Nelson Mandela. A Eulogy.

At first it was just news - a ticker under some inconsequential sporting event on the TV above the bar as I sat with a friend, dipping pita bread in hummus and scraping at the final bits of a mound of shawarma sitting between us. Then it was just another part of the never ending social media stream…Google Plus, Facebook, Twitter - another one of those mindless swipe up…swipe up…swipe up…

oh…stop…pretty picture.

ok…swipe up…swipe up.

Then, when I got home, when I sat down on my couch, and when I found myself suddenly and uncontrollably weeping, that’s when it became real.

He was gone.

Nelson Mandela was gone.

I couldn’t discern between whether I was weeping for joy…celebrating a beautiful man’s life and the insanely invaluable contributions he’s sacrificed his own life and time and youth (twenty seven years in a South African apartheid prison!?? TWENTY SEVEN YEARS!!) to improve the future of society and humanity as a whole -  the ultimate empathy - or was I weeping out of desperation and sadness, wondering whether the sacrifices he made, ones that are absolutely harrowingly unimaginable to the majority of today’s population - out of the realm of reality - were they all for naught? Have we absolutely let this man give what is usually the most fruitful and passionate years of his life in absolute vain? Have we learned nothing and taken all he has done for us for absolutely granted? Has anything really changed?

As a Palestinian living in a post-911 America, it doesn’t take too much digging to see that bigotry and ignorance is still not something of the past, it just happens to manifest itself in new and creative, and, unfortunately, often primal and savage, ways. Ask any Latino living in Arizona, ask any Arab living in the Midwest, ask any Jew living in Europe, ask any African American living in the South, ask any caucasian living in the Middle East. Bigotry, hatred, ignorance…they have not disappeared. And more likely than not, they never will.

But then, as I was thinking about all of this, out of nowhere, and very suddenly, I stopped. I stopped weeping. And within a fraction of a second, that weeping was replaced with a smile. A undeniably joyous smile. And I knew exactly, and immediately, why.

While racism and hate and bigotry may never disappear, while everyone may never have everyone on everyone’s side, the world is still closer together and more connected today than it has ever been. And that is a HUGE step forward. We began to separate as we roamed the earth over millennia, and now we're coming back together again. It’s only a matter of time before we all realize that we are all brothers and sisters, and always have been, and no matter what we try to do about it, we’re all in this thing together. And that, perhaps, may be the only absolute truth and, ultimately, our saving grace.

I started to think this. I started to express this. I started to write this. And now, here I am, publishing this. Me. By my own will.

Because I am free.

And it’s because of you Nelson Mandela. It’s because of you. And those who inspired you. And those whom you’ve inspired.

You have done your work, you have done your job, you have more than earned the right to

rest. in. peace.

As for us, it’s now our turn to take that baton and run with it. Hopefully, Mr. Mandela, hopefully…we shall do you proud.

Thank you.

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.” -Nelson Mandela

New Photo App, OKDOTHIS, Feeds Creative Block To The Fishes!

It happens more often than I like to admit - I want to make images, but either I’m not feeling inspired, or there’s always the lame default ‘I don’t have my camera’ excuse. But more and more lately, that hasn’t been the case as I, along with the rest of the world, always have a camera with me. In my case, it’s an iPhone, and I’ve found myself using it more and more, perhaps not for paid gigs and official shoots, but for, brace for it…FUN! So there goes that excuse. But I was still left with the ‘I’m not feeling inspired’ nonsense. Enter OKDOTHIS.

It’s an app.

It’s barely been out for a week.

But I’ll tell you this right now - this thing is gonna be big.

It’s the brainchild of photographer Jeremy Cowart and at its core, OKDOTHIS is a never-ending photographic scavenger hunt in which the items being searched for are sourced by those who download and use the app. Basically, those that have the app can create a ‘DO,’ they put it out there for the world to see, and then if you’re part of that world, you go and ‘DO’ it…and by ‘DO,’ I mean take and upload a picture that fits that respective 'DO.'

For example, a current ‘DO’ is ‘fog.’ It’s that simple. Now you upload a picture of something that, in some way, however loosely interpreted, incorporates fog. 

