McBurger VS McBurger-

Behind the scenes at a McDonalds Canada Photoshoot:

An innocent consumer asks why the real thing never measures up to the ad.  

Hilarity ensues when a crack design team tries to justify their actions.

Click for youtube video.

Very visual.

"Slept on the steps of the Paris Opera next to a stranger with an eye-patch while waiting for the metro to reopen."

To me, sometimes words are better than photographs, because they allow greater freedom of imagination. A story like this helps to remind me that sometimes the best photograph is not because of the elements it has, but because of the ones it suggests.

Rock Climbing

http://causeffect.tv/blog

I went rock climbing and met these guys who run this "collection of highly talented storytellers, artists, thinkers, and above all… CREATORS" at the local crag. Turns out they're awesome, talented, funny, and intelligent. We had a cool little conversation about Waldorf schools. Following that, we ran into a stern West Point instructor who we'd met at a comp. Turns out she's this smiling hippie, hanging out with a guy with a full head of dreadlocks and another who might pass for Tony DiNozzo from NCIS.

Then I climbed so hard (okay, a 5.10 trad route after two nights of drinking for more hours than I was sleeping) that my hands began to cramp up into balls that I couldn't unclench except by smearing them on the rock.


Definitely one of my best climbing days ever.

Lexey Swall

To me, this girl is practically the ultimate ideal of a photojournalist.

http://lexeyswall.com/blog/

http://lexeyswallbobay.blogspot.com/

I met her when I was given a tour of the Naples Daily News by then-photo-editor Judy Lutz, who lived near me, was a friend of my aunt, and was one of the nicest people I knew.

Now, I hope this doesn't derogate a working professional and artist, but this girl is a hottie. I don't think I could ever feel like Naples, Florida was my life, but she is so amazing at integrating herself and her work into her world that these actions and experience become inseparable to me as the viewer. Her photos are amazing, she is a very engaging, open, and beautiful person, and that results in me having an enormous crush on her. I have a thing for excellence. And glasses. And big technical equipment. And thoughtful eloquence. I'm pretty sure she's married, but man, I would take this girl out for a steak dinner any day. Or tofu. She's pretty compassionate, so maybe she's a vegetarian.

I like how many layers this photo has, particularly if anyone has read Kavalier and Clay.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/07/lgbt_pride_parades.html#photo4

An Image of Loss

Having a camera can be really therapeutic sometimes... it was nice to go for a walk nowhere in particular with the 5D last night. Good luck to everyone who is having a hard time these days, whatever the reason.

Also: "I teach a jogging photo group...for people who want to both exercise and practice photography."

New York City Targets Photographers

As Occupy Wall Street cranks on, NYPD is reportedly targeting people with video cameras and SLRs for arrest. Gothamist has more. This has got to be the most ill-considered policy I've ever heard of, because even if you confiscate the media from the person you're arresting, any other media people nearby will still record what you're doing, and they'll have pretty strong sympathetic reactions. Even if you succeeded in preventing everyone with professional equipment, there have to be hordes of cell phones and flip cams out there. Welcome to the age of Grassroots Journalism, NYPD. Go, smart mob, go!

In related news, the NYPD has gone insane. Ring of Steel? With firepower. Ring of fire...