Playing Work

Playing Work gets a new home

2010-05-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

In an effort to reinvigorate this blog (make it prettier) we have moved all of our content over to a wordpress blog. The new site url is: http://www.playingworkblog.com

Please check out the new site and let me know what you think. As of post time we are still experiencing some issues with site performance that I hope to have resolved soon. We'd love to hear your feedback.

Don't forget to subscribe to the new RSS feed on the new site!

Thank you for your continued support of our attempts to Play Work.

Happy Earth Day

2010-04-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

Grove of Aspens trees in Utah, photo by Ryan Smith

Today I give thanks to this giant mass of rock and water that is our only home in the universe. Please remember to be kind to it.

Make a left . . .

2010-04-18T19:15:00.000-07:00

Directions have been on my mind a lot lately. As much as I might wish the path to be as clear as the photo above, there is never an easy way to success as an entrepreneur. I am forced to take chances, compromise, stand firm, solve impossible problems and do it with a smile. I often find myself wondering what direction to go and I'm forced to pick one or the other. This can be an extremely stressful and difficult choice, but that's just it . . . I have a choice.

We all have a choice. What's yours?

Fear, Creativity and Portfolios

2010-04-15T12:35:00.001-07:00

I try to consistently update my print portfolio with new photographs, but it is easy to get comfortable with what I already have in there. While I am always excited to add new images to show where my style is going, there is also a subtle fear in the back of my mind about how the new images fit in with my overall creative vision. It's silly I know, because after all it's my portfolio. It's my eye and it's how I see the world. It's pointless to let fear of other people's rejection influence what I put in my book.

We work in a creative industry that frequently ignores creativity. How is that possible you ask? Well, for the same reason I hesitate when adding new images to my portfolio. It's the fear of change . . . fear of doing something different and unproven.

I feel the photography profession is at a point where if you try to follow the old map you will quickly run into a dead end. The NY Times reported on this the other week. The map is old and doesn't account for new roads, tolls, roadblocks and wilderness. This leaves us with two alternatives . . . follow the old road until you run out of gas, or make your own map. I am working on my own map as we speak. It changes frequently, has many roadblocks and countless areas of uncharted terrain, but it's all mine. I'm the only one who can get to where I want to go.

So I'm going to add new images to my portfolio and the only requirement is that I like them and they represent my creative vision. They must be visually striking, intelligent and cohesive yet unpredictable. And maybe, just maybe someone will like them enough to hire me.

What do you fear and what are you going to do about it?

The Universe in a Cardboard Tube

2010-04-13T08:49:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I find joy in the simplest of things. Like pointing my camera through a cardboard tube and playing with different colors at the end of the tunnel. They make me think of our galaxy and the universe beyond. Do you think Captain Kirk ever saw anything like this?

Moving Toward Motion

2010-04-09T08:11:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been experimenting with video production and have been working hard to learn new technology and workflow. The above video was pieced together as a way to learn Final Cut Pro. It took me much longer than it should have, but I learned a lot about editing along the way.

The original footage was shot back in February and was not planned. I used this day as an opportunity to play and experiment with the Canon 5D Mark II. This video is by no means perfect, but it was a hell of a lot of fun to make.

In the spirit of learning, please give me your feedback. What do you like about the video, what do you dislike? I am open to all comments and suggestions.

Happy Spring!

RARE: Portraits of America's Endangered Species

2010-03-25T10:43:00.000-07:00

Here are two videos by photographer Joel Sartore promoting his new book, RARE. Thanks to APE for these links.

RARE from Joel Sartore on Vimeo.

RARE: Behind the Scenes from Joel Sartore on Vimeo.

NY Photo Walk

2010-03-12T09:01:00.000-08:00

Last week, after 2 days working on a video production in New York I had a couple free hours to explore the city and shoot pictures for myself. It sounds odd, but as a professional photographer I don't shoot that many pictures for me. It's a sad truth that I am working to change by allotting more time for personal work.

Personal work is the whole reason I became a photographer. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job! I enjoy all types of photography and am blessed by having the opportunity to shoot a wide variety of subject matter, but it has become a rare occasion that I make time to shoot without any preconceived intention. It seems silly, but this has become difficult for me. I'm constantly thinking, can I use this in my portfolio, for an epromo, etc? By thinking this way I allow myself to control my creativity instead of simply allowing it to flow freely.

The idea of a photo walk was originally introduced to me by a good friend, Ian Summers. For useful advice and inspiration check out his blog and artwork. Ian has been helping me define myself as a photographer and encouraging me to unleash my creativity. Ian defines a photo walk as "a photographic sketchbook – an exercise in seeing." A photo walk is to be without attachment to how the photographs will be used.

So, with that in mind I set out last Saturday with camera in hand and open eyes. After dropping my friend off in the meat packing district, I made my way toward the High Line based on his recommendation. It was a gorgeous day to be in NY and I found myself wandering around, looking at whatever interested me. I was walking for almost 3 hours and probably only covered about 1 mile. Slow and steady.

I found myself being drawn to textures and graphic compositions. I shot a total of 48 images or the equivalent of 2 rolls of film. I took my time, allowing subjects to present themselves. I didn't try to control the situation but rather waited for what Cartier-Bresson called the decisive moment.

This photo walk was therapeutic in the sense that I allowed myself to see whatever I wanted to see. There was no one but me deciding what to shoot. It felt great and after going back through what I shot I realized I had some images that I wanted to share. I'm not sure what they say about me as a photographer, but that's not the point. I think the point is that they represent one of the many ways in which I see the world. Below are three photos from this photo walk. If you want to see my 15 favorite, click HERE.

Snowpocalypse Now

2010-02-23T06:43:00.000-08:00

In the month of February we've had over 3 feet of snow. Despite continuously digging our way out of our house, we have been relishing in all of the fun activities we can do in the snow, primarily snowboarding. We have lovingly been calling each storm, "Snowpocalypse," because of the fear induced by the media. I'm not sure who coined the term, but I think it's fantastic.

This past weekend we grew tired of fighting the crowds at our local ski resort and decided to have a backyard snowboard session. I thought this would be a good opportunity to try out a new camera. My friend Aaron, whom I've known since I was a child happens to have a mini ramp in his backyard. Back in the fall we painted a giant American flag on half of this mini ramp so we thought this would be a fun backdrop for snowboarding in the country. (Aaron lives next to a farm)

Aaron, Brian (another old friend) and I took our snowboards, shovels, a case of Pabst, my new camera and a couple portable strobes into the heart of the Snowpocalypse. We played all day while friends, lovers, and siblings stopped by to hang out for a while. That's right, three grown men playing in the snow on a Saturday afternoon.

I took my camera along with that same playful intention in mind. As a professional photographer it's sometimes hard to just let myself play with no final composition or end use in mind. We set up a number of different scenarios with Aaron sliding across the top of his ramp. I played with different lighting and various compositions throughout the afternoon in between snowboarding and beer drinking.

I can't emphasize enough the importance of allowing yourself to just play. It frees your creativity and keeps you inspired to shoot more. Playing contributes to a happier you and a happier you gives you energy and motivation. That's why we play work.

Here are a few images from last Saturday. I carried that same playfulness into the retouching of these images. I did things in photoshop that I normally wouldn't do and things I've never done before. And that is essentially the idea behind play . . . create something you've never done before. Children create all the time so why can't grown men do it? I don't know that any of these images are particularly spectacular, but they are new to me. They are unlike anything I've ever done and that gives me motivation to continue exploring ways to play as a photographer. The possibilities for photography are endless as long as you keep playing.

How do you play?

Chace + Smith Photography Announces New Wedding and Portrait Website!

2010-02-19T11:29:00.000-08:00

Our new wedding and custom portrait website is now live! Treat Yourself at www.csphotographs.com and browse Chace + Smith Photography's latest work.

Chace + Smith Photography and Ryan Smith Photography are now live as two unique sites. Our wedding and custom portrait photography is now represented by the Chace + Smith Photography brand, while our commercial and editorial work now falls within the Ryan Smith Photography brand. We are excited about this distinction as we feel it will allow us to define our work more fluidly to our clients, be they ad agencies or brides-to-be.

Each site (hosted by LiveBooks) has its own individual style and design. The Chace + Smith Photography site highlights our work as a husband and wife team capturing the magic of life's greatest moments. Likewise, the Ryan Smith Photography site allows Ryan's work as a talented photographer to shine through to commercial, advertising, and editorial clients.

We hope you enjoy browsing through our new and improved websites!

Inspiration From One of the Best

2010-02-04T07:29:00.000-08:00

Nadav Kander has been a photographer that I have admired for some time. He may be known best for his portrait work, but this project titled "Yangtze, The Long River" is absolutely stunning. Kander traveled from the mouth of the Yangtze 4100 miles to its source . . . a journey of epic proportions.

Both beautiful and haunting, these images compel me to search for more. This work inspires me in a way that few other photographer's projects have. These photographs are both contemplative and in your face, lonely and oppressive, critical and objective.

The scale of these landscapes is daunting. The geographic transformation of China and this mighty river are hard to believe in words, but Kander's photographs show the real transformation. What we are looking at here is a country in turmoil with itself. It's a country trying to learn how to grow without imploding. In Kander's photos we get a glimpse into this world and how this turmoil is affecting millions of people that have been displaced during the transformation of the Yangtze.

I urge you to take 10 minutes to watch this slideshow with commentary by Mr. Kander. I hope it will inspire you as it has me.

Chace + Smith Photography Presents at Chamber Lunch & Learn Event

2010-01-27T13:28:00.000-08:00

(Press Release)

On Wednesday, January 20, the Tuscarora Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its monthly Lunch and Learn event at the Mercersburg Inn in Mercersburg, PA. Presenters at the event were Ryan and Larissa Smith of Chace + Smith Photography and Ryan Smith Photography. Their presentation was entitled "The Value of Photography: How Photography Can Enhance Your Business Marketing." After a meet-and-greet in the Inn's salon, guests were seated in one of the beautiful dining rooms. The Inn served a delicious lunch prior to the presentation.

The Smiths began their discussion with the history of their business, why they moved back to the area in 2007, and the various clients they work with. The majority of the presentation concerned the value of quality photography in business marketing, as well as licensing and intellectual property. The goal of the discussion was to motivate and inspire listeners to utilize photography to enhance their business image through marketing, even in a tough economy. The Smiths recommended developing a strong brand strategy, factoring photography and design into the overall marketing plan, and budgeting for marketing and photography.

