Tag Archives: national parks

Finlandia Vodka shoot at Great Falls.

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Back in October I went down to the river for a little exploring and shooting. First stop, as usual, was at the overlook deck on the Maryland side looking for vultures and herons. What I actually found there, however, looked to be a pretty intense commercial video being shot. Camera guy in the water, kayakers on cliffs and crashing through some amazing whitewater…so what the heck, I thought, I’ll stick around and see how it all unfolds!

Little did I realize my friend Jason Beakes was the feature of this video. I learned from him it was a spot for Finlandia Vodka. Steve Fisher, kayaker and documentary film maker was shooting it and Cory Richards, adventure photog for NatGeo was there as well as a sort of narrator/host of the commercial. Check out the finished product…

Also, I made few behind the scenes photos. Very cool time.

Steve Fisher shooting video for finlandia vodka commercial at great falls, maryland

Steve Fisher. Setting up his shot.

Cory Richards, adventure photographer for National Geographic. Filming commercial for Finlandia Vodka, Great Falls Maryland.

Cory Richards.

Steve Fisher getting into position below the rapids of Great Falls. Finlandia commercia.

Getting right down there in it! Looking for a good line of sight.

Jason Beakes whitewater kayaker for Finlandia Vodka video shoot.

Jason Beakes, headed over the falls.

Steve Fisher and Jason Beakes in the river below Great Falls. Finlandia Vodka commercial.

Steve and Jason.

Steve Fisher and Jason Beakes in the river below Great Falls. Finlandia Vodka commercial.

Getting in there.

Steve Fisher and Jason Beakes in the river below Great Falls. Finlandia Vodka commercial.

Jason, ready for his close up.

Jason Beakes climbing the rocks on the Potomac River at great Falls. Finlandia Vodka video shoot.

Jason Beakes making his way over the rocks for another run.

 

Marin County

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If all goes accordingly (and doesn’t it always?) Marin County in Northern California will be my final resting place. OK, that sounds kind of morbid… let’s say rather that my wife and I would love to die there! Uh… wait… what I mean is we hope Northern California is where we’ll live out our days. You know, retire. Or something like that.

“Retire” is such an ugly word, though, isn’t it? Maybe “repurpose” is what I want. Rachel and I hope to one day repurpose ourselves in Northern California. Yeah, that’s better.

So why Northern California? Well…

Did this artist find her spot or what!

Did this artist find herself a spot or what!

The No Name Bar at night.

Bar. Yes, that’s the actual name. Bar. It’s old and gritty and has no kitchen; but you can bring in a burger
from down the street if you like. Like a 1967 VW it sits among the Rolls Royce establishments of Sausalito.
No frills, no food, no name. It’s almost perfect.

posted about this fellow earlier this year. His name is Matt Jaffe. Super cool.

I posted about this fellow earlier this year. (do a search) His name is Matt Jaffe. A troubadour; storyteller.
The Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley hosts big names and locals.
We happened upon this open mic night and it was pure fun.

Found this motif in the patio of a great place in Bolinas. The Coast Cafe. Had fried oyster benedict for breakfast. I will never forget it. (I mean that in a good way!)

I could not pass up this nautical motif in the back patio of a joint in Bolinas. The Coast Cafe.
Had fried oyster benedict for breakfast. I will never forget it. (And I mean that in a good way!)

For a different view at sunset, drive down to Fort Baker on the east side of the GG Bridge. Less crowds and unique view.

The sky changes by the second this time of the evening. Magentas and violets fight for supremacy. Darkness wins, ultimately.

Redwoods in Mill Valley. Majestic is an over-used word... but really, that's what these are.

Majestic is an over-used descriptor… but really, that’s what they are. Mill Valley Redwoods.

Howard was his name. As you might guess, totally laid back and groovy.

Howard. As you might guess, totally laid back and groovy.

Surfers show off their shit at Rodeo Beach.

This dude at Rodeo Beach had some stuff going on. Dancing across the waves like some manic ballerino.

A city nestled in the fog. San Francisco viewed from Mt. Tamlapais.

San Francisco viewed from Mt. Tamlapais; a city nestled in the fog.

 

There is no better place to goof off in the evening than Stinson Beach.

The interplay of light and shadows at Stinson Beach.

 

A sunset not to be missed. Stinson Beach.

The warm sunset of a cool evening.

 

Northern California. Works for us.

Return to the Canal!

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Fuji X100S in Black & White

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Found myself in the ever snowful Washington, DC the other day.

Thought I’d put the camera through it’s paces in B&W mode. Went with the Yellow filter effect. Not much post processing in Lightroom. Little contrast here and there and a couple needed lightening. Otherwise all just out of camera.

washington dc, lincoln memorial with tourists

silhouette of man at Lincoln Memorial taking a photo of Washington Monument. Washington DC

lincoln memorial interior, washington dc

woman walking out of Lincoln Memorial visitor Center

vendor showing off his stars and stripes

tree shadows on snow

seagull near Lincoln Memorial, washington dc

washington dc, c & o canal, cross country skis, man with dog

Antietam Battlefield, Dunker Church

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Civil War Re-enactor just awakened, in his night cap.

Behind him is the Dunker Church. Antietam Battlefield. Site of the bloodiest day in American history. Some 23,000 men were killed wounded or missing after just twelve hours of fighting. General McClellan’s troops outlasted General Lee’s. As they rested for what could have been the final crushing blow, Lee took his army back over the Potomac in retreat. And so the Great Civil War lasted another two and a half years. McClellan was soon relieved of his command by Lincoln.

This kindly fellow is a secessionist re-enactor. Eager to chat, he regaled me with facts and figures of the battle, peppered with much praise for anything and anyone of the South and much derision of anything and anyone of the North. Funny, that.

Civil War Re-enactor.

Early morning sun. Re-enactor, Dunker Church behind him.

 

Civil War Re-enactors

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It’s hard to watch these Confederate Civil War re-enactors going through their drills and not wonder about the psychological make-up of each one. What drives them? How did this become their passion? Do they long for the South to “rise again?” How many harbor deep resentments over what many call not the Civil War, but the War of Northern Aggression? How many are out there just to have a good time, explore a little history  and camp out with their buddies? Is it all just harmless play-acting?

Having a brief conversation with a few of them revealed very little in this regard. To a person they were open, friendly, happy to chat and more than willing to be photographed. Their feelings toward the South, the North, Lincoln, slavery, and the war itself (even what to call it!) I suspect are as numerous as the men on the field of play/battle. Sweeping generalizations won’t do any good. Still, for me, it is hard to shake that they are willingly representing the former Confederacy and all the history that that entails. But I guess that’s all about my psychological make-up, isn’t it?

civil war, antietam

civil war, antietam

civil war, antietam

civil war, antietam

civil war, antietam

civil war, antietam

civil war, antietam

civil war, antietam

civil war, antietam

civil war, antietam

civil war, antietam

civil war, antietam