tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43707230711159954222011-11-27T16:44:26.262-08:00Los Angeles based photographer, Matthew Garsteck, shares knowledge and experience with the photography world.Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.comBlogger781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-26575782678075313312011-07-17T12:22:00.000-07:002011-07-17T12:22:10.748-07:00

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-11466970491653897682011-06-22T15:56:00.000-07:002011-06-22T15:56:33.625-07:00

Not really an expert in economics and the world of photography, but I have made some educated observations that are common-sense to me.The days of the common photographer getting highly paid are over in this digital age.  Photographers had to be more skilled in technical in the days of film with all the processing and the expenses, which is why there were fewer artists around compared to today.

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-30551397044062325452011-06-15T22:04:00.000-07:002011-06-15T22:04:00.337-07:00

I took a trip to explore California, or at least a few places.  I had this idea in mind several months ago and I just decided I would do it last minute. Here is what I discovered and captured... (read on) It started off with a day trip to San Diego.  I love that town so much.  Its by the beach, just big enough and the people are chill.  I went hiking with a friend to a waterfall and

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-58084916528525629572011-06-12T12:57:00.000-07:002011-06-12T12:57:00.572-07:00

A few weeks I did a random shoot for fun with my friend Kyle.  The theme was Clark Kent and it came out pretty awesome.  We also did a bts video and there will be more videos of shoots in the future. Superman/Clark Kent Photo Shoot - Behind the Scenes from Kyle Culver on Vimeo. Here are a few of the pictures...

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-86360779582534747522011-06-06T13:30:00.000-07:002011-06-06T13:31:47.165-07:00

A few months ago I had an idea to critique my own work and post it here on this blog.  I figured that it would help not only myself but also the viewer in learning from mistakes or even how to make something better next time.  I learned the most effective way of doing this is dependent on time.  Even with editing I dont edit all of a picture at once.  I will do what needs to be done and go onto

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-31643657485723030542011-06-05T20:24:00.000-07:002011-06-05T20:24:48.911-07:00

Internet centrality is so vital to being a photographer or any other profession in the creative field.  I thought I would go through a list of websites from A-Z that help me out everyday. While I missed a few letters, I made up for it by giving more than one in different places.   I hope this helps you out. Amazon.comI love amazon because I can get the equipment I need or anything else I might

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-90426098214205266732011-06-01T14:44:00.000-07:002011-06-01T14:45:33.122-07:00

Ive been pretty busy and I wanted to keep you guys informed with some new tutorials I have made. Model Edit Using Only Aperture Dark Style Edit Using Blending Modes

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-43456456812670184452011-05-17T09:02:00.000-07:002011-05-17T09:04:07.904-07:00

Whats the most important aspect of photography with the exception of the camera (That meaning there would be no image if there were no camera)? Its light of course.  Photography means painting with light.  Whatever we see we see because light is reflecting off that surface.  This might be the first time you have heard this, but its all about the light, not Photoshop.  So

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-80964066996919505052011-04-19T12:58:00.000-07:002011-04-19T13:04:25.767-07:00

Something that I am a big advocate of is knowing how your camera works.  Don't always put it on an automatic setting and start shooting.  Actually know how to get a proper exposure and know what you are shooting as far as composition and how to use your camera to get the affect you are looking for. Heres how to use the "M" setting on your camera. Now I know that when it comes to selecting

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-54983002065074805322011-03-30T18:42:00.000-07:002011-03-30T19:02:44.580-07:00

One thing I have always wanted to photograph well is smoke.  However, I never had even tried before.  No problem because once you understand the process and whats needed to get around your environment, you are able to put together a workable plan for any shoot. Its not an entirely difficult shot to pull off.First you need something to make smoke.  Don't waste money on cigarettes or anything

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-49307909411311866632011-03-29T23:15:00.000-07:002011-03-29T23:15:09.519-07:00

Anyone that knows me knows how I have come to feel about war.  I served six years in the armed forces and my mentality about war changed a couple of years before I separated.  What first started to turn my opinion about war and the military was how people regarded human life.  I learned that there was very little regard and respect for human life.  If a mission would require the loss of personel,

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-24159028470895682362011-03-23T00:55:00.000-07:002011-03-23T01:07:11.800-07:00

Its been a real busy past couple of weeks, hence no updates on the blog.  Well thats not acceptable so I thought why not take a free minute to update everyone.  So in a nutshell here it is. Here is a photo from a recent headshot session.  It was a lot of fun and Im glad that I finally got to do a real shoot at my new place.  More photos to come from this new location for sure    A blog I

