Bryce Boyer Photography

Steve Hayden's NDAC Talk

2009-11-13T14:11:00.011-07:00

Last night I saw Steve Hayden, an advertising giant (Chief Creative Officer, Ogilvy & Mather North America), speak in Denver at the Curtis Hotel for the New Denver Ad Clu b. I won't try to regurgitate all the relevant thoughts he surfaced, but I will mention what I walked away with.

Steve said if you simply add the letter "L" to the idea of an ad campaign - you have an "ideaL." His recent success has been marked by the ability to define the purpose of an ad with a noble or humorous statement like, "The world would be a better place if _____ did _____."

The best example I saw in his many commercials was the "Real Women" Dove campaign. With a noble purpose attached to a generic product, consumers became evangelists of the campaign and it spread like wildfire. I forget the actual line, but it was something like "The world would be a better place if the Dove Real Women campaign helped women feel beautiful about themselves."

Thank you Steve Miller of NetNewsDesk.com for asking me to shot some snapshots of the talk. Hayden was a real gentleman. I took a quick portrait, above, on a deck outside the conference room.

Project Veronica

2009-11-03T23:56:00.014-07:00

Here's a sneak peak at a series called Project Veronica that we just rolled out for a sound company called Blorp Corp, "a sonic laboratory specializing in custom and library music solutions for TV, film, and advertising." The premise was for Matt Hubball of Crispin Porter Bogusky and Evan Pollock to be creepy retro scientists constructing the perfect virtual cyborgenic receptionist who will actually answer the phones at Borp Corp.

When Matt Chiabotti of Cactus Communications described the project, I was into it 100%! I love it when clients have conceptual work that involves heavy retouching and compositing. If you have any work like this, please call me. I love it!

The above "assembly" shot was created from about 6 images. The big doors are huge 12' tall metal bi-fold doors that were used in a paint booth when my studio was a car garage. When we remodeled, we took down the doors and had them sandblasted. The doors separate the studio kitchen from the back studio space. I did all the retouching on these images, but Matt Chiabotti put the perfect final touch on this shot by adding the wires sticking out of the arm.

The above "power up" image was really fun to create. This image was made from 3 images. The wooden speakers on the left were duplicated and flipped to create a beefier stand for Evan's sound board. The electricity was created in Photoshop. The chair is a 1920's optometrist chair that Evan and Matt secured just for this shoot. I wish I could keep it for the studio makeup chair! It fit the creepy green theme perfectly.

And here you have the final "receptionist" image. The background is from a firefighter's museum. I remembered seeing it about a year ago during a scouting search. It worked perfectly for Veronica's office. The wall was plain and white, I had a good time staining it up in post. This is one of my favorite images to date.

Art Director: Matt Chiabotti

Stylist: Katelyn Simkins

Update!

I've received several emails from peers asking to show some of the original images to show before and after retouching. So, I'm taking town the curtain to show you some before pictures. I grabbed approximate images used... these may not be the exact images selected for final output.

After a pre-production meeting with the art director and Blorp Corp, I sketched out the shots to help me visualize the composition and lighting.

We only had the model for a limited time, so we had to shoot a lot quickly to get the look we wanted. We started with the "nicest" hair style since we would tear up the hair after the hero shot.

We all agreed that the above image had the robotic feel we were going for.

Above, you can see that the image was off balance with the wood speaker on one side.

Above is a direction I was exploring that used a full body mannequin, but Matt's stellar art direction steered me toward the floating head below. We felt that showing less was more.

Above is the floating mannequin head.

Here is our model who provided the face and arm for the Assembly shot.

We shot the above picture to get the flame and reflections from the flame. I ended up shooting the flame again on a grey background at 1/8000 of a second to freeze the flame and give it good color.

Crew shot below.

Wine and Dinner Party

2009-11-03T23:02:00.006-07:00

Hot off the press, 5280 Magazine just published a spread of my photos from a Dinner party we shot in back in June. The editors did a great job laying out the spread and picking just the right imagery to tell the story. We also did our best to let the dinner party "happen" to make it feel natural.

