A New Year, A New Portfolio

Rocking a bow tie on New Year's Eve

Why does January 1st feel so refreshing?

2012 was a crappy year for many reasons all of which I have gone into depth here, but the last half of the year brought a ton of awesome to the lives of family. 

I cannot describe how supportive everyone has been. From an anonymous donor replacing a camera that was stolen to seemingly strangers coming into my life with nothing but love. These past few weeks have shown me the good in the people of Cleveland and frankly all over. 

Because of the kindness of a Twitter follower, I received a gift card for Shutterfly for the specific purpose of reprinting my lost portfolio. Their generous donation was big enough to not only reprint the 12 page book, but also add 43 additional pages. I was able to put together a comprehensive portfolio that was laid out the way it should have been from the start. It has over 100 photos ranging from the fire service to plants & animals. The cover is custom now, so just sitting it on a table is enough to start a conversation. 

It will be coming this week and I cannot wait for it to arrive. Follow the link below to get a preview. 2013 holds a lot of secrets and I am excited to find them. This year will be my year. Something will break loose. 

I am determined. 

I am focused. 

Check out the portfolio here. 

Start Up

I was up all night. My wife would say I was sleeping, but I was awake. I had ideas running through my head. Ideas for video shorts. Ideas for photo shoots. Ideas for so many things. I couldn't quiet those voices. Just as they about shut up for the night was when my wife snuggled into my section of the bed and pushed me out.

I guess crap rolls downhill. I got up and saw that the three year old was pushing her into me and me into the abyss. I gave up and got up. 

I guess this was the perfect metaphor for what I have done. I had a idea, a big idea, but it needed money. So my wife helped me take that idea, scale into smaller bite size chucks to achieve a larger goal; proving my theory that behind every good man is an even better woman. All of it so that I can provide for the little monsters that we call kids. 

Last night our little internet shop opened to a little fanfare, I tweeted a few links, put some stuff on Facebook and people came and viewed the shop. It is a leap of faith I never knew I was going to do and let alone do together with my wife. What happened next was awesome. People reaching out on how they can help promote. "Send me a flyer", "E-Mail me a link", "Do you have..." It was amazing to see so many people rooting for us. Refreshing actually. One email I got stuck out. It was from another internet shop owner. "Why do you photograph firemen?". So I thought about it and responded back: 

We have photography that shows real men and women doing extraordinary things. There is a print of a firefighter in a smokey building. You can barely see him, but if you were trapped in that building you would easily mistake the hands that pull you from that hell as the hands of God. I have another print of a vintage fire engine with bright reds and greens that any little boy would want in their rooms. I think people relate to it because when we were kids, that was the engine we imagined riding in one day. There is even a print inside of a structure as it is set on fire, a rare glimpse into what firemen see and the public rarely, if ever, sees. 

These aren't just photos to me. Behind every frame I've made there is sweat, passion, and desire of someone who absolutely loves the job they are doing. You have to love firefighting to do it. That passion is what I am after, a photo is the only way you can capture it.

A friend of mine has a saying about photography:

"A photo tells a story...a good photo starts one." - Adam Watt 

This is the start of our story.

Dreams

I have a respect for firemen that goes way beyond the obligatory, thanks for your service mindset. I think some people just say stuff like that because that is what they are supposed to say. I wrote about what got me fascinated at what our fire departments do on a past blog.  You can still read them over at my old blog. I wrote it in 3 parts.

Part I
Part II
Part III 

This particular series of blogs still is my most read work to date. When I snapped this photo of an Avon Lake Firefighter at a live fire exercise, it took me back to Thanksgiving 1994. I had a dream about this fire the other night. There are still unanswered questions I have about the fire; some of the firefighters on scene that night have retired or moved on and the official report destroyed. I have a feeling the pursuit of finding the answers might haunt be for the rest of my life.

Warm

Sometimes I like to get close because it scares me. The 1100 degree fire is just begging to melt the plastic parts of my camera right off. I could come away with burns if I fall into the building. All of these just push the adrenaline into my veins.  I can't imagine the rush you get from strapping on a tank, securing your helmet and kicking in the door.  Feeling the power of a charged line.  I am just the guy on the sidelines taking pictures.  That's my rush.