will vastine photography

Photos From My Phone - Jan.20.2012

2012-01-20T11:35:00.001-06:00

Here's another addition of photos from my phone. Hope you all are well!

-will

Quotes.

2012-01-19T11:43:00.002-06:00

I love quotes. They are little chunks of wisdom that can be an encouragement in those times when you really need it. Or you can write them on the mirror in your bathroom to give you that little boost of motivation every morning.

I would like to share a few that I have come across recently that are motivating me.

I'm trying to please myself; certainly that's a big criterion... though in a sense, I don't take images just for myself. I take images that I think other people will want to see. I don't take pictures to put in a box and hide them. I want as many people to see them as possible. - Mary Ellen Mark

Learning how to use different formats has made me a better photographer. When I started working in medium format, it made me a better 35 mm photographer. When I started working in 4x5, it made me a better medium-format photographer. - Mary Ellen Mark

After following the crowd for a while, I'd then go 180 degrees in the exact opposite direction. It always worked for me, but then again, I'm very lucky. - Elliott Erwitt

Making pictures is a very simple act. There is no great secret in photography...schools are a bunch of crap. You just need practice and application of what you've learned. My absolute conviction is that if you are working reasonably well the only important thing is to keep shooting...it doesn't matter whether you are making money or not. Keep working, because as you go through the process of working things begin to happen. - Elliott Erwitt

-will

Kara - Photo Session - Nashville TN

2012-01-16T10:34:00.001-06:00

I just wanted to take a moment and share some images from a recent session I did with Kara! A great person and talented musician. Hopefully you enjoy these frames!

-will

Photos From My Phone - Birthday Edition

2012-01-14T09:45:00.002-06:00

Today is my 32nd birthday. It's crazy to think about. Some days I feel like I am still just a kid, and some days I feel like I am so old. But here is to 32 years, and to many more! Hope it's a good day for you!

-will

Admiration/Inspiration - Richard Avedon

2012-01-10T10:04:00.001-06:00

Richard Avedon. Dang. Here is a photographer that I admire greatly. His work has been an inspiration to millions, and has helped define the American view of style and culture for years. Even though he has passed, his work continues to be loved by many. There are two elements to his photography that capture my eye and attention. The first is the simplistic nature of his portraits and fashion work. For a majority of his frames, he places the subject up against a plain white back drop. What I love about this technique is that it puts the attention fully on the subject. And Avedon knows how to get the best out of his subjects, be it a celebrity, supermodel, political leader or a miner from the American West. The second element that I love about Avedon's work is his ability to capture movement in such beautiful ways. In a lot of his fashion work, he has his models moving, and interacting with the clothes or the environment around them. The results are beautiful.

Looking at his work causes two kinds of reactions in me. The first being that his work shines a HUGE spotlight onto the areas of my photography where I need to grow. It sets a bar for me and shows me what opportunities I have to move my photography forward. And on the days where I am overwhelmed by everything, seeing his work, and this spotlight, I just want to put my camera down and leave it to the masters.

BUT, I like the first reaction better.

He inspires me to move forward, to get better, to challenge myself. I love this crazy journey known as photography. So Avedon, thanks for showing me how much I suck, but at the same time for showing me where I can be. I'm coming for you.

Scroll down for more photos.

And you see, even in film days photogs edit their photos!

-will

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Photo Walk - Sunset in Tennessee

2012-01-07T19:02:00.001-06:00

A few days ago, Erin and I were able to enjoy a day off together, so we took advantage of it by going on walk with our cameras. Here are some of the frames I was able to come away with.

Prints are available. If you would like more info, please email me at hello@willvastine.com

-will

Inked? I Need Your Help!

2012-01-03T17:42:00.000-06:00

Hello friends! If you don't know, I have been working on a photo series for the last few months of people and their tattoos. It has been such a great project to work on! I have met some really legit folks, and have been able to share a lot of great stories with them!

The point of this series is to share the stories that surround the tattoos that people have. For those of us that are inked, we all have a story that we associate with the tattoo! So if you would like to be a part of this series, and share your ink and story, please email me at hello@willvastine.com

-will

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Photos From My Phone

2012-01-03T17:28:00.001-06:00

If you have an iPhone, go download Instagram right now and join in the fun. I'm addicted. Here are a few photos from my phone.

You can find me on Instagram @willvastine

-will

TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOOGLE+

Portrait Session - Stephanie and David - Nashville TN

2012-01-03T17:07:00.000-06:00

I love how the internet connects people. Stephanie and I began to follow each other on various social networks prior to Erin and I moving to Nashville. I don't even remember how we found each other, but we did! Ha! We finally had the opportunity to meet up for a shoot and here are the results! Stephanie and her husband David were a blast to work with and simply great people. Hope to see more of them in the future!

By the way, you should check out Stephanie's blog -> Fact: This blog is Awesome!

-will

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My New Portfolio. With Your Help.

2012-01-02T09:59:00.000-06:00

Hey friends! It's the new year right? On top of the other goals I have for 2012, I am looking to redo my portfolio and I am needing your help. Over the fall/winter I have been putting a lot of thought into the direction I am wanting to take my photography and feel like I need to take some time and update both my print and online portfolio.

So, here is where you come in. If you would like to help me out with this process, I would love it! I am looking for models, makeup artists, musicians, and anyone that is tattooed!

If you fit any of this, please email me at hello@willvastine.com and we can get the process started!

-will

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The Reset Button

2012-01-01T11:54:00.000-06:00

Like many others, the New Year brings a season of reflection, resetting, and renewal into my life. I find that I take an in depth look at where my life currently is, and where I would like it to be. I look at my relationships, my family, my friends, my habits (both good and bad), my business. The list could go on, but you get the idea. I examine all the aspects of my life. I look for things that I love, things that I hate. I find the areas of weakness, and my strengths. Things that I work too hard at, and things that I don't give enough attention.

