BryCox.com – Celebrity Style Imaging, Inc.™

Usually my trips are all business, as are my blog posts.  I usually like to talk about some my favorite images and jobs of the week here on my blog, but this week some of my favorite images come from a fun trip that I took to Lake Powell.

The trip was with my ward and friends, and we had a blast.  A side note, all of these images are with my professional point and shoot camera too — a small and completely manual camera that is great for travel.

I took this first image on my drive down, looking out my window while driving.

Our friend Benton, who is an expert fly fisherman, took my cousin Tony and I on a fishing expedition up the Colorado River.  We started here, just below the dam.  I call this image, “The best dam image of me.”

Here’s Benton showing off one of Tony’s catches.  With his help, we caught a ton of fish — all however were too big to keep.  It’s a funny rule on this part of the river.

Here was one of my catches, one of the biggest of the day.  If I could have kept it, it would have made a great dinner!

Here is a pano looking out from our boat.

Because of my recent knee dislocation, I wasn’t able to wakeboard with everyone else.  I’ve been working hard on rehabilitation, because I like being active and don’t want to miss out on summer fun.  My knee was feeling pretty good so I tried some light surfing behind our friend Mark’s boat.  It was great to get in the water.

If you haven’t seen or heard of this, you start behind the boat with a rope in order to get started, and then throw the rope back to the boat once you get your balance.   A pro can surf on that wake indefinitely.

It not only was a great trip, but a reminder for me to photograph my casual moments in life, as well as the professional.  Photographs are a great way to preserve memories not only for us, but for future generations.

If you need any photographs of your family this summer, give me a call.  801-728-3317.  And in the meantime, check out more of my professional work on my website at BryCox.com.

I just finished a job in Hyannis, MA on Cape Cod, and afterward decided to take a bit of time to myself to photograph a nearby lighthouse.  I don’t know what it is exactly that is so attractive about lighthouses, but I love to photograph them.  It is always so serene to be in these places.

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!

Today is Mother’s Day!  I just got back from speaking in Texas, and have a lot of wonderful photo shoots to post and talk about — some fantastic and glamourous images I created here at my studio before I left, as well as work I did in Texas.

However, in looking them over and trying to decide what to post about today, I decided that I’d rather post a family portrait in honor of Mother’s Day.

This is the latest photograph of my family, and I created it at my sister’s wedding.  I set it all up, stepped in, and fired it with a remote that’s in my other hand.  It shows my folks, my sister, her new husband, and my grandma — it’s a portrait of the three women in my family.

I love that we as a nation, have a special day set apart just to honor the women and mothers in our families.  It’s a great day to show the love and respect that we all have for them.

There are many great lessons that I’ve learned from my mom, more than I could possibly list here.  Because this is a public blog, I don’t want to get too personal, but I’ll just list a few things that have to do with my business.

It’s because of her that I have a love of beauty and of working in my garden and yard (which is on my to-do list tomorrow).  She’s been my champion and my photographic critic, and is one of the reasons I’m an artist today.

Throughout the years, my mom has always encouraged me to do better, she’s helped me raise my level of quality, and has always helped me troubleshoot problems in my business so that I could go further.  She’s helped edit my books and magazine articles and has helped me become better at words and writing.

And it’s because of her and my upbringing that I have a love and respect for women.  Many people have noted over the years that I photograph women in a respectful and attractive way, without objectifying.  I owe this to my mom.  It has always been my goal for complete strangers to be able to look at one of my portraits and feel like they know who the person is inside in some way.  That I think, is a different and higher level of attractiveness.

My folks have taught me integrity, honesty, and a love for others, and I know that it’s because of them that I am who I am today.

So even though I’ve wished my Mom this many times today, I just wanted to say publicly, Happy Mother’s Day!

I was recently asked to create the official portraits of my two favorite TV news anchors, KUTV’s Shauna Lake and Mark Koelbel.

Here are two of my favorite images.

BryCox - Mark Koelbel

I really like kind and real look on each of them, and the airiness of the lighting and background.  And I have to say too that Mark and Shauna are always just fun to work with, and entire shoot was just a joy.

I had someone post on my blog today a link to the radio interview I did on creativity for the religious show, LDS Radio.  I thought I’d post it here so it’d be easy to find.

The interview was of me and two other people, all creative in our trades, asking about our thoughts and procedures in creativity.  Here’s a direct link to the show, here.

It begins with the quote from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the LDS Church:

“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.  We each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exhist before.  The more you trust and rely up the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create.”

Me at LDS Radio (2)

And here is my original blog entry, with more info on the interview.

Happy New Year, everyone!  It’s my sister’s wedding is in the morning and I thought I’d put up some of the images I’ve been working on for her display tomorrow.  These are from her engagements and bridals.

BryCox - Engagement #1

We did some in the studio, and some in the leaves here at my outdoor garden studio…

BryCox - Engagement #2

…and finished at the State Capital building where they got engaged.

BryCox - Engagement #3

BryCox - Engagement #4

And then for her bridals, these are some of her favorites.  These were at the studio…

BryCox - Bridal #1

BryCox - Bridal #2

BryCox - Bridal #3

I’m very excited for my sister’s wedding tomorrow.  As far as the weather, it should be warmer than it’s been lately (the high is supposed to be 32º F), and there’s a strong possibility of snow too.  I hope it does snow because that will mean some very fun outdoor portraits at the temple after the wedding.  I’ll put some images of her wedding soon.

I also need to post some of the wedding album designs that I finished for clients for Christmas.  I was very excited about them and feel they were some of the best albums I’ve ever created.  They were so fantastic!!  Now that the holidays are over and I’m back to a regular schedule again, I’ll get the up online.

