Digital photography is a blessing and a curse. How great is it that you can shoot over 1,000 pictures on one card, on one charge, at different ISOs and never have to reach into your bag? The obvious downside is that you’re also looking at serious time on the couch with your laptop trying to sort through all these stills. After shooting the Product Runway fashion show at the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall last August, the counter on my camera was well over 1,500 frames. I guess I just “got into the moment” and blasted away. I had so many pictures that the best way to sort through them was holding down an arrow key while watching different scenes flash across the screen. Almost instantly, a little thought cloud appeared above my head that read, “this would look cool as a short film.” Over the next six months I kicked it around a little bit, borrowed some software, failed, thought about it again, bought some software and eventually finished the short video above. I haven’t counted, but I think there are well over 1,000 still photographs in the film. Also, please check it out a HD full screen version by visiting its home on Vimeo or downloading your very own copy here. It’s also on YouTube, if that’s your thing (or if you’re on an iPhone).

Product Runway is a unique competition for Pacific Northwest interior designers, suppliers and architects. Teams are formed several months in advance at a swanky event that serves as the competition’s kick-off party (the Explosion was there). Designers are paired with design suppliers, and the rules state that the team must design a haute couture piece culled exclusively from the materials the supplier works with. All the outfits featured in the show are made from things like carpet, tile, tubing, metal surfaces, etc. Given these constraints, the results are absolutely stunning. I was thrilled when my friend Jill, one of the directors of the event, asked me to shoot the show. Few things are as fun photographically as creating art out of other people creating art. Below are a few of my favorite stills from the evening.

The event was extra fun for me as I had three beautiful dates: my two lovely sisters and their friend Kelsey. They came in from Chicago and Michigan to hang out with me for the week, and being able to rock a fashion show with them was a blast.

Still want more? Check out my Flickr set to shots of every single model/outfit, red carpet coverage, and the after party!

In what is starting to become a New Year’s tradition, I traveled to Las Vegas on January 2nd to shoot the World Series of Beer Pong V. Being my second year on the job, I sort of knew what to expect, but I would have never guessed that Smashing Time would repeat as champions. Ron and Pop defended their crown, giving official notice to the beer pong community that they are THE team to beat. While watching Smashing Time decimate the competition was enthralling, I also enjoyed getting to meet the 800+ other participants. The Jay Leno Show sent a team; and international representatives from Canada, Japan and Ireland were among the contenders. The event truly is a cross section of life: DJs, frat boys, husbands and wives, teachers and even strippers make the trek to battle the world’s best players. With the tournament in its fifth year, it is obvious that competitive beer pong is just starting to hit its stride.

Mario and Luigi.
Think tossing a ping pong ball into a cup is difficult? Try battling through 14 levels and only being allowed to move in two dimensions. Respect.

Strategy.
In sports, it is often said that defense wins championships. This team appears to have selected the “Oops… I Did It Again” strategy.

Remembering years past.
Do you remember World Series of Beer Pong IV. I barely do—thank goodness for blogs.

Alliances.
In an effort that even Madeline Albright could be proud of, the Garden State and the Empire State decided to put a stop to the bloodshed and join forces for the World Series of Beer Pong.

Wingspan.
Scientifically speaking, leaning is the name of the game. Shortening the distance between the point of release and the target makes perfect statistical sense, even when you’ve had four or five pitchers of Bud Light.

Team Slogans.
Drunks 4 Hire remind us that ‘shit’ and the amount of clothes you’re wearing have an inverse relationship. Party on, Wayne!

Kilts.
Suiting up for a beer pong match is all about comfort and freedom of movement. Choosing clothes that restrict you might cost you the match. The logical progression of this philosophy is to avoid wearing pants… but how to achieve this in public? Simple. The Scots (another nation known for seriously enjoying their libations) figured it out years ago: the kilt.

Badgers.
If there is a competition that involves drinking beer, you can almost certainly count on Wisconsin to send a delegation.

Strippers.
These young ladies are the representatives from Team Sapphire. Ever wondered who might work at 70,000 square foot gentlemen’s club? Look no further. (The place even has skyboxes—what?!).

Intimidation.
Being a pro beer ponger means vigilantly defending your rack. Never let your opponent have a free shot. And if you’re girlfriend is available to talk to some smack, hoist her up and let her run her mouth too—all is fair in beer pong (provided you follow the rules).

DJ Whoo Kid.
Having a-list beats to get your pong on is crucial. The folks at BPONG.com recognize this and recruited G-Unit’s official DJ to keep the Flamingo rockin’ during the three days of game play.

