Category Archives: Editorial Feature

New Work for Mental Floss Magazine

Written by Michael. Posted on April 25, 2012. 3 Comments.

Mental_Floss has been keeping me busy with interesting projects lately, so when they got in touch with a few off-the-wall ideas to help illustrate their FUN issue, I was all ears.

They gave me a host of topics as options from the time the Rubik’s cube made its way to China to the day Russia ran out of vodka. . . perhaps the most mind-boggling topic was real-life hamsters that get drunk!

All of the briefs were hysterical and ripe for interpretation, but I ended up pursuing:

1) The unpoppable balloon trick: a ruse where carnies use under-inflated balloons and very light darts as a means to take all your money at the county fair.
2) The birth of miniature golf courses in England and America.
3) The Syrian golden hamster which has evolved and adapted its body to ingest alcohol as a means to get through lean times.

My art director, Winslow Taft, and I started straight in on the miniature golf idea.

My caveat to him was that it’d cost a little more to make since I’d have to tap a prop builder given the turnaround time. Without hesitation he said, do it and my heart swooned in forever bromance/client crush’dom.

I gave my good friend and colleague, Mr. John Lavin of Lavin + Stacey, a shout. We chatted for twenty minutes and John just got it since we have a similar sense of humor.

I sent him the sketch above with this direction “you know, like tiny sand traps and model train trees. . . imagine a 400 yard hole or whatever at the Master’s.”

A couple days later, John sent the image above, and I damn near had a seizure over the excitement of seeing it come to life.

The necessary props were procured and a couple days later my wife came into the studio – with our baby on her back – to be my golfer since men’s legs read like hippopotamus thighs on camera.

After wrapping up the golf component, the next phase was tackling the most important part of the project – an interior shot and cover image illustrating drunken Syrian hamsters.

I should note that there are indeed hamster wranglers out there, but they’re super flaky and take five days to respond to you by email or phone. So after being in the dark for a spell, I made an executive decision and headed to Petco.

At 9pm on a Friday night, one’s options for Syrian golden hamsters are rather limited, so my choice was made in two parts:

1) Mrs. Mark C. Taylor (yes, she’s a famous Deconstructivist Philosopher Theologian) didn’t bite me after a minute of handling.
2) When you’ve got Gretchen Hilmers of G-tou doing your retouching and post, making brown hamsters golden is the least of your worries.

Gretchen confesses that her favorite image we’ve done lately has to be the hamsters. Here’s from her:

I really enjoyed putting the elements together, even down to the little party hat..really put my ‘AWWWWW’ factor into overdrive. My favorite ultra dorky photoshop thing was turning them from gray to orange! Is that too nerdy? If I had some glasses I’d adjust them for seriousness.

That’s Mrs. Mark C. Taylor above in Gretchen’s notes image to Winslow in prepping the cover. Below is how the hamster image ran on the interior of the mag along with our county fair balloon image.

Should note that the cover was a bit of a collabo as well since my brother-from-another-bama-mother, Cary Norton, shot those shiny balloons to letter the FUN of the FUN issue.

No lying, this has got to be one of my favorite jobs of 2012. Keep posted for new updates coming down the pipe very soon!

More always,

Clinard

 

Richard Tait for Seattle Met Magazine

Written by Michael. Posted on April 24, 2012. No comments.

My countdown to UAE and BVI is now at two days! Before I head out on that project, I wanted to write about my day spent photographing Richard Tait for Seattle Met Magazine.

If the name sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because he’s the guy that created Cranium, the board game that has you hum, draw, sculpt and charade your way through.

Now the guy behind Boomboom Brands and an energy drink called Golazo, he’s a clever guy and one of the more exploratory and “willing to go there” portrait subjects I’ve had the good fortune of shooting lately.

The term “golazo” is an expression Spanish-speaking circles use to describe the most amazing goal (think bicycle kick by a unicorn) ever seen/witnessed/made during a soccer match.

The image below is only an approximation of how incredibly passionate Richard is for soccer and it’s culture, and I think his energy drink is aptly named.

