01.25.08

So here it is, Bun B's new record with the cover photo by your's truly, I had no idea what it was going to look like or what they were going to do. The story behind how I got this photo of him was pretty funny, and sort of random. But I guess randomness is a pretty common occurrence between him and I since I met him a while ago, while playing and advanced version of Def Jam Icon as him. Kind of weird, and well a year later he is now using photos that I shot of him on his tour bus wrap, I for sure have to get some photos of that when it comes to LA.

01.24.08

Here is another party that I will be working at for Scion in a few weeks, I am pretty excited, I love these guys, and well now that I drive a Scion I better be good to these guys, so they can hook it up when ever I need parts. I think its' funny how they promote me on this flyer by writing some of the people I have shot for. I doubt that would help drive kids to this event, but hell, one could only hope there is a gaggle of young ladies that are coming to a party looking to get discovered by me.

01.23.08

There are very few people out there that make me instantly happy when I see them and Young Tui just happens to be one of them. To the right you will see an artists rendition of him on his preferred method of transportation, a dolphin sliding down a rainbow. Well, we will be celebrating his new hair doo and the day he turns a quarter of a century old!

01.21.08

what can I say, I love black things

K Fed was one lucky man, Shar Jackson is quite a dish

01.20.08

I always look a bit awkward in photos like this, but KT looks good, so I'll throw myself on the grenade for this one. I really have no idea how the ladies do it around Sundance, I put on as many layers as possible before I go outside, where the ladies on the other hand, go and doll themselves up and don't mind freezing as long as they look good doing it. Crazy stuff. For the first time in a long time I wasn't the designated photographer for an event, and it was awesome. The LRG Sundance party was great! I really think it was the best party at Sundance.I haven't been to a party this good for a while.



















So this is Henry, no one is really sure how old he is, but they speculate that he is around 4 years old. He currently resides in Boulder Colorado. Henry loves to give kisses and jump around. At the time we met, we kept our conversation to minimum and on a more superficial plane, but while peering into his eyes I could suspect that he had much more going on than he was leading me to believe. One of these days I'll be able to reveal more about this enigma that is Henry. Oh, Timmery his roommate is in this photo as well, she's okay.

01.11.08

First Brand Clothing just recently launched their new website that features some black and white photos by yours truly. This was one of the more interesting shoots that I did last year. I am actually pretty interested to show off what we have instore for the next round. Charles and First Brand have some pretty big plans for this up and coming year. I'm really glad to have been able to work with the First Brand crew, I have still yet to see the look book that I did for them, but I really like this site, I kind of wish I had a new one now.

01.09.08

Well, it has hit all the blogs and ever every thing now, the LRG Gshock collab has been unveiled. I have been a fan of these for a while, so I was pretty excited to be able to shoot and handle this first sample for the shoot. They watch is AWESOME, I can't wait to nab one of these. If you happen to be wondering, yes we did have to reset the watch each time we took a shot of the watch for it to read 1947 on the display.

01.08.08

I believe this add should be out now, I'll have to go pick up the latest issue of Vapors or something like that. Triumvir has been running my ads pretty hard lately, I seriously love all those guys, even though, I think they smoke so much that I can't believe they remember my name sometimes.

01.07.08

I did this one A while back, but didn't get the full image to put up here till now, I shot the LRG Hayabusa for them and Suzuki, one of the crazier things that I have seen produced by Jonas and Robert, I really have no idea how they are going to top this one. See through rims, so nuts.

01.05.08

So I am feeling pretty sick today, with tons of things to do. probably too many things, but don't let my aliments effect the fact that you should be at the New Image Art Gallery today, there is a poster show there today with the Party People preforming... soooo good. sooo bummed I am sick.

01.03.08

So I am pretty damn excited ( yes I did say damn, thats how exciting it is) about my latest photoshoot, with non other than Houston's Bun B. I can't really show to much now, everything should be hitting in April. But I am really really excited about all these pics. Hopefully I'll be doing alot more things with him in the future with him and Rap A Lot records. I got a sneak preview of his record that will be coming our later this year, and I will have to admit that I loved what I heard. I'm pretty bummed that its going to be a couple of months until I get my copy, Bun B if you are reading this, you better send me an advanced copy.

