Threads

Every new experience is a thread in the fabric of our lives. As we go on day to day each and every experience is woven into our lives. The product of all of these threads make up who we are. We are all shaped and molded into what we are by the threads that hold us together.

Shaved Ice

Here is a story for you. I was hanging out in LA with my buddy Matt yesterday and we came across this shaved ice. By a chance of fate our lives ended up at this coffee shop in the Korean neighborhood. We were curious why something that seems so simple like shaved ice and sugar water would cost $8. We were soon to find out. We open this styrofoam tub up and it looks completely normal... with a few fruity pebbles on top. That was a little weird but it tasted good. So as we venture deeper we run across some boba covered in yogurt! What a surprise! Then all of the sudden a fruit chunk, then another, and another! They had put in Banana's, Strawberries, Kiwi, Watermelon, pineapple, among other fruits I don't even know! This was the most amazing shaved ice of our lives. If you are ever in Korea town.....

100th Post

This is a mile marker for me. 100 posts! Wow. I just want to say thank you to everyone who reads my blog. It doesn't matter to me if it is once a month or everyday. Just by checking in you are supporting me and I appreciate that. 

I have some new projects that I am working on. As they come along I'm sure I will post some previews to see what you think! So keep an eye out, they are going to be nothing short of amazing!

Camera Dan

99th Post

Even as adults it is fun to play with your food. You have to let the kid inside of you come out and play every once in a while to feel young and alive! Don't take life to seriously, you will never get out alive. Some words to live by.

Surfing

This is the water where I lost my surfing virginity... haha Memories. I can't wait to do it again! Soon I'll hit up Trestles, Huntington Beach, and San Clemente! I'm going to hit them all up! I need to buy a board. Anyone have one they want to sell cheap? Hit me up!

Work today

Do you wanna know the coolest thing about rich people? They have cool stuff. That includes their house. This is where I worked today. This is only like a 3 bedroom house... But it has something like 10 other rooms.. I don't get it. It is up on the hills over looking Laguna Beach. It sold for 12 million. I think I'll take two. I think I have a couple million laying around for a down payment... Yeah, well here is the view from the hot tub in the back of the house. The house also has it's own security guard. Not that the two locked gates to get to it was enough right? He also carries a loaded gun. I saw it. Anyways, here is the pic.

Learning to surf!

Well it wore me out but I learned to surf today! I can't wait to do it again! This is a shot Matt took of me before leaving Venice Beach. I like that place a lot and now it will have a special place in my heart... 

Haha

I had to take this picture. Enjoy.

Hmmm.. New line of work?

So I was modeling today... Just the hand but modeling nonetheless. It wasn't my first time. I have modeled my hands before. It's just usually not the tattooed one... Haha. So you think I can do it? Or is this just false hope? Should I stick to my day job? 

I really only ask these questions rhetorically. I have asked a bunch of questions in the past and have never seen an answer... So all you blog readers... leave me comments!!!

I'm going to try something new.

What you are about to read is the intoduction of my book that I am working on publishing. It is written by a dear friend of mine Sarah.  Thank you Sarah, your talent to find words to express things I can only photograph is absolutely astonishing.

Dear Reader,

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to view the world through the eyes of someone else? What it’s like to experience everyday life in a perception that is not your own? Now that you have this book in your hands, you will experience that feeling, for Camera Dan will take you on a journey into the world of his soul through the images he has captured and compiled into this book.

When I met Dan ten years ago, I knew there was even more to him than what met my eye. I could feel it. His presence was mysteriously astounding and intriguing. Now, after all these years, I am able to see what lies inside him through his photographs. The images he has captured throughout his years as a professional photographer range from beautifully simple, everyday reflections to alluring landscapes that stay with you long after you have viewed them.

This book is a glimpse into the marvelous spirit of Camera Dan. Whether he is in his own backyard or on a tour through the vast shorelines of Iceland, there is a poetic aura surrounding him and his camera. Dan’s photographs encompass this aura and it is seen throughout this book. His passion and talent for photography is beyond inspirational and is felt by everyone that encounters it.

How this book came into your hands, I will never know. Yet, what I do know is that the images in this book will enter your heart and mind, and stay with you forever.

~Sarah Vickerman

Feather in the Sand

 Feathers in the sand have always been a fascination to me. They dance along the top of the sand like a stars refections on water at night. The beauty of a discarded item like a feather from a bird can be just as amazing as a gorgeous sunset, beautiful woman, or a mountain overlook. The ocean was especially beautiful today. There was something in the air that made everything right. It was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life.

