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18 January 2010Haiti: A few good ideas In just the last 24 hours I have gratefully received a surprising number of responses to my call to action in Haiti. JustinSchuck.com/haiti has been visited by over 400 unique visitors since the site went live with 1,290 page views so far; over 100 of those people went on to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund website where I hope many of them gave a contribution. Several people sent me emails pledging their cooperation on my service projects. I am genuinely moved by the enthusiasm these friends and Twitter followers have shown. (If you're interested, email info@JustinSchuck.com with "HAITI SERVICE PROJECT" as the subject.) Ideas for the Justin Schuck Haiti Project In addition to interest generated in giving money, I was was surprised to receive many responses from people wanting to join me in service projects on the ground in Haiti once the immediate recovery is complete and the job of rebuilding the country can begin. Some very good ideas have been sent my way and I would like to share some of them with you now.
Business owners: Be a part of the solution An important component of any aid project is corporate sponsorship. Because of the many tax benefits offered by donations to non-profit organizations, my friends and I are seriously considering this option. Regardless, I am asking for business owners to make pledges to help this effort. Here are some simple ways you can ask your employer to help.
Get ready: How you can be prepared to ship out We are nowhere near the point of making any solid announcements about when we will embark on our first service project, but I urge you to start preparing. No matter how many gruesome images you see on television, nothing can fully prepare you for what you will see once you are on the ground. Haiti has a tropical climate year-round so make sure to have light-weight clothing that protects your skin from the sun. From my experiences and travels I have put together a comprehensive list of items you will want to bring with you on any project in Haiti. Start gathering supplies now that you know you will likely need for your trip. Toiletries are essential Here is an easy list of everyday supplies you will need. Make sure to have these in conveniently-sized unbreakable travel bottles.
You'll want to pack a basic traveler's first aid kit, modified for your personal preferences—but include extra gauze and an ace bandage. If you plan on using an old kit from a previous trip, be sure to freshen it with new Band-Aids (I use only the flexible fabric-type), tape, etc. In addition to standard first aid items, you may want to pack the following:
Bottled water may be hard to come by when we're on the ground, so you may want to bring some way to treat water just in case. Steripen makes a hand-held water purifier that disinfects with UV rays. Here are some other things you might need:
Every traveler sooner or later develops a list of essential comfort items. Here are some to consider:
But how can you really prepare yourself for a profound life-changing experience? Spread the good word I need your help in spreading the word about the Justin Schuck Haiti Project. Share the site or my call to action on your websites, blogs, on Twitter and on Facebook. I am continuing to ask that when referring to the Justin Schuck Haiti Project you use the #JustinSchuckHaiti hashtag on Twitter and similar services. Also, @ me or DM me and I'll put you on my Twitter Haiti Service Project list. Catch all the Haiti-related blog entries here: #Haiti Subscribe to the RSS feed JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots / JustinSchuck.com/Haiti  Labels: Charity, Haiti, Justin Schuck, Volunteer 17 January 2010Haiti: A Call to Action by Justin Schuck This weekend President Obama called on us to do whatever we can to raise money and help the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that devastated the capital city of Port-au-Prince and much of the surrounding area. I now call on my friends to do the same, and join me in this effort and help me organize the first of several service projects in Haiti. In the immediate aftermath of the 2005 gulf coast hurricanes that devastated parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, I launched a similar awareness campaign on JustinSchuck.com. Now I come to you again asking for your help and compassion. As we move forward I will provide additional resources on my dedicated Haiti page. The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund On Saturday, President Clinton and President Bush announced the creation of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund as a central resource to donate money towards the recovery and rebuilding efforts in Haiti. I feel very proud that these two former presidents have taken this call to action. Their presence will lend a unifying credibility to the fundraising effort. The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund will ensure that all funds raised go directly to the organizations and groups that need it the most. We are being asked to send only money at this time so that people on the ground can decide for themselves exactly what they will need to save lives. Please visit their website to learn more: http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org We've come a long way, baby. Since the 2004 South Asian tsunami and the 2005 gulf coast hurricanes, we have seen great advances in technology and fundraising capabilities. The U.S. State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the American Red Cross used the power of mobile communications to raise an unprecedented amount of money via text messaging. By texting "HAITI" to "90999," users will be charged $10 on their phone bill, the money going directly to relief efforts. The swift action on the part of the government and Red Cross in launching this innovative program made it easy for people to give what they can. In the months to come, I hope we continue to remember to text our donations so that we can provide a sustained stream of revenue for aid. Where do we go from here? Like many I feel restless to help, donations to aid organizations do not ease these tensions. Words eloquent enough to describe the range of emotions I feel for the Haitian people have not found my tongue. I want to be on the ground, getting my hands dirty, clearing rubble, building homes and comforting the impoverished of spirit. It will be several months before we are able to fully understand the scope of this tragedy, but my convictions are simple: I plan to organize, with the help of friends and partners, service projects in Haiti once the immediate crisis calms and the journey of rebuilding a nation begins—as early as this spring if the stars align. I urge you to heed my call to action and join me in helping the people of Haiti. If you are interested in volunteering or contributing in any way to this effort, please email me directly with the subject "HAITI SERVICE PROJECT" to info@justinschuck.com. Haiti Tags To stay up-to-date on the latest from me, use this link to find my blog posts on Haiti. Twitter Hashtags I am asking my friends and followers to use the "#JustinSchuckHaiti" hashtag at the beginning of tweets to provide an easy way to follow the conversation on the web. JUSTIN A. SCHUCK - Since 1980 Subscribe to the RSS feed JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots / JustinSchuck.com/Haiti Labels: AIDS, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Bush Clinton Haiti Fund, Catholic Relief Services, George W. Bush, Government, Haiti, Justin Schuck, JustinSchuck.com, News, Twitter, USAID, Volunteer, Website 10 January 2010JustinSchuck.com gets a face-lift for 2010As I gear up for more dramatic life changes in the near future, I wanted to freshen-up JustinSchuck.com and launch version 6.4. I know I've neglected the site at different intervals through the years, so I've given it a much-needed face-lift. The feel I was going for was upscale men's lounge utilizing elements from some of my recent magazine and print designs. And since you know that I listened to a single song on repeat for hours while I worked on this little project, I want to share that with you now: "In The Shadows" by The Rasmus. I launched the new design this morning so I could take advantage of the uniqueness of today's date: 01.10.2010. (Maybe I'll launch ver 7.0 on 10.10.2010). The changes to version 6.3 (launched 10.10.2009) include:
