I had the pleasure of photographing a good friend of mine a few days ago.

The best part of my job is getting to know great people and working with people I love. Courtney and I go way back and are like siblings, so it’s always fun to hangout with her, let alone do what I do best with a camera.

We went to the Queen Mary in Long Beach for these images. I love the true vintage feel with the classy nautical spin. Great place to shoot with an amazing view of Downtown Long Beach.

Hope you enjoy these images.

Hair & Makeup: Ceasar Pacheco

Location: Long Beach CA.

(Thanks for wanting to shoot with me Courtney, it was an honor and Congratulations on graduating, the real world needs you!)

A beautiful wedding party combined with some amazing moments and perfect weather (for the most part) added to a special day for the new bride & groom.

I was so honored to be asked to document their wedding day and I’m so excited to show them all these images!

Stay tuned for many more

After spending around 5 days in Bangkok, the whole crew (11 of us) jumped on a jet & headed South for Krabi.

Hopped on a bus, then a boat and then a long tail boat & finally we arrived in a version of paradise. Amazing beaches, perfect weather, hour long massages for $12, informal fire throwing shows on the beach, Some fun adventures with Bruce & his safe, ask him about doing the Hulk on his in room safe.

This island was a nice change of pace after working hard shooting a wedding, running around Bangkok and breathing smog.

Some of the Highlights in Phi Phi (not including what my next post will be about)

5. Getting my feet nibbled on by a few hundred “Fish Doctors” yes they actually call them that.

4. Waking up to an amazing view at the top of “Long Beach”

3. Hot food with Bruce, Harly & Cee… Love that HOT Thai Food.

2. Watching intermediate fire dancers perform on the beach with a cocktail in my hand & my girl at my side.

1. Massages- Amazing amazing Aloe Massages, great for the mind & body… For only about $12 US??

Overall a great destination. Wish we could have stayed an extra 2 days at least!

Props to Cee for great planning.

(While Audrey drinks water, I snag a Tiger Lager for the walk)

(Pretty sure that boat is taking on water)

(Loved this view… I’ll call this the wild 2 headed snake river)

(This was the first glimpse that made my heart pound with excitement. I love adventure… & that’s what those islands represent)

(Don’t know them, just liked this scene)

(This shot took a few tries)

(Rainy season brings millions of Jellies)

(Cee hanging on to that Infamous hat imported (& babied) by Harly…Unharmed with so much effort)

(Like I said… millions of Jellies)

(Perfect profile)

(We stayed there)

(Not sure if that guy has a rifle- but he looks like he means business)

(A long tail)

(Finally on the beach… Just need a spot to stash my gear)

(Thai Paradise)

(The view from our deck)

(Audrey on that insane deck)

(Bruce & Audrey)

(Becky & Stephen sipping rum & coconut)

(Merit)

(Loved this cat)

(Can’t beat those Massages)

(Harly)

(Love this image, especially with the moon in the back ground)

(Audrey,Cee & Bruce watching some dangerous piro’s play with sticks)

Last week Justin Rudd’s non profit organization CAT (Community Action Team) held its 4th Bi-Annual 24 hour photo contest.

Photographers had a 24 hour period of time to take pictures in or of Long Beach.

The judge panel looks through over 1000 images and picks out their top 10. I got 2.

Judges included:

Jeff Gritchen, Photojournalist & Press-Telegram staff photographer
Suzanne Mapes, University Photographic Instructor

I’ll write more later. A few images from Bangkok. Overwhelmed with imagery.

(Sexiest couple alive)

(Corban & Liam grabbing their boards & some waves)

Fathers Day 2010, the last night with my nephews and Brother. Took the surf boards out to Seal beach an hour before sunset and did what us boys do best… ignore the garbage in the water, ignore the wind and search for that special something…in this case waves and a sunset to back us up with.

The very next morning Sonora, Daniel & kids would pack their bags, hop on a 747 and point towards Spain and eventually Morocco. So this was a symbolic & amazing time with my nephews.

Here are some pictures to illustrate.

