Playing in the Rain

Comrades,

Let me first advise that if you are a photographer, shooting in rain mixed with freezing temperatures is not good for the fingers! I must have soaked my hands in boiling water for an hour to get them back to normal. Ok, perhaps that is a bit of an exaggeration but it no less tested my extremities to the end. Luckily, Matt & Ashleigh joined me with the attitude of someone on a Sunday stroll and without a care in the world. If you're given lemons, make lemonade they or at least that is what I hear. Well, we were given clouds and though we didn't make rain, we made good use of it. All the way from Spokane and a bit of fury and it's "Game, Set, Match"! See ya at the wedding gang....... 

My beloved Saints are done for the year and that signals the start of what I affectionately call "The Shooting Season". It is about this time I am immersed in engagements and Senior pictures alike. Bring it on for this lad has a severe case of Cabin Fever.

Enjoy the bonus shot. my son Devon pulling an Einstein during the holidays.

Thermals For ALL My Friends,

Lance

Yearly Awards for 2010

Comrades,

Life is a series of judgments against the standards of time's past. It is for this very reason that people create a “Year in Review List” or "The Top 100 Events" in (insert year). What in the world am I referring to is probably the question you just said to yourself as you read letters & symbols written by a fool smitten with his own proclamations. It is for the aforementioned question that I must now respond and with that response I continue to use more text than necessary just to keep the suspense lurking while doing revolutions around your patience. Ok Ok I’l stop but this  is just too much fun!  

The time has come for me to take a moment to reflect on the things most reflective in my eyes for 2010. Most of what you’ll find in this list revolve around people whom I have stood in the trenches with, shared a personal moment with, or just simply found common ground with. However, there will also be references to things that have no bearing on a personal relationship with (say it with me), P-E-O-P-L-E!
And now we commence the ceremonies...........

Most Rewarding Moment of 2010 (Non-Human Category): Seeing my beloved New Orleans Saints finally win the Super Bowl. If you are not from or have no ties to this great city than it is physically impossible for you to know just how big this was. 30+ years of loyal following for Mr. Lance and with a Father who attended the first game in 67, it is no wonder the impact of this win was so strong it made quick work of my sensitivities. Thank you Saints past, present, & future! 

Cheapest Beer Drank in 2010: Keystone Beer
Need I say anything more?

Most Dynamic & Creative Photographer of 2010: Greg Sims
Never have I seen somebody unify the world of photography and digital art the way this dude has. From military jets to NCAA & NFL sanctioned sports, this man has had his hand in the game and has forced the world to take notice that the standards of photography are only going higher on his watch.I call him "Jedi Master", you can call him Greg. For more info on this dynamite guy check out http://www.tri-digitalgroup2.com/

Cosmopolitan Person of 2010 Marc Pagani: Facebook has evolved in a way that allows all of us to participate in other people’s lives without having to physically be around them all the time. For better or worse we can argue that one later. For now, I have enjoyed reading about the travels of Marc Pagani who is based out of New Orleans. From the highest mountains to the sands of the Caribbean his tales of adventure and photography have been nothing short of captivating and insightful. If you are looking for a someone who will tell you what is and isn't as he as personally seen,  Marc is your guy. He also is a pretty dammed amazing photographer who has his hand in just about every type of photography known to the human race.  http://www.paganiphoto.com/

Person Whose 15 Seconds Are Up Justin Bieber : A child that has polarized the pre-pubescent minds of girls across the globe. Unfortunately, he has no talent and a ridiculous hair do that resembles something between a beehive and a birdhouse. Just wait, in a couple of years we will be reading of how he lit a hotel hallway on fire after going through a gallon of Vodka. 

My personal favorite picture from 2010: Chelsea Cassity in “Lake Waters”
There should always be a series of mountains one climbs when trying to establish excellence. 2010 was kind enough to bestow what I feel is the successful trek up just one of those mountains. It started over a series of conversations lasting 4 months & when the shutter closed on a setting sun in Lake Lowell, I knew I had something I would cherish forever. This is one of the rare moments where tooting your own horn never felt so good.

7. Best Movie of 2010: “Restrepo”
With the over the top computer graphics of today’s movies, it is nice that we still have a desire to see raw & unbridled films about the world around us more importantly, the wars that continue to suck the life out of our own futures. If you’re curious as to what a member of the U.S. military goes through in a place like the Korengal Valley this is the film for you. I saw this film and felt like I was back in Bosnia (circa 96) and the bond these men form with one another is yet another reminder that despite the wave of chaos that surrounds us, standing your ground for the man beside you still matters most. 

