I am humbled and honored to have been named a "Star of San Diego" for 2015. Each year, San Diego Home and Garden Lifestyles Magazine selects ten people to honor and showcases their work. A special thanks to Phyllis Van Doren for the wonderful article.
Here are a couple of photos of the Game Stop on University Ave in Palo Alto with a giant display of our work on the cover of Madden 11. Football season is just around the corner!
Steve McCurry
I was passed on this article today and must say it only seem fitting that Steve McCurry had this honor. Please take a moment to read about this historic event as yet another chapter closes in the history of photography. http://www.kansas.com/2010/07/14/1403115/last-kodachrome-roll-processed.html
Also, visit Steve's blog, the images will blow your mind, http://stevemccurry.wordpress.com/
I was on site for the press conference the day Danny Heatley joined The San Jose Sharks. We had photographed Danny two weeks prior and had to shoot him a second time in his new colors. It was fun seeing a player in his new jersey for the first time and being the first to photograph him as a Shark. Danny is a class act and always a pleasure to photograph. Here is a look at a few of the new Easton Hockey website and a few catalog covers/backs for 2010, there are 10 total.
A few months back, I had the opportunity to drive south to Punta Brava near Ensenada, Mexico. I was shooting for Private Clubs Magazine, covering a member profile on Brian Tucker. Brian and I shared the ride across the border and I learned that he is the founder and principal of Punta Brava, a 300-acre development that will include 120 homes and one of a few, Tiger Wood's - designed golf courses.The property which sits below a steep mountain, is perfectly positioned just above sea level, and is magical to say the least. Brian worked hard for this, putting his faith and instinct on the line to see his dream come to life. Currently, story poles serve as tee boxes and hole markers, while the rest of the land appears to be untouched by man (with the exception of a small, but rather picturesque lighthouse).
We arrived on site and the fog was thick, covering the rock cliffs, not giving us much of a "picture" of the ocean. After waiting for over two hours, on the site of one of the several, over-the-water tee boxes, we decided it would be best to head back to town for lunch and return in the afternoon. Several hours later, our patience paid off as the fog cleared and a stunning, blue sky and view of the Pacific were there to greet us. I hope I can return when the project is complete, to say this course will be epic is an understatement.
I lit the image with a single strobe & large Chimera softbox; my Profoto battery packs were the perfect solution for this location set-up. To exaggerate the blue sky and water, the ambient exposure was about 2/3 of a stop under the meter reading for my main, strobe lighting.
I was bummed to get several youtube links to Jens falling in the race today. I photographed him last year just prior to the tour start in Southern California. I wish him a "speedy" recovery, that was one nasty spill.
It also looks like Carlos Sastre is starting to turn it on. Last year's winner was in studio a few months ago after testing in San Diego's wind tunnel. I was shooting some ads and took the opportunity to get a frame of Carlos on 20x24 Polaroid.
Should be an interesting next few days as they head to the hills.
APASD has asked me to present a lecture this month at my studio. The event is on June 25th, doors open at 6:30. Studio: 3615-B India St. San Diego, CA 92103. 619-543-9959. Special thanks to APASD, Chrome and George's Camera Exchange for sponsoring.
I will be showing a variety of work and be discussing the process and inspiration behind my Behind Photographs Project. I'm currently in Boston and NY shooting more photographers for this project. More to come. Hope to see you next week.
I spent the weekend at a book signing on the Oregon Coast at The Heceta Head Lighthouse B&B. I discovered this unique and charming location on assignment for RCI Endless Vacation Magazine a few years back. It was one of our stops on a whale watching story that took us from Canon Beach to Florence. The B&B is not only known for its charm, but the incredible seven course breakfast prepared with recipes from Michelle and Carol Korgan. I not only fell in love with the magic of Heceta's beauty, but the food as well. Michelle and I discussed the possibility of working on a cookbook together and after several trips North and even more hours in the kitchen, we are happy to say it is here. If you are interested in purchasing a signed copy, please email us at the studio, Luis@mantoani.com or ring 619-543-9959. Price is $28 + shipping.
For more information on booking a stay at the Heceta Head Lighthouse B&B, visit http://hecetalighthouse.com. There are only 6 rooms so book your trip in advance. You will love it!
The white building on the right side of this image is the B&B. Heceta, is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world due to this amazing vista on highway 101.
Yep, I shoot food too!
I was asked by a new online magazine, Sofisticati to be a part of their inaugural issue. They first became familiar with my work at my LA show for MOPLA. Take a moment to check it out, there are several other photographers featured in the issue and some very nice work. http://www.sofisticati.com/features/15-tim-mantoani
I came upon this sign while dropping off Lucas at school. Keep an eye out and please.... watch your feet!
