This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Ruby Buzz by Nathaniel Brown. Original Post: Back from Mexico and loaded with photos Feed Title: Nathaniel Brown Feed URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/nshb Feed Description: Insight as a professional Technology Consltant and Photographer. Latest Ruby Buzz Posts Latest Ruby Buzz Posts by Nathaniel Brown Latest Posts From Nathaniel Brown

Well I'm back from Mexico, well Puerto Vallarta to be precise. It was an awesome 10 day trip that allowed me to see some great sights in the city. While I was there, I realized it was more of a working vacation than anything.

This was in no part due to the awesome Photography compeition, but my desire to pack my portfolio full of some creative shots of some of the most gorgeous women I have had the opportunity to photograph.

Some of which were Skye Connelly, Tatum Miranda, Kiki, Ashley, Anne, and Jenny.

One thing I will say is that I was really dissapointed with the judging. I made it my goal to be known world wide as a truely great photographer. Not because I knew so and so, or got one opportunity that another photography didn't. I mean I want to be known as the best because I am really the best. That says alot, because in today's day and age, where we are grown to believe that it's not what you know, it's who you know. This is no easy feat. So with that said, I was really dissapointed with the judging simply because of that. It felt so much like the fact that I am so adiment against. I was hanging out with the models in Mexico, looking over the other shots from the photographers, and I was really suprised to see 50% of the people that made it to the top 10 that did.

I am by no means a great photographer yet, and I clearly admit this. I have only been doing this seriously since last December. That's what.. 9 full months? Don't get me wrong though, when I dive into something, I usually go for the deep end and nothing else. Photography is no exception. And well, the photos I seen, were somewhat dissapointing to be representative of the top photographers down there.

I nailed it down to a couple factors which I believe were the cause of my lack of top 10 victory. First, was my style. I love simplicity, I love lighting (strobe/studio), and I love art. All of these were in large part a conflict the the primary judge. He likes natural lighting, he likes cheesy smiles, and as for art.. well I don't really see much in my eye as far as the shots he uses in his magazines. In any case, my style didn't match. Second, well there are some stupid things that this competition had that had nothing to do with photography. Such as a manditory 5k run. Which I chose to not participate in, but being that the primary judge is a fitness finatic, that unofficially didn't go over well. And last, I wasn't one to suck up to the judges. Kissing ass isn't my game, as I stated before. If I win any sort of competition, it won't be because I became friends with the judge for simply that reason.

But all in all, the event itself, was really impressive. I got the chance to shoot with my choice of over 130 models, work with some of the best make up artists in the business, and be out partying with all of them every night in an all inclusive resort.

Needless to say, even without the top 10 badge in my bag, I had an enormous amount of fun. I trust by the photos you see, you'll as well be somewhat impressed as well. If not by the photos themselves, but by the jump in quality I see myself in my shots over the 10 days compared to that of the shots I took prior to the event.

Something about being commited to 10 days of taking photos, surrounded by some 40 other photographers and reading their actions to gain new insights into your own trade, couldn't help but bump my skill up a bit.

With that said, I invite you to take a peek at some of the shots I took down there, and if you've got a moment, share your thoughts and comment on them. Would love to hear anything you have to say about them.