JUSTIN A. SCHUCK - Since 1980 Subscribe to the RSS feed JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots / L/A Events Labels: design, Justin Schuck, JustinSchuck.com New year, new outlook On any given day if you were to ask me my favorite month I would probably tell you October. I'm a fall baby who always loved the color and crispness of an October afternoon. I love the way a gentle breeze tangos with my hair as the scent of a distant fireplace begs for a reprieve and a warm cider. Spring's renewal can't take hold without the ritual autumnal slumber. And in between comes January. This month of rebirth was given its status by papal decree in the 16th century, named for Janus, the Roman god of gates (or beginnings and endings). This January marks the end of the first decade of the third millennium of the common era; a time of great upheaval in my life. In the last ten years I've made a lot of money and I have lost a lot of money. I've moved from DC to NY to San Francisco to DC to NY and back to DC, with some short-term international moves thrown in there for good measure. I've started new companies and closed them down. I've known loss on a scale most could not imagine. But in this perdition I have known the generosity of friends to an extent so profound that they may never know how truly appreciative I am for their support. Over the last several years, the size of my family shrunk greatly, but those of us who remain are forging tighter bonds. I just returned from a long trip to Seattle to visit my aunt, and cousins where I was able do do something I haven't done since before the start of the last decade: I played in the snow with the reckless abandon of a 10-year-old boy. Bumps and bruises be damned! Even on the short icy hills of Leavenworth, I let go of my formal persona to pursue unadulterated bliss. As an almost-30-year-old though, the bumps were harder and the bruises were bigger than 20 years ago. On the third day of my trip, we went to a tubing hill near "downtown" Leavenworth. Few things in life compare to the exhilaration of a speedy decent down a snow-covered mountain in a rubber tube. Near the main hill, there were several people scooting down an unofficially-sanctioned icy shoot forged from the repeated slide of smooth bums and nervous feet. (The owners wouldn't let us use our own sleds on their property.) Ever-wary of my lack of health insurance, I was careful not to deliberately put myself in a position of peril. However, three times a pretty young girl (about 16 or 17) seemed to "accidentally" nearly crash into me at the bottom of the hill. Her timing became increasingly suspect by the third go 'round, but I thankfully avoided undue awkwardness each time. How fruitless her endeavors at spontaneous love were, not even because I am twice her age. But this affection provided a healthy and needed boost to my self-image. Maybe it's this Zac Efron-esque thing I have going on with my hair now. Who knows? My snow adventures were all the more spectacular because I was creating memories with my family that will last a lifetime. I have long preferred to ring in the new year quietly with family, and although this year wasn't as quiet as I had imagined--what with the fierce game of Phase 10 happening in the living room--I spent it with my family and a diverse group of crazy canines. I carry with me the souvenir of friendship and love into this new year as I embark on my next great adventure. Ever the optimist, I know 2010 has great things in store for us all. Just don't forget to stop and play in the snow. JUSTIN A. SCHUCK - Since 1980 Subscribe to the RSS feed JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots / L/A Events Labels: Family, Holidays, Justin Schuck, Travel 21 December 2009Justin's Famous Hush Puppies
Let me just start out by saying that my Justin's Famous Hush Puppies are like no other hush puppy you've ever experienced, I can promise you that. My recipe was achieved by trial and error based off of the recipe from my favorite brand of cornmeal: Indian Head. (They don't have a website that I've been able to find.)
So without further delay my gift to you this holiday season is one of my most cherished recipes. I hope that you and your family can enjoy this as much as I have. Some of you might plan on putting this recipe in a restaurant menu, which is fine, but all that I ask is that you call them Justin's Famous Hush Puppies.  Justin's Famous Hush Puppies INGREDIENTS 1 cup white cornmeal (I prefer Indian Head brand) 1/2 tsp. salt (Salt to taste. I usually use a bit more than this.) 2 1/4 tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. sugar 2 egg whites 1 egg yolk 2 tsp. vegetable oil 1/2 cup milk (anything but skim or soy, whole cow's milk preferred) 1/2 cup finely chopped green onion Sunflower or Vegetable Oil for frying TOOLS YOU WILL NEED 2 medium-to-large mixing bowls Hand mixer or stand mixer Medium-to-large saucepan INSTRUCTIONS In a large bowl whisk together cornmeal, salt, baking powder, and sugar; set aside. In a small bowl whisk together egg yolk, vegetable oil and milk, then combine with dry ingredients. Add chopped onions and set batter aside. Bring oil to between 350 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit. You can conserve oil by using a medium saucepan which can typically fry 3-4 hush puppies at one time. Once the oil has reached the optimal temperature, it's time to work on the egg whites. Beat egg whites to stiff peaks with an electric hand mixer. (This is the most important part and it is what sets my hush puppies apart from all the rest.) Gently fold the eggs whites into the mix. (It is absolutely key to fold the egg whites into the batter just before frying to maximize airiness.) Scoop tablespoon or small ice cream scoop-sized dollops into frying oil. Hush puppies should cook for about 3-5 minutes until medium brown on the outside. Set fried hush puppies aside in a paper towel-lined bowl and sprinkle with sea or kosher salt. These hush puppies are sufficient on their own and taste great with hot sauce. Recipe can be doubled or tripled.When making larger quantities you will need to add more oil for frying as the hush puppies use quite a bit of oil while cooking. More Justin's Famous recipes on the web: JustinsFamous.com JUSTIN A. SCHUCK - Since 1980 Subscribe to the RSS feed JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots / L/A Events Labels: Holidays, Hush Puppies, Justin Schuck, Justin's Famous, Recipe 30 October 2009Justin's Famous Two Bean Chili and Hush Puppies    Happy Halloween people! Before you get the It's not often I divulge some of my favorite and best recipes, but I want to share my chili with the masses. This recipe is an evolved version of my mother's "recipe," but neither of us have ever written this down. It's one of those things we just know how to make. So from time to time I make changes, omit something, or add something, but this is the recipe as I made it most recently. Justin's Famous Two Bean Beef Chili INGREDIENTS 2-3 pounds of 80-90% lean ground beef (you can substitute ground turkey, but you will need to add approximately 3-6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil) 1 Large Red Onion, chopped 3 tbsp of fresh garlic, minced 1 cup of diced green onions (2-3 supermarket bunches) 2 cups of fresh cilantro (1-2 supermarket bunches of fresh Cilantro) 1 pound of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 2 cups Goya Black Beans (blue label, from the can) 2 cups Goya Red Kidney Beans (blue label, from the can) 1 28-ounce Hunts Whole Tomatoes can (do not use Contadina!) 2 29-ounce Hunts Tomato Sauce cans (do not use Contadina!) 1 cup of Daisy Sour Cream 1 cup of original RO*TEL-brand diced tomatoes and green chilies 1-4 Serrano peppers, cut into 1/8 wide pieces (substitute less-hot jalapeños; both are optional) SPICES FROM McCORMICK GOURMET 3 tbsp Ground Cumin 6 tbsp Chili Powder 1 tbsp Garlic Powder 4 tbsp Smoked Paprika 2 tsp Ground Cayenne Red Pepper 2 tsp Sea Salt or Kosher Salt (Salt to taste. You can always add but never remove salt from a dish) 1 tbsp Coarse Black Pepper (freshly ground is best; I disagree with reviewer about his opinion of the salt.) TOOLS YOU NEED TO PREPARE THE CHILI A very large 8-12 qt. pots like this one from Calphalon Large pan to brown the beef Total estimated cooking time: 3 hours In a small bowl, whisk together all the dry spices and spread evenly in a large pan bringing the heat up to sweat the spice mix. This will help release moisture in the spices and add a subtle smokiness to the chili—very similar to the process of creating a proper Cajun roux. After about 3 minutes of heating, add beef and brown. Once your meat is brown, but still pink in the middle, remove from heat and drain half of the fat and juices—save some for flavoring. Heat up your stock pot and toss your chopped onions and minced garlic in the pan. After a minute or so, toss in the beef and the remaining juices. Now, in no particular order, add the RO*TEL, canned tomatoes, canned tomato sauce, serrano peppers, and 1 cup of chopped cilantro. For each can of tomatoes/tomato sauce, add one can of water. I just fill the cans up with warm water and add to the pot. Bring the chili to a boil, stirring occasionally. [Now is when you would prepare the hush puppies.] Keep chili boiling uncovered for at least one hour. The objective is to boil the chili down. Let simmer uncovered for an additional hour. Then the chili is ready to serve. You may continue to simmer covered for up to one additional hour, but if it will be longer before you eat it is best to turn the heat off. I usually turn the chili off 20 minutes prior to serving to allow it cool while I prepare the sides. With each bowl of chili, add (in this order) a healthy-sized dollop of sour cream, a big sprinkle of cilantro, lots of cheddar cheese and a sprinkle of diced green onions. Voila! The perfect rib-sticking chili. SPECIAL NOTE: This recipe can be made as far ahead as one day before it will be eaten for the first time. If I know that I don't want to slave in the kitchen with guests, then I will start the chili in the morning and sit on the stove (with the gas turned off) for as many hours as needed before dinner—a trick my mom taught me. But no matter when you decide to make my chili, you will need at least two solid hours of simmering time for all the flavors to come together. Justin's Famous Hush Puppies You didn't seriously think I was going to give this one away. Haha! Maybe if you're lucky I'll put this recipe in your Christmas stocking. But ask anyone who's tasted my hush puppies and you'll hear that my puppies are without equal in the world. They are airy and delicate yet crunchy and substantial. To achieve such hush puppy perfection, all ingredients must be in harmonious balance. -- Check out more photos from this dinner on my Flickr Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/justinschuck/tags/chili/ More recipes to come at JustinsFamous.com (one day). Until then, find my published recipes here. JUSTIN A. SCHUCK - Since 1980 Subscribe to the RSS feed JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots / L/A Events Labels: Chili, Food, Justin Schuck, Justin's Famous, Recipe 28 October 2009Espresso Marinade for Beef and Venison
Tonight I made a grilled London Broil for friends, and I wanted to do something a different with my marinade. So I threw together some smart ingredients and created a rich, smoky marinade that would translate well for all types of game. The key with this marinade is that whatever you are cooking, it needs to be grilled. Real open flame is what I'm talking about people. But regardless of how you make it, here's the recipe for my marinade:
INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup lime juice (2-4 limes depending on size) 4 tbsp. yellow mustard 2tsp. ground ginger 5 whole cloves of fresh garlic (substitute 3 tbsp minced garlic) 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp freshly ground or cracked black pepper 4 tbsp. finely-ground Starbucks Sumatra Coffee or espresso beans (substitute traditional commercial ground coffee—the darker the roast the better) * 1tsp. sugar 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar *No, the coffee/espresso will not make your meat taste like coffee. It burns off and adds a smokiness to the meat that feels natural on your palate, rather than chemical like some sauces. Ahem, Liquid Smoke. Combine all ingredients into a blender and puree on high for 3-5 minutes until smooth. Coffee/espresso grounds may be visible in the mixture if you used pre-ground coffee like Folger's Classic Dark Roast; just make sure all the ingredients are well blended. Pour some marinade into the bottom of whatever pan or dish you will use to marinate your meat. Then place your meat in the pan, smother with marinade and place in the refrigerator, allowing the meat to marinate for at least 4-6 hours prior to cooking. Meat can marinate up to 14 hours, but should not sit much longer. This will marinade about three or four pounds of meat, depending on the cut. It's always a good idea to make more marinade and set some aside to freeze for another time, than to make too little -- Tonight we had a tenderized 3lb. London Broil that marinated for about 4 hours. I threw the meat on an oiled-up white-hot grill on each side for 8 minutes to achieve perfect medium-rare/medium. (I learned a trick a while back to brush the grill with a bit of olive or vegetable oil to keep the meat from sticking and to help achieve those perfect grill marks. For non-marinated meats, a sprinkling of sugar on the meat will achieve the same effect—and no, it won't make your meat taste sweet.) No picture for tonight's dinner. Zero to stomach in 10 minutes. Sorry, but it was really friggin' good! Enjoy! (And please follow me on Twitter!) *I did also discover that I still have not learned how to properly prepare rice. You would think that with all my culinary skills and knowledge of food history that I could prepare this most basic staple. But no, I ruin rice. Someone want to teach me? Now accepting applications. JUSTIN A. SCHUCK - Since 1980 Subscribe to the RSS feed JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots / L/A Events Labels: Food, Justin Schuck, Justin's Famous, Recipe 11 October 2009A new website, a new direction Today I am proud to announce that the latest iteration of JustinSchuck.com (ver 6.3) is now online and ready for your happy consumption. With this latest version you will notice the most stark change to the website since Version 1.0: the absence of the Justin Schuck Photography logo. There are now sections for my bio, photography, design, social media and marketing, charity work, and contact information. The JSP logo is also gone from the various social networking websites to reflect a change in the business.  