There are certain paths that a man must walk down in this game we call life. Some of them are as beautiful as this one here and some are the darkest of tunnels. Although it may seem dark at times, you have to hope for greener pastures to come. Without the good moments that define life you may lose sight of your path and wander to places you were trying to avoid. I start a new path today. A path of hope, prosperity, and fulfillment. It is a lonely path but one I must travel alone. Wish me luck.

Hwy 169

This is a picture of northern MN last fall. I was on a drive with my parents shortly before I came out here and shot this image with my Holga. 

I want to thank everyone who bought a poster and to everyone who supports me with my endeavor of being an Artist. I love each and everyone of you!! 

Itchy Feet

It seems like it comes with more frequency now. I get the urge to wear some tread off of my sandals and reach new corners of the earth. Does anyone recognize this place? It is my next destination as of right now. It will be a few months before this manifests into much more than a goal. But it is a goal. I will make a journey to this place and seek out in many ways the essence that is this place and I will give you the opportunity to fall in love with it like I have. Are you game? 

Fidel.

I work with Fidel. He is a shooter at Svoboda Studios. Here is a portrait I took of him on a sunny day. The past 3 days here have been cloudy. It was weird as well. The first cloudy day it seemed like everyone in the studio was crabby... or making fun of the crabby. It is amazing to me how much weather can affect someone's mood. I have seen it my whole life and I have let it affect me as I have seen it affect others. The cloudy days and the sunny days, the rainy and the dry, the hot and the cold. Some people never let it get to them and some let it dictate every action. Is this something that we can rise above if we educate ourselves? Or is there a cure that we can manufacture? I sometimes wonder if that way is the best for us as well... Maybe we are just better with out any cures and just move on with our lives, crabby or not.

My new favorite thing...

I love drinking beer in the shower. I know that sounds screwed up. You have to try it. It is the best way to drink a frothy beverage. The afterwork shower or the saturday afternoon shower is great. Don't get me confused, I'm not talking about beer for breakfast. That is only for sundays when you can't make it to church. Who's with me?

So majority is saying Insightful?

What are your thoughts on this?

In case anyone was wondering...

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "5th of May") is a regional holiday in Mexico, primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla. It is not an obligatory federal holiday. The holiday commemorates an initial victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. A common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day; Mexico's Independence Day is actually September 16 (dieciséis de septiembre in Spanish), which is the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico.

Worked today.

So today I finished uploading all of my posters for sale! I also made this flier for free shipping on all of my posters until the 11th. You can click on the flier and it will bring you to the posters. This is very exciting for me to have anyone able to buy my work and have so much of it available! I want to thank everyone for their support and I appreciate all of your help. I am truly blessed to have you all as friends!! Now it is time to relax and enjoy what is left of the weekend... yeah.

Support your local...

Hooters! Wow, I just had Deja-vu when I wrote that title... Anyways, we stopped by Hooters today for some wings and the 3 Mile sauce is amazing! I want some more! This was one of our servers, Jen. There was a lot going on there. They were doing some kind of song for a Marine and there was a group of kids that ran around the bar doing the chicken dance... It was off the chain. Haha Always a great time at Hooters.

Brand New!

This came out yesterday! It is pretty good, I've been waiting to try it since I heard about it. Not a beer to let you down. On a hot and sunny day there is nothing to quench your thirst better than one of these! Haha Sounds like an Anheuser Busch ad.

Going through pictures....

I found this sign down on San Clemente Beach! A group of us were going down to have a bonfire on the beach and cook up some s'mores when I came across this sign. It is so hilarious! I wanna be the guy who designs these signs! You can have so much fun designing ways to mangle a stick figure! Tornado's, Earthquakes, Hurricanes; They would all be so much fun! Maybe you will see some soon! 

Meanwhile, I have more posters that just need to be uploaded for sale so keep your eye out for new images to be released!!

Three Million.

I am starting to make posters of my work. They are not going to be three million that was for yesterdays post. There are going to be different sizes starting from $14.99. I can make any picture that you like into one. I have a few posted through this link. Camera Dan Posters I've been working on putting more up so keep checking back! If you are interested just let me know!!

Value is relative to favor.

To recognize the worth, is a synonym to value. How much do you think that this car is worth? Looking at the inside I would say not much. Not to mention that the outside is all dented, rusted, and scratched. What is a value of a car that hasn't been functional in 50 years? I can tell you that some people think that this car has some value to it. This is a car where only four were ever made. Of these four one is missing and thought to be destroyed. This one has been raced a handful of times and has won a blue ribbon every time. It has even broken records. It has almost all its original parts and paints so restoring can be more accurate to the original than the other two in existence. Any one have an idea yet on how much this car might be worth as is? I can tell you that this car is a lottery ticket. It is a great investment. You can double your money if you bought this car. Easily. Value is a tricky word. Some ones treasure can be another mans trash. The world keeps on spinning....  Oh yeah, I'll tell you how much is expected at the auction for this car tomorrow. Till then!