The aim of this activity is to bring balance to my life.

If I am spending too much time working, and I'm neglecting my family and friends, that is an opportunity for me to fix. If I'm spending too much time on Facebook or watching silly cat videos and my editing time is getting pushed out of the way, there is another opportunity for me to hit the reset button.

So I look at the beginning of a New Year as a way to bring balance to my life. I examine where I am, and I begin to set goals for myself. Goals that help me accomplish the things I want to do. Goals that help fix the issues, or get rid of things that I don't need in my life.

So here is my list for 2012 (in no particular order).

1. Blogging. I have always enjoyed the process of blogging and like reading others, so I am going to work on making it a larger part of my life and my business. I hope to use this blog as a place to share my work, but also turn it into a resource for other photographers. I want it to eventually be a place where photographers can come and get technical help, encouragement, and business development skills. Over the last year, I have been on the receiving end of a lot of this help, so I want to share what has been given to me with others!

I am also wanting my blog to go under a major redesign, so that it's much more user friendly, simple and clean, and packed with resources for you all!

2. Reading. I used to read so much during my college years. I was a religious studies major so it seemed like that's all I would do! I miss it. So I am bound to get back at it. If I come across any books that would benefit you, I will definitely share them!

3. Get outside more. One of my favorite things in life is to be outside, exploring the creation that is around us. If it's just going on a walk, a bike ride, camping, or standing on the summit of a mountain, I'm doing it. I find so much inspiration from it too.

4. Instagram. I'm addicted to that little app. I'd love to develop a print shop based on the photos I take with my phone and use a portion of the proceeds from it for charity. I'm not sure who I want to give the money too, so if you have suggestions, please share!

5. My Business. I want to rework my business from the ground up. This last year has been a season of learning for me, so I am excited to take the skills I have been learning to develop my business into a very successful model that helps propel my life forward. I am bound to make a business that works and provides for me and allows me to live the life that I want.

6. Plant based, whole foods diet. In an effort to improve my life in a holistic sense, Erin and I have decided to eat a plant based, whole foods diet. The traditional western diet of highly processed, salty, sugary, animal based foods has been taking a very negative toll on my life. So in order to encourage a healthier life, Erin and I are beginning to eat a more traditional plant based diet. We have reading so much research that shows how much healthier this choice is. We are excited.

These are just a few of the goals that I hope to accomplish over 2012. I hope that you join me in this journey, and I hope that 2012 turns into a year of much love, growth, and success for you!

-will

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Photos from my Phone

2011-11-21T10:10:00.001-06:00

-will

Daniel Ellsworth and The Great Lakes

2011-11-12T12:35:00.000-06:00

Here are a few images from the session I did with Daniel Ellsworth and the Great Lakes, a band based here in Nashville. They make some great music. If you haven't heard it, you can find it here. It was good times for sure. Hope you dig the images.

-will

Inspiration from Steve Jobs

2011-11-05T15:46:00.001-05:00

A few months ago my girlfriend Erin and I moved to Nashville TN after a very powerful and devastating tornado came through the town we were living in. It was a very shocking, tragic and eye-opening experience for both of us. Prior to the tornado, I was in a job that I hated. I was always stressed to the max and was consistently working 60 hours a week or more. I would come home to Erin absolutely exhausted. I was giving her the left overs of myself. It was not good. I was changed by that job and it was having negative effects on me and the ones I loved. I had to do something about it. So Erin and I began to talk about moving to a city where we could experience life in new ways, be close to friends, and pursue the dreams that we had for our lives. We weren't planning to move any time soon. We wanted to make the appropriate plans and have everything thought out and make it as smooth of a transition as possible, but because of the tornado, all those plans sped up and here we are. The tornado put perspective on a lot of things for us. There was loss of life. There was massive damage. People lost everything they own in an instant. It showed us very clearly that life is fleeting. In a commencement speech to the students of Stanford University, the late Steve Jobs said this, "When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: 'If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right.' It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something. Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything, all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

The tornado became the catalyst for change in our lives. We knew we had to follow our hearts, and pursue the dreams we have.

We arrived in Nashville with the hopes of being able to pursue photography on a full time basis and begin to live the life that we both want! That life includes running a photography business, doing the work we love and know that we are supposed to be doing, building a family, and living life to the fullest. And we are working hard every day to get ourselves to that point.

As most of you know, this kind of journey and transition can have it's ups and downs and at some times be very difficult. I know this is the right path for Erin and I so we continue to press on in spite of the trials that come our way. We know that all the stuff we have to deal with everyday will finally get us to a point where we can breathe, and be doing the work that we love and living the life we have wanted. In the same speech Steve Jobs said this, "Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

Erin and I are continuing to press on. This is our journey. This is all we know. If we aren't clicking our cameras, we don't know what else we would be doing. So here we are in Nashville pursuing the work we love. We are pushing ourselves everyday to move forward even in spite of those overwhelming days when we feel like nothing is working out. Never settling. We want to do the work we love so that we can live the life that we want. And we want to thank you for supporting us. With out the love and support of our family and friends, this journey would be near impossible.

So I would love to hear your thoughts. Where do you find inspiration during struggles? Are you doing the work you love? what might need to change?

I will leave you with one last quote from Steve Jobs. "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life."

-will

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Jack does Letterpress.

2011-11-03T13:00:00.002-05:00

I think I am going to make it a habit to post and highlight things that inspire me. I ran across this video the other day and just loved it, so I felt the need to share it with you. I appreciate quality, craftsmanship, and American pride.

Jack Daniel's Does Letterpress from Aggrodesign on Vimeo.

-will

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Favorite Photography Quotes

2011-10-27T12:49:00.000-05:00

I love quotes. To me, they provide little nuggets of wisdom. They give perspective and can encourage people to do bigger and better things with their lives. Words have the power to change the way people think and act, and can even inspire revolutions!

