Happy Birthday Steve!

Happy Birthday Stephen, I love the hell out of you.

The rest of those Zone pics I promised

So remember that one post where I said I had more zone pics and then I neglected to post them? Well I'm finally coming through. All of these images are exactly what the negatives are, I just scanned and dusted the spots off. I added a tony bit of contrast on the last one because it was just a touch too light for my taste. But yeah, the wonders of the Zone System (Ansel Adams technique for the photo unsavvy). Makes for some cool black and whites.

For the record, Cathleen Norian and myself were supposed to go with a group of people we were in school with on this nerdy Zone trip. Yeah, we shot these on our way to Mammoth. We meant to meet up with them later but the snow was just too damn good. Priorities people, priorities.

Venice is for lovers

Venice is a maze of old buildings and paths to nowhere, and there is no other place in the world like it. You better go visit before it sinks. We tried Absinthe shots, the ones with the sugar and the fire and all that, while we were here at a bar we stumbled upon in the night. One of the only places you can stay on the actual island area of Venice, at least in our price range (a.k.a. cheap hostel) was a place run by a church. They had a strict 1:00 a.m. curfew, and if you weren't back by then you were locked out and sleeping outside. After out shots of Absinthe and more than our fair share of beers, we had to make our way back to the hostel through the maze of pathways. We barely made it, along with some other stragglers that were literally kissing the door mat when we walked up. Good times man, good times!

I see London, I see France!!!!!

Well, maybe not London, but definitely France. I've been posting so much from everywhere else, and I realized that I did indeed go to France, yet I haven't posted pictures to prove it. The trip we did was coastal, so these pictures are from Nice and Monaco. I've gotta say, I believe that France, all of it, is one of the most beautiful places I've seen so far. The countryside is gorgeous, and architecture is beautiful, and the water is strikingly blue, when it isn't overcast and cloudy. See middle image for proof.

My first wedding....Kinda

So when Amanda asked me to help second shoot a wedding for Zoom Theory, I told her the only for her pretty face would I indulge. I'm glad I did because I had an amazing time shooting with her partner, Merideth, and had a blast at the wedding. Granted, I know the bride and groom, Bill and Crystal, and some of their good friends, but even if I didn't, it would still be one of the most fun weddings I've ever attended. Anyways, I haven't had a chance to go through many of the photos, my computer was being fixed at Apple. But luckily Amanda is on her A-game and posted some pics on their blog: www.zoomtheory.blogspot.com. And being the good friend I am, I stole some from there to put here. Please check out their blog for the rest of the pics, and scope their website at www.zoomtheory.com.

All images were shot by either myself or Merideth and retouched and montaged by Amanda. Thanks for letting me "borrow" these for my blog Mannie :)

Greece and more Greece

One day I'll go back.

That day is just saved for someone special.

Best Ouzo in Town

Literally, the best Ouzo in Greece. "Brewed" right there in those barrels. Good Brandy too. We smuggled like 14 bottles back.

Greece

I'm getting around to finishing up some retouching of some more travel images. These are some of my favorites from Greece. Maybe one day when things are right again, we can go back.