Opening Reception: Thank You

2010-01-20T13:59:00.000-08:00

Last Friday I had the privilege of sharing some of my favorite work from our Creative Highways Project in a gallery setting. I shared the exhibition with Staci Grimes and Stacey Ferree, two fantastic local photographers.

We had a great turnout and I can't emphasize enough how much I appreciate my friends and family coming out to show their support. It means a lot to have such a supportive community. This support is just one more reason that we have chosen to live in a small town like Mercersburg. Knowing that my neighbors support my endeavors is a great reward. This community of creative, energetic and motivated people highlights our reasons for wanting to live and operate our business in rural Pennsylvania.

Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to last Friday's opening. If you weren't able to make it then, the photographs will be on display until February 20th, so stop in and check out what I'm puttin' out.

Here I am pretending to know what I'm talking about.

My ever supportive family.

America Through the Eyes of the Artist

2010-01-07T07:46:00.000-08:00

(posted by Ryan)

I am proud to announce that I have my first shared photography exhibition opening this month. I will be exhibiting 8 photographs from our Creative Highways project for this exhibit titled "America Through the Eyes of the Artist" with photographers, Staci Grimes and Stacey Ferree.

I was thrilled when the Chambersburg Council for the Arts contacted me about this show because I immediately thought of our Creative Highways project. I had been looking for a way to showcase this work so the timing was perfect.

I am hopeful that people who come to see this show will walk away with a renewed sense of wonder and curiosity for the American landscape. These pictures mean a lot to me and each one tells a story about our country, about the open highway and about the way we, as humans, interact with our environment.

I have poured my heart and soul into these photographs. I remember the temperature, the smell, the exact location and how I was feeling whenever I took these photographs. I meticulously worked through the printing process, burning through too much paper and ink until I had the print as I thought it should be. I even matted and framed these images wearing my winter jacket in the drafty attic space where I keep my matte cutter. It has taken months to get to this point and it feels good to know that from January 15 through February 20 these images will hang in a space meant to share artwork.

Please join me for the opening of this show on Friday, January 15 from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. I would love to have you there.

Here is the press release:
“America Through the Eyes of the Artist” will be on display at the Kaleidoscope Gallery from January 15th through February 20th at 159 South Main Street, Chambersburg. The exhibit will feature photography by Stacey Ferree of Waynesboro, Staci Grimes of Shippensburg and Ryan Smith of Mercersburg. The opening reception will be held on Friday January 15th from 4:30-6:30 PM and will be an opportunity for Gallery patrons to meet the artists.

Creativity on a whim

2009-12-29T06:56:00.000-08:00

This video was shot using a Canon G9 during two games of bowling last Sunday afternoon. The beauty of having easy access to inexpensive video tools is that we can now create fun stories on a whim. I didn't intend to make a video of our holiday bowling bash, but after taking a couple of shots a storyline unfolded. It's not professional quality by any means but it was a blast to make and share.

Here is the story synopsis:

On a dreary Sunday afternoon, a group of bowlers with the hopes of going pro descend upon the local bowling alley in Bainbridge, NY. There's nothing better than family, beer, fried food and bowling during the holiday season.

Music by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The energy of this song seemed to fit perfectly.

How to Photograph a Christmas Cookie

2009-12-10T04:35:00.000-08:00

(Posted by Ryan)

It's no coincidence that food is on my mind. Larissa and I just finished eating a fantastic recipe from the November issue of Bon Appetit . . . butternut squash risotto with shrimp to be exact. Although I love the recipes in Bon Appetit, it's really the photography that keeps me opening the magazine. I'm not sure when it happened, but at some point in the last two years Bon Appetit has undergone a major shift in the way it chooses to have it's recipes photographed.

I have noticed a dramatic change in the way food is depicted. The style of shooting has become 20 times more interesting to me and ultimately keeps me interested in the magazine and its recipes. In an age where print is dying, Bon Appetit is making a strong effort to differentiate itself.

For example, when I opened the December issue the other week I saw one of the most creative Christmas cookie spreads I've ever seen. Photographer Isabelle Bonjean photographed 3 beautiful "cookie landscapes" for the December issue. I'm not sure who the food stylist was, but whoever they were, they did an amazing job. Creating surreal landscapes from sugar, flour and chocolate is no easy task. These photographs must have taken considerable time and patience to create.

It's creativity like this that sets Bon Appetit apart from other magazines. They are giving photography extra emphasis in their pages and by doing so are keeping readers like me interested in the magazine. I hope they continue to push the bar with photography and that their magazine can continue to survive in an age where many publishers are calling it quits.

And for the record, Larissa made the cardamom orange sugar cookies last weekend and they were spectacular!

What's your favorite magazine? Favorite cookie?

Powered Paragliding

2009-12-03T07:24:00.000-08:00

I have put myself in a lot of strange positions in order to get the shot I perceive in my head, but I've never been able to truly get into the sky. Hanging off the side of a cliff, standing on top of a crane, or teetering precariously from the top step of a 12 foot ladder is one thing, but to be able to truly shoot from the air is a completely different beast. I have had a desire to photograph from the air for years and have never had the opportunity.

Recently, by a series of unrelated but oddly similar coincidences I have been introduced to the idea of powered paragliding. It wasn't long ago that I read an article about photographer George Steinmetz in PDN and was blown away by the uniqueness of his work. The other day I was talking with Zander Hartung, who happens to be a talented filmmaker as well as a paraglider. He reminded me of Steinmetz' work so I went back to take another look.

By looking at George and Zander's work, I was inspired all over again to find a way to shoot from the sky. The area in which I live offers a perfect platform for shooting from a powered paraglider. I live in a wide open valley with rolling hills, farmland and unique mountain features and have often dreamed of soaring through the valley.

It is my hope that in a few years I will be sharing aerial photographs of Mercersburg and the surrounding areas of Franklin County with you.

What inspires you?

Thankful

2009-11-25T07:13:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful to be alive.

I am thankful to have a kind and loving family who supports me in all my endeavors.

I am thankful to have shared the past 9 years with my soulmate, Larissa. She is my wife, business partner and most importantly, my best friend.

I am thankful for my most loyal adventurer, Sadie. She pushes me in ways that only a four-legged creature can and she never holds a grudge when I have to cut our run short.

I am thankful for the abundance in my life. I am never without love, friendship, food or a home.

I am thankful for my eyes and I am thankful for my career as a photographer. The people I have met and the places I have been are held close to my heart. I am thankful for the invention of photography. I am thankful for the continued creativity and passion for which people pursue this medium.

I am thankful for the challenges in my life. They remind me of what is truly important. These challenges force me to adapt and learn in unexpected ways.

I am thankful for my health.

I am thankful for this planet and all of its intricacies and I am thankful for all of the wonderful mysteries contained in this universe.

What are you thankful for today?

Austin City Limits turns 35

2009-11-23T18:58:00.000-08:00

(posted by Ryan)

I believe this is relevant not only because I am fascinated with time lapse photography but also because I love Austin City Limits and have a soft spot in my heart for Pearl Jam. I was only 11-years-old when Ten was released and although I've lost touch with the band over the years, it was this album that began to shape my early teenage years. In 7th grade I wrote all of the words to "Jeremy" in calligraphy for an art project. My mom didn't completely approve of my choice in songs, but we compromised by removing the f-bomb from the lyrics.

From what I understand, this video was created by using over 10,000 still photos. Yep . . . 10,000. Photographer Jonathan Jackson shot a photograph every 6 seconds from 9:09AM – 11:29PM to make this video.

Enjoy!

Pearl Jam / Austin City Limits TV Taping / Time Lapse from Jonathan Jackson on Vimeo.

A Day in D.C.: The Best of Both Worlds

2009-11-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

Posted by Larissa

This Wednesday, Larissa and Ryan traveled from the country to the city for some face time with ad agency creatives and DC Fotoweek exhibitions. We had traveled to Baltimore for similar purposes last week, so we made sure to grab our little sack of quarters for parking and made our way to our nation's capitol.

Once again we were reminded of how expensive D.C. is in comparison to Baltimore. Both cities are equidistant from our town, but Baltimore seems to be where we have spent the majority of our "city" time of late. Ryan and I laugh now at our innocent little sack of parking meter quarters we never used after spending $30 on parking throughout a day of zipping around Georgetown and other parts of the city. Lesson learned...again.

We had several portfolio showings with some great firms, met friendly, creative people, and even managed to grab an IPA and antipasto at a brasserie in Georgetown. We saw some amazing international photographers at the D.C. Fotoweek exhibits such as Ernesto Bazan, Ziyah Gafic, and João Pina. At the Embassy of Sweden we saw an exhibition called "What Lies Beneath: Nature & Urban Landscape in EU Photography." It is always nice to spend some time immersed in other photographers' work, not just your own.

We made our way from appointment to appointment, to exhibit, to a seminar, to our friends' apartment for a late dinner, all through a consistent drizzle with no umbrella, Ryan tucking his portfolio under his jacket for protection. These adventurous days, outside the norm of our daily farmhouse office lives, remind us of our old city life and all the precariousness that came along with it. They remind us that this urban existence is just down the road, as are our clients, but we can always return happily to our simple country life at the end of the day. Can we have the best of both worlds? I like to think so.

Inspiration and the Shape of Things to Come in Wedding Coverage

2009-11-06T11:01:00.000-08:00

Posted by Larissa

Sometimes something comes along that causes one to stir in one's desk chair with an energy outside the daily trudge through the to-do list. You suddenly see that there is something to all of this endless searching, social networking, brainstorming, organizing, perfectionistic tendencies, and questioning that you do in the business of creativity. You see an artist's work that inspires you beyond voyeurism and envy - that inspires you to keep molding and refining your art and how you represent your art in doing business.

A friend passed along a link to Stillmotion Photo + Cinema, a wedding photography and videography team based in Canada whose work has inspired me today. While we are not solely a wedding photography enterprise, we do enjoy shooting weddings from time to time. Watching the videos on the Stillmotion site reminded me of why so many professionals are drawn to the wedding industry. I got so much joy from looking at the photos and videos on their site, not just because of the intrinsic bliss of a couple's wedding day, but because of the sheer level of craftsmanship that goes into each of Stillmotion's pieces of work.

I only hope that people can glean the same level of inspiration from our work, wedding or not. And stay tuned! The integration of video and still photography is certainly the shape of things to come here at Chace + Smith Photography and Ryan Smith Photography.

