Sunday, December 03, 2006

Granite Construction I-15

This photography was just done the other day. I was contracted to shoot the I-15 Corridor near Ogden, Utah.

I lit this shot using 3 SB-800's strobes fired with Pocket Wizards. On the right side, Omni dome on strobe and set to 1/2 power.

On the left side, 2 strobes. The closest strobe to the camera has the omni dome on it set at full power and the second strobe has the flash head zoomed to 105 and set at 3/4 power.

The temp was real cold.

Renaissance Center


I shot this photo for an engineering client of mine. They engineered and constructed the "Detroit People Mover" which circles the downtown business center.

I used 2 SB-800 strobes placed on the parking garage level below where I was photographing from. Both strobes where zoom out to the 105 position and set to full power. They where slaved using Pocket Wizards.

I placed my camera flash sync to "rear curtain". By doing so, I am able to capture the start of the blur and than freeze the action with the firing of the strobes.

Hope you like it.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Brooks Institute of Photography Speech

Later this month, I'll have the pleasure to speak to the students at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, Calif. I have been asked to share my business experience with the students.

I've been shooting corporate assignments for Fortune 500 companies for the past 24 years. Specializing in location work for corporate annual reports and other business collateral. I enjoy the opportunity to share my experiences with young people who want to peruse a profession in the world of commercial photography. I have been very fortunate to have had a wonderful career in photography, expressing myself visually and traveling the world on assignment.

Over the past several weeks I have been putting together images and topic slides for that speech. I'll be discussing such topics as how to build a photography business, what to do before and after graduation, how to be an effective assistant, and how to market your services. I have given this type of speech to many different schools and every time, students want to know about the type of equipment I travel with.

For an assignment when I am traveling alone without an assistant, I'll travel with the following lighting equipment. This is the same kit I traveled with last month to South America. I find that I can handle most any lighting challenges with this kit. This lighting kit fits into the small case which you see in the following photo. The contents of the case include: (3) Nikon SB-800 strobes, 2 small stands, 42 inch folding umbrella, gels, bogan clamps which hold the strobes, Pocket Wizards, Cinefoil- used for flagging or shaping the light,

The key composite to this kit would be the Nikon SB-800 strobe system. I carry 4 SB-800's as well as the SU-800 command unit. The command unit allows me to fire my 4 strobes wirelessly. Sometimes when the limits of the SU-800 come into play, I'll pull out my trusty PocketWizards for remote distances beyond the reach of the Nikon CLS (creative lighting system)

Here are a few photos of those SB-800 strobes, one with and one without the PocketWizard set-up.






















I have found these strobes to be remarkable! For years I have traveled "with studio type lighting" meaning, power packs, multiple heads with modifiers, stands, booms and other various grip equipment. type equipment. I have several lighting kits I use, depended upon the assignment requirements.

When I travel with a small lighting kit like this, I feel like an old fashioned wing walker on a bi-plane. There is a certain amount of excitement about traveling with a smaller lighting kit, particularly when you are use to the multiple cases of lighting equipment. I actually enjoy the thrill of it all, being free of the large amounts of equipment is rather liberating!

Thursday, October 19, 2006

South America


9/10/06

Long over due post. Wrote this while on assignment to Chile.

I’m sitting in the airport waiting once again for a flight. This flight is a bit different than my most recent travels. My flight is headed to Atlanta and than to Santiago, Chile. I am starting out on an assignment which has actually blossomed into two.

Several months ago I was contacted by Krista Muhr, she use to be with North American Palladium company but now works with Meridian Gold out of Reno, Nevada. She asked if I could shoot their South America properties in Sept. 2006, I was available and here I am. When learning about a up coming trip overseas I usually look around for other clients to shoot for. At the last minute, Phelps Dodge has jumped in for some new photography. They have ask that I shoot their El Abra Mine near Calama, Chile. Calama is close to Antofagasta, Chile. A little bit south east of Antofagasta.

I have actually shot El Abra years ago when it was owned by another company. I believe I shot El Abra 10 years ago for Cyprus Minerals? El Abra is about 15.000 feet above sea level. I remember quite clearly how had it was to breathe. I’m not looking forward to that aspect of the trip, you get winded just climbing a set of stairs!

My flight to Atlanta has arrived in Denver and I am about to board, I’ll continue later.

I am now comfortably stetted in first class headed for Santiago. I’m flying Delta Airlines tonight, There are around 30 first class seats on this aircraft, fully reclining seats and wonderful service. Free cocktails and nuts to start, salad and than a nice chicken dinner. My flight from Atlanta will take around 9 hours, arrive time is about 7:30 am. I’m to be meet at the airport by an employee from Meridian Gold. I understand we have about a 2 hour drive south to the mine site, I’ll wait and see.

