Isthmus cover: Deborah Blum

On Friday, I had an exciting photo shoot with Deborah Blum, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the author of several science-themed books. We did the portrait in the UW-Madison Chemistry Building and with her connections we were lent (under the watchful eye of two professors) some interesting substances for the editorial photo. I really like how the bright colors turned out on this one!


Art director: Caroline Fath.

Mad Rollin' Dolls: Flat Track Roller Derby. Feb. 14, 2010

I shot some roller derby photos at the Coliseum in Madison today. I've been photographing the Mad Rollin' Dolls off and on since 2004. Like many action sports, derby is quite challenging to shoot. The usable indoor light is very low which makes autofocus fairly slow on my Canon 5D. The maximum sync speed I get is 1/160 sec. which does not always freeze the action. To get an adequate amount of light-I mount strobes up on the second level of the arena and fire them remotely as well as using an on-camera flash for fill light. Unholy Rollers skater Rita Slayworth at the line.
A jammer for the Paper Valley Roller Girls racks up points. Reservoir Dolls jammer Charlie Hustle.

The photo gallery is online at: www.th-photo.net/Dolls/2-14-10/

New eZine cover: Ashley with Rock River Arms A4

Several months ago I was contacted by the art director of a new magazine called AR Guns & Hunting. We spoke for a while and arranged for me to legally take shipment of a Rock River Arms A4 (AR15), as well as several outfits and accessories including a Nikon scope and Zeiss Victory binoculars. I booked a shoot in my Madison studio with Ashley-one of my absolute favorite models. We did the photography with a white sweep so they could add the flag background in post. Everything took an incredible amount of planning and setup but in the end-I couldn't be happier with the results.


























Behind the scenes snapshot. Photo: Ken Udell.

Credits: Art director: Becca Hudson, Editorial director: Mike Strandlund, Hair/makeup Rosalee Eichstedt, Assistant fashion stylist: Mallory Schinker, Photo assistant: Ken Udell, Model: Ashley Katherine, Photography: Timothy Hughes.

Fashion designs by Ariel Gold

Just wrapped up shooting 11 outfits in my studio designed by UW-Madison textile & apparel design student Ariel Gold. She is creating her 11x14" portfolio to apply to Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. I was extremely impressed by how talented Ariel is for a young designer and can't wait to see more of her work! Model: Hillary Williams.

Cardinal Bar photos in the Isthmus this week

I was commissioned to photograph some interiors of the renovated Cardinal Bar as well as some editorial portraits of the new owner Ricardo Gonzales for Isthmus this week. The shoot went well and I've known Ricardo for years now. I actually used to DJ at his Madison nightclub in 2003. Good times!

Model Open Call | Fashion Fridays + Brava Women's Expo

Wisconsin Fashion Week Model Open Call
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2009
Time: 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Location: Claddagh Irish Pub
Address: 1611 Aspen Commons, Middleton, WI
Phone: (608) 320-3322
Email: kristi@wisconsinfashionweek.com

Wisconsin Fashion Week and Brava Magazine are teaming up to host a mega model open call. WFW Executive Producer, Kristi Moe, will be producing both the Fashion Fridays event on Nov 20 as well as working with the Brava team on Nov 21 for their first ever runway show at the Madison Women's Expo. Catch a Glimpse of This Year's Hottest Styles! Join Brava Magazine, Greenway Station and Wisconsin Fashion Week as they bring fashion to life with these amazing Runway Shows!

Want to be a model? Simply follow the registration instructions on http://www.wisconsinfashionweek.com/model

*** Please come dressed in skinny jeans or leggings and a fitted top... and don't forget them heels!
**** If you have a portfolio or comp card, please bring them!

OPEN CALL TIME SLOTS:

2:30PM for Ages 15-25
3:30PM for Ages 26+

Models under 18 will need to have a parent/guardian accompany them and sign a model release. The parent/guardian will also need to be present at any rehearsals and the event.

