive in the industry, climate control, moon roof, heated seats, & a remote car starter!

But I wish I could do this! (Hint, Hint...)

Now I need a 7 passenger Tribeca!

Rip City!

Who said the Sun doesn't shine in Portland, Oregon (I did?).

The family and I took a road trip to Portland to visit with my sister & brother-in-law. We hit up Ikea, had breakfast at the Tin Shed...and the brother-in-law & I went to the Trailblazers game (which I am using as my official initiation to Oregonian-ness)!

Here's the Sun playing right outside my sister's apartment window...it's the evidence that miracles do happen - the Sun shining in Rip City!

Talent, Oregon Art Walk+Wicked-fx

From the small town of Talent, OR & their Art Walk!

Featuring Wicked-fx

Sponsored by Brad Linnell & Revista Caminos

These Photos will be a part of a photo piece I'm doing on Talent...surprise...surprise!

Tease...Talent, OR

7 Up Your Thirst Away...in Provolt, Oregon!

Not too long ago it was "7 Up Yours." But way long ago it was "7 Up Your Thirst Away." Sounds like Sprite's "Obey Your Thirst." This was seen while driving through the Applegate Valley...if you want to buy this building contact Russ Garceau at 541-956-5540??? Consider that a free plug!

Adapting...

It's been about 3 months since we moved to Southern Oregon...and there's been a lot of adapting. We went from a 3 bedroom house with a lot of closets, a 2 car garage, and a nice backyard......and now we live in a 2 bedroom condo, with 3 measly closets, a parking lot, and zero yard! I sold my lawnmower, my work-out bench, and now trying to figure out what to do with my TV (it's too BIG...& it's not really that big)!

One of the first things we had to deal with is where to put my office...and with no spare room, the living room area had to be the place. But in order to make it fit, I had to make a custom made desk...a very narrow desk...3 feet high (to keep 2 year old hands off the goods)...2 big doors that hide all of my files, most of my gear, and other miscellaneous. So below is a pic of my new office...I'm pretty proud of it...I don't build things very well...I hate precision cutting (don't have the patience)...but I think I did well...and I had to adapt!

Perhaps I will go into the business of making custom desks for photographers...much like Gary Fong does with his Tupperware, or Jessica C with her bags, or DJ with his websites......(I hope you got the sarcasm...?). Anyway, enjoy my workspace...it's efficient...and saves space for the rest of the living room to be a living room...

Views like this make adapting easier!

Wake-up!

It's been a minute since I've blogged a video...but I feel it's appropriate. Sometimes it appears the world thinks that all Americans are warmongers...it's what the media pushes on both ends...and things like this video never make CNN, Fox News, or Al Jazeera...so people continue to have those false impressions. We're all at fault. For example, my twitter, Facebook, & blog seem to make me appear single...or half married...and sometimes I hold back info because I really don't want my family's business all over the WWW...but on the downside, I create an image that isn't truly honest of myself and my life...and can make people wonder (so for the record...I'm married...with 2 children...I live at home...with them...and spend a good deal of time with them...even tried ice skating with my daughter...which was a FAIL...I coach a 7th grade basketball team and occasionally my family will attend the games!). So lesson learned...be careful how you present yourself...plenty of people are watching you...Wake-up!

Also, Common's verse in this song is SICK! Enjoy!

Wicked-fx Crew

I did a little Breakdancing shoot for a local magazine here in the Valley (Medford, Phoenix, Talent, Ashland)...this was my first official shoot here in Oregon...and scouting was key...and hard. When you live somewhere for 9 years you know where are the cool spots are...but I've been in the Valley for 2 months, so I had to do some seeking! Here's a few pics that I know won't make the cover of the magazine (horizontal shots don't't work well with Mags)...and they're quite not "breakdancing" but I don't want to spoil the fun...enjoy!

Mortal Combat meets Beat Street...

The Remix...

Sometimes Remixes are bad...I hope this one isn't...

Back in the game...

I know...it's been a while...been kind of busy...still busy..relocating 3,000 miles is busy...but I'm going to start knocking some dust off of these cameras...

This is a little sample of a project I'm working on...Talent, OR...

Refresh...

Every once in a while we need change...

Five Points & Family!

