ebook by david duchemin / with guest feature by chris orwig
i’m honored to be a part of david duchemin’s latest ebook, it’s titled inspired eye 2. if you’re looking for a quick and engaging read about creativity and photography i think you’ll enjoy this 35 page ebook. david has a great way of communicating in both written word and visual form… and here’s the best part the book only costs $5!
click here to learn more!
February 5, 2010 | 
5 | inspiration
Create Compelling Photographs
if you’re in need of a photographic creative boost, check out my most recent article in the latest issue of layers magazine. it’s all about how to create more compelling photographs.
click here to view the article online – enjoy!
February 3, 2010 | 4 | inspiration
jay maisel / interview
jay maisel is an amazing photographer. in fact he’s one of the best. his photographs are vibrant and alive. he is a living legend. over the last few years i’ve had a handful of opportunities to hang out with jay and i’ve consistently been impressed and inspired. a few weeks back when we crossed paths i asked jay a handful of questions and recorded his response. as always, jay’s words were honest, insightful, entertaining and thought-provoking.
click on the play button below to listen to 10 min of our conversation. before you begin, grab a pencil and a scratch sheet of paper as you may want to jot down some notes. enjoy!
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November 8, 2009 | 41 | inspiration, interview, people who inspire, photographer
visual poetry / live presentation
i am incredibly excited to announce that this thur nov 12 at 10am (pst) i will be giving a live 1 hour webcast presentation in regards to my latest book, “visual poetry”. the presentation will be a mixture of inspiration, anecdotes and photographs + some time at the end for questions.
if you’re looking for a creative boost, be sure to join in on the fun – click here for the more info!
above are some of the photos from the book (click on the image for larger view)
November 8, 2009 | 7 | inspiration, photography
david duchemin / interview
david duchemin is more than a typical photographer and the more i get to know him the more impressed i am. as a person david is honest, humble, engaged and fully alive. the poet kay ryan once said, “i like to think of all good poetry as providing more oxygen into the atmosphere; it just makes it easier to breathe.” that’s exactly how i think about david’s work (whether photography, teaching, writing or speaking)… in other words, while viewing or experiencing david’s work i’m awestruck and my breath is taken away… yet after a few moments its as if there’s more oxygen in my lungs. as result i breath and live more fully and wholly. if you’re not familiar with his work/books/blog/etc. click here.
as a side note, david and i have been talking about putting together a photographic workshop/retreat sometime next year. it would be a chance to dig deep, to be renewed, revived and of course to have a ton of fun. collectively, we would explore how to create a solid vision and in turn discover how to create more compelling photographs. if you’re interested in offering some suggestions of workshops you’d like to see, or if you’d simply like to sign up to be notified of workshops click here.
the last time david and i met up i asked him a few questions and you can listen to our conversation by clicking the play button below – enjoy!
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November 8, 2009 | 5 | inspiration, interview, people who inspire, photographer
photographing nature / ralph clevenger
i just received my copy of ralph clevenger’s book, “photographing nature” and i am so excited to finally have the book in my hands (thanks to greg lawler for snapping the photo above and below). the book is phenomenal!!!
as many of you know, ralph is one of my colleagues/on the faculty at brooks, one of my photographic mentors and a great friend. as you can imagine i had high hopes and expectations for the book. i’m incredibly pleased to say the the book exceeds even my extremely high and outlandish expectations!
i’ll post a full review once i’ve read it completely, yet for now you can view
more info about his book by clicking here.
November 5, 2009 | 4 | artist, brooks, inspiration, people who inspire, photographer
lynda
lynda weinman (above) is someone i greatly admire. in fact one of my life’s greatest privileges is creating training for her and her husband’s company lynda.com. today i was finishing up some new lightroom 3 beta training and lynda stopped by to say hello. i seized the moment and snapped a few pics.
if you’re not familiar with lynda.com be sure to click here to check it out
on another note, last night at dinner lynda was showing deke (another author) and myself that the entire lynda.com training library can be accessed and viewed on the iphone – yeeehoo!
