I’ve been at it again. . .
Just got off Whidbey Island working an interesting assignment, and my buddy Kristian and I spotted a Double Rainbow back enroute to Seattle via the Clinton – Mukilteo Ferry.
We were so giddy, no way we could resist jumping out and capturing the beauty. . .
Kristian’s like ‘yo make it so it’s going in my mouth, and I’m eating it. . .’
Yes sir, Kristian. Yes sir. Was so completely razzed about these, I just had to post straight away. . .
More always,
Clinard
Hard at work on a smattering of new projects, so I’ll be sharing them soon.
The above production still was taken while covering a couple tech entrepreneurs in the South Lake Union area of Seattle. Wish I could share the results, but you’ll have to tune in a few weeks from now. . . (no need to sniffle about it [hint, hint]).
In the meantime, guess I forgot to share some exciting news in that my image of the Harrisons is now traveling around in the 2010 Smashbox Face/Off competition.
Couldn’t make it down in time to see it installed, but this guy was clearly mugging as a means to draw atttention to my work.
Much appreciation for that, bro.
More soon,
Mike
If you don’t believe me, then head over to his Consumed blog and wade through the immense tag cloud to locate ‘Cookie.’
Been awhile back but it might have been about 14 months ago when Bill started talking about the project over one of our many Burgermaster Power Lunch meetings. I said ‘go for it,’ and the rest is history.
So to honor his momentous feat documenting every single thing he ate for an entire year, we got together a couple days into the new year to celebrate the end of the project in pictures.
It’s been fun to see the Consumed project evolve and witness all the attention and whatnot he’s been getting over the last couple months. Must confess that I won’t miss waiting until Bill’s composed his shot from across the dinner table.
We can now dig into our scrumptious plates of Burgermaster goodness together and in synchronicity. Amen!
Not soon to forget the people that helped along the way, Bill gave credence to his wife’s fantastic cookie-making ability in this CBC interview. And yes, I too can attest, she’s a veritable baking savant when it comes to some of her cookie pairings. . .
Congrats again, friend. I say this is O.K.
Photo above by Bill Rugen
Was making my way home yesterday morning after wrapping up a quick editorial job and was confronted with traffic barricade after traffic barricade in our little neighborhood of Wedgwood.
Jokingly, I asked a stander-by if the President was in one of those houses to which she calmly replied, ‘yes.’ In a move straight of Nascar, I angled the car into the first available spot and joined the droves of anxious-ites willing to brave to the cold just to get a peek of the man himself and the baby elephant he was attempting to corral for a homeowner.
Below are a couple photos. It’s my hope that one day I’ll be closer than 30 yards away when capturing this stuff. . .
With a baby elephant on the loose, many folks showed up to catch a glimpse. They’d heard President Barack Obama was around, too.
People photographing the ‘Baby Elephant Containment Unit of Greater Seattle’ on NE 75th St and 40th Ave NE in Seattle.
The press junket was there looking ‘just so’ showing off this year’s must have item: laptop in transport to wherever you’re walking.
Mayor McGinn was in attendance and pulled out a Larabar he had in his biking shorts.
Gov. Christine Gregoire tried her best but was rushed away when her husband lobbied her for the Denny’s ‘all-you-can-eat’ breakfast buffet that ended at 11am.
President Barack Obama decided he’d come out and handle it. In fact was told later by a friend, that his exact words were “hold up, I got this.”
With the baby elephant back in it’s baby elephant sleeping quarters at the Foss residence, Obama decided he’d caravan over to UW’s HecEd and give a speech just for the ‘Hec’ of it.
People losing their minds over the President’s ability to handle baby elephant corralling.
Everyone disheartened by their inability to capture any photos of the baby elephant. Thankfully, they got a couple of the President ‘gettin’ it done.’
With today being America’s Independence Day weekend, figured it appropriate to hit everyone with an armed services-related post.
Couple months back, I had a lull in work travels and made some time to photograph Ron Miller, the former Naval Commanding Officer at Magnuson/Sand Point here in Seattle.
Before getting in studio, I was lucky enough to hear stories and tour his old offices in what is now ‘Building 30,’ a multi-use complex that hosts a number of community events here in Seattle.
The ballroom floor above no doubt saw quite a bit of traffic, and as he reminisced about the good ole’ days, Ron revealed a number of old cassettes buried deep in his bomber jacket. Apparently, they contained the daily motivational speeches he was often known to give to his newer recruits.
One title, “Prescription for Relief from Stress” was a favorite. **(As an aside: some days later, I received a compendium of these speeches in printed form. . .)
While it’s sad to admit that Building 30 now lays in a state of semi-disrepair, there’s quite a bit of community effort to preserve it by transforming it to artists’ studios and small naval museum. The image above shows an installation undertaken by a number of Magnuson Park artists as a means to draw attention to the building’s state.
Either way, it’d be great to breathe new life into 30 and get someone else in there besides the ducks.
As we made our way out, I couldn’t help but notice Ron’s sweet bomber jacket.
