Natural History

Found this nest next to my car last evening when on my way to a meeting. It was most likely dislodged from nearby branches by the strong winds we've been experiencing of late. 

Belonging to Zosterops Japonicus and commonly referred to as Mejiro, Japanese White-Eye or Silver Finch, I've learned that construction of this nest can take 7-10 days. A combination of spider webs, grass, coconut fibers, lichens, moss and mammal hair (this one appears to use shed hair from my dog)are the materials used. They are delicate and intricately woven.

This one contained the fully feathered remains of a fledgling either left behind to starve or unable to extract itself from the nest when it was dislodged by the wind.

In The Lair of Fair

Spent a couple of hours last week nosing around the home & studio of artist Deybra Fair (http://www.deybrafair.com). Turning into the hillside drive way I am greeted by the screeching of peacocks roosting in nearby trees. There are found objects and art made of found objects liberally scattered around the grounds, hanging on walls and spilling from every shelf and covering every surface. Deybra's paintings, assemblages and sculpture have been a fixture of the local art scene far longer than either of us care to acknowledge.

Hungry Now?

Monday morning, bleary-eyed drive to the airport in torrential monsoon rains so that Assistant Niki & I could catch the first flight to H'lulu. Upon landing, we're greeted by sunny skies, picked up & whisked away by our client who transported us to the commercial-fishing waterfront where we would spend the day photographing all manner of tasty offerings from the kitchen of Nico's Pier 38 restaurant. Overwhelmed upon entry by the smells of smoked shellfish and other seafood... mmmmmm!

Intense full moon this phase cycle...

Reaching out to clients and potential clients with regular marketing spam is one of the necessary evils in pursuit of work. When given the opportunity to, I always ask what their feelings are about receiving these things from photographers. Most are kind and generous and positive about receiving them.

Here's winter's effort... destined for 650 inboxes worldwide.

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The best & most productive days always start like this.

After the morning pup stroll, it was back at the desk sorting through emails, going through end of year business for the accountant and organizing a shoot scheduled for Wednesday. 

Weather has taken a decided turn for the worse since the dawn stroll and predictions are for heavy winds from the south and rain thru friday. Hoping this doesn't put a damper of Wednesday's project... fingers crossed.

Waiting around for a corporate meet-n-greet event to begin, started staring at the ceiling of the hotel where the event was held. Rather bland architectural details took on a luminous abstract quality when isolated.

A hectic two-week shoot schedule has just concluded. A top-secret outing for the FORBES Magazine brand suddenly appeared. Along with it came an introduction to wonderful Photo Editor R, a woman who, to date, as provided the best, most direct and generous creative direction I have ever been provided for any assignment. The assignment involved some inter-island travel and should appear between the pages of Forbes Life sometime this winter.

Then contacted by Getty Images offering representation for their assignment photography division and another top-secret assignment destined for the pages of Runner's World Magazine sometime late in the year. Needless to say, I signed the contract and can now claim representation by Getty.

Two days followed shooting more images for box covers and packaging for Hawaiian Host Chocolates and a portfolio for one of the state's leading design firms. 

The highlight of the past two weeks came somewhere in the middle of the madness when I spent an evening photographing and chatting with celebrated cellist Yo Yo Ma... perhaps the most generous, kindest and friendliest performer I have ever had the opportunity to meet. Gathered at a private residence high on the volcano slopes and the night before his sold-out performance, Mr. Ma worked the room like he was everyone's new best friend. Some old friends were in attendance including old friend DL, a fine violinist in his own right.

1.15.2015

Just arrived... Cargo Cult. New book from New Mexico based photographer & wundergal Karen Kuehn. A signed copy, no less. Mahalo KK!

1.9.2015

1.7.2015

1.6.2015

1.3.2015

Already behind in my daily posting resolution for the new year. Selah...

1.2.2015

1.1.2015