Blog

SnapShot Episode Three: Civil War Tintypes

We are into our third week of our TV Show, SnapShot on KPBS. Thanks to everyone for the positive feedback and for watching. This week we visit a Civil War re-enactment in Vista, and learn about tintype photography from collodian artist, Will Dunniway. I took Will's workshop a few years back and find the process of wet plate photography amazing. SnapShot airs Thursday at 8:30 PM on KPBS. You can also watch episodes on KPBS.org or on Apple TV with the KPBS app.

 
 
 
 
 

SnapShot debuts on KPBS

We have been working for months on our new TV series, SnapShot, that debuted last night on KPBS. Our first episode featured Tim photographing and interviewing two San Diego luthiers, Keith "The Blues Wizard" Kifer and Pepe Romero Jr.

Join us over the next 6 weeks as we photograph and visit some of San Diego's most interesting artists, musicians, athletes and craftsmen.

You can view episodes via the Apple TV app or on KPBS on Thursday nights at 8:30.

 

Adrian Peterson - Madden 25 Cover for Xbox One and PS4

EA Sports unveiled its new cover for Madden 25 of Adrian Peterson. Barry Sanders won the cover vote this year, taking honors for the covers of Xbox 360 and PS3. 

We shot the cover and campaign photos in NYC a couple months ago and have had to keep the shoot under wraps. I first photographed Adrian for Upper Deck when he was a rookie for one of his trading cards. It is great to see him become such an icon. 

 

 

 

EA NCAA FOOTBALL 14 - Denard Robinson

We are thrilled to once again have been selected to collaborate with EA Sports for the cover for NCAA Football 14. Voted in as the cover athlete by the fans was Denard Robinson from Michigan. We spent the day with Denard at the EA headquarters in Florida for the shoot. Denard is not only a talent on the field, but a class act to work with. 

Graham Smith - Portrait on 20x24 Polaroid

When my friend Graham Smith and I discussed the idea of him painting a portrait of me and us shooting a time-lapse of it, I really had no idea what to expect. When he showed up to the studio, he suggested finding something that had already been "Mantoani-onized" to paint on. I ended up pulling out a 20x24 Polaroid portrait of myself and he took the ball and ran with it. Here is the video. Thanks Graham, always an honor collaborating with you.

Junior Seau - RIP

I was very saddened to hear the news about Junior today. He was one of the first professional athletes I photographed when I moved to San Diego in the early 90's and my athlete portraits have hung in his Mission Valley restaurant since it opened. Junior had a wonderful smile and was always a pleasure to have in the studio, he will be missed.

Zdeno Chara Limited Edition Print Auction To Benefit Kevin Young

Last year, I set up a private signing with Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins to autograph 33, 30x30 prints as promotions for my business. I have listed one of these prints on Ebay as a benefit to raise money for one of my freelance assistants who was seriously injured on the 4th of July. You can read about Kevin and his accident here, http://kevinyoungdonation.com

Here is the link to the auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150651787220#ht_809wt_205

Any help in getting the word out is appreciated.

Tim

Zdeno Chara signing photographs

The Making of NCAA 12 on ESPNU

Keep an eye out for a 4 part series running on ESPNU that shows the making of the NCAA 12 video game. The trailers appear have some footage of our photos shot for EA as well and some imagery from the cover shoots.

Kobe Takes Flight

We had an great shoot a few weeks back for Turkish Airlines photographing Kobe Bryant. I first photographed Kobe back when he was a rookie in 1997 for Directv. We both have a little less hair now!  In addition to the shoot, we handled oversight of the retouching. Here is a peek at the ad in Time Magazine and an ad at LAX that was sent to me by fellow photographer Michael Collopy.

Below is another ad that is popping up in a few of the travel magazines. All images were shot with our new medium format digital back and I have to say these giant files look amazing.

Take a peek at the Behind the Scenes video for the TV spot. You get a quick glimpse of my bald head at :26.

Herman Leonard - March 6, 1923 – August 14, 2010

Herman Leonard with his photograph of Dexter Gordon at the Royal Roost 1948

The work of Herman Leonard has had a great impact on the world of photography. Herman had a unique perspective and a thirst for technical perfection. Although his work was recorded in still photographs, his images often gave you a sense of sound. He will be missed dearly. Please pay him a tribute by viewing his work http://www.hermanleonard.com/

On the bottom of his Polaroid portrait he wrote, "It was early 1948 at the Royal Roost in New York. An afternoon rehearsal gave me a unique opportunity to photograph many giants of jazz with my trusty 4x5 Speed Graphic. What a great career! To do what you love and be entertained at the same time!"

[Herman Leonard and Tim Mantoani