Project Ethos San Francisco

I was lucky enough to be invited by my friend Carmela Potencioso, a professional make-up artist tasked to direct the 5 makeup artists and 60 models that evening, to the inaugural red carpet event Project Ethos at Ruby Skye in the city. As instructed by an email sent out to the media, we were to arrive early and check in at the VIP and Media desk by the front of the venue. Apparently no one from the Project Ethos team had mentioned this to the venue's staff, so we were directed to wait in line. Forty-five minutes later, we were allowed to check-in and get our media tags... so much for the VIP treatment. I headed straight to the lounge where Absolut Vodka held a VIP and Media meet and greet. I met couple of people that I knew from Facebook and Model Mayhem, but never met them in person. Also introduced myself to a designer and an editor-in-chief of a local, online fashion magazine.

This was my first time at Ruby Skye and the place was all decked out for the event. The stage had a huge projection screen that displayed custom graphics and a 50 ft white runway for the fashion show. The second floor showcased a variety of art mediums from up and coming artists: Rachel Stanich, Gabriel Schama, Alek “Liskula” Morawski, Arnold Randall, Karina Sagastegui, Mindo Cikanavicius, Cole Rise, Hugh Leeman and Kristine Baguiao.

The show opened with local band Geographer. The fashion show was scheduled to start at 10pm, but having waited in line for over 45 mins to get in, it was wishful thinking on my part that things would start on time. And sure enough – we waited for half an hour until dancers from the RAE Agency kicked off the show with a sultry dance number.

Featured designers on the runway show were Zoë Hong (ZOË HONG), Danielle Pettee (Danielle the Dress Maker), Mansha Khithani (MENK Clothing) and Ashley Hayes (Lucy Bea Swimwear). Kristina Michelle Gonzales (Kristina Michelle) is the winner of the vitaminwater zero™ scholarship designer and debuted her newest collection at the show. Sponsors and designers Cardiwrap by Kymaro and Frederick’s of Hollywood Swim also participated in the runway show.

I didn't stay for the whole show as it as getting late and I had to work the following morning. But aside from a few miscues from the venue’s staff, I thought that the debut of Project Ethos in San Francisco went well. With this event being the first in San Francisco, it would have been nice if the emcee would have said a brief background about Project Ethos and its mission. At least after having read the press release, I know now what this Project Ethos is all about.

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Project ETHOS produces red carpet events showcasing all emerging Millennial Generation forms of creativity in one house, on one night. By merging fashion, music, and art concurrently, Project Ethos brings into existence a unique avenue for artists. The overall goal is to furnish opportunity for featured participants, as well as arrange a truly invigorating experience for an attendee.

To Blog or Not to Blog....

I've ignored this blog for over a year and I've recently come across an article in one of my fave photography mags on the importance of blogging for a photographer. In fact he insists that blogging is a must for a photographer. That line really caught my eye because I didn't really understand the importance of blogging, but perhaps because I always ran out of things to blog about or didn't have the time or energy to keep it up to date. People don't care what you had for breakfast this morning, or what you did over the weekend. That's what I thought blogging was all about - just writing about everyday stuff happening in your life. But as a photographer, your blog should showcase your recent work, and maybe with a little description on how it was captured or the post-production work involved in achieving the final image. Your blog should serve as an extension of your website (another sore subject since my website is still under construction). At least that's what I intend to do with this blog. I hope!

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A lot has happened over the course of a year and a half since my last post, and I'm happy to say that I've come along way with my photography (totally subjective, I know). I learn from doing and experimenting and look forward to shoots. Ever since joining the site Model Mayhem, I've been collaborating with models, makeup artists, hairstylists and stylists. It's given me a chance to help up-and-coming models, agency models or even the hobbyists (or so they claim). I now long for being published and that may be happening sooner than later - more to come on that later, so stay tuned!

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Yesterday I had a scheduled shoot for a corporate headshot, which was scheduled for this Thursday. Lilibeth texts me early Sunday morning asking me if the shoot is on since it was raining... I responded that we're a go since I'll be shooting indoors. I loaded up my car with my gear... complete with a backdrop, which she suggested I bring just in case we don't find an ideal backdrop at her home. I already had a plan in mind on how I was going to capture this headshot. I wanted it to be simple and give it that natural, relaxed look. So simple that I used a single SB-800 flash off-camera shooting through an umbrella about four feet off the subject's right, triggered by another SB-800 flash set to Master. I used the 70-200mm lens at f/3.2 to blur the background. I don't recall the white balance setting, but was quite pleased with the warm color temperature I was getting.

