Red Wall - Spencer Mulder

Here's another shot of musician Spencer Mulder. I love this newly painted red wall in Heartside that was part of local artist AJ Paschka's ArtPrize entry. It was created to be used as a photo wall...and I'm sure I'll use it again.

Even though it was broad daylight when we shot this, I lit it so it looked like the evening. You can see more of this same effect w/Spencer's photos on my web site. Just check out the "Music & Fashion" section.

High Fashion and the Homeless - Heartside

On Wednesday I shot a fashion show at Rockwell & Republic; an uber hot restaurant/bar in the Heartside neighborhood of Grand Rapids. Heartside has seen tremendous revitalization over the last 3 years or so...and it's long been the base for many of the city's homeless shelters and food kitchens.

The obvious social contrasts of an event like this are interesting...and in between shooting models on the sidewalk in expensive clothing I chatted with the guy above...not really because I wanted to...but because he kept asking me for money.

I nearly always refuse panhandlers based on one simple principle; creativity. Their plea is typically based on needing a dollar (or two) to purchase a sandwich...and 9 times out of 10 we are both standing within a block of a food kitchen giving out 3 full squares a day. So I assume they aren't exactly being forthright with their request.

This guy asked me to take his picture several times...and each of his invitations stated that it was an opportunity to photograph "the real mother f-ing deal."

Hard to pass up...

Selective Focus fun

I shot this for fun a few minutes ago outside my office/gallery. I love playing with focal planes.

I never tire of the red brick streets and historic architecture of downtown GR...especially along Ionia Avenue.