Utilizing our skillsets

As my visual integrity evolves and I gain more experience and aquire more skills, I always remind myself not to take things overboard. Of course it is acceptable to manipulate images in post production using the thousands of programs available to us. Why wouldn't it be?

For the sternly technical fine art photographer who lives as a caveman beating his chest slandering photoshop users and the one who doesn't appreciate technology, I can see a point of keeping your captures limited to what is available. But in the world of digital photography, we are encouraged to use our resources to fix all sorts of things.

Don't forget that not all of us can afford fancy diffusers, variable output flashes, filters that give you results, or cameras that coincide with the cutting edge. We use what we can to get by and I am grateful we can 'fix' alot of it later. This is one reason we should never sell ourselves short in getting our contracts signed for a fair market value. We spend way more time in the digital darkroom (until our eyes are strained) piling through our huge image banks, retouching, cropping, fixing red eye, color correcting, adding effects...... You get the point.

This particular image was a high key glamour shoot of Karen, who was a fabulous subject to have in the studio. Her makeup was self applied and I was glad she didn't overdo it. Neither one of us could get a makeup artist at the time to volunteer. I didn't mind because I knew it could be fixed later. I concentrated more on getting solid expressions from her which would make the job of editing outtakes easier. Thank you Adobe (they didn't pay me for that) for creating Photoshop and keeping it moving in a good direction for photographers and designers alike. We would be "cavemen" without it. |||JDB-01/30/2011|||

Billy Vazquez and Border Patrol

Billy Vazquez - lead vocals/guitar

Jimmy Powers - rhythm guitar 

Rodrigo Zambrano - bass guitar

John Yarling - drums

sitting in...

David Shelley - dijembe drum

If you haven't heard them yet, you are missing out.

Especially if you love Funk, Blues, RnB, Rockabilly, Etc...

Take it from me - these guys can pull a crowd and keep them groovin til the sun comes up. They don't mind playing an Encore for the screaming fans. They are in it for the love of music, Because of this and their diverse and distinct talents, I see them striking up a tour or record deal soon. Be on the lookout at at local venues around South Florida. Come out to Fort Lauderdale and show your support. You wont be sorry.

 

 

"Hanging on the Music"

At this very moment I am at a local bar (where I now work weekends as a bar back), supporting my good friend Beverly, who is an amazing songwriter & musician. She plays over 10 instruments & always has a smile & a hug waiting for me when our paths cross. I am highly appreciative of what Beverly does for a living. I have a much larger respect for the friendship that has been built. She is the definition of a performing artist, first & foremost, taking her love for music and translating it into raw therapy for anyone willing to listen. She commands attention without screaming into the microphone & has the soul of an old wise philosopher. She keeps her own rhythm in life with her Guild acoustic guitar and Alexi keyboard, but always supports the fellow musician and offers her guitar or mic up for a new sound. She has a subtle heartfelt kindness in her home as well as on stage. Beverly's time in the limelight can't be denied because she is that good.- And for these reasons, she deserves praise.

Human kind needs an uplift. Don't get me wrong, there are alot of really good people in this world & I believe we each have something wonderful to offer one another. Take it from a fellow Cancerian like Beverly. Our Zodiac sign similarity is one that is naturally gifted and artistic. We are passionate about life and love good company. It is our business to please. I feel Beverly's contribution is greater because she knows how to make people feel good with music and a genuine smile. Behind that smile there is years of experience.

Lyrics and rhythm in music can grab us by the seat of our pants and take us to places way beyond our fears about death or confusion of love. Alot of great music and artistic genius is filled with sadness. This is unavoidable because as artists we want to see the world happy and we feel grief in a big way when those around us are unhappy. As artists of all types, we sing, play, sculpt, paint, create and capture our way through life & only hope for positive change in the world and in ourselves. I appreciate every chance to photograph such an amazingly talented person. Without this proof and kind of documentation along with the ocassional recording, its all just noises off in the distance. Step outside and follow those noises to the music that you hang on to (sometimes by an emotional thread). It defines us as lovers of life. Every one of us.
||| JDB 01/12/2011 |||

