November is Resort month

Shooting at resorts can be one of the great rewards in our business, I was fortunate enough to work at 2 in one month, Terranea in Los Angeles and Amangiri in Southern Utah.  Here are some photographic highlights

Terranea, Ranch Palos Verdes, CA

Amangiri, Big Water, UT

From Miami in March

A great example of CGI Automotive work. Carl Lyttle, Photographer and Lou Setchao, Art Director Designory, Tokyo, collaborated on this project for Subaru in Japan.  No cars on location, just great days in Miami capturing elements on the street to build the final images.  If I hadn't of told you at first, you would have thought these cars were real.

Calvert Investments

Highlights from a project from this spring with Think Again Media of Baltimore, MD

http://thinkagainmedia.com/calvert-investments

Subaru, Snow and Non Snow

A 2 part project in Utah and Northern California for Subaru Outback and Legacy, photographed by Tyler Gourley

Olympics Trials Photo Manager

Working with the talented photographers from Getty, SI, AP, Reuters and other agencies, capturing images from the Olympic Trials. A dress rehearsal for London in less than a months time.  Some creative techniques for getting new vantages points, Go Pro cameras set on still mode in every nook and Crany. Jamie Squire from Getty mounted a camera on the starting block and captured Matt Grevers celebration after winning the 100M Backstroke. Below is the image and a screen grab from Universal Sports Network coverage, you can see camera inside the block.

Photo by Jamie Squire, Getty Images

Screen Capture from Universal Sports Network

Continental Co-Production with New ContiUSA

The first project for production partners Continental Productions and ContiUSA is a smashing success.  A very complicated production, with many difficult locations and camera positions on a short time line and immediate deadlines and we already have 3 ads, shot, retouched and approved by the client.  I can't wait to see the campaign, it's going to be amazing.

Tim Hall brought his graphic-style landscape photography to some amazing concepts of Fred + Farid, Paris. Backed by strong production, Nicolas Billon and Continental Productions, Paris and great local crew in New York, we were guaranteed success.

Thanks to Nicolas Bilon for the artful Production Still

As I head out on Vacation with the Family ...

I leave you with a little fun anecdote ...

If you are like me, you are trying to schedule your shoot around the NHL playoffs, okay I admit I am the only one doing this and unsuccessfully I might add.  More than any another sport, Hockey and the chase for the Stanley Cup has more crazy traditions.  Here are my top 5 NHL playoff traditions;

#5 The Rats in Florida
It's been a while since we've seen the Rats in Florida, but with their win Saturday night against the NJ Devils, the Rats made their first appearance since the Panthers Cup run in 1996.  Born from Scott Mellanby's extermination of a rat in the locker room prior to the game, followed by a 2 goal night, the fans took to throwing rubber Rats on the ice.

#4 Towel Power

A sea of white towels appeared in Vancouver's 1982 Cup Run, after Roger Neilson's disgust with the referees calls in the Western Conference Finals, he waved the white flag in surrender, a towel on the end of a stick, the next game fans were handed white towels upon entering the arena and a tradition was born.

#3 Shaking Hands and Overtime (tied)

After trying to kill each other for 2 weeks, the culmination of a playoff series sees a gentlemen like handshake following there last game.

Where the regular season tie leaves fans disappointed, being settled with a quick 5 minute overtime and a shoot out to break a tie. The playoffs reward the fans by letting them play on and on until they find a winner.  Longest playoff Overtime, in 1933 Toronto and Boston played 164 minutes plus to determine a winner, that's almost 2 and a half games.

#2 Octopus on the Ice

The originator of the Florida Panthers Rats, the Detroit Red Wings Octopus thrown on the ice has an even better back story.  Back in 1952 two brothers who owned a fish shop snuck an octopus into the arena and threw it onto the ice after a Red Wing goal, the 8 legs signifying the 8 wins it used to take to win the cup prior to expansion.

#1 Playoff Beards

By fear the best tradition on all of sports, the Playoff Beard.  Upon entering the playoffs, players stop shaving until they are eliminated or win the Stanley Cup With the playoffs almost lasting 2 months you get some pretty crazy facial hair.  Fans have now joined in with the tradition even raising money for Mario Lemieux's Foundation. The origin of the tradition is unknown, but some say when the teams used to play on back to back to back nights, there was no time to shave.  Scott Hartnell and Lanny McDonald, 2 of the all time best playoff beards. Crosby .. not so much

ESPN's take on top 5 Traditions

http://espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs/2012/story/_/id/7779740/5-playoff-traditions

What makes a really great shoot?

Great Clients, Great Agency, talented photographer and hard working Crew.  Just wrapped up a week in Northern California with Tyler Gourley for  Carmichael Lynch and Subaru.  4 very long days with no complaining, Chef Randall keeps the troops motivated.

Interstate 80 Empty!

Ogawa Plaza Oakland

Green Mount Diablo

Dillon Beach

Ford Taurus, "It Screams"

The irony of these ads, for anyone who has shot a camera rig before, is the car only creeps along during a long exposure, so slow it doesn't register on the speedometer.  Smoke and Mirrors.  These 3 people images were created the week prior to Christmas on Point Reyes and Golden Gate Recreation Area.  The project awarded on a Friday and we were tech scouting Monday.  Pretty proud of these images and the crew.  Photographer Bud Lammers will have these images on his brand new website starting next week.

