Best of 2009

My Photographs Made Top 10 Most Popular Web Galleries on Los Angeles Times Best of 2009

Sometimes, you have to know when to ditch the camera.
While my architect friend, David Thompson of Assembledge, was getting the fireplace prepared for the living room shot, his arm actually caught fire, apparently from gas vapors. Fortunately enough, while chasing after my friend, he was able to quickly enough douse himself in the nearby infinity pool, and get rushed over to Cedars Sinai Hospital. Thankfully, he's completely healed, and we didn't burn his beautifully designed home down.
Usually, in what I do, it's not necessary to risk lives for a great photograph. I remember almost kicking over the camera, and rushing over to tackle my friend & stop the fire. He was so traumatized that he wasn't listening to my yells, "Get down, get down!"
This is what is so intimidating to me about "hard news" stories, or war photography. Your job is to keep shooting, no matter what. Check out this epic documentary sometime, "War Photographer", about James Nachtwey.
Moreover, I'm happy to not have a picture of my friend engulfed in flames. This image, embedded only in my mind, haunts me to this day, and I've had several restless nights seeing it, again and again.
There's always a thin line between capturing the moment, and being present, in the moment. As photographers, we can't always be looking through the window, watching life.
Sometimes, we have to crash through it.

http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-hm-sunsethouse-pictures,3,3778651.photogallery?index=la-hm-sunsethousea