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last week i was assigned two portrait sessions for the paper. one was of a well-resume’d (is “resume’d” a word?) drummer who has miraculously overcome terminal cancer, and the other of a high school football player. i wasn’t sure about the football player, but i knew for sure that the drummer would be photographed indoors, as we were meeting at his home where his drum kit was located. typically, the lighting inside homes are not favourable for making portraits. this has been frustrating for me, and i decided it was time i start learnin’ how to help my self.

i quickly sent a text to friend and fellow freelancer, khai le, asking his help with a lighting lesson. khai was incredibly kind and helpful! in less than an hour i felt much more confident experimenting with a softbox, and khai then allowed me to borrow the gear for my shoots later that day.

Redlands High School senior, Jordan Smith, sits in the locker room before practice on Thursday, August 19, 2010. The offensive lineman, who was an all-league Citrus Belt League player last season, has committed to San Diego State for next season where he was offered a full scholarship. Micah Escamilla/For The Sun

Longtime drummer Geoffrey Morgan sits for a portrait in his Lake Elsinore home on Thursday, August 19, 2010. Morgan, who has played with notable celebrities such as Bill Cosby, Ricky Nelson, Tony Bennett, and Liberace, was diagnosed with terminal cancer over two years ago and was told he wouldn’t live beyond a month. The grapefruit-sized tumor that once crowded his lungs can no longer be seen on x-rays. Morgan was too sick to drum for most of his battle but has recently began playing again and is looking to form a new band. Micah Escamilla/For The Sun

*this next photo of Geoff was shot in available window light and ended up being my favourite image of the day. i guess that’s just how it goes sometimes….

i think these photos ended up looking pretty cliché – especially jordan’s (i only had about ten minutes with him), but i was proud of myself for not being afraid to set up the gear and fire some light at my subjects. and…maybe now i’ll understand more of what i’ve been reading about on the famed strobist blog.

anyway, pablo is an amazing artist who creates live paintings and already he’s been blessing a lot of people here with his gift. this past monday night we went to a gathering in redlands and, instead of taking photos, i decided to play around with my new elph camera. the video below (which took about two hours to edit) is the end result. not too shabby for a point ‘n shoot! i’ve never shot video before, so this is all pretty new to me. hope you enjoy it!

pablo will be around for a few more weeks, so if you’re in the area and want to see him paint live, let me know!

…not about you… from Micah Escamilla on Vimeo.

I’ve said before that TWAC is an incredible organization and I will always remain thankful that I was able to join their Quito workshop. The photojournalists involved are top-notch with honorable hearts, working tooth and nail to encourage NGO’s around the world, and thus benefiting people who are really in need of a voice and increased quality of life. Please take two minutes to watch the video below.

And if you can, please help support the exhibition by donating here.

Truth With a Camera Workshop Gallery Show from Josh Meltzer on Vimeo.

Even now, all possible feelings do not yet exist, there are still those that lie beyond our capacity and our imagination. From time to time, when a piece of music no one has ever written or a painting no one has ever painted, or something else impossible to predict, fathom or yet describe takes place, a new feeling enters the world. And then, for the millionth time in the history of feeling, the heart surges and absorbs the impact.
~ Nicole Krauss