As it turned out, I was met at the airport by a driver sent by the mine. My name was not the only name this man had on his list. Their where 3 of us. Two other men from Meridian Gold. We dropped one of them off downtown Santiago before heading southwest to Florida mine. This is an underground mine in a very hilly area. It rain all day until sundown, I was underground all day... no matter. Tomorrow I’ll shoot haul trucks on these narrow roads as well as the plant. Management photos of course. I’m very tired and need some sleep. Good night Mr. Moon.



I’m now headed back. I was actually to busy to make any entrees during my assignment. I’ve been shooting late and having long drive have not provided me an opportunity to post. I’m sitting in the Delta VIP room in Santiago, Chile. I arrived here this morning from Antofagasta at 11 am. Delta apparently have only 2 flights a day and when I arrived here, their counter and VIP room were closed until 5 pm. I sat in the main lobby of the airport for about 5 1/2 hours waiting for the Delta room to open. I’m really looking forward to getting home, traveling to foreign countries is very stressful.



The Meridian portion of the shoot went well, I’m sure Krista will like the photos. In fact, I emailed her a few photos while in South America, and today received an email from her stating she indeed did get them and loved the ones I sent.

When I flew to Calama to shoot El Abra, I was driven to the Park Hotel near the airport. When the driver pulled up, I realized that I had stayed there 10 years earlier when I shot for Cyprus Minerals. It became clear to me that I had shot at El Abra back than 10 years earlier. It’s not age, just been to too many places shooting to remember all of my assignments. Heck, been shooting over 20 years, what do you expect?



My visit to El Abra was well organized, full schedule down to the minute. I was passed off to each department like a ping pong ball. I spent one day at the mine and the second at local pueblos’ where Phelps Dodge has provide community services and assitants.

Friday, August 18, 2006

Transmission Lines

I have just returned from an interesting assignment for a long time client of mine. I was shooting in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. My client Tri-State Generation & Transmission is currently installing a 117 mile long transmission line. It is my understanding that the cost comes to about $225,000.00 per mile.

The power lines are installed by use of a helicopter, the pilot pulls the line about 2 miles before the line is spliced together. I also shot the construction of the power poles, these poles are of the wood type. I was told that each pole costs about $2,000 - $2,500.00 each.



On the last day of shooting, I had the opportunity to shoot the helicopter from a large bucket. I was about as high as the tops of the power poles, that was a lot of fun! I've attached a photo of me in that bucket, Eric shot this while I was working.







This is the point where I tell you a little something about me using key words for search engines combing the web. David is a Colorado Commercial photographer David Tejada he also happens to be a Denver commercial photographer. David is one of Denver, Colorado's most highly regarded location corporate photographers, internationally recognized for his dramatic and innovative photographic lighting techniques and graphic style.
Also known for his approachable personality, David has the reputation of being a person who is easy to work with who takes the worry out of corporate work. With more than twenty-two years of shooting experience, David has developed a clear understanding of both corporate and designer needs. His work successfully integrates exciting color and strong graphic compositions to effectively communicate his client’s message.

David shoots for many graphic design firms and Fortune 500 companies in Denver, Colorado and nationwide. With 22 years of annual report photography experience, David is at home hovering in a helicopter over a drill rig in the Andes, creating dramatic lighting in a laboratory setting, or shooting a CEO portrait in New York City. He is also an effective communicator, comfortable with all employees from management to support field staff, and sensitive to the political and inter-personal issues at work. David treats each assignment as an editorial essay, stressing strong, compelling images that communicate the story. Finally, he is an excellent problem solver, adapting quickly to changing conditions and technical challenges, remaining focused on the assignment goals while adhering to practical time and financial constraints.
I hope you enjoyed this post. To view additional work, please go to tejadaphoto.com.

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Say Goodby to August

OK. it's still August. I have just booked the last available dates for the month of August. Business has been wonderful, shooting most the time now. Sometimes not having the time to even process the images between assignments. Crazy!

I leave for Meeker, CO tomorrow for a 3 day shoot with Tri-State Generation & Transmission. Home for a few days and back out the following Monday through Wednesday. Shooting a book cover on Saturday the 19th and back out of town to Birmingham, AL to shoot ad's for Trinity Hospital. I'll be in Birmingham until the 24th, I'll than drive to Jackson, MS to shoot the last of the 4 cabinets from a previous assignment which you have know idea about. I just have not had the time to post like I like to.

