Rat Rod Time!

Man, this old ’56(?) Studebaker is cool!

This ole gal sits  on Michigan Avenue not far from my house in nearby Wayne. I may be able to pick it up for under $1000; possibly even talk the owner down towards $500-600.

Surely, she needs LOTS of work but the motor runs! I briefly spoke with the shops truck driver and he claims that the only issues keeping it off the road are a leaky master cylinder and fuel pump. I don’t plan on creating a show car, just something to cruise around and have fun with!

I’ll start saving up and make the guy an offer. See where it goes from there!

Screenplay Underway!

For months now, I’ve wanted to get going on a vague idea I conjured over a year ago. Considering I’m in the early stages of writing, all I can say about the short film is pertaining to its genre; Dark Crime Dramedy. I’m hoping this short will come to fruition once the screenplay is complete. Expect the length to end up around 20 minutes. Expect forthcoming posts regarding the film. Also, expect this short to win some awards at indie film festivals!

How To Actually USE a Camera.

For a while I’ve been shooting on auto with my DLSR. Sure, at times I would mess around in manual mode but it wasn’t often. I want to really learn how to use my camera so I will be shooting in manual 99% of the time, now. A few nights ago, in 20 degree weather, I headed out in search of experience. I found just that… sorta. Well, not really, but you get the gist!

Hangin’ Out With Von Wong!

Benjamin Wong. Easily the most talented photographer I’ve ever met and/or worked with!

I was invited to assist on a 3-day photo shoot/short film just outside of Montreal in the quaint Saint Mathieu Du Parc. A truly surreal experience! A friend told me, “Beware… French-Canadians don’t like Americans.” I haven’t met all French-Canadians but those I did meet were freakin’ cool! Definitely a fun and friendly bunch.

I was picked up at my place in Metro Detroit and embarked upon a 12 hour journey through Ontario into Quebec. I’ve always loved going to Canada—I’d drive to The Soo (Ontario) with my parents as a kid to visit relatives—but this was to be the furthest I’ve traveled east north of the border. Once you reach eastern Ontario just about everything is in French. This is tough on someone who doesn’t speak the language, but it’s always great to experience different cultures with an open mind.

Roughly 25 of us stayed in a 3-story rustic cabin. I loved it!

Wong let me borrow his super wide angle lens. What an awesome dude, right?! First time meeting the guy and he’s kind enough to lend me his own equipment. Of course, I respected the lens, guarding it with my life!

Zombies dancing and singing.

Night shoot!

I have to get me one of these…

For one who’s passionate about photography and, even more so, filmmaking, this experience has not only inspired me greatly but has created some career opportunities. Thanks, Von Wong!

Rebuild Detroit.

A quick poster I created to highlight some ad skills!

Detroit Bulk Co. Photo Shoot

Some good people have been giving me some great opportunities in the photo world lately. For my first food photo shoot, a really cool couple, out of Detroit, who’ve been creating their own baking concoctions using local products, hired me as lead photographer! It was an awesome experience!

Here are some examples of the shoot. Not only did I take shots of the food but also snapped a few of the atmosphere.

Viva U.P.

For the new year, I took a trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to visit some close friends. I always enjoy my time in da Yoop! There’s nothing like the open road, surrounded by wilderness, large (and, I do mean LARGE) bodies of freshwater along with several smaller inland streams, rivers, and lakes. Not to mention clean air! I went to school in the U.P. and never was able to let go of the land. It’s a magical place! A magical place where I shall live again.

The trip began with an 8 hour drive for a night in Marquette.

The above photo was taken at dusk, believe it or not. 18mm f/4.5 @ 1/8 second.

Baraga, about 70 miles west of Marquette, is a small town (reservation) along the Lake Superior coast. I wish more Natives occupied Michigan (and the rest of the U.S.)!

Then it was off to Calumet where I stayed with some friends through the new year. My good friend Jason recently became a fireman so he took me around the town to the firehouse and to see remnants of the most recent major fire…

He gave me a quick tour around the firehouse. Gotta love the old brick, wood, and stone facade! As you may be able to make out, this building is now 100 years old!

It was so bloody cold this day, as the blistering cold wind rushed our already numb faces, we could only trek halfway to the lighthouse before realizing that turning back was the only smart move. Even with gloves on, my hands were nearly frozen by the time we made it to the car. Ah, the Great White North. Gotta love it!

Below is a photo of L’anse from across the way in Baraga. I took this shot on my way back to Marquette.

And so, back in Marquette I landed.

The following day, I headed home. On the way, along US-2, I noticed how incredible Lake Michigan looked so I felt compelled to pull over and snap a panoramic!

The Trails of Bald Mountain.

Mountain is an exaggeration. More like hills. Foot hills. Michigan does have some mountains but nothing within a 100 mile radius of Detroit. Something like that, anyway.

My good friend, Jim, and I trekked over 4 miles through light forests on groomed trails around small lakes and steep hills. Needless to say, it was a pretty easy hike. Fun, nonetheless! The park offers a winding 10 miles of trails circling 10 beautiful little lakes, with some of the land open to hunting—we passed a few hunters on the trails during the last day of the hunting season.

We even ran into a lazy friend on the trail…

Even his dead relative.

Of course, we needed refreshments!

Imagery Noir #2

I was experimenting with some album covers for a friend’s band the other day and came up with these images (these images contain more saturation than the album covers).

It’s Been A While

…since I’ve posted, so here’s something quick for the meantime.

I took 3 shots here and stitched them together in photoshop. A few things had to be altered but I’m quite content with the results!