8. Biggest Consumer Product for 2010: Apple
This award is for a company who continues to streamline everyday things while making it cool, fun, and flat out reliable.

9. Most Disappointing Aspect of 2010: Our Population of Voters
Not because we are divided by this made for TV thing called “Party Affiliation”, but because we have emptied our loads exhausting precious energy for words instead of getting things done. I often wonder if our success as a country hinges on some sort of controlled chaos instead of harmony. Just a thought.....If you think either party truly represents you make sure you Fed Ex some of the same drugs you're taking to my address please.

Coolest City Visited in 2010: South Padre Island, Texas
Man oh man they love their Tex-Mex and cold beer! From the beaches to the jet skis,  this place is a poor man’s tropical paradise. The fishing is awesome and the accommodations are more than adequate. Seriously, give it a thought if you are looking for something different.

Well there you have it folks. What you just read was my own little collection of notables for 2010. For everyone who has supported "Justis Nation" I really can't thank you enough for it is you that enables the wheels under the bus I have been riding on for 6 years strong. May 2011 be better not just for you, but for the masses of eyes that make up the world we live in. 

Honorable Mentions for 2010

1. Learning to use the word "Seam" in a way I never imagined. 

2. Saying "No" when I absolutely had to

3. Seeing people finally realize there is more to pictures than the push of a button

4. Getting a new mayor in New Orleans

5. Andy Rooney

6. Colin Charland and his continued search for the Taliban in your living rooms

7. Soutwest Airlines

8. Getting up close and personal with the New Orleans Saints at their Metarie training facility

9. The beginnings of the NCAA's demise

10. The human ear! How unappreciated that asset is in our lives and unfortunately, under used. 

Champagne For All My Friends, 

Lance

Engaging & Musical

 

Comrades, 

I have come to the conclusion that we live in a world full of people who are hell-bent on making us worry about whether or not a new day will come. Nothing seems positive anymore when we speak of the future, everyone lives in a bubble of fear, and we have a two-party system that can't seem to get along if their lives depended on it. However, I do not plan to subscribe (At Least Not Today) to that jargon instead I bring you what is right, what is happy, and what breaths optimism into the depths of confusion even amongst the mice. Wanna guess what that might be? Freedom! That's right, and I am not talking about freedom from oppression or any ridiculous news station buzzword. I am talking about the freedom of living in the moment! Take my two partners in crime above, do they look like they are worried about the negative energy that swarms around yet can't seem to penetrate their shell of laughter? It is because in this world of "doom & gloom" we still have those who are free from worry and live life as if today would be their last as cliche as that may sound. Without delay I would like to introduce you to Scott &Kirsten......For what we are planning next year for their wedding I am going to need a crew of 5 just to serve as "roadies". Ok, maybe not 5 but let me clue you in to the fact that for the first time in 5 years of shooting weddings, I will be creating an orchestrated story, frame by frame carefully scripted between a sea of able minds. Each will be a continuation of the last with less worry for "candid" and more concentration on the use of _________(Concealed) & _______(Concealed Again) to bring out personalities that could only be owned by these two. Will I share what we are planning in detail? Nah, just wait until sometime after August 4th of next year but given the volumes of input all three of us are putting into the pot, this one is sure to exceed that "different" I am always searching for. 

Had the opportunity to do new promo pictures for local talent MacKayla Hunter last week. Though we still have one mini-session left to go, so far I am very pleased with the results and really and I mean really, love shooting for bands and musicians alike. At the age of 15 she is writing her own music and has joined the few and the proud who are self-taught on the guitar. Wanna meet the coolest support group in the world? Look no further than MacKayla's Dad Duke, who has to rank as one of the nicest people I have worked with in this business. The greatest thing about shooting local artists is that for just a brief moment I get a small sense of what it is like to shoot pictures for performers who like me, live and die by their creations. If you haven't had the chance, check out MacKayla on Facebook and who knows, years later you may just be able to stake claim to being one of the earliest supporters of this amazing talent.

10 Things I Think

1. Every residence in the U.S. should be issued BB Guns just so they can shoot their cats out of the Xmas tree!

2. No matter how cold the winter, a spring time lie just ahead.

3. The Saints are headed back to the big game!

4. BSU for all their efforts can never take down the BCS

5. Seems as though Photography is not the novelty it was a year ago.

6. On that note, if you are starting out and are struggling only one thing can help. PRACTICE!!!!

7. Justis Photography is stronger than ever yet selective still

8. I love "Grey Goose"

9. Apple is about to take over the world!

10. I can never value enough the relationships I have formed through pictures. That has been the grandest payment of all!