As many of my close friends and a few of my favorite clients know, I have been winding down my business over the last 9 months to allow me to concentrate on my design and marketing projects. The last 18 months have been challenging for the business, and will continue to be so in the near term, but I feel a great sense of pride with the work I have produced. I am working hard to get "caught up" loading content into my Flickr account, as well as tying up as many loose ends as possible. Since 1997 I have had the honor and privilege of working with amazing families, companies and individuals. My work has taken me to New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Athens, Mykonos, Scotland and Dubai. I have been so fortunate that so many people have shared in the experience with me and I look forward to growing in more creative ways going forward. I've taken some time to ask (and answer) some question you may have about the future: What will you do now that you won't be a photographer? I will always be a photographer, just as I will always be a designer. I'm actually really excited that I will have loads more time to focus on my many pet projects that have taken a back seat to my production work. This includes especially my Guerrilla Photo Shoots project. What if I want you and only you to take my photo? Well, I'm not ruling out taking the occasional photo, even for an old client, but in terms of a business, there will be no more Justin Schuck Photography. Anyone wishing to hire me may contact me directly by email. Each inquiry will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Will you shoot my wedding? Absolutely not. No way. No how. Tough toenails. Sorry. Long before I made the decision to shut down Justin Schuck Photography I made a pledge to accept no new wedding clients. I photographed my last wedding on October 3rd 2009 in Boston. So does this mean you're going freelance? No. I have new endeavors and projects in the pipeline that will be my primary focus. What does this mean for Justin Schuck Photography clients? JSP will exist until all outstanding client obligations have been met. This may require additional time to complete certain elements of pre-paid packages. I am working very hard with the limited resources available to accomplish these in a reasonably timely manner under the current circumstances. I have sent emails or letters to my clients recommending photographers whom they can turn to for outstanding imaging services. The four individuals I most recommend are Noah Deveraux (weddings and editorial work; New York-based), Henry Villarama (weddings, commercial, public relations events and individual portraits; Washington DC-based.), Tony Veloz (fashion photography and individual portraits; Washington DC-based) and my friend Michael Dumlao (all of the above except weddings; Washington DC-based). Wait, why are you doing this again? I'm doing this because I love photography so much that I choose to not make work of it. I want to get back to the excitement I used to feel every time I picked up a camera. Some of that has been lost in the last couple of years, not that there haven't been many great moments because there have been great ones. Why is your Facebook fan page still called "Justin Schuck Photography?" Unfortunately Facebook will not let me change the name. The only way to do that would be to make a new fan page and that would take a lot of work. I hope that will be clear. If it turns out that people do not understand the purpose of the page—that is to showcase the photography of Justin Schuck—then I will address that issue if it comes up. What's the status of Justin Schuck and Company, LLC? I will maintain the LLC for the foreseeable future to afford the protection that it provides in all my endeavors. Since I will still be operating JSDS and L/A Events, there is still a place for the company. Soon Justin Schuck Photography will not be a part of the mix. What happens next? We all walk forward. That's all we can do. JUSTIN A. SCHUCK - Since 1980 Subscribe to the RSS feed JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots / L/A Events Labels: Big News, design, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, Justin Schuck Photography, JustinSchuck.com, News, Newsworthy, Website, Wedding 09 October 2009New photos released on Flickr
I've taken some time to upload a few images from various recent gigs, including the last wedding of my career. Take a look and stay tuned for a big-news update. There's also a picture of me on what I termed my "mandatory union break."
I want to also say that I am so thankful to my clients and I am proud of the work I have produced over the years and I hope you will continue to enjoy viewing my work.          JUSTIN A. SCHUCK - Since 1980 Subscribe to the RSS feed JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots / L/A Events Labels: Flickr, Justin Schuck, Wedding 17 July 2009Epic Fail: My shipment appears delayed It's Friday, I'm delirious from work and a friend sent this as part of this long back-and-forth email. I laughed out loud and had to share with you! Also, I have some new work that I will be posting soon both here, on Flickr, on my Facebook fan page and on my website, so stay tuned! JUSTIN SCHUCK PHOTOGRAPHY, SINCE 1997 JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots / L/A Events Labels: Fail, Failblog, Humor, Justin Schuck 12 May 2009"Dreams" by Reginald Cyntje My friend and immensely gifted jazz musician Reginald Cyntje wrote a blog titled "Dreams" and I felt it was appropriate to syndicate his post here. To read the full blog, please visit http://cyntjemusic.wordpress.com.
You may also find Reginald on various social networks: http://www.myspace.com/reginaldcyntjegroup http://www.twitter.com/cyntjemusic http://www.linkedin.com/in/reginaldcyntje http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=64276984651 JUSTIN SCHUCK PHOTOGRAPHY, SINCE 1997 JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots Labels: Blog, Jazz, Justin Schuck, Music, Reginald Cyntje 11 May 2009New Video: Justin Schuck Photography - Better
Check out this video I put together. It's a compilation of work I've done through the years. Some of the grainier images were ones I shot on film. For a lot of my older stuff I only have low-to-medium-resolution files so if you're watching in HQ, you might notice a difference.
