Photo Teacher

In January of 2010 I started teaching photography at the Art Institute San Diego - Mission Valley. Its just part time, 1 class a week for now. Maybe in the future I'll do more. Its a lot of work and I like to give my 100%, so 1 class for now is perfect. I truly enjoy inspiring and teaching new talent creative tools. I utilize my knowledge, stories and give them the hands on field type experience.. Very rewarding on a personal level. Plus they keep me on my toes, ha. There is no photography major at the Art Institute San Diego. All of my students are in graphic design, animation, web design and advertising majors. My goal with each class is to relate their future careers to real world professional commercial photography.

I officially have 3 quarters finished. About to move into my fourth, Fall. During each quarter my goal is to have 1 field trip to a commercial photographers studio, which we have done so far with
Frank Rogozienski and Lon Atkinson. Then I have had two photographers come in and do presentations. So far we have had Bil Zelman and Chris Straley. These interactions are priceless. I can watch the students wheels turning when they are speaking. I encourage any professional out there to give back. & I am so grateful Frank, Lon, Bil and Chris have.. The students took a lot a way from their presentations, including the big one: inspiration.

At the end of each quarter my students are to do a final project. Here is one of the students blog posts: "Pen 15" in regards to his final project.. They make me very proud!

MHP 'HEALTH' Panel - featured in New Yorker Article

Way back in 2005. Cat Greenleaf and Michael Rey made their way to San Diego to shoot a feature for Discovery’s Travel Channel. The came to the VOICE gallery did a short segmant and then Justin & I spent the day with them touring & filming San Diego. Years later, we still stay in touch. A little over a year ago they commissioned me to create a panel from one of my photos. At the time I had only made 4'x4' panels. The photo they were interested in, was definitely NOT going to fit in a 4'x4' dimension. So we created the first 4'x6' panel to accommodate the photo, "Health". Cat just mailed me this article from the New Yorker Paper in which they were featured in the Home section (click to read full article).
If you check out the yellow highlighted box it says that Cat named one of her favorite things in her home as my "Health" panel - very cool! You can see a photo of it behind them (red arrow). Since they have had this panel in their home, they have introduced it to many of their friends including Keri Glassman of Nutrious Life and Maggie Gallant - Senior Vice President at Rogers & Cowan, both of which have commissioned a Health panel from me. Thanks Cat & Mike, so much!


Cat is currently a features reporter for WNBC, NewsChannel 4 in NYC. She also hosts a segment called Talk Stoop - in which she interviews celebrities passing through NYC on her front stoop. Also she has just launched her new company called LUSTBKLYN. I went to her launch party last night at Fred Segal in LA with Peyton Robertson and Ashley Netzband of Bay Bird Inc along with my bff Jolene (thanks gurl for making the trek with me, yeah we got home at a lovely 3am,,, gotta love when they do construction on the 5fwy in the early morning).

We had GREAT time, it was very cool. So happy I went. & I got to meet their baby Nick for the first time.

Tonight - Photography Show @ Mixture (Little Italy, SD)

"High Voltage" - c. Monica Hoover 2010 4'x6' panel - Newest Panel in the collection. Come see it at the Mixture Photography show - info below.

MIXTURE EVENT+

FEATURING:
Featuring photographic works by local San Diego photographers: David Harrison, Monica Hoover, Anthony Levas, Frank Rogozienski and Lisa Smith.


WHERE:
Mixture - (Home Furnishings)
2210 Kettner Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92101.
* Corner of Kettner & Ivy

WHEN:
6pm - 8:30pm. Public Reception (I have to do a quick photo shoot this evening from 5:30 to 8pm. I'm going to be at Mixture before from 230-430, and then I'll head back around 8:15 if you want to stop by and say hello.)


I first met Misti and Brumbi (Owners of Mixture) back in 2003 / 2004 when they first opened their store. I was working with Riviera Magazine / Dawn Triemstra - to shoot an editorial / lifestyle piece on Mixture. We set up a lifestyle shoot / dinner party including several different people. One of whom was a stranger to me then, but now one of my dearest friends and awesome lady all around - Elise Purcell.. I need to dig up that shoot and scan and post those photos.. So thats how I met Mixture. Since then we've stayed n touch over the years. A few months ago I did a bunch of product, event and exterior photography for Mixture. It was at this point Misti asked me if I would be interested in being apart of this photography show. She said the photographers that they have selected - are all photographers that are 'Mixture family' - who have done work with Mixture over the years. So naturally, I said 'of course! & thank you!"

Interesting - one of the other exhibiting Photographers is Frank Rogozienski. I met Frank for the first time about 5 months ago when I took my Art Institute Photography class to his studio for a field trip. I was referred to Frank from our mutual friend and amazing photographer Bil Zelman.. (Thanks Bil!) - And so now Frank and I are in the same show. Pretty cool how things connect. From what I saw of Frank's fine art "Americana" work - its just gorgeous & worth a look & a purchase if you can!

Hope you can make it tonight! - & for the adventerous ones, the after party: we'll be hanging out at the Ruby Room in Hillcrest 9pm - to watch my husband's band 'Mr. Orange Undercover" play - its a reunion show. They split up in 2007 because the drummer had moved. So its a one night show tonight - thats gonna be rockin!

City Beat Cover Shot

Its really ridiculous the amount of time I let go in between postings. In attempting to get better at it - here we go. Last week I was called by City Beat to shoot the cover for this weeks issue featuring the 8 nominated bands for the San Diego 2010 Music Awards 'Best New Band" . They knew they had 7 to 8 people (1 representative from each band) that needed to be shot. So - after a late night Skype conference call with the Editor David Rolland and Music Editor Peter Holslin, we had come up with a concept that we would set up a studio, 'on location' behind the City Beat building. I would bring a back drop, we would focus more on a tighter shot of the group. Well shoot day rolls around(the next day ;) ), the location wasn't exactly what I imagined, and power was an issue. Then one of band members shows up in an old pickup red truck. I then decided this initial concept must change. The art director Adam Vieyra was on board so we went with it. Shooting large groups of people, and in general established band people, you don't usually have a lot of time for set up and move around. You have to get the shot set up quick, lighting better be solid, and your shooting must be on point, clock is counting down. I generally don't like changing directions - once you have the concept laid down, but in most case scenarios, nothing goes as planned - you gotta role with it - and make kick ass photos. I'm happy with the results - we got a lot of great shots, but here is the final result with the copy. Pick up this weeks City Beat - or visit the article online - click here!