(Seal Beach)

(Gearing up)

(Jude picked up some techniques while living in Hawaii)

(Before I put away the camera & got wet)

(Solomon sliding down a dune while Emmanuel plays in the background and the ladies talk further in the background)

(Sister Sonora,my Girlfriend Audrey holding niece Hope as they try to stay warm)

Then off to get some Pho’

(Number Nine, Noodles & Beer with the whole crew)

I know you couldn’t get enough of Sheena’s shoot from the teaser I posted last… so here’s a few more for you to enjoy. I love this shoot and I love working with Sheena. If you like her look, you should hear her voice! Buy her Live Album HERE, or listen to her HERE. I can’t wait to see what she does with these images.

Wanna do a shoot like this? Contact me asap, my month of June is slow.

(We go waaaay back)

Last week I photographed Sheena Loza for her promo packet. I love this shoot. More to come. Its Sunday & I’m off to a few BBQ’s. Posting more tomorrow!

Roy Marx is coming out with a music Album. This shoot we did is going to be used for promo,CD cover & website stuff.

I pushed the edge to a gritty, dark but strong male feeling. I’ll tell you how to get ahold of his music when his Album releases.

Enjoy the images.

Malinda and Aaron were married in front of all their friends and family. I was there to document it from the beginning to the end. I love jewish weddings, so symbolic, genuine and rich in culture and traditions.

Enjoy these images that briefly tell a story of 2 people becoming husband & wife in one day.

(Malinda’s dress hangs in front of a window, the ornate design was an eye catcher)

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(Aaron prepared in a separate room at the same hotel)

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(The first time they see each other on their wedding day is extremely emotional and a great moment for once in a lifetime images)

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(Signing the Ketubah)

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I Will be posting images on a slideshow, please contact me info@samuellippke.com if you were at the wedding and would like to be sent a link to view the slideshow- Put the Brides maiden last name in the title.

I wanted something that felt as if it were from a time capsul. I love this shoot.

I’m in Warm Beach WA. right now and I’m off to play some hoops. Write more soon.

(Favorite)

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(Sweater’s add appeal & heat)

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Have a gander at what I brought to the table this month.

Can’t get enough of Slim Aarons >HERE<

I look up to Slim. Great eye, good attitude (or so it seems in his photos) the highlife without trying to sell a product… just displaying the finer moments in life one image at a time. I want to purchase a print for above my bed.

See Plastiki sail on eTrine.com >HERE<

Friend of mine Vern Moen is one of the crew members.  >HERE<

I love what Plastiki is challenging. Stop pollution, take care of the earth and have some adventure in the process.

Fashion-ation, love this series. >HERE<

Fashionation always has something to satisfy my wild cravings towards good fashion images

I love this CUBA series from photographer Susan Bank. >HERE<

It makes me want to return to Cuba asap. Anyone want to come? Jan.2011?

Some great looks for men on the Denim Maniac >HERE<

Makes me want to sail around Long Island.

My style is merging classy sailor/& Euro motorcyclist. This line might help the sailor part a little.

The Denim Guy wrote a little about it. >HERE<

I love Terry Richardson’s blog >HERE<

The blog is filled with some wacko stuff, along with a selection of great images. Behind the scenes from magazine cover shoots, Marc Jacob’s wedding, Mick Jagger just being Mick Jagger, odd photoshop and horrible quaility photos that could easily sell for $2000 apiece. Terry has something.

The clothing company “Howe” released another one of “my” T-Shirts >HERE<

I took the photo that they used as a graphic and then they added their design.I’m actually not a big fan of it… so maybe I shouldn’t even be showing you. Oh well. It exsists, here’s my recognition.  Pretty sure Howe is a little (3 years) behind on the whole 80′s thing. We (myself included) have moved on…to the 90′s. Wish I could help them out.

A client of mine (who is VERY connected to the music industry) turned me on to this band.

Love this Band “The XX” >HERE<

I officially have a motorcycle

Its a 1990 Honda Tourist Trophey & its awesome.

Don’t hit me out there. Drive safe.

Its a GB500

Seen on eTrine.com- Proof that spring is more then upon us. >HERE<

I’m looking forward to the Trine’s opening up their Home & Garden store. Talented people with good taste & a healthy appetite for fine plants and furniture. Stay tuned, it will be online first!

One of my favorite hobbies is the sport of basketball. One of my top 3 favorite players is Shannon Brown. He’s a highflying slashing guard on the Lakers & easily one of the best dunkers in the league (45″ vertical Leap).