Not much else on the technical aspect of this shoot. I was prepared for a three-light setup with reflectors, barn door light modifiers,... but for that day I went for the simple one-light setup with the ambient light. Lilibeth was happy and so was I. Thank you Lilibeth for the home-made Ensaymadas which my family truly enjoyed this morning for breakfast!

The Fabulous Ms. Tia

Woke up Sunday morning to the sound of hail hitting the bedroom window... geez, was it that cold? Good thing I was having an indoor photo shoot today with Tia. I have been following Tia's blog to see how her California trip has been going so far. She's worked with some amazing photographers and I wish I was as adventurous and creative as them. Adventurous in the sense that I could scope out scenic locations rather than work indoors in a studio with seamless paper (more about seamless paper).

The shoot wasn't until 2pm, so I had time to get my gear and set it up at the studio. Got out of the house before noon so that I had enough time to set up and pick up Tia in San Mateo. She had a shoot at 11am that morning and figured she'd be done by 1pm.... I was on road when she rang me at 12:50 to let me know that they were done. "Great - I should be there within 15 minutes," I told her. Finding the house in San Mateo wasn't too tough - thanks to my GPS. So off we went back across the bay to Newark... I figured she hadn't had lunch yet, so we stopped by Chipotle to grab something to eat.

I got to know Tia a little bit more... a very sweet, soft-spoken girl from Ohio. I was fascinated by her history, and how she had gotten into modeling. It gave me an insight and appreciation of what her life was all about. She talked about her first shoot and the circumstances that led to her meeting her boyfriend (another great photographer, btw) and then.... something she said caught me off guard. She mentioned in one of her shoots that she hated seamless paper! Great... and what do I have set up for the shoot - seamless paper!

I think that comment through me off guard..., all of a sudden my confidence as a photographer diminished. I set her up for a few head shots just to get me warmed up and figure out how I can salvage this shoot. (I think I was playing for time trying to figure out something creative to do other than seamless paper.) Next up - I tried to do something with this sheer fabric hanging from some support stands.. (it didn't work out too well). So I decided to unroll the white seamless paper and recreate this one pose that was used in one of the ad campaigns of "Oil of Olay". That series turned out really well - thanks to Tia with her poses.

This was a great learning experience from me. I was really glad that I got to work with Tia because she made my job easy. I wish I had been more prepared and had more ideas and concepts in mind for the shoot, but somehow my creative self was a no-show. Heck, maybe even my technical self was absent! But I was able to capture some good shots of Tia and that's all that mattered. So it's back to the drawing board for me.... my thanks to Tia for lending me her talent and time. I hope it wasn't a waste of her time...

Finally.....

Had a fantastic photo shoot with Khrystyna last Sunday. We both have been looking forward to this shoot ever since we met and exchanged ideas the previous week. She did not disappoint - and I am glad that I didn't disappoint her either. I had to move the shoot an hour later because the studio was being used by another party for a pre-wedding consult. Khrystyna arrived as scheduled (although they had took an unexpected tour of the neighborhood enroute to the studio) along with her friend Dasha and her male escort (nice gentleman, but his name escapes me at the moment). As she begins to unpack and ready herself for the shoot - she discovers that she had left her make-up kit at home. Well - luckily for her, there was a dollar store nearby and a Raley's next door. I run to the dollar store to pick up a hair brush and body lotion while Dasha dashes (hehehehe) to Raley's to get her some mascara.

We started the session with a few head shots using a single strobe with a reflector. While Khyrs was getting ready - I had asked Dasha to stand in for a test shot.

I situated the strobe above Khrys' head and placed a gold reflector below it. The shots turned out great. This shoot was off to a good start.... until one of my strobe's flash burnt out. Not to worry, I had another strobe available..., but after a few shots - it too burnt out. So, I had to use my third and last strobe hoping that it would last the whole session (I did purchase all three strobes at the same time). The whole session would be done with one strobe and a reflector... oh well.

This was a great experience for both Khrys and I - she was very easy to work with, did her poses with little guidance from me, and we just collaborated really well. Looking forward to our next photo shoot. You can find a sample of the shoot here. I will have to attribute the success of this shoot to the pre-shoot meeting and communication I had with Khrys, as well as having an script on what type of lighting I'd like to experiment with (unfortunately, I could only work with a strobe and reflector, but at least it made me think on my feet as well).

I have another shoot this Sunday - this time with Tia....stay tuned!