Anyhow, check it out. The slide show plays to Daft Punk's "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger." (Check out another cool YouTube video called "Daft Hands" JUSTIN SCHUCK PHOTOGRAPHY, SINCE 1997 JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots Labels: Advertising, Gallery, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck Photography, Video Baubles by Briscoe "Jewelry for the fabulously inclined" I just wanted to share with you a site I'm working on for custom jewelry designer, and friend, Tim Briscoe. His work under the label "Baubles by Briscoe" is both whimsical and elegant. Check out the site at BaublesByBriscoe.com, become a fan on Facebook, check BBB out at TheAlexandriaLife.com/baubles-by-briscoe-alexandria, and follow him on Twitter.com/TimBriscoe. Where you can find Tim Briscoe and Baubles by Briscoe online: http://www.baublesbybriscoe.com http://www.facebook.com/pages/Baubles-by-Briscoe/76234629859 http://www.yelp.com/biz/baubles-by-briscoe-arlington http://www.thebethesdalife.com/baubles-by-briscoe-bethesda http://twitter.com/timbriscoe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27tl_tYzcP0 http://vimeo.com/4587503 JUSTIN SCHUCK PHOTOGRAPHY, SINCE 1997 JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots Labels: Baubles by Briscoe, BBB, design, Facebook, JSDS, Justin Schuck, Tim Briscoe 10 May 2009New Video: Never Forget New Orleans
In July 2006, accompanied by my friend Cliff who grew up in New Orleans, I embarked on a photographic expedition to cover the city a year after the devastating storms of 2005. Hurricane Katrina and the resulting catastrophic levee failures resulted in countless deaths and destruction totally more than $100,000,000,000 (that's $100 billion) in damage. Whole neighborhoods were wiped away as the city's poorest residents were left to fend for themselves.
A year later the devastation was still visible. At times I was overwhelmed by the scope. There wasn't a parish not touched by the storm. While my overall experience was positive, I am still struck by how much has yet to be done. Song: "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap To learn more about how you can help the city of New Orleans and its residents, visit the following websites: "Mama D" Dyan French on MSNBC - Watch the video! You'll recognize her from mine. Common Ground Relief - Solidarity, not charity New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund Unity of Greater New Orleans - formerly Unity for the Homeless JUSTIN SCHUCK PHOTOGRAPHY, SINCE 1997 JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots Labels: America, Help the Homeless, Hurricane Katrina, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck Photography, New Orleans, Photo, United We Stand, Video, Volunteer Vlog: Learn about Guerrilla Photo Shoots
Hey guys,
I put together a little video explaining a bit more about Guerrilla Photo Shoots and where my idea struck me. Check it out on Vimeo or YouTube! Learn more about Guerrilla Photo Shoots on the GPS Blog, on the GPS Facebook Group or by following @GuerrillaPhoto on Twitter. Be sure to tell your friends! (The first Guerrilla Photo Shoot will take place in New York in May. Check the Facebook Group or the blog to learn more!) JUSTIN SCHUCK PHOTOGRAPHY, SINCE 1997 JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots Labels: Art, Blog, Boston, GPS, Guerrilla, Justin Schuck, New York, Photo, Shoots, Video, Vlog, washington dc 06 May 2009A video appeal: Asking for your business
Even though I am just getting over Swine Flu (just kidding—it's really just a horrible cold), I thought I would get on my web cam to vlog and tell you a bit more about my business and why you need to hire Justin Schuck Photography for your next portrait, special event, hotel, product catalog, real property or editorial assignment. The video features music by Yogstar.
On Vimeo: Justin Schuck Photography - Asking for your business from Justin Schuck on Vimeo. On YouTube: JUSTIN SCHUCK PHOTOGRAPHY, SINCE 1997 JustinSchuck.com / Blog / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter LinkedIn / Myspace / YouTube / Vimeo Guerrilla Photo Shoots Labels: Advertising, Blog, business, design, JSDS, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, Justin Schuck Photography, New York, Twitter, Video, Vlog New season, new opportunities
We're coming up on the best time of Spring, and Summer's just around the corner. There are loads of reasons to hire a photographer, be that for an engagement portrait, an advertisement, a website, or for personal use.
Only a professional photographer can give your business the edge your it needs to effectively compete in this economy. Only Justin Schuck understands how Give Justin Schuck Photography a call today: 301-300-1350 I've put together two graphics as part of my new spring marketing push. Check them out:   Justin Schuck Photography, since 1997 JustinSchuck.com / Facebook / Flickr / Twitter Labels: Advertising, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, Marketing, photography 24 April 2009Justin's photographs appear in Washington Spaces Justin's photography will be appearing in the latest issue of Washington Spaces magazine, a sleek and informative shelter publication without the pretense. Emily Lyons' article about The Erie, an 11-unit luxury condominium residential experience. Carl Becker of Premiere Properties is the principal broker. Take a look at the article featuring Justin's photos and to learn more about this magnificent structure, click here: http://www.washingtonspaces.com/2009/3/articles/embracing-change-in-adams-morgan To view more photos of The Erie not appearing online or in print, check out Justin's Flickr.com photo set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/justinschuck/sets/72157613578253654/ Labels: Justin Schuck, News, Newsworthy, photography, washington dc 18 April 2009The future of music has arrived: Yogstar (Matias Vellutini) I've said this before, but it bears repeating: my friend Yogstar (Matias Vellutini) is one of the most brilliant musical minds in the world today. His proprietary console program for mixing sound by manipulating video is the most forward-looking and forward-sounding production I have ever witnessed. I am not usually struck in complete awe of someone, but the talent of Matias never ceases to astound me. His sound is fresh and the experience he creates is spectacular. The Lemur Yogstar Show from Yogstar on Vimeo. Since I am in DC for a couple of days working, I thought it would be fun to stop by and check in on his progress. Matias performed a portion of a set he was putting together for his first show at an event in DC on Saturday. It was sick, wicked sick. Here are some snapshots I captured of Matias working the Yogstar Show Controller (YSC) which he developed specifically for his music/video.    See the rest on my Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/justinschuck/sets/72157616907914143/ Please check out Yogstar online: Yogstar.com vimeo.com/user554973 www.myspace.com/yogstarmusic www.facebook.com/pages/Yogstar-Matias-Vellutini/21759302532 (He does events. Some of his ideas for a truly transformational musical experience should be explored, sooner rather than later.) Labels: Justin Schuck, Matias, Music, Newsworthy, Photo, photography, Podcast, Vellutini, Video, Yogstar 15 April 2009New JustinSchuck.com holding page online
Yet again, I've uploaded the new JustinSchuck.com to the site, Version 6.3. What's appearing there now is just a holding page. I'm still working on the sub-pages and additional features, but I thought it made sense to get this out there. What had been up there since January contained no photos above the fold which is just silly and goes against my own advice. Also, once the new site is online, the blog you are reading now will be 100% integrated into the design of the main site.