Team Portraits.
One of my favorite aspects of shooting the World Series of Beer Pong IV was meeting all types of colorful characters. For WSOBP V, I wanted to shoot some of these folks on white seamless with quality lighting. I flew from Seattle to Vegas with 130 pounds of gear shoved into three bags and setup shop on Day 2. Check out this photo to see the setup. After getting the lights set with Josh’s help, one of the first teams I photographed were the WSOBP II Champions, We Own Your Face. Despite the menacing graphic on their uniforms, these guys could not have been nicer. I’ve included several more portraits in this post, and the whole project is on Flickr. Also, check out the video below for a quick run down of the gear and a few of my favorite shots.

Greenman.
No one showed more enthusiasm for having his portrait taken than Greenman. No one also smelled quite like Greenman. The suit did little to mask a potent mixture of beer, sweat and God knows what else. Regardless, The Explosion 5000 salutes you, Greenman.

Chauncey and Big Ben.
Even though Joey D couldn’t afford to keep Billups around, Mr. Big Shot and Ben Wallace reunited at the World Series of Beer Pong. Goin’ to work, yall.

Tables, Beer, Balls and Cups.
The more the better.

Ink and Hair-dos.
Nothing says you’re ready to decimate your opponents like a cobra tattoo and a fucked up haircut.

The Irish.
Fellow beer loving nation, Ireland, entered a team into this year’s WSOBP. Despite being nearly impossible to understand (heavy accent + heavy drinking + loud music = mainly communicating with hand gestures), these guys kicked ass. For all the Irish readers of the Explosion, you should be proud of your boys. They very diplomatically demonstrated your county’s ability to pong with the world’s best.

The Ladies.
Co-ed competition is one of the best aspects of the WSOBP. These ladies do more than keep the dudes honest and break a few hearts, they also win games. Try explaining to your frat bros that a girl-girl team knocked you out of the WSOBP… ouch.

Guns.
Rip your sleeves off, ’cause it’s beer pong time.

The Old F U.
They say a picture speaks a thousand words—I happen to think this one clearly conveys at least two.

Jim and Pam.
Beer pong at the office? Great idea. I’m telling my boss tomorrow.

Japan.
For the first time in WSOBP history, the Japanese made their way from across the Pacific to battle it out on the tables.

Good luck charms.
Whatever works, ladies.

And if you can’t borrow some cleavage, improvise. Just rub, toss, rinse and repeat.

Who can argue with a tank top?
That settles it… I’m wearing my “Sexy Photog” hoodie to WSOBP VI.

A Lifetime Sport.
Just like skiing, tennis and golf… beer pong is something you should be able to enjoy, no matter what decade you were born in.

SCBP.
Peter Rusch and the SoCal Beer Pongers were in full force at this year’s WSOBP.

No look shots.
Some beer pongers are so good, they don’t even need to see it to believe it. Kris Fraser of perennial contenders Not Even Close confidently looks away as he sinks yet another clutch shot.

A Hostess with the Most-ess.
Leah D’Emilio came back to anchor this year’s television coverage of the WSOBP V. Leah’s ability to cut through the the beer breath and get the real story always impresses—a true pro.

The Gangster Lean.
Complete with chalice and corn-rows, SCBP Founder Peter Rusch shows what it takes to be a WSOBP contender. For this year’s tournament, Peter separated from his long time partner (his wife) for a shot at beer pong glory. While the partner switch up did not ultimately lead to the $50k crown, WSOBP fans hoping for a soap opera will be disappointed: the Rusch’s are still happily married.

Play-off Superstitions.
Defending champ Ron of Smashing Time said that his weird haircut helped him win last year’s tourney. He either had an unfortunate incident with farm equipment between day 2 and day 3, or is carrying on his tradition of doing up the do for the final day.

Defending Champs.
After their debut on the televised feature table, Ron and Pop were kind enough to sit for me and make a portrait.

Technique.
It’s the Air Jordan of beer pong.

Crack kills.
Especially in New York.

Shhh.
Even though the boys from Iowa were eventually silenced, they put together another respectable WSOBP run.

Rest up.
Three solid days of beer pong can be grueling, not to mention all the distractions of Las Vegas. There’s no shame in catching a quick catnap in between rounds.