On a rainy Saturday afternoon, I was able to meet him. He was at a signing on 2nd St. here in Belmont Shore. I felt bad at the amount of times he had to sign his name on random items (Baby bibs, old shoes worn out, a skateboard & a baby diaper where all among the weirdest items)

Here’s proof that I met him.

(Audrey getting her Shannon Brown Jersey signed)

(Crowd shots)
(More crowd)

(Shannon Brown Autographed mini-ball)

(Shannon Brown & I)

(We LOVE Long Beach Crew)

(Josiah & Shannon-Josiah is sporting his DJ Mbenga Jersey… true fan)

(killing time)
(I had him sign my jersey too)

(Until next time)

Shot with Crystal Maurer today. She’s fun to shoot. Ceasar did a great job on hair and makeup.

Looking forward to showing you the rest of these images! For now… TEASEEEERRRR!

Kristy Morris.

Shoot teaser. Love these images, stay tuned for some great shots this week!

In the Meantime, take a look at her clothing line, its called CLYDE

More to come.

Kristy Morris.

(Throwing hair around)

I’ve been a Long Beach resident for nearly 7 years. Never have I heard of surfing like this here. We have an enormous breakwater (Built in to protect subs and ships in WWII) Long Beach was known as the Waikiki of Southern California before the construction of the breakwater in 1941. A surf contest was held in Long Beach in 1939… and ever since that huge wall went up… there has only been  wave session like this on a rare occasion. So naturally, I grabbed up the camera and ran out to document it.

I hope that my children will be able to surf the waves of Long Beach without concern of filthy water and a restrictive breakwater.

I hope this will motivate congress to put their footdown and restore back the beaches of what once was the Waikiki of Southern California.

I captured a video too: Put it on YOUTUBE. See it HERE

NOTE: I’m not a surf photographer. I just have a love for the ocean and my city.

Friend of mine Chad Cress captured the surf yesterday: See his images HERE

(Craig Wallace runs out to takes advantage of the swell)

(No one hitched this ride…I love that barrel!)

(That sequence makes me want to weather the cold and borrow a board for the morning)

(Tractors in the background clean up drift wood and trash from the recent storm)

You’ve waited so patiently and I’ve picked so meticulously the images I wanted to feature in chapter two.

Jeanine’s look is elegant, sexy, raw and refined all at once. Which makes for great images. Her knowledge of “Frame” and lighting is fun to work with. She knows what she’s doing in front of the camera and on the stage for that matter.

Once again, great shoot Jeanine and great hair and makeup Ceasar Pacheco. (Vault Salon, Huntington Beach)

This will wrap up the images from this shoot for Jeanine and I’s shoot. We’ll shoot again though, so don’t worry!

Thanks for viewing, be sure to leave a comment for our next shoot ideas. Maybe you’ll inspire the next scene!

(Long Beach Resident waiting (on the curb) on her bike. Making a decision about crossing the street or not, Jamba Juice Employee (right) in search of Sand Bags)

Outside my studio water fell onto the street. Sheets, buckets,cats & dogs, Belmont Shore had it all coming down on its head & streets.

Armed with my Canon 5D MII, boat shoes, and Umbrella, I captured some of the intense flooding on 2nd St.

Posting more on www.LBpost.com shortly.

(Samira Ghassemian crosses the street in search for a dry place)

(An Unidentified man attempts to leap a growing amount of water…coffee in hand)

(Layla Ghassemian (left) a San Jose Resident didn’t pack rain clothes while visiting her Cousin Samira Ghassemian (right), she said she packed mostly for sun)

(2nd St. Belmont Shore under water)

(Belmont Shore outside of The Coffee Bean)

(Argonne & 2nd St, Long Beach underwater)

(Jamba Juice Manager looking for Sand Bags for his flooding shop front)

(Peter, Co-Owner of 5001, works hard to keep water from seeping into his store)

(Greg comes out of AT&T with make shift boots & happy for his umbrella)

(Unidentified Long Beach Resident crosses St. Joesph in Long Beach CA.)

