The Pink Heals Tour is coming to Georgetown, Texas again. This year we kickoff the event with the a calendar featuring local firemen and cancer survivors.

Power to Survive

—————————————————-
From the press release:

Get one while they’re available! The Pink Heals 2012 calendar, featuring local women who are cancer survivors with Georgetown firefighters, goes on sale at a special launch party on September 29. Meet the women and firefighters featured in the calendar at this special event from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the banquet room at Wildfire restaurant, 812 S. Austin Avenue.

The Pink Heals 2012 calendar is the newest addition to Georgetown’s annual Pink Heals Tour events raising funds to support local women with cancer.

At this special event you’ll have a chance to meet the women and men pictured in the calendar and have them sign your copy. Each month features a woman (or women) with a Georgetown firefighter at a Georgetown landmark. Pink Heals 2012 calendar photographer Geoff Hammond of Hammondovi Photography also will be at the event. 

Calendar sales began in mid-August. Calendars will be on sale for $15 at the event (cash or check only), or go to pink.georgetown.org to purchase a calendar online with a credit card. 

The Pink Heals 2012 calendar and Pink Heals Tour events are sponsored by the Georgetown Fire Department and the Georgetown Association of Professional Firefighters Local 3991. 

Pink Heals Tour events in October include: 
· October 15, Strike a Pose for Pink Fashion Show, 7 p.m., CJ’s in Mel’s Lone Star Lanes
· October 22, Pink Heals 5K Run/Walk, 8 a.m., Ninth and Main streets
· October 22, Pets in Pink Parade & Contests, 10 a.m., Williamson County Courthouse east steps
· October 25, Pink Heals Tour Stop, 6 p.m., Williamson County Courthouse east steps
For all the details about Pink Heals events in October, go to pink.georgetown.org. 

Pink Heals 2011 T-shirts are for sale for $15 at Visitors Center, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, and Georgetown fire stations. Pink Heals Hope Pennants for $5 and 2012 Pink Heals calendars for $15 are on sale at Visitors Center or online at pink.georgetown.org. 

Tickets to the Strike a Pose for Pink Fashion Show can be purchased in-person at Fire Administration, 103 W. Ninth Street, or by phone using a credit card by calling (512) 930-2406.

Proceeds from all Pink Heals events and sales benefit organizations helping local women with cancer. 
—————————————————-

Now for a preview. If you have read this far, you will be rewarded with this sneak peek at the gallery of images featured on the 2012 Pink Heals Calendar. Like the images, be sure to buy a calendar. Want a larger image, you may purchase them online at the above link.

The Key procured by the Warlock last battle is wanted throughout the land.
Sirens at the shore call out for the one who holds the Key.

Even the Warlock does not resist their song as he follows into their trap.


Having defeated the Warlock, the Sirens sing their victory at the shore.

Hair and Makeup Credit for the Sirens – Jennifer and Kayla

Makeup: Brian Emanuel
Hair: Stephanie Marks, Asst. Hair: Lacy Pollock, both from Pinup Salon Austin

Garlands and Seaweed provided by Flower Child Design

A couple months ago, Josh contacted me about doing this shoot with him and the initial thought involved another group of models which would be in opposition of the mystic beings. Through some unexpected last minute changes, we altered the plans and completed this shoot with just these characters.

Here are the first characters from our shoot on Saturday evening. Thank you to Mitch and Kari for their hard work as our models.

The Warlock in search of the Key, the ultimate key, hones in on a Phoenix Master as she discovers the Key on the banks of a lake.

The Warlock finds and battles the Phoenix Master for possession of the Key.

Having won his prize, the Warlock holds the Key tightly to his chest.

The results of our last shoot showed a little of what I have learned from trying to photograph in such a different environment. These past shoots represent the first time I have ever shot underwater.