The current list of popular DOs range from “Let us peek inside your notebook,” “View out the window,” “Look up,” “Make now look like then,” to “Unexpected beauty,” “Interesting typography,” and “Create a mystery. Make them guess.” And all the DOs fit into a myriad of categories that include everything from ‘Art’ to ‘At Home’ to ‘Giving Back,’ ‘Kids,’ ‘Fashion,’ ‘Travel,’ ‘Outdoors,’ ‘Pets & Animals,’ and at least a dozen more. You name it, it exists.

The best thing about this is that, sure, it may not lead to your latest masterpiece, but it provides a gift far more valuable than that, it helps continually ignite ideas and approaches to both the ordinary everyday, as well as the extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime. Basically, it comfortably forces inspiration. You no longer just look at things, you start to really truly see…everything. Hell, it’s basically zen in an app (ok, perhaps that’s taking it a bit too far, but it’s kind of neat that an app is actually encouraging your eyes and attention to move away from the screen and actually pay attention to the world immediately around you).

I’ve only been an OKDOTHIS user for about 3 days and it didn’t take me long to realize that it was a godsend. I have already found myself uploading over 100 images, some taken as a particular ‘DO’ inspired me, and some that I’ve had before, and now have found a new home and audience. Anyhow, right now it’s only for iOS, but I have a feeling they didn’t quite know how popular this thing would be, so I wouldn’t be too surprised to find it on other platforms soon enough.

The video is below, and the website is www.OKDOTHIS.com. If you decide to join in on the fun, make sure to find and follow me on there - my user name is @wasimofnazareth!

Just DO it!

I'm Feeling It And I Had To Spread It Around...(No, Not The Flu!)

I just wanted to drop a quick post before this long holiday weekend to thank each and every one of you for helping to enrich the past year beyond belief. The friendships and relationships I’ve made here and beyond have sat at the core of my motivation and inspiration to keep doing what this each and every single day. With each shutter click and word typed, I am filled with absolute gratitude that I have a chance to do this and such wonderful beautiful people to share it all with. In a particularly rough last few years, when I needed it absolute most, your work and words and actions have inspired me incredibly and add an element to life that I can only hope everyone can experience to at least some degree.

It’s the essence of what keeps me going.

It’s the essence of what keeps humanity going…

each other.

So thanks again for everything. Your encouragement and support are SO insanely appreciated and I can only hope I've been able to offer back even a sliver of that. I cannot wait to see what the next year holds for us all. Now get off the computer/tablet/phone/glass/smoke-signals and go be with the ones who make it all worthwhile. And make sure to let them know as much!! Happy Thanksgiving to those that celebrate it! And to those around the world that don’t, ignore this post…JUST KIDDING! No joke. Thank you all! To the utmost degree!

Much love,

Wasim.

My Stuff On Stuff For Your Stuff (Again)...I Just Saved You From Shopping Psychotica! (Free Shipping Until Cyber Monday!)

Yup, I know I posted this last week, but wanted to make sure to remind you to order early so that you receive the products in time for the holidays.

So the holidays are here and shopping is poo! So let me take care of that for you! Screw the malls, the parking space road rage rush, running around like a madman or woman with minutes to go before closing time only to grab the last box of cologne that's just going to sit under the sink until next year anyway. Instead, order my stuff!! Stuff that they'll actually use every single day and won't break the bank. Mugs, laptop skins, iPad cases, iPhone cases, framed prints, canvas prints, throw pillows (yes...throw pillows!). Even the cards!! I got you! And you don't even have to leave your couch to do it.

Just go to my ‘BUY’ page and it’ll break down what’s available at each of the following outlets: Society6 (where there's free shipping on selected products until Cyber Monday), Fine Art America, and 500px. And if you have ANY questions, or have a special request for an image on a product, please feel free to contact me!

Here's just a few examples, many many more on those links! Happy Couch Shopping (hopefully)!!

The Giving Lens’ Colby Brown Goes To The Philippines - Shows Why He’s The Real Deal

Figured in light of Colby Brown's impromptu brave decision to head down to the Philippines to help with the aftermath of this month's insanely devastating typhoon, this was a good time to re-share this. It’s an article I wrote about his philanthropic photographic organization, The Giving Lens. It originally appeared on Kotori Magazine, but his dedication to using his craft and his heart to lead his humanitarian-heavy path is freshly demonstrated with his recent move, so it seemed a good time to rehash it for those that may have missed it. 

