Thinking Outside the Box

I have just realized that thinking outside the box is a lofty goal. Why? Because the box is fucking huge. there are no original ideas. Humans have been around for a bigillion years, give or take, and we have been creating since our birth. I recently did a shoot with my favorite model Zoey. I never thought it was cutting edge, but I figured it was fairly original. Well someone came along and said it reminded them of a scene from Legend. Well, whatever. I still intend to keep reaching for the lid so I can get outside of the box. My plan is to take those boxes that are inside of the box, and stack them up and climb. This makeshift staircase of ideas will eventually evolve into something that has no resemblance to the bottom box, and worst case, I'll be able to knock on the lid and ask to come out.

A Walk On The Strip

About once or twice every month I'll take a walk on The Strip, mostly for exercise, and to do some people watching. I never take my camera, because I just cant get excited about the subjects out there. last weekend, I caught a glimpse of the TI sign through a window of the Venetian, that made me realize that I was looking at the whole scene like a groundhog day seen it all before bored out of my mind tourist. It's all about perspective. Once I took a step forward and a step or two back, and held my head right, the only thing left to do was take the shot. To check out the whole series, as shot strait out of the camera head over to my Photobucket.

Something to Share

Copious amounts of hurdles had to be overcome, just for a few decent shots of this flower. I wonder if it was worth the effort.

Less Dreaming More Doing

This weekend I went to the swap meet, and while I was there I met a photographer, Eddy Pula. In the course of our conversation, he asked me what I shot. I could have said right now I am working on studio portraits, but in a moment of embarrassing honesty, I said...

Why Tainted Elephant?

I have had quite a few people ask me where I came up with the name Tainted Elephant. Here is the story, when I was looking for a name for my web site to showcase my art, I was also doing a lot of abstract sketching (scribbling) and one of my sketches came out like this.

So that is it pretty simple. I just dug out some of my old hard drives from the time period of the original Tainted Elephant. I hope that I soon will be able to share some of the work I was doing back then soon.

It Has Been A While

A couple of months ago, I let my painting muse out of the closet. She had been locked in there for at least eight years. I expected her to be pissed off, and come out swinging, but she came out gently.

The Hustler

I just finished watching The Hustler. I recommend it to anyone. it is 134 minutes, and every second matters. it is not fluffed up with un needed action, or sex or violence.  Sure it has the inference of action and sex and violence, but it doesn't wast our time showing us those things. It's a tough movie that takes us through the journey of Fast Eddie one of the greatest pool players around, from looser, and two bit hustler, to a winner, but only after he loses his father figure, and the love of his life Sarah. This movie is a prime example of why I am a much bigger fan of a good story, over one fluffed up with the newest technology. For a little more insight into my feelings about this check out this post.

A little BTS, and DIY on my recent portrait session with Zoey

The above photo as well as the ones from my previous post Were all taken using a lot of gear that I built myself. so I thought It would be nice to share some of that with you. To get all of the details make sure to take the rest of the journey.

I'm a Portrait Photographer?!

I have been looking at the world through a camera for a long time, and I have wanted to take pictures of almost every subject imaginable, except for people. I just never got along with translating people into photos. I have however recently got the bug, and began converting an extra room in the house into a studio. Portraits may just become my new favorite thing. Especially with the encouragement I have been getting lately. An unlikely source of encouragement was from the one hour photo, that I use sometimes use. I sent off the four shots of my daughter Zoey here, to be printed, and when I went to pick them up they couldn't be found, finally they realized that they had set them aside, and they asked me if they were taken by a professional photographer, and that if they were, I would have to get a release for them. I explained that I took them, and they told me how good they were, thanks ;)  Like I said portraits may become my new favorite thing.

Stick On A Box

Since I have recently moved into a home with a studio space, I will be doing a lot of DIY projects for the studio. My first project that I want to share with you is my variation on the stick in a can. This is the perfect and inexpensive light, background, reflector, and everything holder. My stick on a box is essentially the same as a stick in a can, but the stick is removable, and interchangeable, it has a handle, and is easy to store, when disassembled. As far as price I will admit that cans are much cheaper, but with one sheet of 7/16 OSB (wafer-board, oriented strand board) whiich costs about $8, you can make 10, eight inch boxes.