Archive

Tag Archives: photography

After a jet-lagged first day, I got some sleep and was able to enjoy this magical city. Although this is my first visit to Paris in more than 20 years, I had planned to keep my overtly touristy activities to a minimum. We spent yesterday going to church, visiting a spectacular but lesser known photography museum in Saint Gervais, wandering around the Marais with an old friend from the U.S., eating falafels in the Place des Vosges, and people watching in front of the Hotel de Ville.  But, I couldn’t resist the Eiffel Tower at night.

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower - Night

On the day after Christmas, I got a call from the Gingrich campaign asking if I could fly to Des Moines to document Newt’s Iowa “Jobs and Growth” bus tour. I spent the next eight days following the campaign bus around the state – two thousand miles, 40 hours in the car, 22 cities, 4-5 hours of sleep per night, and 10,000 photographs.

It was a great experience, both personally and professionally. I was impressed by the caliber of the campaign staff, touched by the kindness and generosity of the many Iowans I met along the way, and amazed by the stamina and discipline required of anyone who runs for the Presidency.

Here are a handful of images from the tour:

Newt and Callista Gingrich in Mason City, IA

Spencer, IA

Le Mars, IA

Televised town hall in Des Moines, IA

A campaign supporter attends a meet and greet

Taking questions from the national press

Independence, IA

Walford, IA

Davenport, IA

Muscatine, IA

Greeting supporters in Muscatine, IA

Campaign bus in Burlington, IA

Iowa Caucus in Cedar Falls, IA

Cedar Falls, IA

I was briefly in Toronto a few weeks ago and had an hour or two to roam around exploring. As with many cities, it was difficult to just jump in and out of the car while I was downtown, but as I edged away from the city center, I had a little more flexibility. I thought this was an interesting image – the contrast between the fancy downtown skyscrapers and the tatty transitional neighborhoods.

Toronto Contrasts

Toronto Contrasts

Last night’s premiere was a little less unruly than the night before, perhaps because the celeb crowd was smaller. But, Robert Downey Jr. and Rachel McAdams from the movie both attended along with a handful of other glams. The thing that struck me last night was the other-worldliness of some of these people. Rachel McAdams, for instance, looks like she’s lit from within. I particularly like the contrast in the bottom two pictures between Rachel and the folks behind her:

It’s good to mix things up. A few days of quiet, slow-paced, contemplative, peaceful landscapes, then a few days of combat in the photographers’ pen at movie premieres. There is a lot of pent-up rage in that group of people and things can get a little testy.

Because of the number of celebrities who showed up and the high profile of New Year’s Eve, last night was particularly wild. The insanity notwithstanding, I love shooting these events. It’s absorbing, like rock climbing or hang-gliding. There is a lot of standing around at the beginning, but once the action starts, time disappears. Despite the volatility of the environment, it’s an almost Zen-like experience.

Here are a few of the glamorati who were there:

Premiere of "New Year's Eve"

In the thick of a host of thin things yesterday afternoon, I decided it was time to clear the cobwebs. Crystal Cove is a peaceful stretch of beach situated between the much busier Newport and Laguna Beaches. Kelp beds, tidal pools, sea lions porpoising in the wake of fishing boats, and lots of birds. A two hour stroll on the sand, cobwebs gone.

Here is a seagull, standing watch over the sunset.

Gull - Crystal Cove

And from the top of the bluff, Catalina Island under a setting sun.

Catalina Island

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.