Cement, Glass & Steel

Sometimes, when you lift your head an look up, you may see everything differently. I am sure you've been there, it's like changing your perspective or angle, literally or figuratively.... That feeling is interesting. I was out to shoot on Thanksgiving morning... And, the light of the morning sun, the beautiful Los Angeles weather, the music on my car's stereo.... For some reason, it inspired me to take these pictures....

I am thankful for life, for being able to make a living doing what I love to do.... I am thankful for my entire family. I am thankful for my lovely wife...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Don't go nuts on the Black Friday!

Let'em 'elevate' your soul...

Do you shop locally? Do you dine at local mom & pop restaurants or get your food from the local farmers' market? How well are you involved with your community? With your city?

Don't feel bad... Even if you love global-everything, I would like to introduce you to a local band that is bound to become global... I met them in 2006. I saw them live many times, and I gotta tell you, their stage performance is infectiously energetic and fun. Without further ado... Food for your soul, ladies and gentlmen...

The Elevaters... Check out their website, become a fan of them on FaceBook or check their music on MySpace and if you like what you hear, these cool kats are gonna blow the roof off at The Mint this saturday... Details

Sam - vox / keys

Miles - vox

Ben - vox / percussion

Itai - bass / guitar

Andre - drums

David - guitar / bass

I will leave you with a little treat... usually I don't post anything but my photographs, but this is a special blog. The following music video was shot and edited in 48 hours for the Elevate Film Festival and it won the best director (Hamed Mosadegh), best editor (Jake McCook) and Most Elevating Music Video.

Go to The Mint this Saturday and let the Elevaters elevate your soul!

Reflections

After a week in hiatus due to the flu that literally knock me down, here I am back with the Friday Photography Blogs.
This week, I wanted to share a few of my pictures that are the pure result of my fascination with reflections... I don't know why, but I was always attracted to take the picture of something reflecting/reflected on something...
Here we go!

I took the one above years ago, sailing in the Aagean Sea between Turkey and Greece. The one that follows were also taken during the same trip.

Obviously the reflection does not have to be clear. The following was taken in a New Orleans cemetery. The reflection of my wife on a marble tombstone.

I photographed a script-reading for a feature film in the Renaisaance Hotel and in the penthouse the production has rented, right on top of the area where the actors were gathered, there was a metal sphere lamp. I zoomed in and snapped the first picture. The second one was a lucky break. The huge room on the roof of this hotel in Hollywood was very well lit due to the glass wall. One side of the crescent shaped room was windows from wall to wall and floor to ceiling. There was a piano by the window and Josh, who was there to record the reading played and sang a couple of songs after the reading. Josh always wears sunglasses. Always.

The following two photographs are from a shoot I had in a Beverly Hills estate. The first one is just a classic shot, but I had so much fun in the room I snapped the second one.

The Big Sur is back this week with the following reflection shots. The first one is me and Jen waiting for the water to boil in an extremely windy afternoon. The second one is the sunset on Jen's sunglasses and the third one may look like a set up, but it is not. My cousin and Jen are having a conversation and I am playing around.

My wife Jen and I on the set of the feature film Aaseanah's Journey in Iowa.

Still on the set of Aaseamah's Journey.

This one is from the set of 3 Wise Women. The actor is Alex Demir. He really is talented, and I really love his expression on this picture. In this scene his character is in his car and he is spying on a couple for his personal gain. While the scene was shooting, I was able to zoom in to the car's side rear-view mirror and took this one.

On the set of Stealth.

The reflection of my shirt, which is the Turkish flag on the glass of wine before dinner.

Thank you for your ongoing support! If you like what you see here, please do comment, send me a note and pass it on! :o)