Monday, December 26, 2011

Border Symmetry's "Natural Beauty" Photo Shoot

Heather Lea, model and event planner for the Facebook group, Border Symmetry, wanted to put together some photo shoots with the concept of "Natural Beauty".

The idea was to have two outfits...one look being simply some sort of white underwear and the second look to be a simle dress of a neutral color. Although Melissa and Heather opted to have some fabric formed into dresses by Amy Frisch in the dressing room just before the shoot.

I was in one group with one other photographer. There were to be four models, but we only ended up with Melissa and Heather on the day of the shoot, Sunday, 12-18-11.

I photographed Heather for the first half of the shoot, then the models switched photographers. The second half of the shoot I got to photograph Melissa wearing her brown fabric/dress.








Chuck Ryan Photography (Model Mayhem)

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Gabi Bauer

A couple weeks ago a friend of mine brought her daughter, Gabi Bauer, to my studio for a few headshots. A day or two later I asked Gabi's mother if she thought Gabi would be interested in doing a photo shoot. She immediately called Gabi who accepted the offer. The photo shoot date was set for Friday, 12-23-11.

I knew that this was going to be Gabi's first time in front of the camera..."modeling". Although we didn't shoot very long I have to say Gabi did a wonderful job. Thank you Gabi....




Chuck Ryan Photography (Model Mayhem)

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Stacy

I met Stacy a couple years ago on another photo shoot although I didn't remember her name. Then not too long ago she "friend" me on Model Mayhem. When I was looking for someone to shoot with on Friday, 12-16-11, at the studio I sent her a message to see if she would be interested. She accepted! Thank you Stacy!









Chuck Ryan Photography (Model Mayhem)

Honeygrids

A couple weeks ago I bought the Elinchrom Quadra which is a battery pack flash system. I bought them to go between my Nikon SB-900 speedlights and my Elinchrom Style RX 600 monolights. My other battery pack light system I have is the Elinchrom Ranger RX.

I have a couple upcoming shoots where I was planning on using the Quadra's so I bought the Elinchrom Maxilite to use with the Quadra or with the other Elinchrom lights. The Maxilite is a 16" wide, deep reflector. Elinchrom doesn't make a grid for it, so I ordered a grid from Honeygids that I got on Thursday.

On Friday I took a shot of the Elinchrom Maxilite on a Style RX 600 monolight. The light was about 10' from the wall shot at f/11. Next I put the grid on the Maxilight and measured the light at the wall. It was 6/10 of a stop lower than without the grid. The second shot was taken after I put the light back up to f/11. The grid sure does keep the light confined.



Sunday, November 27, 2011

Sena Ehrhardt Band / Whiskey Junction

Sena Ehrhardt Band, Blind Pig Recording Artist, were playing at the Whiskey Junction in Minneapolis on Saturday, 11-26-11. A day or two before they were scheduled to play Sena messaged me letting me know the band would be playing in my neighborhood.

I wasn't sure if I would make it since I had a photo shoot all day at the studio, but I was going to try and make it. It had been a couple months since I last saw everyone.

This summer I went to several "Blues Festivals" and the band played at several that I attended. Steve Dancin' Hansen jokingly posted on Facebook that we should ride together to the Bayfront Blues Festival since we were always going to the same ones.

Sena Ehrhardt Band put out a CD, Leave The Light On, this summer...if you get a chance pick up a copy at their next performance....you won't be disappointed in either the performance or the CD!!




Thursday, November 24, 2011

Sheila St. James

Sheila St. James contacted me wanting to do a photo shoot because she needed some new images to update her website. Julie Lam is Sheila's Make-up Artist (MUA). I met Julie earlier this year on a photo shoot for Faces Etc of MN.

Sheila is a US Champion Aerobics Instructor as well as a Sports, Swimsuit, Fitness/Figure model and competitor. Sheila moved from Now Orleans to Minneapolis after surviving Hurricane Katrina.

Our photo shoot was on Saturday, 11-19-11, at my studio in Minneapolis. Prior to the shoot we met at the studio so she could tell me a little bit about herself and the type of images she wanted. I took the opportunity to show her the studio, also. Sheila decided that she wanted to be photographed on the white background.