Frasca's Bobby Stuckey poured the wine from Jason Huntley's Washington Waters Winery. This is some seriously tasty wine people! I'm saving a S.W.A.G. bottle for the Thanksgiving holidays! Get some!

Technical Notes: We shot in an 11th story loft downtown Denver that has some amazing natural light. For this shoot, I brought a 4x4' shiny board and several plastic mirrors with Matthews frames and bounced them off the white ceiling from a balcony outside.

Photo Editor: Steffanie Woodward

Art Director: Alese Pickering Becket

Writer: Amanda M. Faison

Special Olympics and Denver Bronco Heroes

2009-11-03T22:07:00.008-07:00

I had the honor of photographing some incredible Special Olympics kids with some genuine Denver Bronco's players in August. The Billboards have been strategically popping up right next to Invesco Field.

I was really thrilled that the three Denver Broncos were true gentlemen. On AND off camera alike, they were playing with the kids around the studio. I can report from the other side of the camera that this was more than just a photo-opp for these guys.

In addition, I'm lucky to get 15 minutes with a Bronco when I shoot for Sports Illustrated, but these guys hung out for hours laughing and boosting the egos of the kids. I truly believe all the kids left the studio beaming and feeling like a hero.

Broncos: DJ Williams, Andra Davis, and Darrell Reid

Agency: Pure

Creative Director: Gregg Bergan

Art Director: Jerry Stafford

Account Exec: Eric Espinoza

Volunteers of America

2009-11-03T21:18:00.006-07:00

Here is a billboard campaign I photographed for Volunteers of America recently. I've seen a few of these around Denver. I'd like to give a shout out to my crew who worked for peanuts to help out a good cause. Thanks also go to Kiona and Ezri for modeling.

Thank you!

Agency: Integer

Creative Director: James Pelz

Art Director: Brian Gritzmaker

Copywriter: Jay Roth

Stylist: Katelyn Simpkins

Digital Tech: LA Digital Assistant

Below is a video of the new studio tent for viewing images as we shoot on screen- in any weather or sunlight. I can describe the tent with one word: AWESOME! They are made by Village Black Out Tents. Get one here.

The tent can function as a digital darkroom, changing room, and staging area for gear. We were shooting in a seedy area of Colfax and it provided a sense of security to not have a bunch of open cases with camera gear sitting around. You'll be seeing this tent in a lot of upcoming posts as we are using it on just about every outdoor shoot.

FulCircle Brochure Photography

2009-11-03T20:58:00.005-07:00

An art director friend, Peter Reese, asked me to help create some unique photographs for a brochure he was producing for a packaging, receiving, etc. etc. company called FulCircle. At first, the job description began with the challenge to enter the warehouse and find circular objects to photographs for small 2 inch "buttons" on the brochure.

After a quick scout of the facility, I proposed that we create our own circles from objects that relate to the information in that part of the brochure. Here are a few of the many buttons that we created and a portrait of the CEO.

Below is my digital tech Wess from a test we shot before our

real models were pulled from the production line.

5280 Kids

2009-09-03T20:22:00.001-06:00

Aleah Vigil, 14 - Student Activist

You may recall a few posts back that I posted some pictures from a personal series called "Generation Lost." I had been playing with some post production techniques creating custom "wallpapers" to cross the line between illustration and photography. 5280 Magazine came to me and wanted me to photograph some special kids with special talents for their August 09 Kids Guide to Denver.

I pitched an idea that we could use this illustrative process to make the children look like saints using props relating to their interests. For instance, in the shot above, I took a single image of a bullhorn and created "flowers" for a student activist. All of these shots were shot natural light in the new studio on plane jane colored backgrounds.

5280 Mag took some risk and let me depart from the "safe shot" on colored background to make it something more. Thanks for the trust guys. I'm using a lot of "Quotes" in this post.

Davis Bryant, 9

(The next Tiger Woods?)

