Xaden... Firestarter!

Meet Xaden, the Firestarter. This is one in a series of many (planned) portraits highlighting ordinary (heroes) pictured in creative situations around the United States... I'm calling the series Has Anyone Seen America Lately? The title came off a used t-shirt I bought from a little old lady in a dung hut with a tin roof in Nowhere, Kenya. It was blue shirt, very thin cotton, and had on it an iron-on bald eagle's head with a tear in his eye... and that question: Has anyone seen America lately? I wore the shirt for years, and then it disappeared, never to be seen again. I am hoping to one day uncover it hidden in a cardboard box somewhere in storage at my folks house... please cross your fingers.

Anyway, back to Xaden. Xaden is the son of a friend of mine. I'd had this image in my head for quite some time... red-headed troublemaker starting fires in the backyard. Xaden couldn't have been more perfect. His mom woke him up early in the AM to drive him to the location in time for sunrise. My buddy Jesse James helped with the fire (all FX were done IN CAMERA, except for the tiny flame coming from the lighter Xaden is holding). The panorama consists of four separate vertical frames to maximize image resolution, and the grill was shot when Xaden was gone to keep him safe. We ran a propane line up through the bottom of the grill, but don't do this at home! Jesse is a trained professional. Everything was then stitched in photoshop, but like I said, FX were done in camera.

Only Canon Speedlights were used (we've been calling it the Canon Challenge... to see how far we could push the abilities of small lights). I used a similar setup during the Martindale police portraits, 4 strobes of varying power situated around the subject to mimic the sunlight. My biggest obstacle was deciding which of Xaden's facial expressions to use in the final project... he was awesome! See below. Let me know if you like one of the other selects better.

I wish I had a time-lapse of this one, but I don't. Boo. I am, however, using this image as the cover to my photo book (actually, my portfolio): I Shoot People... check it out!

Portraits of Hope - Haiti

If there is one set of memories that I would take to the desert island, it would be from my time spent in Haiti. It was a few years back, and one of the most impactful experiences of my life. This country deserves to be saved... who will do it?

Just encouraging you to help with the post-earthquake operations in Haiti. Here are two worthy North Carolina organizations directly involved in Haiti: Samaritan's Purse and Mission Manna.

See more of my pics from Haiti, visit the Haiti Gallery and Portraits of Hope.

Please visit the House Of Hope blog, and support them also.

My Printed Portfolio...

Just found an interesting website, ISSUU.com, that lets you upload and "publish" a PDF... I embedded it in my website HERE and am now doing so on my blog too. This is the most recent update to my printed portfolio, the one I mail to folks I want to work for. I've got some cool shoots coming up in the coming weeks, included the former governor of SC, so this sucker will be updated regularly... but here it is for now. What do you think?

New Website!!!

Guess what, folks? I just launched my new website! I did every little ounce of design and coding myself, and I am looking for your feedback... honest critique, please, not just typos. If you hate it, just say so, and tell me what you hate.

Some of the galleries (especially in the world-map area) still need to be updated, and some of the full-screen features aren't working as they should. If you run into any other technical flaws, please holler!

Visit: patrickcavanbrown.com

Commercial, Editorial, Portrait, Documentary Photographer... Asheville NC, Greenville SC, Charlotte NC, Charleston SC, Atlanta GA...

Thanks!!!!!

Meet Michelle Kvanli...

Meet Michelle Kvanli...

It isn't often that you get to shoot one of your best friends for a national magazine (Canoe & Kayak)... and it isn't often that someone deserves it as much as Michelle does.

Michelle is a professional kayaker and one of the most honest, generous, and genuine people on the planet. Her and her husband, Ben Kvanli (1996 Olympian paddler), run a non-profit kayak instruction school in San Marcos, Texas, Red River Racing and KayakInstruction.org. They have introduced thousands of folks to paddling over the years (I have taught many a class with them)... they coach a Jr. Olympic team (awesome kids!!!)... and also run a kayak rehab program for veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

Michelle has spent much of the past year training and competing around the country, and after recovering from successful shoulder surgery has had her best competition year yet. Michelle placed first in the U.S. open division at the NOC, and took 3rd at the team trials in Durango.

I encourage you read more by clicking on the tear-sheet above, or just head over to KayakInstruction.org and learn to paddle with Michelle in the spring fed 72 degree waters of the San Marcos River.

Meet the Pearsons...

Meet the Pearsons... Richard and Alison. Richie is one of my best buddies from Brooks and last weekend he married a stunning and magnificent young lady.
In my eyes, most PHOTOGRAPHY IS NOT ART... but Richie is an artist, in the truest sense of the word.
These pics were taken in Charleston a few months back... it rained on us just about the whole weekend, but boy was it fun!

Richie + Alison = Love 4ever

More Pistol Packin' Paula...

Meet Pistol Packin' Paula... again. This is one of the panographs that I've been working on... a new series of a different kind of photography. I'm trying to wrangle up a group or Civil War Reenactors to participate in a photo... I've got the scene all laid out in my mind... keep your fingers crossed.

More Pistol Packin' Paula

I have bad luck with the USPS... Talked with Paula on the phone today because she didn't get a package of pics that I sent her... I went through Lightroom to re-export them for her, so I figured I'd post another.

I lit this portrait with a little device that I like to call my LightPack... 2 Speedlights turned into striplights and mounted on my backpack... and another one behind Paula lighting the door. Fun Stuff...

Michelle Kvanli of Red River Racing

Speaking of Michelle Kvanli, I just heard through the grapevine that she took 3rd in the Nationals! Fresh off surgery to her should last season, Michelle has come back strong... I'll be looking for you in 4 years, Michelle.

To find out more info on Michelle, check out KayakInstruction.org and RedRiverRacing.org.

State Fair

A pic from my life...

I went to the State Fair for the first time in years and years and years. I love roller coasters, but carnie rides scare the hell out of me. I rode this swing device and did enjoy it, despite the stomach foam in my mouth... but the whole time I could only think of the following video:

Martindale Police Department

This is the first in a planned series of images that I am producing for a personal project / portfolio project. A few of the shots have already been completed and I will be posting them here ever now and then. See more at my website.

This is the Martindale, Texas Police Department... and awesome bunch of folks who graciously agreed to let me take their portrait.

Pistol Packing Paula

I'm running a test of some code supplied by Sean McCormack, an Irishman, photographer, and Adobe Lightroom Extraordinaire with a great Lightroom Blog.

These are some images of Pistol Packin Paula from an afternoon I spent with her at Enchanted Springs Ranch. This is a little slideshow created using the basis of a template supplied by McCormick for Slideshow Pro and Adobe Lightroom. Thanks Sean!

See more pics of Pistol Packin Paula in the Conceptual gallery of my website.