Until next time, Amercia!
– Bry

Bry Cox (Sep 2009)

Tonight while I was dressed up, I did a new self-portrait of myself.  Some of my contacts for speaking gigs have asked for an updated photo, and I can also use a new image of myself on the professional photography forums that I’m a contributer for.

I specifically did a photo of me smiling this time.  On a couple occasions people have told me after meeting me, that they were suprised to see that I’m a happy guy.  Somehow they thought that my serious self-portraits meant that I was a  dark and brooding type of person.  That’s so funny to me.

Yes I do smile a lot, but tend to photograph myself serious.  So this time I made myself laugh for a real genuine smile, and this photo turned out to be my favorite.

As far as the blog goes, I’ve got a lot to tell you all, and will get some of the highlights up this week.

Until then,
– Bry

I was interviewed recently on LDS Radio which is KSL’s HD 2 station, and is also an internet radio station found at radio.lds.org with podcasts and mp3 downloads.  That interview just aired today at 1:oo pm.  I got an email from someone that I was on the radio and turned it on to hear the last half of the show.  It was really fun!

LDS Radio - On Air

I didn’t have a lot of information about the show, but just knew that the subject was ‘Creativity.’  This is a good subject for me because aside from working creatively as an artist, I’ve really had to analyze my creative approach over the years so that I could better teach creativity at the photographic workshops that I do all over the US and Canada (and now China).  I was glad that it was a subject that I felt prepared for.

When I arrived, I was happy that I knew the host already, Nancy Hanson, a local musician.  I’ve done design and portrait work for her over the years and have gotten to know her well from that as well as having mutual musician friends.  Here’s one of my favorite images I did of her a while back.

BryCox - Nancy Hanson

Also being interviewed was Vaughn Armstrong, who recently created a new LDS trivia board game.  I also know Vaughn personally because we were in the same singles ward a few years ago.  There was one other person being interviewed whose name I don’t remember now.  (I’m sorry!)  She has a blog and podcast about playing the ukulele all over the world.  The idea was to get us together and discuss and compare creative approaches in our different fields.

Me at LDS Radio (1)

Me at LDS Radio (2)

Me at LDS Radio (3)

Thanks again to LDS Radio and Tamilisa for inviting me over and having me on.  It was a great experience and a real honor.  I hope to find the MP3 and link over to it when it is available for everyone to listen to.

Early the next morning I set out to photograph and document the convention center before people started to arrive, because this is the first PPA convention in China, and the very first PhotoAsia — four years in the making!

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 1

Here is the place all ready for people to arrive!

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 2

I walked out to the main gate to photograph the guard…

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 3

…as well as various landmarks that surrounded the convention center like this pavilion in the distance (above) in one direction and this statute (below) in another direction.

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 4

By that time people started arriving and as I tried to get this image of me in front of the convention center.

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 5

I had only a short 3 minute walk back to the hotel, but I got stuck in this location for about 45 minutes because someone recognized me and wanted a photo with me.  That got other people’s attention and within moments I was mobbed by people on all sides wanting to photograph me  and wanting me to sign their shirts.  I have to admit, this really made me feel awesome!  This is just one quick shot of the crowd at the end as I was trying to leave and get to the opening ceremonies.  There were still people wanting photos with me, but I didn’t want to be late to the ceremony of which I was apart!

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 6

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 7

We had a quick welcome meeting with the VIP’s in a smaller room where flowers were pinned on us by Chinese women in traditional dress.  These women then escorted us to the main hall, the location of the opening ceremonies.  This photo is coming down the escalator towards the main hall.  The women in the red traditional dresses are our escorts.

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 8

As we approached, everyone began to take our picture.  So fun!

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 9

And here is PPA President, Ron Nichols up on the stage welcoming everyone to PPA Photo Asia.

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 10

Here’s me backstage with my flower pinned on, and wearing half of my second custom made Chinese suit.  That is also one of the custom made dress shirts too.

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 11

The opening ceremonies opened up the print exhibit.  This is just half of the exhibit, and only the accepted prints.  If I remember right, there were entries from over 25,000 photographers from around the world, and I won a Gold Medal!  I’ll talk more on this when I talk about the awards ceremony in a later post.

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 12

As you can see, all of us got mobbed for autographs and photos.  Here is Ron Nichols getting tons of attention.

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 13

And here is one of my photographs in the exhibit.

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 14

And I loved it when these women came up and asked to pose for a photo with me, so I made sure I got one with my camera too.  :-)

Cox - PPA Photo Asia 15

And I loved this moment when the beautiful editor of PhotoWorld Magazine came up and asked for a photo with me.  She later did a one-on-one interview too for her magazine.  That was one of the highlights of the trip.  She gave me a copy of a past issue and the cover photo was incredible!  It is a fabulous and beautiful magazine and I felt honored to be asked to be in it.

After the opening ceremonies, I had time for a quick and fast lunch before going off to speak — the first speaker at the first PhotoAsia.  I’ll have more on that in the next post!

Yes, I am here in China! I was the first speaker here at PPA Photo Asia, and someone pointed out that I am the first speaker at the first ever PPA Photo Asia! I feel it a great honor to be here and do such a great work.

I have many amazing photographs and info to post, but access to my blog is limited here for some reason — it seems to be blocked along with many other websites. In fact, I’m only able to add some text here using a URL cloaking site (many of which are blocked as well). Using a cloaking site has taken away the functionality of the blog and I am not as of yet able to upload photographs.

However, I speak again all day today and start in a just a little bit. So I will try and post some photos very soon.