A Single Chef

Recently, I was lucky enough to meet and become friends with a very talented cook/chef/blogger named Marguerite. She runs a blog called A Single Chef, and specializes in demonstrating and explaining how to prepare meals for one or two people. She includes a section that will help identify the appropriate kitchen equipment to help replicate the amazing dishes she shares with her readers. Oh yeah, in addition to her amazing recipes and advice, you can find pictures that I have taken of the food she prepares. We will continue to work together in the near future because it's so much fun! Follow her and follow me for a good time and great food.
A Single Chef
enjoy.
-L

Harvest in the Square

A great Food and Wine Fundraising event takes place Tuesday, September 21 from about 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM at Union Square Park.  I'll be there eating, drinking, and taking photos.  Follow the link for additional information.  Great cause (one of my favorite NYC parks) and a great time.
http://www.harvest.unionsquarenyc.org/

2010 Harvest in the Square
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Enter at 16th Street & Union Square West
Union Square Park, Manhattan

General Admission 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
VIP (Early) Admission at 6:00 PM

Fine Print:

Harvest in the Square is presented by the Union Square Partnership, a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization and proceeds from the event benefit the organization’s ongoing beautification and maintenance efforts in Union Square Park. Contributions are tax-deductible with the exception of $50 per ticket. Attendees must provide a valid form of ID for wine or beer service.

The Best Camera is the One You Have With You

It's an overused statement, but I think it is so true.  Whether you're using the camera on your cell phone, a point and shoot, or a super tricked out high dollar professional rig, what's most important is that you get the shots you want.  As a photographer, I have many camera bodies that I keep around even after I've purchased new ones.  Some people in my life would even go as far as to say I have too many cameras in my growing collection.  Oh well.  :)  I go through stages of really loving to work with one of them for a few months and then switch to another one for a while.
During my 2009 Appalachian Trail thru-hike I used a small plastic 8 megapixel Canon A95 point and shoot.  I was able to take wonderful shots for the entire 5 month journey with this little camera that I bought for less than $150.  (On the right side of this page there is a link to my Trail Journal with pictures from that hike and links to more.)  In everyday life I use the camera on my iPhone quite a bit, but I try to have some type of camera with me at all times because I never know when a great photo opportunity will present itself.
My current favorite walk-around camera is the Canon S90.  It's a 10 megapixel point and shoot with a metal body and the ability to shoot images in RAW format (my preference for file format).  It's small, lightweight, easy to master and includes full manual shooting capabilities.  I love this thing, and the samples below were shot with it this weekend.  Whatever your choice of camera, make sure you learn how to use its features so it can give you the best possible results.  The happier you are with your photographs, the more likely you are to continue shooting and learning more about photography.  Happy Shooting.

-L

 

Summer Update

It's been a while so I wanted to update everyone on what's been happening.  I've been working on several projects this summer. 
I just finished a job for EBOOST, a company that makes a "healthy energy drink" mix.  The pics will be put onto their newly designed/updated website soon.  For now you can see their current site, with pics that I didn't take: EBOOST. 
I'm currently working with the owner of a new bar and grill that is set to open in the fall.  I'm shooting interior pictures during reconstruction to document the progress.  I'll post some pics here and also on my website when the project is finished, sometime in late September.
I've also been working on several personal projects.  One is a self-portrait project that I will publish on my website during the fall.  It's a great exercise in learning.  I'm learning about myself, my camera, lighting, and composition.  Should provide for a very interesting final product.

There is more but I will wait until things materialize before posting additional info. Enjoy.
-L

Star Wars on the 6 Train

Okay, this doesn't have anything to do with my photography, but it is a cool video created by the Improv Everywhere group in NYC.  It's the first scene of Star Wars IV: A New Hope done on the 6 Train (NYC Subway).



CLICK HERE

Advertisement for Lugz

Here is a trailer of an ad created for Lugz, a company I'm working with as a business and photography consultant, starring Cain Velasquez who is an MMA fighter.  I only got to shake his gigantic hand, but the dude is the one of the nicest and quietest guys I've ever met; although, from what I've seen, he's a wrecking machine.  The shoot for the stills and the video were done in NYC over the course of a couple of days.  I'll post the stills when they're finished being retouched.  For the record - I did not shoot this video - it's being distributed by the Lugz marketing team, and a full commercial will be airing nationwide soon.

Weekend Project

Now that I'm working with and learning from a couple of documentary photographers, I'm going to start photographing more people...or people more. The Food will still be the "money maker" (HA!), but I'm going to start a couple of people projects. This weekend I am going to concentrate on getting some up-close and personal shots of people. I think I see people well and I want to translate that into making compelling images. Hope to post some here in the next week.
Also, here comes the World Cup 2010. I'm ready.
If you don't already, you can follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lancemadson

-Enjoy.