Firefighter calendar kick off party & new video

Another photo from one of my sessions for the 2010 Austin Firefighters Calendar. My images will illustrate the March, April, May and January months. See my September postings for more photos.

The calendar release & signing party is this Thursday, November 12 at Cool River Cafe on Parmer starting at 6:30pm.

Below is a new version of my "behind-the-scenes" video from the calendar shoot (new music). It combines time-lapse footage plus stills from the sessions. Be sure to have your speakers on for the subtle background music.

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Video not working (or want to see it larger)? Click here for the YouTube posting

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009: Good enough to eat!

Let's see... I love food...I love photography...hmmm....

Oct 13, 2009: Firefighter calendar production video

(Video not working? Go to YouTube version)

This is a 2 minute movie combining time lapse video of my photos sessions for the 2010 Austin Firefighters calendar with the actual still photos from those sessions. I also added in some subtle music for your enjoyment.

See the previous two blog entries for other photos from this project.

More Austin Firefighter Calendar samples

Here are samples of the other three firefighters I photographed for the 2009 Austin Firefighter Calendar (see the 8/26/09 posting for more info).

Coming soon: "behind-the-scenes" video of the photo shoots.

Sample from Firefighter Shoot; August 25, 2009

I will be photographing four of our local firefighters for the 2009 Austin Firefighters Calendar, a fund raising effort for the AF Relief and Outreach Fund. The fund provides assistance to firefighters and their families impacted by injury, illness, or death, as well as aid to other citizens in need.

Here are a couple of samples of firefighter Todd Heiser of Engine 11. Our session was at the Zilker Botanical Gardens. I extend my thanks to Todd and his three colleagues who I have worked with this week (don't worry, the others will be represented in my blog in turn). We are lucky to have such folks protecting us and our homes!

Friday, July 17. 2009

Hi ya'll (if anyone is still reading this!); as you have figured out, I have not been attending to my blog or my project. In all honesty, it turned out to be more than I could fit in each day, what with trying to make a living.

I don't like the thought of dropping my project all together so I am trying to formulate a different approach. I will probably have to modify the project to where I may post a photo every day, but not necessarily TAKE a photo everyday.

It will probably August before I can get going again so I hope you'll tune back in then.

Thanks!

Matt

Photo for Monday, May 18: Golf with your friends

Golfing buddies at the Lost Creek Country Club, Austin, TX. Have you ever seen a more distinguished group of gentleman?

Photo for Friday, April 24: Salmon fillets

Salmon fillets, before and after.

Photo for Thursday, April 23: Roses

Another photo of our rose bushes in bloom. I wish I could take credit but they grow this way all on their own.

Photo for Wednesday, April 22: headshot montage

Bobby, headshot client.

Photo for Tuesday, April 21: Growing vine

Vine growing through my neighbors fence. To see what it looked like during winter go to the posting for February 6.

Photo for Monday, April 20: Traffic in the light

Traffic in the reflected sunlight, 5th Street at Brazos, Austin, TX.

Photo for Sunday, April 19: Another mandolin player

Rebecca Lovell of the Lovell Sisters, Old Settlers Music Festival, near Driftwood, TX. The absolute highlight of the festival for me was getting to see the Lovell Sisters from Georgia. These young women are the real deal; incredible musicians on their individual instruments they also had great stage presence and an obvious passion for their craft. If you enjoy folk, bluegrass or country you have to check them out, http://www.lovellsistersband.com/

Photo for Saturday, April 18: The Lee Brothers rocking at OSMF

The Lee Boys with the Travelin' McCourys, Old Settlers Music Festival, near Driftwood, TX. This was my first year at the festival and I was fortunate to have lots of access because I volunteered at the festival. I was right at the stage watching these guys and they rocked the festival to the ground!

Photo for Friday, April 17: Mandolin Player

Mandolin Player, Old Settlers Music Festival, near Driftwood, TX. My friend Sean showing off some fancy fret work during a friendly jam session - one of many at the festival.

Photo for Thursday, April 16: The anonymous guitar player

The unknown guitar player, Old Settlers Music Festival, near Driftwood, TX.

Photo for Wednesday, April 15: Shopping for camping

Shopping for my camping trip to Old Settlers Music Festival.

Posting Notice....

Hi ya'll,

I won't be posting for the next few days because of my schedule. I will be taking photos however. Look for those postings by end of the day Monday April 20.

Thanks!

Matt

Photo for Tuesday, April 14: Come on in...

Front door, Austin, TX.

Photo for Monday, April 13: Austin art

click on image to enlarge

Mirrored art piece, East 5th Street between San Marcos and Waller, Austin, TX. I spied this piece outside one of the converted warehouses along E. 5th that are now artists studios. I was coming out of my 5k prep class around 7:00pm so the sun was getting low and I loved how the various mirrored tiles reflect the sun and the sky. I really love this town!

Photo for Sunday, April 12: Mayan calendar

Mayan calendar still life. The original PDA; great for farming and predicting cycles of the moon, but tough to carry around in your pocket.
For more samples of my work click here

Photo for Saturday, April 11: Red tip blooms

Redtip blooms, my yard. My gigantic redtips have just started blooming again - Spring is upon us!

Photo for Friday, April 10: Dashboard lights

Nissan altima dashboard lights. Okay, it was getting late and I was desparate to get my shot! I actually think I would like to try it again when I can steady the camera better.

Photo for Thursday, April 09: Rose bloom

Rose bloom, my back yard. One of the first blooms on the rose vine along our side fence.

Photo for Wednesday, April 08: Swans at exotic animal ranch

Black swans at the TDS Exotic Animal Ranch, Creedmor, TX. I saw a group of these black swans on a small pond after photographing a corporate event at the TDS facility.

