mister jobs
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”
- steve jobs
cage the elephant
the boys from cage the elephant had great energy, but most importantly… great humor. and to top it off – they’re really making some damn good music! this was for a piece for guitar world magazine. here are some cutting room floor stuff >>>>>>
© van ditthavong 2010
on photography
i just love how accessible photography is nowadays. whether you are on one side that says it is its own art form, or on the other side that says it is a learned craft/service – this all really doesn’t matter. what matters is that photography today is seen more as a viable career path and option for people – even during these uncertain economic times. but much like anything in life, you get what you put in to it. you sprinkle in a little bit of hard work, passion, a little of persistence, a dash of talent, a whole lot of learning and entrepreneurship, and a touch of luck – you’re in the game. now the journey isn’t always smooth sailing – especially for us photographers – whose egos are as fragile as house of cards – but we push along the best we can.
a few years back i wrote a book to help me on my personal journey in this photography business. its purpose was to help me keep motivated and inspired no matter how low or far things seem to be. in short, it was a way for me to keep faith. i hope this can also be useful to anyone else out there struggling in there creative pursuits. please feel free to download it here or pass it along to any young student of photography:
HEY?! THAT’S MY CAB: finding a way in photography or www.vanphotographs.com/heythatsmycab.htm
i hope you guys enjoy it … the more creative photographers the better!!!
portrait of a girl ::::> grace
first portrait of the year.
© van ditthavong – grace 2011
judge joe
american way sent me over to fort worth texas to capture a portrait of judge joe spurlock. the piece was to be about the judge’s involvement in helping mongolia transition from communism to a democracy (wow! meeting folks like this really makes you think what the heck are you doing with your time!). his office was filled with all sorts of visual elements. interestingly, the scene we used had a neutral overall color tone – lots of browns, tans, and such. i think that’s one of the things i immediately identify when i’m shooting on location. i like to establish mood through color… and since the article will be about mongolia – these earth/neutral tones should do the trick. so we decided the office would serve us well rather than the other choice of the court room. Here’s an outtake:
© van ditthavong 2010
going back 3 years
funny – my first post of the new year is about the past. i guess my count down is a few days late. oh well! none the less, quiet reflection here and there is always good for the soul right? happy new year!
2010 – ian + belle
2009 – ian + belle
2008 – ian + belle
all images © van ditthavong
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