(Kat)

Love this shoot. Thanks to everyone that helped pull in my obsession with timeless fashion, hamptons, JCrew,Whatever you want to call it, I call it my style. (Mika,Eric,Kat,James)

The location is renowed for being one of the top 10 pools in the whole world (Esquire?) Local surf instructor and part time model (james) grabbed me a female model to shoot with while I was in town and thats exactly what I did.

I look forward to coming back to this Island soon to shoot other great models and locations.

There’s something freeing about being able to do whatever the hell you want… Hope you see it in this shoot.

…more to come…

(James Alberty poolside)

(Love the interaction)

(The young Angelica Huston?)

(James Alberty-Oahu)

(The surf would smash onto the rocks and shower the pool every few minutes.)

Malia, Malia, oh what will you do with that look?

Malia and I had just 45 minutes to shoot, but the amount of great images we took back to the studio exceeded both of our expectations.

I look forward to our next shoot!

Here’s the images I’m most happy with.

Props to Malia for styling and doing her own hair and makeup too!

(I love the sun shining in behind her)

(Love love love these 2 here)

When you tap into the raw energy of a model or an Actor, you can get some pretty insane product. In this particular shoot with my friend (& model) Jeantel, we opened up a feeling, an attitude, some grit, some fashion, some pure manly energy and aggression.  In the end, we left the locations wet, cold, tired, nervous & bleeding (yes, bleeding) but never more confident in our individual life journeys. I love these images. I hope you’re able to sense some energy and I hope it motivates you… I’m motivated to hit the gym.

(My idea here is to connect being a man to also being a protector, to manning the cold, picking up the arms and standing for what you believe to be right)

(I love this portrait + The bashing a window combo)

Props to Jeantel for being one of the best models I could ever work with, easy going, down for whatever and doing an amazing job at ignoring pain and cold for a great shot.

Zarmina and Mustafa’s wedding!

I know so many people waiting to see these images, sorry for the wait, I hope it was worth it.

This couple is one of the most unique, intracate and stylish, calm and confident, relaxed, but ready to spearhead their life together.

Some of the guests I talked too really stuck out to me as well. Some great tight knit family and friend group is key to a successful wedding day and life.

Cheers to the new couple!

(I love Mustafa’s sophisticated, subtle refined style)

(I love Mustafa’s sophisticated, subtle refined style)

(I seriously love this image…the shadow couldn’t have been more perfect!)

(Working w/the side lighting and a great dress design)

(Loving that Red Dress & Harris’ Bowtie)

The event credits:

Wedding Planner: Kim Bradford

Location: St. Regis, Monarch Beach

Videography: Living Cinema,Curtis Hayne

Floral Design:  Nisie’s Enchanted Florist

Hair Stylist: Ona Zimmerman

Make-up: Lisa Heil

I rode in a Zeppelin last week (one of the perks for “writing” a column for lbpost.com)

It was amazing.

I posted plenty more images on lbpost, so make sure to go there (& leave a comment!)  www.lbpost.com/samuel

The world is much different from the Zeppelin’s point of view. I will say this…Long Beach water is much more appealing on the otherside of the breakwater. (Dolphins, crystal clear ocean water,life,no trash,ect…)

If you get the chance, go up in Long Beach’s airspace. It will give you a new love for our city.

(Love this machine. The Eureka’s Gondola seats 15 passengers, 2 pilots and a crew member.)

(Inside & outside of the wall + Audrey’s hand)

I took this quote from a reader on lbpost…I agree Duke.

“… Wanted to comment about the 11th photo, the overhead of a section of the breakwater: Look at the difference in color between the two bodies of water – right side free ocean, left side contained breakwater ‘lagoon.’ The right side is deep blue, left side is more of a green. Like the pool after too many little kids swam in it all day. Can’t we do something about this? And why are there still people who are against fixing the breakwater?” -Duke Cullinan

(C17′s and the Zeppelin…that is its actual size)

The Denim Guy has me featured on the site! >HERE<

Go look if you have 30 seconds.

Johnny Pinto over at “The Denim Guy” is great. Follow the blog and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

The Wedding Publicist Post has my image of Alex and Robert as their “Steller Image of the Month”

Go check it out.

http://weddingpublicistpost.blogspot.com/2009/11/stellar-image-of-month-november.html

I’ve been in NY and Seattle for the past week and a half and most of the days I haven’t had any internet use (besides my iPhone) so this page got put on hold…. BUT I’M BACK!

