David, Elizabeth and I went out this week on a night shoot in Fullerton. Still reviewing all the shots, and will be putting the “best of” up in the Showcase over next few days.

OK, I admit I am seldom satisfied with the status quo, particularly when it comes to how I carry things around with me (have a closetful of black computer bags that are a testament to this fixation....)

This affliction also applies to my camera gear, with how I position the camera on my body a particular peeve. You see, I just don’t like the standard practice of just hanging it around your neck. First and foremost, it’s just a bit geeky (IMHO), and I can’t tell you how many lewd remarks I get at the Renaissance Faire when the camera is outfitted with a rather enlarged telephoto lens... (You know what they say: “Big lens.....big picture!”)

In addition, when gliding around on my Segway, I prefer to sling the camera & strap across my body (bandoleer-style), so that I can have the camera on my hip and out of the way. Problem is that it’s highly cumbersone & virtually impossible to swing the camera up to my eye for a quick aim & shoot shot in this mode.

Enter the R-Strap from BlackRapid - a simple, elegant solution implemented in a high-quality fashion. As mentioned above, it’s worn diagonally across the torso, but its innovation is that the camera is attached to the strap in a manner that allows it to quickly move up the strap on a runner, and into a quite natural & comfortable shooting position. When done, it is slid right back to an out-of-the way position on your hip. You don’t get a full sense of this by just looking at a picture of the strap, so be sure to look at the instructional videos here.

Obviously, am quite impressed with it (so far) and will be putting the strap through its paces over the coming days in a number of shooting venues.

OK, I have to admit that I’m still not totally comfortable with referring to myself in any way, shape or form as an artist....my personal perspective is that of a business geek who just awkwardly dabbles in the creative dimensions.

Perhaps that is the lot of all of those who choose to pursue (or not), the siren’s call of that inner voice who wants to be be and say something more than the simply mundane - haltingly, embarrassingly, and crudely at first.....not totally dissimilar to those first awkward and terrifying attempts at intimacy with another person, but in this case, my personal muse of creative artistry...

A personal watershed was reached for me about a year ago, when I set out on a photographic field trip to Death Valley run by Don Gale. I was redeeming a gift certificate from my ex, and this trip was an opportunity to become a bit more focused (and educated) on the art & craft of photography under the tutelage of a professional.

My first inkling that this would be a unique experience was on the long drive out to Death Valley, where the last 50 or so miles was devoid of passing any man-made structure or vehicle....now this truly, was the desert (as compared to the familiar drive from Orange County to Las Vegas)

Early the following morning, our group set out early to be in place at “The Dunes” for dawn, and although we numbered about a dozen, our physical separation in the vast expanse of the low desert provided for a feeling of isolation and focus that both thrilled and terrified me.....for those few hours I was “in the moment” - alone with myself and my thoughts, fears and aspirations....taking in my surroundings, and exploring how I could best capture the experience.

It was at this point where I realized this was more than a mere experience, it was the beginning of a calling....

Have been lax in getting some new work up on the website. Two new shots are now in the Showcase and the Gallery.