The Goose For All My Friends,

Lance

A Thief in the Night

Comrades,

I come to you with not so great news. After promising to make myself more available via the blog I simply had to step away to deal with a setback. Making a long story short, somewhere late into the night on November 2, a group of less than stellar people managed to break into my garage and steal what amounts to my recreational implements. Additionally, they managed to walk out with my MacBook Pro which was stationed on my workbench. Some of you might ask why in the hell did I have a Mac inside my garage and I will tell you that part of my garage has been converted into a "Man Cave" of sorts where I keep many of the tools that I use for making pictures. Locked inside a rather large Pelican Case was just about every lens & amd camera body I own but lucky for me they were too stupid to look inside or they would have gotten somewhere between$15K-$20K worth of Nikon gear. Guess that won't be left there ever again.....Insurance is paying for about 90% of the loss but the true loss is what we all value the most, that being, TIME! I have never had to fill out so much paperwork in my life and that explains my lack of activity. Topping it off, the bastards managed to take my vehicle as well and for 5 days it was held hostage like an American in Iran in a place other than my residence. The story doesn't end there but instead of typing the long end of the tale, I will let you read how this all ended.


Here is the link, happy reading :)

http://www.ktvb.com/news/crime/Boise-man-spots-stolen-car-on-street-106904313.html

Been taking a picture or two just for fun but have for the most part hunkered down to prepare for next year's class of wedding clients. You may have noticed some of the pricing changes on the Justis Photo website but it's worth noting that framed canvass prints (11 x 14) are the standard in each package now and rest assured, you will love them! They are offered Ala Carte on everything I do just so you know. Another new change for 2011 is the introduction of Smug Mug as the source for galleries and ordering prints. With that comes a more dynamic mix of offerings and flat out a better gallery experience for each client.

Just finished an engagement shoot today so keep tabs on the Justis Photo Facebook page for a sneak peek coming soon. Until we write & read together again.....

Car Alarms For All My Friends,

Lance

Football Season and a Few Pics

My Fellow Citizens, 

Been shooting some new material for both the 2011 wedding season and the Justis Photo website. Finding that the Fall is flat out my favorite time to shoot with the colors and the feel of the air that seems to breath new legs under this old body. First up was a very dear friend and former bride (Chelsea Oyler) who gave me just a few moments of her time to snap off a dramatically lit shot of a woman perched high above the hills. I felt the fitness theme lent itself well to the shot and that was fine with Chel given she was training for a marathon at the time. I love shots with a desert theme and love bright off cameras lights even more! A great friend this lady is and a righteous Justis thanks is in order!

Dustin and Michelle met up with me at a little place situated behind the Boise Foothills where privacy and the calm are as abundant as the air we breathe. One cool day for shooting it was except for the massive birthday party we stumbled into hoping to use it as a backdrop for the final shots. This mother whom I don't know had rented out just about every party toy known to man. She even had some company bring out one of those giant inflatable balls (you know the kind you can climb inside of) that the kids were going crazy in. I admit, I was tempted to sweet talk my way into getting a picture using that contraption but Mom was having none of it. What can ya do? 

Starting now I am no longer with printroom for gallery hosting. SmugMug has sucked me in and so far I really like the layout of the galleries. This means that you get a much nicer gallery for 2011 and I get a bed of comfort knowing things will be run in an orderly fashion. Check out the link at http://justisphoto.smugmug.com/
From there you can order prints or simply enjoy the various slideshows put together with any, you guessed it, music. I think everyone knows how Mr. Foster feels about that :)


Smugs For All My Friends,

Lance

Long Winded

Comrades,

Every so often, I find myself with a little more time to spend doing engagement pictures particularly, once the rush of weddings has subsided. A couple of weekends ago I met up with Brain & Jen to help them complete the front end of their wedding pics. Since they are getting hitched at an all inclusive place down in Arizona, my three dollar tail won’t be making the trip with em. However, I was still shown a slither of opportunity to work with them when it came to getting those engagements done. After being told we were not allowed to stand on the larger fixtures perched on the steps of the Capitol Building (Rent-A-Cop), we slipped into some alleys, parking garages, and finally Julia Davis Park. With our hunger for dinner kicking us square in the teeth, we packed it up, went our separate ways and headed for kitchens all over the town. Thanks guys and wish I was coming with ya….If you read this, tell your photographer I will be watching him (kidding of course).


