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Another fun shoot for Insight Magazine of CEO Howard Kamerer.  Howard was an awesome subject who although humble and not willing to take much of the credit, stepped up to the plate and was willing to take one for the team.   He was a great sport!
CEO's are real people too.

Breakthrough Fuel

INSPIRATION.  Where does it come from?  There are billions of answers, right?  Well, for this particular shoot for Insight on Business Magazine, it came from a gas nozzle sitting on the back shelf of Craig's desk.
 
Going into this shoot I had little prepared in the line of concepts.  My goal was to come away with some well executed environmental portraits of our subject, Craig Dickman with Breakthrough Fuel, for IOB's April issue.  In short, it was a success.  However, upon seeing the gas nozzle my inspiration percolator was plugged in.  Although we could have walked away from this shoot feeling just fine about what we captured, I had some really fun ideas racing through my head that I couldn't walk away from without at least voicing.  Often my problem is that I can't keep my mouth shut.  So blah, blah, blah and a room full of laughter and raised eyebrows I start spewing out what's in my head.  I think everybody thought I was kidding.  It wouldn't be the first time I've said something just to get a reaction.  I was serious this time.  I really felt it was a great way to show the story. 
 
So many great ideas never see the light of day because of resources or willingness.  To make this shoot happen, a number of things had to be resourced and people willing.  One, get it done before deadline.  Two, have Craig be gracious enough to play along (HUGE!!!)  Third, round up the right gear to pull it off.  

I'm happy to say "WE DID IT" and it was worth every bit of effort!  Cheers to everyone who made the sacrifice for creativity.  "The Village" should be proud.  We did good!

Hi! Is this Shane? This is Leah Seidl

Do you ever sit back and wonder what has happened to certain people from your past that you lost track of for one reason or another?  Last week I received this text from my old friend Leah Seidl.  I used to photograph Leah for her modeling portfolio and work with her as my hair and make up stylist on various projects.  About 8 years ago she left lil' ole Northeast Wisconsin to move to the California Coast to pursue her dream of working in the Fashion Industry.  Come to find out she did the make up for the Jean Paul Gaultier runway show in San Francisco last weekend.  I always knew she was destined for greatness.  I'm so proud of her!

A.G. in Chicago

Here are some images from my latest shoot for American Girl.  Although this isn't everything we shot, these images were created over the course of three days in Chicago: two days in studio and one day at a montessori just outside of the city.

  

I'm very proud of these images for a couple of reasons:  I've wanted to work with American Girl for many years, so to be chosen to shoot this job was an honor.   They are such an incredible company in many ways.  The other is just having the experience of being part of their world for the better part of a week.  You have no idea what all is involved in one of these shoots.  They really know how to do it right.  Even the dolls have their own stylist!

If I've said it once I've said it a million times -- it takes a village.  And this was no exception.  American Girl's incredible village consisted of some real talent: models, producers, hair stylists, make-up stylists, set stylists, set builders, doll stylist, prop stylist, art directors, motivator, lab tech, myself and my two assistants.  

After walking thru the store in the Water Tower Place so many times over the years, it was Wonka-esque to be on set, bring it to life and watch it come together so seamlessly.  I'll cherish this one for a long time.

Insight on Orion Energy Systems

The challenge with any publication photo shoot on location is figuring out --on the fly, mind you-- where, what, and how you are going to shoot the person or persons that are being featured.  And don't forget to include two more very important factors that add to the challenge: how much time the "subject(s)" has and how much they are willing to play.

The main objective in these shoots is getting images - images for the cover, the inside spread and secondary images.  This is not an easy task when a president or CEO has about an hour or less of their time to give. In a situation where there is no time to pre-scout a location or discuss concepts with your subject, there is always a bit of the "unknown" present.  You can concept all you want in your head beforehand, only to have all your brilliant ideas dashed upon arriving at the location.  You just never know what you're going to walk into.  You certainly hope you have a friendly and willing subject because this can make or break any shoot. You also hope you can find some subject matter that is visually pleasing, which adds to the story while making the photograph great.  Then - and we are still on the fly at this point - after a quick walk thru you create your list of cover, inside spread and secondary -- not that it won't change later.  After all, sometimes the best ideas do not end up being the best shots.  Oh, and did I happen to mention you haven't met your subject yet?  Last but not least is the set up and execution of the vision.  CLICK!

At times it can get kind of crazy, but this is what I thrive on.  And when it all comes together it feels like a walk in the park!

