scenic

He Is Risen, Sun over Death Valley in Color Infrared for Easter 2016

Being Easter, I wanted to post something and it hit me today what to share. I have been working on this image and many others as part of a big commercial project I did in Death Valley. This image was shot in color infrared, a light spectrum invisible to the human eye. The bright colors are real, they are just not the colors or type of light we see.

So aside from the candy Easter colors, I like this for Easter because the sun is dramatically shining over Death Valley from the horizon as if rising. It says symbolically, “The Son brings light and life to Death.”

BryCox_DeathValley_Mar2016-2702-Pano-1000p

And for a little more Easter spirit, I want to share a video with my little 4-year old nephew narrating it. He was an early reader and last year when my family showed him an Easter video he started reading the captions. My sister and brother-in-law stopped and recorded him and combined his voice with a new version of the video. They did it again this year, and this is it.

And here is last year’s video. More backstory on this in last year’s post.

Plus, here are some photos I did of him in my Utah studio to go with his cute voice.

Cox_JMartin-Mar2015-166-4up-900p

Happy Easter, everyone. And until next time, America.

Caribbean Street Images Using My Point-And-Shoot Camera

I’ve been so busy with the studio and with speaking gigs, that I am behind on my blog. I’ve got a list of shoots that I’ve been meaning to post about and that list keeps growing. But I recently went on a spontaneous Caribbean cruise, and thought I’d share some of the images I created there.

A big group of friends were going on this cruise and asked us to come. I loved the idea for the photographic opportunities and chance to turn off my cell phone for a solid week, but we had said no because there were too many reasons why it didn’t fit into our calendars. However the night before the boat left, things seemed to just work out, so me and two other friends spontaneously just packed our bags and took a redeye flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico to see if we could somehow talk our way on the ship. After a crazy adventure in getting there, everything worked out and we stepped on board completely surprising everyone.

I packed my normal big bag of camera gear ready for any photographic opportunity, but ended up only using my small point-and-shoot because of the size and mobility. It’s more about how you use the camera than what camera you use.

Here are some of the images I created.

Bry Cox, ©BryCox.com

Bry Cox, ©BryCox.com

I love faces and portraits of people when I travel. Plus I like to walk and explore areas and absorb and photograph the abstract scenes that make you feel like you’re in a unique place.

Bry Cox, ©BryCox.comBry Cox, ©BryCox.comBry Cox, ©BryCox.com

BCox_Cruise2015-421Bry Cox, ©BryCox.com

Bry Cox, ©BryCox.com

Bry Cox, ©BryCox.com BCox_Cruise2015-599 BCox_Cruise2015-588 BCox_Cruise2015-586 BCox_Cruise2015-551BCox_Cruise2015-552 Bry Cox, ©BryCox.com

I always take my own photos, using a self-timer and an extendable pole. I used to come home from places with lots of photos, but no photos of me because I’m the one behind the camera. Some years ago I’ve made it a resolution to always get photos of me too.Bry Cox, ©BryCox.comBry Cox, ©BryCox.com Bry Cox, ©BryCox.com Bry Cox, ©BryCox.com Bry Cox, ©BryCox.comHere’s my taxi driver on one island. I aimed and shot this without looking through the lens. I really like how it turned out.

Bry Cox, ©BryCox.com

Yes, I packed my tux. It seems silly to take a tux on a boat, but since I wear it almost every day just hanging around my house anyway, I figured I’d take it.

Bry Cox, ©BryCox.com Bry Cox, ©BryCox.comBry Cox, ©BryCox.comBry Cox, ©BryCox.comBry Cox, ©BryCox.comBry Cox, ©BryCox.comBry Cox, ©BryCox.com

And this last photo was taken by a friend using my camera. I really like this background and photographed a few people from this island here (as you can see above. ) Just ignore the fact that my foot is cut off. 🙂

Make sure you check out my main website, BryCox.com. And until next time, America.

Smooth-Ocean Sunset Scenics in San Diego, California

While doing a wedding in San Diego this last weekend, I arrived a day early as I always do for out-of-town gigs to avoid travel complications. I found some food and then went out to find a great rocky shore on the ocean to create some smooth-ocean sunset scenics. It took some driving, but here are some of my favorites that I created that night.

I knew I had the right spot when I found this sign.

I then took this self-portrait of myself, hiked down the cliffs, set up, and waited for the perfect time to shoot.

While working, I tried to get another self-portrait of myself using a second camera on self-timer on a pole, but a big wave almost got me. It took a few images of me saving my camera.

I really loved the results from that night. Each image is great in its own way. If you’re a photographer, subscribe to my photographer workshop site and see the full story of how I created these, step by step.

And if you’re a family, it’s that time of year again for family portraits! The studio gardens are lush and beautiful, the weather is great, and I have a new, fantastic promotion running through June. Call now!! 801-728-3317 to set up a time.

