Kristin and I loaded our converted van and headed for a month in Colorado. At first we really didn’t know what to expect from the trip, but we had a few goals to summit peaks, trail run a total of 50 miles, and spend time around the Estes Park area taking photos and rock climbing. Turns out the weather on this trip didn’t really cooperate with us, but in hindsight, my favorite memories from the trip come from hanging in woods making s’mores over the Packfire fire pit at the end of the day, here’s why.
Read MorePreparing for a 10-week road trip to Baja is a labor of love. Something will go wrong, so planning a road trip project like this is about building out resources to not get into trouble. This mental freedom allows for more fun and creativity with the camera along the road trip.
Read MorePreparing for my next project, two months in Baja, I was running errands all day and got caught up in Carson City, Nevada at an optometrists appointment. While the eye-doctor was very kind by saying, “You know you are handsome, model handsome” I wanted to get my contact prescription and head out to photograph the final supermoon of the year.
Read MoreThere was no intention of making this documentary, but as the summits ticked and I kept pressing record, a story unfolded. I guess that is the luck of the draw when you put yourself in the right position. If you are here as a fellow peak bagger, I hope you enjoy the film. If you are here as a filmmaker, I hope these lessons help you along your journey.
Read MoreOver the past 10 years I have developed a distribution system I call, “Follow the Journey” to bring viewers along virtually on these kinds of trips. While I don’t have a massive following, 50-something thousand in total, this distribution system is designed to engage viewers over and over again through a variety of formats as well platforms. The secret is staging and diversity.
Read MorePartially rehydrated bites of pad thai crunch between my teeth. If I was Alex Honnold, I’d use the the word, “mastication” but I’m just a simple outdoors guy who enjoys hanging with friends and eating food in the dirt. I mean, what more could you ask for than pretty view, some dirt under the nails, and a good night sleep under the stars?
Read MoreI was scrolling social media this morning (almost never a good idea) and, thankfully, I follow some science accounts because they posted about a supermoon happening tomorrow. This got my head spinning with photo ideas and figured I would go scouting this evening to see what I could create. Only there was one catch, the cloud cover was so thick I could not see the moon.
Read MoreDay three of my personal challenge to create a photo essay everyday I’m not on production came and went. Turns out, to create a photo essay in a single day, plus write a story about it takes about 2 to 3 hours and somedays I just don’t have that much time. A prime example, today.
But, who really cares? Let’s blow this popsicle stand and head to the Greek Island of Mykonos.
Read MoreGetting out of the car, today’s walk was going to be short and full. Kristin and Chestnut were joining me for the evening stroll. Yes, it’s day two of my personal challenge to go for a daily photo walk, and this one was a close call. Today was filled with an afternoon of chores; taking Chestnut to the vet, donating stuff to Goodwill, and more boring things like that. The real life of a photographer, am I right?!
Read MoreSedona is a destination that I've returned to time and time again as its stunning red rock formations, mystical vortexes, and a unique blend of outdoor adventures pull me back. Sometimes I live large in hotels and other visits to Sedona, AZ I sleep in the red dirt while camping in the expansive BLM land surrounding the town.
Read MoreSomething came over me as I lingered in the CVS parking lot trying to decide if I should continue with the day’s chores or take the Sunday evening off and head for a sunset walk at Fallen Leaf Lake. Looking for some encouragement, I texted Kristin, “Hey! Why don’t you get ready and we go for a sunset hike at fallen leaf?”
Read MoreAs a kid, I dreamed of traveling the world and telling stories, but there was no clear path to making this happen. I had role models who gave me insights into what living your dream life looked like, but no industry connections for telling stories. So, when I started down my path of living my dream life, I looked to my greatest roll models to figure out how they were able to live their dream lives.
Read MoreFor the last decade, I have called Lake Tahoe my home and there are few spots that I return to several times throughout a year. However, Bonsai Rock, on the northeast shore of the lake, is one of those places.
Read MoreWho still uses day rates when hiring a photographer? This is what I'm seeing...
Part of the industry is clinging to day rates meanwhile another part of the industry is looking towards photographers to be the producer, creative director, editor, photographer, etc.
Read MoreThere are stupid ideas and then there are creative itches you have to scratch. This hike to a "hidden waterfall" in Alaska was kinda both.
Read MoreMany of us return from a trip, drop our gear on the floor of our now dusty rooms, and head for a quick shower hoping to feel whole again. While the hot water feels great, processing a trip doesn’t happen that fast. But, clean is always a better feeling than being dirty. Yet, the “to do list” when arriving home is lengthy:
Read MoreSitting here on my couch, feeling excited and a bit bummed, I’m reflecting on why I keep trying to make this failing side hustle work. Again and again and again and again and again, it has failed in one way or another. Yet, I keep iterating and grinding away hoping to make this side hustle a reality.
Read MoreI am supposed to be on Everest, right now, the broken record in my head repeats. Why am I standing on top of my van watching the sunrise from Las Vegas?
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