Guys! The shows went amazing!

I met so many cool people! I was in awe of the great people involved in the art show I was a part of on Friday.

Tammy W from www.LimeLighter.ca threw a wicked party for us all. Live music, incredible ambiance, cool artists, and me.

Mandy Stobo is plain ol’ Rad. She paints bad portraits, really good too. Her large art is pretty much the opposite of my photography. Messy, random, and freaky. and. oh. so. cool. Bad Portraits is even cooler than that too. You can send her your face and she will make it bad.

Jo Luke Giles is really low key and completely incredible using whatever he can get his hands on to make his art.

And also me.

The venue was really great. Village Brewery is at least 33% responsible for my meteoric rise to fame in my own mind, as they host these really cool Wednesday meet and greets that I attended 1 of a while ago, that day I met all the people I now cohort with in the art and photography world. And I am completely in love with their Village Blacksmith beer that I drink from a growler. Drinking my beer from a growler makes me at least 47% cooler in my own mind.

I sold some of my pictures too. Bonus! I was happy just being included in the incredibly hip crowd that was brave and rad enough brave the blizzard happening outside.

Total success for my very first art show!

Sunday Traci and I rented a booth in the Fort Calgary Artisan Fair. She with her amazingly glamorous jewellery and me with my images. Almost no one showed up for this Fair, but the ones who did came straight to our booth and bought something. In a craft fair where most vendors never covered the cost of the table rental, we were floating in dollar bills! Woot for us! We rock! say us.

Oh yeah. I bought a ridiculously cool paisley jacket that helped propagate the idea that I am cooler than I am. It worked! Fool’d em’ all!

Oh, and this was the large canvas print. that bad boy is 5’ tall!

It was very popular and probably 63% responsible for me selling what I sold!

Oh, Friday night there was commerce happening for the first 3 hours of the Event and the last 2 hours was pure party! It was a fantastic evening!

Guys! My first art show!

November 9th from 7pm till midnight.

I have the utmost and humbling pleasure of sharing the stage that evening with the ballooning famousness of Mandy Stobo. In my head I hope this parlays into more sales for me, but being it is my very first show I have high no expectations. The publicity can’t be bad. Well, unless of course it’s bad publicity. Then it would be bad.

I started to drag and drop my favourite photos from my large catalogue into a separate folder. So far there are 996 images in there. And I have only gone back to May of this year. I need to pare this down to about 25 key images to print and mat (or frame) in various sizes, along with some loose prints for sale.

I also need to choose an image tonight to have blown up to a 40”x60” Canvas Gallery Print. I am pretty sure it will be this one.

But I’m torn. Maybe this one.

Or what about something like this?

Or this…

I dunno…

Could be this too?

hmmm… maybe this…

Anyway, if you are around on Friday night, feel free to drop by Village Brewery for some Live Music, Local Art and Great Beers! I will be the one sweating bullets, doubled over in abdominal pain from the anxiety attack that I can feel building up inside me…  Here is the event on Facebook.

Just so you know…

… I am ok.

I have not been running. Something has happened to my knees that is freaking me out.

Otherwise,

I have been hired as a photographer a number of times in the past few weeks. For real, for real money! It’s been great. I sold a photo to a video production for a 1 year license, another one to Tourism Calgary for a 3 year term. I also got a surprise paypal payment for the single photo I have listed at Getty Images.

The best was last weekend. I got a comment on my Instagram account requesting my email address, as they need a photog for the night.

Cool! What was it?! It was a very high end fashion show! Oh shit. I’ve never shot a high end fashion show. Well turns out you can use your google machine to find out how to do anything. It helps that I understand the business end of my camera so well, as the settings were quite familiar to me, and all went really well. I did have to race around and buy a couple new pieces of equipment to competently do the job, but that went ok, I got everything and within 5 hours of getting the comment I was shooting at the event.

I was really really nervous. Like stomach churning. My boss put me at ease when she told me that she thought of me for the job because she liked my shooting style. So I hunkered in for the evening, met some amazing people and fired hundreds of photos. I was tasked with a shot list, which I succeeded in completing, so that part was great.

Once I got home from this amazing evening, it was time to check on the results. Well, the photos actually much better than I expected, so I was pretty pleased with myself. Within a couple hours I was done editing and I sent off the low res shots. The next day I got some good feedback and that was pretty much it. My first paid event shoot was done and it really, under the circumstances, couldn’t have gone better.

