Brooks Reynolds

Unless you have been living in an information proof box for the last month, you’ve heard about the earthquakes in Haiti. Already an extremely poor and mistreated country, this disaster isn’t going to easily be overcome and while I’m thankful for the knee jerk reaction to help from around the world, this job isn’t done and won’t be for quite some time.

There is a few things I would like to try to do to help (which will be brought up in the next couple weeks) and as it changes to February, I want to take this new month to set aside all money from Mountains to give to Doctors Without Borders working in Haiti. I’m asking for a $10 minimum donation but encourage you to donate more. There still will be shipping costs (or you can come by one of Everlea’s shows and grab a copy there) but every dime other than that, will go right to the organization. Please support & write me at info@mountainsarecalling.com to get yours going today.

As a little push to get you going, here is a whole slew of photos that didn’t quite make the magazine but were shot during my trip around America a year ago which is a major part of the first issue.

Two weeks ago, I went down to Buffalo to see a show, shoot some portraits and be with my good friends.  The dudes at Sunday have a mini-ramp in a warehouse that was previously blogged about but I finally got the chance to meet the owner of the place. His name is Matt. When I first met him, he was finishing up a new room that a silk screener was going to move into. The rooms in this place are akin to freezers. They bring the cold right to the core of your being. They can be heated but for some reason, Matt was working in the cold. I set up my gear to take some portraits on the 2nd floor and had my very own opportunity to work in the cold. It was below freezing outside and honestly, we were going outside to warm up. Matt never seemed to mind. He was just hanging out, drinking a beer and sharing the craziest stories with us. From the time he installed a 30ft I-beam on to the roof of NYC building without a crane to Marilyn Manson sleeping on his floor. There is no way I’d these stories justice at this time and place so I’ll just do what I do best and show you some photos.

My friends are putting on an awesome art show in San Diego. I’ll have a bunch of stuff there but sadly cannot make it myself. Please go if you can!

Another shot from yesterday’s pre-meeting meeting hangs.

In London today for a meeting about an upcoming project, met up with a friend for a milkshake prior. The lady at the diner freaked out on us for switching to a both that I preferred for a photo and moving a ketchup bottle. This photo is for her.

Some pictures of my good friend.

Alright a little update from my camp. First off, I’d like to direct you to Friends With Both Arms again. If you scroll down a bit, you can read a little guest blog I did over there. Secondly, my friend Jess took my portrait (after I took his). It is lo-fi and with direct flash, you’ve been warned. Go to his blog and keep going until you find me. Lastly, I’ve been working hard and have some cool projects on the go. Here is a portrait I took of Adam White from The Reason.

Today I tracked down an old Asahi screw-mount bellows unit, a matching Pentax 50mm f1.8 lens and some generic Nikon body cap. I must cut a big hole in the body cap and mount it to the bellows, hopefully it’ll work like I imagine it will.

On Christmas Eve, one of my friends who owns a little warehouse for his company through a little party. After all the family stuff was done, I headed over to see some purple toothed friends, inhale way too much smoke and take some portraits of Gordie who was down from Montreal. At 2am on Christmas morning, I thought taking out all my light gear was just a bit too ambitious and in a sense of good humour, I took Gordie’s portrait with his little Olympus camera. Totally not my style, I typically mock the Juergen Teller wannabees but look at me now. Expect none more of this! Check out Gordie’s stuff though, it rules – http://gordonball.ca

The ever growing collection of Everlea video continues to ever grow. Lit this one with modeling lights in my strobes.