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-27833822524591639072011-03-02T23:35:00.000-08:002011-03-02T23:37:35.135-08:00

If you are an artist of any kind and thats how you make a living, or that is how you wish to make a living, why is it that you chose such a career? What it is for me is that art can inspire and change the world.  Just think of the picture of the student standing in front of the tank in Tianenmen Square.  There are countless images that have caused change in the world. Today the market is

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-31996171908073153972011-03-01T00:59:00.000-08:002011-03-01T18:36:07.702-08:00

A necessary item to have in your photograph when placing it anywhere, print or web, is a watermark.  It helps brand your photography as well as deter people from stealing your photograph to use for their own gain. If you are using Apple Aperture, it can be a little confusing how to do such a task.  But its not all that difficult in the end. First, create whatever graphic or text that you

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-24721082385859708392011-02-20T23:17:00.000-08:002011-02-20T23:20:27.812-08:00

I find that a great question.  It seems that everyone knows the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words and its been pounded in our heads so much over the years that we just accept it and don't look any further than to see if a picture is pretty. Can a photograph depict more than just that moment in time?  Can you see that subjects past?  I wish a photograph could tell more of the story.

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-33579609276525959612011-02-18T23:15:00.000-08:002011-02-18T23:15:18.007-08:00

I shared a few pictures online that used a new color setting and I received some really good feedback, even a few requests.  With that said, Im going to share this new color setting. This works in Aperture, but Im more than sure you can apply it in Lightroom or iPhoto if you wanted.  Im also sure that you could set this up as an action in Photoshop as well. So

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-34916144032095214892011-02-17T14:30:00.000-08:002011-02-17T14:30:00.271-08:00

I felt ambitious and super productive today so I set out to make a new video tutorial on the digital workflow.  I also had to do a selective desaturation for a client and figured I would show its done while in Aperture. Hope you enjoy them.  Let me know what you think.  

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-85056876083679784772011-02-13T13:58:00.000-08:002011-02-14T17:52:20.478-08:00

So I decided to jump on the bandwagon and start doing video tutorials.  They are so much easier to make compared to taking screen shots.  Here you can see how its done as I do it and I do a better job of explaining it as well. This tutorial is on blending modes and how I use them on some shots.  You need to have Photomatix in order to get the fullness of the tutorial however. Let me

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-89067862520530398932011-02-10T20:14:00.000-08:002011-02-10T20:28:06.534-08:00

John and Brandi are an awesome duo that make up the band i Heart Stereo.  I did a shoot for them last summer and it was time for another shoot for their new website and for other promo purposes.  They are nominated for a Grammy so make sure you tune in and check that out as well. The shots they wanted were simple, just plain white back ground and black and white.  Simple enough so we headed to

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-20975165890075373572011-02-08T17:15:00.000-08:002011-02-09T11:42:44.309-08:00

I just recently moved into a new place here in LA and I love it.  Its exactly what I was looking for.  First off, its cheap rent and I get my own room.  Second, the place gives me plenty of inspiration. To me, this is important.  If your surroundings let your flourish creatively then everything you do will be creative, at least it should.  When your living surroundings are creative, you will be

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-43251548076073474882011-02-04T00:02:00.000-08:002011-02-09T11:48:47.258-08:00

Last week I had a 4 hour shoot with the awesome Dance Fusion dance team.  There were some 30 people at this shoot ranging from the dancers to the mothers of the younger dancers. It was quite a day for sure and I was exhausted.  We had a great time for sure and I'm looking forward to the next one. The first half of the shoot was shot on-location and then we moved onto the Jesus

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-63042893246305908102011-01-26T17:11:00.000-08:002011-02-09T11:52:40.215-08:00

So in a constant pursuit of trying to make my mark in the photography world, I always check out other people's work.  I end up getting into a mind set of try to do what they do.  Well on the surface this is great because you need to see what is working on the outside world of making a career of photography.  You wouldn't show a magazine photo editor a portfolio that has a bunch of work that has a

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-48872044820395263432011-01-24T21:20:00.000-08:002011-02-09T11:53:46.168-08:00

So this time of year I see all the photographers around me doing photo-a-day blogs.  I tried that once, didn't work out, like most New Years resolutions.  In my mind, they dont help you become a photographer.  They pressure you into finding an interesting subject each day to photograph and eventually you just start taking pictures of whatever you see and you make it artistic.  This is what I call

