Help-Portrait was a huge success! If we helped just one person it would be a success…but we managed to help 80 people/families.

Thank you to all volunteers, not only those at URM, but at all Los Angeles Location as well as all around the world. I’ve been part of this for the past 3 years and each time it amazes me on how giving each volunteer is.

Official Stats from the URM location:

• 80 People
• 56 Signed Portraits
• 32 Volunteers

Here are some behind the scenes photo I’ve managed to take:

Co-leading Help-Portrait 2011 with Dan Portnoy at the Union Rescue Mission this year! Going to be awesome!

Ok, I think it’s time to get back to the basics.  Film was what got me in love with photography and film is where I’m going back to.  It is very cathartic for me when I was developing my own rolls of film and printing out my own prints.   There’s an art to it…a finesse.  It takes time and patience…it takes an understanding of light, composition and equipment.

Although digital is great in its own right, I’m the type of person that thinks certain technologies are a hinderance on life and us as a human species.  Being constantly connected has it’s privileges but at what costs?  When you rather be ensconced in Facebook on your smartphone when you’re sitting at a table with your friends and family, then I’d call that a huge cost.  When you’re walking and on your smartphone at the same time not paying attention to traffic, I’d call that a huge cost.  When you’re at a concert fumbling with your phone to record and photograph the concert instead of being in the moment and enjoying, I’d call that a huge cost.

I’m going to stop trying to increase the business side of things as that has taken away the passion I had for photography.  I’m not saying that that’s bad…just saying that they are two totally separate things.  I want to continue with what I love to do and trust that the rest will take care of itself.  If a business arises from it, great.  If not, no worries.

So, first thing’s first.  I’m going back to shooting with film.  I’m going back to shooting street.  I’m going to setup my darkroom.  I’m going to redesign my site and this blog.

This will become more of a personal blog rather than a photography/business blog.

Renovations start this weekend!

Ok…I couldn’t wait to put my new website, so it’s up!  I’m still sifting through all my photos trying to selectively pick the best ones, as should be when putting up a portfolio.  But man, it’s a hard job…cuz we’re our own worst critics right?

In the meantime, I’ve put up some recent shots in the fashion section that I’m happy with…I may widdle it down still.  I also have to write up my bio page which hopefully will get done by the end of this week.

Lots to do still!  Click here to go to the site and let me know what you think.