"We question ourselves. How does it make you feel?"

Julya had given me a few images she wanted to emulate, but really, complex lighting is pretty much beyond what I'm able to do, being as I know nothing about lighting and my best "lighting package" is some cheap LEDs made in China.

(Sorry, China, I know you're having a hard time right now, but you know and I know these are some SHITTY lights)

And then there's a satisfaction that seeps in, around the edges of that tension, as I remember the point we started to dial it in, putting lights in my kitchen window, blacking out the entirety of my balcony, using every gel I had in the place, some over a decade old, to mix up the colors.

That rush as the good shots begin to appear in my viewfinder, as Julya relaxes, seeing the growing fruits of our labor. We begin to giggle as we get silly, experiment, put on wigs and wings (I did not put on wigs or wings, that would be pointless), utilize the space, now that we've gotten everything situated.

Looking at this image now, it's not the feeling of easy victory that comes back to me. More like surviving an encounter with a bear.

The bear being lighting.

Not Julya.

Julya is great. Not a bear. Unless she likes bears. In which case she is totally a bear.

So no, not easy, but a win all the same.

Tags:   1.3.19 Julya Baer portrait

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I could probably keep talking about England for days and days and days and days, but right now jetlag is sitting on my face, so I'll just reiterate that Georgie was shockingly awesome.

The watchword for this trip: genuine. Just loads of genuinely good people.

Tags:   5.17.10 digital georgie hobday brighton, england Lou O' Bedlam's Portrait Workshop one-point perspective Lou O' Bedlam Lou Noble portrait

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I'm teaching an LA workshop DECEMBER 3rd!!! 10am - 2pm

It will cover:

PERFECTING YOUR VISION

-how to hone in and identify your visual language. then craft an individualized style.

HOW THE TOOLS SHAPE THE SHOTS

-looking at how different cameras lead to very different results, and how they influence one's work.

INTERACTING WITH MODELS

-investigating the ways in which to best engage with people, be they professionals or perfect strangers.

---------------------------------

I'll explain my techniques, my core interests as a photographer, how specific cameras force me to work differently, how and why I engage with subjects and how I achieve the effects I do with my work.

In addition there's gonna be hands-on shooting and tutoring, we'll have ourselves some models to work with, it's like a party but with less booze and more photos and fewer party fouls.

Teaching photography is just about the best fun I have during the year, so you should come. You should come, and you should tell your friend to come, too. You know, the friend that's into photography, but has a lot of questions, or maybe is looking for ways to improve, or has plateaued, or is trying to work with people but finding it frustrating.

COME TO THE WORKSHOP. BRING EVERYONE.

To book a spot ($90), please contact me direct via EMAIL

Tags:   9.21.11 digital Randi los angeles black & white Lou O' Bedlam Lou Noble portrait

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I work in an industry that has periodic downturns, the occasional strike, where hiring is as much about "do I like having that person around" as it is "this is a skilled individual."

I also work in a profession where I am expected to handle a crisis instantly.

In other words, I haven't noticed much of a change in my daily mood/behavior.

Which, you'd think, would make me of limited use to comfort folks, a time like this.

Except...I'm good in a crisis! Crisis is my business! All this picture-taking, writing down my thoughts, all that jazz is just a hobby!

But as such, my kind of comfort might skew a bit less "everything is gonna be fine", and more "I have assessed the variables and think we will survive, but things will change, but change is required, but will be difficult, but we will emerge...most of us..."

If you're looking for a pick-me-up, maybe this ain't the best. But if you're thinking the world is about to end, I'm the guy to talk you off the ledge.

Gonna put THAT on a business card.

Tags:   1.14.20 Dominique Reshae portrait

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Tags:   1.11.19 Maika Carter portrait

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