Saturday, June 29, 2013

Finding a Family Photographer

When it comes to photography and selecting a photographer, if there's one thing you have, it's a choice.  In this time of digital photography and technology, everybody is a photographer.  Well, I guess that's all on how you look at it.  A more factual statement is everybody has a camera.  It's funny how in this industry, no one has any reservations about calling themselves a photographer just because they have purchased an expensive (in some cases) camera.  I have a lot of records and a large CD collection but that doesn't make me a Dj...   I have a lot of tools in my garage and I work on my car but I don't call myself a mechanic...  So why is it so easy for others to give themselves the title of photographer?  Is it because in this age of digital photography with memory cards with gigabytes in the double digits, you can afford to take thousands of images and just because in the law of averages the odds are there's going to be a good shot in there somewhere?  In contrast, in the days of shooting film, there were costs involved in film purchasing and processing not to mention time back and forth to the lab for pick up and delivery.  In those days, the shots mattered because they cost money.  Maybe...  I don't know.  I can't pinpoint why and maybe that's just part of the reason for this phenomena.  Anyway,  drifted off point.  This entry is supposed to be about choosing a photographer.  Feel free to consider the above when making your selection.

If I had to suggest why you should select a photographer I would say the best reason is because you like their work.  It's really that simple.  Everything else, even though may be a factor, is secondary.  There is a lot of talent out there but every photographer sees things differently and there are just as many styles out there as well.  Select the photographer that you feel most confident that they will provide you with the images you desire.  From there, you can hammer out the remaining details.

I came across a video for Angie's List in regard to selecting a photographer.  There are some very good points in this presentation.  I'd like to share it with you.  To view the video click here

Selecting a photographer is no easy task but you do have choices... and that's good!  There are more photographers out there than flavors of ice cream.   Some people would like a double scoop of chocolate and some vanilla.  There are people that like Mint n Chip and those that prefer Rocky Road.  It's all good ice cream but if you were craving Mint n Chip, Rocky Road just wouldn't satisfy.   Of course I would hope to be your flavor selection when it comes to photography but if it's not a Mint n Chip day, I understand.  Keep in mind, unlike your double scoop of ice cream,  your photographic images are going to remain long after you've finished your flavor of the week.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Greg Garcia Photography

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Cabbage

Not sure if I’m doing this right but it looks good to me!  I decided to #harvest the first #cabbage from my #garden today!View high resolution 
Not sure if I’m doing this right but it looks good to me! I decided to #harvest the first #cabbage from my #garden today!  Now does anyone out there have any good cabbage #recipes ?  Please share.  I have a lot of cabbage to eat!

Monday, June 17, 2013

ROCKSTAR Rehearsal - Tuning Up for Russia

Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy, Dio, Whitesnake, Quiet Riot) James Kottak (Scorpions, the Cult)  Keri Kelli (Alice Cooper, Slash's Snakepit) Teddy Zigzag Andreadis (Guns n Roses, Carol King) and Tim Ripper Owens (Judas Priest, Dio's Disciples)  Getting together for the first time to rehearse for project ROCKSTAR and their tour to Russia.


Sunday, June 16, 2013

ROCKSTAR Billboard Pose

The boys in front of my image of the boys on a billboard.  #James Kottak #Rudy Sarzo #Ripper Owens #Teddy ZigZag #Keri KelliView high resolution 
The boys in front of my image of the boys on a billboard. #James Kottak #Rudy Sarzo #Ripper Owens #Teddy ZigZag #Keri Kelli

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Russian River - Pliny, Porter & Salvation

Russian River  w/Chris and Beth.  Trio: Pliny, RR Porter & Salvation. (Taken with Instagram at Russian River Brewing Company)


Russian River w/Chris and +Beth. Trio: Pliny, RR Porter & Salvation. (Taken withInstagram at Russian River Brewing Company) 


ROCKSTAR

Keri Kelli calls  me and needs to get some video interviews of the members for a project he's working on called Rockstar.  The turn around timeline is very short but I am game.  For this shoot I called in my brother Chris and good friend Ray C for assistance.  We had one afternoon to get all the video coverage for the promoters of this tour in Russia.  Today we were to interview, Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy, Dio, Whitesnake, Quiet Riot) James Kottak (Scorpions, the Cult)  Keri Kelli (Alice Cooper, Slash's Snakepit) Teddy Zigzag Andreadis (Guns n Roses, Carol King) and Tim Ripper Owens (Judas Priest, Dio's Disciples)  Tim was flying in from Ohio just for the interview and rehearsal and flying back just a few hours later.  We had to nail this.

My help couldn't meet me until later so I went to the rehearsal space to scout and set up early.  Robert from Mates was awesome.  He ushered me to a vacant area and said I could basically set up anywhere I'd like.  I moved the couch from against the wall and set it up cock eyed in the room.  I found a yellow anvil case in one of the other rooms and brought that in for background.  There was a Slash's Snakepit picture hanging in the hallway and the text happened to be yellow like the anvil so I grabbed that and set it next to the anvil.  I set up my lighting and Chris arrived and set up audio.  We were good to go!

The guys came in one by one and we did the interviews.  We did a three camera shoot with the main camera being a Canon 5D mkii.  The footage looked good and we wrapped up quickly.  As an after thought, we decided to shoot some stills for promotional use.  I shot those in the same room as the interview.  We moved the couch over to the wall, set up some strobes and in about ten minutes, we had our shot.

The guys took off to another building to rehearse and we packed up the gear.  I kept two cameras out just incase and Chris kept his Tascam digital recorder handy.  We entered the rehearsal room and decided to get some impromptu coverage of the guys playing together for the first time.  I asked Chris to record audio and shot some video of the rehearsal.  This footage made it into the final promo and there's a compilation of it located here, and in this blog.

After the rehearsal, Keri needed to take Tim back to the airport and the following day he left for Vegas on business.  The following night we corresponded  into the wee hours as we picked a promo shot and began the editing process.  Thanks to cell phones, texting, email, ftp and today's technology, we were able to have the video and stills in the hands of the Russian promoters within three days.  Now that's the kind of pressure I like!  "I love it when a plan comes together!"



Monday, June 10, 2013

ROCKSTAR INTERVIEWS


RockStar Interviews -From bands like Ozzy Osbourne, Dio, Quiet Riot, WhiteSnake, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Slash's Snakepit, Scorpions, the Cult and Guns n Roses.... Rudy Sarzo, James Kottak, Keri Kelli, Tim "Ripper" Owens and Teddy ZigZag Andreadis talk about music, Rock & Roll and project RockStar and their upcoming tour of Russia.

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