I think you'll like the new design direction. I want the site to be clean, colorful, and easy to navigate. I really want to thank all my friends for the valuable free market research they've provided the last couple of weeks.   Labels: Blog, design, Identity, JSDS, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company 13 April 2009Beelzebub makes for a good snooze button Beelzebub (pictured above) makes for a great alarm clock snooze button. Unlike conventional mechanical snooze buttons, Beelzebub stalks his prey and positions himself for maximum effect and to ensure proper waking. Yes kids, that CREATURE (Scutigera coleoptrata) you see above is what was on my left eye this glorious Easter morning. I was a bit overtired from a night of reverie with old friends celebrating Scott reporting for duty in the United States Air Force — Lt. Scott, I'm very proud of you buddy — so I wasn't entirely aware of my surroundings. Beelzebub sat on my eye, waiting for me to hit the snooze button just one more time (Alarm Clock Pro for Mac is what i use - amazing!). Instead of my normal routine where I bargain with Satan for just a few more minutes of shut eye, I could feel the creature sitting on my eyelid. Somehow I managed to calmly brush it off. Not wearing my glasses, I couldn't see anything except for the large hind leg Beelzebub surrendered to my eye socket. SIDEBAR: I promise to make this telling of my really-long-telling of a relatively-short-story actually short. When I was 14 I had a bug about the size of a cricket crawl up into my ear canal. It burrowed deep, fiercely bit me, and made a horrible sound that was amplified by its proximity to my ear drum. As a result of this incident I have partial hearing in my left ear almost 15 years later. This why I constantly ask "what?" Maybe I should get a little hearing aid. Beelzebub resurfaced this evening when Kalli was doing her ablutions. Thankfully Chris was near to kill it! Now it's very late and I can't sleep because I can't seem to get images of this creature out of the front of my mind. I think I'll watch some Jack Bauer online. Jack Bauer isn't afraid of centipedes. Labels: Bugs, Justin Schuck Jamaica photos are on my Flickr page Check out my Flickr.com photostream at http://flickr.com/photos/justinschuck to see a good selection of images from the Jamaica job. I was hired by Travellers Beach Resort to take photos of the hotel for their new website designed by my partner Andrea.  Labels: Andrea Kuchinski, Jamaica, Justin Schuck, Social Media, Travel, Travellers Beach Resort 09 March 2009Follow Justin Schuck on Twitter for a sneak peek
You'll have to follow me on Twitter to catch a sneak peek of the new design direction for JustinSchuck.com, the refreshed logo, and and other elements. (Hint: you'll have to look a little deeper than just my profile page.)
Follow me at http://twitter.com/JustinSchuck And if you get the chance, vote for me at Twibs (you don't even have to sign up. Just one click.): http://www.twibs.com/business?business=JustinSchuck I hope everyone's on Daylight Savings Time. It is winter after all. ;-P -Justin Labels: design, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, photography, Social Media, Twitter 04 March 2009IncMagazine Quotes Justin Schuck via Twitter That's right kids, through some witty back-and-forth with @IncMagazine on Twitter.com, @JustinSchuck came up with this answer to their question "What is the best thing about being your own boss?" See the full article at http://www.inc.com/magazine/20090301/we-asked-you-twittered.html Labels: Justin Schuck, L/A Events, News, Newsworthy 25 February 2009New Ad: $75 Actor's and Model's Headshot Special Here's the new ad I'm running for Headshots. Here's what the ad says:Headshots for the people. Do you need headshots to help you jump-start your acting career? Are you looking for portraits that show your style with spontaneity? We are offering a $75 Headshot Special: 30 minute location portrait session, 3 high-res images on disk with retouching, and PDF for 8x10 headshot with your name. Call 301 300 1350 or email info@justinschuck.com today. Check out our images at Flickr.com/photos/JustinSchuck or follow us on your favorite social network.Check out the ad here: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/crs/1054235264.html Labels: Advertising, design, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, New York, photography, washington dc 19 February 2009Favorite Selects from AI's Passion for Fashion
These are just some selects from Tuesday and Wednesday's shooting for The Art Institutes' Passion for Fashion Competition. It's a really fun project, from the judging which happens in New York in January, to Fashion Week where the national winners in Fashion Design (Elizabeth Acosta) and Fashion Marketing and Merchandising (Ivy Holland) tour fashion shows, visit Seventeen Magazine for a tour of "The Closet" and have lunch with editors, and receive their award of a full tuition scholarship to the Art Institutes. Teen.com TV was also there for the awards ceremony on Wednesday.