So let me rewind 3 or 4 weeks back...I'm in LAX in the middle of a 4 hour layover (which isn't terrible in LA standards)...and I get a phone call from Marlene (pictured below) wanting to book a shoot for the next day...she knows I'm going to be in Florida for just about 35 hours. PROBLEM...my gear is in Oregon...SOLUTION...I call Kathryn Brown...I ask if I can use her 5dII...she's so nice and let's me pick up the camera at midnight moments after I land in Jacksonville...I take a 50mm...a 16-35mm just b/c I like a 35mm...and that's all...no lights...no nothing else!

So I present to you Marlene and family...they live in Five Points...I'm a Nikon guy, so I had to hustle to make that Canon work for me...it did! Enjoy and thank you Kathryn!

Mt. Shasta...my view...from Oregon!

This is my view driving into town. I have to drive up a gravel road for 8 miles...whipping and winding through the mountains...the reward is a view of Mt. Shasta...

My Florida friends, this place is beautiful...but despite all the beauty, I miss a lot of things about Florida...mainly my friends...I'm kind of lost here...

My wife is still in Florida...so I have only a few days to find a rental before the family joins me here...and it's been a struggle. I thought I had a nice place...but the following day someone put an offer to buy the house that I was approved to rent...I can't beat that...so now I'm scrambling to find a decent house to rent....

I haven't found any photography community here....which scares me...I hope there's a need for a photographer here??? But...at least I have the view below...and I haven't sweated yet...the weather is great! Enjoy!

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!

Fan, Shoes, Super 8, & the Money Shot...

Big NEWS!

Yes, the picture below is terrible! This is some of my first "works" and that blown out thing is the Sun! And the orange clouds=Cokin Tobacco Filter...and then there's some oversharpening...and for some reason I shot this at f/10...1/30 of a second...hand held...I don't remember using a tripod...but that's not the point of this blog entry...I have much bigger news!

This is where I'm moving to! Ashland, Oregon! I know...some of you are upset...some are mad...and most don't care...and every other photographer in Jacksonville is happier b/c now there will be one less photographer to compete with...but I just wanted to make an "official statement." I will be leaving Jacksonville on September 13th...which is super soon! I'm going to miss everyone here...but for the past 5 years my wife and I have discussed moving...and then after a few trips to here and there, we decided Oregon was the place for us!

Follow me on twitter or FB...the links are on my blog (to the right of the image below)...I'm going to be offering a special last minute deal. Alright everyone...thank you Jacksonville...thank you to all of my friends here who helped me out so much...and photogs, pop that bottle of champagne...now there's only 399 wedding photographers in the city!

Lime Leaf!

Lime Leaf...my favorite Thai restaurant in Jacksonville...check'em out!

And if you haven't noticed by now, I like shooting everything!

Rewind...to 1980 something!

Last night was crazy FUN! Here's a few shots from our 1980's shoot...everyone rocked it out awesome! Big props to Hair Stylist Ronny King for staying the whole night...we shot in the rain...everyone was gyrating...and Ronny was right there...the whole time! Massive thanks to Linsdey for the make-up artistry...and Kim Barry for putting the whole thing together and taking care of the wardrobe. And another Big Thanks to Jason at TSI for letting us use the venue...good vibes everyone...good times...enjoy!

Contributions by:

Wardrobe Stylist: Kim Barry

Clothing: The Clothing Warehouse

Hair Stylist: Ronny King (904) 356-4140

Make-up Artist: Lindsey Sims

Car: Laura Griffis

Location: TSI (Thank you Jason and Marlene!)

Models:

Tyler Hill

Kyle Davis

Kim Barry

Joey Thate

Veronica Dame

Katherine Bush

Megan Cosby

Marlene Gandoza

Laura Griffis

Assistant:

Kathryn Brown

The Blyden's

This is Ajah and his family...Ajah has been a good friend since I first came to Jacksonville in 2001...he's the owner of Positive Irations Reggae Shop...904-306-9637...enjoy!

MOCA+Contemporaries=Canadian Mist...Mistology!

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

Catherine+Mini Cooper...

Catherine and the Mini Cooper...and her sunglasses!

Another fun shoot...and then we all hung-out Lomax Lodge (go there...you must)!

Contributors:

Catherine - as herself

Carmen - brought the Mini Cooper & drove my truck while I road in the back!

Tracey Simmons - Make-up Artist & Hair Stylist (904.803.0055)

Rachael Shepherd - Assist

Marcos Ayala - My father...thanks for entertaining us all!