Two Bands, a Makeshift Studio, and Murder Weapons Make For a Great Halloween Portfolio

2009-10-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

I'm not particularly crazy about horror films and scaring the living daylights out of myself, but there is something so intriguing and inspirational in creating images of a darker nature. I've always said that I like to make beautiful pictures and that is still very true. I strive to make great pictures every time I pick up the camera. Sometimes even the darkest subjects can make beautiful pictures when interpreted in a certain way.

This is the third year in a row that Larissa and I have created "Halloween" photos. The previous two years involved Larissa and I murdering each other in various ways. This year, the opportunity presented itself to photograph The Pale Barn Ghosts and The Hello Strangers (Larissa's band) in preparation for their Halloween show.

We knew that we wanted to shoot tight portraits of each band member against a black background. I had been thinking about this year's Halloween shot for some time and already had the lighting planned in my head . . . dark shadows, high contrast and mysterious light. We set up our studio in our neighbor's barn, which worked perfectly. I set up in the afternoon and had everything ready for the evening of the shoot. We were able to shoot 8 portraits between 6:30pm and 10:30pm. Pretty damn efficient!

The ninth portrait had to be shot the following week because Brechyn from The Hello Strangers was not able to make it to the previous shoot. We decided to try something a little different with this one by utilizing the spooky closet in my attic. I lit the scene almost identically to the other portraits to keep the mood consistent.

I wanted each band member to really bring his or her ideas to each portrait, and everyone came through. The goal was to show a little bit of each band member's personality while emphasizing our darkest human fears.

Here are a few images from this year's Halloween shoot along with a short video I created to help promote the October 31st show. To see the other 5 images from this shoot, go to the Horror portfolio on our website. To see more of the video shorts, add us as a friend on Facebook.

All photos and video © Ryan Smith Photography

What are you going to be for Halloween?

World Climate Conference

2009-10-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

As leaders from all over the world gather in Copenhagen for the World Climate Conference, I thought it might be worthwhile to re-post something I originally published for Blog Action Day 2009.

By nature I am an optimist, so I still hold a flicker of hope that on this last day of the conference, some form of climate action will be established this year. This is no daunting task. This treaty needs the support of the entire world. If you want to add your name to a petition urging our world leaders to make concessions and reach an agreement, you can add your signature HERE. This is the largest petition I have ever seen and think it says a lot about the challenges surrounding this issue.

Blog Action Day: Climate Change - originally published on 10/15/09

Today is the day that thousands of bloggers are uniting to write about one single issue: Climate Change. It's an issue that affects every single person on this earth, regardless of country, social class or occupation. We are all responsible for our own actions even when we don't realize that the small things we do each day are having significant affects on people across the globe.

Now is a good time to stop and think about our actions and the unintended consequences those actions may have. How do our actions affect ourselves, our neighbors, our fellow countrymen and women, the rest of the world and most importantly our children and their children's children? Climate change is not just a name for an invisible force but a living, breathing organism. Climate change is essentially the Earth. It's our home and we are responsible for it.

I don't pretend for a moment to have an answer for the climate change dilemma. I don't think anyone knows exactly what to do, but in my opinion awareness of one's own actions and the changes that are already happening are an important step in the process. With that said, I have compiled a few links to photographers that are doing great work surrounding the issue of climate change. Take a moment to visit some of these links.

James Balog

Extreme Ice Survey
Photographer James Balog and his EIS team have undertaken an ambitious project to document the Earth's disappearing glaciers by setting up 27 time lapse cameras at 15 sites in Greenland, Alaska, Iceland and the Rocky Mountains. What this has resulted in is over two years of continuous monitoring and a body of work that is absolutely astonishing. If you're still a climate change skeptic, please visit this site and look at the photos and videos.

Sean Gallagher

China's Growing Sands
Photographer Sean Gallagher has lived and worked all over the world and has recently been turning his focus to social and environmental issues in Asia with an emphasis on China. His project about China's Growing Sands is a well-rounded story about desertification in China. The images are shockingly beautiful and haunting. I have visited Sean's work repeatedly and am struck by the power his images have.

Benjamin Drummond

Facing Climate Change
Benjamin Drummond and Sara Joy Steele are a documentary team that have been working on a personal project titled Facing Climate Change. They combine photography, audio and writing to communicate these stories in a compelling way. The work they are doing is incredibly important and more relevant than ever. Visit their work and look through some of the stories they are telling.

What personal stories do you have that relate to climate change? What consequences do your actions have and what can you do to minimize your impact? Please share any links and stories that you think relevant to the discussion on climate change.

Cash Flow: The Ups and Downs of Running a Business

2009-10-02T13:58:00.001-07:00

There are times as a business owner when you feel like you're on top of the world, and other times when you're face down in the dirt wondering, "What the heck just happened?" It's inevitable that any business, big or small, will experience fluctuations in cash flow. There are too many factors that are not within our control to be able to constantly regulate a consistent stream of cash. However, there are things we can do to minimize the slide factor.

The illustration above shows a complete imbalance. Imagine your business as both of those little guys. The guy on the left is having his best year ever. Money is flowing in and he is busier than he has ever been. There is so much work that he can barely keep up.

Now look at the guy on the right. He was in the same position as the guy on the left just a few months ago. Business was so good and he was so busy that he couldn't see the point in continuing his marketing efforts. He thought, "Why spend money on promotion when business is already booming and I can barely keep up as it is?" But here's the catch: because he stopped marketing to his customers, they forgot he existed. Business slowly started to fizzle. Less work was coming in, but he was grateful to relax so he continued to ignore his marketing plan. By the time he realized how slow business had become it was too late. He was already completely off balance and heading straight for the bottom.

Despite his current position, he vows to rebuild and never let this happen again. He starts making calls, sending out promotions and networking with clients. He is scared because money is running out and bills are due so he pushes hard . . . really hard. Business starts to come in and he keeps pushing like a madman. He says to himself, "I'm going to get so much business that this will never happen again!"

A year later, he is lying face down again wondering what happened. He repeated the same cycle as the previous year. He pushed so hard for so long that he became burnt out. He let his marketing efforts slide for too long and ended up in the same situation as in the previous year.

So what can he do?

He needs to find a balance . . . a consistent marketing effort mixed with a consistent motivation to keep work coming in without letting it overwhelm him. Maybe he needs an extra employee. Maybe he needs to streamline his workflow. There are any number of things that he might need to do, but the key to all of this is that he consistently promotes his business to existing customers while simultaneously reaching out to new ones.

He needs his cash flow to look more like the next illustration.

In this scenario there are ups and downs but they are much easier to weather than in previous years. He has found the sweet spot. He has leveled his expenses and kept a consistent level of cash flow throughout the year. The marketing plan that he puts in place annually is followed closely and never stops. Business is good but not overwhelming, and some months are better than others.

Now he is balanced on top of the business seesaw, and able to adapt to fluctuations in the economy and changing trends in his industry because he has not allowed himself to get too far up or down on the scale. This may sound too good to be true, but with some planning, foresight, and diligence, the catastrophic scenario in the first illustration can be avoided and a more balanced work and cash flow can be achieved.

How do you balance your work and cash flow?

Playing Work Featured on Tilt Studio Blog!

2009-09-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

We are excited to have our Creative Highways Project featured on the blog of the fantastic Tilt Studio of Baltimore, MD. We have worked with them on several projects, and are proud to have a relationship with such a forward-thinking and environmentally savvy company. Thanks, Tilt, for allowing us to share our work and ideas with you and your readers!

View the post here.

Check out Tilt Studio, Inc. at www.tiltstudioinc.com.

Photo Manipulation: Good, Bad or Who Cares?

2009-09-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

I read an article last week about whether photo manipulation is good or bad for photography over at A Photo Editor and thought it would be good to share here on Playing Work.

Rob Haggart wrote an article titled "This Photo is Lying to You" for the September issue of Outside Magazine. It's a fantastic article that you can read HERE. This is a fascinating discussion and I think it’s a great topic for Outside Magazine’s Photography issue. I don’t know a single photographer that doesn’t manipulate in some way but I agree that it would be in the best interest of news organizations to clearly define their levels of manipulation so that readers/viewers know the extent of the changes. Easier said than done right?

Journalism as a whole has had a difficult year. Unprecedented job loss, rapidly declining ad revenue and decreasing public confidence have plagued the industry throughout 2009. Even as media literacy increases and the public becomes ever more skeptical of everything we see, I would think that news organizations would want to make the effort to clearly define their manipulation levels since their entire business structure is built around the concept of telling the truth with accuracy. It's no secret that photography has been manipulated ever since its birth, but when it comes to news I think we all have expectations that what we are seeing is as close to reality as it can be. Here is a link to some famous photo manipulations.

What do you think about photo manipulation? Share your opinions in the comments below.

The Wedding of Jenn and Tom

2009-09-10T09:09:00.000-07:00

On August 1, 2009, we had the pleasure of photographing a breathtaking wedding in Oxford, NY. Jenn and Tom said "I Do" on Jenn's family farm. The event featured a whimsical mix of elegance and rustic details, which were so fun to photograph. The bride and groom's excited spirits were contagious, and the whole affair was a barrel of laughs, happy tears, and fun. Congratulations, Jenn and Tom!

All photos © Chace + Smith Photography

Roadside Kitsch to Rugged Landscapes: Photo Review of Creative Highways 2009

2009-08-27T14:25:00.000-07:00

Now that we have had time to look over the hundreds of images Ryan took on our Northwestern tour this July, we have hand-picked six that stand out as truly capturing the story of the Great American road trip.

Ironically, all these photos were taken within the first quarter of our trip, when we were most hungry for creative inspiration everywhere we looked. We are excited to see these images come together to represent our experience.

What are your favorites?

"Ben Biking" in Sparta, Wisconsin

Jolly Green Giant, Blue Earth, Minnesota

Picnic Shell, Badlands, South Dakota

RV in Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming

Summer storm on the Snake River Plain, Idaho

Bivouac camping at Smith Rock, Oregon

All photos © Chace + Smith Photography

Creative Highways Project: Closing Remarks

2009-08-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

(posted by Larissa)

These last few weeks since we returned from our trip have had us immersed again in our domestic/business lives: sales calls, laundry, marketing, reorganizing, socializing with friends and family, weddings, budgeting, and so on. We have easily allowed the time to go by without collecting or writing any closing thoughts about our epic Northwestern tour this July.

