I am very excited by the look and quality of the images in this proof edition, love the presentation of one image per page. The entire book is 185 pages, and cost me a bit more to produce because it is printed in full color — all 185 pages! It contains images and street portraits that I created while traveling throughout China on two different speaking engagements last summer.

The book has been designed to match the look and layout of my earlier book, “Impressions of Italia” so that the two books can be a set, whether displayed on a coffee table or bookshelf.

If you’ve been following my blog, then you’ve seen some of the images that will be in the book already, like the two photographs below that I recently won some awards with, including Master Photographer of the Year!

I would love all of you to have an early copy of this book, and have decided to sell the first set of these for my material costs only, $75!

I will also include a gift certificate for the same amount that you can use on your next portrait session or order, so it’s like getting one or the other for free! If you’d like to be on the list and get one of the early copies for only my material printing costs, plus a gift certificate for $75, then let me know by sending me an email at web@brycox.com, or visit my website at www.brycox.com and click on CONTACT to get ahold of me. Make sure to put in your name and contact info in the email so that I can get a hold of you.

I drove to the top of the Cape to a small town called Provincetown.  On the edge of town there’s a jetty.  I hiked across the jetty to photograph this lighthouse that was way out on a little piece of land.

Once on the other side, I hiked around in the brush to get just the right spot, where the sun would only be lighting the side of the lighthouse — creating some depth.  This was one of my favorites.

Then I decided to create some self-portraits because I have realized that when I go to fun and beautiful places that I only get great photographs of my surroundings, but never of me.  At some point in life I’m sure I will want to look back and see photographs of me on one of my adventures.

So I set up my tripod with a radio shutter release and went to get in the photo when I could hear the camera snapping photographs randomly and without my control.  I ran to the camera to stop it and as a result of my camera’s mishap, I got these two images which I really like.

The movement gives them a certain interest and life, which makes them more interesting than me just standing there next to the lighthouse.

After I got the release working I took some more on purpose, but kept the idea of movement in the images.  The running images made me think of Richard Avedon’s self-portraits that he did while in 1950′s Paris with the Eiffel Tower.  I used that inspiration and created this set of images.

It was so quiet and serene out on that little piece of land.  I tend to be more introspective when I’m out of town, and especially when I’m in a beautiful place creating a photograph just for me.

There’s something about just relaxing and getting away from the distractions of life, and just looking at light, and being creative … and just thinking.  It took me about four hours total to cross the jetty, take some photographs, and hike back to land.  A very fulfilling night!

On the walk back, I took this image, looking back towards the lighthouse.

And here is the jetty looking back towards Provincetown.  I wanted to get across before sundown while there was still light to see, and I just made it.

When I got back, I saw a quaint hotel right on the beach and I booked a room.  It didn’t have a restaurant, so I headed into town for dinner, but missed everything.  All the restaurants were closed.  I went to bed on a few candy bars, but felt very fulfilled!

Each year photographers are allowed to enter four images, and here were my four entries:

It was an exciting night, but I was actually out of town during the entire awards ceremony, speaking in Georgia at their annual professional photographers convention.  However, I was keeping tabs on the Utah convention by phone, trying to see how I did.  When the news came in, it was even better than I had expected.  I not only won the big award of the night (Master Photographer of the Year), but a number of other great awards as well!

The level of competition is very difficult in the Masters, as I compete against the absolute best of the best.  I am always trying to raise the level of quality that I offer my clients each year, and to do a better and better job in every way possible.  As expectations and competition in the industry continues to rise, I hope that clients see these awards as a sign that my quality and commitment to great portraiture also rises each year.

Now these images will go on to regionals and then nationals.  I’ll keep you all posted on how they do.

I started at Portland Head Lighthouse, in Portland Maine, because it’s one of the most beautiful and photographed lighthouses on the east coast.  I woke up at 5:00 am and left my cozy and warm hotel room to battle the freezing cold in hopes of a great sunrise image.

This is one of my favorites, because it shows the rockiness of the coast.  I love the yellow coming in from the horizon, and you can barely see another lighthouse on the water in the far distance.

BryCox - Portland ME Lighthouse

Here’s a closer and vertical image of the same lighthouse.

BryCox - Portland ME Lighthouse 3

I really liked this one. I used a Lens Baby shift lens to give me optically soft edges, and then breathed on the lens to fog the glass.

BryCox - Portland ME Lighthouse 4

Later that day I found this lighthouse, Pemaquid Point.  It was getting late as I did this panorama.

BryCox - Pemaquid Point 1

Here was a little building just to the side of the lighthouse.  I liked how all the rocks pointed to it.

