Lots of people may know about the great VSCO Cam app which is one of my favorite photo editing apps for the iPhone, but not everyone is aware that they have amazing film emulation presets for Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw. I've been using their film presets for a while now, and really love them. To me, they help create the most realistic film looks I've seen from any editing software. Between all 6 packs, all of the classics are there, from Kodak TRI-X to Fuji Gold, to Agfa Scala and beyond. Each pack has a different set of films, including Modern, Classic, Instant, Slide, Archetype and Alternative Process. If you're serious about your photo editing, and want to recreate that classic "film" feel, VSCO is the way to go. 

http://vsco.co/film

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PopPhoto.com asked me to write a tutorial for their website- check out my article, "How To: Concert Photography with Strobes and Flashes"!

http://www.popphoto.com/how-to/2014/12/how-to-concert-photography-strobes-and-flashes

Still can't get enough of the new Budos Band album, "Burnt Offering". SO GOOD.

I'm legitimately drooling over the new Phase One Alpa A-Series cameras. Anyone want to lend me $50,000?

And here you thought your DSLR had killer resolution. The new Phase One Alpa A-Series Camera combines a Phase One digital medium format back with an Alpa body, giving you traditional manual controls with state-of-the-art technology. Three models will be offered: the 80-megapixel A280, good for those seeking maximum resolution, the 60-megapixel A260 that's ideal for long exposures, and the 50-megapixel A250, which offers the best low-light capabilities of the bunch. You'll also have your choice of three lenses: the Alpagon 5.6/23mm, Alpar 4.0/35mm and the Alpagon 5.6/70mm, which are equivalent to 15mm, 22mm and 45mm lenses on full frame cameras, respectively. Extra hard disk space not included.

This morning we said goodbye to our oldest girl, Ollie. She was 18 years old, and was diagnosed with cancer almost 3 years ago, at which point they gave her 6 months to live. She fought through for almost 3 years, but she finally couldn't fight anymore. We were with her when she passed, and it was quick and painless. At least now she isn't suffering anymore. Rest in peace, our little girl. We will miss you dearly.

Pamela's birth announcement arrived in the mail today! I was so happy to see it in print. Our first lady!

While we're on the topic of Metallica, here's a quick playthrough I did of their song "...And Justice for all". This was recorded before I started using Bias, so it's unfortunately just my iPhone mic doing the recording duties. Gibson Les Paul Custom > Blackstar HT-5 > Avatar 1x12 cabinet.

Trying out some new tones in the Positive Grid "BIAS" app. This tone is modeled after a Mesa Boogie Mark II, modeled after Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” sound.. I tweaked it a bit and think this sounds incredible.. this is straight guitar into Garageband, no EQ, no effects, other than BIAS amp matching. I played the riff once through dry, and then once through with the effect.. then went back and forth on and off so you can hear it.. i think it’s awesome, pretty much nails the Metallica tone.. and this is NO other effects, no mastering, no mixing, nothing.. just dry guitar with one amp sim on it.

Did a quick shoot at The Owl's Head wine bar in Bay Ridge yesterday. They wanted some interior shots of the bar to use for publicity, which they seem to be getting a lot of now! It's a great spot- if you're a wine connoisseur, make sure to check it out. 

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I love my light meter so much I think I'm going to just start wearing it around my neck like Flavor Flav does with that clock.

I'm putting the finishing touches on a project I've been working on for Indecision. Hoping to get it done before the end of the weekend. Going through the archives, pulling out some goodies! EDIT- make that ALL THE GOODIES.

A quick little time lapse video I filmed during my newborn photo shoot with my niece Pamela Claire.

Just finishing up my niece Pamela's newborn photos.. She is such a little peanut! So happy to have a baby girl in the family.