My "Pet" Project takes Flight....

Dear readers,

I would like to begin with many thanks for all your compliments, sharing, and support of all my endeavors.

The night of December 31st, as I bid farewell to an extreme 2014, I was spent setting up a traditional public showing of my Dog Beach imagery. A long time in the making and driven by my continuous urge of artistic pursuits (like why I keep going to Burning Man, not because I like eating dust… ), what started out as time to clear my head finally received some recognition. And it all started with the walks on the beach that I would take when spending time in Del Mar, walks that brought forth countless photo opportunities with my old iPhone4. 

My first capture (Magenta Sunset 2011) started it all. It lead me to download the ProCamera App and Filterstorm App as recommended by another photographer in Dubai. This app was game changing for me as it started capturing what I saw, even better. I have to admit, I was also taunted by a couple of pro photographers, who described their smartphone cameras as crappy or no good. I set out to prove them wrong. Maybe it ain’t the camera buddy...

The basic “secret” to ProCamera App is the separation of the focus and exposure button, into two separate settings. The Filterstorm App merely provided me a simple way to straighten (Yes-I cannot always hold my camera level), then crop, (not always, I crop when I am shooting, its called get up out of the sand and move your position), fine tune the exposure, (but not a lot, as Del Mar sunsets can be spectacular) and add a watermark (important these days-maybe). I do no photoshop re-illustration or cheap/dorky/dumb/outdated “filters” like Instagram allows amateurs to step into. 

The light is the light, and if you don’t get the right light, then maybe "don’t post a bad photo…kid". Go back the next day….eh. Can you tell I don’t like that 70’s look filter? We will look back at this decade and do facepalms, realizing amateurs wrecked a lot of their great photos.  

All of this is done at the beach on an image, while my subject is standing there with their wet dog, before they head back to their car.

This process did take time to perfect, but I wanted to see the reactions of people when I showed them my iPhone screen, once they walked over to see “what I got”. It did even lead to aTV interview last January, that aired on Feb 13th in the San Diego area. Ironically the same day I was in Quill Lake Saskatchewan, giving a difficult eulogy at my dear cousin Vern’s funeral. Like I blogged earlier, "A year of extremes….”

So, encouraged by Del Mar friends Sandy and Kevin, I started asking a few local galleries if they would consider displaying my work. Pannikin Coffee and Tea, located in Encinitas on the PCH, offered me the month of January 2015. I approached my “local” photo lab, Photo Shack in Las Vegas, run by a great guy called Lel, to do some testing with large prints from my old iPhone 4. www.psprolab.com For those photographers reading this (I know you are….) the biggest issue we found was “over sharpening by the iPhone 4 and some digital noise”, however the fact that it does not capture well in low light, actually makes for a better silhouette. Lel printed some of my images 44 inches (1.2meters) wide and then laminated them. His care and attention deserves a huge shout out, and to the aforementioned photographers, I suggest you go with him if you need something custom inkjet printed, personally supervised and then shipped with care.  

The show looks great in this unique and busy setting, that used to be a former Santa Fe train station. The large laminated prints are holding up well, as the large wooden freight room doors they are pinned on, are always open because it is always nice in California, so they are exposed to a lot of humidity, a few birdys, alota people, and the ocean is close. Elements that obviously would make many of my readers jealous. I apologize in advance, as I am trying to get this posting done quickly today so I can head to the beach...

So that is the basics of my show, please drop in if you are in the area, or perhaps I could give a personal tour at Pannikin if you buy me a coffee. Please let me know if there is some snowbound place in North Dakota or even north of that, that might be interested in displaying my iPhone beach captures. 

Warm Regards from CA

MM

A very extreme year......

Dear friends and beloved followers of Following Mark Mennie,

For starters I apologize for my extreme radio silence lately.....

