Patagonia and the Matilija Coalition get a spotlight

American Express ran an ad last night during the Oscar’s that featured Patagonia’s founder Yvon Chouinard and the Matilija Dam (I worked with Rich Reid on a documentary about the dam and it’s watershed last year).  Check out the website for Rich Reid’s “Watershed Revolution” here:  http://watershedrevolution.com/

And see the American Express advertisement here at Patagonia’s blog: www.thecleanestline.com

IMW edits a multimedia show for a local Non-Profit

Last week, we spent some time putting together a corporate video for a large company here in San Diego.  They had their annual sales meeting and wanted to highlight the work they’re nonprofit is doing in Kenya.  The video was shown in front of thousands of doctors and their families.   Once we get permission, we’ll post again with the edited piece.

Thousands of doctors and their families watch our video

It’ OLD NEWS: Saying Goodbye to the Past

First one was tough but it got easier

I loved that job - and that state!

Here was the beginning of my end.

Remember the days when photos ran THIS BIG!!?

Last month, we spent a wonderful weekend in a cabin at Pine Mountain. I chose that time to say goodbye to a significant part of my life… so I decided to burn a box full of my old newspaper clips in the fireplace. I thought it was important to mark the end of an era and to celebrate the beginning of a new one. This wasn’t easy or joyful for me. But I felt that I needed it. I did this only one other time in my life — after a bad break-up, I burned my ex-boyfriend’s love letters.

For the past 22 years, I worked as a newspaper photographer. I’ve walked the halls of a newsroom from East to West and in-between since before I graduated from college. It was the only life I knew. I was proud and I was dedicated. I was in love.

Then, one day last May, we broke up. I should have seen it coming. The signs were there… falling circulation, furlough days, lack of funds (no pay raises, fewer traveling assignments, no new gear). It really broke my heart. How could I love like that again? I felt lost, confused, insecure. Why me? And worse of all, WHO AM I now?

More than 6 months later, these are questions and feelings that still come up. Thankfully, less frequently. And as in most things, the pain continues to ease with time.

I have started to move on. Brett and I have worked very hard to start our new businesses, Infinite Media Works and Good phoDOGraphy. And I’m getting comfortable – maybe a little TOO comfortable – with the freedom. I can see why they call this “funemployment”! I’m learning a lot about starting a small business and I’m learning a lot about myself… So, Who am I? I am a proud, dedicated, and in-love photographer. I always was. And always will be.

Titan, the World’s Tallest Dog!

Last week, I had the opportunity to shoot the Guinness Book of World’s Record’s “Tallest Dog”. His name is Titan and he is over 42″ tall — that’s only a few inches shorter than me!!! He’s a great big dog with a great big heart and a wonderful owner, Diana Taylor. Word got around and soon, Titan had quite a following – he was like a rock star at the dog park!

Not much of a reach needed to grab a treat from "mom"!

Titan needs help to get in Diana's truck!

Watershed Revolution takes the crown!

photo by Rich Reid

“Watershed Revolution“, an environmental documentary produced and directed by Rich Reid and edited by Brandon Paul Watts, won “Best Short Documentary” by a panel of judges at the infamous Ojai Film Festival this past weekend.   I had the wonderful opportunity to shoot some video and contribute some stills for this production and am really excited for Rich and his efforts to tell a great story about the Ventura River Watershed and it’s surrounding inhabitants.   Brandon did a wonderful job on the edit and Paul Jenkin of Matilija Coalition was another huge contributor.    The film will now move on to the 8th Annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival in January.

Byvik Ink ad

We spent the day in Encinitas with the Byvik’s (Cristina, Kevin, Lucy and “baby”), shooting footage for an ad for their small business, Byvik Ink. They make unique letterpress cards and stationery that are amazing. (www.byvikink.com)

We got to watch them in their “workshop” (aka, garage) where they use an antique (1890′s) letterpress to make cards.  Cristina, a newspaper illustrator, creates the designs and Kevin works the letterpress.  The result:  BEAUTIFUL ART!

Custom-ordered Holiday card

The happy husband-and-wife team start getting a little nutty as they keep the press rolling into the night ..

The Byvik Ink workshop

Stay tuned to our website to watch the final production!

Laforet vs. Sanschagrin

Vincent Laforet speaks to a small group of photographers about the ins and outs of shooting video with DSLRs

Crissy and I spent an evening with legendary shooter Vincent Laforet and a number of other fellow photographers/videographers. He gave us some really great insight into shooting video with DSLRs while he shot a mock music video. Vincent was good about keeping his mouth shut about the new Canon 1D MarkII http://blog.vincentlaforet.com/ that was going to come out 2 days after this seminar!!! Lots of excitement going on in the DSLR world right now and we’re going to stay on top of it.

Here’s what Grover had to say about it. http://blog.photoshelter.com/corp/2009/10/why-vincent-laforets-paradigm.html

And if you want to know more about the Canon 1D Mark II … here’s another blogger with more details:  http://www.dslrnewsshooter.com/

Hello world!

Brett and I are super psyched to announce the official launch of the website for our new business: www.infinitemediaworks.com

Please check it out! There are a few sample videos for you to watch. (We are especially happy to have the Birth Announcement video of Selma Green Hamilton – Kristen and Jason’s newest addition to the family — afterall, an announcement THAT big deserves more than just one photo!)

We are in the middle of a few amazing projects that we will continue to update you on. Stay tuned. It’s gonna be good.

Hello all!

This is Brett, the other half of this wonderful team called Infinite Media Works.  We are very excited to finally be able to post our adventures as story-tellers here on this blog so that you all can see what we’ve been up to lately.  We are gathering our thoughts and visual “cookies” and will be outputting a lot of it here for you all to chew on.  It’s an exciting time and we’re happy to be a part of all of your lives!

Keep checking back for the latest insights into the wonderful world of INFINITE MEDIA WORKS and GOODphoDOGraphy!!!!!