October 30, 2009 | 9 | inspiration, people who inspire, portrait, ventura
within the frame
this last week i had the privilege of spending some time with acclaimed humanitarian photographer david duchemin. above is a pic of david from when we went shooting in the neon graveyard. if you aren’t familiar with him or his work – it’s inspiring! click here to check it out.
his most recent book is titled within the frame (shown below) and it is one of my all time favorites – great images, strong words and inspiring ideas. after hanging out with david this week i’ve decided that when i’m back home i’m going to read it again.
October 4, 2009 | 7 | inspiration, photography
stussy
yesterday i had the privilege of stopping by shawn stussy’s creative headquarters. shawn is an amazing person who can’t be defined by conventional means. he is a creative thinker, artist, surfer, surf board maker, designer, visual savant and more. he is articulate, down-to-earth and alive. it was an unbelievably inspiring visit.
September 16, 2009 | 1 | inspiration, portrait, santa barbara
Visual Poetry – Companion Website!
i have just finished and launched a companion website www.visual-poet.com for my book visual poetry!
on the site you’ll find overview information, bonus content – like a great interview of joyce tenneson,
audio clips of me reading excerpts of the books and more!
if you’d like to visit the site click here!
August 29, 2009 | 3 | inspiration
Visual Poetry – Sneak Peak!
click play to view a video of my most recent book project!
August 28, 2009 | 7 | inspiration, video
visual poetry – yeeeehoooo!
i just got my copy of my latest book visual poetry! the print and paper quality are stunning and the book looks unreal – i am so excited!! i was flipping through the pages down at the harbor and snapped the photo above. click on it for a larger view. yeeeaaahooooo!
August 26, 2009 | 16 | inspiration
tim mantoani interview
tim mantoani has been working on an amazing project titled, ”behind the photographs.” he is a brooks institute grad and was having a show at brooks institute (where i teach). the show is absolutely stunning. if you live anywhere near santa barbara you have to check it out! to the left is a photo that i snapped of tim while he was setting up the show.
click on the link below to listen to a conversation we had while walking through the brooks cota gallery. you will find his words intriguing, enlightening and inspiring – enjoy!
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click here to view more of tim’s work
August 6, 2009 | 3 | brooks, inspiration, interview, people who inspire, photographer, portrait
Book Project / Update
I am really excited about my upcoming book, “Visual Poetry”. The book is about becoming creative and making compelling photographs. It is based on the premise that what the novelist says in 20,000 words the poet says in 20. And it is not just reduce and simplify. Rather, it is reduce, simplify and deepen. After reading a poem we don’t only have more information, but more experience. I can’t wait until this project goes live! For now, I have to keep on writing!!
June 11, 2009 | 9 | inspiration
joni sternbach
joni sternbach is an acclaimed fine art photographer. her images are riveting, thought provoking and inspiring. i had the chance to talk with her about a current project titled, “surfland”. listen to the interview below and to view photos from the shoot: click here
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to view more of her work (like the image below): click here
April 22, 2009 | 5 | beach, inspiration, interview, people who inspire, photographer
legends
while at the palm springs photo festival, i’ve had the opportunity to spend time and photograph two of my photographic heroes: steve and duane. needless to say, it was both interesting and inspiring. i hope you enjoy these portraits and be sure to click on the links below to check out their work.
steve mccurry | duane michaels
April 3, 2009 | 0 | inspiration, people who inspire, photographer
joe curren / even keel
joe curren is someone i admire deeply: an artist, writer, thinker, traveler, and super talented surfer.
channel islands surfboards has just released a joe curren signature model: the even keel
i had the chance to snap some photos at the hammonds tracks
and to record an interview at his brother tom’s house in santa barbara.
>> click here to listen to the interview <<
March 5, 2009 | 3 | friends, inspiration, people who inspire, portrait, santa barbara, surf
flipside is another creation by