Did we actually just do that? Did we really drive for 7414 miles in our tiny car, with our fairly large dog, and a few spare belongings?

Yes, we did. And though it seems but a blip in the grand journey of life, its importance to our creativity, emotional and physical health, and lives is paramount. We will never feel the same sense of freedom we did on that trip - no children, no major liabilities or responsibilities (aside from a small business) waiting for us at home. We may never feel the same sense of patriotism we did when traversing the vast expanses of our country's geography. We will not as easily feel the spirit of the road in our bones, even if we write about it and try to capture it in photographs. "I don't want to lose this sense of spirit we've been reminded of on this trip!" I exclaimed while on a beach in Idaho overlooking one of the deepest river canyons in the Northern hemisphere. I haven't lost it, but I find it harder and harder to really grasp now that I'm back in the East, amidst my tasks and responsibilities. And it may get harder unless we seek it out in new ways, again and again.

When we wrote a summary of our Creative Highways Project on our website prior to our trip, we described our purpose as "searching for the last bastions of Americana." What does this mean, and is Americana really disappearing? I believe our search uncovered more than a yes or no answer to this question.

In essence, Americana is reinvented every day in this country through greasy diner culture, RVs crawling along precarious precipices, 5 cent coffee in Wall Drug, SD, being recommended a live reggae event by a Japanese sushi chef in Boulder, Colorado, and streaming indie rock via satellite radio in the middle of the Utah desert. Americana is a clash of tradition and contemporary artifacts and associations. It is at the same time disappearing as it is being recreated.

What does Americana mean for each of us? Where is that sacred space of nostalgic national identity we each hold in our hearts? For us, we searched for the "last bastions" of Americana but found, in many ways we did not expect, that Americana is alive and well. We found it exists for the collective as well as within our own individual experiences. So, it is what you see outside your car window, or from a high mountain trail, and how you see it in your heart and mind simultaneously.

Americana is the essence of all great traditions, fads, oddities, rituals, songs, poems, vistas, highways, and ideas that make up this great country, all rolled into one word. Americana is what we make it, and it's always there to experience whenever we want.

For now, we see it every morning when we look out our farmhouse windows at the mist shrouded hills of Pennsylvania. We find it around a table at an Irish pub, passing the guitar, and swapping stories and songs. We hear it in the strains of church bells floating up the road, and taste it at our favorite Mexican taco joint, with all the 'fixins.

We found it on the road, and we discover it again and again right here at home.

Thanks to all our friends that greeted us along our route this July - you are our Americana, and our true inspirations!

Creative Highways: The Last Leg

2009-08-05T14:55:00.000-07:00

We are sad to have our road trip come to a close. We have seen many joys and beautiful things and people; we even had our endurance tested to a certain extent, living out of a Honda Fit for a month. It was surprisingly easy and simple. The simplicity of it all is something we will take with us back into domestic life. Paired-down meals, living quarters, and belongings have reminded us that living with only the bare necessities can enrich our lives and teach many lessons. We are better able to live in the present moment, without being bogged down by petty busywork and material items that we really don't need. This is just one of the many gifts this trip has bestowed upon us.

Here is a selection of images from the last few days of our Northwestern road trip for the summer of 2009:

Sadie has now settled in to her spot in the car. She naps as we drive for hours, occasionally poking her head up front to check in. She's a seasoned traveler, and knows when it's time to rest, and when it's time to play.

A stop at Shoshone Falls State Park in Twin Falls, Idaho to meet up with our friend, Katie. It was blazing hot down on the Snake River plain in Southern Idaho, but it was great to see my old roommate and friend (though I'm still kicking myself for not getting a photo of the two of us!).

Elegant Aspen and Lupine greet us on our way through the Manti-La Sal National Forest and Joe's Valley in central Utah.

Joe's Valley also affords fun bouldering opportunities along the San Raphael River. Ryan makes a move on this river-side boulder. The water was the coldest of all the Northwestern creeks and rivers we visited. As desert-hot as it was that day, we couldn't manage to get in past our feet.

Larissa traverses another boulder down the way.

At our bouldering spot, Ryan performs our ritual of car cooking that we did so many times during the month. Just pick a spot along the road, pull out the camp stove, and go to work. On the menu that morning: Migas, a Tex-Mex concoction of eggs, corn tortilla, salsa, and cheese.

Along Highway 70 in Utah - not how rest stops look in Pennsylvania.

Then, it was on to Colorful Colorado! We drove over Loveland Pass, one of the highest paved drivable passes in North America at 11,990 feet in altitude.

In Boulder, we completed our long-lost search for a sushi roll we ate 9 years ago, when we were first dating and Ryan was attending Colorado Mountain College. We found it at Sushi Zanmai: the Green Hornet Roll - still the most delicious roll we've ever had. We were extremely pleased that our memories had preserved the experience of eating that roll so precisely. We had a grand time drinking Katana sake and talking with our friendly sushi chef. Larissa also had a delicious sake cucumber martini. We finished the evening with live reggae down the street at the Draft House. It was our last big hoorah on our amazing trip.

Larissa and Ryan savor the last moments of their road trip trail running and hiking near Loveland Pass in Colorado. See you next time, Rockies!

All photos © Chace + Smith Photography

Coming up: Closing Remarks from our grand American tour!

Creative Highways: This Is What Sand Makes Our Dog Do

2009-08-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

On the Salmon River, camping in central Idaho on our road trip, our dog Sadie neurotically dug hole after hole in the sand at our camp spot. Every day she got up, stretched and "got back to work" on her holes - important work to be done. If only our daily tasks were so simple and focused!

See her in action:

Creative Highways: Video Recap

2009-07-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

The following is a selection of the many videos we took along our 7414 miles during our Creative Highways project. They can't possible capture everything we saw, but they do show how many different things we experienced along the way:

DRIVING HIGHLIGHTS:
This first video is a montage of many video clips combined into one video of highlights, showcasing the great variety of geography we crossed. I think it demonstrates the vast and diverse beauty of our country (song credit: "Scare Easy" by Mudcrutch. This song became the soundtrack to our trip). Can anyone identify where some of these places are?:

THE THREE ELEMENTS OF ROAD TRIPPING: WATER, AIR, MUSIC

WATER:

Underwater in Warm Spring Creek, near Bonneville hot springs, Idaho:

Sadie braves the gnar on Gedney Creek in central Idaho:

Soaking in Glenwood Springs Pool, a commercial hot springs pool, Glenwood Springs, CO. It was a gorgeous evening, and we noticed how mellow the crowd at a public hot springs pool is compared to those typical at public chlorine pools - ah, the magic of geothermal - so relaxing after a day of driving!:

AIR:

At 8000 ft. in elevation in central Idaho, along the Seven Devils Mountain Range, Sadie (our dog) and I (Larissa) stopped after hiking and running the Narrows trail to take this video:

Sadie hikes at around 8,500 ft. along the Titus Lake trail near the Sawtooth Mountain Range in central Idaho:

MUSIC:

Salsa Celtica performs in Hailey, Sun Valley, Idaho. An interesting mix of salsa and traditional Celtic music. We had lots of fun hanging out with the people of Sun Valley and our friends, Hallie and Julia. Check out the crazy dancers in this video:

And live reggae at the Draft House in Boulder, Colorado. This was recommended to us by our sushi chef at the great Sushi Zanmai. Just one night in a fun town and you never know what you'll get into:

Coming up next: the last photos from our trip, and some closing remarks.

Creative Highways: Our Own Private Idaho

2009-07-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

In the entire state of Idaho, there are only 1,523,816 people. That's an average of 18 people per square mile. It's hard to want to share this "gem" of a state with others who think it's only potato fields, but here's a sneak peek at our 8 days of camping and seeing old friends in Central and Southern Idaho. How sensational to be able to turn our cell phones and computers off for 8 straight days - definitely no cell service where we were headed:

Our journey from Moscow, Idaho on Sunday, July 11 began with a night camping on Gedney Creek just off the remote and beautiful Selway River. I had camped and hiked the trail before and wanted to find the spot again. We hiked, Ryan fished, and we swam in the chilly, roaring mountain creek.

Selway River, Idaho

Selway Falls, Selway River, Idaho

The next day was spent camping along the nearby Lochsa River and soaking at Weir Creek hot springs along Highway 12. We were pleased to find a lively and hospitable group of young people already soaking, with which we swapped wine, beer, and stories of our travels (we represented Pennsylvania, Montana, and Minnesota). Idaho hot springs have their own subculture, attracting bucolic bon vivants of all backgrounds seeking one thing only: that geothermal wonder pouring out of the earth, bubbling over rocks, filling up pools, and warming the senses in a way no domestic bath can (see the photo below from Bonneville hot springs).

Ryan fishing on the Lochsa River

The next stop was three nights on our favorite river in the world, the Salmon River. We had our own private beach on which to camp, and spent a good part of the day swimming, reading in hammocks, and playing frisbee with Sadie.

Our camp spot on the Salmon

The Salmon River canyon is the second deepest in North America next to the Snake River, which also traverses Idaho. You can't tell from the bottom, but the canyon extends up and out for miles and miles.

Sadie loved our time on the Salmon, leash and worry free!

An abstract of Sadie from underwater

On one of the days along the Salmon, we met up with our friend Mark and drove up to the Seven Devils Mountain range just West of Riggins, ID. Sadie and I drove up as high as we could drive to revisit a trail called the Narrows, which extends along a ridge overlooking Hells and Salmon canyons on either side. We ran, hiked, spooked a bull elk, and enjoyed the beautiful wild flowers scattered about the slopes and meadows. The Seven Devils range is always a sight to behold.

The Seven Devils

Meanwhile, Mark and Ryan climbed at a nearby crag. I eventually joined them and had fun watching Ryan jug up the rope with his camera so he could get some shots of Mark in action.

Ryan loves this stuff

One of Ryan's shots of Mark climbing. Mark is an excellent climber, so it was easy for Ryan to get the shots he wanted.

On Friday, July 17, we said goodbye to the Salmon (that was tough) and made our way down through McCall, Idaho, and along the South Fork of the Payette River. We camped at Bonneville hot springs and enjoyed a wonderful evening soak.

Larissa enjoys the kind of serenity only found in the wilds of Idaho

The next day we headed further East along the Sawtooth Mountain range. We stopped in Stanley, Idaho for breakfast, where they were having their busiest weekend of the year, what with their archery and craft shows going on at the same time!