              More photos can be seen on my Flickr Photostream. Read more about The Art Institutes Passion for Fashion Competition and look at all my my work. I've done all the photos and video for The Art Institutes for the last 4 years. They're a great client and it's great working with them! Our other competitions with Ai: Best Teen Chef and Poster Design Competition. (I will let you all know when my photos are in Seventeen Magazine and when the video is available online!) Labels: Art Institute, Fashion, Fashion Week, Justin Schuck, New York 18 February 2009UPDATED: Gunshots in Greenpoint I just heard the sound of a car slowing down, a horn honk, followed by 3-6 gunshots and then the car speeding off. WTF. And this is where I'm moving?! That's my scared face, right there. UPDATED 11:56 pm 2/18/2009: I haven't heard any police sirens. It's likely that I misheard or mistook another sound for a gunshot. There's a police station literally a block and a half away, so we would have heard something from the police. I hope. Labels: Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Gunshots, Justin Schuck, New York 14 February 2009New Ad: NY Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Event Special Here's the new NYC Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Event Special ad. We're offering from now through February 22nd event photography coverage for just $150 for up to 3 Hours. In addition to photo coverage, we're including high resolution images on disk, and we can even FTP them to a server within hours of your event for press and web release. For an additional $50 we can place the images online through Collages.net for your guests to view and order prints. It’s time you see the high-quality images our clients have come to expect. Call or email us today to take advantage of this limited-time offer. See the ad: http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/evs/1034726542.html Labels: Advertising, design, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, photography 13 February 2009Our New Ad goes Live on Craigslist Check out our new ad on Craigslist in Washington DC! Labels: Advertising, design, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, photography 04 February 2009New Focus, New Site
As you may have noticed, there have been some changes to JustinSchuck.com recently. Well, it's official, I'm focusing on my corporate and commercial business. Some people may not believe this, but I actually like doing those "boring" events on Capitol Hill or at some hotel. The clients are easy to please and require relatively little production compared to weddings and families.
2008 was an extremely difficult year for me and the business, making it difficult to meet all of our obligations. It was my decision to not seek new wedding or family portrait clients after some very difficult deliberations. If you're one of my favorite families and are wondering what this means for you, drop me a line and we'll see what we can do. :-) I've updated the site with a few images and links to Justin Schuck Photography on various social networks. I've also introduced a new special for first-time clients. New Client Special: Running now through May 1, 2009 first-time clients will pay just $150 for up to three hours of event photography in Washington DC or New York. In addition to photo coverage, you’ll receive high resolution images on disk. We can even FTP them to a server within hours of your event or place the images online through Collages.net. It’s time you see the high-quality images our clients have come to expect. Join the Schuck family. (Ask about our assignment and extended-day specials.) Check it out:  There will be an official press release coming in the relatively near future. Labels: Big News, business, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, New York, News, Newsworthy, Photo, photography, washington dc 05 January 2009The Process Collaborative
I had a stroke of genius in the shower today, oddly one of the best places to find inspiration. I've only told one person, but it's big, really big. Right now I'm code-naming the project "Process Collaborative" or "Process Co-Lab" for short. ("Project Really-Good-Idea-To-Make-Lots-Of-Money" was the number two option.)
Stay tuned. I'm not kidding. Process Collaborative is going to be huge. Follow the new blog: http://processcolab.blogspot.com Labels: Big News, design, Justin Schuck, Newsworthy, Process Collaborative, Secret It's the sad truth
I don't put my heart out here much (if ever really). It's the one thing I like to keep private, but today I came across the blog posting of a Twitter friend, and I just had to share with you the simple comic. I lived it and my heart bled it. Every single detail. For eight !#%$ing years. That's over now. The conclusion was perhaps more dramatic than this comic shows. (And people wonder why I didn't date much for so many years.) It's hard to date or love anyone when someone else has held the key for so long. While I know too well the pain of death and heartbreak, for a brief moment this year I thought the sickening pain of unrequited would end forever. A brief moment's delicate kiss, halting and real, erased any memory of the pain. For that brief moment I lived the life of the person I've always wanted to be.
 UPDATED: I just realized that I was removed even from his friends on Facebook! WTF! Labels: Dating, Justin Schuck I am Prince Cul-de-sac!
I got @TweetBomb(ed) today. I made a comment about how being TweetBombed on a Sunday is like being named "Price of the Cul-de-sac." In other words, it's pointless. Clearly the jesters behind @TweetBomb decided to tweet me a lesson. I more than tripled my followers today after receiving over 400 @TweetBombs. It's like engineering a lottery windfall, but with tweets! God I'm good. If only all this translated to a 300% increase in my bank account.
 At 3:33pm EST the @TweetBombing commenced with the instructions "***TWEETBOMB*** Everyone type "@justinschuck you are prince cul-de-sac" and hit update!" and the flood started. So they proved, there is no bad day to be @TweetBombed. If I'm not one in a million, I'm one in 3,353. Follow the siege here: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%40justinschuck To Learn more about TweetBombing, check these links: http://twitter.com/tweetbomb http://tweetbomb.wordpress.com Mobile: http://m.twitter.com/tweetbomb The Death of @TweetBomb (Now back to work...) Labels: Justin Schuck, Social Media, Twitter 31 December 2008Know your HIV status: get tested today! It's become a New Year's tradition to get an HIV test and know my status. Now I do go at least once a month, but I like starting my new year fresh. It's a simple 30-minute task that you could do on your lunch break. I got tested and thankfully my test came back negative, although they did have to stick me four times – two in each middle finger – because the first 3 tests were not functioning properly. So a little hassle, a lot of relief. Know your status. It doesn't matter if you're on the DL or the OL (out loud), there's no excuse for not knowing. It's FREE for crying out loud! The best way to prevent the infection of HIV and other conditions transmitted through sexual contact to to practice safe sex by using condoms and dental dams, and using good judgment with your sexual partners. As we all know, the safest sex is no sex, but I am a realist. I know not everyone can withstand the desires as good as I can. But even still, I get tested because it's affirming for me to know my status. Here are some resources to find a testing center near you: National HIV Testing Resources NYC Department of Health: Testing Sites DC Department of Health: Testing Sites Whitman-Walker Clinic HIV Testing in Los Angeles San Francisco AIDS Foundation (well-designed site!) The Berkeley Free Clinic California Department of Health Office of AIDS Dallas County Health & Human Services Testing Resources in Alabama