Here are just a few of my favorite quotes from some fellow photographers and creatives. Let me know what you think and share some of your favorite quotes in the comments!

You don't take a photograph, you make it. - Ansel Adams

I don't really remember the day when I stood behind my camera with Henry Kissinger on the other side. I am sure he doesn't remember it either. But this photograph is here now to prove that no amount of kindness on my part could make this photograph mean exactly what he.. or even I.. wanted it to mean. It's a reminder of the wonder and terror that is a photograph. - Richard Avedon

And if a day goes by without my doing something related to photography, it's as though I've neglected something essential to my existence, as though I had forgotten to wake up. I know that the accident of my being a photographer has made my life possible. - Richard Avedon

Think about the photo before and after, never during. The secret is to take your time. You mustn't go too fast. The subject must forget about you. Then, however, you must be very quick. - Henri Cartier-Bresson

I hate cameras. They are so much more sure than I am about everything. - John Steinbeck

Buying a Nikon doesn't make you a photographer. It makes you a Nikon owner. - Author Unknown

If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn't need to lug around a camera. - Lewis Hine

There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are. - Ernst Haas

Photography to the amateur is recreation, to the professional it is work, and hard work too, no matter how pleasurable it my be. - Edward Weston

-will

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Photos From my Phone

2011-10-25T11:58:00.001-05:00

Here is another post of photos from my phone. You all know how much I love this thing. It's always with me. In my pocket, in my hand, or at least somewhere near me. That way I can always be ready to make a photo and capture that moment. I am looking forward to getting the 4S so I can have the upgraded camera!

-will

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Britni Grace

2011-09-30T12:47:00.000-05:00

Here are a few images from a shoot Erin and I did with our friend Britni. She was in town visiting family so we got together and snapped a few images.

Enjoy!

-will

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Ashby's - Fireworks for July

2011-09-13T10:37:00.001-05:00

I was going through my archives today and found this shoot that I did for Ashby's Clothing Company. I can't believe I forgot to post about this! I love that we were able to shoot at a fireworks stand! Such a fun time. Let me know what you think!

-will

Pine

2011-09-10T09:45:00.000-05:00

Here are a few photos I grabbed while on location a few days ago. I love trees. Each one so unique.

-will

Erin: On Location

2011-09-05T13:14:00.002-05:00

Grabbed this shot while on location. Will post photos from the actual shoot soon!

-will

For Ashby's Clothing Company

2011-09-05T12:54:00.002-05:00

Here is a frame from a session I did with Chelsea for Ashby's Clothing Company in Springfield MO. Love the flapper feel to her styling.

-will

Chelsea James // Editorial

2011-09-01T12:32:00.001-05:00

Here are some new images from a recent shoot I did with a photographer friend of mine, Chelsea James. I tried some new processing methods with the photos? What do you think? Is it a step in the right direction?

You can view more of the images on my flickr stream.

-will

Beth - Joplin MO

2011-08-30T17:20:00.000-05:00

Hey friends. Meet Beth. I was able to enjoy a great shoot with her capturing some images for her online shop. She sells vintage clothing. Hope you enjoy.

-will

Shauna - Editorial - Joplin MO

2011-08-27T17:30:00.000-05:00

Hello friends. Before Erin and I moved from Joplin, a friend of ours asked us to shoot some vintage clothing she was wanting to sell in her online store. We were happy to oblige. Here are some of the images we came away with.

-will
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Photos From My Phone - Nashville TN

2011-08-16T16:19:00.001-05:00

"The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can." // Robert Cushing

All photos taken with my iPhone.

-will

Photos From My Phone - On The Road

2011-07-05T16:42:00.003-05:00

The best camera is the one that is with you. A camera is a tool to produce the end result, which is a photo. It doesn't matter the tool. What matter is the eye of the photographer and the end product.

Photos shot with my iPhone.

Alex - Protraits - Springfield MO

2011-06-30T10:02:00.003-05:00

This is Alex. We met a while back through a mutual friend, and have worked together a few times in the past. She is a photographer and designer herself and produces some great work.

Hope you enjoy these images. More can be found on my flickr.

-will

Josh - Editorial - Nashville TN

2011-06-28T11:47:00.004-05:00

This is Josh.

He is a wedding photographer based out of Nashville TN and along with his wife Amber, they run Ulmer Studios. If you are getting married anytime soon, you should check them out.

Anyway, I am glad to call them friends.

-will

Joplin Missouri Post Tornado

2011-06-24T13:22:00.007-05:00

Joplin, Missouri.

I assume by now, most everyone has either heard or seen images from the tornado that ripped through my town on May 22nd of this year. It has been such a life changing event for pretty much every one in the city. Lives lost, homes lost, jobs lost. It has touched everyone. Luckily Erin and I made it through ok, and so did our family.

Erin and I were conflicted for a very long while on whether or not to go around and take photos of the damaged areas. Since we were so close to the event, and the destruction is of peoples homes and lives, we felt awkward holding a camera in our hand rather than lending a hand.

Finally after a few weeks we felt ok with taking a moment to capture a few images to remember this moment in time and be able to share with our family in the future.

Thank you to all who have poured out in love and support of Joplin. It is greatly appreciated! And thank you for the support that you show Erin and I. With out it, we would not be able to do what we do.

-will

Photos From My Phone - Missouri

2011-06-21T23:47:00.003-05:00

shots taken with my iphone. i love that thing.

-will

JUNKYARD DAYS - ASHBY'S CLOTHING COMPANY

2011-06-21T15:59:00.002-05:00

I had the pleasure of working with Ashby's Clothing Company once again on some images for an ad they were putting out. We were able to shoot at an older salvage yard that in my opinion looks nothing like typical Missouri, so I was having fun.

Here are a few of the images that we came away with.

You can find more images on my flickr stream.