Our car, which has now traveled close to 5,000 miles on this trip, with the Sawtooths looming beyond

We continued on toward Sun Valley to stay with our friend, Hallie (in Hailey, Idaho, to be specific). On the way, we stopped for some trail running and hiking along the Titus Lake trail, near Galena summit. Sadie enjoyed chasing rocks and swimming in the mountain lake.

Titus Lake is nestled in the mountains along a beautiful trail

Larissa and Hallie in Hailey, Idaho, reunited after 6 years! We stayed at her house overnight and enjoyed catching up and going to the park to see a live salsa/scottish band called Salsa Celtica (I was skeptical at first of this combo of genres, but they were quite good...video updates from this concert to come).

All photos © Chace + Smith Photography

After a wonderful stay in one of our favorite former home states, we said goodbye to Idaho and moved South to Utah, where our adventures continued. Stay tuned for more video and photo updates!

Creative Highways: Morels and Old Friends in Moscow, Idaho

2009-07-19T21:24:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, July 9, Ryan, Sadie and I crossed the Washington/Idaho border and drove up the Lewiston, Idaho grade to our old town of Moscow. For me it had been since 2004 that I had visited this place; for Ryan, since 2003, when he graduated from the University of Idaho. We both were very quiet, except for the occasional sigh of, "Wow," from one of us, as we drove into town and past familiar locales and scenery. Over the course of the next 3 days, we observed how many memories from Moscow were locked away and could only surface by being back there. It was fun to reminisce about the early years of our relationship, having moved out to Idaho without ever seeing it before, taking a big leap together, and accepting the place for all its foibles and charms.

We were able to appreciate the area with new eyes this time around, and we left knowing that we will return to this place again and again.

Sadie was born and adopted in Moscow. Here she is surveying her old stomping grounds at Philips Farm just outside of town.

I worked at the U. of Idaho Early Childcare Center during our two years in Moscow. Here I am pictured with a family I was close to. The eight-year-old to my far left was 3 when I left. The strangest part of it all was how she didn't remember me, but also how quickly we all became friends again.

We were able to make a quick stop to see my old colleague Stacey, her husband, Jeff, and puppy Gracie.

We stayed with friends Leanne and Mark during our visit, and were greeted with hand picked and battered morel mushrooms, freshly caught fish, and plenty of wine and beer!

On Saturday morning, we made sure to make a stop at one of our favorite haunts from our Moscow days: the expansive farmers market.

Moscow is situated on the Palouse Prairie, a very unique landscape, and just on the edge of the Bitterroot Mountains. We had a picnic on Moscow Mountain on Saturday evening and caught the Palouse in all its glory just as the sun was going down.

Ryan aims to get the perfect shot.

That's the one.

All photos © Chace + Smith Photography

Soon to come: updates about camping for 5 nights in the wilds of Idaho, and meeting up with old friends in Central and Southern Idaho before moving on to Utah!

Creative Highways: Climbing at Smith Rock and Walla Walla Wineries

2009-07-10T18:43:00.001-07:00

With heavy hearts we said goodbye to friends Kendra and Adam (and their dog, Jake) on Wednesday, July 8, and turned our backs toward the West coast and headed East. It's always hard to know that you have already reached your furthest point West, but thankfully we have much left to explore out here. Our first stop on the other side of the Cascades was Smith Rock, one of our country's rock climbing meccas, where we spent the afternoon climbing and hiking through the beautiful Crooked River canyon. We found a great camp spot for the night, and enjoyed cooking and socializing with the long-term campers and climbing bums at the bivouac camp ground at Smith.

Smith Rock with Mount Jefferson of the Cascade Range in the background

Sagebrush feathers the landscape along the Crooked River canyon

Smith Rock and the aptly-named Crooked River

Our camp spot overlooking Smith Rock and the desert sky

The following day, on the way to Moscow, ID, our old Idaho hometown, we stopped through Walla Walla, WA to visit two wineries, L'Ecole Nº 41 and Three Rivers Winery. It was fun to explore, albeit briefly, an area we have never spent much time in, nor associated with good wines.

L'Ecole Nº 41, our first winery stop, features beautiful architecture and decor

All photos © Chace + Smith Photography

Coming soon: photos and updates about our three days in Moscow, ID, as well as from the Lochsa, Selway and Salmon River Regions of mountainous central Idaho, where we will be camping and hotspringing for the next week. We will be off the map now for about 8 days, but we will post updates as soon as we can - maybe we'll find some random free wifi somewhere. You never know these days!

Creative Highways: Newts, Dunes, and Sasquatch Sightings on the Oregon Coast

2009-07-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

Since this past Friday, July 3, we have been spending marvelous, long days with our dear friends, Kendra, Adam, and their dog, Jake. We arrived in Corvallis, Oregon on Friday afternoon, where Kendra and Adam currently live. Both are originally from West Virginia, but are now spending a few years in Corvallis while Kendra gets her Masters. Since they don't live in the next state over from ours anymore, it was quite a pleasure to reunite once again.

We spent the Fourth of July weekend camping along the Oregon Coast, sampling local beers (mostly Rogue brewery), eating seafood, hiking along the dunes and coastal forests, and having long coffee and chatting sessions every morning. It was a wonderful time with old, great friends.

Here is a sampling of the fun times we had:

Sadie loves digging along the sea shore. She chases rocks we throw to her, then digs them into holes and finds them again.

Sadie waits with bated breath as Adam prepares to launch a rock down the shore.

Fishery doorway in the bay of Newport, Oregon

Local beers and fresh seafood at Local Ocean Seafoods in Newport, OR after two days of camping.

Adam, Kendra, Larissa, and Ryan in Newport, OR

Sasquatch sighting in Newport!
Warning: this video may contain images that will shock and awe.

Our hike near the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area south of Florence, OR. The trail started at our campground and wound through dunes, forests, the beach, and a freshwater lake.

Rough skinned newt along our hiking path

Ryan's self portrait in the Oregon coastal woods

Big Trees, Little People

Kendra, Larissa, and Sadie fly and skip down a dune leading to Three Mile Lake, just off the beach - so many diverse ecosystems on this hike.

Larissa, Ryan, and Sadie on the Oregon Coast

Kendra hiking on the trail leading to the beach

Larissa and Kendra in the dunes

The dunes encroaching upon the forest

Adam and the tidal pools along the coast

Cliffs and coves along the beautiful Pacific coast

Kendra, Adam and Jake relax at our camp spot.

A tough decision at Rogue Brewery in Newport, OR

All photos © Chace + Smith Photography

Tomorrow's adventure: say goodbye to Kendra, Adam, and Jake, and on to Smith Rock near Redmond, OR for some climbing and camping. Then, on to Moscow, Idaho, our old hometown for a few days!

Video Update

2009-07-04T10:29:00.000-07:00

Here is just a quick video update of our recent travels. The first is of Sadie crossing the border into Idaho, her home state. The second is of us driving along the Columbia River Gorge approaching Mount Hood yesterday on our way to Corvallis.

Today we're on our way to the Oregon Coast for a few days of camping with friends. Happy Independence Day!

Creative Highways: Storms, Windy Tents, and Mountain Peaks

2009-07-02T22:13:00.000-07:00

After two days "off the map", we are shacked up in a motel in Baker City, Oregon - a bit off course from our original plan (which was to go through Bend on our way to Corvallis, OR), but we got a little behind so we are taking the fast track to Corvallis.

Here is a sampling of all the amazing things we've seen during the past 3 days. We've covered so much ground, it's become a bit of a blur, so let's review:

The Badlands of South Dakota:

Bighorn Sheep

Picnicking in the Badlands

Ryan's self portrait near our picnic site
(tilt shift lens extravaganza)

Big Horn National Forest, Wyoming:

Our campsite by Crazy Woman Creek

Don't let this serene scene fool you;
we slept through extremely high winds and rain that night.

Yellowstone National Park:

West Thumb Geyser Pools in Yellowstone

Geothermal activity flowing straight into Yellowstone Lake

Teton National Park:

This was taken from our camp ground - a beautiful sunset over Jackson Lake;
once again, we awoke to a thunderstorm and rain at 5 a.m.

A stop in Pocatello, ID to see our friend, Christina, her cute house, and cute dogs:

Marley and Obe keep cool in the yard

Another terrific Western storm on our way across Southern Idaho

All photos © Chace + Smith Photography

Tomorrow's adventure: Corvallis, Oregon and July 4th weekend on the Oregon Coast!

Creative Highways: South Dakota Sunsets and Jolly Green Giants

2009-06-29T20:56:00.001-07:00

(posted by Larissa)

As I stood beneath the looming shadow of the Jolly Green Giant statue in Blue Earth, Minnesota, I observed the soothing flow of traffic on I-90 several yards away, and the cars slowly pulling in and out of the Dairy Queen parking lot across from the neatly trimmed lawns of Jolly Green's domicile. After months of anticipation, I knew in that moment that we had finally reached what Ryan so aptly describes in the current intro on our website as the "space in between."

It is this liminality that makes road trips so salient to our personal experiences as individuals and as a couple. We have officially and successfully separated ourselves from the doldrums of our day-to-day, our to-do lists, appointments, and social obligations. I am not implying that our lives are hard to bear by any means. But we realize how hard it can be for us, as members of our society, to truly travel/move/flee from our daily routines. It is the space in between that one must find from time to time that speaks to and galvanizes our lives when we are living our "normal" everyday existences. And the further and longer we travel from the routine into the space in between, the more cogent the effects will be on our well-beings.

In the following photos, we narrate the voices of Americana that we have been discovering along the way - those ironic, iconic, and campy artifacts of our lives as humans in this country.

Jolly Green beholds his vast prairie empire in Blue Earth.

Always seek a different perspective.

What defines a man?

The roadways of America are a clash of kitschy tourism and vacant businesses.

"Ben Biking" greets motorists just off I-90 in Sparta, Wisconsin, the bicycle capitol of the world.

Snack time at the Love's truck stop in Wisconsin where we ran into travelers from Chambersburg, PA, a town just 30 minutes from our own...all we could say was, "Small world!"

All there is left to do now is drive off into the sunset...

A South Dakota honky-tonk sunset

All photos © Chace + Smith Photography

Tomorrow's adventure: The Badlands of South Dakota, Wall Drug, SD, Devil's Tower in Eastern Wyoming, and camping in Bighorn National Forest in central WY!