2014 has no doubt been a year up extreme ups and downs with an amazing amount of travel, both on a state and internationally. My year started with HeliExpo in California, and a few days later I showed up for the Outrider's tryouts. Then in early spring, I criss crossed the great state of Tennessee to cover and capture 5 AMTC host programs, for the Nashville event that was held in late September. In June, I revisited my beloved Roma and I walked the streets that the ancient Romans once walked and befriended a few new ones at one particular restaurant. I then circled the world with a trip to Australia to shoot a great project for CareFlight. After wrapping that project, I went directly onto my cherished Dubai to help the organizers of the Helishow 2014. I then ended my crazy year of travel shooting The Outriders and Drill Crew Calendars, another collaboration with my best buddy Waldy Martens. It was a lot of work and one technical hiccup, but all and all went very well.  I celebrated all the hard work with the Stampeders' Grey Cup win in Vancouver with the Outriders. What a season and what a year.

I lost two family members and one great photo friend. Unfortunately, I have to found out that yet another Calgary photo buddy passed away on January 1st.  

I was again a Burner at my 8th Burning Man, but this year I was officially designated by the BMorg to capture imagery for the event. This accreditation had its advantages for early access, and also recognition that you are just not another person with a camera. A claim second only to "I'm a DJ"… I was honored to be asked portray the organization professionally through my lens, and I never missed a sunrise on the playa the whole time I was there. 

Through these events and a very emotional filled year I probably shot 20,000 plus frames. This could also be measured as almost a terabyte in edited and saved imagery, and a few technical issues as well. 

My projects were extremely varied and my sleep and eating habits matched it too.

My visuals illustrated a couple new video projects that were created by Jean Levasseur of PHOCUS Productions,  which were all well received by our clients. I love the merging of imagery, music and ideas…

My last photographic action on December 31st, was to hang my first showing of large prints, from my 2 years of Dog Beach iPhone captures, at a very popular coffee house in Encinitas, California. The last time I exhibited was in 2009, my Altawan series in DC. 

So as I conclude this "all over the map" year (both literally and figuratively), what are my goals for 2015?!?! Both personal and career?!?!?

BALANCE - Personally.

BALANCE in my day to day life. A BALANCE that has now escaped me for years.

GAINS - in Business.

To cultivate and grow the GAINS I made in 2013 + 2014, as well as incurring new GAINS in 2015.

GROWTH - Artistically

I hope to make the Memorial Lights in Colorado and the AMTC, a bigger unique visual presence. 

And to take my Burning Man project I have proposed for years, and make it a reality. 

and SHARE - My Experiences

To certainly post a lot more on social media and my blog.

To keep making it happening in Dubai. The World Expo 2020, is right around the corner.

To hopefully continue to grow my visual influence with the Outriders and the Drill Crew. 

To simply share a pint with Greg Williams my high school biology teacher and catch up with a few others from my past. 

To return to Australia and attend the Air medical conference in Darwin. 

Someday I hope to return to Jo'burg, Roma and Wildhorse as well.

To someday again simply icefish with my Saskatchewan cousins as well.  

To continue to spend more time with my family. Honor thy Parents. 

And lastly to find a little more time for me, whether that be travel, sleep, or a new hobby. Something to spark my creativity and make me a better artist.

Happy New Year to all! 

Until next time....

MM 

The Memorial Lights returns to the Air Medical Memorial in Littleton, CO

Last week marked 370 days since the original quiet debut of The Memorial Lights, to an impressive crowd of three people, my friends and co-creators Alex, Temple and myself. The Memorial Lights then went on to make their AMTC debut then a few months later in Virginia Beach with a much larger and receptive showing.  The Memorial Lights has always been a labor of love for me, and something I want to give back the air medical community. I would be lying if I said I was not nervous about returning to Littleton, CO, managing the unique challenges of the venue...and wondering exactly what the turnout was going to be.

To my surprise, Steve Sweeney, Co-founder and Board Chair of the Air Medical Memorial, called me Thursday morning of the event, letting me know that AirLife Denver was going to fly one of their aircraft in for The Memorial Lights. I was pleasantly surprised, as I started to realize that what has been a pipe dream so long for me was starting to grow wings. In addition it was so fulfilling to see that other key members of the air medical community were also working behind the scenes to promote The Memorial Lights success. A big huge “Thanks” Tammy!