And for the photogs who are curious...every shot was taken with my trusty 35mm prime lens at f/2.o...and I used God's light (the Sun)...and some of the buildings around did an excellent job acting as reflectors!

Julie!

During my long stay in Chicago, I had the opportunity to work with Julie Larsen...here's a few headshots and portraits from our shoot...enjoy!

Sandy

Bonsai!

Still in Chicago! Here's a few pics from our trip to the Chicago Botanical Gardens...bonsai!

Enjoy!

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!

Walking...walking... and more walking...

The pace in Chicago is pretty fierce...no, it's not quite like NYC...but it's fast...people are on a mission...like they're going to beat-up their little sister's boyfriend for being an ass...and they're usually connected to some electronic device! So as I patiently looked for interesting people who didn't mind being bothered, I noticed how people's gait, mannerisms, and shoes hinted into their personality...or their present crisis...so I started shooting from the hip...here's a few successful attempts...don't get caught shooting from the hip...you might get beat-up like that bad boyfriend...enjoy!

A little something from Chicago...

Heather (First Coast Weddings)!

Fun little shoot with Heather Canada (First Coast Weddings) at the The Clothing Warehouse...thanks Kim!

Sarasota...

During my trip to Sarasota, I took a few moments to sneak a few photos...Sarasota has changed...it's not a retirement community anymore!

Check out this storm/sunset from Nokomis Beach...the storm was over Sarasota...

A whole...entire wedding!

Yup...I am out of my mind! Photogs, I am posting an entire wedding (minus a few shots out of consideration for the bride). To this day, other than Kathryn Brown and Robert Hill (who I have 2nd shot with a few times), I have never seen another photographer's entire wedding. I have even paid a photographer for a consult and asked if he could bring an entire wedding so that I can see where my work stands...he didn't do it! So I'm doing it...grade yourself (you most likely will score higher)...or for brides to be - you can see that I'm pretty consistent (I hope). Get your dancing shoes...boogie on down to the two and half minute wedding! Enjoy!

An Entire Wedding! from ezra marcos ayala on Vimeo.

Fast Graduation!

Don't you wish all graduations were this fast...the 40 second graduation (the 34 second mark is the best)! Congratulations Bree!

And if you are wondering...this was shot with my 24mm 2.8...at 2.8...1/100 of second...& 2000 ISO...no tripod (apparently)...no post processing (straight out of camera)...and very little regard for photographic quality...it was done for plain FUN!

Enjoy!

Fast Graduation! from ezra marcos ayala on Vimeo.

Rickolus!

You know that feeling when you have to keep a secret...a good secret...a good secret surprise...that's what it's been like the last few weeks for me...so finally, I show you (the world) a picture of Rickolus that will be used to promote his new album, Youngster...you can buy it here in July! And you can check another photo here !

Enjoy...this took a lot of work from Curtis (thanks for the set-up and infinite amount of dry ice)...Hubbard, for helping me out with the lighting...and Rickolus, for being patient and holding that heavy as heck accordion!

Vacation is so Refreshing!

I just got back from my vacation in Virginia (a day in North Carolina)...it was Refreshing! We spent most of our time in my parent's log cabin in the mountains of Virginia...with no TV, Internet, or Cell Phone Signal! Here's one of the sunsets...enjoy!

Cool stuff...

It's neat seeing your own work published...it takes a lot of work...and that's where my personal projects come into place...you dictate what kind of work you want to do...and you meet people...people who become friends...and friends that look out for you!

The first picture was for Florida Realtors Magazine ...and that's my friend Mabel Nunez that I met while I was taking Video Production courses...and then we reconnected while working on a personal project...and then she gave my info over to Florida Realtors Magazine!

The 2nd picture was for the cover of EU ...which I've received a lot of love for!

The 3rd picture was also for the EU...an article on artists who are "Off the Grid"!

Work hard...it pays off...and be human...be nice to people...it's the right thing to do...and it naturally pays off too!

Here's my favorite from Mabel's shoot!

Heide & Quentin's Wedding!

Here's a little preview of Heide & Quentin's wedding! It was a sweet day for the two...surrounded by families and friends!

Thanks to the following vendors:

Tanya of Southern Charm Events

Michal May (Make-up Artist) - 786.390.0066

Judy's Cakes

Susan at A Fantasy in Flowers