Pre-Shot Ritual.
Dunking, foot twisting, tossing, fore-head pressing… these are all techniques employed to avoid:

Missing the cup.
It’s something that happens to everyone. If you have trouble consistently hitting the cup, have a talk with you doctor to see if you’re physically capable of engaging in beer pong activity. In the rare case that you and your partner miss the cup for four hours or more, just call it quits. You suck at beer pong.

Show your colors.
The Californian contingent proudly displayed their bear. The Canadians waved their leaf. The Texans brought their star and bar. Even Maryland displayed what is possibly the coolest state flag ever.

Bruce Buffer.
For the second year in row, Bruce Buffer of the UFC announced the final round of the World Series of Beer Pong. Bruce is one of the classiest showbiz people I’ve ever met—love that bro.

Ready to strike.
The final round is all about seeing your opening and taking it—something Smashing Time know a little bit about.

Comebacks.
After dropping the first game of the final match to Since Sliced Bread, it looked like Smashing might be down and out (literally).

Winning Shots.
After three games, Ron and Pop closed out Since Sliced Bread and repeated as champions of the World Series of Beer Bong.

Check presentation.
BPONG.com and World Series of Beer Pong founders Skinny, Duncan and Billy present Smashing Time with a check for $50,000.

See an image you’d like to use on your Facebook profile or blog? Cool! Check out my terms of use or email me at andy@explosion5000.com. I have many more images on Flickr. Check out the slideshow below or visit the set here.

How are you doing on your New Year’s Resolution so far? I have a couple photography related resolutions that are coming along pretty well. All of my work is backed up on at least two drives in an organized fashion (thank you LaCie). The other is well under way (see below). And yes, Seattle Athletic Club, I promise I’ll be by soon. But I digress… Last Thursday I brought the Explosion to Office Nomads for their January open house. My friend Alexandra, who is their community cultivator, asked if I would shoot portraits of their guests. The theme was to be loosely based around “new year’s resolutions.” We originally talked about shooting on white seamless, but I when I scoped out the space the night before the party I realized I just had to shoot against that green wall and chalkboard. Coincidentally, the chalkboard played perfectly into the theme.

This is Alexandra of Office Nomads, which is a co-working space in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Several of my friends work at spaces like this, and I was eager to check one out for myself. Basically, you rent a desk and can drop by whenever you like. While working at home in your boxer shorts does have its advantages, you miss out on actually interacting with humans. Office Nomads provides self-employed consultants, code monkeys, artists and basically anyone without a regular office the opportunity to conduct business in a work positive environment that has all the benefits of a traditional workplace (phone, internet, kitchen, lounge, conference rooms, etc). Pretty cool concept—and even cooler people. The one thing I kept hearing from all the “nomads” is how much they love the cross-fucntional and somewhat accidental networking and collaboration that takes place. I’m sold.

And Alex’s resolution… I think it’s pretty self explanatory.

It seems like Justin is already well on the way to knocking out his goal. Full proof is here.

Does switching to Code Red count? How about transitioning to Diet Mountain Dew? To be fair, the direction I gave immediately before taking this photo was “give me your ‘oops-I-drank-too-much-Dew-face.”

Nothing wrong with that. Carry on.

Just in case there wasn’t enough green in this photo for you… gotta love the “Emerald” City.

This picture inspired the following picture…

Which gave rise to this concept….

Waffles anyone? Eric informed me the he makes waffles every Wednesday for all the Nomads. He invited me to stop by and sample some of his home, er office cooking. I’m there!

Considering Judy is The Stranger Party Crasher, I’d call this an appropriate resolution. Look for a column on this party in The Stranger soon.

Because being more “you oughta know” doesn’t really work as a new year’s resolution.

Fellow photog Dan isn’t making much progress on his resolution.

If anything is unclear about this photo, just ask.

I think I speak for all of Seattle when I say, “dear God, I hope you’re not kidding.”

Four servings a day yall!

Do you think Sharat has a chance of being cast for next season’s Jersey shore? (Remember, he is from Brooklyn).

Susie and Alex demonstrate that the boss/employee relationship is alive and well in 2010.

Here’s a shot of the setup. For more info, check this Flickr image.

I was even asked to get in front of the lens and write a resolution on the board. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Check out my Facebook page for details. I hope everyone that reads this blog will consider helping me out with this one.

Check out my set on Flickr or watch the slideshow below for these photos and few extras.

