Jody at the SFMOMA

Jody and I did a day at the museum. We went to see the Francisca Woodman exhibit. A very thought provoking exhibition of self portraits by a young woman exploring and questioning her identity. How can one not be moved and inspired by what is hanging on the walls.

Jody Frost as The Black Widow

Jody and I spent an afternoon in Oakland's historic Mountain View cemetery. We were experimenting with some ideas for my 1960's film icon project. It just stopped raining and the sun came shinning through the dark clouds. That always makes for excellent lighting conditions.

Friendship and Cindy Merrill

One of the benefits of living a full and rich life is having long time friends. Cindy and I haven’t seen one another in about ten years. To reconnect a friendship is a treasure that only comes with folks who have lived a life. It was a real treat to met up again. We collaborated on a number of very memorable photo shoots in the past when Cindy was a hair & makeup artist. Now she has started a new business venture called Cindy O’Brien Aesthetics a full service skin care studio in Napa. Plus a new product line of anti aging serum called “The Bomb” She is still very much involve in helping woman achieve their own beauty.

http://www.cindyobrienaesthetics.com/

Here are some photos of Cindy just the other day. The biggest difference this time is she is now in front of the camera as oppose to standing behind it. It's really wonderful to see her in all her glory as a beautiful woman. We met up at a fund raiser for the Napa Valley Symphony. There was a fashion show in which Cindy was a model for. Here is a shot of Cindy standing on the runway just about to do her strut. It was so much fun to she her work it.

Here is one of our more memorable photos that she helped me on back when she was doing hair and makeup. Even back then Cindy had a touch of grace and elegance that help each photo transcend the accustomed.

A very nice shot of the two of us. Good friends.

APA "Something Personal" Photo Acceptance

My "Candace Pulling the Sheets" photograph has been selected to be in this year's APA "Something Personal" exhibition. A nice little note about this photo was that it was shot and imaged with the iPhone.

Nothing Beats the Real Thing

Last week I was in New York City for the national APA board meeting. One of the main reasons for flying out to the East coast is so everybody gets to meet one another in person. What a difference in relationships it makes when you actually meet a person in the flesh. You can experience their mannerisms, charm and other natural charter traits, that one cannot sense over the telephone of keyboard.

This morning I saw a video that had a short interview with Carlein van der Beek. What a revelation to see her speak and gesture. She became a real person to me at that moment. Something more than a fellow artist who works in the same medium. I knew her work. I have read her text, but all that added up to an impression that has been crafted for me by Carlein. Seeing her live, gave me the opportunity, to experience her in a more organic form. Yes it was a video interview, not as good as being there in person, but a step in the right direction, which made Carlein more real to me.

The attached photo is an excellent example of that great energy that happens when people get together. This was an unplanned event. Eight APA board members jammed into a small elevator. Theresa Raffetto took a fast grab shot with her camera. That one shot captured the spirit and comradeship of people being together. Nothing beats the real thing.

I needed to produce something beautiful

I needed to produce something beautiful. Life was getting a little too intense with all the upsetting news. Images of dead dictators, angry protestors on both sides. murdered zoo animals and a terrible economy, I needed to go back into my files and pull out some beauty from within me.

Last year I photographed the lovely and talented ballet dancer Sarah Bukowski dancing with a torch. The shoot was part of my match light series. During the shoot I experimented a little with motion and flame. Here is a two-minute clip with a few stills added. Something I put together last night, to help take the edge off.

Click in this link to view the movie in Vimeo.
http://vimeo.com/30880692

Click on screen grab to view
the movie in Vimeo

Erich Loading Film

Yes. It still happens! Every now and then.

David's Beard

My friend David Weiner grew his mustache & beard in this manner for a role he is playing in a Moliére play.

The Spirit of Anouk Aimée

Suzan Mikiel and I spent a day in the Hollywood hills capturing the spirit of the French film actress Anouk Aimée. With the wonderful help of makeup artist Astra Ramyead we were able to go back in time create a mood of the 1960’s .

Back Stage with Saraghina

Capturing the spirit of Fellini was a team effort, which started with a suggestion from Martha Blanchfield of RenegadePR. From there I have shot a number of 1960’s inspired film icons. One of the first projects was a tribute to Federico Fellini characters and vision. Instead of a single image I shot a series of images to tell stories. Here is the oldest story of all – love. How men are fools when in the company of a woman that is more than he can handle. Click on any of the images, and they will take you to my webpage that displays the stories.

I could not have done this project without the fantastic help and contributions of some truly talented and amazing people. There is no one more perfectly cast as the role of Saraghina than Jane Schafgans. Her fabulous hair and outgoing personality was a match made in heaven. My good friend David Weiner as the clown. A role he was destining to play.

Veronica Sjoen from Artist Untied did such an inspired makeup job with her clown face and Saraghina radiance of hair and face. While Heather Sansky, also with Artist Untied, styled the talent with spot on wardrobe and meticulous details. A big thank you has to go to Jon Lucca at Artist Untied for his support and encouragement throughout this project.

http://www.artistuntied.com/

And my very good friend Jody Frost for capturing the spirit of the shoot.

Tuareg Jeweler

For some crazy reason I did not have a direct posting to my documentary of Elhadji Koumama. Elhadji is the man who inspires me to be true to myself. He often says "For which we do" meaning his tribe of silver artisans who have been making silver jewelry for over a thousand years.