Follow his exploits on his Facebook page, his Google+ page, his Twitter feed, and definitely check into his organization, The Giving Lens, at www.TheGivingLens.com

And click here for the article from earlier this year, The Giving Lens Gets Focused. Trust me, you're going to want to know about these guys if you don't already. These are the sorts of stories that restore hope in humanity's future.

My Photography Just Got Physical!

Rocky_Mountain_National_Park_Colorado_Wasim_Muklashy_Photography

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So this week gave me reason for a good bit of excitement and had to share it somewhere, so figured my own site is a darned good place to do it. Last week I posted about some of my images on various products that I’ve made available to cure your holiday shopping woes. As a result of that, and the wonderful connections and relationships that I’ve been blessed to make and build over the years, especially through Google Plus, I’ve sold my very first ever physical art print.

The wonderful Shonie from the town of Musselburgh in the Scottish countryside will soon have a piece of Rocky Mountain National Park hanging in her vicinity as she was incredibly kind enough to order a metal print of my image “Just In Time” through my FineArtAmerica store, along with a pack of cards adorned with the image "The Second Pool."

Shonie, just wanted to give you a public and emphatic ‘THANK YOU!’ for your kindness and your continued support...that means so much, you have no idea! I'm flattered and humbled at the same time. Thank you thank you THANK you!

A Photographer Just Cured All Your Holiday Shopping Anxiety (You Can Thank Me Later)!

So the holidays are coming and shopping sucks! So here I come to save the day! Throw pillow covers, mugs, laptop skins, iPad cases, iPhone cases, framed prints, canvas prints. Even the cards!! I’m all over it! So screw the lines, screw the big-box stores, screw the merry madness, and support the little guy…me…all without leaving your couch. I’ve chosen several of my images that seem to have gotten the best response over the past year and put them on various items using some really cool services like Fine Art America, 500px, and Crated. Just go to my ‘BUY’ page and it’ll break down what’s available at each outlet. And if you have ANY questions, or if there are any of my other images that you’d like to see on certain products, please do not hesitate to contact me! Here's just a few examples, many many more on those links! Happy Couch Shopping (hopefully)!!

Why Google Plus Haters Are The Best Thing For Google Plus

So recently, I’ve been seeing a few posts and articles circulating around the web that are basically hating on Google Plus and, well, as a Google+ lover, I think that’s pretty awesome. Huh!?? Yup. You see, it’s not often that something as seemingly trivial as this really rocks my boat, but considering the extremely polar opposite experience that I’ve had on the platform, and the second glass of single-malt I’m working on, I felt compelled to spurt out a late-night response to it all. This ‘rant’ centers around why I think the haters are helping the platform rise above the rest.

First and foremost, let it be known that never have I come across a more thoughtful, engaging, push-it-forward crowd than on this platform. My stream is constantly and endlessly filled with thought-provoking, intelligent, and motivational posts and material of the likes I’ve never seen before. Whenever I need a dose of inspiration, whether it be for a new image or for creative thought or to help spur some ideas, I log on and I’m consistently overwhelmed by all the wonderful madness that flows down my page.

Especially as an aspiring (and hopefully budding) photographer, I've been incredibly inspired on a daily basis by the likes of everyone from Thomas Hawk to Trey Ratcliff to Lotus Carrol, Scott Kelby, Derrick Story, Frederick Van Johnson, Ibarionex Perello, Rick Sammon and Juan Pons, G Dan Mitchell and Michael Frye, Doug Kaye, Jay and Varina Patel, Nicole S. Young, Jim Harmer, Gordon Laing, Martin Bailey, and Javier Pantoja, and this list doesn't even begin to scratch the surface (if you don't know them, Google them, you'll quickly realize they're definitely not nobodies, but rather the tastemakers behind a lot of what you see and what's in your pockets and on your phones and pads and whatnots).

And don't even get me started on the science front...the list goes on and on...(but if you're really interested, let me know, I'll share my circle...yeah, you can do that too!)

