.jpg)
Hi friends, I wanted you to know that after a long time coming, my new blog WILL be here soon! I've been spending way too many hours playing around with it and making it something special, but believe me, it will be worth it. I am making a new resolution of sorts (seriously this time :) to make blogging a priority. I value each of your friendships, and look forward to some great things ahead! Thanks again for your patience, and I'll keep you "posted". (wow, that last line worked pretty good! Haha)
This post is a far stretch from a wedding or engagement post, but definitely falls into the category of personal. So two days ago on Sunday I was sitting in my living room, trying to get started on my laptop on editing some images. I got a text from a friend that said a plane had crashed near my house. Immediately my first responder instincts kicked in, which then switched just a fast to my photojournalist instincts. I, of course, was concerned for the victims and began praying for them as I walked out of my house, camera in hand. Please note: I would not dare post an entry like this if the victims weren't going to be okay!
As many of you know, I live in the country on 14 acres about 20 minutes from my downtown studio office. We are far enough out to not get cable TV (which is good AND bad :). Anyway, I began to scout my property for a plane, thinkin' it was really close. As I began to get in my car I saw the entire calvary of 2 fire engines, 1 ambulance, 3 CHP, the Sheriff's office and a bunch more zip by my 1/4 mile driveway. I was right behind them!
The hard part was locating the aircraft. For about 30 minutes "we" couldn't find the crash site, but thankfully CalStar (emergency helicopters) were able to locate the victims and fly them to the hospital. But we still couldn't find the site. As it turns out, it had crashed in to the Salinas River which runs about half a mile from my house. The actual location though was in the river about three miles from my house, across all of the famous Salinas Valley fields. Of course, to present an even greater challenge, we've had a lot of rain lately and all of that great dirt for growing things becomes a beautiful, sticky mud...at least on the farm roads. Emergency vehicles were faced with their challenges, and I was faced with a decision: How badly do I want to photograph this, especially first on scene? So I began to walk.
Little did I know what distance 3 miles could be in the mud! I asked myself several times Why am I doing this? I like to finish what I start, and I'm stubborn, so I continued. Anyway, for a good part of the trip I was running...why, I don't know. But still. It felt good in theory.
So alas, the images. They were featured on 2 news channels. For those that say God doesn't exist, consider this: Both men are still alive! Pretty awesome. Keep 'em in your prayers for sure. I'm reminded that you never know, so cherish every moment with your loved ones!
For those that were following along with the series, I'm pleased to share the final videos here. Team A was the winner, and Ron Dawson did a killer job on the production of this big fundraiser. They announced the winner at WPPI (of which I will blog about soon...I'm fighting off a bug, but will bounce back full of that Mikey Energy I've come to be known by!). So they are folks, enjoy! Thanks Ron for letting me share these...
Team A Video
Thirst Relief for Team A
Team B Video
NILMDTS for Team B
Before our trip to Vegas for the big photographer convention this weekend, I wanted to catch up a little and post some shots from Meaghan's lifestyle shoot up in Idaho. It was a blustery cold day, but Meaghan jumped on out there and had some fun. My desire is that each photo session I do be an opportunity for a fantastic experience chocked full of good times & memories, whether it be a high end wedding or a lifestyle session, cold or warm...
She even changed into a summer dress and got in a field with some snow on the ground...in flip flops. That's my kind of fun, but obviously presents a challenge. It got real chilly when that sun started going down...And with the 20 somethin' degrees biting at us, the creativity time quickly began to dwindle. :) The envisioned shoot will definitely be captured this spring/summer for sure! Can you say, warmer? We had a blast, and I look forward to shooting more with Meaghan later this year! 
Well friends, my gutt was right. :) The forecast for 2009 does not include a vision of this dude taking 17,000 pictures of a little beautiful daughter. Which means, the being inside my wife's belly is indeed another BOY!!!! Thanks for sharing in our delight! 
We are stoked, and the truth is no matter what the sex we've been jazzed to have a healthy baby, with all fingers and toes in their perspective place. I was trying to hold off so I can show a cool untrasound picture but my wonderful bride has the images with her and not at the studio. Oh well, I'm sure you guys can figure it out though. Thanks again! I am honored that you all care so much.
Here's to another Steelman boy rousing up the house! :)
I figured it's been a while since I've posted images of my favorite little man in the world JK, so it's time. He was a bit onry (how do you spell that?) on this afternoon because he just got his haircut, but he's freakin' cute nonetheless. The last image was from one of our daddy days (every wednesday!) at Starbucks. I've already been hounded about how my boy is a bit young for Starbucks, but with the $1 kids "hot chalk-lit" you can't trade the time together for anything. A quick question: with the hussle-bussle of life and the weight that it has on our shoulders, when do YOU take the time to just sit and enjoy the hot chocolates? Believe me, I'm not the hippy type per se, and I'm feeling the pressures of the economy too, especially with a new baby almost here, but the deeper part of life should not be ignored or put on the backburner. Take time to adjust your daily life and make those wise investments. Despite short term pains, you'll be glad you made those Long Term investments for sure. Happy Thursday!
If you're a photographer, you'll enjoy these episodes done by the amazing Ron Dawson and crew...Definitely check out the F-Stop Beyond blog and be prepared to gain insight with some of the industry's leading photographers.
This is a snippet taken from the F-Stop Beyond blog:
"The premise is simple: get 24 of the hottest professional photographers in the country (and Canada), bring them all to southern California armed only with the knowledge that they would be split into two teams and given an assignment to complete in just 24 hours. Once they arrive, they find out their assignment is to write, shoot, and edit an original short film about photography, AND an original PSA about the respective charity for which they are playing: ThirstRelief and Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.
Over a series of ten episodes, you’ll see the drama; the comedy; and the battle for the best video and PSA as voted on by YOU. That’s right, as we lead up to WPPI (February 14-19) we’ll air the episodes. Then, about a week before, we’ll show the final short films and PSAs by both teams. You will then have an opportunity to vote for the videos you like the best. Thanks to our sponsors, the winning team will win $3,000 for their charity. The other charity will earn $2,000. (In this episode you’ll hear me mention $1,000 and $500 as the respective prizes. The ante got upped since the taping of this show)."
Please visit today! You'll enjoy it for sure... :)
Hey friends, another major development in our lives, as many of you already know, is our expectation of another mini-me or mini-gina...Due in May. TODAY is the day that we find out (hopefully) what God has blessed us with: a son or daughter. These are exciting times, and I will for sure be sharing that awesome news soon. Can you just see the smile on my face or what? :)
Thanks to Armin DeFiesta for sharing this on his blog...I thought it was a great video for sure. Tmobile's advertisement, but great nonetheless! There's something to be said about being in it together, this thing called life.
On a separate note, I know that my blog has been severely neglected, and part of my resolution of sorts is to really zero in on this bad boy and make it a fun part of your weekly routine! So, thanks for your patience, and in the meantime, why not follow me on Twitter and Facebook? (My micro blogging specialty :) www.twitter.com/mikesteelman
Happy Monday!!!!!
Hi folks! We've had a terrific weekend at the Monterey Bridal Show and
it was great meeting you all!! We're taking today off to recoop and
rest up and spend a little time together as a family. I'm looking
forward to catching up with y'all tomorrow! Have a fantastic day off
today.
