Summer Reading List

Many of the years in the past, I have posted a reading list of sorts here for the year. This year I am a bit behind, but here's whats on my list for the dog days of summer. Enjoy!

1. Hemingway's Guns
http://www.amazon.com/Hemingways-Guns-Sporting-Ernest-Hemingway/dp/0892727209
I mean does this need anymore of an explanation? The stories of all of Hemingway's guns, how he acquired them and what he did with them. Brilliant idea for a book. I only hope it's decently written.

2. An Unfinished Life
http://www.amazon.com/Unfinished-Life-Mark-Spragg/dp/1400042011
A novel by one of the few fiction writers I read. I really liked Where Rivers Change Directions and The Fruit of Stone. Thanks to Tim DuBois for the introduction.

Red Stag
http://www.amazon.com/Red-Stag-Novel-Guy-Valdene/dp/1592281346
The only novel written by one of my favorite non-fiction writers, Guy Del La Valdene. His non-fiction books on woodcock (Making Game) and bobwhite quail (For a Handful of Feathers) are both brilliantly written and wildly informative.


3. The Fragrance of Grass
http://www.amazon.com/Fragrance-Grass-Guy-Valdene/dp/0762764147

OK, scratch Red Stag. I found out while penning this post that La Valdene has released his final book on hunting. It took him ten years to write. This book is getting moved to the top of the list. If you like the outdoors, hunting, fishing or just plain fantastic writing, you need to check this guy out.

4. For Whom the Bell Tolls
http://www.amazon.com/Whom-Bell-Tolls-Ernest-Hemingway/dp/0684803356
To revive my old tradition of reading a big heavy classic each summer. I plan to read it alongside #1. Although I should probably match the gun book with True at First Light,  I am uninterested in posthumous publications after reading the last writings released by Edward Abbey's estate. Recently published books by long dead authors smell odd and leave a strange taste on the palette. Let me know if you know of an exception.

5. The Raw and the Cookedhttp://www.amazon.com/Raw-Cooked-Adventures-Roving-Gourmand/dp/080213937X
A food book... of sorts, by Jim Harrison, who I know more closely from reading about him in non-fiction Thomas McGuane and Guy De La Valdene.

6. Ruffed Grouse Society 50th Anniversary Book
http://www.ruffedgrousesociety.org/shoppingcart/magento/featured/rgs-50th-anniversary-publication.html
OK, here's one that's a bit of self promotion, but I do plan to read. I was published as one of many authors in this collection of stories about hunting Ruffed Grouse. Despite the fact I am included... there is some stellar writing in here.

There are a lot of short stories and magazines (mostly catching up on The Pointing Dog Journal and The Ruffed Grouse Society) I will read as well, but this is the list of the big ones. Can't wait to see what you are reading this year. Send your list along if you have a moment.
 

Relax, have a cool drink and do some dog work this summer and we'll see you in the fall to make stories of our own.

Better get a ladder....

It's not often that I try to find a way to get taller to photograph my subjects.

In fact, usually I try to get as low as possible, often on my knees using an angle finder to get what I want, but yesterday was a bit different.

When Liz Cambage came through the door... she ducked... and I scrambled to find a ladder. Knowing that the client wanted a photo of her wingspan for a website banner I knew we had to photograph her at her level, so everything, c-stands, camera, me and more went up. My assistant Paul found a stool to augment his height for stand in lighting and we went to work.


We had Liz for a little less than an hour. Despite being glued to her twitter feed, chatting away with new found fans, the 19 year old was awesome in the studio. Super nice, professional yet unpretentious and had the look down perfectly. If she's half as fun on the court, it's going to be a great season!


We had a full lighting setup on the cyc wall and using pocketwizards on multiple channels were able to switch quickly from a white backdrop to a black backdrop from the camera position without changing anything except turning off a set of lights remotely. It gave us two different looks with the push of a button without taking any extra time.

After we finished inside we went outside where the raw power and low flash duration of a fairly serious Speedotron setup allowed us to turn midday downtown Tulsa into dusk and stop the action of a moving WNBA center at the same time. A few images from the roof and Liz and her crew were on their way.

All images in this post are the property of NBAE/Getty Images. Unauthorized use is prohibited.