-will

PREVIEW FOR ASHBY'S CLOTHING COMPANY

2011-05-20T12:14:00.001-05:00

A preview of some new work.

iPhone

2011-05-17T21:36:00.004-05:00

Photos taken with and edited on my iPhone. Such a wonderful little device.

-will

inked - erin

2011-05-10T14:11:00.010-05:00

Meet Erin. She was fantastic to work with on my inked photo series.

How old were you when you got your first tattoo?
I got my first tattoo, the one on my wrist that says "Love Never Fails" not even a year ago, when I was 18, and became an addict from then on out. I got my second and third (the two birds on my back) about 2 weeks after my first!

What made you get it?
Honestly my first one, Love never fails, is the only one that holds any real meaning other than it looks pretty. It's from the Bible. To me it means no matter what, the people who truly love you will always come through. My other ones are all very traditional. I've always been a HUGE fan of the old school tattoo style!

Which tattoo is your favorite? Why?
My favorite is the roses on my shoulder! I just really love the placement and roses have always been my favorite flower. They are going to be a good beginning to an eventual half sleeve. Also the roses are just my newest and most recent ones, It's kind of like buying a new shirt, it seems to be your favorite until you get a newer one. :)

Do you have any tattoos that you regret?
I am happy to say I have no tattoos i regret! Although I love all my tattoos, if i didn't love them anymore i did at one point and that means something. It's who i was when i got it. And for the most part you can cover up older ones if need be. :)

Do you have a favorite memory attached to one of your tattoos?
Well when i got my first tattoo, my mom also got HER first tattoo! She got a hummingbird on her ankle. It was kind of cool to get out first tatts at the same time. :)

Do you plan on getting any more tattoos?
I plan on getting many more! I have so many ideas for my next and future tattoos I don't know what i want to do next!

If you would like to be a part of my Inked photo series, please email me at willvastine@gmail.com and lets talk!

-will

Lisa

2011-05-04T10:39:00.004-05:00

Photos from my latest shoot with Lisa. It's always fun working with her. Hope you enjoy!

-will

Summer Fun

2011-04-30T15:53:00.002-05:00

I love having some fun with the white wall. Shot for Ashby's Clothing Company and the summer denim ad.

-will

The Basics of Exposure.

2011-04-29T19:55:00.005-05:00

Learning the art of exposure is one of the most important parts of your photographic journey, and mastering it takes a lot of practice. But once you have a handle on it, understanding exposure can be extremely rewarding. Knowing exposure and how your camera reacts to light can make or break you, and if you know how to control exposure, you can get more creative and most of the time have better photos!

Exposure can be one of those tricky words in the photog world because it's used to refer to a few different things. So let's clarify. The first reference to exposure is in the actual act of taking the photo. You just clicked your camera, you made AN exposure. Get it? The second refers to the actual image that you made. It's the result of taking a photo. You look at a photo and say, "wow, that's a great exposure!" And the third and final reference to exposure is where I want to dig into, and its the actual act of light, how it enters and interacts with your camera, and creates the final image that you see.

There are three aspects to exposure and how your camera controls light. They are aperture(f-stop), shutter speed, and ISO. Each one has a different function and does different things to your photo. Aperture refers to the size of the opening in your lens when you take a photo. It determines how much light can get in. Think of a straw compared to a garden hose. Both move liquid, but one moves a lot more at one time compared to the other. Shutter speed determines the amount of time that light can get into your camera. It's basically the valve to that garden hose. The shutter opens and closes and determines the length of time light enters the camera. And ISO refers to the sensitivity of your camera to light. And to continue the hose metaphor, think of a bucket at the end of the hose. The higher the ISO (higher sensitivity), the bigger the bucket. It can collect more light. The lower the ISO, the smaller the bucket. Follow me?

Exposure is all about finding the appropriate balance between these three elements. And it is all about balance. You change one, and it changes the other two. So knowing how they interact with each other is so important. Having this knowledge will also help bring your creative vision to life. This would typically be the time when we should talk about proper exposure and what that looks like, but I am going to skip over that, because I want you to try things out, and find your own voice. There are rules in photography, but creative vision wins out every time in my opinion.

The great thing about shooting digital is that it's perfect for you to go out and experiment with this. Since you can see immediate results, get out there and shoot. Make adjustments to your aperture, shutter and ISO. See what happens. Take notes, and learn as much as you can.

Over the next few weeks I will also be going more in depth with each one of the aspects of exposure. Because not only do they determine exposure, they also change other aspects of your photo. And these will be amazing tools to have in your tool box. And help you bring your creative vision to life!

-will

Polaroid Land Camera

2011-04-20T23:05:00.005-05:00

Back in January Erin and I took a trip to Nashville and while we were there, I picked up a little gem of a camera known as the Polaroid Land Camera. I was so excited when my friend Josh found it at the thrift store we were at. I quickly paid for it, left, and found some film. Luckily Fuji actually makes a pack film that works perfect for this camera.

Anyway, here are some frames from this piece of gear that I hope to make a larger part of my shooting.

Enjoy.

-will

Inked. My photo series.

2011-04-19T13:50:00.004-05:00

Do you have a tattoo, or you are covered in tattoos? I need you!

I am currently working on a photo series of people and their tattoos and need you, my friends, to help me add to it. The point of this project is to capture the person and their story more then the tattoos themselves. With each session that I do for this series, I will be attaching some kind of narrative to help tell the subjects story.

I am so excited to see what this project will involve. And looking forward to meeting new people and helping tell their story in a small way.

If you are interested in helping me with this, or know some one who might be, please email me at willvastine@gmail.com and we can start working out details!

Thank you for all of your support. With out you, I couldn't do what I do.

-will

Ashby's Clothing Company

2011-04-18T22:18:00.003-05:00

Shot for Ashby's Clothing Company.

-will

Spring is Here.

2011-04-15T21:09:00.001-05:00

Spring is here and it's in full effect. I am loving it.