National Lampoon Comic Shoot

A couple months ago I visited National Lampoon's Underground Comedy Club on A1A in Fort Lauderdale Beach. My friend's band, "Swoop" was playing a music gig so I managed to listen to a few routines of comics and was highly impressed. It was open mic which added an extra touch of mediocrity. I enjoyed the talent and their hard work with the fairly unreceptive audience of a typical open mic anywhere you go, these artists felt passion for making people laugh. No matter what standards were swept under the rug. Of course I had the brilliant idea of brushing elbows and chatting up the manager of the club about the promotional efforts to bring more people in. We had an awesome conversation which led to a good response when I made inquiry of setting up a photo shoot with any volunteer comics who needed material. This was merely a test shoot on location for me. Side lit with a couple ProFoto monolights, that's it! ! ! The three dudes that volunteered were quite capable of creating hysteria. I had trouble framing shots after awhile because I couldn't stop cracking up. To say the least I got some killer test shots at the small cost of conversation with a cool manager and a few quick edit CD's. It was awesome. I love my job!

A Photographers New Years Resolutions for 2011 & A 2010 to Remember...

     For awhile now, I have been building my life around photography. This New Year will bring many new opportunities which I will welcome with my best foot forward. I'm saying farewell to 2010...Why? Well we all need resolutions and to be honest... 
    
  ...Well, the last year has been monumental in so many ways to me personally. 2010 has given me many valuable memories and tons of knowledge from a much needed continued education. 
    
     2010 has filled me with the strength to wrestle through some very tumultuous times as well. I have had a huge determination to succeed and because progress has been slow, and things haven't been easy, I am now solving some serious issues in myself to find more growth and more potential for future living. No artist is ever perfect so New Years Resolutions seem appropriate at this juncture. Better late then never. 
    
     2010 has  lent me patience and a strong sense of loyalty to others. I am grateful for every experience. I have persevered through loss, love & family crisises, and several personal challenges of being a thirty something scholar and late emerging professional. This past year has been rough to say the least. 
    
     I have been on a mission for some years now searching for the kind of work I would love, be great at, and feel a large purpose doing. With all of the lessons I have learned this past year, I am resolving to be more in tune with my needs and responsibilities, get healthier, read more, do some charity work, set aside time for family, and be truer to myself.
    
     As a photographer with friends who are photographers, I know that we are visonaries of a beautiful world. Let's try to remember why we are making photos. It's never just for a dollar. For most it's just a hobby. But more than anything we should remember that we have the tool to document our existence and therefore we have the responsibility of being true to photographic form and design. Make sure you contribute to your passion. It's why we do it. It is a release. A spring loaded exhileration of sight- frozen in time for eons. Make your photos speak. Resolve to have a final say on how it really went down in your world. Be there to document or illustrate. Get experimental and creative. Share your ideas. Whether is your job or you want to preserve the moments in life: The lazy are never appreciated, really. I really worked that shutter last year but was sorry I didn't do it more.
     Make 2011 a year to be remembered, as well. Don't let time slip through your fingers. Take time to appreciate your life and bring your camera along. Try to make a serious effort to be serious about photography and more importantly, as a humanitarian. You never know when you'll need a favor returned. Do yourself a favor and be passionate in your life. "It only happens once."|||JDB 01.03.2011|||

Beverly's Many Children

     These birds are amazing. My good friend Beverly is the proud owner. They are very verbal,  lots of fun, and are spoiled beyond belief. Bev takes good care of these birds and they know it. Along with her cat, Simba...

And her dog Hoolie...

     Along with one more bird, Ringo (gotta track down his photos) and a new maltese dog addition, KeKe, and a turtle (I plan on capturing some shots of these two soon)...

     All of her pets are her children and her house seems like a zoo. She is constantly changing food cleaning cages, walking the dogs, and wouldn't trade the responsibility for all the gold in the world. I look up to Beverly because she is such a great provider of love to the animals of the earth. For this she gets a chunk of my blog and constant volunteering to photograph 'her children' for her memories.

     I love animals and I really love people who love animals.  