Last night The 806 hosted the second annual GQ Christmas Party. The tradition began last year when Ryan Nguyen & Ryan Wheatley organized a small gathering of well-dressed, close friends. I was unable to attend I was on an assignment in Washington DC. For the 2009 edition, the Explosion 5000 came out in full force. We built a photo booth in the garage and loaded up on props from Archie McPhee’s. Add a few cocktails into the mix, and you’ve got yourself a real photo explosion.

Ben and Mira were among the first to venture into the booth. According to Ben, it’s nothing new for girls to chase him down with mistletoe and try to pull some antics. If he looks like he’s used to this, it’s because he is.

Although Matt is in excellent shape and has decades to go before having a white beard, it did not stop Christie from hopping on his lap with a few Christmas wishes. From the look on Matt’s face, I’m not so sure if Christie has been good this year—you’ll just have to ask him.

I was delighted to see Brian and Sheena bring the party to The 806. I’ve often said that the success of my parties can be measured on 1) If Brian Stewart shows up and 2) how long Brian stays. We must have thrown one hell of a party because Brian held it down with us until well after midnight.

The real credit for the success of GQ Christmas goes to this man. Ryan Wheatley was the creative force behind the evening, rallied the troops, sent the invites and cooked up 6 pounds of New York Strip roast. Although the meat was medium rare, the party was well done (sorry… couldn’t resist).

B Cox and B Rowe made a memorable appearance, the latter coming as Pimp Santa. Only a Kalamazoo native could pull that off with such style.

What would a party at The 806 be without Sharat and Caitlin? Not only were we graced with their presence, Sharat brought along his super fun roomates, Justin and Alex; and Caitlin upped the “hot mess” factor on the dance floor factor by inviting Kim, Brian, Paige and Emily.

Ryan Nguyen, the third resident of The 806, was in prime form last night too. Jini and Ryan put on quite a memorable performance—it even went “Classic Nguyen” at one point.

Zack dropped by the photo booth to spark things up with Christie.

And of course yours truly get in front of the lens for a few shots. Nice job taking handling the camera on this shot, Caitlin!

Thank you to everyone who came out and made GQ Christmas at The 806 a success! It was some of the most fun I’ve had all year. For more ridiculousness, goofy hats, over the top poses and fun, visit my Flickr page, or watch the slideshow below.

After nearly four years in the Pacific Northwest, Tom Bartlett is bolting clear across the country for the other Washington. The one with Michelle and Barack. From the very beginning of my time out here in Seattle, Tom has been a great friend. From the jama-jam, to Oktoberfest, to checking out bands like Kay Kay and Fleet Foxes—Tommy B has been there.

As Tom is leaving for DC after Christmas, we all gathered last night to send him off in style. The evening kicked off with a potluck hosted by Ryan and Katie at their new West Seattle pad. I concocted a double batch of the now famous white chicken chili, however I left the “final assembly” stage of the process to Katie. I prepared the chicken and vegetables on Thursday night and had the remainder of the ingredients and Crock Pots delivered to the Connors. On Friday afternoon Katie integrated the pieces and let it cook on low for 5 hours—perfection.

Before we left to meet up with more folks in Ballard, I insisted that the group sit for a portrait. And of course—I was planning on lighting the thing. I opted for my lightweight “strobist” setup: a Nikon SB-800, LumoPro LP120, two stands and umbrellas. Since my PocketWizards were being fussy, I triggered both strobes optically using the pop-up flash on my D300 (set to manual at 1/32 power). I positioned one light and shoot through umbrella on camera right, facing the group on the left of the frame. I put the other light behind the group on the left and pointed it at the love seat gang. I took a few test exposures, chimped to get the histogram lined up in the middle, set the timer and ran to my position. Boom—instant group photo.

Although he’s trading coasts, we all know we haven’t seen the last of our good buddy. Tom: If you happen to go international, I’m sure there’s a pretty good chance the Explosion 5000 will have to issue a report live from the scene. It’s going to be exciting to see what you get yourself into—best of luck!

(A few more Tom B shots on Flickr.)

BONUS: Here’s one more group shot to send to your grandparents.

This is Movember, the month formerly known as November. Movember is a month long celebration of all things mustache. Specifically, men are encouraged to grow out the legendary facial hair style to raise awareness about prostate and testicular cancer. The man pictured above, Aaron Huber, organized a team of about twenty of us to participate in this year’s antics. Mo-bros join the team by setting up a profile on the official Movember website. Mustache fans can donate to individual team members by visiting his or her Mo-space page. The Movember organization partners with The Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG to make sure the donations help “change the face of men’s health.”