01.02.08

So this is my latest installment in my Series of Franco Shade ads with artist Arlo Eisenburg that should be hitting the magazines soon. This time we shot Dj's Dan Sena and GMO, who are the resident dj's every Wedsday over at the Detroit bar in Costa Mesa with their weekly party Busy Werk. Congrats to GMO for being recently added to The Skullcandy DJ crew. I don't think I have ever seen him not rocking his Skullcandy SK pro head phones, this ad included.

12.23.07

Well, today I took babygirl out to check out Wicked at the Pantages, and well, it was... wicked. I don't really go to things like that, but I figured she would be super into it, and she was. I'm sure most plays aren't crazy like that and I really lucked out deciding that it would be cool to go to that one. Another thing I have to give big props for is for Nick over at Torsion and Mitch from Endovenera, for hooking up my clothes for that, I don't really have alot of dressy kind of stuff and, those guys always come through for me when ever I need any thing

12.19.07

Well, I'm out here in Ventura shooting the next product catalog for Neff Headwear and I must say this sucks. Not the hat, not the clothing, not the people, just the situation. I love Neff, he's a cool guy, and I think in his cool, pseudo homie/snow bro way, he loves me to, even when I am being difficult. It's just all part of our process. All of his latest stuff looks really really good. I admit I was surprised and excited. He definitely stepped up his game and he named a cap after me, which automatically makes him cool and my book and strokes my already inflated ego. But, I will admit that this shoot is extremely hard and demanding. I've never had working conditions like this, and I think I have eaten more junk food than I ever have in my life. I'm really lucky that I brought out my friend Lucie on this one, because she is a really hard worker and she really helped me out on this one, I think with out her, there is no way I could have gotten this one done.

One thing that has reinvigorated my will to live after this shoot, is that my buddy KRK Ryden got some paintings to me while I was here, so that made me really happy. KRK is an awesome guy, and always hooks me up with some great stuff. Xmas for sure came early for me this year, this is one of the two that he sent over to me.

12.18.07

So this is something pretty cool that came out a while ago, but didn't realize. A month ago or so, The Gym Class Heroes did a CD/DVD rerelease of thier album As Cruel As School Children and as one of the Bonus features, Atlantic Records included a photogallery of some photos that I have taken of them while on the road. I had forgotten all about till recently and Anthony from Atlantic was kind enough to send one out to me. It's pretty weird to look back at some of these photos and remember stuff from that particular day or that tour. I'm really happy that I got this, sometimes doing what I do, you spend so much time working on something, and you are never sure how it will all work out in the end, but to actually see it all come together like this, is really amazing. I feel really fortunate to be able to blend work and friendship quite seamlessly. I really can't wait to see what next year brings for the all of us.

12.17.07

So most of my friends and cohorts know that I have been in a terrible mood lately and rather unpleasant to be around. But this little creation that Mr. Andrew Jeffery Wright came up with a few years ago never ceases to put a smile on my face. I love this print he came up with called MR. ET with a soda can is so funny, I see it everyday, and everyday I almost pee my pants with glee. Thanks Andrew.

12.16.07

Go to this! Klever is so awesome, I'm pretty excited about this one

12.15.07

I just got back from a much needed trip to Utah. I finally got a chance to visit the new Skullcandy offices and It is really amazing how much they have grown since my last visit. I also got to take a peep at some of the new ads that they are using some of my work for featuring DGK's Stevie Williams. The portraits are by me, and the action photos are by Matt Daughters. I'm pretty excited, and I think I am actually going to be shooting quite a bit more for these guys which makes me pretty happy. I have to admit that I actually really like it in Utah, well at least Park City and Salt Lake, I'm not so sure about everywhere else, but I've never really had a bad time there. I'm definetely going to be back out for Sundance.

