Slow file transfers!!!

After a whopping 22 hours, all the files are finally transferred onto the G5. Both the ipod and the external HD wanted USB2 and as I was absolutely shattered and just about to go to bed, I simply plugged them both into the nearest available USB ports.... hence the 22 hours!

So after a bit of file organising, I'm ready to edit! :o)

leaving on a jet plane...

Just been for our last sushi dinner. It's just so much better in LA then England. Just copying the last of the files onto my 60 gig ipod, which I've wiped clean and am using as an external drive for extra back up and data storage. I suppose that's the only draw back of the 5d mk II, my 18 month old macbook pro only has a 40 gig hd and I've shot about 50 gig of files since I've been here. SO a mixture of hastily bought DVD's and now a master back-up on the ipod will hopefully sort me out for the trip home.

Much as I've really loved it over here, part of me is really looking forward to getting back into the office and getting onto the G5 to process all the images! Will post updates as I edit....

muscle cars!

Just before coming out to LA I managed to queue jump from 38th to top of the queue to get hold of a Canon 5d mkII and it's been amazing! I'm blown away by it when I've shot with it. The functionality on it is pretty darned impressive. I'm kind of liking the personalised settings, on top of the lovely feel of it to shoot with. What I haven't had chance to really play with is the hi-def video that's bundled in with it. That is until today... we went out today to do a favour for my friend and got some footage of an old Chevelle and the 65 Chevy C-10 that I used for the editorial. They both have 350 V8's in and both will kick up huge clouds of burning rubber at the drop of a heavy right boot. Rather a nice way to spend the penultimate day in Cali, went to the beach, spent the afternoon playing in muscle cars and filming them in high def, then going for burgers & thick shakes in a '50's diner before going to watch a film in a retro cinema. Americana through and through!

One day left and then fly home to edit everything!

After shooting 2 tests and 2 editorials in 4 days I'm pretty worn out so today I'm having a bit of a lazy day off and trying to enjoy some sun before returning to the UK on Friday.

Both shoots that I've done since the last update have been fantastic! Both are for EyeCandy magazine. Sunday was a swimwear story shot on a private beach in Malibu, Monday was a roadtrip story shot using a friend's 65 Chevy C-10 truck which is an amazing truck and pulled the whole story together very very nicely.

I'm actually quite looking foward to getting home so that I can edit everything I've shot and pull it all together into some really nice stories. I think I might end up with about 20 pages for the roadtrip shoot and maybe 12 for the swimwear story.

Friday was good!

Yesterday went really well. Shot 4 things first with Emma for her book, which gave me the chance to try a few things out whilst Michelle went to a call back.

The shots with Emma are great and more importantly she's very very pleased. By the time Michelle was ready it was 3.30 pm and we managed to shoot 6 outfits in a little over an hour and a half. I shot with Emma in the direct sunlight and predominantly shot with Michelle in the shade which have come out really very nice and soft; perfect for the styling which was all long gowns and beautiful dresses.

What impresses me the most is crazy models that will do anything to get the shot and both Emma and Michelle are like that. So much so that both of them were virtually hanging off the roof of an 11 story building... makes me nervous but also gives me great satisfaction watching others work hard and give so much to do whatever it takes to make the shot.

I've had a quick review and know that there's some great stuff there but I'm going to have to be patient and wait until I get home before I can make final choices and edit and process them. So it'll be a while before I publish the results.

1st one!

Feels like the culmination of a long time of prep to get to this point!

Everything's gone smoothly so far, there was no traffic on the freeway, we got here exactly when I wanted with no delays, everyone's here and Michelle is currently having her make-up done, dresses are chosen and we're underway! yeh! :o)

Weather's great, suns out and not a cloud in the sky... but then I suppose that's the difference between shooting in LA and not Lancashire.

We're shooting these fabulous dresses on the rooftop with the LA skyline in the background, I'm just itching to get the first one in the bag now.

LA rooftop shoot

Today was a long day of prep, juggling four shoots and trying to get everyone in place for each day. Trying for different models, finding them not available, trying for other models and finding them not available. Moving models between shoots and checking different options, putting moodboards together etc etc. But everything is more in place now and really looking forward to it so fingers crossed everything goes smoothly.

So tomorrow we're shooting on an LA rooftop, got a great stylist, some amazing product and a model that I've been wanting to shoot with for quite a long time and now with a really exciting moodboard in place I'm really looking forward to tomorrow!!

LA so far

OK... so it's been a while since I last updated and I need to get back into the habit. I'm sat here late at night trying to put the finishing touches to a number of LA shoots. We've been here a little over 2 weeks now, we've done 2500 miles and I've seen a lot of California hunting for locations!

Now it's all come down to trying to put everything in place. Got 4 shoots booked in and am now frantically trying to put everything in place to get each one to come off. Still short of models for a couple of days, hair stylists for a couple of days and it's getting pretty close to shoot time! Nothing like flying by the seat of your pants. :o)