Stock Photography

Well, life is full of change, especially when it comes to technology. The world of photography (and the business of it) have been changed by the advent of digital.

When I think back, there was a time when one of the big goals for a photographer was to be represented by a stock agency. This was in the days of 35mm slide film. If you shot medium format, so much the better. Many professional photographers would use stock sales as a substantial part of their income.

Today.. it's changed. Digital photography, the Internet, broadband access.. it's changed.

Now, we have photo agencies that are based solely on the Internet. No more creating dupes of slides, and sending them in. You can search through millions of photos these days with just a few clicks of a mouse.

Here's a link to a stock photo agency that represents some of my work. Fotolia.

Night Photography in Des Moines Iowa

I love doing aerial photography. Flying has been in my blood since I was 17 years old. When on a commercial photo shoot over Des Moines, Iowa, I was able to capture this fabulous image right after sunset.

I love my job!

The Bridges of Madison County

I did two photo shoots today. One was in the studio, and the other was outdoors. For the outside session, I opted to go visit an old favorite.. the Roseman bridge, near Winterset, Iowa. And yes, it was featured in the Clint Eastwood movie "The Bridges of Madison County." The weather was perfect for the occasion, with clear azure-blue skies, and the crisp temperature that heralds the onset of fall.

I make an annual trek to visit the Bridges of Madison County. I've loved covered bridges since I was a kid. I guess it's one advantage of being a photographer in Des Moines, Iowa!

Senior Portraits Des Moines Iowa

In this post, I'm going to use the editorial or creative license that comes with the Internet, and wax a bit romantic. I've been a photographer in Des Moines, Iowa for a long time now. But with the passage of time, we can dismiss or forget things.

The other night, I was having dinner with a friend of mine at the Cosi Cucina Italian Grill. If you ever visit Des Moines, check it out. The smoked chicken pasta is wonderful!

Anyway, my friend asked me a couple of questions that I was completely unprepared for. She asked "When did you begin taking photos with a 35mm camera?" I thought for a moment, and realized I could not pin down an exact date. "Uhh.. I think it was somewhere around 1982," I replied. "I'd used a 35mm before, but I think it was in 1982 when I purchased a Minolta camera, and began taking photos." She sat there for a moment, and then asked " What did you take pictures of? What sparked your interest?"

Wow. Talk about something I've never really considered!

I thought about her question for quite some time, scrolling back through the pages of memories. Then, I felt a sheepish grin cross my face, as the realization dawned on me. My response to her was "Lilacs." She smiled, saying "I can see that. You appreciate the beauty in the smallest of things."

Guilty. But it proves a point. Sometimes we love something so much, we forget what drew us into it in the first place.

Here's to not forgetting..

Des Moines Iowa film maker

Des Moines, Iowa photographer, film maker..or something like that. Wow, it's been a busy summer for me! I've not only been doing the usual work that a professional photographer does, but had a couple of video shoots thrown in over the summer. A lot of people are surprised when they discover the amount of work that's required for shooting and editing a video. Video is a different animal than still photography. It's not unusual to have a few hours of source material, only to edit it down to a minute or so.

But you know what? I LOVE it. In fact, I thrive on it. Perhaps that comes from working in network television, where you always have to deliver the product in a high-pressure environment. The bottom line is that it doesn't matter whether I'm shooting stills or video. I love being an Iowa photographer.

Music Video

This is another example of the work that I do. Not only do I love still photography, but video and film-making are passions of mine. There's something about shooting video that imparts even more of your artistic persona, than still photography does.