Life

Portraits of random people I will probably never see again

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The title pretty much says it all... It has been a while since I have had the chance to just put up some personal street shooting work and I just wanted to share a few. I haven't actually been shooting much personal work and after looking through some old work it makes me want to get out and shoot some more... I love how I didn't know any of these people outside the 2-3 minutes of shooting them, but looking back at their faces makes me want to know more about their story. I will include what I know about each person and where I shot it.

Maybe some personal work is in my near future.

Blessings. Jason

Random man on the street in Ruston, LA - Didn't even get a chance to get his name

Leica M9 | 24mm Summilux

Friendly stranger in Breaux Bridge, LA - Talked to us for about 30 minutes about the work of God in his life

Leica M9 | 24mm Summilux

Mother and Daughter on their doorstep in New Orleans, LA

Leica M9 | 24mm Summilux

Couple listening to music in Gruene, TX  listening to music at a dance hall - This place was so surreal. It was like taking a step onto a movie set.

Leica M9 | 24mm Summilux

Retired man fishing in Cameron, LA.

Leica M9 | 24mm Summilux

Europe Pre-Print Sale

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I have the privilege of traveling to Italy at the beginning of next month to shoot a wedding with my good friend Riccis Valladares. I am super excited about the wedding and that I will be spending the rest of the month traveling and shooting around Europe. I can't wait for the creative break after the busy wedding season and for the re-charge to come back into the rest of the year. One of the most exciting aspects of the trip is for me to have the ability to shoot a ton of personal work. This is really the first time for me in a while where I can shoot exclusively for myself. So on to the good stuff.... I will be offering fine art prints from my trip after I return, however I am also offering a "pre-print sale" so that you can still purchase prints, just at a lower price. After I return you will have a gallery of images to choose from to print in the size that you purchase in the pre-print sale. I am also including a couple prints that I have already shot while traveling that are options to print (in the case that you would prefer one of these). You will find those options below.

All images will be printed on archival paper and will be signed. They will be delivered by August 31st. All ordering/payment must be completed by June 25th, all orders after then will be at my standard fine art printing price (double the pre-print sale price).

Pricing & sample images are below, and please email me directly through my "contact" page on my website if you would like to order prints. There is a break in the price if you decide to order 2 of the same size (this only applies if both prints are the same size).

Individual 8x10 Print - $50 | (2) 8x10 Prints - $80 Individual 11x14 Print - $100 | (2) 11x14 Prints - $150 Individual 16x20 Print - $175  | (2) 16x20 Prints - $300

Blessings. Jason

These next two are examples of what the finished prints will look like

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The following images are ones that I am offering in addition to what I will offer from my trip

 

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Pond in Central Californial1019795blog.jpg

2 Day Creative shoot with Southern Fete

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I had the chance to do some creative shooting with some good friends last week. Basically I set up 4 assignments for us all to have for 2 full days of shooting and to end each day with several hour intensive late night critiques from what we shot during the day (our early night was 1am :). We went into the first day not knowing which assignments we would have and the one that I happened to pick out of the jar was Valerie of Southern Fete. I had an absolute blast following her around and she was so great to let me tag along with her. We went from florists, to cake vendors, to shoe stores (everyone in Lafayette I believe), and everywhere in between. It was extremely eye opening seeing the day through a wedding vendor whose day looks so different than mine. Valerie is also planning her wedding so it was interesting to see how she blends what she does as a wedding planner with the process of planning her own wedding. The approach for shooting it was 80% documentary and 20% portrait.

The whole purpose was to have a time for creative growth (as well as get some constructive criticism) without going somewhere else to attend a workshop. I don't have anything against workshops, I just think that sometimes that we put too much emphasis on "going to" a workshop when really everything you need is right in front of you. Not to say that what you would learn at a workshop were the same things that we learned, or even of the same quality, but what I was looking for did happen.

I really tried to think to myself what everyone is looking for who attends a workshop. Really what is it that I am looking for when I have a desire to go to a workshop? It is very simple. GROWTH. Growth from where we were yesterday. Growth to photograph someone who we wouldn't normally photograph, or in a way that we wouldn't normally photograph. Growth that pushes me outside of my comfort zone and makes me really think before each time I fire a frame off.

Thanks so much to Val for letting me intrude on her life for two days as well as everyone else who participated in our creative shoot ( Jamie Orillion, Ooti Billeaud, & Dan Sutton).

I hope that it is something that I can do again sometime.

Just a few of my favorites from the two days...

Blessings. Jason

l1000982.jpg Leica M9 | 24mm Summilux

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l1000941.jpg Leica M9 | 35mm Summicron

Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows

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I had the chance to collaborate a couple weeks ago with my good friends Jamie Orillion & Daniel Kedinger of Crucé Design to photograph the Sisters of Charity in Shreveport, LA. It was an amazing two days of shooting and I was so thankful for them to open up their doors and lives to us.  They commited to working with others through education, caring for the sick, the aging, and the poor. It was an honor to be able to spend some time with them and to spend a few days in a place that was so far outside of what my normal life is like. Truly refreshing.

