Cup of Joe Photo

Are you inspired?

I'd like to know if you feel inspired. I'm fascinated with the concept of inspiration and have indulged myself for years in activities that nourish my creativity. Enlighten me to your process, habits or peculiarities. I look forward to your comments.

Photographic technique is no secret and – provided the interest is there – easily assimilated. But inspiration comes from the soul and when the Muse isn’t around even the best exposure meter is very little help. In their biographies, artists like Michelangelo, da Vinci and Bach said that their most valuable technique was their ability to inspire themselves. This is true of all artists; the moment there is something to say, there becomes a way to say it. -Ralph Gibson, from his book Déjà vu [cited in: Creative Camera December 1972, p. 401]

Album Page

Man, I've really been designing a lot of albums lately. As I have, I find I'm moving toward extra design elements, rather than just black or white backgrounds. I'd like to know what you all think about this page of Reception shots. Thanks.

Also, photographers have been asking me about Canon or Nikon and the D3. I'm personally holding out to see what happens with the "noise" in the D3. I have not used one yet and I'm certainly not holding my breath either. Canon makes rockin' cameras and glass. If the D3 doesn't blow me away, I'm switching next year. It seems that Nikon is not really interesting in keeping their pros happy. You'd think they'd want to hold on to the few they have left. (sense the bitterness?...) OK There's my answer.

Time for Fashion

It's time to check out JPG magazine again for Fashion and other cool visual stories. It had been a while since I dropped in. I'm totally amazed at the killer contributions photographers are making to this magazine. This site is vibrating with creativity. Have your morning coffee, or tea, or beer and check it out.

Uncle Photo

The reason I sometimes refer to myself as Uncle Photo is because of these three, sweet kids. Two of them are my God-Children too:) (You'll have to guess which ones). Anyway, I photographed my sister Lisa's kids the other day for a Christmas card image. She wanted one with all three of the kids together. As you know, working with kids is much harder than shooting weddings.... I thought I'd show you the before and after images from one of my favs. Happy Tuesday.

Guitar Hero II

I hope that everyone had an enjoyable long weekend. I spent a lot of time with family and we had a great time. Sadly, the surf was not good for the traditional Thanksgiving Day rides. But my sister and her husband did score an xbox with Guitar Hero II on Friday so we played that for hours. I first played this game with clients when I was in NYC last April. We had a blast then and I'm now going to have to get it for myself. Here's a few photos of the action.

BTW- The (short advertisment) video from my Introversion post from last wednesday seemed to be crashing my blog. So I moved the video to a link. if you haven't seen it, you really, really should.

The Echo of Life

This is a vivid illustration to consider. I hope you enjoy it.

A son and his father were walking on the mountains.
Suddenly, the son falls, hurts himself and screams:
"AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating,
somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"
Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"
He receives the answer: "Who are you?"
Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"
He receives the answer: "Coward!"
He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"
The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."
And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"
The voice answers: "I admire you!"
Again the man screams: "You are a champion!"
The voice answers: "You are a champion!"
The boy is surprised, but does not understand.
Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO,
but really this is LIFE.
It gives you back everything you say or do.
Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.
If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.
If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence.
This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life;
Life will give you back everything you have given to it.
YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOU!
- Author Unknown

Dancing For Destiny (Charity)

I know, I know. I've been on a video kick this past week. But some things are better conveyed on video.
I got back for a long bike ride and had been listening to Jack Canfield speaking about finding your passion. I love this topic. I've felt for a long time very blessed that I have found mine. I was pulling up to my house when a few of my totally cute little neighbors were outside "Dancing for Destiny". They decided to raise money by doing something they loved - dancing!

You know, we adults could really learn a thing or two from the children around us about finding our passions. I am a firm believer that the Kingdom of Heaven is filled with those who have a childlike heart. Where is your heart? I'm grateful for the reminder and purity of "Dancing for Destiny". Enjoy!

Special thanks to Tara, Natalie, Mia and Emily for their joy and their passion.

New Cup

I hope everyone got as stuffed as I did yesterday. We'll be feasting on Turkey for days.

I found a new cup of joe and I'll soon be working on an updated banner. I have a long list to accomplish in December. Have a happy weekend:)

Thanksgiving

I choose to believe that I'm extremely blessed. We can believe just about anything as humans, so why not focus on blessings and Thanksgiving. Thankful people are happy people:) I'm grateful for my Faith, my Family, my health, my Friends and my profession (just to name my top 5). Blessings abound to all of us. I hope that this Thanksgiving causes your heart to sing for joy for the blessings around you that you enjoy.