What I'm getting at is that at its core, this seems to be the only platform that allows you to so effortlessly become your own careful curator for the information that is most appealing to you, in an extremely organized manner. I want science? I click on my science circle. Photos? My photography circle. Tech? My tech circle? Backpacking and Hiking and the Outdoors? My Backpacking/Outdoors circle. Pictures, articles, links, blogs, recommendations, events, videos…it’s wonderfully insane.

And I think that’s is precisely what the haters aren’t quite used to and, quite frankly, don’t really know what to do with. You see, just because you posted a picture of what you had for lunch and no one +1’d it or commented, doesn’t mean Google+ is a ghost town (that, as of June, has more active users than Twitter), it basically means no one gives a crap about what you had for lunch. Now, if you posted what was in the sandwich and what exactly made it so good, perhaps why you chose to shoot it from the angle you did, and then posted that publicly and in some of the applicable communities (everything from the Foodies Community, the largest of which currently has 34,000 members to the Food Photography Community, which currently boasts 60,000 members), you’d get meaningful feedback and so many +1s you’ll be counting them in your sleep simply based on the fact that the post had some…wait for it…SUBSTANCE! 

*gasp*

Over the past 2 years, what I have found in my experience is that Google+ caters not to the short attention-spanned ‘look at me look at me’ narcissism that has been the crux of most other social media platforms. Instead, Google+ has done a really good job of weeding out the meaningless and forgettable in favor of the meaningful and unforgettable. And if you really think about it, that should come as no surprise, considering Google remains the main go-to for web and information searching. They didn’t focus on weeding out the crap by mistake. The more I think about it, the more it seems to be a very well-calculated, and so far, pretty successful effort (at least compared to the competition). Sure, there’s going to be some invasive species that make their way into the garden, but compare it to the aphids that shows up by the nanosecond on “the others” and, well, we’ve got a much more fruitful garden.

Through Google+, I have had more engaging and provoking and interactions that have left lasting impressions in the past week than I get in a month on the other platforms. I have made more friends and contacts through this platform that I correspond with on a daily basis than any other social network I’ve been a part of. Additionally, I have been able to drive traffic to my personal blog and website portfolio like never before, and, hot damn, I’ve even been able to get some work out of it. All because, like anything else in this world that’s worth it, you actually have to put some time into it to see the value.

So to all you Google+ haters out there, please, I beg of you, I implore of you, please please please keep on hating, because believe you me, we’re not missing you one bit. And in the inevitable occasional event that we do…we know exactly where we can find you.

For the rest of you, find me on Google+ at www.Google.com/+WasimMuklashy.

Ok then, sorry, had to get it out of my system. I promise more photography less rant next time...

Vote For Me!

This is just a quickie...so I entered a couple photos into a contest sponsored by the National Park Service. The opening exhibition is tomorrow, November 2 at 1pm and it will be open through November 24 for viewing and voting. You should go vote for my images. It's nice out there. Grab some wine, a sandwich, and some Oreos. Have a picnic. These below aren't the ones I entered but were taken within a half mile of the place just a few days ago. Voting and the exhibit are at the Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center located at King Gillette Ranch at 26876 Mulholland Highway, in Calabasas, California, 91302

Some Autumn Themed Parallax Wallpaper Madness for your iOS 7 iThings.

Had to get out of the house for a bit today just to refresh the brain so got in my car and headed over to Peter Strauss Ranch off Mulholland in the middle of the Santa Monica Mountains and found a few things that, well, definitely helped me air out the ol’ noggin’. Seemed like they might make some pretty decent Autumn-themed backgrounds and wallpapers for your iOS devices, so why not…here they are.

Simply right-click and ‘Save As’ or if you’re on your iOS device, just hold down and choose ‘Save to Camera Roll’ and there you go. Again, I only format for iOS because that’s what I use, but if enough of you request for other formats, I’ll be happy to provide those as well. Anywho…Happy Fall Y’all!

