First of all, the title will explain itself as you read, but good luck labeling another photographer as Arab AND a communist. That combo doesn’t come along very often. Must be the end of the world.

Second…

Look, photographers; I get it.

We’re all fighting really hard just to stay afloat, let alone make it anywhere. We’re all fighting over the same slice of pie in our respective markets, not to mention the slice isn’t even looking so good anymore (Newsweek was sold for an unbelievable $1 recently – yes there’s much more to it than that, but it’s still an indication of the times).

On top of that, EVERYONE is a photographer now. We feel this especially on the wedding side of the business for those of us who shoot them. I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen guests with a $2,000 lens (just like mine) hooked onto a camera body for another $4,000 (just like mine).

Convincing brides that the difference between them and me is experience has become a tough sell, although more often than not I seem to be losing work to the photographer who has a grand total of $800 worth of equipment. And brides, if you’re reading this, I don’t care if your guests take pictures; let them take more than I do!

But even with all this…

I do not get why photographers choose to hoard whatever they know.

How insecure do you feel about your work that you think the first schmuck to come along and do what you do will take away all your business?!

Location scouting is the first thing that comes to my mind, and just yesterday, I was out securing a cemetery location in Ogden for an upcoming shoot, so I decided that it would be a good time to check out Union Station a bit more closely than I had before. After all, I rarely make it up to Ogden.

So I wander around and yeah it’s great, but then I came across this:

And I realized that I’d finally found the location that another photographer, about a year ago, sternly refused to tell me anything about… BUT! I’m not gonna share the location to spite that photographer.

I’m gonna share the location because I’m not worried about what it’ll do to my business or to the body of my work.

I’m told this is a popular spot for photography, so this may be old news for many living in Ogden, but for those who may be starting out or those who just don’t get up to Ogden that often, it’s right by Union Station, on the north-west side, across from the bus station platforms. All of that is on the corner of 23rd Street and Wall Avenue.

There.

But hey, as long as I’m ranting about some photographers NOT sharing, how about I put my money where my mouth is and DO share some locations that help make my work stand out a bit?

Well here you go. Here’s some work I’ve done along with their locations (I’m purposefully leaving out locations that I gained access to as a favor, or happens to be someone’s house, etc., but you’re welcome to email me and ask if you’re curious – photographers, clients, I don’t care):

Hill Aerospace Museum: 7961 Wardleigh Rd., Hill AFB, UT. You have to take care not to expose any of the surroundings or it’ll kill the illusion of being by real planes:

Clear Vista Circle, off of 5400 S., past the train tracks headed west. There’s a lot of industrial crap all around there, which is why I was shooting towards the sky on both shoots:

Spanish Fork Reservoir, all the way up Spanish Oaks Dr. You’ll have to Google it using Satellite View to see it. Crystal clear waters but relatively small:

“Toxic Barrels” as I like to call them. On 400 W. between 800 S. and 900 S. on the west side:

West of the Usana Amphitheater, the gated road just off curvy 6400 W. The road you’re looking at curves back towards the amphitheater (headed east):

Emigration Canyon Rd. You have to park your car where you’ve roughly reached the peak and are overlooking Little Dell Reservoir and hike up southbound past the power stations:

Right across my house! It looks different depending on the time of year. I’m about on the corner of 6115 W. and 7000 S. in West Jordan. At least stop by and say hello if you’re this close:

Willard Bay State Park. It’s north of Ogden, take the 750 N. exit and head west:

There. Done! Somebody come talk to me in a couple years. I’ll still be in business, hopefully with even some healthy growth to speak of.

And photographers, for cryin’ out loud, SHARE! Share what you know!

END OF RANT.

I’ll be posting some images later today of a recent wedding and then sometime this weekend I’m going to announce a new project that involves some major giving back to my community. Very excited about this one!

Ok, here’s some of what you’ve missed out on.

Day 293/365

If it weren’t for this shot, I would have forgotten to take anything that day. I thought it interesting that a chair was just out there (iPhone photo)

Day 294/365

Family shoot.

DISCLAIMER: Both my good friend Heidi and I were shooting with my camera that day. On the same memory card. For those who have been following my blog, her gear was stolen recently, so she needed loaners as she worked to get back on her feet – which she is now; she bought all the new gear she needed! Yay!! Anyway, what this means is that I’m not completely sure these are all my shots. I’m pretty sure most of them are, but I’m not 100%

Day 295/365

I can’t post pictures of Kenzie’s bridal shoot until after her wedding on December 16th… But I have a good deal of cool stuff to show you when I’m allowed. Put it on my tab!

Day 296/365

Scouting for new locations. Best day of my life.

Day 297/365

I absolutely LOVE being on movie sets!!

This was from a goofy short film a friend of mine wrote and directed called “Takito: The Quest to Save Rivendork”. It was, believe it or not, a prequel to another short film he wrote and directed called “Takito: The Revenge of Dreyfus”.

Yes, it’s a spoof. It’s a joke film. I mean… “Takito”. We’re alluding to taquitos.

It was a spoof on a largely unknown feature film called Shikito, by Utah Wolf Productions. Now, I’m not one to talk smack about other artists, but these people make some truly, TRULY atrocious films… As if that wasn’t enough, they’ve willfully infringed on an unbelievable number of copyright laws while insisting that you don’t infringe on theirs.

Andrew (the writer/director for Takito) and I found this incredibly funny. Particularly because Utah Wolf Productions seem to take themselves so damn seriously. So Andy decided he wanted to make a short film out of it last year. The original Takito film. I found this to be dangerous, not just because he’s stealing the movie from Utah Wolf Productions, who are stealing things from giant corporations like Sony, who probably stole their ideas from some schmuck in Arkansas, but also because… Well, how do you spoof a film that sucks? Make it suck MORE?… Andy decided to make it more obviously silly (ie. make it a comedy) while making the cool stuff cooler (ie. better production values).

Regardless, it was enormous fun shooting on set. I shot on days 2 and 3. On day 1 I wasn’t available.

Kim wasn’t an experienced actress. She needed some reassurance.

Director Andrew James overlooking the work of his DP (Director of Photography)

Day 298/365

Day 2 for me, day 3 for the production of the film. The last day of the shoot.

Fight scenes!!

The ominous bad guy, Dreyfus.

Look! Kanye West!! “Yo Andrew, I’m really happy for you and I’m-ah let you finish, but STEVEN SPIELBERG IS ONE OF THE BEST DIRECTORS OF ALL TIME!!! ONE OF THE BEST DIRECTORS OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!”

It was unspeakably cold up there, and the wind didn’t help.

Day 299/365

My new price sheets! (iPhone photo)

Day 300/365

Location scouting again

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