-will

Take Your Camera Off Automatic

2011-04-12T16:23:00.003-05:00

I'm often asked what's the quickest way to improve your photography and almost every time my reply is by saying, "take your camera off of automatic." I know there are a lot of buttons, numbers, functions and settings that can get overwhelming really quickly, but if you take time to learn about your camera and how to use these manual settings, your photography will improve by leaps and bounds. Knowing when and how to use aperture, for example, can make a huge difference in how your photo turns out. Remember, your camera is just a tool. If you learn how to master this tool, then it will show in your photos. If you can control what the camera is doing, you can make your vision become real.

If you want to know how to control depth of field, or stop a bird in mid flight, or take a photo in low light, you have to know how your camera works and what to do so you can bring all these elements together for a great exposure. So for the next few weeks I am going to post about exposure and the key elements of it: F-Stop, Shutter Speed, ISO, and Light. I will do my best to help explain what these are and how the work together to create the final image you see. And how each one effects the other.

Trying to figure this all out can get really overwhelming, but I promise, this will be the quickest way to improve your photographic skills. I hope this is really exciting for you, because it brings the control of your creative vision into your hands, and you will see the results of your efforts. Your photography will improve and you will feel more confident about the images you are taking.

So, your next steps.
1. Put your camera in manual mode.
2. Maybe read the manual that came with your camera so you know which buttons do what.
3. Take it everywhere with you, and shoot like crazy.
4. Try different settings, push all those buttons and look at the results.
5. Take notes.
6. Learn everything you can.
7. Shoot, shoot, and shoot again.
8. Have fun!

I hope this excites you to keep learning and growing your craft. Put the control into your hands, and enjoy the process of making great photos!

-will

Photos From My Phone

2011-04-08T22:21:00.005-05:00

Just a quick update of photos from my phone. I seriously love having the iPhone around all the time with the hundreds of photo apps available. And yes, I know its not a "real" camera, but for me, a camera is a camera. It's just a tool for the photographers vision.

As Chase Jarvis has said... the best camera is the one that's with you.

-will

Erin.

2011-04-06T10:48:00.008-05:00

I have to say, I think I might be the luckiest guy around to be able to call this girl mine. I love her more then anything in the world. The relationship that we have been building over the last three years is unlike anything I could have imagined. She's the most genuine, loving, and supporting person I know.

I love you Erin.

By the way, she is quite the photographer herself.
Find her blog here.
Follow her on twitter.

-will

Spring Ad for Ashby's Clothing Company

2011-04-03T12:55:00.001-05:00

These are a few images from the shoot I did for Ashby's Clothing Company in Springfield MO.

Shot on location, all natural light with my D700 and 50mm lens. (my favorite set up)

-will

Going through my hard drive.

2011-04-01T20:09:00.003-05:00

I love it when you go through your hard drive and find hidden gems like these. I had gone through all the photos from the session, thinking I had pulled the best ones, but sometimes you can miss things.

Anyway, for these shots, my basic set up was a Nikon d700 with a 50mm prime lens. For light I used an Alien Bee 800 shot through a soft box. In the diagram below, you can see the basic set up.

-will

Josh, my Nashville friend.

2011-03-30T12:55:00.002-05:00

Meet Josh, he's from Nashville.

He is one legit wedding photographer. And an even better friend. I have been blessed to get to know this guy over the last year and really appreciate the friendship that we have.

Please take some time and go check out his photography. He works with his wife and they have an amazing way of being able to capture the life that is in your wedding day.

Find their blog here: Ulmer Studios Blog
And their website here: Ulmer Studios

Thanks for being a friend Josh!

-will

Online Garage Sale!!!

2011-03-29T18:46:00.004-05:00

Hey friends! Welcome to my online garage sale!

Below you will find some items that I am trying to sell, so if you see something you are interested in, please email me!

willvastine@gmail.com

Nikon d200 - $450

This will be sold as the CAMERA BODY and BATTERY GRIP only, no lens included. It will ship with the original box and 2 batteries and charger.

Lowe Pro Flipside 400AW - $90

This is a kick ass camera bag, backpack style. Super durable and can carry a ton of gear. Sorry, gear in photos not included.

Here is the link to Lowe Pro's description of it.

Sigma 18-200mm Lens - $350

This is a slightly used Sigma Lens made for Nikon cameras. DX sensor only.

Here is the link to the Sigma site.

Mountainsmith Camera Bag - $40

An awesome little camera bag that can convert into a fanny pack style bag. Sorry, camera not included.

Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Messenger Bag - $80

This is a great laptop messenger bag for photogs/bloggers/writers on the go.

Here is Timbuk2's write up on it.

Sennheiser e935 mic - $25

A fantastic mic. Used it on the road with my band. Works great, just a little road worn.

Apple Ipad Cover - $20

A great cover for the first gen iPad. Here is Apple's page on it.

Bodum 4 Cup Coffee Press - $7

A super convenient coffee press for making a small amount of coffee

Thanks friends! If you have any questions, please email me!

willvastine@gmail.com

The Exit In

2011-03-27T23:44:00.002-05:00

The infamous wall of the Exit In - Nashville TN.

-will

blue

2011-03-27T23:41:00.001-05:00

A classic "Will" shot. I love simple, geometric photos like this.

-will

Let's escape for a little while.

2011-03-26T17:16:00.004-05:00

Let's escape a little while.

One of my favorite things to do is just be outside. There is something about it that just gets to the core of me and makes me feel like everything is ok. And it makes me feel really insignificant. I am so small compared to the world that is outside of my four walls.

-will

Friends

2011-03-26T16:46:00.001-05:00

I love days we get to hang out with great friends.

On the Road with Erin

2011-03-18T20:28:00.004-05:00

I love this girl.