This project went so incredibly smooth! It was helped by the fact that I had an amazing crew that day in addition to a super chill and down-to-earth portrait subject.

To give folks an idea of what I mean, thought it be fun to debut a video project my colleague Dylan Priest shot that day. It’s about a minute and a half and shows the crew and Richard hanging out, having fun and taking pictures.

It’s embedded below, so if you don’t see it check it out on Vimeo here.

More always,

Clinard

Cover Story – Fringe Theater for City Arts Magazine

Written by Michael. Posted on April 11, 2012. No comments.

I’m heading out to Phoenix on assignment for a couple days, but I wanted to keep the updates coming with another cover/cover story for the current issue of City Arts magazine on Seattle’s thriving fringe theater scene.

The article’s a pretty good read and reminded me of a visit my wife and I took to the Balagan’s basement theater some years back to see their production of Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile.

I’m not too big a fan of large theater productions. For some reason, it’s harder for me to suspend my disbelief because 1) I’m usually sixty feet away from the stage, and I’m looking at all the other people in front of me. And 2) those plays feel like a kid’s movie in three dimensions — all sparkly and with pretty, iridescent colors happening just so in that perfectly contained proscenium stage.

What I like about “fringe” theater is that there’s usually a closer proximity between performer and audience member. The stage isn’t separate from the audience member’s immediate personal space at times and there’s something rather uncomfortable and more compelling about that. It’s living art or rather a disruption in what I call the “virgule” between art and life.

It was quite a treat to photograph these young performers and to experience their transformation as they acted out certain scenes from their play Spring Awakening.

Since the whole Mike Daisey debacle, I’ve been thinking a lot about art and life. The subject used to consume me and — in my younger days — was quite a large theme in the non-objective artwork and performative pieces I created (that’s me below at the University of Iowa during my graduate studies in Intermedia workshopping a piece called Confrontation).

I didn’t really get swept up in Mike Daisey fever since I always had this sinking suspicion that he was a satirist. Anyone that attends a theater production featuring a monologist being dramatically top-lit would have to admit that they’re entering into an implicit contract with the performer that dictates one hold on for a second while making any judgments as to the soundness of his assertions.

I won’t argue the ethics of what Daisey did. Rather, I’ll note that the debate that’s come out of all this is pretty thought provoking. What is journalistic integrity: its limits and gray areas? Is what he did “wrong?” If anything, the fallout has spurred a renewal in what we hold to be beautfiful, valuable and worth preserving.

It’s like burning the thatch off a lawn so that the grass comes back fuller and greener next time around.

Many thanks to editor Leah Baltus and art director Dan Paulus for this assignment. It got me thinking in more ways than one.

More always,

Clinard

 

Starbucks Coffee – Fast Company Magazine

Written by Michael. Posted on February 15, 2012. No comments.

In keeping with the current cover story trend, I was recently tapped to shoot the executive team at Seattle-based Starbucks for Fast Company Magazine’s annual list of the 50 Most Innovative Companies of 2012, where they took #24.

This assignment was shot at Roy Street Coffee, a pretty cool cafe on Capitol Hill offering a wide range of coffees and teas along with baked goods from The Essential Baking Company.

Probably one of the more fun groups I’ve had the pleasure of working with lately, these folks have their hands in all manner of the company’s social media and partner relation channels. The above outtake shows Mr. Arthur Rubinfeld, chief architect of the Roy Street concept, in the right foreground stirring it up with his colleagues.

What’s interesting about the Roy Street location — besides the fact you can grab a beer or vino if you’re not looking to get caffeinated — is its respect for the environment whereby reclaimed wood and repurposed objects are used throughout the cafe as architectural elements and adornments.

On my scout day, I absolutely fell in love with the wall above.

Nine portrait subjects meant establishing a lighting approach that was rather broad in scope. Better stated, I wanted to “pitch” light into a general area and not so much on any one, individual person.

