Contrast...

A few from a few days ago...just messing around...enjoy!

Satya Colombo!

Introducing Satya Colombo (who has dubbed me as the Badass photographer)! This was quite a fun shoot. Satya was a good sport...and was willing to speed up any arthritis he may have in his knees by jumping more times than the average person does in a whole year. Did I mention, Satya is a cool fella too...even Badass! You can check Satya here and follow him here!

Enjoy!

Machead...?

Something quick from today's shoot...more to come soon!

Shoot!

Shoot! It's so hard selecting pics to use for my portfolio. I got a new book in the making...I'll be contacting Amanda Sosa Stone real soon! (hint, hint...)

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!

Ashland Streets+Snow!

This was a first...shooting in the snow! For all my Florida friends...it's better than the rain!

I spent about 2.5 hours walking the streets of Ashland...everyone was so nice...they didn't mind me taking their photo...I like it!

Enjoy...

Oops!

Saione, Simmy, & Samara....

I met Saione while shooting the Fam Jam...and what a blessing she has been to me! Here's her and her daughters...playing & laughing...enjoy!

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...

Fuego!

Southern Oregon Fuego!

The snow went to drizzle...the cold stayed cold...my fingers are little numb...

Another installment for Revista Caminos.

Here's a few fun shots from the day...enjoy!

Ashland Envy!

Ashland Envy coming soon...keep an eye out!

Owner: Lisa Dunagan!

Just sharing...

Flywheel - Talent, OR

A little glimpse into this "Talent, OR Project"...it's taking forever...

Make sure to stop by Flywheel Bicycles located in Talent!

The owner, Ian, is super cool!

Enjoy...

Something Special!

Alright Rogue Valley...for being so kind to a newcomer like me, I'm reducing 5 sessions to $100! The first 5 people to e-mail me (ezra@ezramarcos.com) get there shoot at $100! It's a 2 hour session. You have to schedule the shoot within a month...and this only applies to PORTRAITS, COUPLES, & HEADSHOTS. If you live far, you gotta come to my area (Ashland). So hit me up in e-mail asap...put "$100" in the subject line!

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!

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!

"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!