Tricia under water with fabric

With the help of Tricia (see Just A Phase?) we had use of a pool and a very willing model. With my friend Brennon’s help, we had oxygen tanks and an octopus of regulator elements plus some diver’s weights. After the first shoot with models, it was obvious how much these were going to help us – boy did they ever?! Finally, we had two more models, both of which have plenty of water experience and love to do crazy stuff. J.B. and Mitch were great in helping and modeling and even filming the shoot.

Mitch screaming under water

J.B. relaxing in the pool

On Saturday, 2 July 2011, people finally gave in to the heat and a gun fight erupted on 6th Street in downtown Austin. A water gun fight!

It was an all out battle of the territories. Territories determined by street corners and red lights. And when the little man turned green, it was WAR!

All ages were affected by this outburst. Not a soul remained dry… not even the photographer.




This is America, home of the brave. Today we celebrate those brave men and women who endured 100°+ weather to exercise their right to cool down in the most aggressive of fashions. Yes, even those who cowered at the mere thought of water in their eyes or taunted the brave behind fire truck windows.

This 4th of July, raise your water pistol in honor of Austin and America… both that start with the letter “A.”

Romantic Stroll Through the Gardens

Tea Time

In tradition of iStockers across the globe, I have taken on the challenge of another mini’lypse here in Austin. Partnered with my friend Josh Baker of AzulOx Photography, we brought together a large number of models, talented makeup artists, wardrobe and hair stylists and a few friends and family members to create an environment for iStockers to produce images for their portfolios. My favorite sessions were the Victorian Tea Party sets.

The Victorian Wives

Lady at Tea

This set was on our Sunday schedule. Monday also proved to be fun with our circus set up.

Girl on Tricycle with Balloons

Some of the fun was watching the kids enjoy themselves with our props (aka balloons and cotton candy).

Acrobat on Ball

The shoot on Monday began with a phone call the week before about donating photography services for a fundraiser for a local school district. The sister of one of the models is helping to raise donations for this fundraiser. My past experience tells me that, though the package will likely get sold or won by someone, it will just as likely not to get redeemed. Strange in my opinion, but true.
So in order to not only provide a donation product, but also something that will get used and give benefit to the person winning/buying the product and to my business in a form of promotion, I have decided to produce a tangible product instead of a service. My friends will be helping out at the Mardi Gras themed fundraiser by utilizing their incredible talents – one will walk around on stilts and the other balance on a ball or do other acrobatic tricks.

With the knowledge of both the theme and the participation of my friends in this event, I decided to ask them to model their roles for me for a photo session. The final photo is to be made into a print that will become my donation to this fundraiser. I proposed this shoot on Sunday, 15 January to my friends. The only day they both had available this week was Monday, 16 January. YIKES! Could we really pull together a quality shoot in one day?!

Fortunately, this is exactly the type of theme for which they are prepared! Tricia, the wife/mother of this family is super talented in many facets. She has wardrobe and material readily available. Though it did require a late night on Sunday and even part of the shoot-day to prepare, the costumes were ready in time. She is such a creative soul! The makeup came quite easily to her as well. Her marionette part was complemented with the doll-like makeup she gave herself and the puppeteer’s mustache on her husband was a sweet finishing touch to his appearance. They already own a zip-line that became the tight wire and their recent purchase of stilts was already factored into the shoot.

My vision for the photos came from their description of using the stilts and having Tricia act as a marionette. I suggested a tight wire and brought in the red-striped background from previous shoots. The shoot day was mostly prep time – finishing wardrobe, constructing the scene and cross bar. The marionette’s strings were not part of the shoot. Keeping the stings taut and still allowing the necessary movement of our marionette as she balanced on the tight wire was going to be near impossible, so it is the one item I opted to add in Photoshop later. The final image going to print will include design elements to make it look like a retro poster advertising Dr. Moon and his Incredible Life-size Marionette (Bride – not sure that I will keep this). I hope to produce three such prints.