Knew I’d get something amazingly candid by sitting this group of talented gals/guys down and leaving them be. Got about ten minutes in before they realized we were working again.

Really love the scenario above since nothing brings together a group of folks faster than smartphones and good java!

Thanks so much to Fast Company and the team at Starbucks for an amazing shoot!

Destroy 2012,

Clinard

 

Google – Cover Story for Fortune Magazine

Written by Michael. Posted on February 13, 2012. 2 Comments.

I capped off 2011 with the absolute raddest assignment for Fortune Magazine. I was tapped to shoot the offices of Google in Mountain View, CA for their annual list of the 100 Best Companies Work For where Google took #1 in 2012.

Things came together rather quickly on this one. Think I was contacted that Wednesday, the 21st of December and was told our shoot date was the 28th.

Oh yeah, there was that little thing called Christmas on the 25th. Problem? Not at all, I love pressure.

Must confess that I’m really lucky to have a large network of friends and colleagues who just so happen to be among the country’s top photographers. Joe Pugliese and right-hand, Kerensa, came through with thoughts on gear rental and general logistics. They had some assisting names as did my buddy, Misha Gravenor. Gregg “ever-in-flight” Segal had some of the best jedi air travel knowledge, simply texting “just talk to Ken at CarlsonWagonlit.”

Pre-production was all but done, so I was able to shoot my estimate over that Thursday, get it approved, secure gear, hire assistants, and book travel by that Friday the 23rd. By the time I left, this is how my project folder looked.

Little diary in pictures below.

I wanted to travel pretty light for this project, so besides my computer/camera rigs, I only took a soft-bag of niche chimeras. Prefer my modifiers to be completely water-logged and smelling of must after any flight. Kind of helps with my whole self-mythologization project.

If it’s not the magliner, then it’s the Smart Carte. Protip: bungee cord is must have. . . (I heard “protip” more times then I could count down at Google – became a bit of an inside joke with me and my guys assisting)

I chose the Chevy Tahoe 4×4 with an interior capacity of “school bus.” Opting for the environmentally-friendly edition, peep how many miles I got to the gallon.

Rental House humor discovered while charging back-up batteries.

Was doing some “night-before-shoot” sketching for my Photo Editor, Kate Osba. **Sidenote: if you haven’t checked out my 10 minute interview on her “This is the What” blog, check it out right here** // **DOUBLE SIDENOTE: CONGRATS ON HER UPCOMING “THIS IS THE WHAT” MAGAZINE, TOO. . . peep the Kickstarter page, son!**

One of the first things I noticed about the Googleplex is 1) the perks and 2) the personalization of each and every employee work area. This dude had a feelings box. . . stellar.

Google goes out of it’s way to accomodate each person. If you’re PC, they’ll get you on a PC platform. You like Mac, then they’ll get you a Mac. You’re a pirate, be a pirate.

Do you wanna have your strategy meeting over a few bowling frames? Cool, go for it. Chat up the ladies about the next revolution in web standards and SEO while you’re at it.

Organic cupcakes anyone? Here, help yourself at our most awesome, all-you-can eat FREE buffet — one of 18 around the campus! Don’t know how our gal managed to eat four more after this frame was taken.

How about some juice to wash it all down with? Grab your sippy cup because it’s bring your kid (or dog) to work day. . . like everyday. Love the cheeks on that kid. . .

By the time I was finished, I was photo drunk. Tons of stuff to see, all of it photo-worthy. Even managed to snap this pic of Google’s ‘Self Driving Car’ as I was heading to the airport.

If you wanna get a tour of the campus, there’s a pretty great YouTube video here. Thanks again to the Fortune photo department! This issue is OUT NOW on newsstands!

Destroy 2012,

Clinard

 

LeRoy Bell Cover for Seattle Weekly

Written by Michael. Posted on December 13, 2011. 1 Comment.

Couple weeks back, I got a call to shoot LeRoy Bell for the cover of Seattle Weekly.