My friend Charlie Samples photographed this scene last week for a rancher in NW Oklahoma. I think it's a great reminder for me that when I think I'm so significant in the universe, that I'm really just a Turkey.

Introversion

16 years ago I took the Myers Briggs personality test as part of our pre-marital classes. I was surprised at the results. I placed very strong as an Introvert. I'd always been sort of quiet in large groups and I had a really hard time making new friends in High School. I went to three different high schools in three different states. It's funny though now as I look back. There were a few things that helped, though I certainly suffered from some of the ill side effects from many of the treatments. It's amazing that 25 years later, some of what helped me is now being advertised online. Introverts take hope! There is a possible cure. Please see the short advertisment and make sure you check with your doctor and understand the possible side effects:) Happy Wednesday.

Introversion (I) I like getting my energy from dealing with the ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions that are inside my head, in my inner world. I often prefer doing things alone or with one or two people I feel comfortable with. I take time to reflect so that I have a clear idea of what I’ll be doing when I decide to act. Ideas are almost solid things for me. Sometimes I like the idea of something better than the real thing.

The following statements generally apply to me:
I am seen as “reflective” or “reserved.”
I feel comfortable being alone and like things I can do on my own.
I prefer to know just a few people well.
I sometimes spend too much time reflecting and don’t move into action quickly enough.
I sometimes forget to check with the outside world to see if my ideas really fit the experience.

PS-Thanks for this link Dad, I hope I can help some fellow introverts out there. It still works for me:)

Mayhem in the Neighborhood

I don't know what's up with me. Two skateboard videos in a row...what am I, fifteen? Whatever. Yesterday, I thought I'd feature my green Steve Madden skate shoes since I wore the orange ones the day before. I got done with a lot of work on Monday, so I took a break and skated and jumped off swings with Max and Lucas. Embrace immaturity! It works for me.

PS our mayhem was pretty harmless. Also, parents - make your kids wear helmets:)

Skateboarding with my #1 Fan

I like to spend time skateboarding at least a couple of times a month. Yesterday, I went around the neighborhood a few times and thought I would get creative and make a video to show you a little bit of my "hood". I ran into my self-proclaimed #1 fan. She's going to be President of my fan club and she always has a hug waiting for me. Her name is Julia and she and her friend Holly, cruised around with me for a while trying to navigate the reflectors on our streets. Good times can be as simple as these. My life is good:) Enjoy the video!

Lessons on the road less travelled

Yesterday I gained some valuable insights into my preferences. I was speaking to Ingrid about why we do what we do. You know, why we respond to our parents the way we do, or processing our disappointments, or gossiping, ect. Then I decided to mix up my routine by going biking rather than speed walking and realized that by simply changing one pattern can offer new excitement by challenging new thinking. I realized that we are all doing the best we can. I think of humanity as "walking wounded". The idea that we all have issues that we mostly keep secret and don't talk about. Especially our fears and disappointments. When my friend Noel arrived in the afternoon, we continued on this theme. I've been processing my place in this life for some months now and have really come to understand that I am to promote healing. First my own, and my family. Preserving, protecting, and promoting. Then those around me. To love unconditionally. We really are all "walking wounded" in one way or many ways. Through love, I am living the life God created me to live. Love heals wounded people. I think that's all that most people long for anyway.

Anyway, these are a few of things I considered on Saturday.

Jack Kerouac - “I had nothing to offer anybody except my own confusion.”

The Windy City

Chicago is an incredibly adventurous city. There is so much to see. The old firehouse on Michigan Ave is now a photo gallery. This is a must see landmark.

The backside of a church from Rush Street.

After buying new shoes from my favorite shoe store "Alternatives" I was directed to the world famous Giordano's. The place was crazy busy so I made my way through the crowd to the one open seat at the bar to eat and have a beer.

On my way to the bar I hear a woman call my name and I turn to see my client with her friends. Talk about interesting. Of all the places in the entire city, I run into my client that I was in town to shoot the next day.
I also lost my wallet there, and again ...amazingly, it was turned in with everything still in it. It was my lucky day!

That afternoon I hung out with my friend Heather Kingensmith who showed me around town.

