Week In Review: December 25-31

With the week spanning Christmas day through New Year’s Eve the influx of Instagram photos seems to be at an all-time high, while shooting live music took a short breather (don’t worry, there will be plenty more in 2012).  Now here’s Tom with the weather…

2011-12-25 Merry Christmas
2011-12-25 Merry Christmas

2011-12-25 Merry Christmas: A shot taken by wifey of me shoving a piece of Indian food in my mouth on Christmas day over at the in-laws.  A quick edit in juxtaposer let me hang those reindeer antlers outside of the frame.

2011-12-25 I'd like to propose a toast
2011-12-25 I'd like to propose a toast

2011-12-25 I’d like to propose a toast: The famous chihuahua which even gets a seat at the head table for holiday dinners, Pixie, called attention to herself by toasting to friends, family and all that we have to be thankful for going into the new year.

2011-12-27 #beforeandaftertuesday_1227 icamerahdr fxphotostudio cameraplus squaready
2011-12-27 #beforeandaftertuesday_1227 icamerahdr fxphotostudio cameraplus squaready

2011-12-27 #beforeandaftertuesday_1227 icamerahdr fxphotostudio cameraplus squaready: This was an entry into the #beforeandaftertuesday festivity on Instagram.  Entrants can use that hashtag followed by an underscore and the 4-digit month-date format.  My first involvement in the fun shows what I did to the skyline at Meadowood Mall a couple evenings prior.

2011-12-27 #beforeandaftertuesday_1227 submission no2-fxphotostudio picfx squaready
2011-12-27 #beforeandaftertuesday_1227 submission no2-fxphotostudio picfx squaready

2011-12-27 #beforeandaftertuesday_1227 submission no2-fxphotostudio picfx squaready: Another before and after Tuesday entry; a cool edit showing how I ‘spruced’ up a light installment in the neighbor’s lawn.  Steam, masking and space-themed effects make the edit stand apart from the original.

2011-12-27 Wusthof blades from Germany
2011-12-27 Wusthof blades from Germany

2011-12-27 Wusthof blades from Germany: The knife set finally came!  Finding these sturdy, German-made knives on sale (over 50% off) at Amazon.com made my day.  Here’s the photographic evidence for our renter’s insurance (oh, and it’s kinda artistic too).

2011-12-28 lovely weather were having here today
2011-12-28 lovely weather were having here today

2011-12-28 lovely weather were having here today: A snapshot taken from a cool weather app I have installed on the iPad in our office.  How can it be in the mid-60’s here in Reno while it’s half the temperature in other (usually warmer) locations?  Strange stuff, but I’m not complaining.

2011-12-29 Yesterdays clouds are todays dreams
2011-12-29 Yesterdays clouds are todays dreams

2011-12-29 Yesterdays clouds are todays dreams: Speaking of strange weather… Here come the ‘cloudporn’ shots!

2011-12-29 More cloudporn
2011-12-29 More cloudporn

2011-12-29 More cloudporn: Don’t say I didn’t warn you … the cloudporn is here!

2011-12-29 Baby's on fire
2011-12-29 Baby's on fire

2011-12-29 Baby’s on fire: The sky literally looked as if it were on fire.  Here’s an HDR representation of what I saw.

2011-12-30 shake a beer and it will explode
2011-12-30 shake a beer and it will explode

2011-12-30 shake a beer and it will explode: Sierra Nevada Porter + Explosion.  Need I say more?

2011-12-30 Alaskan Stout
2011-12-30 Alaskan Stout

2011-12-30 Alaskan Stout: Getting crafty with some craft beer and the Frame Magic iOS app.

2011-12-31 how do you see the sun
2011-12-31 how do you see the sun?

2011-12-31 how do you see the sun?: This wasn’t meant to be an amazing photo, it just turned out that way.  Taken through wifey’s windshield, HDR-ized, brightened, selectively desaturated, masked and filtered, we have something that has already been requested to be painted.  Happy dance!

2011-12-31 Ringing in the newyear with wifey and hookah
2011-12-31 Ringing in the newyear with wifey and hookah

2011-12-31 Ringing in the newyear with wifey and hookah: Sitting on the back porch, smoking hookah with wifey on New Year’s Eve … I love my life!

2011-12-31 I saw these kids sneak up to the fence in our back yard
2011-12-31 I saw these kids sneak up to the fence in our back yard

2011-12-31 I saw these kids sneak up to the fence in our back yard: While smoking hookah, these kids snuck up near our balcony and went up to the fence, turned around and stood there for a while.  Urinating?  Perhaps.  As @battleborn said … trouble is near, lol!

2011-12-31 Happy New Year
2011-12-31 Happy New Year

2011-12-31 Happy New Year: A fine bottle of champagne (Cristal Brut; 2000), my Nikon D7000 and an explosion!  Welcome to 2012!

2011-12-31 Cristal logo mashup
2011-12-31 Cristal logo mashup

2011-12-31 Cristal logo mashup: This logo manipulation was simply too much fun to create.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!

2011-12-31 Champagne Cristal
2011-12-31 Champagne Cristal

2011-12-31 Champagne Cristal: The last photo posted to Instagram in 2011.  A combination of juxtaposer and picfx apps.  Totally fun!


Go On, Treat Yourself to Something Nice!

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Top 10 Photo Galleries of 2011

TOP10

As with any great Top 10 List popping up in December 2011 / January 2012, I Shoot Reno’s Top 10 Photo Galleries of 2011 will count down, from 10 to 1, our most highly revered photo galleries published throughout the year.