I have also been honing my landscape shots as well… Here are some of the results of the past few weeks of awesome, and pretty much life changing photography by me!

Check my Photography Fecebook page, give me a follow to see more like this. There is website in the works and I have my very first art show on Nov 9th! Exciting hey?

Rock the House Run, Sept 23-12

Rock the House Run Results are here. This race benefits the Southern Alberta Ronald McDonald House.

I talked the race into having barefoot/minimalist divisions. 8 people signed up total in the 5k and 10k. What really amazed me, was a guy in the BF division won the 10k outright in 38:xx! Woot!

Here are my Flicker Photos from the race.

I was too sick to race, so I went to just be generally friendly and to shoot the event from my angles. It was a really good race overall with records in attendance and pledges all broken!

iRun Blog update (Blog Idol 2.0)

Hey coach! I ‘splain myself over at the other blog. The iRun Magazine blog.

Check it out here. A visit is a vote! You don’t even have to read it.

Click here!

ok.. i’ll wait while you do that.

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Everyone else too. Go have  read. Catch up on me. It’s all about me.

And here is a photo I took 2 nights ago. You like it?

Splitting time…

yeesh! I’ve added another thing to my online things…

I was invited to take part in iRun magazine’s Blog Idol 2.0 contest. The prize is some stuff and a writing gig with the magazine.

It started tonight and I have posted my first blog. This will be a little introspective to begin with as I tell my story, kind of from the beginning. So if you are relatively new to me, follow along and soon you’ll know all about stuff you probably didn’t want to know me.

Here it is!

If you have any questions from the iRun blog posts, let me know on there, as it probably looks better if I get tons of q’s and comments…

Cheers!

If i had to pick a photo that represents my online existence right now, it might look like this one I shot last night.

soooo much fun though.

SO happy…

I asked for your referrals of me and I couldn’t be more humbled and happy.

• Keith September 8, 2012 4:17 PM
  Neil has the happy knack of making connections with other people. For instance, he and I met through a guy that lives in New Jersey. As soon as he realized we lived not far apart, he invited me out for coffee. Through him I've met one person that is genuinely famous, Martin Parnell. He got me started on taking photos and manipulating them with software. What's important to remember is that the software can't add what isn't there. In other words, a poor photo before manipulation is likely to still be a poor photo after manipulation. Many of Neil's photos are "WOW!" quality after manipulation (enough but not too much) but they were good photos before the manipulation. He has a good eye.
  
  
• Adam Ricklefs September 8, 2012 8:32 PM
  If there is one thing that is very apparent as soon as you get to know Neil, it is that is is a very passionate man. Whether his family, his travel and photographs, or his barefoot running, Neil exudes a kind of childhood enthusiasm that is infectious. Always one to lend an ear or share a thoughtful point of view or breathtaking photograph via his blog or twitter feed, Neil's passions are quick to spread but long remain memorable.
  
  
• Gene SoboleskiSeptember 8, 2012 8:43 PM
  Neil always seems to be in the right place at the right time. His joie de vivre carries through in all that he does. Neil has a knack for being in the right place a the right time, and I enjoy reading his adventures, either about his running, his family, and his photography. Coming from New England, I especially enjoy seeing his works that showcase the great, vast lands of Canada. His images capture the beauty and grandeur very well. I look forward to seeing more of his photos!
  
  
• Dawn - Pink ChickSeptember 8, 2012 8:49 PM
  Neil who? Oh the Barefoot guy. I met Neil through running. He seems to be everywhere I go, wait don't they call that stalking?!? Just kidding Neil and I are both runners and passionate about the sport. We are always running into to each other cause well that's what runners do. He's a real go getter and seems to be everywhere which heh, if you want a roving report someone who is everywhere makes sense.
  I am often envious of his amazing photos. He has a real eye for turning an every day shot into something awesome.
  
  
• darkhorse3010September 8, 2012 9:43 PM
  Mild mannered Neil Z., office jockey by day transforms into Super Web Z in his free time. A family man at heart he is always out and about exploring with them. He is continually documenting everything in sight with his trusty camera and some form of web access always by his side. Master of the internet he maintains more diversified blogs of subject matter than I can keep track of at times, but he can keep the barefoot thing all to himself (rocks hurt…). At times I feel sorry for his camera; its shutter life must be nearing its end. Wherever the need, Super Web Z is there!
  