Several weeks ago I talked to Aaron about ways to raise awareness of Movember. I offered to take portraits of the folks on our team, post the photos and throw up a blurb on the Explosion. On Tuesday night the MOst MOmentous MOs (our team’s name) got together for a photo shoot at Aaron’s place. I constructed a full blown photo studio to capture the essence of the “mo.” Aaron and I encouraged our mo-mates to dress up for the evening, but I never expected the passion I witnessed on Tuesday night. The props, costumes and utter ridiculousness that ensued would even make Tom Selleck blush. What follows below is the evidence of this “Mo-plosion.”

Mo-mate: Adam
Always the party starter, Adam was first up in the photo shoot. In between swigs of PBR, Adam ambitiously showed off all kinds of cheezy golf-pro-esque looks. If you’re digging this look, donate to Adam by visiting his Mo-space.

Mo-mate: B Cox
Brandon, AKA B Cox, brought the thunder. Since I grew up in Michigan, I was totally comfortable photographing B Cox and his piece (that is, his gun). In fact, I’m not even sure if that’s B Cox—it totally could be a 1980s version of my awesome mustahce’d Uncle Gary on Opening Day. If you love firearms as much as Brandon and I do, consider donating to Movember via his page.

Mo-mate: B-Rowe
B-Rowe (born Brian Rowe) was probably the toughest to mo-tograph. Not that he was camera shy or anything, it’s that he was literally bouncing off the walls. He did the White Trash Nation proud with his earnest portrayal of a Duff drinking hick, but as you’ll see later, he only got more mo-diculous. Donate to him now or donate to him later, but once you see what he did to his body, you’ll be completely mo-pelled to throw some change his way.

Mo-mate: John
Somtimes mos just like to kick back and enjoy a frothy beverage. John is demonstrating here how the mustache works as a “second flavor taster” (a term coined by the 1980s and 1990s mustached version of my dad). Donate to John here.

Mo-mate: Mike
Holy twelve sided die! Mike really brought the creep. The great thing about Movember is that even a good looking, non-threating bro like Mike can transform himself into an utterly skeezy character. I think at one point I gave him the direction to pretend he was looking through a peephole into a ladie’s restroom. I think we can all agree he delivered!

Mo-mate: Brian
As fun as the mo can be, it also has a badass side. I would not want to mess with this dude in an alley or at a Guns ‘n Roses concert. If you find this intimidating, you can donate to Brian here and pray that he doesn’t come and kick your ass Chuck Norris style.

Mo-mate: Aaron
Need a used car? Look no further. Not only did Aaron organize the MOst MOmentous MOs, he hosted the photo shoot and had time to get extra skeezy. If you’re not in the market for a 1985 El Camino (Aaron sells only the best), at least consider throwing this grease-ball a bone and donate to Movember.

Mo-mate: Mo Sistas
Mo bros would be nowhere without their mo sistas. If anyone really has to be “understanding” about the decision to grow a mo, it’s the ladies in our lives. Alli, McKenna and Annie are all about supporting Movember. Two of them have even stopped shaving their legs this month—way to go, gals! If the dudes here are just a little too Freddie Mercury for you, consider donating to Alli or Annie.

If I haven’t convinced you by now that Movember is worth your consideration, this should do it. Inspired by the theme of the month, B Rowe shaved a mustache into his chest hair. He did this during the photo shoot. I try to keep the Andy Aupperlee Explosion 5000 safe-fer-yer-office, but I highly suggest you cruise over to Flickr to see B-Rowe give the camera a few different looks.

Big thank you to everyone that modeled, helped with gear and hung out during the shoot. In addition to the folks you see on camera, we had another half dozen Movember fans shaving B-Rowes chest, calling out motivation to the models and drinking beers while we worked to “change the face of men’s health.” I had a blast shooting everyone and I’m stoked to see what we can do in the final weeks of Movember. If you enjoyed this post, please cruise over to mine or anyone’s Movember profile and put your MOney where your MOuse is.

If you are still craving some MOre, check out my Flickr gallery or watch the slideshow below. There are a total of 50 mo-tacular photos for your entertainment. If you’re interested in how I photographed this mo-plosion, check out this setup shot.

Atlas Clothing, a stylish vintage threads shop in Capitol Hill, hosted their one year anniversary party at Sole Repair Shop. The evening was replete with a full bar, hip guest list, runway fashion show and a photo booth. Julie Harmsen, the photographer shooting all the promotional and event imagery for the party, asked if I could lend an extra lens or two and help document the evening. As I had recently acquired some new lighting equipment, I offered up the idea of building a photo booth to capture the oh-so-debonair party goers.