Once I arrived in Denver, Temple and I made our way to a café, where some of the survivor’s families were meeting for a casual dinner. The place was packed, and it was nice to see some familiar faces. However, when I sat down at the bar by myself to enjoy a cold beer, I suddenly was accompanied by an amazing woman, who had lost her husband 17 months ago. She explained to me, how important the The Memorial Lights installation and their quiet nature was to her and how the ceremony gave her such peace. This completely warmed my heart. I think I am making a difference.

Shortly after dinner, Temple and I arrived to the Air Medical Memorial site, to be greeted by the Littleton Fire Department, who was there to monitor the landing zone for AirLife.  Once the helicopter landed, I headed with the cardboard box of Lights, set up a table with some volunteers, and then explained to the Volunteers what to do. "Take a few lights, read the names and spread them out in groups of one, two, three or four. As you read the names, please take note of who they are. Each tea light represents an honoree and their service. And if you feel so compelled to place them in their correct groups please do, as the Lights are all mixed together." A few family members also assisted us, and as would be the case, they always seemed to find their loved ones immediately despite the mixture. It was uncanny and humbling in the same breath.

In total there was about 75 people there, paying respects to loved ones and colleagues. The captain of the fire department, kindly offered the use of his 100ft ladder truck for me to get an overhead image. I took him up on his offer, and a few minutes later a large truck rolled in, set up, and I climbed it as it took me above and I quickly capture imagery of the layout and the fruits of our labor.

Once it got dark enough, I set up my tripod and captured what I believe is a key color image of The Memorial Lights installation, with two important family members in the foreground surrounded by lights; in the background I also captured the three-person flight crew, holding three tea lights, which represented their three crew AirLife lost a few years ago. Only the sounds of the nearby freeway were heard, everyone just walked around in silence. Again humbling and so resounding are the first words that come to mind.

I am very thankful for the growing encouragement and continued support from the US air medical community in their endorsement of my professional photography, my artwork and this installation.  And many, many thanks again to Temple, Alex (from afar) and Steve Sweeney, as well as his corps of volunteers as this project would have never taken flight without you. 

Many thoughts still swirl around my head, as I try to understand how The Memorial Lights can help to educate and inform as well as honor the fallen. How can I further spread this concept of reflective beauty and solemn nature to the entire air medical community? How can I, the photographer and the artist, honor the air medical community’s fallen heroes, while trying to eliminate it from happening again? All questions impossible to answer, but I will continue to do my part in trying.

The Memorial Lights project will make its next appearance this September at AMTC Nashville with the heartfelt assistance of AAMS and the city of Nashville. Each time is bigger and better than the last and I look forward to its debut. Come September there may even be some surprises involved!?!?

Until next time……..

Mark Mennie

Dog Beach Imagery....How does Mark do that??? And then make it look so easy????

Anyone who visits Mark's blog, website, or Facebook pages with any sort of regularity knows that one of Mark's favorite pastimes is capturing imagery at a dog beach in Del Mar, CA. Equipped with nothing more than his iPhone (with his favorite photo app, ProCamera) and an innate instinct for the day's best sun, Mark vividly draws in his audiences.  So much so that Mark was recently notice by reporter, Abbie Alford from CBS 8 San Diego, CA and was featured in this informative segment a few months ago.  If you have not seen this yet, please click here and check it out.  

After viewing Mark's dog beach photos and hearing that they were taken his cell phone, people often then ask "how much photoshop?" or  "what sort of special effects filter or special post production technique did he use to get them to look like that?".  They answer ladies and gents is NONE.  Since most of you are still skeptical I thought I might take this opportunity to clarify his process a bit.  So I asked Mark for some of his secrets and here is what he said.....

CDL- Timing seems to be everything in capturing these perfect images.  What is your preferred time to hit the beach?  