"Vale a pena"

Took the day off yesterday to attend my college soccer coach, mentor and friend's funeral service. It was a beautiful service to celebrate a man's life to which he lived to its fullest! The church was packed - a testament to the many lives this man had touched. Three members of his family spoke, his son and daughter, and his youngest brother - giving us a peek of Don Carlos, the family man. All three described the man as a selfless giver, a mentor, a coach, a professor, friend, a bailbondsman (laughter from the crowd), a father, and most importantly - loving husband. His son and daughter spoke with pride about their father and recounted how he was never an absentee father despite his busy schedule. I too am proud to have known the man and to have experienced this man's love and friendship... "Señor Lopez, you will be missed but never forgotten."

A reception was held at the campus where I spent two and a half years of my college life...and it was good to be back again. It's been years since I stepped back on this hallowed grounds, and it brought back good memories. Reconnecting with former teammates and classmates was also a welcome surprise (seeing them in person rather than online @ Facebook). I bumped into my Humanities professor - Mr. Pratt, whom I credit for introducing me to the Dutch Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer. As a photographer I can appreciate this master painter's use of light in his paintings. A group of us alums strolled along campus reminiscing about those, er uh decadent college days. We even managed to sneak in one of the dorms! And the soccer field? Gone are the days of the natural turf... can't believe it's been 20 years since I graduated from my beloved college.

After the reception I drove to the San Francisco to pick up some lighting equipment from Calumet Photographic. It was such a beautiful day in the city that I was tempted to drive to the Embarcadero and stroll along, but I really didn't have the time since I had boy's volleyball practice later that evening. I got my strip box and reflector holder from the store, and quickly left the city to avoid the rush hour. One final stop was to Ikea to pick up a (prop) chair to use for my upcoming shoot.

It was a great day off from work. Said my goodbyes to an old friend and mentor, reconnected with my college buddies, and I was able to run a few errands as well. And the best thing - today's FRIDAY! Have a great weekend .... I know I will!

Let's start all over again...

It's the first Monday of daylight savings time and I figured why not re-start this blog thing again? I didn't realize that my account was still active, but good for me. It's been two years since my last post and I'll try to keep this blog updated at least once or twice a week (or more if something "meaningful" happens during the week).

So let's recap what has transpired so far - and no, I won't go back two years - let's just say the past week. My college soccer coach and teacher past away last week after a long battle with cancer. Senor Carlos Lopez, or Don Carlos was a very well-loved and distinguished faculty member at Menlo College. I will be taking the day off on Thursday to attend the funeral and perhaps catch up with my college teammates and friends. He will be missed and may his soul rest in peace.

Later on the week, I received another email on the death of a high school classmate. Boy, the hits just keep on coming. I told my wife that you know your getting up there in age (although to me it's just a number) when your fellow classmates start passing away. Matt - may you rest in peace!

Sheeesh... okay, let's lighten this up a bit. This is a blog about my photography anyway, right? I've got two photoshoots lined up for March. I was contacted by Tia, a professional model from Dayton, OH who will be in the area on the third week of March. We exchanged a few emails and have agreed on a photoshoot date of March 22nd. I am looking forward to collaborating with Tia and see what magic we both could create... stay tuned!

Then another email popped up from a model on another site that I belong to - One Model Place - requesting to see my port and/or website. I quickly responded to her request and sent her links to my website and pbase.com gallery. She liked what she saw and asked me if I would consider working with her on a TFP or TFCD basis... why not?

I offered to meet up with Khrystyna at the Starbuck's on Piedmont in Oakland. I wanted to know what she was hoping to achieve on this photoshoot. I have my ideas, but I wanted to be sure that she was comfortable with the concept. Before I even opened the door to the coffe shop, I already spotted Khrystyna seated on a table off to the right of the store. I had the advantage as I have seen her profile on OMP - so I went ahead and introduced myself and offered to buy her a coffee drink, "vanilla latte" for the lady.

Khrystyna Ushuku is originally from Magadan, Russia - Siberia to be specific. She recently moved to the bay area from Hawaii. She wants to get her feet wet with this modeling bit, although she's done a few gigs whilst in Hawaii. I showed her some more pics from my port and to my delight she approved. We started to talk about what we both would want to accomplish on this shoot, and I suggested to her that she needed some headshots. Agreed. Then our imagination wandered off the studio to various locations - high fashion/glam on an urban setting, warehouse, rooftop...etc. I had to get us back on track with the upcoming shoot, reminding her that she needed some more pics on her port to showcase her versatile looks.

I'm really looking forward to these two shoots. I get a chance to experiment with lighting and try to create some beautiful portraits with two gorgeous and talented women...