3 National Parks, 3 States, 2 Weeks, 1 Crap Bag - Part 6 - They Could Have Been Serial Killers!

Oh yes…it was incredibly striking how the landscape changes immediately…literally immediately once you cross the border from Utah into Colorado. The golden red sand and tan desert hues that were the prominent feature for the past 5 days begin to melt away within mere miles of crossing over that invisible line, and they're replaced with a green, lush, and seemingly more oxygen friendly palate. It was striking how quick and abrupt the transition was. After about an hour of climbing up a mild grade along increasingly green roadside fields and streams and rolling hills filled with meadows and rivers that could compete with the Palouse, it started to get steeper and steeper. After shaking off the plains of the desert behind us, it was hard not to embrace the fact that we were headed into arguably the most magnificent mountain range in the country…the Colorado Rockies. Not a bad introduction to the second half of this trip. 

Being a huge mountain and running water and tree and forest guy, this is the point when my intuition coerced me sit back and just marinated in the environment that we were floating through. I immediately felt at home.

Our first proper stop in Colorado was about 3 hours in. My friend that joined me on this trip was itching to go fishing from the moment we left Los Angeles, and as we rode alongside a grand rushing river, it was killing him not to stop. Granted, I had no complaints, so we found a small town called Hot Sulphur Springs that ran right along the Colorado River. While he pulled out the tackle box and the rods and set up shop along the banks, and I decided to wander the town a bit - get a feel for this seemingly mythical landscape.

What I found in Hot Sulphur Springs was the kind of place where the local children tube down the river that connects their backyards, where the remains of an old 'mercantile' store sit beside the ancient whitewashed brick building that still serves as a post office, where children's bikes are left strewn about in front of the 'Town Hall,' where the trout run rampant and the sheriff stops in just to say hello. The sort of place where a stranger sees you walking in the streets, asks where you're headed, and then offers you a ride (yes…that happened…not once, but twice. Coming from L.A., I had no idea what to do with that).

This sort of place. Is Colorado.

After a little more than an hour of hanging out in this charming town, it was time to get back on the road. We still had to make it through Rocky Mountain National Park, over the 'hills' that divide the East and West of our great country, down through Estes Park, and finally into Loveland, Colorado, along the front range of the Rockies, where a mutual friend that was putting us up for a few days lives and was waiting for us with a fresh home cooked 'supper.'

Now, if the day ended at this moment, it would have been a perfect day, but it didn't, and what it still had in store for us blew my hot damn mind into stratospheres I have only thus far read about and admired from calendars and picture books and vague recollections of out of print geography class text books. The next leg of our trip was taking us directly through Rocky Mountain National Park, and as soon as we entered that gate, it was like Mama Nature's magic wand went ballistic.

We rode into the official park entrance along the 34 highway, otherwise known as Trail Ridge Road, just as the sun began it's decent over the western range of the valley, and we couldn't have been in a more perfect position. The centerpiece of this part of the park is an insanely stunning elk and deer-laden meadow that stretches a solid couple of miles through the center of a valley flanked by aspens and Douglas firs and purple ponderosa pines. When the sun is setting in a flawless meadow, and everything starts to glow pink and purple and gold, there's only one thing you're required to do - hit the bloody brakes and get out of the car.

Now.

We parked alongside the road, I grabbed my camera, and ran directly out into the middle of the meadow. By now, my buddy knew the drill…I was gonna be a while. So he gave in and gladly grabbed his fishing pole, and jumped into the stream. He did his thing and I did mine. I felt like a frickin' child running around and ducking and hiding and frolicking in the 3-foot tall blades of grass, grabbing every angle and light beam and cloud formation I can in my viewfinder before the sun disappeared behind the range. This went on for a good 45 minutes where nothing. Else. Mattered. And this was the sight where I made some of my favorite images of the trip.

However, there was still a good drive ahead of us to get through the park and over onto the front range and we knew that. What we didn't know was the surprise that awaited us just a few miles up the road…I don't know why it didn't even occur to us until we were in the midst of it, but all of a sudden, we're driving, the trees begin to disappear, we realize we're way above the tree-line and that's when we saw it…the sign: Continental Divide - 11,000 feet. We were literally at the top of the Rocky Mountains, the dividing line where the East meets the West, the top of the fence from which the waters flow east into the Atlantic and west into the Pacific. We were driving along a ridge line where we were simultaneously watching the sun set on one side and the moon rising on the other. The timing was psychotically impeccable. And in this situation, when you're literally on top of the world, there's only one thing you're required to do - yup…you guessed it, hit the bloody brakes and get out of the car!