Julie and I had several discussions about what we’d like to do photographically, and to pull it off I needed nearly every piece of lighting and grip equipment I owned. I arrived at the space around 5:30, about an hour and a half before the start of the event. Julie already had my “Strobist” kit setup to get some pre-show photographs of the models. The Strobist kit consists of lightweight flashes, stands and umbrellas—essentially the kit I used to photograph this busted lens. Inspired by the website for which it is named, the Strobist kit offers portable, quality off-camera lighting solutions for almost any situation. Check out Julie’s shots here—they turned out great.

While Julie photographed the models, I began building the photo booth on the second level of the space. I hung a nine-foot white seamless background and setup two Bowens Gemini 500 watt-second monolights. The plan was to setup the photo booth with a large softbox and beauty dish. I also hit the background with an SB-800 to add a little flare. Check out this behind the scenes shot on Flickr for details. For the fashion show, I’d move one of the lights to the runway, swap the beauty dish for a grid, and use it as a high-powered, off-camera flash to capture the models.

Since it was pretty dark during setup, I attached a 60 degree reflector to one of the lights and turned on the modeling lamp so I could see what I was doing. The event’s producer, Bethany Papenbrock, saw the lamp and immediately had an idea. In addition to using the monolight as a strobe, she asked if we could leave the modeling lamp on so it would act as an additional spotlight on the models walking the first floor runway. As the show was only scheduled to be 10-15 minutes long, I wasn’t too worried about heating up the grid—although it did get a little toasty.

With the gridded strobe/spotlight in place on the second floor, I consulted with Bethany and dialed in the optimal angle and power. By taking incident meter readings from where the models would pose, I found that with the strobe at half power I could shoot at f/4.5, 1/250th of a second and ISO 200. During the show, I mingled with the guests on the main floor, pointed my lens and triggered the second floor strobe via a pair PocketWizard Plus IIs. The directional light gave me a nice contrasty look. Thanks to the inverse square law and the distance the strobe was from the models, the light did not fall off too much from the foreground to the background walls. The wood paneling at the Sole Repair Shop really tied in quite handsomely with the whole “Mad Men” motif.

For the rest of the evening, Julie and I traded spots running the photo booth and encouraging antics. There is nothing like taking schwills of PBR and blasting 1100 watt seconds at party guests. Even Andy Fitts of The Banyans showed up to get in on the fun.

What impressed me most about the evening was the collection of talented people that came together to pull it off. Producing, photographing, styling and hosting a fashion show/party is no easy task. Big props to the folks from Atlas, the stylists, the models, the bar staff, Bethany and my photog pal Julie for getting this thing together. It was a privilege to shoot and hang out with yall! To check out more photos, head over to Flickr, or watch the slideshow below. Also, if this whole photo booth thing looks like something you’d like at your party, give me a holler at andy@explosion5000.com.

Ross and Cara threw down in wine town. Threw down wedding vows, that is—and one hell of a party. A HUGE thank you to the Nesbitts and Gualcos for inviting me to be a part of the weekend. I had the privilege of getting to know Ross and Cara while attending Loyola in Chicago, IL. I sat next to Cara in my very first class at Loyola, Theology: Moral Issues in Business. I quickly became friends with her and Ross; many of my best memories of Chicago involve going out on the town with these two. In the years that followed graduation, it has been fun keeping up with them as our careers, geographies and relationships evolve. The coming together of Ross, Cara, family and friends in Sonoma for their wedding on August 21, 2009 made for a truly spectacular weekend.

The wedding weekend began like any wedding weekend should: golf. The cool, cloudy weather we experienced on the front nine allowed my Seattle game to flourish. As Ross put it so eloquently, “Andy is throwing darts!” On the tenth tee the sun came out and I cracked a beer. My game immediately deteriorated over the next three holes. After several major flubs, I was able to restore my front nine glory by the stretch and rally for a strong finish.

After golf, we barreled through the Sonoma Valley countryside in an attempt to make it to the rehearsal on time. Despite our tardiness, the ladies were genuinely pleased to see us.

The wedding, and therefore the rehearsal, were held at Landmark Vineyards in Kenwood, CA. The grounds at Landmark have a back lawn bordered by a creek and features a sweeping view of the Mayacamas Mountains.

I had a lot of fun getting to know Ross’s family over the weekend. Pictured here is Ross, Emily, Roger, Debbie and Brent Nesbitt.