I insisted that we go on the swings as my immaturity often compels me to play:)

This was a classic scene as we stopped to view the city from the Aquarium. A bus of tourists poured out and started snapping. I had to do the same:)

We went to visit my buddy Peter at his newest home. The inside is insane. Peter designs great homes.

The next day I spent time in Millennium Park walking around by myself. What a blast!

The Jellybean is so cool.

What can I say, you're only as old as you act!

Andrea and Ben's Chicago Portraits

Two weeks ago (already) I photographed an awesome couple with their fabulously huge Great Danes. I was stoked because I had a Great Dane when I was a kid and it was cool to be around these big dogs again. California is so full of little dogs... It is also my very favorite time of year, Autumn. The leaves changing color were a beautiful bonus. Enjoy!

Tons to do

Though I have tons to do to update the Rimrock website with photos and post a bunch of images on the blog, I'm plum tuckered out workin' on images. So, I'm having a date night with Ingrid instead. I'll catch up soon. The blog is, after all, just for fun. Here's a family photo from Rimrock. Have a great day:) Enjoy your family.

41 Shopping Days until Christmas

Two days ago Ingrid and I brought all the Christmas decorations out of our attic and started hanging lights and wreaths. Early you say?! That may be true, but there are only 41 more days until my favorite holiday. Truth be told, I would have waited longer, but Ingrid is a planner. I'm so grateful that she plans ahead. So to keep her happy and act like I'm helpful, I went along with her plan. Yesterday she did a bunch of Christmas shopping. I'll be doing that in, ummm, maybe 39 days.... Anyhow, it got me thinking about rewarding those who plan ahead. There are so many psychological reasons alone to plan ahead, less stress, more variety, ect. So I'm offering an incentive to those who plan ahead and have read this far. 50% off my Show & Tell 2 dvd FOR TODAY ONLY! Buy one for yourself, your spouse or a friend or all three. When checking out enter the promo code xmas. Viola! Saving money was never so convenient. Now more than ever, it pays to plan ahead. Jump start your photography business for 2008. Happy Shopping!

Good Friends

Friendships, like marriage, take time to grow. There is no one in the photography industry I am more blessed to know than my buddy Becker. A good friendship is mutually supportive and I am grateful that Becker has always supported my growth and development. Last week, he and Jessica went out of their way to be guests at my first workshop with John Mireles. Everyone was, of course, stoked that they came by and they even hung out for dinner. On top of that, John and I didn't have cash and Jess paid:) Yeah Jess!!

Everyday can be an opportunity to be a friend to someone. I'm calling today "thank a friend" day. So thanks Beck and Jess for your support and encouragement and continuing to redirect my life.

Life as a Book

I'm so excited about this new chapter in the "Book of my Life". I'm going to postpone my regular business book recommendation until next week and fill you in on what you can expect from me as I pour out more "Joe" in your "cup of joe" daily.

1. I plan to reveal more of my thoughts, ideas, and inspirations.

2. Respond to your comments. I'm looking forward to this commitment. I'll do my best to reply daily, but at least by the weekend. So check back often and let's dialog.

3. Continue to share my images...of course:)

I'll be posting tons from Rimrock this week as well as Chicago and images from the Cypress photography class I spoke at 3 weeks ago. In the meantime, enjoy this rockin' gem of a moment captured by my boi, Isaiah. This is my daughter Mikayla's favorite image of the two of us! Thanks Isaiah, "I'm glad you went"...

Walking, Jogging, Goals, and the Power of Choice.

As I was “power walking” and dictating my thoughts and to-do lists into a small voice recorder, I considered my goal for exercising. Ingrid and I often walk fast enough to get the benefits of increased heart rate, but slow enough to talk without gasping for air. My goal is different when I’m by myself. I usually walk faster and have recently decided to jog the second part of the three and half mile journey. The reason is simple. I’m increasing the effects of burning calories by jogging. As I’m fast approaching my 40 th year, I’ve decide to concentrate more energy on slimming down by drinking less alcohol, eating better foods, and exercising more often. I have changed my goals and thus also exercised my power of choice. The choice I have to live my life as I want.

While jogging up the hills, I was tempted to walk several times. I thought about blogging this story and I pressed on, with a target in mind to keep running. It worked. By developing a goal, I met the challenge. I felt empowered, and that empowerment extended its reach out into all areas of my day.

