Topeka Design

Come see our new Studio!

admin — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:01:45 +0000

Topeka Design would like to invite everyone to come see us in our new Downtown Topeka studio location at 112 SW 6th Street, Suite 201 this coming Friday (October 7th) between 5pm and 9pm for First Friday. We’re giving away over $500 in prizes and will have refreshments.

Ancient Aliens on the History Channel

admin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:31:53 +0000

The new season of Ancient Aliens on the History Channel has begun and so far I’ve spotted 2 of my animations in the first few episodes. It’s pretty exciting to see my hard work actually used on Television. Once the season is over, I plan on putting together a complete list along with links to [...] . . . → Read More: Ancient Aliens on the History Channel

Congratulations Sammi and Ray!

admin — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 06:05:47 +0000

Drove to Kansas City on Saturday, July 30th to shoot the wedding of Sammi Stephenson and Raimondo Liotta. Took two other photographers with me and spent the entire day with the happy couple. We started with the pre-wedding stuff at both of the houses where the bride and groom got ready at 8am. Then off to the wedding which was at 1pm. And finally a bit of a drive up to St. Joseph, MO for the reception. Altogether, we spent 21 hours working with Sammi and Ray (including a 3 hour pre-wedding session where we shot a music video).

We were there to shoot video, but we shot a number of stills as well. Wedding video to come soon.. but here’s a little teaser video I shot on a break at the reception.

Click here to view the embedded video.

It’s Hot in Topeka!

admin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:06:43 +0000

Oh heck, it’s just hot every where. It’s been too hot to go outside most of the time, so I’ve been spending most of my time sitting on my computer (in an air-conditioned room) editing video and photos. But this last Saturday a couple of friends were headed to Abilene, KS for their Wild West Weekend and I decided I needed a day out with my camera.

We headed out early Saturday morning and caught the Steam Engine as it was loading up for it’s regular weekend trip to nearby Enterprise, KS. Then a quick run over to the Liebold Mansion (which is no longer a museum) and finally a drive through the countryside before headed back home in the late afternoon.

I’d like to thank Randy L. Roach for borrowing his daughter’s car to take us all, and Louise Neal Pedroza for her pleasurable company and laughing at my lame jokes.

Summer Wheat Harvest

admin — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:40:46 +0000

I had a lot of fun with my good friends and fellow photographers Charity Carlton and Lou Collobert as we searched north-central Kansas for farmers harvesting their summer wheat. It was a fun drive from Topeka up Highway 75 then traipsing across back roads. Eventually we made our way to Marysville where, as luck would have it, we just happened to find a harvester finishing up a field at sunset. I got the shots I was looking for, both stills and video!

94.5 Country Stampede

admin — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:55:52 +0000

After missing last year, I made it a point to definitely get to this year’s 94.5 Country Stampede in Manhattan. We attended on Saturday when Troy Olsen, Blake Shelton and Brad Paisley were playing. I also created a special animation for the big screen for 94.5 Country and it was very exciting to see it up there:

Click here to view the embedded video.

I also managed to get some great pictures, which you can check out here.

Space Travel! Tours, Inc.

admin — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 22:16:28 +0000

It was almost a last minute decision, but I decided I wanted to enter the Slash-n-Bash Film Festival short film contest here in Topeka. It’s their first year and I’ve always enjoyed doing the 48-hour Film Festival in Kansas City. It was a lot easier as my girlfriend, Nicole, wrote the script so all I had to concentrate on was casting and shooting.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The viewing is on Saturday, June 25th at The Breakroom in downtown Topeka. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to make it as I’ll be in Manhattan at Country Stampede, but many of my cast and crew mates will be there to cheer our film on!

Shoot details:

Camera — Canon EOS T2i
Lenses — Tamron 18-270mm, Pental 50mm F/1.4
Audio — Zoom H1 with a boom mic and a VideoMic mounted on the camera
Editing — Adobe After Effects CS4 (color grading done with Red Giant Mojo)
Lead Actress: Celsie Snedon
Lead Actor: Pat Siwy
Actresses: Keeley Lambeth, Katie NeSmith, Sharla Letsch, Renee Eberhart, April Ewing, Deloris Carlton, Esther Carlton
Actors: Bob Rodriguez, Rod Rutter, Jacob Letsch, Ryan Hodges, Skylar Kendall

FoTopeka — May 2011

admin — Thu, 05 May 2011 21:45:36 +0000

Another successful FoTopeka Meet-n-Greet, this time at the famous Jayhawke Theatre in downtown Topeka.

Lots of models and photographers with complete access to the entire theatre. I didn’t get a chance to take many pictures myself, as host I spent most of my time helping everyone. But I still had a great time.

Once again, most of the photographers were from the Facebook ‘Topeka Artists’ group with a couple of friends from the Topeka Camera Club also making an appearance.

The next party is tentatively scheduled for July 3rd back at the Jayhawke Theatre and this time we’ll have two make-up artists who specialize in movie horror make-up. That should be REALLY fun!

You can check out the pictures in my Gallery.

American Cancer Society

admin — Tue, 03 May 2011 17:00:41 +0000

I had a blast working with actress Celsie Snedon on some spec commercials for the American Cancer Society:

I didn’t have time to write a proper script, so I gave Celsie a basic concept and allowed her to improv the lines. She was brilliant and her professionalism was amazing. I’m looking forward to working with her again.

Details for the shoot:

Camera — Canon EOS Rebel T2i
Lens — Pentax 50mm F1.4
Audio — Zoom H1 with a boom mic
Editing — Adobe After Effects CS4 (color grading done with Red Giant Mojo)
Actress: Celsie Snedon

FoTopeka — April 2011

admin — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 09:27:15 +0000

I had a thoroughly enjoyable day today at ‘Warehouse 414′ in downtown Topeka with a great group of photographers and models. Eight photographers, 5 models and 4 hours in a huge warehouse full of exquisite furnishings, artwork and props. Who could ask for more?

This is the first of a regular event I plan to organize every other month… so the next one will be in June.

I was very busy as the host and didn’t get to take as many photographs as I would have liked, but those that I did take turned out very nice. And everyone enjoyed themselves.

I’d like to thank all of my friends from the Facebook group “Topeka Artists” who either participated or supported the event. And I’d like to thank the models from the Facebook group “Topeka’s Got Talent” who put up with being herded all over and having multiple flashes blind them silly most of the day.

The beautiful young lady to the right is Robin Nelson who drove up from Kansas City to spend the day with us.

You can check out more pictures from the shoot in The Gallery.