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-3707082800875428072011-01-18T19:58:00.000-08:002011-02-09T11:54:12.900-08:00

So, I just got my new Yongnuo speed lights in the mail and I needed to break them in.  Well, I got that chance on Sunday when I attended a weekly Redeye event.  This is the same type of even that I did the photo booth and silhouette wall.  However we wanted to do something different this time and then I saw the poker table.  Perfect, lets do it! For this shoot I originally set up 3

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-16958657196067614112011-01-07T15:38:00.000-08:002011-01-07T15:38:31.128-08:00

I was approached by my friend Jonah Martinez about shooting his engagement pictures, he had just gotten engaged so I definitely said yes.  I haven't done engagement pictures since I left Charleston and It would be nice to go back and do some for old time's sake. I will also be shooting their wedding in May of 2011.  I love doing engagement sessions because you get to capture something that is

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-47731756492852336102011-01-04T22:28:00.000-08:002011-01-05T00:20:38.591-08:00

Most people like to just capture the moment sitting still.  Now, you dont always have to do that.  Usually you dont want any sort of blur in your pictures.  Its just not professional, dont do it.  However, its still a tool in your bag that you can use, if you know how to do it. Here is how to make moving water into a gorgeous picture. For this, you most definitely want a tripod.  Also, if you

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-16020715674952630842011-01-03T18:59:00.000-08:002011-01-03T18:59:53.778-08:00

There is a certain habit that we can get caught up in as a photographer, or in any profession really.  We can learn this one technique and get great results but then over use that technique just to use it, even when its unnecessary or uncalled for.  I remember this happening to me when I learned HDR. I started right off the bat with HDR when I started photography.  I got pretty good at it and

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-82042212189499636352010-12-14T12:51:00.000-08:002010-12-14T12:51:18.624-08:00

Ok I finally had a Sunday off last month and I was able to get to go out with Redeye, an organization for reaching out to different creative types like you and I.  Anyways, they had a white sheet set up as a wall and I dont know what they were going to use it for.  However, I had an idea that would make for a fun experience with the camera. You can do this for very little money actually.  Buy

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-70965221578652979942010-09-16T14:13:00.000-07:002010-09-16T15:48:39.811-07:00

Being a photographer or any artist is difficult, mostly due to the high availability of cheap equipment that anyone can afford.  It seems that any and everyone is a photographer these days.   This is a discussion that is common among forum threads on photography websites.  It wasnt too long ago that photographers made really good money at their craft, that was until digital cameras showed up.

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-70196637917223143852010-08-20T14:23:00.000-07:002010-08-20T14:23:15.530-07:00

Everywhere you go, you see the beautiful people filling the covers of magazines.  If you dont know by now, a lot of the work is done in Photoshop.  But what are some of the techniques used to make your model look perfect? Here is a typical head-shot session.  Im going to skip the color correction and save that for another time.  But for now, lets focus on the retouching of the model. Ok, before

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-1580072206588068552010-08-06T14:26:00.000-07:002010-08-06T15:07:25.811-07:00

Recently a friend sent me a message saying he has a friend who needs a shoot last minute.  I said sure go ahead and send him my way.  The next day we met up and headed to the Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. Jason Taylor has just finished up his album and I got a sneak peak of it as we finished up the artwork.  The album is called love Revolution and will rock your socks off. Here

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-42890955524164821562010-07-30T13:07:00.000-07:002010-07-30T23:14:04.836-07:00

I have a lot of people asking my how I made my puzzle portrait, so I thought I would give a tutorial.  Its pretty in-depth.  So here you go. First off, I used photoshop CS5 in this tutorial.  When I made the original puzzle portrait, I used CS3, so you should be able to use any version you like, as long as it has the displacement filter. What you will need is the picture that you want to turn

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-68921857398616995952010-07-16T15:58:00.000-07:002010-07-16T16:44:14.798-07:00

Last Monday I went out to Venice Beach with an awesome friend to do a quick promo shoot for her up and coming album.  We ended up finding quick chemistry to get some really great shots. I got to really see how my old 50mm 1.4 lens handled in the sun.  I also got to stretch my knowledge of lighting while over-powering the sun with a strobist kit. I used my Canon 430 EX II speedlight synced

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-26955204059900682362010-07-02T23:43:00.000-07:002010-07-02T23:43:35.980-07:00

New equipment opens up new doors for everyone, including myself.  The other day I finally received my m42 adapter for my 50mm 1.4 (finally have a fast lens) and a reversal ring. Wait, whats that? Im glad you asked. A reversal ring is an adapter that allow you to use your lens backwards.  Why the heck would you ever do that?  Another good question.  When you do this, you get super macro DOF.  