&

I have some great things to post on here for my faithful readers/viewers!!!

•

Tomorrow will mark the day that I drop a great engagement shoot post.

Glad to be back, email,comment, call,text,twitter,facebook me; anything…I’m pushing this week to be my biggest “Communication week” yet.

Stay tuned!

Downtown Long Beach’s art district shut down its streets to vehicles and opened it up to some music craving residents and neighbors.

Buskerfest is a miniature musical festival with a number of bands participating to open for the headlining Cold War Kids.

Each person that attends gets 9 wooden nickles, each nickle is one vote and the band that recieves the most wooden nickles opens for the headlining band.

I put my wooden nickles on “Matt Death and the new intellectuals” They are amazing musicians and Matt Wignall (lead singer) is one of my favorite people in the world. Unfortunately they didn’t have enough votes and a band called “Pawn Shop Kings” ended up opening for the Cold War Kids for a great show. Here are some images from the whole night.

Highlights include: Shooting from the roof,biking with the guys, The Pike afterwards, Seeing E&H Trine,Dave Hill,Scott Henning,David Tosti,Matt Wignall, Colin, Alex Minjares ,Steve Sheldon, Nicoel and Tim, Caitlin Cutt and the rest of the Grace Brethren crew. I hope DTLB and the art district put on another one of these shows. Huge props to CWK’s for playing a free show.

(Matt Death and the New Intellectuals- Keslie and Bek blowing the cazoo’s)

(Evan Trine and his pretty girl – Matt Wignall rocking the megafone)

(Nathan Willet snaps an iPhone picture of the youngest Matt Death Member)

(The montage set: The Willett’s, a pair of legs,Crowd shot from the roof and Lindsey Jaggers along with Colin Dobrin.)

(Nicoel,Tim and the wooden Nickles)

(The faces of Long Beach- (Clockwise) Desiree Giatan, David Maust (& son) Danny Simon, Scott Henning all attended the festival.)

(Cold War Kids from the roof and on stage shot of Drummer Matt Aveiro)

(Crowd shot I think I might blow up huge, since I can see some familiar faces. Nathan Willett in Action, Pedals from the show.)

(LB Hipsters, Nathan Huesmann, Sam & Crystal, Alex at
The Pike)

See my Column on LBpost.com >HERE<

(Can you see Mike and Russell from LB post in the background of that shot? Coincidence!)

]]> http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/buskerfest-coldwarkids-streets-of-lb/feed 5 http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/todds-candle-light-vigil http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/todds-candle-light-vigil#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:56:16 +0000 admin http://www.samuellippke.com/blog/?p=2279

On Sunday morning August 2nd. Todd a local homeless man was brutally beaten by baseball bats while sleeping on public property near the beach on Ocean and Granada. He is in intensive care at a Long Beach Hospitol. I knew him as a relaxed homeless man at Starbucks. He never asked for money, or help or even sympathy. When I looked at him, I would see sad eyes, but a glimmer of hope. I always tried talking to him, but most of our conversations consisted of “Hey man, how’s your day, can I get you a coffee” his usual responce was plain and simple “I’m alright thanks. Oh i’m good” and he would point to a coffee sitting on the table. I spoke with Shawn the starbucks manager and he mentioned how Todd always paid for his own drink and always minded his business… He described Todd as a man struggling for something normal in his life. A set schedule at his favorite coffee shop gave him a sense of being and maybe even inspired him to get on his feet.

I am sickened at the thought of beating an innocent human (Or anything for that matter) I hope the criminals are caught and given the book. I pray for Todd’s health and that he recovers… I thank God for my resources and I tend to use them to help the less fortunate. Lets look out for our brothers and sisters, even if that means they’re on the street for now.

Here are some images I took from the Vigil this evening. It was a good turnout and I’m  happy for the Police Escort and cooperation on 2nd street as we walked to his favorite coffee shop (the small starbucks)

Enjoy and pray for Todd’s recovery.

(A Friend & neighbor Justin Rudd on the left)

(walking with part of the community was a way to escalate awareness of this tragedy and prevent similar ones in the future)

(Community activist, Friend & neighbor Justin Rudd. Here is a video he made tonight ;Great work man!)

(Woody)