Asked him about picking one up in a large, but was informed that it only came in two sizes, 1) no and 2) just Ron’s.
Much appreciation to Ron for taking the time to sit for me. Happy Fourth to everyone!
More always,
Mike
I was keeping everyone abreast of all manner of news, remember? My apologies but I have indeed been swamped with travels. That said, thought I’d take a second and hit everyone with a quick ‘get ready for a bevvy of blog posts’ post.
Road Warrior Grip Kit and Wardrobe Bundle. Shot in a hotel right around Billings, Montana.
Now that I’m back in the Emerald City for what I think will be at least a couple weeks, I’ll be bringing everyone up to speed on recent happenings: portfolio updates, recent projects, a NEW new Website look . . .
A gaggle of geese seen near the tulip fields outside La Conner, Washington.
Stay tuned as I leave you (for the moment) with the sentiment best expressed by the Marlboro Man in the image seen below.
The Marlboro Man seems to be pretty broken up about the whole thing. General Information board in Seattle, Washington.
More always,
Mike
A couple weeks ago, Jenna and I went over to hang with our friend Leyla and to meet her new pup, Benita aka “Benny.”
This is her home back in yonder days.
So much cool stuff to shoot, it’s a photographer’s paradise.
Desi, her boyfriend, has great taste in music.
Makes me wish I still had my own Technics turntable hooked up.
My outfit still works but the amp blew sometime back. Great to see Desi’s keeping it real though.
Nothing sounds as good as vinyl in a well-lit room.
Scorpion and Cobra Tequila one procured in Vietnam probably doesn’t hurt either.
A painting of Leyla by Desi after sipping Cobra Tequila.
All the tequila, music and pups in the room have led to the plants taking their lives into their own hands . . .
. . . reaching for that beautiful window light. While here, I laid on my back and pretended to be one of Leyla’s pampered pooches.
In fact, here’s Benita aka “Benny.” The new addition to the family.
And this is Leyla reaching down to pet Koda: the friendliest, kindest dog I’ve ever known.
Here’s my friend looking over at Leyla for something, a treat maybe . . .
. . . oh, nope. It’s just to remind her of all the hair on her butt.
More always,
Mike
Some days back, I was asked to photograph a couple of artists for a friend’s new blog that showcases the personalities, artists and small business owners from the Bemis Building here in Seattle.
There was one minor hitch though: neither of my subjects were all that keen on the typical portrait. In fact, they wanted to see what I might be able to do if I ‘weren’t’ to show their faces.
I’m all about client services, so I was happy to oblige. In fact, I’m quite liking the results.
More always,
Mike
So I’ve been rock steady rolling for the last month. Rather than bore you with the particulars, thought I’d show you where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to visually. Hope you enjoy.
Me shot by friend and colleague, John Keatley in early February.
That next week of February, I was out on Capitol Hill doing pre-pro for a job and came across this gent looking at an amoebic shape, that or the hole in his chest.
Around the same time, I photographed Jenna’s father’s law firm: Montgomery, Scarp, MacDougal.
In the middle part of February, I stabbed myself in the neck in my haste to do something. “The untold dangers of wearing pens in the collars of one’s shirt,” taken by Lionel, Mr. iPhone.
Also did a two-week truck shoot, and all I managed was this camera phone pic by Lionel, Mr. iPhone in a dimly-lit Pacific Grip and Lighting.
Straight from the truck shoot, went aboard an Adidas job happening over on the Olympic Peninsula and in Seattle proper.
Was in Props/Art Dept. on this one.
Had the great fortune of working with Mr. Dominic Muller of Gus Creative.
The bare necessities, part 1.
The bare necessities, part 2.
My muse.
A stylist’s handbag.
Finally got my custom-made specs from dear friend, Scott Urban of Urban Spectacles of Wood.
Me in Urban Spectacles shot by Tommy Clark.
How I Richard Dreyfuss an Idea
Not too long ago, the photo editor of Real Change got in touch and asked if I could photograph a baked potato to help illustrate the ongoing Nickelsville story here in the Pacific Northwest. He said it can be “as loaded — butter, sour cream, chives, bacon bits? — as you’d want it to be.”
While it seemed pretty straightforward, I’m always looking for an opportunity to turn the everyday on it’s ear. After some rumination in the sketchbooks, it hit me like a lightning bolt: Richard Dreyfuss, son!
A couple days later, my wife was hitting the sack for the night and saw me sitting on the couch, surrounded by brown paper shopping bags, some crumpled pieces of printer paper, aluminum foil, scissors and tape. . . truly not an ‘out-of-the-ordinary’ kind of occurrence here at the Office of Michael Clinard.
Sadly, no photos of that event, but I venture to say it looked a lot like the above in her mind.
Needless to say, I got in studio the next day to refine the look. Below are a few outtakes with the final.
Missed being in the studio lately as I’ve been shooting more people on locations rather than product and still-life.
The approach here was to document the construction with little to no fanfare: straight, direct, almost banal. I really couldn’t be more pleased with the results.
More always,
Mike