I wasn’t expecting my first opportunity to catch a performance by the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra would come about with camera in hand. Kat Dalager, of Campbell Mithun, called with a project for Fiserv “provider of technology solutions to the financial world.” The shot was to fit in line with existing campaign imagery highlighting the orange square within Fiserv’s logo as the “hero” in the scene. In this instance it was the music stand within the orchestra setting.

Art directed by Wendy Hanson, and produced by Humble Monkey Productions, all the elements came together quite nicely. The members of the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra were more than generous with their time, despite it being quite warm and their being dressed in full performance attire. They even gave us a few abbreviated performances.

The last part of the shoot had the orchestra members moving out into the seats acting as symphony patrons. We shot multiple frames of them grouped together in all areas which, when layered together, provided the look and feel of a full house of spectators. Retoucher Brad Palm put the finishing touches on the ad and as you can see the before and after shots tell the story of how the final pieces came together.

This past June I had the opportunity to spend a couple of days behind the scenes capturing still + video content with hip-hop artist Brother Ali, producer Ant, and friends. These studio sessions became part of Brother Ali's latest album "US," which is releasing worldwide today. Rhymesayers created a trailer for the album a little over a month ago on YouTube and it is fast approaching 100,000 views.

To coincide with today's album release I am happy to present an updated "Director's Cut," version which includes additional JCP footage to include a still collage at the end as well as design elements from Nathan Strandberg of EightHourDay. Thanks to Ben Cohen, Nathan Strandberg, Jules Ameel, and John Fontana for your contributions to this piece as well. Spread the word and check out the album today...

The summer months have kept us running with some really nice projects allowing us to collaborate with a variety of new clients. We’ve been trying to carve out time for some testing / personal shooting for my book. A while back we heard that Minneapolis has a polo club and immediately knew this would likely offer a rich array of potential options. My colleague John got in contact with the Twin Cities Polo Club and arranged for us to take in a practice on a recent Thursday evening. The polo grounds are located about an hour outside of Minneapolis on a vast acreage of farmland that couldn’t have been more picturesque to shoot at. After checking in with Gaston, the club manager from Argentina, we were free to roam, behind the scenes of the world of polo. For the short amount of time we spent and our limited knowledge of polo, I am quite pleased with the imagery. To see more images from the Polo Club take a look at the latest two galleries of work at the “Archive” section of my website.

Recent travel through the Black Hills area of South Dakota included a night on Horsethief Lake, less than a mile from Mount Rushmore. The name "Black Hills" translates from the Lakota Paha Sapa, and has been described as an "island of trees in a sea of grass." Illustrating this was the view out my front door just before mid-night where everything was perfect with the exception of the occasional passing vehicle. Upon taking this shot, I realized they actually added a little something to the scene, and henceforth my evening...

Earlier this summer my son Wesley and I took our third annual 4-day trip to Ely, Minnesota including a drive along the shore of Lake Superior. I describe these trips as our "Thelma and Louise," get-aways.

This will be a short post as I think the pictures say it all. What I can say is I love this guy and I love this time...

"I really believe that we don't have to make a trade-off between security and privacy. I think technology gives us the ability to have both." - John Poindexter

Privacy has always been at a premium and seems even more so these days with the ever-present electronic devices gracing our personal space. Borrowing from the principles of a polarizing filter for photography, the new flexible, slim, film-like "Privacy Filter" fits over a cell phone or computer screen and was the recent subject of two ads created for 3M via Gage.

The privacy filter allows the user to see what appears on their device and thwarts the gaze of onlookers by allowing light to pass through in the direction of the user and turning dark when viewed at any slight angle. In doing so, this keeps others from potentially seeing something unintended for them. We set up one scenario on a light-rail car to depict a typical commuter setting. For the second scene we used a medical office lobby to demonstrate the necessity of privacy and the efficacy of the screen filter. After a full day of lighting, adjusting the blindfolds on the talent, and shooting the product in use, it’s safe to say the images convey the overall message associated with using the privacy filter.

Always something different... Another interesting shoot with a great crew and agency / client to collaborate with.

My wife and I recently set out on our bikes from our doorstep in Minneapolis, pedaling to Duluth and the shore of Lake Superior over a three-day weekend; a little a break, sans kids, in the good ole' summer time. Riding a total of 192 miles we traveled amid constant rain for the majority of the trip. The weather finally eased for the last leg leaving a shroud of mist and fog over the landscape before us. At this point we were riding along an old railroad bed, converted to a paved path named the Willard Munger Trail which travels from Hinckley to Duluth. According to the MN DNR the Willard Munger is the longest paved trail in the world. Whether it still holds that claim or not it's a beautiful ride through one of the most scenic areas of Minnesota, one I'd certainly recommend and gladly repeat.

"Ocean, emotion, and constant promotion," is how Time magazine described the location of my most recent shoot--Atlantic City. The project for Bauer via Olson kept us far from the water most of the week, but upon wrapping we headed straight to the legendary Boardwalk. First built in 1870 as a means of keeping sand out of hotel lobbies, the concept bloomed and has been an integral part of the east coast, and New Jersey lore ever since. Flanked by saw-grass and sandy beach on one side, and an array of decaying small shops on the other, it doesn't appear that a whole lot has changed if you ignore the more modern casinos / hotels towering overhead. It certainly appears "Always Turned On," and it wouldn't be what it is if it wasn't a bit rough around the edges.