Trump Hotel Collection Panama

From the September 2011 shoot in Panama City, Panama. Photographer Andy Anderson, Creative Director Stewart Colovin and Art Director Brandon Sanders.

Guest blogger on Heather Elder Represents Blog

Thanks for the kind words;

Heather Elder Represents Blog

I have known Steven Currie for years and I can say with confidence that he is a top notch producer.  Nothing flusters him, not even the weather – or lack there of.  He is resourceful, creative and one of the best problem solvers out there.  So, when he sent me the post he wanted to submit for the blog, I was not surprised that he chose to write about producing in the snow during one of the warmest winters in history.

Here is what Steven has to say.

“Talking about production on snow related projects seems ironic during one of the warmest winters in United States history.  But our clients have needs and it’s our job to fulfill them. I have learned over the years that there are four key aspects to working on or in snow.  While they seem obvious, they are crucial to the success of the shoot.

TIME

Working in snow takes 25-50% more time than working on dry land. Let me repeat, working in snow takes 25-50% more time than working on dry land.  Whether it’s transportation, lighting, catering, communication, safety or simply walking from point A to point B, it just takes more time. Managing a client’s expectations regarding this is imperative.

TRANSPORTATION

Park the SUV, you are going to have to find another way around.  Whether it’s a snow cat, snow mobile, helicopter, dog sled, skis,  or in the case of shooting Simon Dumont for Oakley (Blake Jorgenson Photographer) hiking 1,000 feet straight up to the top of Highlands Bowl at 12,000 feet for that top of the world look.  (It’s amazing how many agency and clients pass on the opportunity to observe this kind of shot.)  If you can utilize a snow cat, it’s the most efficient.  You can move 12 people and equipment comfortably and utilize it as your motor home once you reach your location.  But keep in mind cats go about 10 miles an hour, so when you need to get to that location that’s “only” 20 miles away, realize it’s going to take …. more time.  Snowmobiles are much quicker, but moving 1 passenger at a time is not efficient.   They are better utilized for short hauls to move things around the location, not for transporting crew long distances.   But If money’s no object go with the Helicopter, it’s just cooler.

SAFETY

Whether it’s  avalanche danger, moving machines,  or the extreme conditions, it’s safest to have someone solely concentrating on everyone’s safety, and not  distracted by another role.  Wherever your location, more than likely you will be assigned someone for your safety in extreme conditions.  Most resorts will assign you a patroller,  a heli  or cat operation who will have someone solely watch for the safety of the crew.   If they don’t, ask for one.

As far as safety goes, be sure to remember that in order to find snow you are more than likely at a high altitude and it’s going to be cold.  It is important to realize that altitude equals dehydration.   So, if you can only carry one thing with you, make it water.  Most clients and agencys seem to come from sea level (where it’s safe and warm) so when they come to the snow and altitude,  their bodies need time to adjust. Altitude sickness is simply dehydration.  So have plenty of water on hand and constantly remind people to drink it.  More than any type of production,  I have “lost” more crew/agency to altitude sickness.  Trust me, it is not pretty.

PERMISSIONS

Because of the particular places that snow falls, permissions are usually more complex than our friendly summer counterparts.  Most US ski resorts sit on Forest Service land, so it’s not enough to just clear things with the resort.  More than likely you’ll need a Forest Service Permit.  And since it’s the Department of Transport’s job to keep the roads clear and you are trying to showcase a cars capability on snow, you are more than likely going to have to use private property.    If you see a road with snow on it, more than likely it’s not public.    Local scouts will know where the snow is and who to speak with to get access.  In rare cases you’ll find snow on public roads and it will save money if you can find them.

CREATIVITY

And finally, if you can’t find the snow, make it!  There are many options for creating a snowy effect in your image.  They are usually very costly and it takes more …. Time!   (You’re getting the idea.)  The most effective way to make it look cold is a snow flake filled sky, but who can schedule a shoot day around a forecast for snow?  There are several products that will make it snow on a clear day.   I find the most effective to be a bio degradable starch product that can be blown with fans.   It falls to the ground slowly, making it look like Christmas in Norway.

Over my 10 years of living in the mountains, I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of working in and on the snow.    Some of my most memorable projects have been working in the white stuff.   So for a few more months, until we get our feet back on the ground and back to the “easy productions”,  don’t be intimidated by the thought of shooting on snow.   Just put a little more time in you plan.”

New Partnership with worldwide production company

In February, Scout LLC signed on with Continental Productions of Paris to work in partnership on productions in the United States, and with production resources in dozens of countries the world just got a little but smaller.

Trump Collection goes live

Not to beat a dead horse, but MMG worldwide launched the new Trump Hotel Collection website using images shot over 6 months last year by Andy Anderson.  That's Shaun Fenn, super surfing assistant and talent in the water off Waikiki.

It's a dry cold!

I have to give credit to all my crew who persevered through minus 17 temps, trying to light the Copper Mountain Halfpipe at night for Oakley, Factory Labs and Blake Jorgenson. Photo Assistants;  Margus Riga, Todd Pierson and Eric Magnussen.  And Stylists Cindy Whitehead and Gillian Whitlock. Apparently pocket wizards don't like it that cold.

Harold Lee Miller for Pfizer

Back from the holidays and back to work, to busy to post, but here's an image from last year, shot by Harold Lee Miller for Pfizer.  It's Kathryn Joosten, Ms. McClusky from Desperate Housewives and cancer survivor.