Creative Highways: Cleveland and Chicagoland

2009-06-29T05:01:00.000-07:00

(posted by Larissa)

Our trip has begun! We pulled out of our driveway at approximately 8:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 28 and drove away from our cozy abode. It felt strange to be leaving a place we always used to travel long distances to visit. Now, it is our home and (most likely) permanent dwelling place, so this time we take to the open road not to go home, but to test our mettle at traversing the open highways of our country again. We take to the open road to make sure we aren't getting too comfortable at home.

The trip yesterday was very smooth, and we were even able to make a last minute stop in Cleveland to see our friend, Kathryn, who we had not seen in 3 years. We had a nice salad lunch, ate gourmet chocolate that Kathryn gave us as a gift, and walked down to Lake Erie for a few minutes while our dog played in the whitecaps lapping the shore.

Kathryn's apartment

Sadie in Lake Erie - she loves road trips!

Kathryn and Larissa
(all photos © Chace + Smith Photography)

Outside of Cleveland, and headed out into the plains of the mid-West, we hit some wind gusts that sent our gas mileage plummeting. Our Honda Fit normally gets excellent mileage for a non-hybrid, but since we have a roof box the winds seemed to grab it and push us in the other direction.

We arrived safely in Chicago at my best friend, Emily's, apartment around 8 p.m. last night after a long day of driving. We had a lovely dinner with her and her boyfriend, Jon, at Hopleaf Bar (mussels, wine, craft-brewed beer, yum) - and then went straight to bed!

The open road is like a long-lost friend you forgot you had. Once you are finally with it, you realize how much you missed it. Ryan and my relationship began on the road, so when we return to it, it stirs up memories and emotions from almost a decade ago. With your dog and spouse as your only companions, and your car, packed to the hilt, containing only possessions you truly need, one can't help but feel a deep sense of satisfaction and exhilaration at what lies ahead.

Today, we head to the Badlands of South Dakota...

Creative Highways Project 2009 Itinerary!

2009-06-19T12:22:00.000-07:00

It's official, folks! The trip itinerary for our Creative Highways Project 2009 has been published. It is, of course, subject to change on a whim (we may make a left turn instead of a right way out there in the desert), but we will certainly be keeping you updated on our stops and photos along the way. Here is a summary of our trip:

June 28 – depart Mercersburg, PA for Chicago, IL to stay with Larissa’s best friend, Emily Adair Peterson. Urban fun, Vespa rides, perhaps a stop at The Hideout - and dinner out.

June 29 – Chicago, IL to Kadoka, SD, the gateway to the Badlands National Park and Wall Drug, both common stops on our past trips West.

June 30 – Kadoka, SD through the Badlands, and on to Bighorn National Forest, WY. Though not yet in the “Rockies”, this recreational area rises straight out of the central Wyoming plains and offers beautiful and dramatic vistas and higher elevation relief from the heat below. We’ve camped there before and love everything from the drive up to the explorations above.

July 1 – Bighorn through Yellowstone National Park (Yellowstone in the summer is a bit much to take. We can only take the bumper to bumper traffic through a wildlife area for so long - try it in the winter, it's glorious!), and on to Grand Teton National Park for more camping. The Tetons take our breath away.

July 2 – Breakfast in trendy Jackson, WY, then a drive to Bend, OR (via Pocatello, Twin Falls, and Boise, ID). Don't know if we'll have time to stop off for some climbing at Smith Rock, but it would be sweet. We were there in the fall before, though, so it might be a bit toasty to climb there in July.

July 3 – Bend, OR to Corvallis, OR to stay with friends, Kendra and Adam. Their dog, Jake, just had knee surgery, so even though he and our dog, Sadie, love to play, we'll have to make sure they only have so much fun! Kendra and Adam moved out to Oregon last fall so that Kendra could attend Oregon State University's graduate geology program. We're excited to see where they've been shacking up for the past year.

July 4-5 – Celebrating our furthest point West and our nation’s naissance on the Oregon Coast with Kendra and Adam. Mmmm, the misty Pacific sea cliffs, a camp fire on the beach, wine, the dogs, good friends - nothing like it!

July 6-7 – Bumming around Corvallis and Vicinity - hangin' with the dogs and Kendra and Adam.

July 8 – Corvallis to Walla Walla, WA for some wineries and Palouse Falls.

July 9 – Walla Walla, WA to Moscow, ID, our old Idaho hometown, where we lived from 2001-2003! We will spend two nights staying in downtown Moscow and visiting old haunts such as John’s Alley, the Moscow Food Coop, friends, University of Idaho (Ryan's alma mater and Larissa's former employer), etc.

July 9-11 – Moscow, ID and Vicinity

July 11-13 – Moscow to Lochsa and Selway River regions for hotspringing, camping, and general no-man’s-land-ing.

July 13-15 – Lochsa/Selway area to Riggins, ID for camping on the white sand beaches of the Salmon River, our favorite river in the world! You get a whole beach to yourself! Hope to find French Creek hot springs way up along the canyon walls where we went for Ryan’s birthday in 2003.

July 15 – Riggins, ID to the South Fork of the Payette River near Lowman, ID. More hot springs and beautiful vistas of the Sawtooth Mountain Range await! Just the drive alone is gorgeous.

July 16 – To Redfish Lake, the furthest point East that salmon swimming from the Pacific Ocean along the Colombia River travel - a gorgeous lake near Stanley, ID, nestled along the Sawtooth Mountain Range.

July 17 – Redfish Lake, through the Sawtooths, south through the Snake River plain of Idaho, and on to Provo, UT for a motel, clean-up, and gearing up for more camping.

July 18-20 – Provo to Joe’s Valley in the Manti-La Sal Mountains, and the San Rafael River - a climbing and bouldering mecca and a place we remember loving to camp – gorgeous.

July 20-22 – Joe’s Valley to Moab, UT area for some explorations of Arches National Park and the Canyon Lands.

July 22 – Moab to Boulder, CO in search of the Green Hornet sushi roll, which we ate there way back in 2000 (our first year together). We think we might be able to find it here. Will it taste as good now as it did then?

July 23 – Boulder to St. Louis , MO – we’re truckin’ now, haulin' home.

July 24 – St. Louis to Mercersburg, PA - home at last!

Click here for an interactive map of our trip.

Upcoming Photography Project: Creative Highways 2009!

2009-06-11T11:30:00.001-07:00

(posted by Larissa)

We have a wonderful trip on the horizon! Starting on June 28, we will be packing up our Honda Fit and driving from Mercersburg, Pennsylvania to the Oregon Coast in 5 days, followed by several weeks of touring through Washington, Idaho, Utah, and Colorado, and many points in between. From 2001-2003, Ryan and I lived in Moscow, Idaho, so this is our chance to return to one of our hometowns with our dog in tow (she was born and adopted out there), as well as explore some of our favorite haunts and new vistas along the way.

Though a personal trip in its majority (this was going to be our honeymoon 3 years ago, but we went to Maine instead), we will be using this opportunity for business purposes as well. Ryan is very excited to get back out to the Wild West and take photographs of all the wonderful things we'll see along the way.

The simple nature of driving across the country will allow us to step away from our daily logistics and focus on a few small tasks each day: drive, stop, take pictures, explore, drive, stop, camp, get up, drive, stop, etc. Our creativity will be re-energized as the artifacts of Americana and open highways of this land unfold before us. Some we have seen before during our many trips across the country while we lived in Idaho and Texas, and many we will look at with new eyes. Others will be new to us, but all will be stimulus for our creativity. Whether as inspiration for a new collection of photographs, or some new songs for Larissa's band, we are so excited to be able to spend four weeks outside our office, home, and town, and get out and explore our beautiful country.

We plan to document our trip on this blog, as well as Larissa's personal weblog, Good Life Project. We hope you will check back periodically to watch our progress and see some of the beautiful photographs Ryan will be taking.

We're making our travel itinerary now, so we'll keep you posted as things develop.

Happy shooting, and may your summer travels be gleeful and creative!

A Visual Feast.

2009-05-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about various forms of visual communication and have been fascinated with some recent projects that have been floating around the web. Have fun viewing these and let me know what you think of them. If there is anyone out there who is interested in collaborating on a project send me an email.

This first one is a self promotion piece by photographer, Sylvain Dumais. Fantastic!

Stop Motion | The Long Haul from DUMAIS on Vimeo.

I just saw this video by photographer, Noah Webb for the first time today and was astonished by the amount of work that must have gone into creating this. I can't help but think how a production as creative and interesting as this is bound to help both the musician, Sara Lov and Noah Webb.

This final video is a multimedia piece by Duckrabbit. It's such a simple concept but incredibly powerful and moving. The story behind this project is really interesting. Read about it if you have a moment.

INNOCENCE - Sri Lanka's Child Soldiers from Benjamin Chesterton on Vimeo.

Disability . . . The Big What If?

2009-05-08T11:36:00.000-07:00

I don't get sick very often, but last week I was pretty ill. Don't worry, it wasn't swine flu although there were moments when I thought I might die. Flu like symptoms tied together with the worst sinus infection I have ever had made for moments when I would have paid someone to hit me in the face with a sledgehammer.

I'm feeling much better now with only a few remnants of a cough, but I keep thinking about those days last week when I was incapable of moving let alone trying to run a professional photography business. Fortunately no shoots were scheduled last week and I was able to push the other things on my to do list aside. I can't help but feel a little concerned about the possibility of being stricken with a serious illness. What if, God forbid, I am diagnosed with cancer, or break my femur or lose my shooting eye. I hate thinking about these things but I feel it's in my best interest to be prepared for any of the above situations or any other combination of illness.

I am a very active photographer. What I mean is that when I'm on a shoot it's a very physical process from hauling equipment, lying on the ground, climbing up ladders, hanging off a rock face or just putting my body in many unnatural positions in order to get the shot I want. If I'm injured I can't do this. If I can't shoot then I can't make a living and if I can't make a living I can't pay my bills. Myself, Larissa, our dog and numerous people we are indebted to are screwed.

So what do I do about this? Well the obvious solution is to never get sick and to never get injured. That's my first plan. Not exactly bulletproof, but it makes sense. My back up plan is disability insurance. Larissa and I are in the process of putting together an affordable disability plan with our insurance agent that will help ease the financial burden of an illness or injury. It's not going to cover us for life, but it should help get us toward the other side of the healing process or help us until we can figure out another option for bringing in income.

I'm an optimist so my heart says that I'll never use the disability insurance we're paying for but I'm also a realist and understand the potential risks of not having a back up plan. So, as much as it hurts to add one more bill to the long list of others I think we're doing the smart thing.

