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After leaving WPPI...I can definitely say the industry has changed. Leaving the awards ceremony you would think that you had accidentally attended an awards ceremony for painting...not photography. I think what photographers do with painting makes complete sense...after all we have been telling people for years that photography is an art...maybe now that we are painting with photographs people will believe that even more.
I went on a shoot the day after the convention ended and grabbed this shot. I applied the techniques of painting photography and had some fun. I don't see the industry turning back. The photographer of the year award at WPPI was given to Jennifer Hudson..and I can tell you that all of her award winning shots were paintings...constructed with shots from a camera. Tell me what you think of the shot...and what you think on the changing nature of the photography industry.....
Walking through the rooms displaying the Accolades of Excellence winners at this years WPPI I am amazed at how much the industry has transformed from a photography related business to an art related business. Knowing many of the photographers in the awards circle and how they got their shots....it is amazing to know that many shots are actually a compilation of 5 or more shots...combined into one. I'm not saying it's a bad thing...but the awards hall should be a commercial for Adobe Photoshop...because the amount of work done after the photograph was actually taken is many times more time consuming than taking the actual shot.
Photography truly has become art..because it's not about always capturing a beautiful image in one shot...it's about using your portfolio to create a piece of art from the images you have taken...even if they are from multiple locations and different times. The purist might disdain the current trend...stating that all photographs should be from what was taken...1 shot, 1 time. Are we photographers or artists....using a camera instead of a paint brush to paint our image?
What say you?
WPPI is back! I'm heading up to Las Vegas and plan on meeting some friends and those who have worked with me while there to have a great time. Leslie is coming all the way from Florida for her first WPPI (she's excited) and Don will also be there along with others.
Not only are the classes and tradeshow going to be fun...but I will be doing several location shoots with models in the Vegas area which will be a blast. If you're interested in hanging out shoot me an email at jason@jlpros.com. I'll try to post every day if possible!!
I'm very excited to announce that I will be going to shoot my first wedding in Australia!!!!! The wedding is scheduled for this May in Sydney on the water....I can hardly wait...while I'm there I will be extending my trip to do some sightseeing as well as model shoots in Australia...and I'm taking my video guy Cameron and my family. I am pumped!
So after parking the car I walked past the gate with the attendant booth and said, "I hope someday you are in a similar situation, but I hope you receive the help you need." The attendants shrugged their shoulders and ignored me. I walked outside the garage onto the street and had absolutely no idea what to do.
After walking around for about twenty minutes I called American Express knowing that I didn't have cash access as part of my plan. I asked them if they could give me the pin # so I could pull out cash and they said it wasn't part of my account program. The account representative was so nice and I had nothing better to do....so I proceeded to tell him my story. He laughed at parts, sighed at parts, and at the end said, "That's really messed up....I'm so sorry to hear that."
He then said, "Let me place you on hold....I have an idea that might work." After waiting for a moment he came back on the line and said, "We're not supposed to do this..but I've received special permission to help you due to your circumstances." He then went on to explain to me that he would wire me the cash I need but I would have to pick it up at a Western Union or or Moneygram location. I thanked him profusely but then laughed and said, "I have no idea how to find a location...and the cabs won't take anything but cash."
He then responded, "That's okay...just tell me your street location and I'll lead you to the nearest location to you." At this point I said, "This totally sounds like an American Express commercial." He laughed and said, "I'm just doing my job." The agent then proceeded to find a location that was only 6 blocks from where I was standing. He stayed on the line for the entire time while I walked to the Moneygram location. He even stayed on the line and walked me through filling out the form. To top it off he called the Moneygram office to make sure they gave me the money. If this doesn't convince you that need an American Express...nothing will.
I left the office and truly couldn't believe that they bailed me out in such a tough situation. I walked the six blocks back to the parking garage and got into my car. I pulled the car down to the gate where the two ladies were waiting for me. I handed over my ticket and a $20 bill and the lady leaned across before handing me my change and asked, "So...I thought you had no money....how did you get the cash?" "I smiled and said, "This is Miami, I sold my body." The lady looked at me cross-eyed not knowing whether I was serious or not and I said, "Now please, open the gate."
