Year In Review

December 31, 2012 by Justin Balog 8 Comments

It has been a very exciting and transformative year for me creatively. I would like to thank you all for sharing in the adventure. Your comments, emails, and personal interactions mean so much to me. I hope that you have found something of value here at HOSSedia this year and you are making some magic! Here are a few of my favorite photos from 2012. Each one represents a personal milestone in my own creative journey.

Personal Highlights

Probably the single coolest thing I did as a photographer this year was to get a bunch of photo buddies together for a weekend in Portland for the first annual NorthXNorthwest Photo Jamboree. Yep, there will be one in 2013! This is why I love photography. Had I never started this site, I would have never been on Cannon Beach, looking like a crazy person next to these guys. I love the internet!

Here’s the sites of everyone in the photo….they are all worth checking out and following on the various social circles.

I was also excited to start my career as a stuntman. Yep, that’s me. I like to say that I’m no Brad Pitt, but I can rain fire! My good friend, Scoot Wood (his site it awesome), from this year’s North X Northwest Photo Jamboree shot this photo of my spinning flaming steel wool above my head.

This was my second year photographing the USA Pro Cycling Challenge. I’m currently writing a book about the first two years of this great event with one of the competitors. The book should be hitting the shelves in February. Keep an eye out! Photo compliment of my good friend Will (his site is awesome too).

New Movies

Something I love to do is make movies. They just take a lot of time. I made a bunch of tutorials this year, but only two cinematic films. This one was my favorite. I followed this turtle around for a good hour. He or she was quite photogenic.

I also launched my own branded YouTube channel. You can subscribe right here.

My First Book

I’m really proud of the fact I wrote and published my first book. If you are interested in learning how to take great photos with your iPhone, I’d love for you to pick up a copy.

Filed Under: Year In Review

Best of iPhone Friday

December 28, 2012 by Justin Balog 14 Comments

It is that time of year! I hope you all have had an incredible holiday and were able to spend it with the ones you love. Today I felt like reflecting a bit on this year’s iPhone photography. I shot over 4000 iPhone images this year. HOLY CRAP! I have shared only a fraction of those. Look for a new book to hit the shelves sometime in the near future. Many of those photos will make their debut in those pages.

2012 has been a good year creatively for me and my iPhone. I wrote my first book (iPad Version .PDF Version), and I’m very proud of it. The feedback I have received has been heartwarming. I can’t tell you how many times people write me to tell me how I have opened an entire new world to them and how excited they are to be making images with their iPhone. That’s what I set out to do, and I’m glad I was able to help.

That being said, here are 12 of my favorite iPhone Images from 2012. I hope you continue to share in the adventure in 2013! Have a great weekend…..

1) Writing the story on the Bull Rider’s, I tried my hand with the old iPhone…you know me well enough to know I would have to at least try. I liked it!

2) I remember this moment as if it were yesterday. I was on a long descent on my bike when I raced past this scene. I knew if I wanted to photograph I would have to turn around and climb back up this nasty hill. Well, I sucked it up for art.

3) I shot this image on the shores of La Jolla the day after having a great lunch meeting with Sebastien Page who invited me to write for his website, iDonwloadBlog.com. The negotiations went well, and I have since written 17 articles.

4) There is a very funny story behind this image, one that I will be sharing in my upcoming book. I still can’t believe I made this image. My family and friends can’t either!

5) This image is a reminder of a beautiful and serendipitous night on Maui. Shortly after I made this image, a mother whale and her calf began to breach in the distance. Hypnotized, bathed in magical light, we stood there watching them play until the sun set.

6) This was my niece and her boyfriend watching those whales play.

7) After a hike through an unpredictable herd of cattle, we ended up at Fagen’s Cross overlooking the town of Hana. My wife is always a good sport and poses in my photos. I tell her it’s for scale, but secretly I just like photos of her. Don’t tell anyone!

8) The bamboo forest leading to Waimoku Falls was an experience I will never forget.

9) I think I’m the only person in the world that was able to capture the Venus Transit on their iPhone. I’m sure there might have been someone else, but they’ll need to send me the link to prove it!

10) My buddy Jacob has a rad car, and he drove us around Portland in it. This photo is a tribute to just how rad his car is.

11) The stars were aligned for me on the Bonneville Salt Flats. As a fan of minimalism, this couldn’t have been any better for me.

12) This photo is one that is near and dear to my heart. These are the trees that I pass on regular mountain bike rides in the summer. I guess we have sort of become friends, and they were beautiful that day.

