Knocked out after the first round...

So I shot a whole bunch of images a few weeks ago. After a few technical hiccups, I finally got around to editing. Unfortunately, my passion for retouching has fallen by the wayside and after doing selects and narrowing it down to four images I liked, I only edited three. Probably for the best as well. Looking back on the fourth image, it was the weakest of the group and easily cut after walking away for a moment.

Attached are two of the three... the two I liked most. I might revisit the RAWs later and see what I can find. Matthew was a great model to work with. For not having a lot of experience, he really pulled some looks out of there that stopped me dead in my editing tracks.

Presidents Day

It's a holiday and I'm hanging out at work. Literally. But it's cool. Getting a lot of detail work done. No distractions like a TV or Facebook. I wish I could pop onto Model Mayhem...

Shooting in my apartment again on Wednesday. The Hoodie Project is going to commence! 10 total final images is what I'm pulling for... 5 gals and 5 dudes. Let's see how this project goes!

a little nonsense...

Nonsense.

I wish I could write with elegance and prose of my contemporaries. In all my moving as a child I missed out on a lot of 'normal' things. I ask you though, to show me any artist, or person for that matter, who is 'normal' and I'll show you a farce. I feel any of these 'normal' people have a skeleton knocking on the closet door.

I want to write with the elegance and prose of my peers. I want the sense of sadness, excitement, elation, drama, happiness in what I write. There had to be a class somewhere that I missed on this.

I want to write my feelings about cooking things I never thought I could make in a million years and show the excitement about it that cooks and amateur cooks a like have shared on countless blogs.

I want to express my feelings of excitement when I pick up that camera, open up a new pack of paper, or smell the inside of a craft store and print lab.

I want to write about the excitement and difficulties of breaking though barriers in my career and my personal life.

I want to write you a line that will evoke the sense dissenting feelings I have after having an awesome night. I want to write you a line that will evoke the sense dissenting feelings I have after having an dreadful night. I want to write you a line that will evoke the sense dissenting feelings I have after having an calm night. To have you understand and feel those feelings I have, when I lay in my bed, as I am now, and have your mind bustle with the emotions my mind is.

I wish I had the elegance of prose to make you understand how grateful I am for yesterday, today, and most importantly, for tomorrow. To have that slate so cleansed of what was, and to be able to start anew.

Maybe not as much nonsense as I thought...

Something awesomely soothing about ripping tape

I had a few hours of free time on a shoot recently. The photographer I was working with suggested I make something. 2 hours later, I completed my first Gaffer's Tape Wallet. The perfect novelty collectors piece for any photographer, stylist or anyone else who uses Gaff Tape on a regular basis! The weave on the black wallet was done by the photographer, while I struggled to figure out how to make the wallet. Built much like a duct tape wallet, the Gaff Tape Wallet has a rough leather feel, and as it heats up, it does not get sticky like the duct tape ones do. The wallets are made out of 100% Gaff Tape. No cardboard and the like added.

I'm currently working on finding more colors and new patterns for the wallets. Each one I build gets a little more streamlined, clean and complex.

The white wallet with black trim took longer because the weave was a bit more complicated.

If you want any info about these "art pieces" drop me a line at: Michael.Fiske@gmail.com

Blog Blog, time to Blog!

Holy gunsmoke batman! It's been faarrr too long since I updated!

Work has been good. Picking up and dare I say, steady! Which is 1000X better than last year at this time. I'm also working at a place that I really like, and hopefully it will lead to some shooting before too long!

So Recaps!

Worked on Izods Spring '10 LookBook, a lot of fun and cool shoot at Drive-In Studios, Worked on J.Jill's Spring '10 LookBook. Worked a lot on Belk.Com and Belk Print campaigns. So a lot of little jobs, and a lot of fun.

I did however, have my first awesome real-deal gig. I was asked to photograph Less Than Jake at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square. First gig that there wasn't the option of a redo.





Those are the shots I like the most from the shoot.

Well, that's about it for now. We'll see what the new year brings.

Here's to good friends, new friends, old friends, and the new year and new successes!

To be Prince Caspian....

Dark Sub Way Ride from Mike Fiske on Vimeo.

Catching up with myself!

WOW what a summer it has been! Between a month of rain, one job ending, new opportunities opening, amazing galleries, a summer long house guest, concerts and great nights that always seemed too short with people I can never get enough of, it's hard to believe it is already September!

With all that has been going on, I am a little upset with myself for not shooting for my book. Its dangerous to get so busy you forget to work for yourself.

First Thunderstorm

Far off drips of a weak storm echo in the alley
_____crack
I can faintly hear the beginnings of a storm over my music
_____crack flash crack
Stop the music open the window, let the storm air fill my room
_____wind flash rumble
My curtain blows hard and angry into my now darkened room
_____flash flash rumble flash
My dark room is brighter than day, The skies are alive
__________my heart is racing
_____flash faint rumble
The storm fades as the rain drops continue to fall on the old cobble stone below
__________steady rain takes me off to sleep

The street light is all that illuminates the view from my window now.

Endings are really beginnings

About a week ago, my time with one of my clients came to a dramatic end. Is it the way I wanted it to go? No, never in a million years. But it had to end. At first I was mad, then sad, then angry (more at myself than anyone else) but now that I have had some time to reflect, it really is a blessing.

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Snapped this shot yesterday while sitting on the pier having lunch. I am kind of in love with my new situation. Hoboken feels like home.

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If there is one bit of advice I keep receiving, it's to never stop shooting. These are my selects from a recent shoot. I'm in the progress of planning my next one.