So here is an easy link to the video. Click on the image to view the video.

Thanks,
Christian

Theatrical Themes

My summer project has been creating theatrical themes with a 1960's film twist. Starting with felliniesque concept of Saraghina and the foolish clown, then onto the black widow checking up on her dead husbands. Too the bongo beatnik party, ala Funny Face. To see more of these photos got to my website.

A new video on Suzan Mikiel

Suzan Mikiel is a street photographer who recently moved to Los Angeles from New York City. She is another iPhoneographer that I know. She shoots in the more traditional style of street photography and tries to keep her post production stylization to a minimum. In this video she describes what it is like to transition from one city to another in search of new beginnings.

Click on the image to see the movie.


One of my iPhone shots of Suzan during the filming in LA.

http://vimeo.com/25783292

My photo on AOL

Life on the web is shorter than a fruit fly's life span.
My photo of "Candace Pulling the Sheets" was up for only a couple of hours, but it got some attention because of the teaser tag line AOL used. I guess cheap tricks will work sometimes.

Candace Smoking video

This was an experiment using the iPhone for capturing both still and motion, then editing it all together in Final Cut. The model and I didn't have anything planned on the day of the shoot. We just kind of knocked around a few ideas. This may be a little rough around the edges, but I think it's worth posting, just to show the creative process. It's short so take a look.


http://vimeo.com/23421719

Baring One's Soul

Just keeping simple and direct, stories come out of the photo. What does the upside down triangle mean?

May 10th. Speaking Engagement

Shoot What You Love and Good Things will Follow.

Another reminder about my up coming speaking engagement sponsored by the Northern California Professional Photographers group.

-------

I will be speaking May 10th before the NCPP
Northern California Professional Photographers group

at the Marriott Hotel
2355 North Main Street
Walnut Creek, CA in the Sacramento Room lower level.

6:15-7:00 Social Hour
7:00-9:00 Speaking Event

Below is the upcoming announcement by the NCPP. I look forward to seeing everyone there.

Do What You Love and The Money Will Follow

Our speaker for May 2011 is Christian Peacock, a commercial photographer and renowned lecturer on the subject of photography and how it influences our lives as professionals. Christian will explain to us why he takes photographs, and how his love of photography projects onto his clients. His enthusiasm and energy translates into sales.

“This is which we do”. Christian adopted this expression to explain to people why he takes photographs. “It’s something I have to do - It’s in my DNA.” He captures the human spirit using his camera. His lifelong relationship with photography is compelled by his curiosity to observe and participate.

From his very first photograph at the age of five to a very prolific creative burst of energy today, Christian will talk about the influence photography has on everyone. Using examples of his lifework, he will share commonalities we all have with this medium. Showing examples of his commissioned work from worldwide branding campaigns, as well as personal images, he will explain how the images all have some connection to our lives. He uses all forms of image capture ranging from 4”x5” cameras to iPhones and multi-media to video to achieve his vision and tell the story.

Christian will inspire us with his positive message of “Do what you love and the money will follow.” The enthusiasm in which we approach our photographic endeavors will carry over to our clients, resulting in more income.

Don’t miss this engaging speaker on May 10!

Juene Femme de Reve

I was asked to produce a movie using the iPhone for the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art exhibition on "Art of the iPhone." Along with four of my photographic prints, I created a 5:58 long piece using my iPhone. I decide to explore the duality of a woman's sensuality/sexuality. These two internal feelings and emotions than garner for attention in one's psyche.

I would like to thank Rachel Abby for her unselfish spirit and opening up her inner being. Keke Vasquez-Tamali'i for transforming Rachel with wonderful makeup and hair artistry. And Jody Frost for her unflappable support and guidance in keeping me inline as to not sway from the core meaning of the story.

Please enjoy.
Christian

http://vimeo.com/22488731

Do What You Love and The Money Will Follow

I will be speaking May 10th before the NCPP
Northern California Professional Photographers group

at the Marriott Hotel
2355 North Main Street
Walnut Creek, CA in the Sacramento Room lower level.

6:15-7:00 Social Hour
7:00-9:00 Speaking Event

Below is the upcoming announcement by the NCPP. I look forward to seeing everyone there.

Do What You Love and The Money Will Follow

Our speaker for May 2011 is Christian Peacock, a commercial photographer and renowned lecturer on the subject of photography and how it influences our lives as professionals. Christian will explain to us why he takes photographs, and how his love of photography projects onto his clients. His enthusiasm and energy translates into sales.

“This is which we do”. Christian adopted this expression to explain to people why he takes photographs. “It’s something I have to do - It’s in my DNA.” He captures the human spirit using his camera. His lifelong relationship with photography is compelled by his curiosity to observe and participate.

From his very first photograph at the age of five to a very prolific creative burst of energy today, Christian will talk about the influence photography has on everyone. Using examples of his lifework, he will share commonalities we all have with this medium. Showing examples of his commissioned work from worldwide branding campaigns, as well as personal images, he will explain how the images all have some connection to our lives. He uses all forms of image capture ranging from 4”x5” cameras to iPhones and multi-media to video to achieve his vision and tell the story.

Christian will inspire us with his positive message of “Do what you love and the money will follow.” The enthusiasm in which we approach our photographic endeavors will carry over to our clients, resulting in more income.

Don’t miss this engaging speaker on May 10!