Filed Under: iPhone Friday, iPhone Photography, Year In Review

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2012 by Justin Balog 8 Comments

It has been a great year!

Any year you are healthy is a great year. I think we could all just leave it at that. Getting to meet a bunch of interesting and creative people and make some art is icing on the cake.

Before we reflect on 2011, I want to thank you again for all your support this year. I truly hope you enjoy your visits to the site. Your feedback, comments, and support keep this site going. You all give me a reason to continue to make images and share them. Thanks for sharing in my belief that the world can use a little good news every now and again. I’m looking forward to spending 2012 with you!

I set out in 2011 with three goals. 1) Pursue my passion of Americana. 2) Use my camera for good. 3) Conduct a workshop. The workshop had to be delayed until this Feb, but other than that I completed my goals.

Using My Camera For Good
I volunteered for the Davis Phinney Foundation and photographed the USA Pro Cycling Challenge to help raise awareness of their challenge grant. I continue to help them by donating 1/2 of all my sales of my iPad Wallpapers and calendars.

Pursuing My Passion For Americana
My original intention was to set out an do a photo-essay on the abandoned interstates of the plains. However, what it actually became was making a movie of the American Southwest. I also started a YouTube channel where you can find all my cinematic work. Click Here.

Here is a quick look at 2011.

2011 was a year for evolution. There is a very visible evolution in the fact we have expanded our social media presence, rolled out a new look, and even changed the domain name back to where I started in 2001. There is also a subtle evolution that you may or may not have noticed. Unique photos, stories, and a bit of levity served up every Monday through Friday is still the mainstay here, but I have begun to seek out the untold stories of the world and do my best to share them. This year alone we discovered the story of The American Cowboy, Crescent Valley, a Southern California Icon, the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, and a Big Fish Story. I really hope everyone enjoyed them. I think 2012 and the future of Hossedia.com is summed up in my post from earlier this year.

The Way I See Things

The world is a beautiful place full of wonderful people. Seeking out its beauty and sharing it with others is what I do. If only to encourage others to do the same. There is something transcendent about art and beauty. It’s a common ground that breaks down the barriers that divide us. I’m a dreamer, but in my heart of hearts, I know if we all recognize and share the beauty of this world, we will make it a better place.

Random Milestones of 2011

If you are a regular here, you saw over 1000 images this year. That number blows my mind.
My iPhone Photography Tutorial has taught over 50,000 people!
We are averaging close to 11,000 visitors a month. Our biggest month was 16,000 visitors.
I consolidated my portfolio. Click here to view it.
Our first ‘Good Newsletter’ went out. The next one is going out next week. Sign up here if you haven’t already.
I lost a tripod.
Surprisingly, I didn’t loose any lens caps.
I shot 37,303 images. 10,287 were with my nikon 28-300 lens.
I actually got to meet several photographers who are good friends now. Rick Louie, Will Swetnam, Dave Wilson, Jim Nix, Alex Suarez , Hau Co, and Richard Hawkins.

The Guests Of 2011

This year I sought out some of my favorite photographers and asked them to share a bit of their world with us. The series was a great success, and you can find all their posts here.

Bob Lussier

Whereabouts:

Bob’s Post
Website: http://www.lussierphoto.com/

Mike Olbinski

Whereabouts:

Mike’s Post
Website: http://www.mikeolbinski.com

Dave Wilson

0908-TreyRatcliff_Photowalk-75_6_7

Whereabouts:

Dave’s Post
Website: http://davewilsonphotography.com/

Jeffrey K. Edwards (aka Doc)

Whereabouts:

Doc’s Post
Website: http://www.jeffreykedwards.com/

Matt Wolin

Chicago HDR

Whereabouts:

Matt’s Post
Website: http://www.shutterrunner.com/

Rick Young

Whereabouts:

Rick’s Post
Website: http://www.ryoungfoto.com/

Jim Denham

Whereabouts:

Jim’s Post
Website: http://www.jimdenhamphotography.com/

Heath O’Fee

Whereabouts:

Heath’s Post
Website: http://www.heathofee.com/

Russ Barnes

Whereabouts:

Russ’s Post
Website: http://russbarnes.co.uk/

My Favorite Images From 2011

What good is a year in review without sharing some of my favorite photos from 2011. For one reason or another, these are the images that stand out in my mind. It could be the image itself, a personal breakthrough represented by the image, or simply a moment in my life I will always remember.