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-84340545359613289822010-06-21T13:50:00.000-07:002010-06-21T14:08:57.516-07:00

Are you tired of your old picture on facebook?  Would you like a new profile pic taken by yours truly?  I am on a quest to give all of my friends a free facebook photo session, and guess what, its free.  Call or email me and set up a time and place.  Its that easy. (must be in the LA area...) Everybody deserves to have great pictures taken. matthew@garsteckphotography.com 213.570.3681

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-84588440914983439752010-06-16T23:11:00.000-07:002010-06-16T23:14:36.835-07:00

I was approached to do a photoshoot with these guys last week and of course I obliged, I love music and I was interested in seeing what would happen.  They sing at our church, Angelus Temple each week so I had no problem hooking up some new friends. I asked for some tracks to listen to to get a vibe of what they sound like and then form an image from that.  Im not sure how to describe it,

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-75773972218612112402010-06-12T21:26:00.000-07:002010-06-12T21:26:21.900-07:00

It seems that I have had a lot of opportunities float my way.  Its almost funny how they happen to come around right at the perfect time, as if it were meant just for me.  Then what happens is something gets in the way that I had no control over and I miss the opportunity. This has been happening quite a lot for me in the photographic world.  Honestly, its a bit frustrating because the one thing

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-52399443964821921742010-06-07T17:40:00.000-07:002010-06-10T09:52:23.154-07:00

A few months ago, I decided I would start getting lights for a future studio.  I looked more into this thing called "Strobist" and I was very intrigued by it.  I felt God tell me, "Pray for lights" and I said, "Ok" and I did.  And now, I have lights, well, a light. I researched and priced out my initial strobist kit.  I already had a Canon 430 EX II strobe so I was good on that end.  All I

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-71818576618126793092010-05-21T12:50:00.000-07:002010-05-21T12:50:23.182-07:00

A few years ago when 300 came out I was like many who went to the theaters who saw it and loved it.  I remember coming out of the theater feeling something different.  I just watched a couple hours of brutal fighting (its a guy movie) but it wasnt the fighting that I liked, it was the attitude of the Spartans.  They represent a time when men were truly men. We all live lives of quiet desperation

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-49238850056361577672010-05-18T18:56:00.000-07:002010-05-18T18:56:01.331-07:00

The first part of this blog talked with how we are all hoping for something and that we are all somehow searching for God in so many different ways.  Yes hope is a great thing.  Now I want to talk about how hope can be bad. So many people just try to maintain consciousness.  They want to get by and stay under the radar.  Somehow they did something that caused them to run in fear from the their

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-48109040359128859432010-05-17T20:52:00.000-07:002010-05-17T20:52:36.327-07:00

There is something so innocent about hope that there are few who would dare tamper with it.  Hope and faith are something that actually goes hand in hand. We as Christians, we hope for the things to come from the God that nobody sees.  Most people desperately search for something to give them hope.  They will even go into a delusional state to believe that their hopes are for something real and

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-16558671402508998162010-05-16T22:50:00.000-07:002010-05-16T22:50:22.210-07:00

A friend of mine came up to me after church and asked for some head shots and so we set up a shoot just around the Dream Center.  Honestly, there are few reasons to go anywhere else to have a shoot.  The shoot turned out amazing actually.  We had so much fun and Jennie was energetic and fun.  I had a tough time picking out which photos to use.

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-20251724030432524802010-05-13T11:38:00.000-07:002010-05-13T11:38:46.010-07:00

Recently, the band "Petree" shot its latest music video for the song "its always been you" I had the privilege of shooting the stills for the video. The video was shot on campus at the Dream Center in the Terrace Cafe. Volunteers from the Movement helped out behind the scenes as well as being extras in the video. There was a lot of excitement throughout the day, especially the part of the "

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-61281583182843617132010-05-09T20:53:00.000-07:002010-05-09T20:53:48.417-07:00

You know who they are, they sit on the side of the road with a sign while you are on your way to work, they are just there to annoy you because they dont want to get a job or get over their drug habit.  No matter how many people say no and how hot it is outside, they dont go away!  UGH!  Homeless people, thats what I am talking about. For some reason the title of homelessness downgrades a

