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Wow, this is just now settling in.  I just clicked "purchase" on a plane ticket from LAX to SVQ.  Seville, Spain.  That's right, I'm going to be at Scott Robert Lim's wedding photography workshop, ONE WEEK from today!  I'm so excited on so many levels.  First of all, I have worked LONG and hard all summer, and really need (and deserve?) an epic vacation.  But also, it has been far too long since my last international photographic adventure, on Rabbit Island in 2005.  And this is my last chance to do anything crazy before I get married!  (Haha, I say that, and yet Joy will eagerly follow me anywhere in the world and let me take all the photos I want, so, yeah I guess it isn't really a true "last chance" situation.  I'm really looking forward to someday traveling with Joy to Ireland, India, Alaska, New Zealand, etc. etc...)

I'll be tutored on absolutely every aspect of what makes a successful, lasting wedding photography business with Scott Robert himself.  I'll be making great new friends and helping them become absolute masters of camera capture and computer workflow.  And of course, I'll have the chance to create some epic photography, both wedding portraiture and nature / landscape.  Hopefully these two photographic specialties will coincide and eclipse each other as often as possible!

Here are a few new and old photos off the top of my head, to celebrate the spontaneity...

(Nikon D300, Nikon 17-55 2.8 @ 30mm & f/4)

(Nikon D70, Nikon 80-400mm VR)

(Nikon D70, Nikon 24-85mm, 2 exposures blended)

I'm totally ecstatic about letting the two facets of my photographic interest grow closer together...  This is going to be a huge step for myself and my business, in so many ways... Now to exchange some USD into Euros, (ouch) book some hostels, and plan some side trips.  And pack, and PRAY for a safe trip for all attending...

Keep it international!
=Matt=

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Finally, a pic of Joy's birthday present from back in July.  A Sector Nine longboard...

Nikon D300  -  Nikon 17-55 2.8  -  17mm  -  f/14  -  1/125 sec.  -  ISO 100.

It's been way too long since we skateboarded, but we're going to try and get back into it...  FUN!

=Matt=

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Yesterday (Friday) was international talk like a pirate day, in case you didn't celebrate!  I celebrated by, of course, going to disneyland and riding THE ride...

ARRR!  WE WANTS THE RED HEAD!

=Matt=

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Did an engagement session on Tuesday and the sunset was gorgeous.  Played around with flash a little and my "ghost" concept imagery...  Got a bunch of other neat shots, I'll blog them when I can...

Nikon D300  -  Nikon 17-55 2.8  -  17mm  -  f/22  -  10 sec  -  ISO 100  -  Manual exposure.
Manual flash exposure at ~1/4 power from ~6 feet away.  RAW image processed in BR CS3.

Take care,

=Matt=

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My blog readers probably still remember the beauty, joy and happiness we all saw captured in photos of Jacque, (pronounced jacky) last spring...  Shooting portraits with her as our model, I have to say that my photographer friends and I had one of the most fun and pleasant afternoons ever.  These photos really just took themselves- it wasn't me, it was HER...

As some of my closer friends already know, Jacquelyn was killed / murdered very, very tragically a few weeks ago.  Her memorial service was this past Saturday, and I wish I could have attended but I had to work.  ...I hardly knew her, but if I sit very still it makes my head spin out of control...

Jacque, the world dearly misses your beautiful eyes, smile, and personality...

=Matt=

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Joy and I finally afforded our disneyland passes.  Now we're "back", and surprisingly the park is already pretty empty on weekdays.  Zero line for Pirates and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, our favorite rides.  Space mountain had a 10 minute line the first day we went, which basically means it takes you 10 minutes to walk through the maze of a line and get all the way up to the front, without any actual waiting in line.  Hah. 

Nikon D200, Nikon 17-55 f/2.8 DX @ 17mm  -  f/2.8  -  1.3 sec  -  ISO 800  -  3100 K manual WB.
I  used cusom in-camera JPG processing with the contrast and saturation turned all the way up,
...so there was basically zero photoshop other than a contrast bump and the usual black / white point.
(Managing the black / white point is part of what gives my images that extra "pop" on the internet...)