Thus ended one of the most unbelievable stories of my life....but a great story for a blog....
After walking around for about twenty minutes I called American Express knowing that I didn't have cash access as part of my plan. I asked them if they could give me the pin # so I could pull out cash and they said it wasn't part of my account program. The account representative was so nice and I had nothing better to do....so I proceeded to tell him my story. He laughed at parts, sighed at parts, and at the end said, "That's really messed up....I'm so sorry to hear that."
He then said, "Let me place you on hold....I have an idea that might work." After waiting for a moment he came back on the line and said, "We're not supposed to do this..but I've received special permission to help you due to your circumstances." He then went on to explain to me that he would wire me the cash I need but I would have to pick it up at a Western Union or or Moneygram location. I thanked him profusely but then laughed and said, "I have no idea how to find a location...and the cabs won't take anything but cash."
He then responded, "That's okay...just tell me your street location and I'll lead you to the nearest location to you." At this point I said, "This totally sounds like an American Express commercial." He laughed and said, "I'm just doing my job." The agent then proceeded to find a location that was only 6 blocks from where I was standing. He stayed on the line for the entire time while I walked to the Moneygram location. He even stayed on the line and walked me through filling out the form. To top it off he called the Moneygram office to make sure they gave me the money. If this doesn't convince you that need an American Express...nothing will.
I left the office and truly couldn't believe that they bailed me out in such a tough situation. I walked the six blocks back to the parking garage and got into my car. I pulled the car down to the gate where the two ladies were waiting for me. I handed over my ticket and a $20 bill and the lady leaned across before handing me my change and asked, "So...I thought you had no money....how did you get the cash?" "I smiled and said, "This is Miami, I sold my body." The lady looked at me cross-eyed not knowing whether I was serious or not and I said, "Now please, open the gate."
Thus ended one of the most unbelievable stories of my life....but a great story for a blog....
So I arrive in Miami and head in the rental car to Miami Beach where I'm staying at a hotel right on Ocean Blvd looking at the beautiful Miami beaches. I pull the car over to the Valet and after getting everything out they tell me I need to pay before checking in...which typically isn't the case. They explain they only take cash...and unfortunately I didn't have any..I accidentally left my debit card and cash at home and only had my business American Express. They told me I would have to park my car in a parking garage about three blocks away....
I take the car to the parking garage and before pulling in I ask the attendant, "You take credit cards right?" She nods a "Yes" and I proceed to pull the car into a parking space. I take my luggage to the hotel and drop it off...I then go back to the car to head off to a movie theater...the whole process taking about 10 minutes. I drive the car down to the parking attendant to pay and upon handing over my AMEX she says, "We don't take this......"
I am now growing tired of the anti-Amex treatment I'm receiving in this city. I proceed to remind her that she told me they took credit cards...she says, "Yeah, but only Visa and Mastercard." I reply, "That's not posted anywhere." She replies back, "I guess you need to do a better job of asking your questions." She then continues..."Pay, or move your car." I said, "I've only been here 10 minutes...can't you give me a break?" She said, "No." I proceed to show her my wallet to demonstrate I have no cash and no other cards....she is not persuaded. She calls her supervisor who comes and tells me..."Pay or move."
The two ladies then chew me out asking me what kind of man doesn't have cash with them.....I ask them to please help me out and explain that I'm not able to pull cash out via my Amex account...and they just look at me like I'm a bum...they tell me to call a friend and I show them my driver's license from California...the literally laughed. At this point another car gets behind me and they pick up the phone to call the cops....so I go in reverse and park the car...I'm now stuck in Miami with no cash and no car....isn't life grand?
I take the car to the parking garage and before pulling in I ask the attendant, "You take credit cards right?" She nods a "Yes" and I proceed to pull the car into a parking space. I take my luggage to the hotel and drop it off...I then go back to the car to head off to a movie theater...the whole process taking about 10 minutes. I drive the car down to the parking attendant to pay and upon handing over my AMEX she says, "We don't take this......"