Grocery Shopping

This I found in the grocery store. It reminded me of my travels over seas. Its just a little weird to see down at the end of my block. I didn't try any. I think I will the next time I go back. I need to plan another trip. Any one know of any good places to go?

Sun day fun day.

Have you ever wondered what the meaning of life is? Of course, everyone has and no one has the answer. Well, one that we can all agree on. That makes me wonder if there is a universal meaning that encompasses all of us or if we have our own meaning as unique to ourselves as we are... If you have seen Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy you would know that the meaning of life is 42. The English have a dry sense of humor. Haha, well as we all go on our lives searching or deciding not to, you can't disagree that it was hot today in Southern California with a 99 degree temp. Meanwhile I'm still searching...

The Godfather

So I'm going to be a Godfather!!! My sister is having a baby boy and they are naming him Jackson. These are his ultrasound pics. He will be a great addition to the family and I can't wait to meet him. This is the beginning of a new life. Lets celebrate... again!!

Energy Drink or Cocaine?

How about both? Haha I wanna say this drink is legal but it was banned... There is no cocaine in it though. It was a powerful drink though! I'm still going strong and I had it 6 hours ago.  Anyone else ever tried this drink?

Rainbow Sandals

Does anyone have a pair of these?? They are the best sandals to come out of Southern California and are probably in the top 5 in the nation! They guarantee them for life and are very affordable and comfortable. Not to mention that in this picture outside the store this sandal is taller than me... How cool.

Play Dead.

This is the cutest dog! The dog belongs to our client for our shoot Nate. He has brought Kobe into the studio a couple of times now and today he showed us all of his tricks and this is one of them. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Old School

This is a picture of 30 Seconds From Mars frontman Jared Leto. I was looking through a bunch of my concert pics today and picking out a few to give to Century College. My former instructor Holly asked me for some portfolio images that she can use when she goes out to high schools to increase enrollment. Looking through all the images reminded me how much I loved watching these shows. Performers put so much energy into their shows. They can be so full of emotion. Music is one of my biggest passions. There are so many ways you can express yourself.

Rediculous

Why can't we do anything to change this?

BIG!

We were strolling down Venice Beach and I spot this! Anyone seen the movie Big with Tom Hanks??? This was awesome!

Desert

Here is another picture from Joshua Tree. I can't stop thinking of how beautiful this place was and what effect it had on my life. Returning to nature always reminds me of the passion I have for photography. The forms and lines found in nature inspire me to make images and share them with the world. I was having a conversation with my buddy Matt last night when we were out with the girls about taking a camping trip. He has a great place in mind next to the ocean and it sounds amazing. I'm ready for another weekend of introspection. 
This is a picture Andy took of me shooting the previous shot. Nice portrait Andy! Thanks!

Teppanyaki!!!

Here is a video of our Chef at Tuna Town burning the house down! He was one of the best Teppenyaki chefs I have seen. Staci's friend Kate is out visiting and we went out to Huntington Beach for dinner last night. That was the first time Kate has ever had Teppenyaki. This will be hard to beat! We had a blast!

Desert Night

This is a star trails picture I took at our campsite. The nights in the desert were awesome. It cools down and the moonlight bathes the rocks in a manner that reminds you of being on the moon. The air stills and gets silent. Almost as if the earth stops and waits for you to sleep. Joshua Tree is a very magical place and experience. I hope you enjoy the images.

Joshua Tree

That was an amazing trip. Joshua Trees are very unique. I loved taking portraits of them they are very photogenic. Andy and I kept ourselves very busy out in the desert. We hiked miles, drove all over the park, and rock climbed on our free time from taking pictures. I was told that Joshua Tree Nat Park has the 4th best rock climbing in the world. We had so much fun for our first time camping in the desert. I can't wait to show you all my pictures. More to come soon!

Joshua Tree Here I Come!

And we're out!!!

Santa Barbara

I picked up my buddy Andy today in Santa Barbara. Here is a little glimpse of the bay. It is a nice quiet little town. We had some burgers at this Habit joint. They were pretty rockin'. 

Mr. DeLeon

This is a portrait of Mike DeLeon. He is a second shooter and first assistant to Danny Mitchell. I shot this just before lunch on thursday. It is one of the best portraits I have ever taken. It was a spur of the moment thing, totally natural, and in the moment. Exactly how you want a portrait to be!