This is where I'll let the pictures in the gallery at the end of this post try to do the talking/typing…they won't nearly do it justice, but, well, it might just be one of those things you have to experience for yourself. It's like that.

Now the sun was down, the moon was up, and we hunkered back down in the car for the 2 hours that lie ahead of us through Estes Park and into Loveland, Colorado. We rolled in to our friend's casa, exchanged hugs and pleasantries, and did what any group of long-separated friends do when they get together…ate and drank. We popped open a bottle of wine, settled down on the table outside with our plates of fresh salmon, asparagus, and grilled vegetables and laughed and drank and merried til' we passed out, one by one, in the warm summer air - the sounds of Coloradoan crickets and distant rush of the Big Thompson river lulling us to sleep.

zzzz...

If you've only just joined me on this "3 National Parks, 3 States, 2 weeks, 1 Crap Bag" journey, and would like to start at the beginning, click here.

Til next time...

For more of my madness: Instagram: @wasimofnazareth Twitter: @wasimofnazareth Google+: www.Google.com/+WasimMuklashy Facebook: www.Facebook.com/WasimOfNazareth

The Undeniable Importance of 'Me Time.'

So yesterday I posted about my whirlwind experiences shooting a few well-known personalities and their closets. Today I'm posting about me.

Through the whole experience shooting Kyle Williams and Rod Streater in San Francisco, I also knew it was going to be an exercise in something I've been focusing on making a priority over the past few years…whether it's for a few minutes, a few hours, or a few days - meditation, a hike, stopping for a few deep breaths, whatever - making it a point to always find time for myself. I've so often times in the past lost vision of why I was doing what I was doing…the passion…and it's been nothing sort of soul-murder, leading to derailment of my original vision and purpose and intended paths, some that have lasted for years. For this reason, it's become a priority to always make sure to do something to try to keep that vision at the forefront. Especially in the midst of running from one house to another to another location to another and between cancellations and reschedulings and all the psychotica that comes with being in the midst of a commercial shoot along with portrait and closet shoots for 4 professional athletes in 3 days, where it can be easy to lose track of why you love doing this to begin with. So on the final evening of a 3 day excursion to San Francisco, I took a couple midnight hours to hang out on San Francisco's Embarcadero overlooking the new Bay Bridge light show. Snapped away and came away with a couple that satisfied the soul.

But even past this, I decided to extend the 'me time' through the next day. Figured Jennifer from WhoHasItApp could use a break from her devices that she's insanely married to (iPad, iPhone, even a Blackberry, all at once) and since I had yet to make my yearly excursion to Big Sur along the coast (and knew there was no reception there), I made up my mind that I'd force one upon her and we'd make our way back to Lalaland via Pacific Coast Highway. And, well, that's never a bad idea. Sure, it adds an extra few hours to the trip, but a few hours is nothing compared to the benefits it provides the mind.

We got to drive through the redwoods, see the waves crash against the coastline from 2000-foot cliffside vantage points that most see only in pictures and films, the elephant seals at San Simeon were out basking in full force, stopped for some insanely mouth-watering barbeque at Alex's in Pismo Beach, which I'd HIGHLY recommend...it was perfect. Well, almost. While I'd love to say it was all good, there was a moment when the government shutdown madness truly got personal, and that's when I slowed down to show Jennifer the best campsite in California...and we ran across this:

Again, the silver lining...even Mama Nature needs her downtime.

Anyhow, below is a gallery of some of those 'myself time' images. Hope you enjoy.

Ok then, so the final episodes of the "3 National Parks, 3 States, 2 Weeks, 1 Crap Bag" series coming soon…I promise…Thanks for waiting, thanks for reading, and thanks so much for all the wonderful comments that have accompanied these posts both here and on my Google Plus page. It's been a fantastic experience so far and you all have a huge hand in pushing me to keep on keeping on. I only hope that some of my posts resonate enough to help you do the same.

What Do Gretchen Rossi, Stacey Dash, Rod Streater, Terrelle Pryor, & Kyle Williams Have in Common? Me snooping around in their closets. Huh? Uh Yeah...