I had a very fun day at the studio with both Sheila and Julie. Thank you ladies!

The link to more images of Sheila is after the following images of her.











Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Carly


These are my first images of Carly from our photo shoot on Sunday, 11-13-11. I will be working on a few more images in the coming days. Once I'm done I'll put a link to all her images on my website.

Edit (11-20-11): I've posted all of Carly's images up on my website.












Friday, November 11, 2011

One more of Melissa ...

well just another look to an image I've already posted. This one I took most of the details out of Melissa's skin to give her more of a "porcelain" look.




Sunday, October 30, 2011

Melissa

Melissa came to the studio yesterday, Saturday, 10-29-11. We worked mostly inside, but we were able to get a few shots outside behind the studio.

Here are four images...I'll be editing more today.

UPDATE: (11-01-11) You'll find the link to more images of Melissa toward the end of this post after these four images. Thank you Melissa I had fun!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

INsalon 2011 / Ultimate Style Runway Extravaganza


The Minnesota Salon & Spa Professional Association contacted me about photographing the INsalon 2011 event that took place on Sunday, 10-16-11, at the St. Paul River Centre. INsalon is an Upper Midwest Event for Beauty Professionals. Here is the link for more information about INsalon 2011.

In addition, to photographing several events and classes during the day I got to photograph the Ultimate Style Run Extravaganza in the evening. There were seven different salons that were participating in this exciting event!

Although it was a long day for me...it was fun! Below is the link to the two photo galleries...INsalon Day Events & Ultimate Style Runway Extravaganza.







CIIcanoe (Blog)

Border Symmetry Photo Shoot / Afton State Park

Three or four weeks ago I was invited to join via Facebook "Border Symmetry". Here are the "Group Details" by one of the co-leaders Serena Lexington.

This is a networking group of all levels for Models, Photogs, MUAs, Stylists, and Designers. We are based out of the Twin Cities a
rea serving Eastern MN and Western WI-but everyone is welcome to participate. Meeting new people, being creative, connecting, brainstorming, and networking is our focus. Our goal is to create fun, educational, and laid back events that everyone can enjoy:-)

Currently we are working on...

  • Monthly Meet and Greet Meetings: Everyone is encouraged to attend. It's a great opportunity to get together with this group and meet others that are serious about growing in the model/photog industry! This meeting will usually be held on the 1st Thursday night of every month but always watch for the event invite! It may change on occasion:-)
  • Monthly Model Workshops: Fun educational outings put together FOR models BY models!! Our focus is helping you with posing, fashion, safety, networking, health and beauty!! We're a wild group that loves to have fun-SO BE READY!
  • Group Shoots: 1st group shoot is scheduled for Saturday, October 22nd! We hope to plan group shoots of all sizes on a quarterly basis. Don't miss out!!(All group shoots will be TF work)
  • The Crew List: Updated as new members join so don't forget to check it often when you're looking to do a shoot! Please only have your name added to the list if we can count on you for work!

We hope you enjoy the site! Thanks for joining us:-)


Yesterday, 10-22-11, was the first group photo shoot at the Afton State Park. The weather cooperated, although it could have been just a little warmer for the models.

The first shoot had a "Halloween" theme to it. I'm not sure how many attended...I guess I could find out. Well, here is the list put together by Serena.

Photographers:
Adam R. Martini
Al Pike
Alex Nikitsin
Barry Moore
Cedric Dean
Charles W. Ryan II
Chris Sofe
David Fliger
Doug Juenemann
John Magnus
Kelly Bentz
Kelsey Perreault
Nachi Mehta
Tom Frisch
Erin Thigpen
Manish Raichur

Models:
Alexandra Sutton
Amber TheEyes
Bibi Nguyen
Brandi Nova Shaw
Chrissy Cradick
Jeremy Gosse
Sara Gilbert
Serena Lexington
Kimberly Robertson

Artists:
Aaron Rigby-FX MUA
Amanda Cherry-Stylist
Chrissy Cradcik-MUA

And Family:-)

Nachi Mehta who I met at the first "Meet & Greet" asked to shoot with me, so it was us two in our group. We got to photograph four of the models during the day.