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-48812282065171797822010-04-22T16:42:00.000-07:002010-04-22T16:42:59.610-07:00

So, some may know that I have been building a brand new GarsteckPhotography.com.  This is very exciting to me and I would love some feedback and input on the site.  I will keep tweaking it till everything is perfect... Now, what I expect to accomplish with this website. First off, the intro.  Its your first impression when you come to my website.  If you think the picture doesnt capture you,

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-43757160448282955152010-04-18T20:50:00.000-07:002010-04-18T20:51:38.910-07:00

What a great couple weeks of growing for me.  Im still getting accustomed to LA but Im growing to love it here.  Here is a little update on whats been going on. Last week I had a photo shoot with an amazing band called Petree.  They have a CD coming out soon and you will definitely want to pick up a copy of it.  I built a small landing page for them as well, www.petreeofficial.com.  Check it out

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-44132258403660267232010-03-27T13:50:00.001-07:002010-03-27T13:50:11.682-07:00

I have never been a fan of those who say that God wants us to be rich.  I understand that we are sons and daughters of God and that He wants the greatest things for us.  However, Jesus paints a different picture for those who would follow him. Jesus said that foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man has no place to rest His head.  This is what Jesus told us to expect

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-45040306736150214832010-03-24T09:43:00.000-07:002010-03-24T09:43:42.944-07:00

Although the papers say we are out of the recession, we havent really felt it at home yet.  We all need a little extra cash each week to make it easier to pay the bills.  Here is one way you can do that. Its actually pretty simple and not a lot of work at all.  Basically all you do is spread the word about Garsteck Photography.  You will be given a code only assigned to your name.  If a person

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-82014755376404213392010-03-23T09:44:00.000-07:002010-03-23T09:44:48.156-07:00

For those that dont know, I made the decision to get rid of everything I owned and move across country to California with just what I could carry.  I didnt know what would happen but I knew God would provide and that I would grow in the process.  I really needed a new change and I needed a new life. Now that I am finally getting settled in and getting used to the scenery I felt it would be a

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-35311003873132873612010-02-27T21:40:00.000-08:002010-02-27T21:40:58.884-08:00

Hopefully this is a first to a long series of photos from doing street ministry.  When I came out here it is one of the goals I had in mind.  One thing I wanted to do was to get rid of all expectations before I embarked on the experience, but that is very hard to do.  The thing I decided to do was not to sugar coat anything.  I want to describe what its like and express any thoughts that I

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-59140745368120340532010-02-10T16:01:00.000-08:002010-02-10T16:01:28.610-08:00

Today we didnt have any rain so the outreach wasnt canceled for Skid Row.  I grabbed my camera and headed out with a few of the guys down to Skid Row.  Little did I realize what Skid Row is exactly. There are a few things that I learned today.  One of those things is that you can never be fully prepared for new life experiences.  I went out there knowing I was going to see people in terrible

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-52617983168456552982010-02-07T21:46:00.000-08:002010-02-07T21:46:27.731-08:00

Some people may have been wondering about what has been going on since I moved away from Charleston.  I havent really been able to keep an updated blog until now so I will fill you in on whats been going on. I left Oceanside Ca towards the end of the month of January.  I left for Yorba Linda where I would be staying with friends and doing work for them to help pay for the Dream Center. At this

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-79379184075717630612010-01-11T12:42:00.000-08:002010-01-11T12:42:54.477-08:00

Saturday I discovered downtown San Diego and stumbled upon Balboa Park.  If you have never been there the next time you are in San Diego make sure you go see this beautiful park.  The architecture is amazing and takes you to another place. Here are a few shots from that day.

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-79676871002257971002010-01-06T20:08:00.000-08:002010-01-06T20:08:04.544-08:00

I made it safe in sound in sunny California.  I have been blessed to have great weather and a great view everyday.  I want to show a few pictures that I have taken while here.