BryCox - Pemaquid Point 2

This was a little bench that looked out to the ocean.

BryCox - Pemaquid Point 3

The next morning on my drive back to the airport I stopped to photograph this frozen lake.  It was so cold there.  I was just out of my car for a moment, and absolutely froze.

BryCox - Maine Frozen Lake

It was a great trip and I’m very happy with the images I created.  I hope to have a reason to get back there sometime soon…and hopefully when it’s a bit warmer.

I hope to do an art book of just Chinese art images similar to my Italian art book I did a few years ago.  I will first need to sort and choose my favorites, as well as do some slight artwork on the images and adjust for contrast and proper cropping.

For right now though, here is an early preview of some of my favorite images, before post-production artwork.  It was a fantastic journey and I’ll be excited to show these images after they are finished.

By the way, feel free to let me know some of your favorites!

BryCox - China Art Images 1

BryCox - China Art Images 2

BryCox - China Art Images 3

BryCox - China Art Images 4

BryCox - China Art Images 5

BryCox - China Art Images 6

BryCox - China Art Images 7

BryCox - China Art Images 8

BryCox - China Art Images 9

This first image I created on the way down there.  I just loved the storm clouds and my inspiration on framing this was based on many of the paintings I’ve seen of my favorite painter…my cousin Antony Cox (AntonyCox.com).

If you look at his work, check out the paintings he did from 2000-2004 with his really low or really high horizons.  I’ve always found that intriguing.  So when I saw this scene, I thought of Antony’s paintings and framed it in a similar way.  I also love the rain falling onto the mountains in the center and how all the lines in the clouds point to the rain.  So cool!

BryCox - Moab 1

This is one of my favorites!  It is of  an old church.  I love the colors, the cool background and the warm foreground.  Storms create amazing directional lighting that shines under the storm clouds and light up objects.  I was very excited to see this and had to stop and photograph it. I love how there’s a touch of blue in the church too that ties it all in.

BryCox - Moab 2

I’ve been a regular visitor to Moab, to visit Arches and the other National Parks looking for great images, and have rarely seen such a great sky for photography.  Aside from exposing images just right, the weather is really key to great scenics in my opinion.  Static images may seem amazing in real life, but pale in comparison after they are photographed.

I think all photographers have been disappointed when they’ve looked at images they tried to create of some magnificent scene — I know I have.  My conclusion is that something else is needed other than a great scene, good composition, and a perfect exposure.  But rather something has to make the inanimate objects seem more dynamic, and that comes from great directional light and interesting weather.  These extra ingredients have to be there as well in order to add drama to the inanimate objects.  That is what makes the image of the church as well as these other images so fun for me to look at — all of those elements are there!

So here are a few exposures from Arches National Park.

BryCox - Moab 3

Again in Arches…

BryCox - Moab 4

And here is me at Delicate Arch — one of the most famous arches!

BryCox - Moab 5

And one of me under the arch.  This particular area is usually packed with visitors because it is so famous, so people have to be creative in how you frame and cut the image to give the illusion of being there all alone.

BryCox - Moab 6

When I narrow the images down to the final art prints, I’ll process them out separately for the best color and depth possible, and then add my unique touch of artwork to them, custom print them and offer them on my art site, BryCoxArt.com.  Maybe I’ll put a post up here on the blog when they are ready.

So until next time, America!
– Bry

To kick it off, I’m offering the first 10 for $300 off, and am also including free local delivery or FedEx Ground shipment to the lower 48 states.

I know that by offering the first few at a big discount that many of your friends and families will see it displayed your homes and want one for themselves.

Bry Cox - Mountain Tops

This image is called “Mountain Tops” due to the composition and as a reference to the Old Testament use of mountains as a symbol of the temple.  Here’s how it looks from the side.

Bry Cox - side view of Mountain Tops

In getting “Mountain Tops” ready to release, I also decided to release and offer another image that has only been seen at my studio but has always created a big buzz — “The Sacred Grove!”  It’s amazing how great this looks close up!  It’s also been fun to have a religious piece of artwork that only certain people recognize as well.  Some have simply thought it was a beautiful scenic, but those who know, appreciate it on many levels and are stunned by it.

Bry Cox - Sacred Grove

This is available as a 24×36 stretched Canvas Gallery Wrap and I’m doing the same thing with this: offering the first 10 for $300 off!  This too also includes free local delivery or FedEx Ground shipment to the lower 48 states.

Both are available at my online store which is BryCoxART.com, or can be ordered by phone by giving me a call at 801-728-3317.

Call with any questions too.

Thanks, and until next time, America!
– Bry