Must confess that I wasn’t all that familiar with the X-Factor, but I was blown away by LeRoy’s story and his own career in music that encompasses writing songs for the likes of Elton John and Teddy Pendergrass, along with fronting his own band – LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends.

If you’ve got five minutes, you should check out the embedded video below (click here if embed doesn’t work) to see a performance and to catch a glimpse of how soulful he is.

At 60, he was the oldest candidate on the X-Factor, and in my opinion, the most down-to-earth and real guy there. Life experience, perhaps yes?! It’s evident that LeRoy feels every lyric he belts out, and it was an absolute honor to have the opportunity to spend time with him in his home north of Seattle.

If you’re looking for a hot ticket on New Year’s Eve, you should check LeRoy out at the Moore Theater. Run by his Twitter page to keep abreast since I suspect you’ll be hearing a lot more from him in the coming months. Either way, look for LeRoy in the Seattle Weekly out now!

More always,

Clinard

Blake Trask for Seattle Met

Written by Michael. Posted on December 12, 2011. No comments.

I recently had the great fortune of shooting Blake Trask, Policy Director for the Bicycle Alliance of Washington state, for Andre Mora over at Seattle Met for their Quote Unquote section.

The above is an outtake with this super-attuned gent who wrestles daily with the magnitude of responsibility his job carries. He’s essentially the guy that’s trying to make biking safe for everyone here in our state given the fact that three bicyclists were killed this past summer in automobile collisions.

Andre and I knew that whatever we chose to do photographically with Blake could be construed in any number of ways from a camp of ‘white-knuckled-Audi-I’m-gonna-teach-you-a-lesson’ type drivers OR a faction of ‘plugged-out-on-your-left’ type bicyclists forever immortalized in Portlandia and played so perfectly by Mr. Fred Armisen as seen below.

Our questions back and forth to each other read like so:

What if we put him on a bike next to a car?
What if he’s facing the car? Is this confrontational?
What then if the guy/gal in the car is giving him a cross look?
What if he’s giving the driver of the automobile a cross look?

Andre had this awesome idea of recreating the ET poster, and believe it or not, I even kicked around the idea below but timing just wasn’t on our side:

. . . was thinking another direction would be to construct an old bike thing like the image below but with like one regular car tire in the back and one moster truck tire in the front. . . (from the ALWAYS back and forth concepting emails Andre and I share)


Seen below is the final select, but in a nutshell, we knew whatever we went with could be (and was) construed in any number ways as in the case of this post over on Bikehugger where the blogger claims that we were flippant in our depiction of Blake.

Part of the reason why I write this post now, is to show that both Andre and I DID AND ALWAYS DO wrestle with how best to show a subject. It’s not just Andre and I, but really any photo editor and his/her photographer. After I read the Bikehugger post, I sent an email to Blake, Andre and Matt Halverson. Below is the latter portion of my email explaining my intent behind the imagery.

it’s hard, but the things i focused on in blake’s comments were the fact that he had a 10 month old daughter and that people should exercise empathy for one another. i kind of saw the tricycle as looking at how we get around by taking it all back to jump. getting at the elements and nuts and bolts of things, where it all started and spreading the word again on sensible transportation. look, the guy’s doing work and it just so happens that it involves tires and phones and helmets and xerox copy machines. maybe some folks would have you be mel gibson in braveheart: chain grease for battle paint or something.

my real desire with the image was to have made something that causes one to pause. an image that makes the white knuckled bro/bro’ette in the audi AND the ‘on your left’ portlandia-type bicyclist guy stop and look at their role in this thing. maybe chuckle and not take themselves so seriously. . . everybody should take it easy out there.

on the other hand, if it furthers the conversation and it gets people thinking and talking about the fact that people can die then that works, too.

More always,

Clinard

 

Don Mattrick for Canada’s Report on Business

Written by Michael. Posted on December 10, 2011. No comments.

Back in late July, I was sitting around at a local Les Schwab Tire getting new treads on the chariot when I get a call from “BLOCKED.” Don’t typically answer these calls, but half not thinking and half thinking ‘this call is going to change my day,’ I pick it up.

