The Gold Reflector–Another Take!

I’ve written in past articles on the gold reflector and how it was originally made to provide warm, reflected light to illuminate subjects standing in the shade or open shade where the light color temperature is more cool in color.  The warmth from the gold will cancel out the blue cast often found in photos with subjects standing the shaded areas.

 Well there is another use for gold reflectors that works great with digital photography when it comes to outdoors and white-balance.  The results create dramatic skies and backgrounds that are illuminated by natural daylight and when that subject is not standing in the shade.  As mentioned earlier, the gold or warmer light from the reflector cancels out the coolness when the subject is standing in the shade, thus the image is truly daylight balance, but let’s take the subject out of the shade, preferrably in an area where the light is not harsh. [Read more]

Arrived in Europe

I arrived in Hamburg, Germany yesterday and am happy to be back in country I lived in for three years during my military service in the Army.  Though I lived in Mainz then Frankfurt, the German landscape is still refreshing and the people are sincere and friendly.  The food is great too!  The seven hour time zone difference hasn’t phased me either, normally it doesn’t till I get back home.

Tomorrow I travel to Berlin, then back to Hamburg then my schedule takes me to the Netherlands, Belgium then back to Germany.  The last time I was in Berlin was when the wall came down in 1989, still have a piece of it at home!  [Read more]

Mentors and Photoworkshop.com

Mentors, everyone should have one and I’m no different when it comes to my photography as mine is a living legend, author and photographer Robert Farber. Farber, originally discovered by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis when she brought Farber into Doubleday to publish his book “By The Sea,” has mentored me for sometime, both with and without his knowledge and is a true friend.

Farber often hates me to say this because it dates him, but when I was growing-up in photography, I would purchase his books and dream of shooting such thought-provoking images as he creates with his painterly style. Farber’s style is clean, yet powerful, his images don’t require any captions to convey the story. [Read more]

Sleepless in San Antonio

Well I’m literally headed to the shower then the airport. Yes, those that know me often know what I do before a morning flight—not sleep the night before for many reasons.

One reason is to get as many emails that I can answered, seems I’m always behind. The other reason, I have this fear I will not wake-up in time for my flight, so by staying up, well I’m up! Yeah, I know, sounds silly right? Well it probably is, but one thing for certain, I have yet to miss a flight (grin), besides, I’m sure I’ll get some sleep in that lovely coach seat all the way to Europe—the biggest leg is 8-plus hours and I know my IPOD battery won’t last that long.

Seriously, call it my U.S. Army training, but sleep is something I can sacrifice for the sake of photography—just don’t ask me if I’ll give up booze, as I only do that on the all-nighters since I have to drive with no sleep already. I know what you’re thinking, you’re probably saying, “Man, you’re nuts and now you want to get on the road in your sleepless state.” My answer is simple, I’ll be driving more sane than most folks here where I live, besides, I’ve got insurance. [Read more]

True Colors

Things I’ve observed since March 1999 when I first launched GarageGlamour.com (now www.glamour1.com) which often amazes me.

First, as a warm-up, I often help people as I believe in spreading the gospel of photography. Second, perhaps I’ve been too nice and now it’s time to rethink my philosophies in life. Third, I’m not perfect, and I too have had my quirks and have made my mistakes, but what I’m learning more exponentially than ever before, is the true side of people. [Read more]

Glamourcon Chicago

Wow, what an experience, Glamourcon in Chicago rocked! This is the only event sanctioned by Playboy of this type, so I was honored that Bob, the owner of Glamourcon, invited me to do my lectures and a workshop along with other greats, like Mystique Magazine’s Mark Daughn. It was great to finally meet Mark, funny, he lives less than hour up the road from me, but we both seem to be on the road more than home.

Speaking of home, I’m finally here, well for at least two days before I head of to Europe for some photography. But back to Glamourcon, afterall, Bob, Keith, Mark and all the others that worked so hard there, made me feel at home. A special thanks to Playboy Playmate Holley Dorrough for sharing a table with me and being one of my models along with Tess and Playboy Special Editions model Kellie Maines. They all three drew a bunch of attention at the show–especially Tess, as she’s a new model in the industry. We’re all looking forward in doing this again in Los Angeles in October. [Read more]

Houston, now Chicago

I’m still here, just been traveling like a 747 jet aircraft, from location to location. I’m actually home in San Antonio, at least till Wednesday morning when I take off to Chicago so we can work on my new photography DVD, then Glamourcon.

Glamourcon is not new, it’s been around for sometime and it’s one of the only officially endorsed events by Playboy that features many Playmates and other models. There I’ll teach two seminar/lectures and then one seminar/workshop, hope to see you there. My feature models include April 2006 Playboy Playmate Holley Dorrough and Playboy Model Kellie Maines. I hope to see you there. [Read more]

Faith, the Sanity of Risk

What a day today, I’ve spent an hour unpacking my new Hensel lights from Germany in the hot, humid Texas weather, which is anticipating a change with all the tropical storms approaching us. My bones and muscles are still aching from the Virgin Islands trip. The kids screaming, “Daddy,” which makes your heart feel sick as I know I’ve barely seen them since I travel so much and I know I’ll barely see them the rest of the month. I swore, with my first divorce I’d never let this happen with my current kids, that Dad, would spend more time watching them grow up.

Barely home 24 hours, I spent three hours reading over 3,000 emails, as the connection in the VI was interrupted. Not to mention all the work I’m trying to catch-up on, including the latest book material. I swear, I work more hours than I’ve ever worked in my life since I’ve been self-employed. But I love being practically my own boss and I’m willing to take that sacrifice. [Read more]

The Virgin Islands Number Nine

Wow, what a workshop! We just arrived after finishing our 9th consecutively sold-out International Glamour, Beauty and the Nude Workshop in the Virgin Islands and not only am I exhausted, but I think we wore everyone out too—including the video and sound crew that captured the priceless moments.

Whether it was this month’s Kellie M. from the Women of Playboy’s current Hot Housewives issue running down the beach as the film crew rolled their cameras alongside the still cameras from the attendees, or the priceless shots of the bride in her white dress falling into the infinity pool, this was one of the best Virgin Islands workshop of all time. [Read more]

Late Night, Early Morning, Private Shoot Day

As usual I’m traveling like crazy. Came home from Chicago on Wednesday and have been playing catch-up ever since. Often it seems like life is nothing but playing catch-up, I guess this is what they mean about, “You work harder when self-employed.” I know, I’ve worked more hours than I ever have in my life, per week, now that I work for myself.

Tomorrow is Monday, pack-out day for the next Virgin Islands trip, our ninth workshop there. It’s going to be a spectacular one as we’re changing everything. The last three Virgin Islands trips some of the models and other hired help became too complacent. I’ve learned my lesson, rotate the talent, so we’ve got four new models going, our only two returning veterans are Playboy model Laura F., and she’s really been away while at school for a year, so she’s like a fresh new model, and of course this month’s Playboy Hot Housewife Kellie Maines. [Read more]

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