I am now growing tired of the anti-Amex treatment I'm receiving in this city. I proceed to remind her that she told me they took credit cards...she says, "Yeah, but only Visa and Mastercard." I reply, "That's not posted anywhere." She replies back, "I guess you need to do a better job of asking your questions." She then continues..."Pay, or move your car." I said, "I've only been here 10 minutes...can't you give me a break?" She said, "No." I proceed to show her my wallet to demonstrate I have no cash and no other cards....she is not persuaded. She calls her supervisor who comes and tells me..."Pay or move."
The two ladies then chew me out asking me what kind of man doesn't have cash with them.....I ask them to please help me out and explain that I'm not able to pull cash out via my Amex account...and they just look at me like I'm a bum...they tell me to call a friend and I show them my driver's license from California...the literally laughed. At this point another car gets behind me and they pick up the phone to call the cops....so I go in reverse and park the car...I'm now stuck in Miami with no cash and no car....isn't life grand?
I became very sick last night...and when I'm sick I like to take a shower in the bath which really helps me to to feel better. I woke up in the morning feeling sicker than ever and went to take a shower/bath. About 10 minutes into the shower I hear a knock on the door. "Daddy, are you in there?" came from a little voice from outside the door, "Can you let me in?" It was my son Kevin who woke up a little earlier than normal when he heard the shower running. I replied, "I can't right now son, I'm in the shower." Kevin replied, "Are you still sick Daddy?" I responded, "Yes, I am." Laying on the floor outside the bathroom so his little voice can carry through the crack on the bottom of the door Kevin says, "That's okay Daddy, I'll stay with you."
Kevin then proceeded to wake up his two brothers and the three of them waited outside the door for me. They finally opened the door on their own and proceeded to tell me stories about their dreams and other things just to help me feel better. No matter how bad of a situation I'm in, my boys can make me feel better. Moral of the story...there should always be someone willing to stay with you...are you always willing to stay with someone else? If not, find someone today....
The inauguration was great. JJ was too cold to leave his Mom's arms so the pic below is of Kevin and Michael taking in the event. As you can see the majority of the Lincoln Memorial was blocked due to the stage being left up...I guess they ran out of time to be able to take it down.
I have been asked by a lot of people about my political beliefs with all of my posts about Barack Obama. Truth is that I am a conservative in many of my beliefs....and I didn't vote for Obama. But I can see the historic nature of this event and truly appreciate the significance that it brings to the nation. Whether or not you desire the change that Obama brings...you can't deny the historic change this has brought. While I don't believe in many of the agenda items he proposes, I couldn't help but think as I stood at the Lincoln Memorial of the amazing fact that the President that freed the slaves now watched over the inauguration of the first black President in the history of the United States. That is change, and that is amazing. God Bless America. 
Crowd waiting for the big event
Too cold to let any body part be exposed
The crowd is building....
No more seats left at the Lincoln...
The spirit of Abraham Lincoln looking over the historic day...
The prayer was given ....
Hope was inspired...
Cheers the moment President Barack Obama was sworn in...
A Father uses a special moment to teach his son about Abraham Lincoln...
The enormity of the event...
My boys....exhausted from a big day, lots of freezing weather, and still a witness to history...
For my 200th blog post I'm thrilled to announce my teams visit to Washington DC for the Inauguration of Barack Obama. Regardless of your political affiliation, you can't deny that this is a historic event. We will be there to interview, chronicle, and will make a documentary from the event. As always I'm looking for a different perspective and view of the event. Every news agency will have all the same coverage for the most part. My goal is for us to document the days leading up to, day of, and the aftermath of the big event.
As I always say I refuse to be labeled as any one type of photographer....that's why I shoot weddings, sports, landscapes, and photojournalism. I don't do it just for the sake of refusing to be labeled...but because I truly find incredible interest in all these fields. You should always chase what you love...and I love all kinds of photography that document life. I'll have a video guy as well as my wife and boys which will be a blast and will have Chris and Karly housesitting while we're gone....hopefully our house is intact when we come home. We will be posting pics and video all the days we are there on a daily basis.....so stay tuned!