We have within us a great power. That power is choice. We can choose what we want to focus on and how we want our lives to be. We can change our minds at any time, and revise our journey with new goals. You and you alone ultimately decide the direction of your life. Enjoy the journey.

Processing Info

My head is reeling with new thoughts and ideas from my recent experiences. Ingrid and I had a chance to "walk and talk" yesterday for the first time in weeks and I became clear that the most significant things that I cherished this year have been about helping others. Specifically, The Russia Trip and The Rimrock Workshop. I'm so grateful for Ingrid's perspective and her encouragement to allow me to process my thoughts and grow in self awareness. I hope you all have an "Ingrid" in your lives.

Yesterday, Jessica Claire blew my mind for the second time in a couple of days. We were talking about blogs and she said that she'd like to know more about "me" on my blog. Personal stuff and pictures of the family, ect. "Cup of Joe Photo has little to tell us about Joe" she said (or something close to that because I got dizzy like I'd just been spun around 100 times). The statement pierced me deeply and made perfect sense. Jessica spoke to a perspective I didn't see and shifted my awareness. Thanks to Jess, I plan to make changes and reveal more Joe Photo in your cup of joe, starting today.

The past 10 days have been an amazing adventure. Autumn is my very favorite time of year and being in Chicago with a chill in the air and the leaves changing was a welcome change from the "one" season we enjoy in Southern California. In addition to the change of scenery offered by the Windy City, the desert near Joshua Tree provided near perfect wether conditions and blue, blue skies for our first Rimrock Workshops. I've been on Cloud 9 for days. Life is good.

I recommend making time to get a change of scenery often. I have found that by stepping out of my routine, I'm able to get a clearer view of my "true self" and my purpose.

Thanks Becker for this sweet shot of me.

New Album 4

I'll be teaching out at Rimrock Ranch for my workshop this week (without email and cell phone reception). So each day, I've preloaded a new sample album page for your comments. I look forward to reading all of your comments on Friday. Have a blessed week.

New Album 3

I'll be teaching out at Rimrock Ranch for my workshop this week (without email and cell phone reception). So each day, I've preloaded a new sample album page for your comments. I look forward to reading all of your comments on Friday. Have a blessed week.

"Rimrock TV" LIVE on the Caffeinated Addict Blog!

If you want to check out the daily LIVE action video being captured out at our Rimrock Ranch Workshops this week check it out on the Caffeinated Addict Blog!

If you are not already a subscriber to this blog, become one now:

Become A Caffeinated Addict

New Album 2

I'll be teaching out at Rimrock Ranch for my workshop this week (without email and cell phone reception). So each day, I've preloaded a new sample album page for your comments. I look forward to reading all of your comments on Friday. Have a blessed week.

New Album

I'll be teaching out at Rimrock Ranch for my workshop this week (without email and cell phone reception). So each day, I've preloaded a new sample album page for your comments. I look forward to reading all of your comments on Friday. Have a blessed week.

Perfume

OK, I'm going to recommend another insanely visual and rare film. My wife found this one and I have to admit, it's a killer. Be warned, this type of cinema is not for everyone.

Perfume - Movie Trailer - Watch more amazing videos here

PS, I'm STILL not finished with reading WICKED. That is why I prefer audio books...

Appreciation

I think this is the perfect thought for a beautiful Sunday. Bless those around you with appreciation.

" Respect your partner... relationships are said to be complicated... if we learn to appreciate, have gratitude and express that to our partner... relationships will be easier, go smoother, be wonderful! All it takes sometimes is a little appreciation." Copyright © 2007 Marion Licchiello

Chicago

Today I'm shooting in one of my favorite cities - Chicago. I lived in Chicago before moving to California in 1985. These are a couple of my favorite images from this killer city. Have a great day!

Rock Star Album

I'm nearly done with a super cool new sample album design. Templates suck. You look like everybody else when you use them. Photographers are artists. Be original from start to finish! Here's a teaser.

Have a great weekend:)

Scare-a-Kid Day Recap

Here's a few images for you to get a glimpse into my Halloween costume and why I totally scare kids. Would you let your kids come to my house?

Mikayla as a Candy Striper and a few of her 8th grade friends.

I am all business as Skullator.

Be afraid.

My parents even came by this year as a Pink Lady and a T-Bird from the movie Grease.