SX Time

Audrey and I just celebrated our 1 year together!
She got me this Polaroid Camera, its the original SX-70
I love it! When I photographed Shannon Leith a few weeks ago, she brought along her SX-70, I was Able to shoot some Polaroids with it. Coincidentally, Audrey just happened to get me one this past weekend!
Thanks Audrey!

Also, thanks to this BLOG for the image of the SX-70, taken with another SX-70. That blog is legit!
Another HUGE inspiration for wanting a polaroid is ERIC TRINE's "Polaroid a day"

Audrey's Gritty Shoot: "The Real Thing"

As I promised before, here are more images from Audrey's birthday shoot.
I love this concept of shooting for your birthday, using the pictures for invites, sending back to mom, or just adding to your portfolio.
I love these images.

Southern California is burning!

This place is a smoke house. This weekend fires roared 20 miles from my studio. It was 90º+ and It felt like I was in a smoke filled sauna.
Take a look at these shots I took while walking out the door for San Diego.
My black car looks more of a Grey tint with this ash layer.
After breathing in toxic waste for 3 days and seeing ash float around like snow in the winter...
I have a solution for punishing fire starting piro freaks... burn them at the stake.
My Heart goes out to all those that lost their homes and their memories to the fires.
And Oprah who lost her home.
I'm complaining about air quility here, but I can't imagine what it would be like to lose everything... that ash we see in the air and stuck to our cars could be someone in Yorba Linda's couch.
Please take this time to help rescue efforts in neighboring cities struggling after loss of homes and property. find information on helping fire victims or to Donate Red Cross
If you are a victim, find out information to get back to normal with help. "Rebuild your Life"

Many of the Belmont Shore businesses hurt this weekend with the ash keeping people in their homes. Grab a mask and go buy stuff, its good for our economy!

The CSULB flag with the murky brown smoke clouds looming in the background.

Like a chocolate cake in the sky... layers of smoke over Belmont Shore.

At the buzzer

My voting booth. Did you know that a woman was running for president? I didn't either!

The end is near: I experienced it for myself. The feeling was if I tossed my last shot at the basket in the NBA finals, as if I drove my last lap in a race or even threw the last pitch in the world series but it was all for this 2008 election.
I sighed a large sigh of relief after I dropped my ballot into the electronic vote "gobbler" which of course is my code word for a small machine that calculates your entire voice in the nations future. As I walked out of the polling place I had a huge weight off of my shoulders, I have done all I can do to help bring about change, I've pushed people to vote for Change, I've made myself clear and donated hundreds of dollars to help this country... I had done it all and now I was finished! Was I finished though? It then dawned on me... This change we speak about has just begun, my work has just started, I have plenty more things I can do for my environment, for my community, for my family and my country. My Job has just begun. Your job has just begun.
Politics are dangerous. Politics can sway people away from really partaking in reality, as if we rely on the politicians to do all the work for us, we just need to place our vote.
I've been reminded once again, it isn't Obama and Biden, or McCain and Palin that will switch this country around, its you and its I.

I'm relieved to have november 4th finally here. I'm sick of political signs littering the streets and arguments and debates taking over my life. I can now (now meaning when we get the voting results) shake hands in truce with my best friends and blessed family who I've disagreed with for the past 10 months.

Of course I voted for Barack and Biden, they'll be exactly what our country needs right now...of course I'll be behind whoever becomes our next president, besides, before being a republican or a democrat or an independent party member, we're all Americans, American's that want change.

Its all "About Face"

As you have seen in recent posts, I have photographed my friend Rita. The images are being used for promo and marketing for a launch to her brand New Skin line called "About Face"
I've been going to her for about 3 years now, anything I need, from facial's to stress reduction massages and brow waxing. She also does numerous things I won't get... Bikini Waxes,Permanant makeup, Microdermabrasion (Although someday I'll get the microderm). She is a wizard of skin care and a certified esthatician. So she's amazing and has what everyone that goes to her calls "An Angels touch" which sounds cliche until it actually applies to you.

BIG NEWS About Rita:

She hasn't recently moved to a NEW SALON. ("Chill Salon" on 2nd St. and Bayshore)
She has a MYSPACE & like I mentioned above...
She's releasing a new Skin Care Line called "About Face"

I haven't tried her new line yet BUT... I'm sure it is AMAZING! Anything that she trusts to be on her face, I trust to be on mine.

I'm so happy for her move to this new location! If you need anything that has to do with your face, contact her!!!

Tell her you found out about her from my blog.