- will

Inked - Isha and Marie

2011-03-17T18:18:00.003-05:00

This is Isha and Marie. Two great ladies that I was able to shoot for my Inked series.

I shot this all natural light with a 50mm lens. Such an easy and incredibly effective set up. If you don't have a 50mm lens, go buy one now.

Find me on Facebook
Follow me on Twitter

-will

2011-02-26T17:34:00.005-06:00

Meet the Ulmers.

They are a wonderful couple that I luckily get to call my friends. Such honest and authentic people.

In January, my love Erin and I took a vacation to visit them in Nashville. Being photographers themselves, we had to spend the day shooting. Here is their session of us, and here is mine of them.

-will

2011-02-26T16:54:00.000-06:00

On Feb 1st this year, Snowpocalypse hit. So Erin and I decided to venture out and take some photos. 20 inches of snow, 20 degrees. We were cold.

2011-02-26T16:25:00.003-06:00

Some more shots from our time in Nashville. These were taken while we were on location shoot with the Ulmers. Be on the look out for a post of their faces!

-will

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2011-02-22T20:53:00.006-06:00

For my 31st birthday, Erin and I hit the road and took a trip to visit our lovely friends the Ulmers in Nashville TN. We had such a lovely time seeing them, visiting their town, and just getting to know them better. Here are a bunch of photos from the trip.

An added surprise to the trip is that our friend Alec made the drive to hang out with us as well.

Loved this trip. Hope we can get back there soon.

Follow me on Twitter.

-will

2011-02-22T20:48:00.005-06:00

This is one of my favorite shots I have done with my friends from Ashby's Clothing Company.

-will

2011-02-22T20:45:00.000-06:00

Erin. New hair.

I love it.

-will

2011-02-22T20:43:00.000-06:00

Erin. Jan 2nd, 2011.

-will

2011-02-21T19:00:00.002-06:00

I have recently been working with a local clothing company in Springfield producing images for some advertising needs they have. It has been a blast putting together some sharp, fashion forward images with them. Here are a few frames from our first shoot together!

2011-02-21T18:47:00.002-06:00

This is Andy.

He is one legit guy. Shooting him for my Inked series was quite a good time. I hope you like.

Follow me on Twitter.

-will

2011-02-21T18:17:00.002-06:00

I have to say this was one of the better shoots I have done with my love. We got this wild hair of inspiration from Charlie Chaplin and went for it! We set up the seamless, brought out the lights, and had fun! Hope you enjoy them!

Find Erin here.

Follow me on Twitter.

-will

2010-09-17T23:24:00.010-05:00

Hey friends.
I love the power of light, be it from the sun, or a man-made source. It's what makes photography possible. Without light, no photos. For the longest time I have been looking for an affordable route to a portable softbox. So when I came across the Interfit Strobies line, I snatched up their 24x24 inch softbox. So far I am loving it. I use it with Nikon's SB-900 and it's a great on the go, easy to maneuver lighting setup. The photos above and below were shot using this set up. I think they were exposed around F5.6 1/80th and the flash was set at 1/4 power.

When you have to ability to control your source of light, thats powerful, and you can do amazing things with it, but my favorite source of light is the sun. The photos below were shot all natural light. The quality you get from using natural light is amazing. Can't beat it.

You can view more photos from this shoot on my Flickr.

-will

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People: Inked // Jessica --September 5th, 2010.

2010-09-05T21:28:00.004-05:00

Meet Jessica, the latest addition to my People: Inked series.

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-will

iPhoneography --September 5th, 2010

2010-09-05T17:15:00.002-05:00

Photo from my phone.

-will

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NERDS!! --September 1st, 2010.

2010-09-01T13:10:00.000-05:00

Yet again, another story of the bully picking on the little guy. Ha!

These are a few images from the shoot I did for MakeOut, a weekly dj/dance party here in town. They are celebrating their year anniversary with a nerd themed night and needed some great flyers to promote the night! Can't believe its been a year! Congrats to them. Should be a good time.

You can find more images on my flickr stream.

A special thanks to those involved. Hair & Make Up by Laura Humphrey, Styling by Nicholas Cloyd, and Megan Price. And Staxx for allowing us to shoot at their building!

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-will

People: Inked - Kelsey --August 31st, 2010.

2010-08-31T20:10:00.001-05:00

Meet Kelsey, the latest installment of my People: Inked series.

You can view more on my flickr stream here.

-will

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The Dad -- August 29, 2010

2010-08-29T17:45:00.000-05:00

Yea, this is my dad. He's a great guy. Taught me a lot about life and everyday I am finding new things about myself that remind me of him. Shot this while we were all spending time with my new nephew, his new grandson.

-will

Summer Grass -- August 28, 2010

2010-08-28T16:30:00.006-05:00

As summer begins to fade, and autumn begins to peak its head around the corner every once in a while, I thought I would post a photo I took during a wedding I shot over the summer.

-will

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married: lindsey and keith

2010-08-20T21:59:00.005-05:00

I don't claim to be a wedding photographer at all. There are so many photographers out there that I admire the talent they have at capturing this special day. Anyway, I had the pleasure of being able to work with Lindsey and Keith on their day and am excited about some of the stuff I was able to get. Here are some of the frames from their wedding! Hope you enjoy.

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-will

LIGHT PAINTING - my show at the Front Porch

2010-08-11T18:16:00.000-05:00

I was recently asked to present a show at a local gallery here in Springfield. And as with all projects like this, I like to try to attempt something new. Something that intrigues me and gets me out of my comfort zone a little. I have always seen light painting photos running around the internet and on commercials, so I thought I would give it a try myself. This is what I came up with. I know there are a lot more people out there doing some really amazing stuff with this, but I am happy with my first few attempts. You can view more on my flickr stream.

Thanks for all of your support.