Hazel Allison, 11 - Bug Enthusiast

Isaac Crewse, 7 - Has severe asthma, but is running a Marathon - One mile at a time

Art Director: Alese Pickering Becket

Photo Editor: Steffanie Woodword

New Portfolio

2009-07-13T16:24:00.006-06:00

I've been so busy over the last year that I haven't had the time to get new work into my portfolio. July has been a slower month, so here it is - page by page, my freshly printed book of mostly newer work. The prints are on Red River Double matte pages 12x12 inches in a shiny metallic aluminum cover.

I would love some feedback. Seriously... I want to hear your opinions!
-Is the work consistent?
-Do you have a favorite?
-If people will remember me by my weakest image, which one is it?

Don't just give me fluff... I want some real constructive criticism. I have thick skin, so let me have it... it will only make me stronger. Call me, email me, or comment here.

But if you like it, I'll accept compliments too. Better yet, call me for photography services.

ADCD Annual Show Awards

2009-07-13T14:41:00.010-06:00

I was notified that a homemade book I made got into the ADCD Annual Awards Show.

I took a book making class in college and have enjoyed producing my own portfolios and books ever since. This small book was a collection of images from a job I shot for Healing Waters International and Compassion International in the Dominican Republic. I recently re-visited those pictures and felt I had too nice a collection of images to be laid to rest on a hard drive. Besides, a nice coffee table book is a great conversation starter- and I love to talk about getting clean water to third world countries.

The book was printed here at my studio on premium Red River double sided matte paper with an Epson 2400 printer.

One of the annual show judges,Chase Jarvis, recently spoke the the Art Director's Club of Denver about how there has never been a better time for artists to do something personal and creative and self publish it. I can't agree more. Printing this single edition book took up some of my time and materials but it filled a need as an artist to say something with meaning... that's priceless. I hope that my images will cause someone somewhere to become more interested in the worldwide clean water shortage. Get Involved!

Here are some of the pages:

Above are the slums in Villa Duarte where a new water filtration system is helping bring desperately needed clean H2O to families living in deep poverty. Here is an invited peak inside one of the houses. The kitchen in the tin roof shanty is water damaged, but tidy.
Above are some boys playing in the slums and collecting water in buckets.
Baseball is the sport of choice in the D.R. Someone in the USA donated some baseball gear and these kids snatched it up with wide eyes and smiles.
I met this guy on the street with a blue "General Lee" and a USA shirt. Top right is an ad for a photo studio. Note the family commuter vehicle on the right.

These school kids will be directly effected by free water from the water filtration system. Education is key to ending poverty but it's hard to go to school if you are sick.

Above are slices of life and culture in the D.R. Below are Compassion International sponsors meeting their sponsored families and kids for the first time in the houses where the sponsored children live.

Happy 4th Of July

2009-06-30T23:51:00.003-06:00

God Bless America.

Pirate Signal Westword cover

2009-06-17T14:56:00.004-06:00

Here's a quick little cover I shot for Westword Magazine for the Cover of their Music Showcase issue.
Art Director: Jay Volmar
Writer: Dave Herrera

Generation Lost

2009-06-11T17:12:00.005-06:00

Here's some spec work I've pulled out of my hat for some potential clients. I love these images.
Kudos to Eden Talent for sending some teens my way. The crying girl above was styled by Nicky Lee.

Digital Dark Room

2009-06-10T01:54:00.002-06:00

I first started printing black and white prints over 21 years ago. I have always loved the challenge of bringing the best out of an negative. Now that the digital age has replaced my enlargers and trays of smelly and sinful chemistry, I still have fun in the darkroom. It's different, but boundless. Photoshop is such an amazing program. Just when I think I know a lot about PS, I find a new canyon to explore and realize there is still so much to learn. And that is what makes it fun.

Dual Life "Style" Photography

2009-06-09T13:48:00.010-06:00

At the end of last year, I shot a campaign for Johnson and Johnson Acuvue Contacts. The concept revolved around the idea that people who wear contacts have a life "styles" based on wether they are wearing their contacts or their glasses. This was a fun challenge technically in that the faces and attire are shot in two shots and composited into one. Quirky and fun. It's pretty weird to see what people look like with and without glasses in one glance. But add all the product type, logos, and the miles of legal stuff and it's a really cool ad.