Nate Fowler is a subject that has begun to show up in more than just a few portfolios’ of mine. To know this man is to know a guy focused on climbing a mountain with every ounce of energy he can muster all the while singing his latest mix of music. I had the pleasure to shoot his wedding, one of his EP covers, and now I am assuming his newest release. There have only been maybe a small handful of people over the years that I have shot more than twice whereas this was my third and hopefully not last shelling by way of the shutter with Nathan. When you have shot the same person a number of times, I notice that it takes little time to find your rhythm. If you're wondering why it is because we know what each expects from the other the minute we arrive on location. Even better is while Nathan is jabbing away at his producer, I am noticing that I am hitting homers one after the other with each picture snapped. Perhaps it is my bias and desire to shoot bands for a living that has me charged or could just be that Nathan defines everything that photographers desire when it comes to automatic chemistry. Life is a fun ride and our passions generate buzz, hope, vision, and for me thankfulness to be able to do what I do.

My Best Impression of Socrates


My Bud Sam Marvin

My good buddy Sam from LMP Sports trekked up the trails that lead to the base of Mount Cramer just outside of Stanley, Idaho. If you live around here and want to see what the reds, ambers, and greens look like for real, this time of year it is the place for you! Though our legs were about dead after 5 hours of hiking, the pictures we were lucky enough to get will last lifetimes! When it’s worth it, it’s worth it!

Best Movies Seen So Far This Year:
1. Crazy Heart
2.Restepo
2. Shutter Island
3. Book of Eli
Now if I can just find time to see Wall Street 2 life will be grand!

Movie Tickets For All My Friends,

Lance

The Bird has Landed

Comrades,


Don’t you just hate it when people you rely on give you a bunch of excuses for not doing something? Well, I am going to allow myself to fall on the sword for levying a ton of excuses for being tardy on this blog. To save us both the grief, I am just going to list them accordingly and you can decide my fate.

1. Massive Home Repairs
2. Photo Shoots
3. Editing (LOTS OF THIS)
4. Slipping off to New Orleans for work related reasons (I admit, some of it was leisure)
5. Long Boarding
6. And many other things not blog related

When you live 50% of your life in front of a screen it is difficult to justify those extra few minutes writing away while hoping to God somebody reads the goods thus making you feel bigger than you really are. Even more, I have now joined the zillions who make up the attention deficit generation of Facebookers. That thing can keep you on for hours and this doesn't include the usage you dive into when you own an IPhone. Nonetheless, sometimes it is nice to have your own space designed the way you want it without the character restrictions thus, the blog is the island I should visit more often.

Did my photo thing for Nathan & Morgan’s wedding which started at the Depot, stopped off at Capital City Church just to say "I do", and then finished things up at The Stonehouse. Hot and muggy day no doubt but was a surefire process of shoot & move. Sometimes wedding schedules just go that way so it pays to be Johnny on the Spot. The “Wedding Gods” were gracious enough to ensure two of my former clients who were in attendance which brings me to my next point. It is truly awesome when surrounded by guests for whom you do not know, a familiar and kind pair of faces greet you while you work. Thanks Ty & Chel for the visit and the help loading my gear at the end of the night. Drinks on me.......



Jon & Melissa made the trek from the confines of Arizona and celebrated their day with perhaps the largest wedding party I have had to tackle to date. Earlier in the year I shot a wedding in Seattle with what I thought were the craziest groomsmen ever only to have that standard toppled by John’s crew. Always a good thing when people can simply cut loose and enjoy a fleeting moment and even better when there are pictures to freeze those moments in time. This wedding also marked the first time I gained access to the bell tower at the Boise Train Depot. If you are a shooter and haven’t shot up there, it is quite the treat if your creative gumption is in high gear. Many thanks to my crew from the “Cactus” state and may the comic relief shared with me that day, be shared with many more in the years that follow.

For those of you who have emailed me and asked for a particular image you have seen say, on Facebook, I am about to make your lives much easier. Here soon I will have a gallery built just for you so that you can get that image, pay for it, and have it shipped right to your door. In times past this was not as much of an issue for me but due to the increase in requests, I am going to make the whole process easy. Even better, the cost doesn’t change but you will still have to email me if you want a canvass or other “specialty" items. Stay tuned, I plan to get this thing up in October. Lastly, I have incorporated canvass prints into 2011 wedding packages along with some other options that may change just a touch more before the end of the year so bear with me, the goal is to maximize the offering to the soul on the other side of my lens :)

Satellite T.V. For All My Friends,

Lance