Do you have a backup plan?

Media Literacy in the Age of Photoshop

2009-04-30T18:55:00.000-07:00

(Posted by Ryan)

Photoshop is a tool that has become synonymous with photography. Every single photo that I deliver to my clients or use to market myself has been through Photoshop at least once. I am a very minimal retoucher, but even still I use Photoshop as a tool to deliver higher quality images to my clients. I think you would have to be crazy not to use this powerful tool to polish your images, but I also think it's incredibly important not to rely too heavily on Photoshop to make a bad image look somewhat interesting.

I strive to get everything the way I want it in camera before I press the shutter button. I think this is a practice that is often overlooked. I've had clients say to me, "You can Photoshop that later can't you?" The answer that to question is, 'Well yes, maybe. But it's most likely going to cost you more than if we just take care of it now.' Sometimes as photographers it can be easy to get wrapped up in the heat of the moment and think, 'I'll just take care of that later.' I've been guilty of this in the past and let me tell you from first hand experience that a heavily photoshopped photo does not make a crappy photo better. It might just make it tolerable to look at.

This quote from Martin Schoeller says it all: “If you want to be a photographer, be a photographer ten hours a day instead of spending five hours retouching some half-ass picture you don’t like in the first place.” - from Charlie Fish via APE.

Photoshop is an incredibly powerful tool that can be used for high levels of creativity, but at the same time it has been utilized by many to reinforce mass media's unnatural idea of what constitutes beauty. Photoshop is used on virtually every image you consume on a day to day basis and often helps to support these exaggerated ideals of beauty.

I came across a link to a website called Girl Power today and thought this a perfect example of how images are worked so much that the subject becomes a false representation of itself. Take a look at the Girl Power retouching demo. Keep in mind that this is an interactive image, so give it a moment to load and please take the time to share this with your family and friends. It's important that as media continues to evolve and shape our social identity that we ensure our children are growing up to be informed and media literate consumers.

What do you think of Photoshop? It obviously has relevance in today's photographic marketplace, but to what extent does it distort our perceptions of reality? If you're a photographer or designer, in what ways do you utilize this powerful tool?

Please read and rate our story!

2009-04-23T18:56:00.000-07:00

(Posted by Larissa)

Hello friends and readers,

I have written a story about our business for a contest to win a small business grant (up to $25,000!). With your help, we could get the attention of the judges who will make the final decision. Please follow this link to read, rate, and leave comments. The story won't take long to read (in fact, I would have liked to have had more of a space allowance). We would really appreciate your help. A grant would mean a lot to our relatively new and blossoming business!

http://community.intuit.com/contests/cPtqO8lR4r3QVhacfA8pyY

Many thanks!

Happy Earth Day!

2009-04-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

(Posted by Ryan)

Happy Earth Day everyone! Get outside and enjoy our world and make a pledge to take care our planet this year and every year. If you want to volunteer or donate to a great cause have a look at the Earth Day Network website.

For those of you who are curious, learn the history of Earth Day here.

An Unlikely Weapon: The Eddie Adams Story

2009-04-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

(Posted by Ryan)

Film Synopsis

In 1968, in 1/500th of a second Eddie Adams photographed a Saigon Police Chief, General Nygoc Loan, shooting a Vietcong guerilla point blank. Some say that photograph ended the Vietnam War. The photo brought Eddie Fame and a Pulitzer, but Eddie was haunted by the man he had vilified. He would say, "Two lives were destroyed that day, the victim's and the general." Other's would say three lives were destroyed.

Eddie Adams, like most artists, was tortured by his need for perfection. Nothing he did ever satisfied him. He carved out many careers shooting covers for Life, Time, and even Penthouse. Yet, somehow he was always pulled back into documenting wars, 13 all together. Finally he hit the wall and couldn't take it anymore. He began shooting celebrities because "It doesn't take anything from you." Eddie was comfortable with kings and coal miners. During his time with Parade Magazines he photographed Clint Eastwood, Louis Armstrong, Mother Teresa, and Pope John Paul.

Still haunted by General Loan (The perpetrator in his photo), Eddie visits him 40 years later in a pizza shop in Virginia. Scribbled on the wall of a bathroom stall are the words 'We know who you are, you fucker!"

Eddie's camera was his most powerful weapon, but it failed to protect him from himself.

- From www.anunlikelyweapon.com

The film premiered last week in New York and will be traveling the country over then next few months. I'm hoping to catch it in Baltimore or D.C. this August so give me shout if you want to go see it with me in either city.

Eddie Adams is a photographer whom I greatly respect and I'm very excited to see this film. Watch the trailer here.

Lessons in Patience and Mindfulness

2009-04-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

(Posted by Ryan)

"So my theory is simple: there is something really important, perhaps magical, about the fact that film is so unforgiving that it creates a special mindfulness in the photographer, which in turn increases the chances of making great pictures."

-Doug Menuez

I was reading the Chase Jarvis blog today when I came across this post about something Doug Menuez said. Doug has a very interesting post on his blog about "The Zen of Film vs. Digital Gratification."

He talks about the days when digital was something that few photographers ever thought they would be using and how the advancement of digital technologies has changed the scope of photography forever. The quote above is something that I feel is very important yet often overlooked by many photographers, myself included.

Film forces us to be more mindful as photographers. Don't get me wrong, I love my digital cameras and am grateful for these image making tools. I shoot digitally 98 percent of the time, with that tiny little 2 percent being my occasional inclination to shoot film for personal work. Within that 98 percent of digital shooting time I have been working hard to be more mindful of the process. Sometimes I turn off the LCD screen and focus on shooting more deliberately. Without having that instant gratification that comes from immediately seeing what I just shot some of the mystery of photography is reborn.

I have also been working to shoot less to create more. With digital cameras it is so easy to rattle off thousands of images without any concern for film costs. Just put the camera on continuous shooting mode and fire away. You're bound to get something . . . it's a simple matter of probability. But by shooting more slowly and more deliberately I can open myself up to alternative possibilities.

I remember when I was at Colorado Mountain College being forced by my professors to keep detailed exposure statistics for every single image I made. This was with film so there was no metadata attached with each shot upon exposure. I had to keep a written record of every single shot and this forced me to slow down and learn. The thought of recording every exposure by hand now seems ludicrous, but the lesson is there. Slow down, think, compose and create a strong image.

When I shoot digitally I sometimes pretend that I am shooting film. I only have 24 frames to make something interesting so I better take my time and think through each exposure. LCD screens don't exist so I'll have to wait to see the results until I develop my film. Oh, the anxiety of wondering if I got the shot or completely messed it up is almost too much for me to handle. But I hold off and that excitement and sense of wonder is returned to the process allowing creativity to flow naturally and freely.

I shoot a lot of personal work with a Holga. It has got to be one of the crappiest cameras out there but I have created some of my favorite pictures with it. I use 120 film so I only have 12 exposures with each roll and it gives me the opportunity to be patient with my compositions. The Holga has the added value of only having 2 exposure options . . . sunny or cloudy. Pretty simple.

When I get a roll back from the lab I always experience a tiny bit of nervousness before looking at the negatives. Sometimes these fears are realized and the entire roll is underexposed, but more often something magical happens. The subjects I photographed were transformed inside the camera and visually come to life.

The mystery and wonder of photography is fully evident with the Holga and I try to bring this philosophy to my digital shooting by being mindful of the process while utilizing sophisticated tools and technologies.

I urge all of you to go out with your camera (whatever it may be) and limit yourself to only shooting 12 frames. Shoot 12 frames and enjoy the process. Allow the mystery and magic to take over for a while and most importantly, have fun.

'Fred and his Eagle'

Shot with my Holga

Exhibition

2009-04-01T14:10:00.000-07:00

(Posted by Ryan)

We have a small landscape exhibition at Integrative Medicine in Hagerstown, Maryland. Rob Bastress, the owner, suggested I hang some of my prints during a recent acupuncture appointment. I seldom matte and frame my prints, but it's something I am interested in doing more of, so I thought, what better opportunity to put together a fine art portfolio?

Integrative Medicine offers a unique atmosphere for artwork and I decided my landscape photography would fit into the environment well. My landscape work is very serene and is based around the idea of finding beauty everywhere in the natural world. This turned out to be a great collaboration between a place of healing and some of my favorite landscape photographs.

If you've ever considered acupuncture, I strongly recommend Rob at Integrative Medicine. Go in for a consultation and take a look at some prints. If you're already a patient, let me know what you think of the new artwork in the hallways.

Betty Lou Rockwell

2009-03-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

(posted by Ryan)

Chace + Smith Photography is something I am passionate about, but my family will always take top priority. Running a photography business in rural America has many difficult challenges, but the reward of being so close to family in such a beautiful area makes it all worth it. There are many reasons I am grateful to have the opportunity to run my own business, but this week has once again reminded me that my business is not the most important thing in my life.

This morning at 3:20 am, Betty Lou Rockwell, my grandmother (Nan) died.

Nan was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who didn't take any shit. She was full of one-liners and unique sayings that never failed to put a smile on someone's face. Even as she lay in her hospital bed close to death she managed to make everyone laugh.

A compassionate, caring and hard-working woman, Betty Lou always made sure I had enough to eat. Sunday evenings at Nan & Pap's were always filled with kids playing on the floor, 60 Minutes on the television, talking and laughter in the kitchen, and lots and lots of food. Nan always made sure to bake a cake or a pie to accompany the wide variety of other snacks spread out on the kitchen table. As soon as you walked in the door, Nan would greet you with "What can I get ya? How about a piece of apple pie? A ham sandwich? Iced Tea?"

I don't believe there is anything Nan loved more than making sure everyone was well fed. Every time I would bring a friend or a girlfriend to Nan & Pap's I made sure to tell them to come hungry, because when Nan gives you a piece of pie it's not an ordinary piece of pie . . . it's a Nan size piece of pie. Which, on occasion would nearly be a 1/4 section of the entire pie. Top that off with some vanilla ice cream and watch Nan smile with satisfaction.

It was hard to watch her go but I'm thankful for the time I had with her. I am thankful of the lessons I've learned from her and for all the fond memories I will carry with me. She leaves behind a husband of 64 years, 4 children, 8 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and an uncountable number of memories.

Here is Nan & Pap on the their 60th anniversary.

What is important in your life?

PDN Faces Contest - please vote!

2009-03-25T08:12:00.001-07:00

Hello friends,
If you would be so kind, please follow this link to vote for our entry in PDN's Faces Contest!