You can see the background build here.

Client: Johnson and Johnson
Agency: Integer
Art Director: JB Leach
Stylist: Nicky Lee

Inspire Magazine

2009-06-03T20:53:00.000-06:00

This portrait was shot for Inspire Magazine for a cover and spread assignment.

ART DIRECTOR: Sheila Schirz

Grand Opening Party

2009-05-25T09:03:00.014-06:00

Wow! What a party! Thank you everyone who came. It was great to catch up with a lot of old friends and clients and to meet some new friends!

There are some thanks that need to be given to friends and family who helped out in the 11th hour to make the party great.

Thanks to AIGA and ADCD for sponsoring the FAC! Don't forget the ADCD Annual show is coming up! The deadline is extended to May 29!

I have rad parents. My mom came in the week before the opening and helped watch my kids while I worked about 100 hours to make some deadlines and get the studio ready for the party. On the day of the opening, both my parents helped clean and touch up paint. Towards the end of the party when the 5 cases of beer and a keg were tapped, my dad made a beer run to keep the party rockin'. I want to be like you guys when I grow up!

I'd like to thank Deven Gores for some last minute metal work that I couldn't get to.

A shout out goes to Passion Flowers. My neighbor Barb gave a gift of life to a very grey and industrial space... a huge palm plant! It looks great!

Kudos go to Ian Cooke who filled the studio with the gift of sound. Ian's music was the perfect fit for creative conversation and I saw several people getting serenaded with their own personal concert.

Thanks to Greg from Healing Waters who had a table set up with information about his awesome company who helps bring clean water to people in third world countries. Healing Waters has sent me to Guatemala and to the Dominican Republic to shoot marketing photography. I asked Healing Waters to have a presence at the party because of all the thousands of pictures I have taken in the past few years, these make a true difference. I hope some of you got some information from Greg about the dire need for clean water and how we can help.

Thanks to Marco who brought the Villa Real Taco Truck! The tacos were delicious and a huge hit!

Thanks to my assistant Randall Bellows for these pictures and for encouraging me through the long and sometimes stressful process of renovations.

My endless thanks go to my beautiful wife Christie! When the caterer I had planed to cater the FAC couldn't make it a the last moment, Christie came up with sushi and snacks for about 50 hungry creatives who showed up for the happy hour after work.

Behind the scenes, Christie is my rock. She has been a constant source of encouragement and vision for me. We have sacrificed a lot of time and money to make this dream come true and Christie has been graceful through it all.

Finally, thank you everyone who came! There was no RSVP for the event so I had no idea what the turnout would be. We had over two hundred people show up and the studio was packed from 5:30 pm to 11:30 pm. Thank you Denver creative community!

-Bryce

Grand Opening Announced

2009-05-01T21:02:00.002-06:00

My friend Rick Messer has made a couple of snappy Grand Opening Party Invites out of a recent test I shot. Thank you Rick! Check out his site... he's phenomenal!

The Art Director's Club of Denver and AIGA are going to sponsor an FAC at the studio followed by the big party. Details to follow.

Studio Progress

2009-05-01T20:56:00.003-06:00

Finishing touches are going into the studio and we are ready for action! This is the main shooting bay and I'm quite proud of how far we have come!

In search of the perfect Grip Truck

2009-04-20T11:19:00.007-06:00

If you know me, you know I geek out on the idea of the perfect grip truck. For years I have been searching for the right combination of capabilities for my studio. My goal is to have a 4x4 vehicle that can get me and my gear to hard to reach locations as well as to shoots in the city. But there are challenges of finding the perfect truck or van.

If I go 4x4, I sacrifice the gas mileage of a Sprinter Van. If I go with a van, could it get to where I want to go? EarthRoamer and Sportsmobile come close, but are (in my opinion) priced way too high... I don't think $250K is the best choice for this economy. Are you kidding me?

However, I've been talking to a guy named Marc Wassman who is in the beta testing stage of a new camper that comes pretty close, called the XP Camper. The price is more reasonable than the above options.