MM- Low tide, this really is the most important factor.  The best time is only about 3 minutes before sunset and then 15-30 minutes after. 

CDL- Besides lighting and timing what other elements allow you to take all these amazing shot? 

MM- Staying AFTER sunset, as the temp drops, many people head back to their cars and that is when the light is perfect. The right conditions in the sky also help a lot, which sometimes is not always a crystal clear day. The sun is much too bright at times for my iPhone.  

CDL- Any other techniques you use especially when it might be too bright or sunny?  

MM-When the sun is "too bright", I try to catch a dog's / a person's body in front of the sun-to reduce the brightness and the iPhone does adjust for that.

CDL-Okay the million dollar question that everyone is dying to know...do you retouch or photoshop your dog beach images?  

MM-I DO NOT do any "Photoshop re-touching or re-illustration" I am certainly NOT a fan of the HDR look. (High Dynamic Range)  I ONLY adjust image brightness and a slight increase in contrast/saturation to keep my silhouettes black and make sure peoples' identities are anonymous...the opposite of HDR. The iPhone does a it's own great job on capturing what I see and feel. Really the largest adjustment I sometimes I choose to make is "straightening out the horizon" as many times it is hard to keep my iPhone camera level as I kneel in the soft wet (and sometimes cold) sand.

CDL-Okay last question....what makes your dog beach photography one of your favorite pastimes?  

MM-I am creating something unique, that can be electronically shared right from the beach. That and all the great conversations I strike up shooting with people surprised with what I am getting with my "iPhone"...

Mark's custom sized dog beach imagery is available for sale on his website www.mennie.com.  

Ushering in 2014 with some reflection......

So as 2014 quickly unfolds I have challenged Mark to reflect on 2013.  What were his highs? His lows? What would he like to see more of on 2014?  What would he like to eliminate?  What would be an all encompassing snap shot of last year? What image does he see in a crystal ball of the year ahead?  It took a while but this is what he said......

My highs? My European trip, which included re-connecting with some European air medical friends, mission photography in the Czech Republic (and the amazing hospitality of my CZ friend Pavel, his family and his vineyard+cellar!) and then a brief, but successful scouting of Roma in preparation for the Airmed World Congress in June 2014.

The low? Watching the continuing deterioration of pro photography, not necessarily as a result of technology or the internet, but how mediocre and even poor imagery is continuing to lead alot of sheep. But in all honesty my real low was at the start of 2014, but directly related to 2013. I did not meet my photo buddy Ben Checkowy, in Los Angeles, for just a half day in December, as I was too"busy" and I could not quite afford the trip. Ben suddenly passed away two weeks ago. RIP Ben. Life is way too short.

More of this next year? More missions with more air medical programs, including some good light to feature STARS' new A139 in action!  Finding more time to shoot more sunrises, as I think I have sunsets at Dog Beach covered. And seeing more pros speaking up about mediocre imagery flooding the internet and the hazards it can cause. Those who already know that you have to pay real money for good photography can chime in at any time as well. Support Artists! Their vision can take a lifetime to develop. 

Eliminate? The "joys" of travel, as my last big trip across the US with United had me stranded alone in Chicago...Perhaps eliminating some of my airline travel and getting my butt on more Amtrak trains. 

All encompassing snap shot of last year? Europe, it's friends and their hospitality and the future possibilities that it held! Mix in a successful Outriders' season...the best ever Drill Crew Calendar just debuting now and there were some real highs. 

Crystal Ball? I see a successful HAI experience that relates to both the November 2014 Dubai Helishow and the opportunity to meet some great air medical friends at the Airmed World Congress in Roma this June. The AMTC Host Program Photography project will put me in TN this year, and I always have enjoyed my time in that region of the United States. Images from that project will debut in Roma! And lastly, yet another return to Burning Man with the intention to receive a grant to do "something big". Stay tuned. 

Many, many thanks again to the followers of my blog. I really appreciate your support, and insights over the years. MM