Every year I shoot images for a few non profits. This week, I was working again with the amazing people at Life Rolls On. Life Rolls On was founded by Jessie Billauer. In 1996, on the verge of becoming a professional surfer, Jesse Billauer suffered a spinal cord injury while surfing. While physically rendered a quadriplegic, Jesse’s spirit was not broken, and the phrase “Life Rolls On” was born. A few years later, the love of the ocean was too much for Jesse to bear. With the help of friends and professional surfer Rob Machado, Jesse found himself back in the ocean, surfing again! Within just a few years these efforts would be showcased in the motion picture, Step Into Liquid (and later Highwater in 2009)
Life Rolls On became the official charity of the US Open of Surfing in 2002, which culminates each year with a disabled surfing exhibition in front of 100,000+ spectators. Since 2002, LRO has delivered a powerful message to over 600,000 people, that life does indeed, Roll On!
Over the years, these efforts have been recognized by Good Morning America, Dateline NBC, TLC’s While You Were Out, Nonprofit Times, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Orange County Register, San Diego Union Tribune, Ability Magazine, Surfer Magazine, Surfing Magazine, Transworld Surf, Riverside Press, E! Entertainment, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, FUEL TV, MTV and dozens more.
Life Rolls On's They Will Surf Again program has made a profound impact on the lives of thousands of people with disabilities, along with the volunteers who help make dreams possible.
It is amazing for people that don't work in this industry to see what it takes to pull off a production like shooting the cover of Madden 10. Someone asked me if I worked with anyone else on this shoot. When I answered, they were shocked to hear that about 30 people contributed to make the photo shoot happen.
We had an amazing crew, Uncle Mark Hofmann, who is literally my uncle. If you are looking for a great producer, look no more http://www.markhofmannproductions.com. In no time flat, he found us a location, had the production team lined up and made everyone feel like, even the forecast for rain, was under control. Alicia Addis, who did the catering and is also part of the Hofmann Production Duo. Bobby Flay watch out, she put a twist on your chicken and it was the bomb! Luis Garcia, Alisal and Jeff Wiant who moved a ton of gear from San Diego to LA on more than one occasion. Your days starts before everyone else and ends long after. Your hard work and dedication has not gone unnoticed. Dominic and the lighting crew from Screaming Broccoli (great grip service) www.screamingbroccoli.net. Susan Seligman, stylist with a smile. Judy our runner who was all over LA picking up FedEx boxes of footballs, uniforms, props and cameras. Two "Stand-Ins" for the talent to help with the lighting set-up and our test images. Sandy who made sure the talent arrived safe and on time. The Limo and motorhome drivers. The helping hands at our location, The Home Depot Center (electricians, grounds crew and facilities). The EA crew, Larry, Larre, Mike, Anthony...thanks for trusting us to do "our thing". The equipment managers of the Cardinals and Steelers, thank you for getting the uniforms to us. The NFL folks who helped us with patches, pylons and official Superbowl balls. Mark K from Popgun Design and his retouching crew. And of course, Larry Fitzgerald and Troy Polamalu. I have shot a bunch of athletes over the years and can honestly say they both are class acts and a pleasure to work with. Thanks for running the same plays over and over and over and giving us your time with a smile.
So a huge "THANKS" to everyone involved, it was truly a team effort and I couldn't have done it without you!
Troy and the EA crew look over some of Mike Young's Superbowl images for inspiration.
Troy taking a dive for the cameras.
Larry takes his mark on the set while we dial in the final changes to the lighting and exposure.
Tim test drives the helmet for our Troy "Stand In" while the chin straps are adjusted.
Standing in for one of the photos that will be used as art in the game.
Tim and Larry review a few images.
Larry running a few plays at Larry B from EA. We wanted to simulate the lighting of an NFL game and give the images some "pop". The set was lit with a couple of Xenons for edge lights and a large bounce flat to sneak some light under the helmets.
Troy standing in for some portraits
Winter X is underway in Apen and Nate Holland is attempting to make it four Golds. I've had the chance to shoot Nate a few times, always fun to have in front of the lens. Go Nate Go!
These are some images that I shot in Barcelona for Oakley. Barcelona is one of my favorite places to travel, so it was a bonus that we got to shoot the project there. The ads included images of Supermodel, Esther Cañadas, along with snowboard guru Eero Ettala, and MotoGP riders Sete Gibernau and Nicky Hayden. We shot Nicky in California. Here are some of the images of the shoot and how they were used. Always a thrill for a photographer to see their images BIG in public venues.
Bus wrap on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, a Helsinki train station and the streets of Copenhagen.
Ads in Brussels, Paris buses and bus shelters in Amsterdam
Shooting Nicky Hayden in Orange County, California, 4x5 images on lightbox.