Ok, here's another short break from the National Park series…it's been a bizarre unexpected whirlwind of a past couple of weeks so just have to get it out of my system. It started with a referral and a test shoot, and all of a sudden, I find myself in the homes of Kyle Williams of the San Francisco 49ers, Rod Streater and Terrelle Pryor of the Oakland Raiders, Stacey Dash, and Gretchen Rossi shooting portraits of them and everything in their closets. Huh? Uh…yeah…so it's the pretty brilliant brainchild of one Jennifer Colli. She came up with the idea and put it into motion and, well, hot damn took off with it. 

Basically, it's an app called WhoHasItApp. You can check out well-known personalities' closets, see what they have, and if you like it, click! Boom! It's yours. Even out of print stuff, if they get enough people to like the bugger, then through deals with the clothing companies, they'll reprint those particular items. It's brilliant madness, but madness nonetheless. Anyway, being the absolute ignoramus on fashion that I am (talk black t-shirts and you'll be talking the extent of my fashion language), I was just geeking out on the fact that although I had no idea who they are, I get to shoot these people that a lot of people seem to know. Kinda neat to be able to add 6 well known personalities to my portfolio in the course of two weeks - a concept that would seem nutty anywhere outside of this already nutty town. Granted I only had a few minutes with each, but was able to pull off a few that I was happy with. Anyhow, below are a few of my favorite shots from the past couple weeks…

Also, tomorrow, I'll post a few images that have nothing to do with the gig itself, but that came out of the same trip. More along the lines of what you're used to from me (hint: we drove the Pacific Coast Highway through Big Sur to get back from San Francisco to Los Angeles...).

Photo Sites & Podcasts & Books & Festivals & Stuffs

So this is a bit of an untraditional post for me, but I couldn't help myself...I just finished listening to the latest episode of The Digital Photo Experience podcast hosted by  Rick Sammon and Juan Pons, which I HIGHLY recommend if it's not already in your playlist, and they were interviewing Frederick Van Johnson of the This Week in Photo (TWiP) podcast, another one that is a MUST for you photography peeps...but anyway, Frederick is apparently a modest and humble creature, which is quite refreshing, because until that interview I had NO idea about two incredible things going on in his life that actually affects us all: One, he is the new Vice Chairman of the Board at the Brooks Institute of Photography, so congrats to him.

But two, and even more relevant to us all, is his pet project, MediaBytes.com. This is perfect. The part that's most important to us photographers in this day and age is...where and how do we fit into the maddening pace of the ever-shifting industry? What direction is it all headed?

Just finished Jolie O'Dell's book, Blogging for Photographers, last week and after perusing this MediaBytes.com site and the information therein, especially regarding web marketing and how to take the best advantage of everything the interwebs have available to us, it all just seems to go hand in hand - takes the future of the profession to another level with the seeming approach of embracing the changes and the landscape rather than shunning it or begrudgingly discounting it. He's got courses and information and all sorts of stuffs. Check it.

And while you're all at it, check out the California Photo Fest next week where Rick Sammon and Juan Pons, among a who's who of additional heavy hitters, will be teaching a few workshops throughout gorgeous Central California. Been trying to get to this thing for years, but, well, paying the rent sorta trumps it at this stage...perhaps in 2014...

Thanks for everything all of you mentioned do...it's been crazy transitioning into this new life path and career and I can honestly it wouldn't be happening if it wasn't for the transparent and generous method of imparting your wisdom and knowledge in the ways that you do to help propel it all forward. I love it! Thank you...

So photogs...go do this thing!!!

And I promise, I'll be back next week with the next installment of the "3 National Parks, 3 States, 2 Weeks, 1 Crap Bag" posts...

A Bittersweet Happy Birthday to Yosemite National Park...

It's really sad to me that Yosemite National Park is forced to shut down on it's own birthday so a bunch of entitled yahoos can yank each other's gotchas.

I suppose the silver lining in this whole thing is, Yosemite can take the day off on her birthday, for the first time ever! Enjoy this one because, no offense, but I hope you never get that day off again!

Thank you SOOO much for the years of incredible experiences and adventures. I can't wait to celebrate with you, as well as the rest of the national parks, again...

Looks like I took that "3 National Parks, 3 States, 2 Weeks, 1 Crap Bag" trip at just the right time...