  
• Elle September 8, 2012 10:06 PM
  Neil has such an incredible way of looking at, and photographing, the world around him. I found Neil's blog because he was a runner, but I have kept reading, and follow him on Twitter, because he has a wonderful way of sharing his passion for his family and his adventures through pictures. I have visited many of the places that Neil photographs and shares, and always enjoy seeing those places through his eyes and camera lens.
  
  
• BarefootJosh September 9, 2012 5:17 AM
  Neil is an adventurer who throws himself into every new environment feet first like a kid flying from a swinging rope into a lazy river. He's a collector of experience in fascinating locales, and we are fortunate that through pictures and prose he takes us along the journey. I hope to enjoy the grandeur of Jasper's night sky as presented with his sense of wonder and exuberance!
  
  
• Darren Krause September 9, 2012 7:07 AM
  Neil. What is it about Neil that makes him so darn special? He's a connector; he connects his own world and the world around him to others. Simple case was his invitation for me to play golf with him - having never met in person before - after only ever having chatted on Twitter. I have little doubt he'll continue to use this gift of sharing and relating the world around him to others, whether it's his next road race or photography excursion, or when he gets the chance to open the world's eyes to the dark skies of Jasper. Choose him.
  
  
• Pb September 9, 2012 2:54 PM
  First time I saw Neil he was sprinting barefoot to the finish line of a 5k race, on a cold rainy day.
  Inspiring that is Neil. Over the years I have seen Neil deal with adversity and remain a positive yet real blogger. From his running to his family values to his stunning photography he manages to show his passion to the world in humble and enthralling style. Highly recommend "Because all the cool kids are doing it"
  Keep up the great work Neil.
  Paul
  
  
• Tricia September 9, 2012 8:30 PM
  Neil's passion for travel, photography and his family is infectious. After logging on to Facebook and viewing his pictures I often find myself daydreaming about places to vacation. He has a way with words and a camera that make me want to visit where he has been. Outside of his obvious photography skills he is proficient in social media and has been a great source of information when I have questions about various social media platforms.
  
  
• Emz September 9, 2012 9:38 PM
  Neil. Freaking. Rocks.
  His passion for life - comes through in his amazing photography & writing. I will own a Neil Z photo in my home one day. Until then......I stalk him like crazy on Facebook, blogger & [my personal favorite] Instagram.
  Incredible. Incredible. Incredible.
  
  Jeff Gallup September 10, 2012 8:10 AM
  I can't think of a better selection for a Social Media representative for Jasper Dark Sky. Neil has an amazing knack for not only capturing truly amazing photographs, but he always supplements those with a terrific narrative that can bring the reader directly to that place and time to experience his journey with him. Neil is simply the best! 

•   Rick Charlton - Millaville Half Marathon
  The first time I ever saw Neil, he was running towards me, barefoot on gravel, at the tail-end of a half marathon race I had organized. First impressions are always important and the first words I thought of were zany (the polite, substitute word for "crazy"), fun and willing to plow through all obstacles. Barefoot Neil is a blogging legend in the running community and we were very happy to have him on our side helping spread awareness of our non-profit event.

•  Larry Mathieson September 10, 2012 10:17 AMWe are thrilled to have Neil working as an advisor to our Ronald McDonald House- Rock the House Run committee. He has excited and inspired the organizing committee to have our first ever Barefoot division in our race. It also doesn't hurt to have someone involved with the committee and event who knows as much about social media as Neil does.

• Sharyn Sadauskas Ocenside Tourism September 10, 2012 10:17 AM
  What a pleasure to have Neil Zeller visiting Parksville and Qualicum Beach! I've really enjoyed seeing his photographic talents showcasing our attractions. A picture can rarely fully capture the tumble of a waterfall or the expanse of the beach but Neil's photos do an amazing job of bringing out the beauty of our region. From Little Qualicum Falls to Rathtrevor Beach, it was fun to follow Neil and his family as they enjoyed their holiday here! I return to his blog frequently to have another look and notice something new every time I do.
  
• TinaFab September 10, 2012 7:50 PM 
  I met Neil through Twitter. Odd. I know. One day after a half marathon I hear this guy yelling Hey Crantina!!! And thus...we meet! It's neat how that happens. One day I was following a stranger, reading his blog. Having a bit of witty repartee on a social media site, the next meeting his wife and son! Now its funny i see him everywhere. Shopping, at runs, out and about. His photos really are fab. I really should try to take more pics. But he sees the world thru a different lens. Pure Awesome. That's Neil!

You. all. humble. me.

I took this on Sunday eve… I like the light so I zipped down…
Thank you.
Psst, Jasper…