I recently photographed Social Fresh, a social media conference here in Charlotte, and I had such a good time. Here are some of the photos.

Welcome to Social Fresh © Armando Bellmas

Social Fresh volunteer Christa Hanson © Armando Bellmas

Wray Ward’s oranges © Armando Bellmas

Social Fresh being all about the social web I decided to post as many high res photos online just minutes after they were made.

I did this using lots of CF cards, a card reader, a MacBook Pro surfing a sketchy wifi network, a Tumblr account with direct-to-Twitter posting, the #sofresh hashtag, great subjects, and a top shelf assistant.

Jessica, my assistant © Armando Bellmas

I’d shoot a small round of posed and session shots, download the images to Lightroom on the MacBook Pro while Jessica loaded a new card into the camera, find the best one or two photos, post them to Tumblr, which automatically posts them to Twitter with the #sofresh hashtag, and puts the images out there for the conference and everyone on Twitter to share, comment on, and enjoy.

The social web.

A Charlotte Observer photographer and keynote David Armano © Armando Bellmas

Nathan Richie got his orange crush © Armando Bellmas

Social media — Twitter, in particular — has been a great way to get myself out there. What fascinates me most is how easy it is to connect with someone if you just have patience and good intentions. It takes me directly to people that need to know about me. It introduces me to some great minds and motivated people — much like Social Fresh bossman Jason Keath (thanks, man) and others that I’ve gone on to meet or work with in person.

And many that I have had the privilege to photograph.

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See all the fun in the whole Social Fresh set and follow the conversation.

In December I joined ClotheCharlotte in their effort to collect coats, hats, and gloves for the estimated 5,000 homeless people in Charlotte.

I added an extra incentive for most everyone I knew by offering up a portrait in exchange for a donation to the cause. The response was overwhelming!

© Armando Bellmas

My “ClotheCharlotte, get a portrait” drive collected over 50 clothing kits of coats, hats, and gloves.

© Armando Bellmas

On December 20, my son Nick and I helped sort and deliver the clothing kits with dozens of other ClotheCharlotte volunteers.

One of the best parts of the whole campaign was when Nick, realizing we were done volunteering and ready to go back home, said to me “I want to help out some more!”

Anyway, a big thanks to Joe and Nathan at ClotheCharlotte for getting it going and spreading the word. Also, thanks to everyone who donated, got a portrait, and helped us ClotheCharlotte this winter.

Do you know that there are about 5,000 homeless people in Charlotte? What’s worse: about one-third of those homeless people are children.

That’s just unacceptable.

In an effort to help keep all of these people warm this winter a small group of Charlotte folks has organized an effort called ClotheCharlotte. The goal is simple:

We believe with all our hearts that we can and will clothe every single homeless person in Charlotte, by collecting 5,000 coats, hats and gloves. But to do this, we need you to believe and understand how much of a difference you are making simply by reaching into your closet and pulling out items you have had all along.

To give you an incentive to donate to ClotheCharlotte my friend Mike Carroll and I are making portraits for donations.

It’s easy: we’ll make a photo of you, your family, or whomever you want in exchange for a clothing kit consisting of a coat, hat, and gloves. No charge to you, totally free. All we ask for is that you bring one clothing kit to the session for each person that will be in the photo. That’s it.

We’ll be driving the clothing kits to the shelters and partner organizations on Saturday, December 20th so if you want to take part in ClotheCharlotte and get a portrait made the time to do so is now.

Call me at 704-519-7163 or email me at armando@bellmas.com for more details.

Each of us has so much to give. Please join us in giving a little of our prosperity and compassion to those who are struggling.

© Armando Bellmas

This is an outtake from a project I worked on this summer for the Charlotte School of Law. Twenty images, twenty different locations, eight days, lots of work, and a huge blast! A big thanks to the MODE crew for bringing me on for this one.

This shot was created inside Zada Jane’s Corner Cafe here in Charlotte. Owner Roger Raymer and the Zada Jane’s staff were the best hosts we could ask for providing biscuits, coffee, space for us to spread out, and all-around good hospitality.

A perfect way to spend an afternoon.

© Armando Bellmas

A few weeks ago I photographed Jason Hausman of HOT SAKE here in Charlotte.

I made the photographs for a local group of young media professionals called Ad2 Charlotte. They’re featuring Hausman in the first of their “I’m Kind of a Big Deal” talks. The main shot, seen here, was a straight-on number to be used in all the promo pieces for the event. Done.

The second shot (above) was where I let my style truly take over.

We had a few minutes to spare at the end of the shoot and, never letting a good combination of subject and location go to waste, I asked Jason is he would stand by the window for a few more photos.

Everything fell into place: the perspective, Jason himself, the window bars, the brick wall, the indoor lights hitting just the right spots, the little ukulele hanging in the back window, and the good ol’ sun itself giving me the lighting that I love so much. Done.

My kids love public transportation. Especially Charlotte’s new light rail system.

Every time my two-year-old daughter Sophie sees anything pertaining to public transportation — a city bus or light rail train — she calls out LIGHT RAIL! in that sweet little voice of hers.

My five-year-old son Nick knows all the light rail and Charlotte Trolley stops from 7th Street to Tyvola.

Anyway, it’s a fondness for kids and their obsession with public transportation that endears me to illustrator Christoph Niemann’s The Boys and the Subway, a story and illustrations from his blog Abstract City at The New York Times.

Check out these excerpts:

Illustration by Christoph Niemann

My sons Arthur, 5, and Gustav, 3, are obsessed with the New York City subway system.

Illustration by Christoph Niemann

People often ask me for directions in the subway. Even though I know my way around rather well, I still have to defer to Arthur very often. Yet it seems people don’t trust the advice of a preschooler. They should.

You gotta see and read the whole piece. It’s priceless.

I photographed a marketing campaign for Visit Charlotte earlier this year. One day of location scouting, three days of shooting, five different locations, three lighting challenges, one very cool art director, two reliable assistants, and an awesome end client.

In one word: success!

Check it out for yourself:

Photo © Armando Bellmas

Photo © Armando Bellmas

Photo © Armando Bellmas

Photo © Armando Bellmas

Photo © Armando Bellmas

See the work in action on the Visit Charlotte website.

Poster by MODE for AIGA Charlotte

AdCharlotte.com points us to a super-cool poster the folks at MODE designed for an upcoming AIGA Charlotte event with designer Stefan Sagmeister.

Sagmeister is on the road plugging and talking about his book Things I Have Learned in My Life So Far and will be doing just that here in Charlotte on April 21, 2008.

About the poster:

For [Stefan Sagmeister's] lecture tour stop in Charlotte, the AIGA was in need of a poster promoting the event. Inspired by the spirit of social discovery in Stefan’s book, MODE asked various individuals around the city to share some of their own personal maxims, which were captured in their very handwriting. The individuals were chosen at random and photographed over a 10-day period at 30 different locations around the city. They represent a variety of ages, social statuses, races, professions, religious beliefs, and life experiences. The final piece was elevated to greater social level and beyond design circles, having a reciprocal relationship between the city of Charlotte and Stefan.

Cheers to designer/photographer Maxim Vakhovskiy for the great photos.