LOS ANGELES TENNIS PROJECT

About a year ago I announced on my website that I was going to start a very special photo project dedicated to just tennis. It was an ambitious idea and well, the truth is I never got around to really jumping in and shooting. instead, the project has just sat there all this time and I've actually been hitting more tennis balls then photographing them. But even playing once a week isn't saying a lot! As I wrote on my site, tennis has always been a big party of my life. There was a time when I used to practice six hours a day, constantly pushing my self to be the best player I could be. I waned to figure out a way to capture the sport in a unique way, through portraiture, action shots, showcase my friends and tennis enthusiasts in a different light with a little drama and a bit of character.

So finally today, I packed my bag and set out to take a few shots of my best friend and tennis pal Bobby Croll. I can't thank him enough for being the first to sit for me in front of the camera. For those of you that don't know, Bobby and I actually made a mockumentary film back in college called THE HOPEFUL, chronicling the next great tennis phenom who's big head and loud mouth got in the way of him becoming a champion. Bobby starred in the movie and for eight weeks we ran all over Madison, Wisconsin filming. Of my five plus years at school (don't laugh!), It was by far my favorite semester of college. And here we are, almost 10 years later and a friendship that is truly special.

I hope to have the project up and running officially soon on my site. I'm currently playing with the layout, trying to create something a little different than just entering a portfolio and scrolling through pictures. I want the project to showcase the player and hopefully inspire those that play and want to play.

In the meantime, if you are one of the few that reads my little blog and is curious about the project, or perhaps even wants to be photographed, please feel free to email me.

Here are a few frames from the session so you can see what its all about. Enjoy!

AN OLD ARCHIVED GEM

Nikon D80 18-135mm f/9 @ 1/250

Some times your mind just wanders. You don't know how you got there but it lands on an event, a moment, something special that was just perfect. I can't believe it's been two years and a few days since our visit to San Diego. Where does the time go. We just learned about Shiloh, Dakota was three years old, and Amanda and I hadn't even begun to think about the next phase in our life.

I've always been proud of this photograph. It was one of those rare moments where almost everything went right. We had the pool practically all to ourselves in the wee hours of the morning sun. Dakota, Don, Lee, Michael and Amanda - if you look hard enough you can see Shiloh - were aligned perfectly in the pool. Poor SuSu, she must have been looking for her phone or something. Had the camera at arms length and snapped off a frame. It couldn't have looked better in black and white.

Anyway, its a great frickin shot that's worth revisiting.

JIM MARSHALL

Jim Marshall, Feb 3, 1936 - Mar 24, 2010

Legendary rock photographer Jim Marshall, famous for his iconic images of Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, and countless other rock icons sadly passed away Wednesday in New York City. He was 74.

Marshall's most famous images found their way countless times onto record covers, magazines, newspapers and posters. One of his most famous shots was that of Johnny Cash giving the middle finger to the camera at San Quentin State Prison 1969. Others include Jimmy Hendrix setting fire to his guitar at the Monterey Pop Festival 1967 and that classic shot of Janis Joplin sprawled out on a couch holding a bottle of Southern Comfort 1968.

Marshall lived most of his life in San Francisco. By a chance encounter in 1959 with a jazz musician simply asking for directions, Jim snapped a quick picture that forever changed his life. That artist was none other than John Coltrane. From there it was onward and upward.

I admired Jim a great deal and though I never met him, I often visited the Duncan Miller Gallery in Culver City to marvel at his work. I was recently there a few months ago when they had a Woodstock tribute. So many amazing images and colors that just can't be captured today.

Prior to my obsession with photography which only started about three years ago, I first came across Jim's work when visiting Samy's Camera in Los Angeles. The stairwell at the Samy's on Fairfax is lined with a number of Jim's famous shots. Walking up those stairs to the third floor, I always take my time...I still do to and stare in awe at Marshall's work. From there I bought my first book, "PROOF," which I proudly have on display in my office at Paramount. It sits on my coffee table right next to my first book.

Jim thank you for all the great frames. My love for photography has stemmed from seeing what you do.

OJAI BOUND!

Forgive me, for its been eight weeks since my last confession...Well you know what? Bring it! Do you ever feel like you need a day just for yourself, to totally turn off and just find your center again? Well, the day has finally come. It's only been eight short weeks since our little Sylvie came into the world and we figured we'd get her acclimated with our favorite place in So. Cal...the Ojai Valley Inn. Just up the 101 an off shoot down Hwy 33, there's a little bit of paradise that has come all too familiar to Amanda and I, a tradition if you will. In fact, I've watched the last two Wimbledon Men's Tennis Finals from my hotel room which I've come to call my fortnight castle. Tomorrow we are off to meet a couple friends, lay by the pool, eat some great food at Suzanne's, maybe a great massage from the spa, and definitely a few walks with the D3 close at hand.

Though we'll only be gone for about 24 hours, I couldn't be more excited to rejuvenate the creative spirits. Been working my ass of the last couple weeks and a day away from the hoopla always feels great. I've been shooting a ton of frames of little Sylvie of course, but I haven't taken the camera beyond the front door in quite some time. I've been confined to our comfy cozy condo and don't even know what a ND filter is anymore! Anyway, I hope to find the creative inspiration to propel me into the next few months and capture some amazing shots that I can print on my new Epson 3800 printer (thanks Alysia!). I guess we'll see what tomorrow brings. Love you Syl.

THE NEXT BARYSHNIKOV IS HERE!

It's reported that Sylvie Rain is already taking meetings with the American Ballet Theater, San Francisco Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She specializes in ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip-hop, latin, and though she doesn't like to admit it, she can krump too. Nigel, I hope you are paying attention.