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-64896574860530425512009-12-29T13:17:00.000-08:002009-12-29T13:19:24.973-08:00

This has been a great year of photography for me.  I learned so many new things that I will use for the rest of my life as a photographer.  I look back now and see how far I have come in just a year and I get excited to see what happens next year.  I believe the New Year is a great time for reflection and it allows you an opportunity to see what will happen in the future. What are my goals?  I

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-61105012496617899532009-12-23T14:51:00.000-08:002009-12-23T14:53:21.691-08:00

The only thing that remains a constant in our lives is change and sometimes change is good.  I have made up some changes to the website (www.garsteckphotography.com) and I would like to show you those changes. Changed banner and new page added: The Specials and Offers page is a new page that I have been waiting to launch. I am now able to send out coupons to people and I have setup a

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-33864748784907166882009-12-17T19:38:00.000-08:002011-02-04T00:24:25.306-08:00

Black and white is what I prefer to shoot in.  I want to show you a few bw photos that are a favorite of mine. This shot was for a long exposure challenge that I placed 4th in. This picture is taken inside of the Cotton Dock at Boone Hall Plantation in Mt. Pleasant SC.    This is taken on a lucky foggy morning on Isle of Palms the day before my first art show.

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-58248897248019844962009-12-13T23:15:00.000-08:002009-12-14T22:42:28.236-08:00

A few months ago I was just out to watch the sunrise and take some pictures of it.  I never edited the HDR's that I had prepared and I stumbled upon them and decided to finish the job.  Here is one that came out which is now available in the Nature's Calling gallery. www.garsteckphotography.com

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-42810731347079774452009-12-12T23:34:00.000-08:002009-12-12T23:34:48.842-08:00

Today has been a very productive day. First off, the portfolio page has been revamped and re-organized.  Now you can find the picture you are looking for easier.  If you have any suggestions for changes to the site in any way, please let me know by emailing me. Im excited to now offer coupons through the Garsteck Photography website www.garsteckphotography.com. There are three different

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-56662549178753938272009-12-10T23:53:00.000-08:002009-12-10T23:53:39.020-08:00

So much has been on my heart lately.  Ive been going through major life changes and sometimes I cant make heads or tails of most situations.  I take a step back from my life and look back to what is written in the Bible, where we are being tossed and turned back and forth by the waves and its attributed towards our weak faith. This is not where I want to be in my life.  I know I shouldnt be

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-47556394931362855002009-11-27T17:00:00.000-08:002009-11-27T17:00:15.586-08:00

Thanksgiving this year I found something extra to be thankful.  I woke up to heavy fog outside and I was like a kid in a candy store.  Fog is my favorite environment to take pictures in.  I have added a few of them to the nature gallery on my website.

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-24188073399122771262009-11-21T07:37:00.000-08:002009-11-21T07:37:37.154-08:00

 Last night the North Charleston Dream Center hosted United Live.  The event included a Gospel Rap duo as well as an intense drama skit.  Ben Mayer brought it home with an amazing testimony and message.  The energy was intense and I am looking forward to seeing the next event. God is doing great things in this community and throughout the rest of the world.  I cant help but excited to see what

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-91665864958072373092009-11-13T15:12:00.000-08:002009-11-13T15:36:43.549-08:00

An opportunity has come about recently for me to pack up and move out to Los Angeles for ministry.  I will be doing a 6 month internship with the Los Angeles Dream Center as a photographer on the marketing team.  I will be showing the great things that the Lord is doing in one of the most poverty stricken places in our country.  This is a great opportunity that is full of opportunity and great

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-61431303021079140122009-11-04T11:16:00.000-08:002011-01-08T14:14:29.190-08:00

Brent and Lindsey are both good friends of mine that recently became engaged to each other.  We were hoping that the weather would hold out for either Sunday or Monday but the forecast looked grim for weather.  We decided to play it by ear and prayed for good weather.  Instead of just good weather we got amazing weather with an amazing sunset to finish off the day. I cant pick my

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-25630718176502368792009-11-03T21:50:00.001-08:002009-11-03T21:51:31.760-08:00

I have a reputation of being controversial and having the ability to say whatever no matter how bad it might seem. I thought to myself that I need to change a lot of my speech to glorify God, however, God made me a controversial person. In times such as these, we need to be able to be controversial so that truth might be established. So, why not use this gift of controversy that God has given

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-37150182824418257522009-10-21T11:42:00.000-07:002009-10-21T15:05:30.827-07:00

Last weekend a group of about 40 guys went out to the mountains of North Carolina for fellowship and spiritual renewal. This trip was an amazing experience and I am glad that I was blessed to go.The weather conditions werent ideal for camping, it rained and was very cold. Yet despite these few set backs we still continued to do what God intended for us to do. Needless to say, the weather didnt

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-1850414769714869592009-09-19T01:33:00.000-07:002009-09-19T01:36:25.715-07:00

Today I escaped to Fort Moultrie to just catch the sunset out there and I got a few lucky shots off that I think you will enjoy.