After running through the wedding day logistics, we caravaned back into Sonoma for the rehearsal dinner. The Nesbitts hosted a wonderful evening at Estate in Sonoma. On the picturesque patio we clinked wine glasses and exchanged pleasantries underneath a pergola draped in vines.

Pictured here are three generations of Gualcos: Grandmother Frances, father of the bride Michael and brother of the bride Matt.

Emily and Brent are Ross’s younger twin siblings. Both are seniors at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln.

I particularly enjoyed getting to know Cara’s family. Her mother, Rexy, and brother, Matt, are flanked here by fellow Loyola alumni Cailyn and George.

Ross and his mother Debbie.

Cara posing with Dee, Tom, her Uncle Beanie and Aunt Dorothy.

Ross’s father Roger helps out his son and best man, Brent, with the finishing touches to his collar.

After giving Mike a quick tutorial on tying ties, Ross gives his groomsman a pep talk before the ceremony. The room we got ready in was pretty cool. It was a second story lookout that had windows on all sides. The walls were adorned with letters from Presidents and official White House Correspondence with copies of state dinner menus where Landmark Wine was served.

Once the cuff links were fastened and the ties snugged up, the guy’s side of the wedding party chilled in the tasting room at Landmark.

The setting for the wedding was absolutely gorgeous. The bride and groom were posed against a mountainous backdrop with guests seated in the beautifully manicured lawn.

Not be outdone by the beautiful setting, the bridesmaids were stunning. Pooja, Maid of Honor Jami and Emily pose for a picture minutes before the wedding. Cara let each of her bridesmaids select their own style of dress—a thoughtful custom touch that subtly complimented the overall aesthetic of the wedding.

Patterned curves of flower petals down the aisle contrasted beautifully with the lush green grass. As an usher, I was tasked with seating people from the outside. Kicking the petals around was reserved for the wedding party procession.

Cara’s great uncle Gene, a judge, performed the wedding. He also married Cara’s parents nearly thirty years ago.

Ross & Cara Nesbitt take to the aisle as man and wife.

Immediately following the wedding was the most elegant of garden parties. While I went straight for a Coors Light (it was hot outside), plenty of other classy libations were available for consumption. Here, Maid of Honor Jami takes a break from “double duty” to plant one on George.

Ammar and Brianna were all over this wedding. From cute candids to spicy parasol propped photoshoots, neither of them showed any disdain for my camera lens. Will they be the next Loyola couple to follow Ross and Cara down the aisle? Hmm…

After cocktails we sat down to a wonderful meal in the courtyard at Landmark.

Once dinner was finished, the real fun began. A live band rocked the reception while the happy throng danced and socialized in the cool California summer night. After getting after it on the dance floor for awhile, I wandered off to grab a light stand and an umbrella. I set up a Nikon SB-600 flash and Wescott umbrella underneath the tree branches and lights in the courtyard. Cara asked me to get a shot of her and her nanny, Dee, looking at each other. It was to be a tribute to an old photograph of a little Cara looking up at Dee on her wedding day. While I was setting up the scene and taking some test shots, Ross, Brent, George and several others wandered over. Before I knew it, we had a full-on photo shoot happening.

Vaishak, Cailyn, Ammar and Brianna get all “Gossip Girl” with a couple of parasols.

George being George.

Two brothers on a Parisian stroll?

Here is the shot of Dee and Cara that inspired this series.

A and B being saucy.

Rocky and Pooja Saxena ham it up under the lights. For more “Gossip Girl Photo Shoot” photos, visit Flickr.

In anticipation of everyone having a “good time,” a bus was arranged to take everyone back to the hotel. It is pretty obvious how stoked everyone was for safe transportation.

Although the wedding was over, the party in Sonoma continued on Saturday. About twenty-five of us rented a bus and toured the valley. Above is a vista as seen from the Gloria Ferrer Winery in Carneros, CA.

On their first day as man and wife, Mr. & Mrs. Nesbitt partied on a bus in between partying at wineries.

George and Katie keeping cool at Gloria Ferrer.

Cheers! Emily, Cailyn, George, Cara, Ross, Jami and Adam send up at toast at Gloria Ferrer.

On the way out of the winery, Ross decided to open up a bottle of champagne. After popping the cork, I encouraged him to shake it up a little, you know, Formula One style. Nothing like raining champagne.