Photo for Tuesday, April 07: A view from a downtown intersection

A view from Congress Avenue northbound at Ceasar Chavez.

Photo for Monday, April 06: The secret lives of dogs

What your dog does when you're not home.

News Flash! Hard drive crash delays postings!

Dear Friends,

Sorry I am behind on my postings - it's partially because of a busy week but mainly because of a corrupted hard drive (I thought that could only happen to morals)!

No worries, I am a fiend about duplicate back ups so I have all of the data I just need to get this drive replaced or back online.

Give me a couple days and I will have the weeks postings caught up.

Thanks!

Photo for Sunday, April 5: Bike art

Bike art, Whole Foods on 6th Street, Austin, TX. Whether for riding or just to admire, bicycles are a wonderful thing!
Click here for more samples of Matt's photography

Photo for Saturday, April 04: Trailside bike repair

Trailside mountain bike repair, Walnut Creek Park, Austin, TX. The spin of a wheel, a turn of an allen wrench; we're back to phat tire antics on the trail.
Click here for more samples of Matt's photography

Photo for Friday, April 03: A boy and his dog

Ginger, Australian Shepard; Sean, human being: Ginger discovers Sean's nose to be highly ticklish. Sean withholds sheep flavored treats.
Click here for more samples of Matt's photography

Photo for Thursday, April 02: View under a bridge

Bridge over small canal in my neighborhood. Man, I'm on a roll with photographing the drainage ditches!

Photo for Wednesday, April 1: Bull Creek

Bull Creek, off of Spicewood Springs, west of Capital of TX Hwy, Austin, TX.

Photo for Tuesday, March 31: Reflections & angles

Reflections in a roadside retaining pond, Parmer Lane; Austin, TX. I spied this scene while out for a bike ride. I'm attracted (like many photographers) to reflections as well as geometric and graphic patterns. Who knew a drainage pond could be beautiful?

Photo for Monday, March 30: Spring is here!

Verbenias on the Brush Creek Hike and Bike Trail, Austin, TX: Not only did I discover a new suburban bike trail (paved, not off road unfortunately), but I spied these lovely blossoms by the creek.

Photo for Sunday, March 29: The incredible, inedible egg

Easter egg factory, a friend's dining room table; Austin, TX. These friends got on the Easter Bunny's list way early! They've received their painted egg order and are ready for the big day. Chickens must hate this time of year.

Photo for Saturday, March 28: Old truck

Old truck, Austin, TX: I saw this cool old truck while riding by on my bike.

Photo for Friday, March 27: Water, water everywhere...

A cascade of waterbottles at my local HEB. Remember when water came from a tap, or a hose? Remember being indignant at the thought of paying for a bottle of water?

Photo for Thursday, March 26: King Henry VIII & Pooch

Marilyn & Patches, portrait clients: A medieval pet's checklist; doggie-sized castle, check. Flea resistant chain-mail, check. Human dressed as old English king with more marriages than Elizabeth Taylor, check.

Photo for Wednesday, March 25: Reflection study

Reflection in water collected on a tarp, my backyard. Amazing that I found something interesting and beautiful in the disaster that is our backyard (we have black and blue tarps all over the ground to kill off a tenacious vine - our yard looks like a big bruise!).
For samples of my other photography work, click here

Photo for Wednesday, March 24: A bird in the bush...

A peacock from Mayfield Park, Austin, TX. The peacocks at Mayfield were in full regalia and ramping up to court the peahens. I was lucky to spy this one in the ground foliage. Lucky in that he wasn't up in the trees overhead (they are very large birds and walking below them provides them an easy target!).

Photo for March 23: Dinner veggies

Veggies for roasting. Yummy!

Photo for March 22: Flower power

Flowering amaryllis, my backyard. Actually, this plant lives inside the house but I took it outside for the purposes of this photo. Don't worry, it was safely back inside during the hail storm we just had.

Photo for March 21: SXSW fruit art

Orange peel art left on downtown fountain during SXSW Festival week, Austin, TX. I noticed people stopping to look intently at what I thought was just a regular ole' orange peel. After the third person, I had to investigate. Someone created something not for notoriety or money but for the sheer joy of creating and sharing. I love this town!

Photo for March 20: High school senior portrait

High school senior portrait. No big styrofoam grad year in my senior portraits!

For more samples of this type of work click here

No photos for last week!

Well, it's a photographer's worst nightmare; in the midst of my three 12 hour days last week I erased the media card that had my daily photos for Monday through Thursday! I have never done that before (at least not with any client work - thank goodness!).

Anyway, I have photos from Friday (3/20) through today and should get those posted up by tomorrow (Tuesday 3/24).

It's really disappointing about last weeks photos; I'll add those days onto the end so I still end up with 365 days worth of shots.

Note to self: "Self, be sure to always download photos EACH day regardless of how late it might be!".

Delay in posting photos this week

Hi ya'll - I'm working three 12 - 14 hour days this week so although I'll be taking my shots I probably won't be able to post until late Friday or possibly even the weekend.

Stay posted (so to speak)!

M

Photo for March 15: Snake, rattle & roll!

Unwanted guest in your bathtub? Actually, this was the set of photo shoot being photographed by a friend of mine for his portfolio. This guy was hanging out making sure no one added too much cold water.

Photo for March 14: Inside graffitti

Empty (?) building on Lavaca Street, just south of 15th Street, Austin, TX. It's not often you see graffitti INSIDE of closed building. Perhaps it was a statement by the landlord.

Photo for March 13: Actor's headshot

Actor's headshot. Wouldn't you buy toothpaste from this person? Or shampoo? Or life insurance? You might be soon.

Photo for March 12: Rainwater off the roof

A small waterfall off my cluttered rain gutter.