The End of the World

They say the "world as we know it" will end on Dec. 21, 2012.   Dang, that Mayan calendar!  
As if I didn't have enough on my mind, now I gotta worry about a meteor blasting us to smithereens!  Or a massive solar flare from the Sun completely wiping out our electronics!  Or maybe there'll be a shift in Earth's rotation, causing a gigantic tsunami to wipe us out.  Or maybe, just maybe, there'll be a giant alien invasion.  Anyone wanna buy a tinfoil hat?  Only $19.99 (plus S&H).  Whatever it is, I am very ill-prepared.  Meteor?  I have no underground shelter.  Giant solar flare?  I'm as good as dead without my iPhone.  A gigantic tsunami?  I guess it's time to start thinking about moving up into the mountains.  A mass invasion of aliens?  Eegah!  Probing scares me.

My wife tends to stay on the positive side of things.  She has had us watch a few movies about this very subject, and I have to admit that the theory she hopes will happen on Dec. 21, 2012, is a much more comforting one; the theory of everyone sort of "coming together", taking care of the Earth and instilling happiness throughout.  (Think of everyone holding hands around the Earth singing a song as plants bloom, birds fly amongst the blue sky and animals frolic in the forest).  I like that.  That makes me sm:)e.

All I know is that I'm going to be ready with my camera at my side.  That way, if our amazing planet survives whatever Dec. 21, 2012 brings us--and I sure hope it does-- I'll have some killer shots for my December blog!  

P.S. Thankfully, I think my external hard drive crashing last week kind of prepared me, mentally, for something as catastrophic as the world coming to an end.  R.I.P hard drive. "I can't begin to express how important it is to double back up your info in this business.  At least until Dec. 21, 2012..."

No Business Like SNOW Business

     What can I say about this one.  Fun, challenging and rewarding are three quick words that pop to my mind.  

     At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I have to say that outstanding "TEAM WORK" made this one happen.  From headline and story by MaryBeth Matzek at Insight (I hear her daughter had something to do with the headline as well), to Dave Allen supplying the parka (purchased in Montreal, Canada) to Jeff, Michael and myself supplying creative ideas (Michael gets full credit for the snow globe idea), we are all a part of this creation.  Credit goes to Jeff and Michael for creating the layout and design as well as Rob Resnick for helping me implement my vision in post.  I hope I didn't miss anybody!  Special props go to Dan Ariens for being such a good sport, despite hitting the pillow at 3am the night before after a long flight home from Burma.  Thanks everyone!

     Often times, February gets a bum wrap, but with Valentine's Day, my birthday and now this cover story, I think this month is going to be pretty COOOOOOL.

What It Takes

     I was recently on a product shoot for a large medical company photographing a brand new product for a brochure that required SEXY lighting.  Often times, I don't think people realize what goes into photographing the things they see in magazines and in this case brochures.  So, I thought I would give you a glimpse into the world of what it takes to make something look fabulous.
     For this particular assignment it took 15 lights, 11 power packs, 14 extension cords, 27 stands, 5 sheets of plexiglass, 5 mirrors, multiple flags and cutters, 4 exposures with one camera and a mono stand.
Now I can't show the actual product, but I thought it was very interesting and a bit crazy when it was all done to see what it took to make this one shot.

My Directorial Debut

     Here it is, as promised.  The Community Foundation's "Your Life. Your Legacy." video debuted last Tuesday night to a packed house at the 25th Anniversary Donor and Volunteer Event.  It is the first video that I ever directed so go easy on me.

     It was a real privilege for me to help create this video for such a great cause and equally great people who receive this money as well as those who make it all happen.  I'd like to thank everybody at C. F. along with everybody involved in the process of making this video.  YOU HAVE NO IDEA what and how many people it takes to create such a piece.  I know it's relative, but WOW!  I am blessed to work with such talented, kind, hilarious and hard working people.  I hope you enjoy watching the video as much as I did helping create it.
Thank you,
Shane Van Boxtel

   

   
 

Jack the Intern

Inspired by The Mary Tyler more show, Jack the Intern was helping me with a lighting test for a Pub. shoot.  Isn't he cute; )?  I think he's gonna make it after all...

Test Shots (Standing in)

Little Greg workin' it for a wide angle test.

Pickin' Crackers

Jimbo pickin' the PERFECT crackers.  Food Styling, what a sweet gig.

Test Shots (oldiesbutgoodies)

As promised, although I pulled these from the Insight Magazine archives, these test shots are well worth a look.  I've been working with Insight Magazine and A2Z since the beginning.  It has been an awesome ride and I have had some really fun times meeting some incredibly interesting people.  Rarely do you see what all goes into one of these shoots that happen every month.  There are always test shots. 

More to come...

Test Shots

God I love test shots.  Everybody seems to ham it up when the camera is on "practice mode".  Too often I just delete them to clear space on a card or thinking too hard about what's about to come.  Well no more.  I am on a quest to keep these special moments, and share them with you.  At least I say that now.  I have good intentions anyway.
Location scouting can be FUN!  Like I said, Rhonda and Jeff HAMMING IT UP.