Brett Catlin once told me that you can tell a good wine by its legs. Obviously we’re dealing with a superior product here, which is evident by Jami’s enthusiastic endorsement.

Adam and Lauren enjoy a snack in Sonoma.

Katie charts the course at Buena Vista Carneros.

Our driver, Rodney, hanging out at Buena Vista.

Towards the end of the day, I saw Adam pull out a bank envelope. Contained in the envelope were about $30 in one dollar bills. With a few brisk swipes at the wad, Adam was “making it rain” in the bus. Predictable behavior following a showering of notes ensued—i.e., creative use of the bus’s poll.

The bus’s aisle eventually transformed into a runway and the whole roadshow turned into a dance party traveling at 60 MPH. Thanks to whoever operated my camera to grab this shot—well done!

Many more pictures are available on Flickr, or simply watch the slideshow below. For help with making or ordering prints, please email me at andy@explosion5000.com.

Again, big thank you to the Nesbitts and Gualcos for a wonderful weekend!

It’s birdie time! Last weekend we had more than just the mojo working when the Explosion 5000 met a college tradition: Tennis Hoes & Golf Pros. A familiar cast of characters, clad in their country club finest, descended on Seattle’s Belltown and proceeded to paint the town plaid.

Warning: Images of Superfisky in women’s tennis clothing follow. Also, this post contains photographs of original artwork by Superfisky, which might make your boss question what exactly you’re looking at on the internet.

All the photos here were made with my Nikon D300 camera and Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 lens. I also fired a Nikon SB-600 flash with a Sto-fen Omnibounce. For most of the shots, I held the flash in my left hand and triggered it wirelessly via Nikon’s Creative Lighting System.

The occasion? A birthday, naturally. Alli’s birthday, specifically. If you could read the tag affixed to her shirt, you’d know that. Pictured with Alli is fellow photog Ray Loyola.

Curtis “Ironman” Cappel graced Buckley’s with his wit and his plaid.

As the name of the party suggests, every pro needs his companion. Alongside Curtis is Ashley.

“Love 40? More like game, set, match.” – Christine.

Through the drinking glass with Chris.

B Cox as the Baller.

Superfisky might be larger than life, but he’s never too big to fit into the smallest of women’s clothing. Since he obviously never heard the latter half of the “Tennis Hoes & Golf Pros” theme, Superfisky jumped high-heels first into a wig and skirt.

The drawing above started out as a simple diagram. Nick and I were brainstorming ways to hang me out over a river to photograph rafters. Superfisky made a few “improvements.”

The throng eventually made its way to Spitfire, where the country club elite joined a Cowboys and Indian party already in progress. Whether you were a Maria Sharapova, Tiger Woods, Dot, Feather or John Wayne; the drink of choice is clearly Pabst Blue Ribbon.

For more pictures, visit my Flickr set or watch the slideshow below.

Also, be sure to become a fan of the Andy Aupperlee Explosion 5000 on Facebook.

This weekend the folks at Seattle’s Bold Hat Productions staged the seventh annual Hop Scotch Spring Beer and Scotch Festival in Fremont. Over 50 microbrews and imports, along with Scotch and Tequila samples were featured at the event. The tasting is a benefit for the Seattle International Film Festival.

So to summarize:
Lots of beer.
Fremont.
Cool charity.

Of course The Andy Aupperlee Explosion 5000 was there.

Gus, aka Goose Gus, rolled with me to the event and subsequently made his Explosion5k debut. Since arriving from Southern California last fall, Gus has quickly adapted to life in Seattle. Gus seems to be content with trading smog for the Space Needle and douchebags for drizzle.

Fortunately, beer drinking is a co-ed sport in Seattle. Mira (above) went mini-mug for mini-mug with us. We also happened to run into Christine (below), formerly of St. Louis. The event was truly an eye-opener for her as she learned that there are other beers in this world not called Budweiser.

Matt, Bill (both pictured above) and Ben were also wandering Fremont Studios with me. The event took place in Studio A, a large sound stage lined with projector screens featuring iconic images of Seattle and spring. The beer vendors dominated most of the room. A roped off section in the back served Scotch and tequila. I was in the northwest corner of the hall when I ran into Brandon. He was pleading with me take the rest of his tokens. Apparently, the small six-ounce glasses caught up with him quicker than expected. Already having had a healthy helping of microbrews myself, I agreed to accept a few tokens if he got a beer with me. We found a man pouring Full Sail and indulged. He might have been the happiest person in the room.

Check out these photos and few others on Flickr, or watch the slideshow below.