EVENT DATES:

Fashion Fridays - Friday, NOV 20
(must be available all day)

Madison Women's Expo - Saturday, NOV 21
(must be available 8am-2:30pm)

MODEL CRITERIA:

---- Fashion Fridays:
- women, BUT a menswear collection is in the works so check back for updates
- ages 15-25
- size 0-6
- prefer taller models but will consider height 5'3"+

---- Women's Expo
- ages 26+ (hoping to represent a wide range of ages!)
- "real-woman" sizing as this will incorporate retailers from Greenway Station

EXPERIENCE NOT NECESSARY!! But please be sure to practice being comfortable with a runway walk and most importantly... practice your poses in front of the mirrror!!

TFP OPPORTUNITIES - You will receive professional photography that you can use in your portfolio and valuable networking that have led to paid work for some past models. No cash compensation.

New fashion/beauty work with Danyell & Rosalee

I had a great time working with Danyell Dykstra (model) and Rosalee Eichstedt (stylist) as well as her assistant Mallory Schinker. We did a few hours of shooting at my Bedford St. studio then did some shots outside on location. Everyone worked really hard and we got some fantastic photos!

Product photo shoot at my Madison studio

On Friday I photographed some well-designed car desks designed for mobile professionals. I met the client Chris from On The Go Desks at my studio and we shot for a few hours. I'm mailing out his CD of retouched images today so the turnaround on the project was just 4 days. Here are a few of my favorite images from the shoot, two of which I cross processed in post-production.

A few new portraits

I have several photos published in Isthmus this week. This portrait of Madison artist Brian Strassburg is one of my favorites. We shot this in his downtown studio on Sunday and it was a lot of fun shooting with all the artwork around.

Aerial photography over Madison

I had a great, great photo flight in a little two-seater Cessna over Madison, Wisconsin today! Temperature is 79º and visibility is unlimited. Flew out of Morey Airport in Middleton and got some nice, sharp photos along the way. Contact me for reasonable rights-managed licensing rates for any of these images which are available as high resolution files.

Third-annual Madison Fashion Meet Up

WHEN: Saturday, July 25th from 7-10 PM

WHERE: Sundance 608 Rooftop Bar at Hilldale Mall – 430 N. Midvale Blvd in Madison (rain location: second floor bar of Sundance).

What is this?
The Madison Fashion Meet-up is a free networking event at the Sundance 608 Rooftop Bar. The venue is open to all ages; parking is free and plentiful. This is a chance for you to meet industry professionals of all experience levels and backgrounds. It’s a casual, informal networking opportunity to discuss projects and mingle with models, photographers, stylists, publicists, designers, retailers, anybody who has an “in” in the Madison fashion industry.

What do I bring?
Bring a print portfolio, composite or business cards, or a laptop if you want to show off your latest work. Dress fashionable and remember this is a business of first impressions! Have fun but be professional!

Questions/Comments/Concerns?
RSVP in this thread or email KJ (model@kjlyn.com) or Timothy Hughes (tim@th-photo.net) if you plan on attending!

Fashion & lingerie photo shoot with Leah

I've worked with Leah in the past and you'll also see her at many runway shows in the area. She has a great attitude about shooting and she's very photogenic. Photographed on location in Madison with Derek O'brien and Ken Udell assisting.

Isthmus Dining Guide 2009 front cover

I enjoy photographing food (and evidently I'm decent at it). It's a challenge doing something new with it each time and quite frankly any assignment with vivid colors and an extremely shallow depth of field appeals to me. There are a far fewer x-factors to hinder a food shoot. Restaurants are generally very accommodating, you don't have weather to contend with, lighting gear is fairly minimal, and once you've developed a system your equipment checklist won't change that much from year to year. Not sure who designed the cover so here's the staff art credits: Carolyn Fath, Tommy Washbush, Todd Hubler, Ellen J. Meanie, David Michael Miller. Isthmus | The Daily Page

New cover photo-Madison Visitors' Guide

I was pleasantly surprised to find my photograph of the Wisconsin State capitol at twilight on the cover of the hardcover book Madison And Vicinity Visitors' Guide. I've yet to pick up a print copy but am happy to have this new edition to my portfolio! A.D. Tim Burton. Check out the guide here: http://madisonmagazine.com/visitorguide/

Model Open Call: Milwaukee, Chicago, Madison

(Above photo of KjLyn I snapped at last year's runway show)


CASTING CALLS
4/11/09 Milwaukee: 6-7:30 pm, Milwaukee Art Museum
4/17/09 Madison: 3-5 pm, Sconnie Nation, 521 State Street
4/18/09 Chicago: Time tba, Chicago Sound Bar, 226 W. Ontario St.