-will

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alex crowder

2010-08-04T18:07:00.000-05:00

Meet Alex, a photographer friend of mine. She's great. A while back she worked on a shoot with my girlfriend Erin. Loved the stuff they were able to get. Anyway, I had the opportunity to work with her recently and this is what we came up with. Shot most of these natural light, with a few exceptions of using my SB900 off camera for a few looks.

You can view more photos from this shoot on my flickr stream.

(this was shot with my SB900 off camera left thru a shoot thru umbrella)

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-will

people: inked - laura and erin

2010-07-08T21:01:00.001-05:00

Meet Laura and Erin. I had the pleasure of working with them for my people:inked series. Read on for their stories and more photos.

First is Laura. On her back, she has the Greek phrase, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done." I love the beauty of Greek language. I asked Laura about her motivation for getting this tattoo and she said, "I love that prayer and this part of it especially spoke to me. I am a religious person and to me it says that Gods word is true. I always wanted a back tattoo and especially loved foreign writing like Angelina Jolie's tats. I thought the Greek was a very pretty language. My wrist also says faith in hebrew, which goes along with my back tattoo, but it doesn't just stand for religious faith, but just having faith in anything you do whether it be school, relationships, etc."

And then we have Erin. In my opinion, she was pretty darn brave to get the tattoo she did. Straight down her spine. That had to hurt! Anyway, I asked her about the story behind her ink, and this is what she said. "The first time I heard " Speechless" by Lady Gaga I immediately fell in love with the lyrics, 'I can't believe how you looked at me with your James Dean glossy eyes.' They were just the kind of lyrics that went straight to my soul, and I honestly couldn't tell you exactly why; I think that's part of why I was so intrigued. I went down to the shop and got it done a week later. A look can say everything, and everyone experiences one that they weren't expecting; For me these lyrics perfectly describe that. This tattoo embraces my spontaneity and belief in doing things that are a little crazy."

Some great stories, great people, and great ink.

-will

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people: inked - erin

2010-07-03T22:51:00.003-05:00

Meet Erin.

Such a wonderful, amazingly talented, all-around beautiful person. I feel so blessed to have her in my life and be able to call her mine.

-will

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miranda and jacob: engaged.

2010-06-27T20:55:00.000-05:00

Recently I was able to work with Miranda and Jacob on a portrait session she had gotten for him as a gift for the holidays. It was a great idea and was really excited to work with the couple! But the day of the shoot, Jake called me and had plans of his own. He wanted to purpose to her during the shoot and have me capture the moment on camera. I was happy to go along!

We began the session at their place grabbing some frames, getting comfortable with one another, then headed outside to get some other looks.

And then we finally ended at the park where he proposed! She was totally taken of guard, surprised and so happy.

She said yes.

More shots can be found on my Flickr

-will

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alex

2010-06-27T20:33:00.001-05:00

Here is a frame from a recent portrait session I did with Alex. Good kid right here.
-will
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people: inked - julia arielle

2010-06-07T20:51:00.001-05:00

About a week ago I posted about a photo series that I have started to work on. It's about people, their ink, and their stories. And now I have my first subject.

Meet Julia.

She is a fashion, music, and editorial photographer from south Florida. You can check her work here.

And you can see more photos of this project on my flickr.

-will

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photo adventures.

2010-06-06T16:52:00.000-05:00

Photo adventures.

This is a photo of mine and Erin's new friend Julia.

-will

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summer time

2010-05-28T20:40:00.000-05:00

Summer is here.

-will

people and their ink: a photo series.

2010-05-24T23:07:00.001-05:00

The art of tattooing has been around for centuries. And the motivations for getting inked, and stories behind the process are as diverse as the people that get them. Some people may love the art, and the beauty of tattoos. Some people may use the ink to remember those who have left us, or a major turning point in their lives. What ever the motivation, I am wanting to begin shooting a photo series that captures this. The people, the tattoos, and their stories.

I am hoping to begin working on this project soon, but need your help. I need people that have ink and are willing to share their story. I don't care how big or small the tattoos are, or how many some one has. I just want to capture a memory, a moment in time and share it. So if you would be interested in working with me on this project, please email me at willvastine@gmail.com.

I am excited for this journey, and can't wait to hear the stories!

-will

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what camera should i buy?

2010-05-23T19:39:00.002-05:00

So, you are thinking about buying a new camera, eh? Are you feeling a little overwhelmed by the task or nervous that you might commit to a purchase and regret it later? You are not alone in feeling like this. It's probably the most common question asked by aspiring photographers that are on the market for a new camera. I even ask it when I am in the market for new gear. But anyway, here is the answer to your question... There is no perfect answer. Instead, I want you to ask yourself some questions, seriously answer them, and they will help guide you to the camera that fits your needs.

- What kind of photography will dominate the majority of your shooting? (weddings, portraits, nature, sports, fashion, etc.)
- How would your rate your skill level? Working Pro or a Soccer mom trying to get images for your scrapbook?
- What's your budget like? What is the most amount of money you'd be willing to spend?
- Are you worried about size and portability? (i.e. DSLR or point-and-shoot)
- What are some of the features you want?
- Do you own any compatible gear currently?
- What do your friends shoot?
- Do you have local support? Local photo shop?

If you really take the time to answer these questions, I think you will narrow down where you need to be looking for cameras, be it a DSLR or a point-and-shoot model, a top of the line camera pushing out images for print in a national publication or an inexpensive one that's perfect for capturing the kids at the park. There is no single camera that is the best for every kind of photography.

A lot of new photographers assume that it is the camera that makes a great image, not the photographer. But this really isn't the case. Just because you own the latest and greatest gear doesn't turn you magically into Richard Avedon. Sorry if I burst your bubble. So think of it this way, you give someone like Jimmy Page or the Edge a $5000 guitar or $50 guitar, they are probably going to play something amazing. It's about the player, not the guitar. Same thing with photography, it's about you, your eye, your creative vision, not the camera you have. As Chase Jarvis always says, the best camera is the one that's with you. Photography is about you capturing a moment the way you see it. Its your expression, your voice. The camera is just a tool to use in that process.