The Parade for Dogs

Today was Mayhem on 2nd st. I loved it!
A million and 30 people on my street? I had to shoot some pictures.
Check them out.
Justin Rudd put this wild dog costume parade on.
Again, I kept feeling like I was the bases of a film... this wild event happening below my feet and I'm up in its face with a camera, getting licked by a new dog every block, stepping on masked bystanders feet and watching people get yelled at for their illegal street loitering.
Oh Belmont Shore, you've shown up the other shores of the world once again.
Now lets just work on keeping our businesses afloat and go buy stuff!

Debbie Cook would love this I'm sure.

Just incase you couldn't tell, thats Ketchup and Mustard walking on the street with their hotdog.

Scooby Doo looks ticked off.

General Petraeus

The BumbleBee dog girl...not to be confused with bumblebee tuna girl.

Is this a shy, or short dog?

gangsterrrr. Same costume can be worn on St. Patty's day.

The space dog reminds me of TinTins dog snowy.
MORE of my pictures from this event? GO HERE

Amanda Meza Teaser

More to come!
Amanda Meza is an extremely talented singer coming out with an EP soon!
We did a shoot last night to boost her online hits and more exposure for her singing career.
Hair and Makeup props to Ceasar Pacheco.

In-N-Out switching to 1948 prices for a day??

photo: Lexington Bosh (flicker)

Did you hear that rumor too??
As well as handing out burgers and fries for cheap, I heard if you buy 2 burgers, you get a whole store for freeeeee!!!!

I'm sure you've seen the emails stating that In-N-Out is going all out for their big 60th and rewarding their faithful customers with 1948 prices...

In-n-Out’s 60thYear Anniversary is Wednesday, October 22nd.All hamburgers will be sold for 25 cents, Cheeseburgers 30cents, Fries 15 cents, and drinks are 10 cents!!! So mark your calendars!

But the rumor is false... yeah...bummer..

Check out good 'ol snopes.
CLICK HERE for more info

Eat a burger on that day anyways, celebrate with In-N-Out...just don't be disappointed when you walk out paying $5 instead of $0.85

Alright crew, I'm out of things to say in these regards.

University by the Sea

Jo-Dilly and I stopped by University by the sea. We park illigally at Vons accross the way, but then decided to buy ice cream sandwiches to make our parking job legit... Ice Cream sandwich box and gatorade in hand. We headed across the street towards the loud music. Instantly I was able to hand out the rest of the ice cream treats and start checking out the festivities. The Ice Cream man was there, graffiti artists doing controled mureals. Bands playing on the main stage, skateboarders, cyclists, people handing out fliers, friends giving out non permanant tattoos (which I tried putting on with gatorade for lack of water... bad idea.) I stopped by the gallery where my work was being displayed... just for a minute to see if my pieces had been bought... they hadn't.
And bam! We were outa there to play tennis!

There you have it! University by the sea was fun...not my crowd... they must have left. But the rest of the scene was hopping... I wish I could have skipped over to the garden of beer... but Lakers season is coming and I'm trying to start by avoiding beer for a little bit.

YES indeed!

P.S. I am roasting and it is October 7th folks! 98º degrees F!!!

Jo-Dilly making art with his body in front of more art.
p.s. He got a job today!

The room where my art stood for 2 days.

Shot of the Week: 10.4

I want to do a fashion shoot with this dog.
I love the color, the mood and the setting of this image, thats why I think this is my shot of the week.

"The Great Wall"

Home to 49 of some of the best images in our studio.

Good evening my fellow blog readers and internet scavengers.
Checkout what I did today with the help (of course) of some amazing assistants.

The Wall is here. It is now being used as fuel in debates that the lippke brothers are better photographers and that production crew of theirs own the competition. Since the wall has been up, it has been the topic of every conversation throughout town the greater Belmont shore area. This Wall has become a backdrop for celebrity photos (See Douglas Jamison's visit) The wall is here and it will only get better!

Here are a few samples of the sexy new art piece.
Good work men!

Entering the production room.

Close up to the goodness.

Josiah was a big factor in getting the materials for the wall. Home Depot was like his candy store.


Jon Phelps collaborator,designer and best board holder around.

Me, Visionary,designer,Collaborator, master image mounter.

Luke Payne, Overview and spray adhesive master

Douglas Jamison...didn't help at all, he's just here for free monster beverages.

I'm at Stanford Univ.

I did an Engagement shoot today.
Pictures on the way in an hour or so.

We were Nominated: Best Photographers in LA

We're nominated!

Our Studio was nominated for "The best Photographers in Los Angeles"
This is favor Central:
Can you help us win?

click HERE to vote!
If you want to vote for someone else, feel free...just do it in another catogory, like "Best Enchilada Kitchen"... I'm planning on a blowout here... so join the bandwagon and vote. Everysingle vote counts! We're currently in 11th place...which is a horrible spot to be in.

What are you waiting for, go rock the booth, its really easy!