And feel free to browse my main website at BryCox.com.

Come on an AMAZING Photo Tour of Iceland, July 15-21, 2012!

Come get Lost in Iceland, and have the adventure of a lifetime!

“Ice-Land” is Actually Very LUSH! Iceland is fantastically beautiful and was named “Ice-land” to keep people from moving there. It has kept Iceland beautiful and untouched. That means there’s amazing photography moments, just waiting there for us.

Bry Cox – Icelandic Photographic Adventure 1

This Photo Tour is Open to Anyone Looking for Adventure, Amateurs and Professionals! I will coach you to amp your inner artist while we explore the most serene places on earth. Come be a part of and create breathtaking photographs!

Led By An Elite Team of Icelandic Locals! We will travel in style with an elite team of Iceland’s best local experts and photographers who know all the nooks and crannies! We will avoid the tacky tourist traps, and focus on the beautiful hidden oases. These images were taken by this very elite team. They are fantastic photographers, scenic guides, and will do everything to this a comfortable trip for you.

Come during the warmest part, July 15-21, 2012!
For more info, visit brycox.com/iceland and
http://www.focusonnature.is/photo-workshops/bry-cox-iceland-workshop-2012/

I’d love to have you come along! This will be the adventure of a lifetime!

Race Horses in Arkansas

While speaking in Arkansas, a photographer friend of mine out there made arrangements for me and the group I was teaching to take some photographs in the early morning light at the Oaklawn race track. It was invigorating and fun because of the cold morning air and because photography is not normally allowed there. But with our special permission, we were able to get right up close and photograph the horses training. Here are a couple of my favorites.

This first image is so great when you look at it up close. The eyes are tack sharp and the blur in the image looks fantastic. It is all natural of course, no effects, no blurring – it’s all done in the camera. I especially like the horses position in the frame and the overall shape of his feet.

On all of these, I added my new custom edges that I’ve been working on. I really like the finished look of these images.

We had free reign of the areas that no one sees, including the back. So while walking through the back area, I photographed the stables.

As I was leaving, I photographed this tree, looking up against the sky using my Lensbaby shift lens to get a real optical blur around the edges. I love how it turned out!

If you’re in need of some really great images, whether it be some unique art for your wall or some custom family portraits, give me a call. Spring is here and it’s a great time to get in. 801-728-3317. And check out my main website too if you’re new to my work, BryCox.com.

Musician Portraits for Scott Foster’s New CD

Scott Foster is coming out with a new CD, and we created some awesome images for his project.  We started in the studio and then moved to one of my favorite outdoor locations.

This first image is very captivating.  The expression is great and the selective focus is real, created in camera and not in post-production.  There’s something so great about true, organic, soft-focus and selective focus.  This image is reminiscent to me of a Rolling Stone interview portrait.

Everything we created in the portrait studio was done with the mindset of being different and unique.  A CD has to stand out and almost ask to be picked up, and the images have to do that.  I used a very edgy fashion lighting style on these to create a different look, mixed with a unique stance and fun background.

We then switched it up to Scott playing his electric guitar, again with selective focus before moving outside.

We then went on location to one of my favorite places because it’s so far from anywhere.  As far as you look on the horizon, you won’t see civilization.  We are really in the middle of nowhere, and the colors and textures are so great!  I really like the lines in this particular image, and how they all work with the guitar’s neck.

And here’s the same image in a multi-toned black and white version, because it just looks so cool!  The textures really pop this way.

I love working outside and using the clouds and terrain in Utah.  They add so much drama to an outdoor image if you know how to light it.  Shooting in the desert with exposed sun is very difficult to do well — which is why I love it so much.  Few people can create images like this in direct sunlight.  There is a trend amongst new photographers to call themselves “Natural Light” photographers, because they don’t know lighting and can’t work inside and can’t work outside unless it is in shade or the sky is overcast.  There is no control and their images all look flat and dull.

Contrast that look with these images.  They have depth, they have real highlights and shadows, the colors are real and dynamic, and the sky and scene has drama, and all the lines and colors all work together.  There is no “plastic” looking photoshop effects.  Everything is real and because of that, you feel like you can step into these images.

We ended the shoot with Scott walking away, feeling that this could perhaps be the back of the CD or a foldout page inside.  It gives room for text and design work.

 

And here is the same image, but in my special multi-toned black and white.  Both are so cool!  Which one do you like?

Well, I can’t wait to see the final CD design and hear all the new recordings that Scott has been working on.  He is a great musician and a real artist and it was fun to be able to create this images for him.

If you’d like to check out his music and get his new CD, his website is TheRealScottFoster.com.

Well thanks for looking and if you need some new portraits for your project, business, or family, give me a call.  801-728-3317.  And browse my main website, BryCox.com and my blog at BryCox.com/blog.