I am wondering, does anybody out there have a pass to Disneyland too?  Do you by any chance have a fisheye lens?  Joy and I want to put a small photo of ourselves into our wedding invitations, and we were thinking of taking a picture on the teacups.  I could probably do it myself, but I'm always looking to connect with other photographers with common interests, of course!

Take care,
=Matt=

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No time.  Shooting events three days in a row.  Kinda reminds me of all my other weekends as of late...

Nikon D300, Nikon 17-55 f/2.8 DX @ 17mm.  1/750 sec, f/4, ISO 100.  Manual exposure.
Calumet 50" Zip-disc (zebra striped gold and silver) reflector on the camera's right.
RAW image processed in BR CS3, with minimal burning / dodging etc. in Photoshop CS3.

Nikon D300, Nikon 300mm f/2.8, 1/180 sec. @ f/2.8, ISO 400.  Apeture priority.
JPG image processed in BR CS3 with texture overlays added in Photoshop CS3.
I love the use I finally found for THIS texture.  The stained glass looks like fire...

"Laguna Beach"

This is getting to be a pretty exclusive group!  If you want to shoot with us at our top-secret locations, we are now accepting large bribes...

But seriously folks, it really helps to get out and shoot with no pressure.  It keeps you light on your feet and helps you deal with the pressure of shooting "on a job".  TRUST ME.

=Matt=

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In between burning through job after job , it helps to take a few minutes here and there for something fun... 

Adjusting my blog image format a tiny bit, yet again. 

Nikon D300  -  17-55 2.8 @ 17mm  -  1/45 sec.  -  f/2.8  -  ISO 200  -  Manual Exposure.
Calumet Zebra Reflector  -  WB Kelvin ~7000  -  Center-Weighted Metering.

Nikon D300  -  17-55 2.8 @ 45mm  -  1/45 sec.  -  f/2.8  -  ISO 200  -  Manual Exposure.
SB800 Off-Camera Remote  -  WB Kelvin ~6000  -  Center-Weighted Metering.

Thank you, ALL my friends, for being so amazing and cool!  I wouldn't be where I am today without you, in so many ways...  And you are all beautiful in many ways, as well.

=Matt=

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Finally got a chance to go down to the Sawdust with Joy and her friend Amber.  Always a pleasure and delight to attend this event!

Nothing helps convey the feel of this Laguna Beach legacy like the glass blower dude.  And when I say dude, I mean it.  Working with burning hot glass in board shorts and flip-flops, cuz that's how he rolls.  Note the coffee on the bench and the lei around the fire extinguisher.  THIS is Laguna Beach...

Of course the best booth of all, both structurally and artistically, is the Hurlbut's stained glass & brass sculpture booth. 

Take care all,

=Matt=

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If you have ever gotten that late night or early morning call that your significant other has been in a car accident, then maybe you know how I feel right now...  But I pray that few will ever have to know this feeling, of course.  I cannot sleep...

My fianceé is safe and sound at home, un-injured, thankfully.  I feel overjoyed that she is alive and safe, yet frighteningly aware that life is more fleeting and precious than we could possibly know, and how close we come to death in our daily lives.  But again, I am overjoyed.  Yet I still cannot sleep...

I am in the wilderness
You are in the music
In the man's car next to me
Somewhere in my sadness
I know I won't fall apart completely

When I need to be rescued
And I need a place to swim
I have a rock to cling to in the storm
When no one can hear me calling
I have you I can sing to

And in all this
And in all my life

You are the lovers rock
The rock that I cling to
You're the one
The one I swim to in a storm
Like a lovers rock

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I suppose I should mention that in approximately 224 days and 14 hours, Joy and I will be married.  Yes, we have set a date: April 4th 2009.  More details to follow.

Lord Jesus, we consecrate our lives to you and to the accomplishment of God's will.  Amen!

I have photographed from 8 AM to 11 PM for the past two days for a huge corporate event, and must attempt the same today.  I had better TRY to sleep now...

Take care all, and peace be with you,
=Matt=

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