Day 2

Funny story on this one. I had put sunblock spf 15 all over my head in the morning. We were shooting out all over the pool grounds. I was holding up the skrim out by the cabana and it was getting hot. So frickin hot I was sweating. Well the sunblock started to run down my face and dripped into my eyes! Has anyone ever had that happen before? Let me tell you it hurts!! My eyes burned for the rest of the day! They were bloodshot and kept watering all day. Now that I think about it, it's pretty funny but it hurt real bad when it happened.

Apt Complex Shoot

I got sunburned today.... This was one of the shots that we took for a brochure or ad that this apartment managing company is putting together. I was outside almost all day in the sun toting around gear and holding up scrims and fills. Did I mention that I loved it? It was awesome. A beautiful day in sunny Southern California. So as for the sunburn... I'm going to do it again tomorrow. 

Ads I have worked on.

Ok so here are some of the Callaway Golf ads that I have helped shoot. They are in this May's Golf Digest Magazine. I know that many of you are wondering what I really do on a day to day basis... Well here are some of the shots we have taken. I think that they turned out pretty nice if you ask me! It gives you a sense of accomplishment to see something like this in the real world to be admired. Oh and sorry I have been having more internet problems. My router needed to be replaced and it wasn't as easy as it should have been. Till next time...

Bowling

This was pitiful. This was the first time I had been bowling in the flesh for about 8 years? 10 years? Damn it has been a long time. I just wanted to beat Kevin and not come in last... I was so close! But then... The second game... Oh yeah, I redeemed myself! I have only shot this score probably 3-5 times my whole life. Have I ever told you I'm not a bowler? Yeah it wasn't my idea to go but I showed them how to do it the second game! Haha

K-Dogg

Here is Kevin checking out the scenery up on top of the hill in the back of The Reserve where I used to live in San Clemente. This is also where I took the picture I started this blog with so many posts ago. I still love going here and just enjoying the view. The ocean and the rolling hills are so beautiful that you can smell life in the air. 

Introspection

I love to sit and watch the ocean. It is so calming and peaceful. Yet it is so full of energy and life. I wanted to share this with you because it means so much to me. It seems like all the answers to life and the world are out there beyond the abyss. You can feel them being whispered in your ear if you only spoke the language you could understand. Only their is still something soothing about it and you just know that everything will be fine. Sometimes I think I could sit there forever.

Chillin in Hollywood today.

Today my buddy from back home Kevin flew out. Its great to see a friend from back home and show them around Cali. We ran all around town showing Kevin the area. Then met up with Matt up in LA and checked out Hollywood. I have never spent much time there, I was usually working. This picture was hilarious to take. It reminded me so much about the time Jeff and I took our pictures on Abbey Rd in London. As we are dodging cars to get out into the street to take the picture people are driving by with their arms out the windows waving and screaming. In the end here is the picture! Thanks for taking it Matt!

$10,000,000 Car

I can imagine most people during their life don't have the chance to see a $10 million dollar car let alone sit in one... Well thats what I did today.  I shot a 1937 Talbot Lago T150 C SS "Teardrop"  and this is one of the 7 true Teardrops ever made. I also got a history lesson. This car was commissioned by a really rich guy to give to his daughter Stella. Hence the cars nickname "Stella." The cars color scheme here was to match her evening gown collection. This is the most beautiful car I have ever seen in person. It is completely restored top to bottom to original condition. This car even comes with personalized luggage... They were weird back in the day when people had money to spend. Anyways, I don't know if I will ever have a chance as unique as this one to work with such a beautiful and expensive car. I'm glad I got my picture taken sitting inside of it for proof! Haha.

April Fool's

Haha That last post I have to say was the greatest April Fools joke I have played my whole life. I totally got a few of my closest friends and family members, I had a great laugh. Sorry everyone but I am not going to MN anytime soon. As for this picture, It was on the window at the studio I was working at today and I saw for the first time how a snail moves from the underneath with a back light. Wow! This was amazing! You could see the underbody of the snail moving around like water does in the shallows. Just little wave after little wave. I felt like I should've been on the Discovery Channel.... Maybe I will be one day. Just wait and see!

Yep. Here I come.

So in leu of some current events taken place in my life I have decided to come back to MN. I know this may come as a shock but I have taken careful consideration into my life and believe firmly that this is where I need to go and be for a while. It is getting warmer there, except for the last snowfall, and I think I'll be able to handle it after a short "getting used to it" phase. I miss all of my family and friends so much that I just can't handle the constant struggle and pressure of everyday life out here. Don't worry, I am not looking at coming to California as a failure. I am looking at it as a learning experience, one that has taught me so much about myself and my limitations as a human being. It has also shown me where I belong, and that is in MN with all of my family and friends. I will be getting things ready to leave in the next few days and should be on my way within the week. I love you all and thank you so much for your support.