12.05.06

I am going to try really hard to make this the last time I talk about feeling bad, at least for a while. I had a pretty awesome shoot today with Kid Sister for Luxirie for their new ad campaign. She was so fun to shoot with and really nice. To be honest, I was pretty nervous and excited to shoot with her. I have to admit, I'm a fan. Control and Pro Nails are pretty amazing songs. Hopefully we'll be doing some more work together in the future
, and yes, she did have some pretty amazing nails.

12.01.07

Despite me not really being in the mood to be outside at the moment, I really couldn't stand being inside either, so I was able to make it over to Matt Gordon's art show over at RVCA. I have been really having a terrible week, and this really was something that managed to make me feel okay for at least a few hours, and I really appreciate everyone for showing me a good time over there. Matt's art work was outstanding. This was the first solo show he has had in six years, I was so glad I didn't miss it. For being in a terrible mood for the evening I think I managed to get some pretty good photos, and I was also pretty stoked to see Fatlip who use to be part of Pharcyde preform. I really have to thank everyone again for being so good to me, things are really rough for me right now, and I know everyone really did a pretty amazing job of making me feel good at least for a moment.

11.30.07

Well, this has been one of the worst weeks of my life and unfortunately it has to fall upon the same week as Matt Gordan's first solo art show in 6 years. I'm not sure if I'm going to make it, but I'm sure his work will be amazing.

11.24.07

I don't even know how to begin
a post like this. Today I lost a friend of mine. Casey Calvert of Hawthorne Heights passed away.

When I heard this today I was completely floored, actually paralyzed. I thought it was some sort of really sick joke. But unfortunately a started getting a barrage of phone calls about it, and it was confirmed.

I've always loved all the boys in Hawthorne, always kind, always going out of their way for people. I've never known a band to do so much to help people out. I don't know how to really express all that I feel for the guys, but I really owe them quite a bit. Not alot of people know this, but Hawthorne really was one of the first really large bands that I was asked to shoot for. They were amazingly kind, and from that day stayed in touch with me and gave me numerous opportunities to shoot for them all around the country. When any other band in a position like theres would have probably gone off to use a more popular or seasoned photographer, they took a chance on a new young up and comer. I'll never forget all the times hanging out with the guys and shooting them. I owe them all so much, and I don't even know how to express what I am feeling right now about this loss. He was an amazing guy.

11.19.07

I just got wind of the new Triumvir X 530 Media Lab collabo, that looks pretty promising. Next year with this two is already looking pretty crazy. The next slew are defiantly going to be the kind that are going to be really something that will be enduring, but worth it in the end.

A bunch of ads that I worked on just dropped this month. I think I have some in Alternative Press, Vapors, BPM, and Antenna. I'm sure there are more, but those are the ones that come to mind.

11.11.07

Here are some photos that I shot while I was at Barry Mcgee's show at the Red Cat Gallery, I would have posted them earlier, but I left this camera in Joe from Franco Shade's car. I think I went to this show early October or something like that, it was right after I wrapped the Eastpack shoot I know that. This show pretty much ruled, and if you can go, you should, because it's really great. Barry's work is always really impressive, and I come away inspired every time.

11.09.07

Today I just got back from my San Fran trip which was alot longer than expected, but really had fun. I got to spend alot of time with some of my family that lives up there as well as with a bunch of friends. The RVCA SF store was beautiful, I'll put up some pics in a bit, I'm still working on some of those. One thing I did see today was an ad that I did for SJC drums with Matt McGinley of the Gym Class Heroes that I didn't know was running yet. Right after my plane landed from SF, I hooked up with my buddy Adrian from Revolt Marketing who is currently touring around with the band Paramore and took me to meet everyone in the band. Everyone was extremely cool, and had a great time hanging out with them, it was kind of nice to not be the only sober one for once. Anyway they had a copy of the latest AP on the bus, and I happen to stumble upon the ad while flipping through it and was pretty excited about it.