More information and entry form at: www.wisconsinfashionweek.com

Recent stock photography

I've been spending more time shooting work for stock since I've noticed an increase in sales in the last two months or so.



Close up of a Microphone on iStock
For this shot I put the microphone on a daylight balanced lightbox and additionally lit it from above with a softbox. To get the bottom light to be effective it has to be balanced with the light from above. Since my aperture is already predetermined (f/13) as is the ISO (100) light balance is accomplished with the shutter speed. In this case 1/30 second worked perfectly in achieving a pure white background without blowing out highlights on the edges of the mic. I used my 70-200mm 4.0L along with an extension tube in order to really get up close and personal with the microphone.



Rad boombox on iStockphoto
This shot was also shot on my lightbox. In order to keep the highlights from blowing out on the chrome knobs I keep the dynamic range of the image in check and cut the product out from the background in post-production using the pen tool. Since the boombox doesn't have an overly-complex shape it was fairly quick and easy.




Wisconsin State Capitol Building in winter on iStock
I've wanted to get some photos of the capitol in the winter after a fresh snow. I went to my favorite vantage point and shot this at 200mm. The sky is quite gray so I'll have to go back and reshoot this sometime when there's a nice deep blue sky.

Business portraits at the Madison studio

Yesterday evening I photographed Brent for a magazine article with a tight deadline. I don't do a ton of portraiture at my studio but I do enjoy working with people and getting results they are happy with. We took 80 shots, he picked five, and turnaround for retouched images was less than 24 hours. Here's my favorite from the shoot.

Open modeling call: Madison

ABOUT FASHION FRIDAYS:
Madison's most stylish party catwalks into town every season to play host to the city's fashionistas. Fashion Fridays was first held during Madison Fashion Week in April 2008. The event originally served as an after-party with a focus on fashion industry networking but soon became a mainstay on the style scene. Each season, Fashion Fridays offers an opportunity to learn Madison’s fashion faces alongside a runway show highlighting the latest trends hitting the streets. Just like Madison Fashion Week, Fashion Fridays is open to the public.

• Show Date: February 20th
• Venue: Cardinal Bar, 418 E. Wilson St., Madison, WI
• Theme: "Stylista" - You'll be working with several independent fashion, hair and make-up stylists

MODEL REQUIREMENTS:
• Ages- 16-34 (Models under 18 must be accompanied by parent/guardian)
• Height- open (prefer Women 5'7"+, Men 5'10"+)
• Size- open
• Complete fittings by 2/15/09
• Attend 5:30 pm rehearsal on 2/19/09
• Arrive at Cardinal Bar on DOS 2/20/09 at 5pm, end time apprx. 11pm
Benefits:
• 1 complimentary ticket
• Portfolio/resume building (will receive tear sheet of photographs from event - MULTIPLE photographers)
• Networking with local fashion industry reps for future gigs

APPLICATION:
Email the following to info@madisonfashionweek.com with the subject line: "Model Application"
- Completed application. Download here: www.madisonfashionweek.com/ff/ModelApplication.doc

- Email link to online portfolio
OR
- Email photos (1 head shot, 1 full-length shot)

DEADLINE: January 31, 2009

Test shoot with Lucinda

I worked with Lucinda yesterday at my studio and it went really well. She is an agency model and has done runway modeling in Paris and New York. Here's a few photos from the shoot!

New portfolio photos with Claudia

This is the first time I've worked with Claudia and I think the shoot went really well. We did work both in my studio as well as out in the staircase in the hall.

Madison Magazine, September

I had my first editorial work published in Madison Magazine this month. Bright sunlight made the portrait shoot a challenge but I really enjoyed the assignment and am very happy with how the photograph printed.

Mad Rollin' Dolls vs. Mile High Club (Denver)

Photos from May 31, 2008 bout. Used 3 strobes for lighting this time. The rest of the shots from the bout can be seen here.

Madison Skyline, May 22, 2008

Photo is available for licensing and prints here.