I brought a couple different lighting set-ups for the day. Some of the shots were taken using a SB-900 speedlight inside a 28" x 28" Westcott Apollo Softbox. Triggered with Pocket Wizard II. I really like this softbox to use on location shoots.

A few of the other shots were taken with an Elinchrom RX Ranger with an Elinchrom 53" Octabox. Triggered using the Skyport system.

Here are the four models:
BiBi Nguyen....
Amber The Eyes....
Sara Gilbert....
Kimberly Robertson....

I'll have some more images later, but I need to finish editing my images from the INsalon Event and Ultimate Style Runway show held at the St. Paul River Centre last Sunday, 10-06-11.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Reverend Raven & CSAB "Live At Wilebski's Blues Saloon" DVD Cover

On 04-02-11 Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin' Altar Boys came back to Wilebski's Blues Saloon in St. Paul to shake the house down. In addition, Gerry Francis, would be recording the event for a new DVD.

It was one of the biggest crowd that Wilebski's have had and there were a whole lot of people up dancing to the excellent music. The Reverend and boys always put on a great show.

The DVD has been out for a little while now, but I haven't seen any images of it on-line. Here is what the cover looks like. Images for the DVD were taken at Wilebski's Blues Saloon. I've posted links to two galleries taken of the Rev when he came to Wilebski's in December 2010 and the other gallery was from 04-02-11.




Two different photo Galleries of Rev Raven at Wilebski's:

Trent Romens / Bayfront Blues Festival

Trent Romens with Tucker Jensen (bass) on the tent stage on Day 3 of the Bayfront Blues festival.








CIIcanoe (Blog)

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Minnesota Renaissance Festival 10-02-11

On Sunday, 10-02-11, I went back down to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival for the fourth time this year. There are links to the other images from the other three days toward the end of this post.

It was too nice of a day to go photographing anything indoors. Although it won't be long before I head back into the studio.

Today would be the last day of the festival for the year. There is always something to photograph while walking about the grounds. There were some things I wanted to photograph, but the lighting just wasn't right. Early on I went to the stage where the guys with The Danger Committee were performing, but the sun was causing too many problems for getting a decent shot. I knew later in the afternoon I would be able to photograph them without any problems.

That wasn't the case with the ladies with Caravan of Minnesota. They perform on a stage underneath a large tree, but with the sun shining through the foliage didn't make for ideal lighting conditions. I went back twice to see if the lighting had improved, but it hadn't. Fortunately, I was able to get a couple photographs of them at the closing ceremony.

The link to this day's images is right after the photo!
Minnesota Renaissance Festival 10-02-11







CIIcanoe (Blog)

Friday, September 30, 2011

Ana Popovic / Big Bull Falls Blues Festival

The Big Bull Falls Blues Fest in Wausau, Wisconsin was my last scheduled "Blues Festival" for the summer. I went there mostly to see the Ana Popovic Band. After they played at Famous Dave's in Minneapolis earlier this year I kept checking their schedule to see where they might be playing close to the Twin Cities. The closest was going to be in Wausau in August, so I marked it down on my calendar.






Ana Popovic Gallery (Famous Dave's)




CIIcanoe (Blog)

Sunday, September 25, 2011

I don't know who she is but I saw her again....

I photograph many different live music performances, mostly "Blues" music. I spend a lot of time at Blues Festivals. Earlier this summer, Famous Dave's had their Famous Dave's BBQ and Blues Festival in downtown Minneapolis.

One band that plays Zydeco music, Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, asked some of the ladies to get on stage with them to dance. One lady who I don't know was dancing over by Chubby at the start, then Earl Sally grabbed this lady and put the "Washboard" on her and started to play.

Well, while I was in the middle of the crowd/dancers at the closing ceremony drum and dance jam at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival I spotted her. I took a couple photographs of her then took a couple more behind me. When I turned around again to go speak with her she was gone. I was hoping to say hi, but I never saw her again.
Here she is on Saturday, 09-24-11 at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.


Here she is on stage with the washboard along with some other ladies. There is also a YouTube video that's around...but the audio is terrible. If I find it I put a link up, but turn your volume down low.


More Chubby Carrier Photos


YouTube Video (Shake It) (Minneapolis) (Turn volume down)

Unrelated video to this post, but Chubby Carrier singing The Cisco Kid.