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-26370269936361821812009-09-15T20:39:00.000-07:002009-09-15T21:04:43.847-07:00

This past weekend I was able to travel to our nation's capital to photograph a special protest. I was amazed to see so many people come together and unify once again under one goal, making their voice heard.The thing that upsets me is that we are supposed to be unified under this president but there is so much seperation, moreso now than ever before. When was the last time nearly a million people

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-26219366401587892312009-09-12T20:53:00.001-07:002009-09-12T20:59:46.820-07:00

I was fortunate enough to make it to Washington to photograph a major protest. Whether you agree with the views or not, the movement in the people of America. We all need to work together and its amazing to see hundreds of thousands of people unite for one cause. This is where we can move forward, as one unit and one people.I placed all the images in a special gallery on my website,

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-29436381395233606952009-08-27T21:11:00.000-07:002009-08-27T21:14:42.102-07:00

I was waiting for my party to arive for a shoot downtown near the fountain at Waterfront Park. This is a great place to come and just relax and sometimes you will find people playing in the water. I took a few snapshots of the kids playing in the water. The sun was just perfect at that time. I love taking pictures of watever, whether its a slow shutter speed, fast shutterspeed to capture

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-70396403723641589902009-08-12T18:41:00.000-07:002009-08-12T18:49:21.359-07:00

http://garsteckphotography.com/gallery/9255583_Bn7Xy#618119268_4N68cI was fortunate enough to shoot an amazing event today. A friend asked me to shoot a community outreach for priveledged children in the area. Back to school supplies were given out as well as new shoes, free dental exams, hair cuts and much more. Darius Rucker was there along with other folks from the band Hootie and The

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-28548971880565919022009-08-10T21:34:00.000-07:002009-08-10T21:38:08.605-07:00

I just created a new gallery on my websitethe gallery is called Studio Work.Take a look see if you like. :)

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-77598571329089284962009-08-09T13:37:00.000-07:002009-08-09T13:45:13.078-07:00

Ask and you will receive.I have been wanting a studio for some time. Most the projects that I want to get done require me to have studio lighting and since I didnt have much access to a studio on hand, I couldnt get the work done.Now thanks to a generous friend, I have all the studio equipment that I need. The only problem is now I have to get the pictures done which isnt really a problem at all.

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-30122628118226208052009-07-30T21:38:00.000-07:002009-07-30T21:47:05.495-07:00

When I first started playing guitar I played with a guy who taught me a few things. I remember him playing a particular chord and it sounded horrible, almost like it shouldnt be included in any music. He said that there is no such thing as a bad chord, its all in how you play it. He strummed the chord in a different way and it actually sounded great!I want to apply this same lesson to

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-47579428695792366482009-07-28T21:05:00.000-07:002009-07-28T21:14:22.327-07:00

I want to talk for a minute about family. Jesus said that those who do the will of the Father are your mothers, your brothers and your sisters and I have to sympathize with this. I have a great group of friends that surround me that I do consider to be my family. Everyone plays a vital role in this well oiled machine and nobody is more important than the other.I remember when I first started

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-76921764699615389892009-07-23T23:20:00.000-07:002009-07-23T23:26:26.445-07:00

Theres a lot of people who are in need of love and need of the things that love brings. Why are we relying so heavily on the goverment to bring healthcare and to care for those that are in need? Christians are supposed to bring the love and care to those that are in need. We all have a neighbor in need and its our duty as a Christian to take care of them, not just an option that we have. I

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-18590909455996008732009-07-20T11:55:00.000-07:002009-07-20T12:01:02.744-07:00

One of the areas that I have been practicing is Model Photography. Right now I am putting up all my favorite modeling shots that I have done. I want to show you one of my favorites right now. Check out the "Services" page on my website, www.garsteckphotography.com for any info on services that I offer.

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4370723071115995422.post-69808752811277081862009-07-17T12:22:00.000-07:002009-07-17T13:00:06.719-07:00

In keeping with progress I am starting up an official photoblog to keep everyone up to date on whats going on. To most people they just look at a picture and think little of it past what emotions it evokes inside of them. I see it as much more than just a pretty picture. For me I see a picture as a representation of the photographer, almost like a window into the sould or a type of

Garsteck Photographyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04450085630467266503noreply@blogger.com1