a Lake Mead Cruise: Boulder City, NV

A gift arrived in the mail from my girlfriend's father in the form of two tickets to a breakfast cruise on Lake Mead. I gotta tell you, it was one of the best times I've ever had in 106 degree temperature. Here are a few pics from the day.

The Desert Princess. Three levels of bliss....

Note to photogs, the pic above was shot with a 24-105mm, set at 24mm to achieve the barrel (bend in the image) effect. This is an easy fix in photoshop under lens correction, but I think the effect makes the image look more dynamic. Again, art is subjective, so if works for you, work it.

Bliss....

Memorial Day 2010...

....my girlfriend and I headed across the desert to Laughlin, NV and Bullhead City, AZ. We found this spot in Bullhead City right off Fourth St. which was butted up against the Colorado River. If you're ever in the area make sure you check out this little oasis in the desert, we had a blast! Hope you and yours enjoyed the day too!

Note: I know this post comes a bit late but I was inspired by Matthew Jordan Smith's blog and Shauna Harris' blogging article in this months Rangefinder, so I'll be making it my business to post early and often. Thanks Matthew & Shauna!

best,
~ Oliphant

Michael & Craig: The Wynn Las Vegas

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of shooting Michael & Craig's wedding day here in Las Vegas. A day to remember it was....the bride was at the Encore, the wedding was at The Wynn and the reception was at Joe's in Caesar's Palace. Busy day to say the least, but I wouldn't trade my job for any. Michael & Craig reign from my hometown Chicago, both are lovers of House Music and Craig and I graduated from the same High School albeit five years apart. This booking came my way via Facebook and a mutual friend. Here are a few shots from the day. Thanks Tracey, Michael & Craig!

best,

 ~ Oliphant

Roll the Dice

if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
otherwise, don’t even start.

if you’re going to try, go all the
way.
this could mean losing girlfriends,
wives, relatives, jobs and
maybe your mind.

go all the way.
it could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days.
it could mean freezing on a
park bench.
it could mean jail,
it could mean derision,
mockery,
isolation.
isolation is the gift,
all the others are a test of your
endurance, of
how much you really want to
do it.
and you’ll do it
despite rejection and the worst odds
and it will be better than
anything else
you can imagine.

if you’re going to try,
go all the way.
there is no other feeling like
that.
you will be alone with the gods
and the nights will flame with
fire.

do it, do it, do it.
do it.

all the way
all the way.

you will ride life straight to
perfect laughter, its
the only good fight
there is.

- Charles Bukowski

To facebook or blog, that IS the question...

Someone recently stated that blogging for photographers was dead and that energy should be geared towards social networking, i.e., facebook and twitter to name the most popular. In my very humble opinion I adamantly disagree. I do believe that facebook and twitter are awesome components to networking a photography business, but I also believe that it is essential that one maintains their identity and brand via blogging. In the vast arena that is social networking it's easy to get lost amongst the shuffle. How does one differentiate oneself on facebook? I don't have the answer, but I do know that facebook in itself is a brand, a social networking brand and I do believe one day it will be replaced just like myspace. Remember them? So for now, I'll keep with the troika, my blog, facebook and twitter. And as time goes by, my blog will always be here.

By the way, I added some images to my facebook portfolio and updated my website portfolio, below are couple from a recent trip to South Dakota. Got to keep up....

best,

~  Oliphant

Ronni - Badlands, South Dakota

Crazy Horse - Black Hills, South Dakota

Goats - Badlands, South Dakota

Mount Rushmore