What also makes the XP Camper attractive to me is that it is removable from a flat bed utility truck. In other words, Marc can attach the camper mount to almost any sizable truck frame and the camper can be removed when you want to leave it behind. This would help a bit with gas mileage when you don't want to haul it around.

The XP Camper is a pop up camper, but it is mostly a hard shell, which is attractive to me for cold weather. Other pop ups are made with fabric that just won't do. My only other concern is if the camper can be configured in a way that would allow for storage for enough equipment. The access door looks a little small and may not be wide enough to get gear in and out. Marc tells me he can arrange the camper to suite my needs.

But for now, this is the best I've seen! Check out these pictures and the link to the XP Camper Website.

Recycling photo gear

2009-04-07T10:32:00.003-06:00

I totally want one! Wristbands made from old camera gear. What a great way to recycle the old paperweight!

Break it in Easy

2009-04-06T01:17:00.004-06:00

It's 1:15am Sunday night and I'm going to squeeze in a blog entry before finally get some rest after a full working weekend... following a marathon couple of months. This is all new work shot in the new studio. What do you think?

I hope to have some time coming up to fill this blog with new material that's been collecting dust since December. I have some amazing stuff shot, but can't get to it. If I can find the time soon, it will be amazing blog material from a campaign I just finished for Johnson and Johnson Acuvue contacts.

George Karl, Nuggets Coach

2009-03-02T01:48:00.000-07:00

George Karl proved to be a gentleman when I shot him for 5280 Magazine's March issue.
Art Directors: Mike Leister, Alese Pickering Becket
Photo Editor: Steffanie Woodword

Here is a very short little time lapse of the shoot. This is pretty typical of editorial jobs... get in, set up fast, shoot, and get out.

5280 March Cover

2009-03-01T01:41:00.000-07:00

Art Director: Mike Leister
Photo Editor: Steffanie Woodword
Stylist: Georgia Benjou
Hair and Makeup: Jennifer Samuel

Thanks NDAC!

2009-02-27T12:50:00.000-07:00

I just read the New Denver Ad Club's newsletter and I'm so thrilled to have volunteered to help with the Super Ad Sunday promotional pictures. Check out this blurb...

"Great Shots Make Great Events"

"One of the best things about Super Ad Sunday was the campaign that promoted the event. The campaign featured photographs taken by Bryce Boyer, one of Denver's best shooters. Hunkered down behind the camera like Las Vegas Elvis, Bryce transformed the patron son of Denver advertising, Jim Glynn, into the cynical and acerbic Ad Ref. "I was happy to help the NDAC promote the event." said Bryce, "It was a bonus we got so many good shots. And we discovered Jim Glynn has a hidden talent for modeling, too."

How to get work

2009-02-26T20:41:00.002-07:00

If you are like me and you would rather be working than wondering where your next check is going to come from, I'll let you in on my top secret formula:

1. Start remodeling a studio with costs that could crush you and will require daily check ups on contractors who will give you daily homework. I'm at the new studio at least 2 hours, almost every day to answer questions and push and prod.

2. Plan a vacation. This never fails for me! If you really want a big job, plan one somewhere with nonrefundable deposits and no cell phone reception.

3. Pray hard. I don't know about you, but I get the willies some nights and just can't sleep. When I'm wondering how I'm going to make it another month, I pray. With all the expenses of this new studio I find myself asking for help more than ever.

And guess what! This formula has worked this month for sure! Besides shooting two more magazine covers in the last month and an assignment for the Wall Street Journal, I'm in the thick of moving my studio and producing a MONSTER job for Johnson and Johnson. I'm supposed to move into the new studio Saturday and then head off again to sunny California... it's going to be a marathon month of shooting.

The pressure is cookin' and I'm super thankful. I'm thankful for the work and also to have teamed up with two super producers, Bill Anderson of Slanted Eye Productions and Lisa Schrag. Bill has been working around the clock to meet our impossible deadlines for the California leg of this job. Lisa is producing the Colorado shoots.
There is no way I could pull this all off without this fantastic team! Thanks Bill and Lisa!

If I can surface for air, I will try to post pix soon.