The photo session on Tuesday began as another fundraising idea. The group, VOLVE (see link), is hoping to purchase a rig that will allow them to do acrobatic stunts. Tyrone, the organizer of this group, is raising funds for this purchase and I had suggested we produce some images that they could sell as prints. With about a week’s notice we brought together two ladies to help us out as the “flyers” with Tyrone (Ty) as the base for this acroyoga themed shoot. I envisioned highlighting the “flyers” and fading the base into the background, so I asked Ty to wear black and the girls to bring a variety of colors as well as some neutral wardrobe pieces.

Sky and her mother Kim came to participate bringing a ton of clothing with them. Brittany also modeled, bringing with her a large amount of choices. The resulting costumes worked well, but it was the talent and hard work of the three that really made for amazing results. Some simple lighting and a little post processing in Lightroom resulted in pieces I cannot wait to print and hang on my wall.

I pray these will also be prints that sell well and contribute in no small way to the purchase of their acrobatic rig.

Shaking the water off of tomatoes in kitchen sink.

Then there are days when I am happy with the results.

Heirloom pocket watch hanging on tree.

Regardless of the outcome, my resolve is still strong to stay disciplined in photographing and uploading daily.
Upcoming planned photo shoots include some acro yoga friends, acrobat friends and more. I even have a brain-storming session with another photographer today.

The 365 Project website is set up that only registered users can leave comments or follow projects. I certainly understand the reasons for this, but it does restrict the communication between the photographer and those following the project who are not interested in signing up to yet another website.

As an artist and photographer, I love feedback! While my creative juices will ebb and flow, so does my drive to produce. Your comments, feedback, woo-yay’s, etc. are boosts to me. Even a simple “like” on Facebook is encouraging. I’ll take a “WTH were you thinking” comment anytime over silence. So, please, let me know you were here… that you are watching, lurking, spying or just hit the wrong link.

If you have been watching, you will have seen a couple images with a tricycle.

Props for the circus

Policeman taking notes from the mother of a lost child

These images plus a few others will be uploaded to iStockphoto where they will be offered for sale. All profits from these images will be donated to worthy causes. We’ll be looking into organizations fighting human trafficking or helping orphanages or other child-related non-profits. A special thanks to our friends who generously gave their time for these photos.

Thank you for visiting. I look forward to your comments!

~ Geoff

Postings like this will not be an everyday occurrence, but I wanted to share these with you. The tricycle is one I am also very happy with, however, I have a shoot this week utilizing a different tricycle with more intentionality. I hope to share that on the 365 project and on iStock once it is finished.

As many of you will have likely done, I have made a resolution for this year. A project called simply 365. Following the footsteps of many great, average and even beginner photographers, I will be photographing and uploading one photo per day for 365 days. Should be easy, right?

I expect that this first week I will be pretty gung ho about it all. Then next week, going through the motions and after a burst or two of inspired shoots, hit a wall. I just know myself that well. So, the challenge is to stay focused for just a short time every day. Search Google for project 365 and you will see a plethora of posts about photographers doing this same thing. Some people do it just to document events in their life for a year. Others do it to see in new ways, improving their photography. I hope to accomplish two tasks at once: 1) learn to discipline myself to a creative task for a whole year, 2) analyze and improve my photography.

There are a few rules I will impose upon myself for this task
1) Upload only one project photo each day (though some accompanying photos may be uploaded for illustration or reference)
2) Upload every day that I am near a computer
3) Take photos specifically for this project (no client photos will be used)
4) Photos may be used for stock purposes
5) Photos may be manipulated, processed as I would any photo for a client, stock or for artistic satisfaction

The website where you may follow my progress is here:
http://365project.org/hammondovi

My first photo is based on some news I received today. Angela, my long time favorite makeup artist is retiring from makeup to do cupcakes and other pastry items. So, I mourn for the loss of a makeup artist (though I rejoice in the birth of a new pastry chef).

Yes, my camera needs to be dusted off, literally.