Blessings. Jason

l9998283.jpg Leica M9 | 24mm Summilux

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Random M9 Shots.... Abbeville locals

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I had the chance to take off the afternoon this past week and shoot a little in Abbeville, LA. Everyone was extremely friendly and we had a blast... From a biker with a record shop, some local wrestlers, and just an 92 year old nice man. Such a diverse group of characters. Here are a few... Blessings. Jason

l9996904blog.jpg Leica M9| 24mm Summilux

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l9996936.jpg Leica M9| 24mm Summilux

Benjamin Procell - 9 Months

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I had the chance for a quick shoot with baby Benjamin and wanted to just share a few. It seems like only yesterday that his brothers were this size and it is crazy how fast time flies. Blessings. Jason

My favorite one from the day.... jc1_3726.jpg

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Sam... Nerf sword ninja... jc1_3553.jpg

Max.... Its such a hard time being a kid :) (this was right after he let out a loud sigh) jc1_3570.jpg

Boudreaux Family

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I was so honored to be able to photograph Kristen, Bryan, & Evie a couple weeks ago. They have been great friends and recently moved from Lafayette to San Antonio and it was great to catch up with them while they were in town. It is so crazy to see how big Evie has gotten in what seems to be no time at all (see link below). Here are just a few of my favorites...

Blessings. Jason

http://jasoncohenphoto.com/2009/05/04/m8-shots-of-the-week-evie-boudreaux/

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The 4th member of the family Beau 121.jpg

Out of the office... Out of the country :)

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I will be out of the country from this Wednesday to the following Thursday (3rd-11th) helping my good friend Riccis Valladares with a wedding in Norway. I am actually only bringing my Leica equipment (Nikons stay home) so it should be really exciting :)

I will try my best to update my blog with images from the trip as we are travelling, and if not I will make sure to update everything once I get back state side.

I will have no access to email/phone so I will make sure to return all messages once I am back in.

I hope that everyone has a great week!

Blessings. Jason

Day 31 - Childhood Friend

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Growing up it was always a dream to have a Great Dane. I remember like it was yesterday driving on that rainy day right before my 13th birthday to pick up my dog. As a 13 year old life could not have been any better...I decided to name the dog after my favorite super hero, spiderman. I was a bit of non-conformist so I decided to name him Spyder. This past May, Spyder had to be put down at the ripe old age of 13 years due to old age (which is well over the average life span of one). Right before my dad went to have him put down I went over to shoot a couple images. It was among the hardest things that I have ever had to shoot and I cried like I seldom do. To photograph someone just hours before the time at which they will be no more.

Looking back I am reminded of the purpose that I have as a photographer. To capture life through the  good and the bad. That life is not just full of joy and laughter, but also through sorrow and tears.

Over the last 31 days I had a goal to simply shoot and share more of life. I just want to say thanks for allowing me to  take this month to share more than just my professional work. Thanks for the encouragement that I have received from so many people and I look forward to sharing more in the future.

This month has encouraged me to get more into the story that is constantly around me. I hope that this encourages  you as well, whether or not you are a photographer, to seek out to capture the stories that we have the privelidge to live in every day.

Blessings. Jason

l1017510.jpg Leica M8 | 24mm Summilux

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Day 30 - Creative Shoot

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I had the opportunity to schedule a shoot while my good friend Ben Spell was in over the Christmas break. I had been wanting to do something like this for a while, and everything ended up falling into place for this one... Our real hope was just to take the time to set up things and not rush from one shot to the other... Special thanks to Keri & Tory for coming out and modeling for us. Here are just a few of my favorites. Blessings. Jason

l1003094.jpg Leica M9 | 50mm Summilux

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Day 29 - Orchid

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This is a sight that I walk by almost every day in my office but when I walked in earlier this week the sight of the light pouring in and the contrast of the deep red on the wall spoke to me.... Makes me wonder what images that I pass everyday with familiarity... Blessings. Jason

l1013113.jpg Leica M8 | 24mm Summilux

Day 28 - Scott

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My good friend, and fellow photographer, Scott Simon came in from New Orleans to hang out with me for the day and it really was great being able to spend the time with him. He keeps up a great blog iHeartnola which gives some great insight into New Orleans food, music, culture, and more. If you are looking for good local insider info for New Orleans it is a great website to check out.... As Scott was about to leave for the day I realized how important, and at times lost, the portrait is. Scott was generous enough to sit for me for a portrait and here are 3 frames from that.... I shot a couple with the Hasselblad, but those have to come after I process the film :)

Blessings. Jason

l1004259.jpg Leica M9 | 50mm Summilux

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l1004283.jpg Leica M9 | 50mm Summilux