Clare Jordan (click her name there for a fun bio over on Feature Shoot) of Canada’s The Globe and Mail was on the other end. Besides telling me how much she liked my work (nice!), she launched into one of the more incredibly detailed and informative expositions on an upcoming project I’ve ever heard (double nice!). I’d start to ask a question, and she would chime in as if reading my mind. Seer, prophet? I think yes.

In a nutshell, she explained that Don Mattrick — Microsoft’s President of Interactive Entertainment Business — is a Canuck and her magazine — Canada’s Report on Business — was going to do a little expose on their native son. We devised a fun method that would have Mr. Mattrick engage with his brainchild, the Kinect for Xbox 360.

That is in fact him playing Tennis for the Kinect in the tears below, but for a whole smattering of info on Mr. Mattrick’s ascension, you must check out the article.

Sidenote: because I had been given 45 minutes with Don (which was later shaved to 15 minutes), I set up a second camera on a relay that would fire when the hero/action angle fired.

The magazine didn’t use any of them, but it’s a pretty good look at what most photographers have to think about when doing a project at Microsoft Headquarters, or really any place of business where time and space can be a premium.

More always,

Clinard

 

Techstars / Giant Thinkwell for Seattle Met

Written by Michael. Posted on December 10, 2011. No comments.

I thought it high time to finally chat about a shoot I did earlier this year with the crew of Techstars / Giant Thinkwell for Seattle Met magazine carried by a great article written by James Ross Gardner.

This project was my final colab with then Design Director Benjamen Purvis who left earlier this year to helm the Creative Director spot at Men’s Journal.

Our collective spitballin’ ultimately led to going toward the direction of re-interpreted business stock photos — those cheesy images of dudes carrying briefcases talking on cellphones mid-gutbusting laugh.

When I read a synopsis of the story and somehow (luckily) mis-read that Kyle Kesterson of Giant Thinkwell had given a presentation in the nude, it set me off on the sketches above. Of course this wasn’t your father’s business, but a super cool startup interested in cultivating a following for their project with the aid of social media outlets like Twitter and Facebook, so it held that the images were going to be a little left-of-center.

Above is my favorite image from the series where I re-invented the popular trope of “businessmen talking around water cooler.”

All the companies were super helpful and onboard with doing whatever it took to make the images shine. All of it coming together rather quickly, Kyle quickly became my right hand on the project. He said “you know I’ve got a giant slug that I sculpted” OR “you know, I’ve got this dog if you need one” (I was contemplating putting a big labrador in a suit shaking hands with a “colleague”).

Seen above are the gents from World Blender having a giant cup of coffee and talking shop alongside the impeccable hair of Kareem Amin of The Shared Web as he talks on his wireless keyboard. For me though, the real high point of the project was the boardroom shot above.

Kyle and I had been talking about how best to pull it off, and after some back and forth, we finally decided that adding one of Kyle’s giant nose sculptures was the way to go.

With the generous support of Josh Mullineaux — founder of Highlighter – and his hands, we transformed the scene into a giant talking head (or nose rather) drilling in quarterly sales performance or something of the sort.

Had a great time working on this and look forward to shedding more light on some other fun projects for Seattle Met and their current Design Director, Andre Mora and his right-hand man, Chris Skiles.

The image above was one of many great BTS shots from the Techstars project, but I like it for it’s symbology about the end of 2011 and beginning of 2012. What does the future hold? How will I get there?  How will I turn random thing “X” on it’s ear?

One project I’m very excited about is a colab (kind of a theme with me: collaboration) with the very talented man mentioned above, Mr. Kyle Kesterson and his new venture EW Awesome. Their first offering, called Marc and Marvin, is currently tearing up the startup battle scene. While my involvement in the project is growing, guess I could share with you one sketch that will get your inquisitive minds churning.

2011 has rocked! Going to try and get a few more posts in the tubes here, but stay tuned for what should be a banner 2012 year! More always loyal readership!

Yours in the war,

Clinard