Michael Hambel Photography

PVI Project

2012-02-03T12:48:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I did a photo project for Personal Vehicle Installations LLC and one of the press releases, that features the images I created, has been published into 1st responder news. Pretty awesome!! http://t.co/llc3SbyG

HoH Vs. FNS

2011-02-22T18:56:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday was a themed show at The Home of Happiness where the cast from the Friday Nite Specials came up and performed with us. The energy and vibe was amazing. Everyone had such a great time. I was able to cover the event and here are few photos from it. For more photos or any other information about HoH go to njrocky.com.

PVI Photo Shoot - Round One

2011-02-20T18:56:00.012-05:00

PVI is Personal Vehicle Installations - a new company just getting started. I was commissioned to take some basic photographs that will be used on promotion materials and their website. Since the services are mainly targeted at firefighters and ems workers we chose a setting with a more "industrial" and "tough" feel. Below are a couple of examples from the first round of shooting. His graphic designer has a logo that he will place over the license plate hence the quick "blackout" that was done on these.

Rock(y)ing out with HoH

2011-02-15T00:26:00.000-05:00

I was able to join my friends from The Home Of Happiness RHPS Cast (HoH) as they put on the weekly screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Belleview Theater in Upper Montclair, NJ. and at the Bergenfield Five in Bergenfield, NJ. To see all of the photos taken or for more info about HoH check out njrocky.com.

a haunted video

2010-10-24T01:07:00.002-04:00

Here is the final cut of the promotional video I did for the haunted house that was built at the Mount Tabor Fire Dept. The haunted House runs this upcoming weekend Oct 29 and 30 7:00 to 11:00 pm and Oct. 31 4:00pm to 9:00pm.

at the late night picture show...

2010-09-06T19:44:00.000-04:00

After months of being unbelievably busy I was able to join my friends from The Home Of Happiness RHPS Cast (HoH) as they put on the weekly screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Belleview Theater in Upper Montclair, NJ. To see all of the photos taken or for more info about HoH check out njrocky.com.

quick update

2010-02-02T12:18:00.002-05:00

1- Received my second Cyber Sync receiver, decided that the optical slaves were just not enough to rely on after the trouble I had at Dante's shoot with the physical separation of the strobes. I can now also trip both of my speedlights by remote if I need; so cool. I like the Cyber Syncs, my only complaint is there is not lanyard attachment or pouch that i can get from them. Makes things slightly difficult when they are hanging on my stands.

2- Did an update to mhambel.com wanted to simplify the navigation a bit, the layout remains the same but there is now less options as I combined the bio and about pages. At the same time though I broke out the about page into distinctive sections that address certain aspects. I also rewrote my bio, i want to add to it but i like this version a lot more.

3- Sending out a page suggestion soon on facebook. Please be a fan!

4- Starting to work on the concepts and shot list for the calendar project. Hope to shoot that in May.

5- Got to use thee 4x5 large format camera this weekend. We had our first assignment, portrait. We had to do four frames, I brought the camera to the convention and had Andrew pose in the hotel room text messaging, not very exciting since it was a technical assignment but I'm excited to see the results.

6- Made my B&H Canon Wish List. Anyone want to donate to the cause? j/k

~michael

new year - new directions

2010-01-13T01:56:00.000-05:00

Wow we are already halfway through the second week of January. I've spent the last couple of days cleaning up and clearing out in anticipation of a new storage space being made available to me at my condo. This is a photo blog, why are you talking about storage you ask? Simple and short answer is I'm clearing the clutter away to allow some space for inspiration to take it's place. I'm starting large format in a week from today, I'll have a nice 4x5 to take care of for the next 16 weeks! I will also be back in the darkroom for this class.

I've got some new business cards designed for 2010, the last time I updated these were sometime five years ago. The website is being overhauled to an extent and a new gallery will be posted. I'm really digging livebooks.com, but the price point is a bit out of my reach right now. The facebook is taking shape, I'm not one for patting myself on the back but I feel the "need" to send out some friend suggestions for the page so it can get some traffic.

I'm trying to step into the world of Canon and get some nice 2.8l lenses and a 50d this summer so i am in penny pinching mode right now. I would also like to go from two monoblocs to four.

Digital projects coming up over the next few months:

1-HOH Cast promo shoot (calendars, web, handouts)

2-Non-sparkling vampire/vampiress

3-Finish the abstracts for "Dante's Sideshow"

4-Finish editing the AC shoot

5-Band promo shoot??

6-Documenting some of the struggling local businesses in Bergen County

~michael

moving along

2009-12-09T16:37:00.000-05:00

Last week of classes, projects coming to a close, the stress is on. I will be editing through Friday and Printing all day on Saturday.

narrated story

2009-12-05T16:37:00.000-05:00

final project progress

2009-11-25T16:24:00.000-05:00

final project

2009-11-04T16:59:00.000-05:00

Last week started working on my semester long final photo project. It has changed a little since I first started laying it out. The original concept was to show the people who perform Rocky Horror Picture Show (RHPS) outside of RHPS "the people of Rocky Horror". The purpose behind this was to show 1) that there is a diverse group of people that are involved in RHPS 2) that those people lead very different lives and 3) to attempt to break stereotyping of people involved with RHPS. The more i developed this concept, the bigger and more complex it got. With constraints such as time and content I knew a revision was in order.

The revised concept of this will now highlight three individuals that are performers outside of RHPS, each showcasing what they do and how RHPS has (not) influenced their other craft. I have lined up a sideshow performer, a burlesque dancer, and a musician. This project will feature audio commentary by the individual featured as well.

Here is a sample:

~michael

project 2

2009-11-03T17:00:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine, Dino, along with his Father owns a Diner in Teaneck, NJ and over the last few years many factors have influenced a downturn in his business. A once robust downtown area has fallen nearly silent. The purpose of the project will be to highlight some of the contributing factors that have lead a once very successful business to the brink of closure. The NJ smoking ban, changes in street parking areas, removal a street, and the dwindling economy has all played a role in the reduction of business. The store was once open 24 hours a day seven days a week, but now they open at 6 am shut down at midnight on weekend nights; they are now trying to find a way to stay open on Friday and Saturday nights.

~michael

project 1 preview

2009-09-25T12:59:00.001-04:00

Here are a few pictures from my first project. They were taken in Washington DC at the Nations Triathlon. My brother George participated in this event. The event was held on September 13, 2009.

~michael

new blog

2009-09-04T12:10:00.002-04:00

Welcome to my new blog. I have created this to serve as my record for my documentary photography class at CCM during the fall 2009 semester. I plan to use this blog to upload ideas, and tests that will help me expand my projects for the semester.

In the spirit of this i have uploaded my first picture to the blog, made on my phone in the CCM cafe.

~michael