“There have been a lot of great times I’ve shared with the city of Reno and its fine people since relocating here in 2010, and I feel that the experiences I’ve been lucky enough to capture and share with the world are well represented here in terms of good times and once-in-a-lifetime moments shared by those brave enough to leave the comfort of home and experience the world’s biggest little city for all it has to offer.” -Brian Ball ~ Founder, I Shoot Reno

Mayday @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-06-26
Gianni Cash (L) and Bernz (R) of ¡Mayday! rockin' out in Reno...

#10: Mayday @ Knitting Factory Concert House

As the first group to open for Tech N9ne on the All 6’s and 7’s tour, Mayday performed well beyond any and all expectations.  Definitely a group worth checking out!


Trashion Show @ The Alley, Sparks, NV 2011
Veronica Coleman showcasing her (paper) threads during Trashion Show: Everyday to Obscure

#9: Trashion Show: Everyday to Obscure @ The Alley, Sparks, NV

One of the first galleries published on IShootReno.com, Trashion Show: Everyday to Obscure at The Alley in Sparks was a super-fun shoot comprised of scantily clad women adorned with the finest of recycled items, strutting their stuff and generating donations for several worthy causes.


Praying for Greater Portland @ Tonic Lounge, Reno, NV 2011
Clint Sleeper of Praying for Greater Portland with cell phone modulators in-hand

#8: Praying for Greater Portland + Spacehunter @ Tonic Lounge

Praying for Greater Portland aka Clint Sleeper was the first shoot for IShootReno.com, and actually took place before the site was erected in April.  Clint wields a cellphone modulator like no other and deserves your attention for his experimental prowess alone.


Beats Antique @ Grand Sierra Resort 2011-05-13
Zoe Jakes and guest Kami Liddle in tandem, on-stage at Grand Sierra Resort...

#7: Beats Antique @ Grand Sierra Resort

What’s better than modern day America’s finest live electro / world / dubstep group fronted by an obscenely gorgeous belly dancer?  When her friend joins in the fun and the stage is bombarded by costumed characters who enact a full on murder montage and finish, exhausted, in a lifeless bloody massacre … in celebration of Friday the 13th.


Neko Case @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-07-05
Neko Case showing off her acclaimed singer-songwriter prowess...

#6: Neko Case @ Knitting Factory Concert House

Two words: Neko F—ing Case.  She’s in-replicable; made of one part hellfire and another holy water.  An always-evolving, red headed musical tornado that is having her way with rural and suburban communities alike, all across the world.


Toots and The Maytals @ Knitting Factory, Reno, NV 2011
Toots caught in the lens flare...

#5: Toots & The Maytals @ Knitting Factory Concert House

There are men and there are legends.  Toots is, I can proudly say, both.  With a decorated career in reggae music which spans 50 (or more?) years, this is one artist I deeply appreciate coming through Reno for a performance at The Knit.


Y La Bamba @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-07-05
Luz Elena Mendoza of Y La Bamba caught in an energized guitar + vocal delivery...

#4: Y La Bamba @ Knitting Factory Concert House

I’ll be the first to admit that 2011 was a year of amazing headlining acts coming through Reno, but what many might not know is that the opening acts put on just as good, if not better, performances at times.  Y La Bamba might not have shown up Neko Case in an on-stage battle, but they did garner more page views on IShootReno.com.  Great music too, Y La Bamba.  Keep it up!


Reverend Horton Heat @ The Alley, Reno, NV 2011-07-10
The Rev laying down a smoking hot set at The Alley...

#3: Reverend Horton Heat @ The Alley

The Rev.  Eat steak, eat steak, eat a big ‘ol steer, eat steak eat steak do we have one here?  Rockabilly never sounded so good and this blazing summertime performance is one for the record books.


Tech N9ne @ Knitting Factory Concert House, Reno, NV 2011-06-26
Tech N9ne striking a pose for the camera at Knitting Factory Concert House...

#2: Tech N9ne @ Knitting Factory Concert House

What a crazy show Tech N9ne puts on!  I can safely say that I will be among those attending another Tech N9ne show here in Reno (hopefully in 2012) and this indie rap / hip-hop artist is showing mainstream music a thing or two about die hard fandom.  Take notes world, this is how you do it.


Swingin Utters @ The Alley, Sparks, NV, 2011-07-10
Johnny Peebucks of Swingin' Utters delivering an explosive performance...

#1: Swingin’ Utters @ The Alley

Who took #1?  Swingin’ Utters, that’s who!  There was more blood, spit and sweat on the floor of this show than I’d care to mention, and what we didn’t take with us in our heads (or hearts), we took with us on the bottom of our boots on the way through The Alley and out into Victorian Square.  What a great band, what a great venue.  What a great city, Sparks!


Well there it is.  Our first and finest Top 10 list to grace the bytes of the internet.  Here’s looking forward to the many more memories to be made in 2012!


Go On, Treat Yourself to Something Nice!

Do you buy stuff online? Do you buy camera stuff online? If this post or anything else on ishootreno.com was helpful to you, please consider supporting this site and making your next photo gear, music or general purchase through one of our affiliate links:

Every time our readers buy new gear through our affiliate links, it helps us bring to the table more of that which brought you here in the first place — the ‘money’ shots!

The best part?!  It doesn’t cost our readers anything extra to show their support!

If our readers do pick up some new gear, please drop us a line … we always love to hear about your new additions!

Comments, Praise, Feedback?  We’re all ears!

Please let us know what you thought of this post on ishootreno.com!