Herman Leonard with his photograph of Dexter Gordon at the Royal Roost 1948

The work of Herman Leonard has had a great impact on the world of photography. Herman had a unique perspective and a thirst for technical perfection. Although his work was recorded in still photographs, his images often gave you a sense of sound. He will be missed dearly. Please pay him a tribute by viewing his work http://www.hermanleonard.com/

On the bottom of his Polaroid portrait he wrote, “It was early 1948 at the Royal Roost in New York. An afternoon rehearsal gave me a unique opportunity to photograph many giants of jazz with my trusty 4×5 Speed Graphic. What a great career! To do what you love and be entertained at the same time!”

Herman Leonard and Tim Mantoani

Inventor Steve Milo

Steve came up with a smaller set of clubs including 1/2 irons

A special thanks to my assistants Alisal and Andrew who not only drove the gear from San Diego to LA for the shoot with Wayne, but drove that evening to Vegas for a shoot with Randy Couture the next day.

I have been working with The Challenged Athletes Foundation for many years shooting portraits and events. A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of photographing Bill Walton and CAF athlete, Scout Bassett, together in my studio. These images will be used to promote CAF’s annual Million Dollar Challenge, a 620-mile bike ride from San Francisco to San Diego from October 16-22. http://www.challengedathletes.org/compete/MDC_2006.htm

Scout is currently a student at UCLA where Bill led The Bruins to National Titles in 1972 and 1973. They both are avid cyclist and each have custom made bikes by Holland. To learn more about CAF, Scout and how you can help CAF, please visit http://www.challengedathletes.org/ You will be inspired!

Scout Bassett and Bill Walton

A behind the scenes video shot by the very talented John Gefrom. BillWaltonCAF2-desktop 5_FastStart_512K

Steve McCurry

I was passed on this article today and must say it only seem fitting that Steve McCurry had this honor. Please take a moment to read about this historic event as yet another chapter closes in the history of photography. http://www.kansas.com/2010/07/14/1403115/last-kodachrome-roll-processed.html

Also, visit Steve’s blog, the images will blow your mind, http://stevemccurry.wordpress.com/

Ron Galella and his photo "Windblown Jackie" 10/4/1971

Here is a look at the HBO Trailer

I am happy to announce my latest project with for EA Sports. I had the unique opportunity to shoot Randy Couture in Las Vegas and then travel to Stary Oskol, Russia to photograph Fedor Emelianenko. Both fighters were amazing to work with and provided us with some great content. Along with fellow Brooks Institute graduate, Jeff Wiant, we shot video for the game release trailer which was announced this week at E3. Jeff edited the piece complete with a custom soundtrack by Chris Hoffee. I have to say the Canon 7D and Mark IV HD video was a blast to shoot. I will be able to release more details from the shoot soon and include some behind the scenes footage and stills. Thanks for reading.

EA Sports “Worlds Collide” from Jeff Wiant on Vimeo.

Marty Lederhandler

It is sad to see another participant from my Behind Photographs Project pass away, but I am very thankful to have shared time with so many of these great photographers. Marty Lederhandler was a legendary AP photographer who had a career which spanned 66 years. I was introduced to Marty by Paul Waldman, founder of The Living American Masters Photographers Project, just over a year ago and was able to photograph him in New York. Paul has documented photographers for about 15 years and we first met when he came to interview and photograph Dean Collins around 1993. At the time, I was Dean’s studio manager. In addition to Paul shooting portraits of photographers, he has also been recording them to create an oral history of the photo industry. Please take time to listen to Marty’s famous pigeon story from D-Day that Paul shared with us and visit his site at www.thelampp.org. Pigeon Story

Paul Waldman with 3 of his LAMMP portraits

It is no surprise. Kim is an amazing person and a incredible photographer. Here is his portrait for my Behind Photographs Project. He is holding a book of this images from The Phillippines when he captured the fall of The Marcos Regime and won The Pulitzer in 1987.

Pulitzer Prize Winning Photographer Kim Komenich

Jim and Johnny, San Francisco

I just got more sad news that my friend, legendary Rock & Roll Photographer, Jim Marshall, passed away last night in NY. I was just with Jim a few weeks back in San Francisco. He was the first photographer I recorded  for my Behind Photographs Project in Dec 2006. I clearly recall him looking at the 20×24 Polaroid camera and quickly telling me that I was “F****** Crazy”. I first met Jim at the Indy 500 while I was at a party photographing Paul Newman. When I was introduced to Jim, he shook my hand and we talked a bit about photography. He then handed me his card and told me to call him later that evening to meet up for a drink. He not only had an amazing eye, but an incredible ability to recall the stories behind his images. He was a living history book. Jim started his career in 1959 and worked with everyone in the early days of Rock and Roll. The Stones, Janice, The Dead, Dylan, The Who, The Beatles, Miles….and the list goes on. He will be dearly missed but his pictures will live on forever. www.marshallphoto.com

Morrison Hotel Gallery, New York for the opening of TRUST

Jim talking about his famous Johnny Cash shot with Michael Zagaris, myself and Tracy Storer

March 22, 2010 issue of Sports Illustrated

Check out SI this week. I shot the double page spread portrait for the opener of the Kendry Morales story. The compelling words of Ben Reiter discuss Morales, his Cuban roots and his 12 attempts to flee the island in search of a new life in America. A special thanks to Nate Gordon at SI for calling me up for Spring Training!

Our Dugout Studio

Thank you Charles for your time, your images and the love you have shared. You will be dearly missed.

Tech Note (For Photo Geeks): Profoto head with Mola overhead on boom arm. Single strobe head on background.  Canon Mark II DS, 85mm.

Zach Parise

Dany Heatley

The editor of Dirtsports Magazine has followed my work for years and was familiar with this image. For this years Driver of the Year issue, he asked me to create a similar image of Andy McMillin with the iconic McMillin “M” logo in Andy’s eyes. So I pulled the old trick out of my bag and made a giant “M” logo, filled it in with some blue gels and it worked like a charm. Sure these days you could do this in Photoshop, but it was fun to do it in camera. It made for a more interesting photoshoot and certainly got the crew at the shop talking. Andy is an amazing driver and a great kid, I think we have just begun to see him on the podium. To check out more pics of Andy and see some footage of him behind the wheel, check out http://www.andymcmillin.com.