Buying new equipment usually does help in making it faster and easier to make a great photo, but you don't have to spend a lot of money doing it. Embrace the equipment that you have. Get out there and shoot. Make great images. Don't let the equipment get in the way of your vision, and don't worry about what you don't have. Work hard and love the process of making the image. If you take time and seriously answer the questions above, and think about what you want to do in photography, the right camera will become clear.

If you still have questions, please leave a comment or email me, and I will try to do my best at answering.

-will

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alex shoots erin

2010-05-22T13:00:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, I got to tag along with my lovely Erin as she was modeling for our good friend Alex Crowder. I brought my camera and snapped some behind the scenes stuff as they were working. It was such a beautiful day, the light was perfect. And with all the rain we have been having, everything was so green.

You can view the photos on Alex's blog.

More photos on Flickr.

Follow me on Twitter.

-will

chelsea

2010-05-16T22:08:00.000-05:00

Here are some frames from a session I did with a new friend named Chelsea.

Shot all natural light with my 28mm.

More on flickr.

Follow me on twitter.

-will

a little road trip

2010-05-13T22:14:00.001-05:00

Erin and I decided to take a little road trip and surprise our good friend Katie. We hadn't seen each other in a while, and we all needed a break from working hard, so we coordinated with Katie's husband and showed up at the place they were having dinner. We showed up, she was surprised, and fun times were had. Anyway, here are some photos from the trip.

Erin and Katie on their computers.

I wasn't feeling the best due to getting only one hour of sleep the night before, so I went to lay down and rest a bit. In the mean time Hope, Katie's daughter, wrote me this little note. So freaking sweet of her.

One of my favorite photos of Erin as of late.

Johnny and Hope.

Erin shopping at Bear Market. And her find. Ha!

It was a good trip.

-will

dinner date

2010-05-12T22:01:00.002-05:00

Out to dinner with my love. Taken with my iPhone.

-will

wander wonder

2010-05-10T14:01:00.001-05:00

I love to wander in the woods.

-will

evening at the park

2010-05-06T22:31:00.000-05:00

My friends are legit.

-will

summer evening

2010-05-06T00:20:00.000-05:00

Spent the evening at a park with Erin and friends. Such a beautiful night.

-will

wind swept

2010-05-03T23:28:00.000-05:00

I grabbed this image while on location for a shoot with Aveneu Magazine.

-will

learning lightroom

2010-05-01T19:50:00.000-05:00

So I was finally able to score a copy of Lightroom, which I am really excited about. And it seems like a really cool program that will help with the workflow of taking the photos from the camera to final delivery. But I have a lot to learn still. So in an effort to figure this thing out, I grabbed my friend Mackenzie, shot a few frames, took them from the camera and started pushing buttons in Lightroom. I have to say I am pretty happy with the results. Lightroom will probably be used a lot more now.

Do any of you know some good online tutorial sites? Or have some tips to share?

-will

aveneu magazine

2010-05-01T17:11:00.001-05:00

I want to let you all know of a project that Erin and I have been working on. AVENEU MAGAZINE! We are so excited to finally have everything done, the first issue launched and out for people to see! So I thought I would take a moment to post some of the work that I did for the first issue.

I had a lot of fun working on this, because I was able to do some things that I have not done before. The first spread I shot was a beauty look accented with candy! We had some great stylists and make up artists helping us. I hope we can come together on more shoots in the future. The second spread I shot was a straight forward fashion look. We dressed the model in all black and white, and shot in front of a red backdrop. Love the look and feel to these!>

Hope you enjoy the frames. More on my flickr.

Oh, and don't forget to follow Aveneu on Twitter

-will

space

2010-05-01T17:07:00.000-05:00

While we were on location for a shoot Erin did with our good friend Vanessa, I went around and grabbed some frames just for the heck of it. When I came away with this one, I thought it would be interesting to do a little design work along with it. I do not claim to be a designer by any means, but I just wanted to play.

Anyway, here it is.

And the quote I used says this.... "We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as idea, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion."

-will

sara: portrait session

2010-05-01T16:58:00.000-05:00

I have been itching to shoot so when I had the opportunity to work with Sara, I jumped on the chance. Anyway, here are a few frames from the session. It was pouring down rain out so we had to improvise on locations and do the best we could. Parking garage to the rescue!

You can view more on my flickr.

ince it was raining and we had to be kind of quick on our toes, set up for each of these frames consisted of an Alien Bee b800 into a soft box, sometimes camera left, sometimes right. Easy easy.

-will

spring is here.

2010-05-01T16:52:00.000-05:00

Spring has come, and it is beautiful. I had the pleasure of being able to hang a print at one of the Starbuck's here in town. I wanted something bright, with lots of color, and something that captured the essence of spring. Here's what I came away with. Do you like?

Contact me if you would be interested in a print of this.

-will

focus! focus!

2010-05-01T16:43:00.000-05:00

Meet Elly of the band Focus! Focus!

She is working on a new album that is due to be out shortly, and I have been helping with the photography for the album design. Anyway, I just wanted to drop a few sneek peaks from the first shoot I did with here. More to come! We have ideas!!

With the above shot, I tried something new, to push myself and just see what I was capable of. I shot my camera at f20, with the light on pretty full blast. Kind of gave the photo a really interesting feel to it. What do you think?

vanessa rose

2010-05-01T16:40:00.000-05:00

If you didn't know this yet or not, I used to be in a band called One Star Story. Played guitar, had a good time. Anyway, Vanessa was the lead singer for that band and since that band parted ways, V kept with it and has been producing her ownmusic. Luckily for me, I get to take her photos! So the other night, we grabbed a few shots of her and some of her new merch.

-will

the bridge

2010-05-01T16:22:00.000-05:00

-will