I'll be home on the 25th and back out again. This time it's to Thunder Bay, Canada. I have a client I've been shooting for the past 3 years. I'll be shooting underground mining. Palladium that is. Look for photos on future blogs.

Just returned from Springerville, AZ shooting a 400 megawatt power station owned by Tri-State Generation and Transmission Corporation. My assistant Erik and I flew to Springerville on the Tri-State plane just for the day. I'm attaching some of those images here.















































































This is the point where I tell you a little something about me using key words for search engines combing the web. David is a Colorado Commercial photographer David Tejada he also happens to be a Denver commercial photographer. David is one of Denver, Colorado's most highly regarded location corporate photographers, internationally recognized for his dramatic and innovative photographic lighting techniques and graphic style.
Also known for his approachable personality, David has the reputation of being a person who is easy to work with who takes the worry out of corporate work. With more than twenty-two years of shooting experience, David has developed a clear understanding of both corporate and designer needs. His work successfully integrates exciting color and strong graphic compositions to effectively communicate his client’s message.

David shoots for many graphic design firms and Fortune 500 companies in Denver, Colorado and nationwide. With 22 years of annual report photography experience, David is at home hovering in a helicopter over a drill rig in the Andes, creating dramatic lighting in a laboratory setting, or shooting a CEO portrait in New York City. He is also an effective communicator, comfortable with all employees from management to support field staff, and sensitive to the political and inter-personal issues at work. David treats each assignment as an editorial essay, stressing strong, compelling images that communicate the story. Finally, he is an excellent problem solver, adapting quickly to changing conditions and technical challenges, remaining focused on the assignment goals while adhering to practical time and financial constraints.
I hope you enjoyed this post. To view additional work, please go to tejadaphoto.com.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Electro-Man



Not the most glamorous job I know, however, my client needed my help and I obliged. Tri-State is introducing a new ad campain in which this Captain Electric will be seen promoting various products and services. I shot this on location at their offices. I used a large white seamless paper for the background so the subject could be removed out of the shot. The costume was made by the Andy Ashley, the women who hired me to shoot the images.


I hope you enjoyed this post. To view additional work, please go to tejadaphoto.com.

Commercial photographer David Tejada is one of Denver, Colorado's most highly regarded location corporate photographers, internationally recognized for his dramatic and innovative photographic lighting techniques and graphic style. Also known for his approachable personality, David has the reputation of being a person who is easy to work with who takes the worry out of corporate work. With more than twenty-two years of shooting experience, David has developed a clear understanding of both corporate and designer needs. His work successfully integrates exciting color and strong graphic compositions to effectively communicate his client’s message.

David shoots for many graphic design firms and Fortune 500 companies in Denver, Colorado and nationwide. With 22 years of annual report photography experience, David is at home hovering in a helicopter over a drill rig in the Andes, creating dramatic lighting in a laboratory setting, or shooting a CEO portrait in New York City. He is also an effective communicator, comfortable with all employees from management to support field staff, and sensitive to the political and inter-personal issues at work. David treats each assignment as an editorial essay, stressing strong, compelling images that communicate the story. Finally, he is an excellent problem solver, adapting quickly to changing conditions and technical challenges, remaining focused on the assignment goals while adhering to practical time and financial constraints.

Saturday, July 01, 2006

New York Vacation

The previous post was of our vacation containing photos of the Washington DC part of the trip. I'll post some of the NY photos here.









Sorry About That

Sometimes you just get so busy you can't keep up with stuff. One of those things are this blog. I enjoy using this space to keep track of my adventures and jobs. The previous post was about my Kiewit shoot in Texas, great fun and some nice images.

In early June the family and friends went on vacation to Washington DC and New York City. We had a wonderful time, spending 3 days in Washington and 4 days in NY. I've attached a few of the photos from our trip for your review.

As I was preparing the images for posting, I realized I had a lot of photos to show. Here are the Washington DC images and I'll post a separate one for NY.









Sunday, May 28, 2006

Kiewit Corpus Christi Shoot

Just back from a quick shoot for Kiewit corporation. Kiewit is a large construction company headquartered in Omaha, NE. They have several specialties: highway construction accounts for around 50% of their business, water treatment, off-shore building, and other disciplines make up the other 50%.

I have shot assignments for Kiewit in the past, highway construction near Jackson Hole, WY and helicopter aerials of Interstate 10 in Florida after a hurricane distorted a 3 mile section of the highway. This particular assignment I'm writing about had to do with the off-shore building yard in Corpus Christi. At this location, Kiewit constructs off shore drilling platforms. These structure are huge!

My assignment was to shoot a background image for a capabilities brochure and various other detail shots of steel and other building materials. The background image will be combined with an image of a worker shot later in Omaha.