My own Bobble Head!

How funny is this? A photographer sent this to me a couple months back and it's a mirror image of me... completely customized with my sweater, JV Converse, and camera in hand! I can actually record my voice into it too.  It's been a great conversation piece here at the Colón residence.  Some people have said its the perfect gift for the guy who has everything.  I think they're right... it kinda makes me feel important.  haha totally kidding!  I'm actually afraid someone's going to steal it and do a little voodoo on me!  See below for a comparison photo of me :)

Article for Lexar

Click on the image below to read an article I wrote for the Lexar website.  Hope you like it!

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Championship

I had the honor last month of photographing the Jiu Jitsu World Championships for Gracie Barra.  This has become a new passion for me (I have bruises to prove it) so it was cool to see the world's top fighters up close and personal.  Myself and assistants shot about 6,000 images with our Nikon D3's.  Here's one of my favorites.  I shot this image at 1/500 sec at f2.8 and 2000 iso.  It was a bit too perfect for my taste so used Aperture and Alien Skin Exposure 2 in Photoshop to rough it up a bit :)

Who's going with me tomorrow to wait in line for the new iPhone 3G?  I'm sure you've heard about this already... but in case you haven't, check out Apple's latest life simplifier!

Missing my iPhone and MacBook Pro

I can't remember the last time I was without a cell phone.  I can't remember the last time I was without my laptop either.  Right now, I'm without both at the same time!  I lost my iPhone while shooting a wedding last weekend at Mandalay Bay in Vegas.  When I got home, my laptop screen started freaking out and I had to send it out for repairs.  I should get it back on Friday and I'll be in line at the Apple store waiting to get my hands on the new iPhone 3G as well.  Friday will be a good day :)

Oh yeah!  Wow!  Let me just tell you how cool the bride and groom are!  They found out that I lost my phone and sent a gift card in the mail for not one, but two new iPhone G3's!  Thanks Melanie and Mohamed!  You will have a direct line again to reach me 24/7 :)

Has anyone seen Us Weekly yet? I think Timbaland and Monique's wedding will be in the next issue so check it out.  I'm going to attempt to get approval on some more images to post on the blog and website so keep an eye out for those soon!

Have a great Wednesday and don't forget to spend some time doing something you really enjoy today!  I'm starting my day with some Jiu Jitsu training with my bro and reading a chapter in "Bringing up Boys" by Dr. James Dobson.  I'll be ending my day with a date night with Julie.  Any suggestions on where to take her?  Last week we went to the batting cages.  Can you believe she had never stepped into a batting cage in her life?  I told her to go into the 50 mph cage and found out that it was marked wrong and was really like 85 mph!  Poor girl!

Timbaland's wedding in Aruba

Just got back last night at midnight from a week of shooting in Aruba for Timbaland's wedding.  What an experience!  I'll tell the story as soon as I get a chance to catch my breath.  I have a workshop starting tomorrow and another out of town wedding on Friday/Saturday so I might not get a chance for a couple days. US Weekly has an exclusive on this one so you should see some images in next week's issue.  There may be an InStlye feature and perhaps even a Grace Ormonde feature if we're lucky.  For now, I just want to say thanks to my trusty and talented assistants Uncleray and Rosanna who have been all over the world photographing with me, making me proud, watching my back, and nailing awesome shots all day long!  Thank you Anna for letting us take over your home Wednesday night to turn it into a lab/production house and for letting me steal your husband for a week.  Your tacos are amazing... way better than Taco Bell!  Jared, sorry for booting Rosanna off of iChat so much when you were trying to talk :)  We're going to take you guys to dinner when you get back in town.  I also want to thank Tim & Monique for trusting me with their big day, Big Rick, Sheena and the whole Timbaland team who worked so hard making this HUGE production a success and for taking such great care of us and making us feel like a part of your family!  Most of all my beautiful wife, thanks baby for taking care of my boys all by yourself and for putting up with all of the chaos and travels this month.  I'll make it up to you next month ;)

wide awake in a hotel room

I'm on my back in a hotel room in the dark thinking about life. Its
4am on the East Coast and I'm still on West Coast time so I can't sleep.

Something Julie said to me last night before we went to bed is still
ringing in my head. It was something she has never said to me before
and it kinda felt weird hearing her say it. She said "You're big
time." She's always told me how proud she is of me but has never
straight up told me I am "big time" before. I have to admit that for
a second it gave me a big head, but I quickly realized that everything
we have accomplished in our business and in life has been 100% by the
awesome and undeserved grace of God. Although we have worked extremely
hard, I simply can't forget about the dozens of times God bailed us
out of sure financial disaster!

This is what i know: Life is fragile! I screw up often! The more I
live the more I realize that God is involved in every area of my life,
holding it together so it doesn't crumble beneath me.

My secret to success: Get right with God (often). Pray every night for
wisdom, blessings, forgiveness, safety, and to be used by Him.
Remember to thank Him for everything good in your life!

Thank you Lord for my beautiful wife and two boys. Thank you for
always taking care of us! Help me not to live in vain but to do your
work and share your love with others.

Ok goodnight all :) God bless!

***Sent from my iPhone***