Kimberly and Ozvaldo's Wedding> 12-24-2010

     What a wonderful day and a great wedding to photograph. It was a small, civil, non-religious wedding, held at 15th Street Fisheries Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale. The ceremony lasted all of 10-15 minutes but within a three hour period of the reception, I managed to capture over 700 exposures. I'm still getting through the rough cuts, but I picked out a couple of selects to show off.

Kimberly and Osvaldo are a young couple and were so easy to talk to, and so much fun to photograph. He is a proud Marine who may be reporting to duty very soon. His brother was tearful; his friends- very supportive; his new bride- very much in love and confident that if he had to leave for any period of time, he would return safe and they would continue building their life together. They weren't wasting any time getting married either before relocating. Osvaldo had to report to Camp Lejeune the same day!!!

These lovely newleyweds had to travel to North Carolina directly after their wedding. They said the honeymoon would come later- Kimberly added, "somewhere nice, hopefully"- when I asked what their plans were. 'One day at a time' was the overall message.

    
The holidays tend to bring people together. In this case it brought two amazing people together in matrimony. It was a great experience and I feel so lucky to add this event to my experiences as a photographer.

As the opportunities arise to display my talents and deliver passion through the lens I am confident I will become a better photographer. I am grateful for every one of these opportunities to shine. Yet,... Great moments like these seem to occur only once in a lifetime. I had a great time being the one for the job and I'm sure this family is excited to see the results and will be very pleased to see how I captured their special day.

Thanks Again Helen, and of course, Kimberly & Osvaldo, for allowing me to capture all these memories for you and your family. I wish you great success with your marriage.

Commercial Photography

Here are few of my initial attempts at Commercial Photography... Can't wait to work in this field!

 

JDB Photography: Hello and Welcome!!!

JDB Photography: Hello and Welcome!!!: "Hello Everyone... Looking for networking, assisting opportunities, friends, and future clients. Thanks for your support. I will try to update as frequently as possible. I've got a ton of great photos and can't wait to share!

Hello and Welcome!!!

Hello Everyone...

Please excuse me if I stumble a bit as I make a real effort and attempt at social blogging. I've been on Myspace and Facebook for a while now and followed a few of my friends' blogs here and there, but never thought I would need my own. Since I find it necessary to share my life, simple interests, and work with others- I have also changed my views about blogging.
    
Through the changing tides of time, a phone call is more often rushed; meetings aren't as convenient for us to arrange; flights are delayed; our transit to and from is bumped off schedule; lunches are shorter; DAYS ARE SHORTER; time is always crunched; and our expanding population will not subside.
    
As a photographer, I consider myself to be a passionate visual artist as well as a 'visionary of revitalization' and always look for beauty and positive change throughout the world. Lately, my efforts have been toward throwing myself back into an education after knowing I needed to know more. 
    
I've been very busy lately trying to sort out my time and effortless approach to the love of my life (Photography), while networking to assist and get more hands on experience in the field. Besides the 15 plus years I've been making photos, I have weaved my way through jobs in custom picture framing, photo lab technician (Anyone remember Eckerds?), printing and bindery, art supply sales, sign making and graphic design, etc... I feel like a big ball of visual wax. I found photography to be my true calling. While I was in school producing assignments, I was called "an overachiever" by my peers. This doesn't bother me because I am used to it. When I first started shooting for an intro darkroom course, the 6 week requirements of the instructor were (10) properly exposed and composed black and white 8x10's and (10) nicely processed rolls of 36 exp. Tri-X... Needless to say- I handed in 200 prints and 40 rolls of film. IT WAS MY FIRST 'A' SINCE 3rd GRADE!

This level of productivity hasn't slowed by any means. I still have about 50 rolls of undeveloped spent film and 25 new rolls of various degree and speed.

I got my first Digital SLR a year and a half ago and between (2) hard drives I have shot over 50,000 photos! I don't think the pace will ever slow. The only real problem with this habit is what to do with all of them. This is why I have chosen a career doing what I love. At least then, my photos will have a real resting place on the walls of many, hopefully within the pages of popular editorials, and of course on computer screens across the world.

One can only hope and work towards these kind of goals.