December 5, 2008

Simon's Slamtastic Apple Picking Photo Op

Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer

I like taking photos of people. I charge because a brothers gotta eat... well... I am sure I could be fine if I didn't eat for a day or so, but I would be hungry. I also like to see lots of people. My thought is that photography + lots of people = fun. Unless it is photography + lots of people + riot = not so fun. There was no riot, but there was apple throwing and eating and tractors and goats... (no goats were harmed and are not pictured for their kids sake. ha. kid. whatever.) So next time Simon has an event, this is why you should be there (Hillbilly House Party sometime in December) ->

Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer

If you are in these photos and want any of them, shoot me an email, leave me a comment, or give me a call and I will get them to you.

Labels: , , , , , ,

December 4, 2008

Homestead Apple Orchard

A while back, a few friends and I went out to the Homestead Apple Orchard in Maple Plain, MN to hang out and shoot some photos. I will post more later tonight, but here is a sneak peek.

Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer
Simon McConico Minneapolis Commercial Photographer

Labels: , , , , , ,

December 2, 2008

Tech Tuesday - Snow and Mexico

A little explanation: Being a digital photographer takes not only skill as an artist, but also skill in knowing how to work with the equipment that you have. Technology has been something that I have had in my life nearly all my life. I want to use these posts to break down some technical stuff into something that makes sense to the average folk. That way I don’t feel like such a nerd when I say words like terabyte, sync speed, or aperture. That said… onto the post!

It is snowing in Wisconsin. I don’t mind the snow, being that I grew up in Minneapolis and was trick-or-treating in boots and a jacket (pretty sure you couldn’t even see my sweet clown outfit), but sometimes the sun is nice. All of the lamenting seems kinda random, but it all has to do with my hard drive.

Hmm… odd logic sir. Weeelll… A few months ago I was running out of space on my hard drive and needed to find a solution to that. When you shoot photos and keep them all on your hard drive, after a few years you build up quite a bit of space. I started shooting with film when I was younger, but it wasn’t really love at first click. I had to wait for the subpar photos and pay money to see them even though I paid for the film. Kinda felt like a rip off to me (in fifth grade??). I eventually got a point and shoot digital and started clicking away. I have an archive of images from 2003 till now and that is quite a few 64 meg memory cards later. Now I am shooting on 8 gig cards with 8 meg files (soon to be 25 meg with the new Canon 5D Mark II) and the files were piling up.

For those of you who are not technically savvy here is the deal in laymen’s terms:
1000 (k)ilobyte = 1 (meg)abyte
1000 (meg)abytes = 1 (gig)abyte
1000 (gig)abytes = 1 terabyte

A lil guestimation:
A photo on 5 megapixel camera (megapixel is different than megabyte) is about 2-3 megs.
A photo on a Canon Rebel XT, 8 megapixel camera is about 6-8 megs

So now that you get the idea of how big the photos are, I had about 1 terabyte of info on several different hard drives. That is a loooot of stuff. Granted there was quite a bit of music in there as well, but the majority of them were photos.

The solution to store my stuff was to buy a Drobo. It is a lil black box thingy that you put hard drives in and plug into your computer. (I am sooo technical) I initially bought 2 terabytes because I thought that would be enough to consolidate all my photos and info I have collected over the years. I was wrong. Sad. That is a lot of stuff! So over Thanksgiving I picked up two more hard drives for a total of 4 terabytes. I popped the drives in my black toaster and they ran like a charm. Simon = stoked. I have space. I can take more photos.

All of that to say that I was going through some of my old photos (only 2007, but still) and found some shots from Mexico and thought I would post them to warm me up on this cold December evening. If anyone is getting married south of the border, let me know. I would love to shoot your wedding and de-thaw.

Simon McConico Milwaukee Wedding Photographer Mexico
Simon McConico Milwaukee Wedding Photographer Mexico
Simon McConico Milwaukee Wedding Photographer Mexico
Simon McConico Milwaukee Wedding Photographer Mexico
Simon McConico Milwaukee Wedding Photographer Mexico
Simon McConico Milwaukee Wedding Photographer Mexico

Labels: , , , , , , ,

December 1, 2008

Gil and Karen - Crazy Booth

I have seen a few blogs of wedding photogs who have set up a crazy booth at weddings. The photos they get are super fun and crazy! I thought to myself, “Simon, you are a crazy mutha… you need to do a crazy booth.” So the next wedding I shot I brought out my lights and found a nice lil corner and set up the crazy booth. Granted, it really isn’t a booth, but people get the language and know what to do.

Aight… enough rant, more rave!

I pulled out the crazy booth at Gil and Karen's wedding at the Milwaukee War Memorial and craziness ensued.

Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography

Only in WI... good 'ole Spotted Cow.
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography

My crazy booth puts the Rrrr... in Relationship.
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography

He was getting down all night.
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography

Open bar... late night... crazy photos? I think she was trying to play dead and they were play attacking? I just shrugged and took the photo.
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography

Lambeau leap much?
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography

....
Simon McConico Milwaukee War Memorial Wedding Photography

If I am shooting your wedding next year and you want me to bring out the Crazy Booth, shoot me an email and we will make it happen.

(I kinda feel like I need a different name other than Crazy Booth because I am ripping off that name. A free 8x10 print of your choice if you leave a comment with a better idea for the name.)

Labels: , , , ,