Glass Photography

Anthony Reid is a “mixer” making sure the correct portions of the ingredients are in each batch of MANA. Behind him is where the peanut paste is delivered.

This assignment was awesome! It included photographing architecture and people and combining the two skills into unique images. I absolutely had a blast working with the MANA folks.

Yes, this assignment is as wonderful as they come. I was flown out to North Carolina, where I met “corporate” MANA, and then Matt West, marketing director and close friend, from NC we drove the 8 hours south to the MANA factory in Fitzgerald, Georgia, where the photography took place.

I might post more MANA work over the next year. But as of now, this what you get.

Now, before “eeeewing” and “aaaaweing” too much (kidding . . . kinda-of) over the image you need to know about MANA. In short, they are working to save the lives of kids that are starving by producing a peanut paste. You’ve heard of the mess in Somalia – right? Well, they’re sending product to save lives.

MANA Peanut Paste.

So, please take the time to check out the MANA Nutrition site, and possible sign up for their e-newsletter.

During our slew of snowstorms I found a morning where I was able to shoot the clubhouse of a the Stanford Apartments. The only problem was that the solar cells were covered that day by snow . . . No worries. I went back a few days later and got a few pictures of the solar cells.

The Stanford Apartments

Solar Panels are used on the Stanford Apartments to heat the water as well as provide electricity for the clubhouse.

Overall Landscape created by Southern Exposure Landscape & Sprinkler LLC.

Photographing Landscapes are difficult. Typically you can’t control the light, they are on a huge scale, there’s weahter issues, and most importantly how do you transfer something that is by nature 3D into a 2D image that portrays the uniqueness of a particular landscape? Throw in a tight timeline, racing oncoming snow and you have a very exciting problem to solve.

Overall Landscape created by Southern Exposure Landscape & Sprinkler LLC

Thankfully, despite the hurdles, this assisgnment went extremely smooth. I had the good fortuen of working with the gracious Leslee of Southern Exposure Landscape. She conveyed what they were looking for and helped with the shooting schedule. In less then a week of time we photographed portions of 5 properties and won the race with the oncoming winter weather. When I shot the last property it was begining to snow. The timing could not have worked out better.

Three tiered water feature created by Southern Exposure Landscape & Sprinkler LLC

Patio Lighting by Southern Exposure Landscape & Sprinkler LLC

Grand Avenue in Windsor Colorado created by Southern Exposure Landscape & Spinkler LLC

Walkway created by Southern Exposure Landscape & Sprinkler LLC

Southern Exposure Landscape & Spinkler LLC

Water feature created by Southern Exposure Landscape & Sprinkler LLC

Night Lighting created by Southern Exposure Landscape & Sprinkler LLC

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Lindgren Landscapes this past summer photographing a few of their properties. As you can see, they can design and create anything under the sun. Here are are a few of my favorite images from their properties.

Water Feature, Deck, Pergala. Landscape by Lindgren Landscape.

Water Feature. Landscape by Lindgren Landscape.

Deck. Landscape by Lindgren Landscape.

Mature Landscape. Landscape by Lindgren Landscape.

Pergala. Landscape by Lindgren Landscape.

Pergala. And I love the bug on this flower. Landscape by Lindgren Landscape.

Outdoor Living Space. Landscape by Lindgren Landscape.

Outdoor Fireplace. Landscape by Lindgren Landscape.

~SMG

There are people that you meet that have a natural talent for things. Dion Williams of DW Design Group is one of them. This past week I had the good fortune of photographing the interior of her newly designed office space. Not being an interior designer, and knowing the lingo, I can only say I’m amazed at how AWESOME the space is. She incorporates so many motifs into one coherent working space. The organized office is calming and inspires creativity and excellence. It’s the perfect place to day dream of the future. Enough of my words, I’ll let a photos do the talking.

How cool is this space? Really, I suggest checking it out. I have no clue how Dion can take such different elements and mixes 'em and matches 'em to create a completely inspirational working space.

Notice the metal siding, a chandelior, and the warm wood tones? Yup, totally crazy, but it totally works! Oh so cool.

Okay one more . . . .  a detail shot.

Detail of DW Design Groups Office. The art is by Dion Williams.

This shoot was difficult. Saying anything other than that would be a lie. The logistics were a nightmare. Everyone volunteered their time, so it was one huge group collaboration. See, when no one is being paid, it’s hard to figure out times, and dates that work for multiple people. But it DID come together.

Many thanks to:

Dion Williams of dwDesignGroup and Barb& Kevin Bolin for allowing us to shoot on their redesign project.

Jill Chodak who’s reliability is legendary. Anyone who needs a sweet model should hire her.

Billy Campbell for taking a half day off from his business in crazy times.

Mandy West, who brought her two boys to model for us, while in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Marice who found the dress, helped with planning, and dealing with a stressed out me.

Marcie and I started by making numerous sketches,  researching magazine photos, and a half day of test shooting (with copious notes) on ourselves before the actual shoot day.

The idea was to bring models into a space that Dion Williams and Barb Bolin had designed and show them interacting with the space. Basically using a lifestyle shots to highlight the design. We began with the little boy’s “aviation” themed room. I’d love to see this picture with text. I think it could be a killer advertisement.

The sky is the limit in the aviation themed room.

From there we wanted a semi-staged look with the models telling a story. We chose a throwback to the 50’s with a man in pinstriped suit and a woman in bright yellow dress.

Coffee, Jam & Bread to start the day.

In the living room we wanted to show the lady enjoying her space . . . . can’t go wrong with a Vanity Fair Magazine.

Reading and rejuvenating in the living room.

Gotta love behind the scene photographs.

Behind the scenes.

And we photographed the dining room.

Cool spaces inspire cool actions . . . flowers for my lady.

In the end, I’m not sure what I was stressed about . . . I suppose it was the logistics, but I love how the photos came out. I wish in the last shot I would have lit the hallway . . . it would have really helped give a polished look to this photo.

-SMG

The first time I met Dion Williams I’d been hired by  her real estate agent, Kevin Bolin, to photograph a home she’d gutted, renovated and redesigned from ground up. When I knocked on the door I was met by a huge smile and a gracious spirit. She led me from room to room, her excitement overflowing, as she pointed out her favorite features of the home. I was not only blown away by the design of the home, but also by the enthusiasm and kindness of Dion.

Little did I know, that over the next few years, I’d have the privilege of photographing many of her interior design projects.  I have come to see Dion not only as an amazing designer and client, but also as a friend. When she told me that she was going to have me take her portrait for her website, I was overwhelmed first by excitement and then by the realization that I had the responsibility of portraying her in a single frame. How could I show her enthusiasm, kindness, exactness and creative genius in one frame? As you can tell by the pictures, Dion is a beautiful woman (I wasn’t worried about capturing her beauty), but the other attributes? Good news, I think it might have worked . . . in the picture below I see a generous, inviting, and enthusiastic soul. I hope you do too.

Dion Williams of dwDesignGroup.

Becky is a professional writer and is involved with dwDesignGroup. Her taste is as meticulous as Dion's

The Dynamic Duo.