Many kind thanks!

Problem Solving with The Hello Strangers

2009-03-20T07:13:00.000-07:00

(posted by Ryan)

I have learned over the years that being a photographer is not just about taking pretty pictures, but more importantly is about solving problems. It could be said that I am not really a photographer, but a problem solver who figures out the necessary steps to complete a photograph. Some photos come easily, while others may involve various equations that must first be interpreted before the image can be captured.

I’m not talking about calculus here . . . I’m talking about problems like how I am going to get power out to the middle of a field, or what type of light I am going to create that will best tell the story I want to tell.

Larissa and her sister have a band called The Hello Strangers. They are an alternative country band and have a very distinct sound combining beautiful harmonies, fantastic melodies, and, often-times, haunting lyrics. You may think I am biased because Larissa is my wife, but I have a feeling if you listen to their music or see them live you won’t be able to disagree with me.

Last weekend, weeks of brainstorming and planning came together for a few hours of creativity and photography for The Hello Strangers. Brechyn, Larissa’s sister, arrived at 4 p.m. with makeup done and wardrobe in hand. Earlier in the day I had picked up the retro chair from her apartment and borrowed a 5000 watt generator from my Dad. While Larissa and Brechyn finished getting ready I loaded up the camera, strobes, light stands, sandbags, chair, generator, ladder, props and beer into my trusty old Nissan Pathfinder.

As soon as they were ready, we loaded up three very special dogs and the remaining props and caravanned back the lane and into the field about 1/2 a mile from the house. Nestled in the middle of a tall patch of grass, we started by creating our set. Once we had the chair and small table in position, Larissa and Brechyn stepped in. We shot for about 15 minutes with natural light before setting up the strobes. A front moved in just as we were beginning the shoot, and a cold, damp wind blew across the set, causing Larissa and Brechyn to tense up and look very cold in the photos. They warmed up in the car with some beer while I set up my preconceived light formation and cranked up the generator. After a few tests, I was ready to go and they took their positions on set while the 3 dogs were busy working on finding something to eat.

Having the dogs along creates a fun, but slightly chaotic obstacle
Larissa and Brechyn try to tame the chaos

We shot quickly because the temperature was dropping, the wind was picking up, a few sprinkles were beginning to fall, and one of the dogs disappeared. Not the best circumstances to shoot in, but we knew we wanted a cold winter feeling to the images so it worked perfectly.

I knew we had the shot so we quickly packed all the equipment back into the vehicles as the rain came down. Once we were back at the house and had located the missing canine, we began to setup for the second half of our shoot. Although I am primarily a location shooter, I love shooting in a controlled studio environment from time to time. Brechyn had the idea of doing a shot of their boots lined up in a row with the two of them on each end. We wanted this to be a square format for the possibility of being the cover of their next record so we had to exclude a few pair of boots. I played with the light until I had the look we wanted and then took a series of shots with boots in different positions and the girls in different colored skirts. Once we had the shot, we decided to improvise a little and shoot close-ups of the instruments and some details of the Hohner Accordion that is featured occasionally in the band's repertoire.

The total production time for the day came out to be about 7 hours and in this time we were able to capture some fantastic images. These are the kind of shoots that I absolutely love to do. Not only do I get to photograph and collaborate with two beautiful, talented women, I also get to fully exercise my problem solving abilities to create intriguing, polished images.

Below are a few shots from the The Hello Strangers photo shoot. These were originally intended to be in color, but after some thought, I decided to see what they looked like in black and white.

Here's where you come in: What’s your opinion? Please leave a comment and let me know what you think about the images in general, as well as which versions, either color or black and white, you like better.

Happy Problem Solving!

Late Winter Fields

2009-03-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

(posted by Larissa)

It is 60 + degrees here today, so we are suddenly completely "over" winter. But just a few short weeks ago, we were still relishing in its beauty and charm. The fields behind our house are old farm fields, relinquished by our landlord to the wills of nature. They are, thus, remnants of human industry, but now wear the cloak of nature's influence. They are framed by tree lines, and bear the imprint of deer beds and paths. Tall grasses and reeds shimmer in the winds. Field mice and voles scuttle around under the brush. Our dog pounces and sniffs around, occasionally coming face to face with a groundhog. The fields are serenely beautiful in their barren winter state; every shade of brown imaginable juxtaposes with the blue sky and sunsets blazing beyond the trees. Ryan's photos capture their essence beautifully, I think.

Enjoy these last few weeks of the season!

Ice World

2009-02-27T13:40:00.000-08:00

(posted by Larissa)

Sometimes, even when the weather is frightful, it is worth getting out and shooting. Ryan took these photos of the land we live on during a recent ice storm. They really capture the essence of a season that is often regarded with distaste. We happen to enjoy the winter months; they encourage introspection and creativity. Use these months to your advantage. Look a little harder at the landscape around you and you might find a beauty often overlooked by others.

Our dog, Sadie.

Chace + Smith Photography wins category in Go Indie Photo Contest

2009-02-19T09:04:00.000-08:00

(posted by Larissa)

Ryan and I got some great news yesterday! One of our images won 1st place in the "Everything in Between" pro category of IPN Stock's Go Indie Photo Contest.

Click here to see the finalists.

Ryan was so pleased to be among the winners with many seasoned professionals that he looks up to, such as Corey Rich. I, of course, am very proud of Ryan for this accomplishment!

The photo was taken as part of a commercial job for a local Alpaca farm, Long Acres. In the world of photography, you never know what subjects you will end up documenting. You can really get a feel for the rolling, scalloped mountain ridges in our area. Alpaca farming is a growing trend in this area. My sister is the main hand at this alpaca farm, which is just down the road. She loves the bonding time she gets with these unique animals, and has even delivered several crias (baby alpacas) on her own! Go Brechyn!

Here is the winning image:

Potential in the Unknown

2009-02-13T12:13:00.000-08:00

(Posted by Ryan)

There is something mysterious and slightly frightening about the early morning hours, before the earth has turned enough to allow the sun's light to break the horizon. I think it's the encompassing darkness and not being able to see everything around you. That darkness . . . that thought of the unknown can be downright terrifying if you let it consume you.

I have learned that within those feelings of anxiety and vulnerability, there is potential for an incredible amount of creative energy. By accepting the nervous energy and turning it into something positive, I have been able to give myself an incredible creative gift. That gift is the possibility and potential in every moment.

I find this philosophy to be extremely inspirational and helpful in everyday life, but it is most pronounced to me right before a photo shoot. Every shoot, no matter how carefully planned, has its variables and unknowns. These variables are where creativity and improvisation thrive, and if given the chance and nurtured properly, things will fall into place and images will spring to life.

Riding in a groomer before dawn with just the faintest reflection of light on the horizon, the anxiety builds into a cornucopia of possibility for the day's shoot. I ride along talking to the driver, who has been carefully operating this machine all night, thinking of how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to be sitting here right now. I am thankful for this moment and nearly bursting with excitement for the inevitable rise of the sun. We ride to the top of the mountain, headlights marking our way, where I hop out into the cold with my camera gear and prepare for my first shot.

The landscape bursts to life with first light and the shoot day is underway. I could stay up here forever, but I know Larissa and the skiing talent are getting ready at the bottom of the mountain. I get my shots, hop in the groomer, and away we go into the possibility of the day.

Here is a sampling of the results of the day's shoot at Whitetail Ski Resort:

Welcome to Playing Work

2009-02-06T11:41:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the blog of Chace + Smith Photography, "Playing Work." Within these posts and pages, we hope to explore and delineate what it means to be an entrepreneur in the photo industry, and doing so in a town of 1200 people.

We live in a 1920s farmhouse, on the back side of a beautiful private high school campus. Our landlord keeps horses in the stable behind the house, and the fields beyond afford us many pleasant walks with our dog. We keep life simple, for the most part, and enjoy the view of our wide valley outside the kitchen window. Our office is upstairs, in one of the three bedrooms. It is the control center for everything our business does. Our personal life fills in the spaces around it, while the hum of our computers in the office remind us that we aren't actually playing work, even though we may often feel like we are.

What does playing work mean?

When we first started referring to our business as playing work, we really meant it. We had just signed promissory notes for around $100,000 worth of business loans. Perhaps we were young enough, or just dumb enough, to be able to look at the amount, shrug, and say "Well...here goes!" The enormity of this amount of money couldn't possibly be fully realized. For us, the money was allowing us to pursue something we believed in. This was, in the beginning, shooting all-Hispanic stock imagery for the Somos Collection and Veer Images. For months, we literally "played work." We set up the shoots, hired and payed the models, bought wardrobe, produced the shoots, edited the images, and sent them off to the great unknown - all out of our own pockets. Until our royalty checks started showing up, it felt like our "work" was just a game. We opened the door to our pretend office in the morning, typed some things on our pretend keyboards, picked up our pretend telephones and talked to make-believe clients. At least, that's how it felt.

Were we crazy? What were we thinking getting into this business? And would we make it out alive?

Fortunately for us, we were able to navigate out of a floundering stock industry, and relocate to the hub of all things modern and industrious, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania! Despite the sarcastic tone of the previous statement, this place, our hometown, has been a boon for our business thus far. Having gleaned much professional experience from our work with Somos, and from Ryan's (he's actually "the photographer") previous experiences as an assistant for various prestigious photographers is Austin, Texas, we were able to bring a collection of professional imagery to an area with few commercial photographers to speak of. Furthermore, we have several larger clients in the area that are just down the road from us, and have been pleasantly surprised to find a professional photographer able to be on demand just after a good snowfall, for instance.

And so, playing work has taken on a new meaning for us. It has become a term of endearment, for our work is, in many aspects, play. We have been rewarded for the risks we've taken, and though we are still working to gain more financial independence, our lives are quite complete. We've carved for ourselves the foundation of good, creative, whole lives before hitting 30!

Of course, imbued in all of this is the idea of fun. We believe in fun, and we believe in it being the core of our work life. This is the essence of Playing Work.

The many meanings of Playing Work will be presented in this blog. From the joys of being outside all day photographing skiers and snowboarders, to the trials of safeguarding our business in a volatile economy, we will share with you the stories along the way.

We encourage your comments and questions, and hope this blog provides an outlet for photographers, entrepreneurs, and friends alike. How do you see your work as play, or vice versa? What about your work life is unique? What makes you do what you do despite the risks involved?

Do tell...for now, we'd better get back to "work."