AIDS Action Coalition: Huntsville, AL Here are some other resources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention HIV/AIDS Fact Sheet Advice for people testing positive for HIV HIV Testing Frequently Asked Questions (And no, you can't get HIV from getting tested!) Warts.org AIDS Resource (Thanks Ellie!) HIV and HIV testing in the news: Husband Urges Men Who Slept With Wife to Get HIV Test Women can get HIV easier than believed Deadly Passions: What's done in the dark could kill you FDA approves new HIV blood test from Roche Five Years On: My Diagnosis and Mission Living As HIV-Positive Have a safe and healthy new year. Don't put yourself at risk and start your new year off right with a free HIV test from your nearest testing facility. Labels: AIDS, Alabama, Clinic, Dallas, HIV, Holidays, HRC, Human Rights Campaign, Huntsville, Justin Schuck, LGBT, New York, Testing, Texas, washington dc 29 December 2008Gay Marriage and the story of "Tim" As a gay American, I find that some of my greatest struggles with the Catholic church revolve around the issue of gay marriage and civil equality. The teachings and history of Jesus Christ tell us that he embraced the most oppressed, the most burdened and did whatever he could to reduce their oppression and remove their burdens. Why anyone would use ancient documents written at a time when so little was understood about our world, the weather, our universe, to fuel hateful rhetoric and actions, is beyond my understanding. This same book tells us that eating shellfish is a sin, along with eating pork, wearing two different types of cloth, mixing milk and meat, and so on. Should we execute everyone who has a ham on Christmas, that certainly would have eliminated my entire family tree. Or should we deny people the right to eat a cheeseburger? Has the affordable fashion industry committed a gross massacre of sins with their cotton-poly blends? (Well, that may still be up for debate. Just don't take away my cotton-cashmere sweater.) When in the course of human history do we decide to add a healthy dose of rationality with our Sunday sermons? A church's duty should be to fight injustice, stick up for those with the smallest voice, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, serve the poor in pocket and lift up the poor in spirit. Who are we serving when we as a nation vote to restrict the rights of fellow humans who are living the life that God created for them? Cenk Uygur made an interesting point on HuffingtonPost.com: "So, from now, I would like to tell the Rick Warrens of the world, you are perfectly allowed to say how much you would like to take gay people's rights away from them based on the Bible so long as you agree to do one thing first -- execute an adulterer. If you can do that for me, then I'll believe that you actually believe in the Bible literally and will accept your literal argument against homosexuality. Fair is fair. Step on up." I long to see the day when philandering Christians are cast out and stoned for their incredulous behavior.* I hope the "married but looking" set at AshleyMadison.com are using protection. And may God help those lost souls looking for casual encounters on Craigslist. Sex outside of the bonds of marriage is striclty forbidden. And what of the children causing a ruckus? You know, the ones who were running around the restaurant throwing temper tantrums because they don't like ketchup on their chicken nuggets? The punishment for a disobedient child is also execution. The bottom line is that history has provided us with countless laws that seem comical to us now. What we as a human race need to understand is the adverse affect that these campaigns of hate and ignorance have on individuals who are seeking truth in their own lives. This spring I was confronted with a crisis of a very serious nature: a friend attempted to take his own life and nearly succeeded. To protect this friend's anonymity, I will call him "Tim." Tim was an acquaintance, a friend of my brother's. I remember at one point a few years back that my brother had asked me if I thought Tim was gay. I said I didn't know, but Tim was very cute (hot actually), so I began to pay a more attention to the way he carried himself. I was never really sure about his sexuality, except for the occasional glance here and there that gave me pause. One thing I did notice about Tim was his abuse of alcohol and his tendency of drink to the point of passing out. I don't, as a general rule, have friends who drink and behave that way. That kind of destructive behavior is distracting. (Not that I'm not guilty of an accidental binge once or twice a year...) Anyhow, Tim sent me an email or two in February asking if I would want to "hang out" with him, perhaps as a "date." I could tell from the phraseology used in the message that he was hesitant, and unsure, but Tim knew that I was openly gay and wouldn't pass judgment. We messaged a little bit back and forth, yet made no firm plans to meet up, mostly because I was hesitant about his drinking. I was scared to reach out to him because I just felt that I couldn't handle the added "stress" of being a friend to someone who clearly had issues he needed to deal with. (And his attractiveness was an added distracting factor.) Fast forward about a month. I get a call from my brother, who was coming over to my house to have dinner, telling me that Tim is in the hospital, he tried to kill himself, and he's lost a lot of blood. This isn't the first time that I've been close to someone who attempted suicide either. (SIDEBAR: I have way too much experience with the various causes of death for someone my age.) A feeling of sorrow, shame and guilt washed over me. "How could I let this happen? What if I were there, or had shown more interest or been a better friend?" I asked myself. Tim reached out to me and I showed him a closed door. It was quickly determined that the primary motivating factor in Tim's attempt was his shame at being gay, and his fear of living an open life. His older sister had come out of the closet some years before and was roundly shunned by their parents. Tim's sister moved out of the country and hasn't returned since. The weight of his parent's reaction to his sister, and societal fear and misunderstanding of what it means to be gay, proved to feel too painful for him to continue living. My brother and their friends spent the first day with Tim, through the surgeries to repair his lungs and chest. I was anxious. I couldn't sleep much that Sunday night, so I did some research to learn as much as I could about suicide. With the help of my longtime friend Alison Malmon and her organization Active Minds, I was able to find the books, pamphlets and other resources that would help me help Tim and his family. I also turned to Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and PFLAG for their many valuable resources. I worked through the night reading, reviewing, and printing out countless documents on suicide, addiction and coming out. I prepared an entire binder's worth of material for Tim and his family to read. I chose to visit the hospital on Monday at midday, when his friends and parents would be at work. At first I was worried that he would feel embarrassed or ashamed by my presence, or that I would say the wrong thing. Tim and I weren't very close and had never shared more than idle chit chat, but I felt this was a profound opportunity to help him positively change the direction of his life. I packed a bag with some goodies (clementines, peanut butter crackers, some candy, a portable DVD player and some movies to go along with all the information I put together), and headed off to George Washington University Hospital. I felt anxious as I crossed the threshold of the hospital, but the gentle security guard at the front desk pointed me in the right direction, removing some of the fear. The corridor from the elevator to Tim's room seemed endless. Thoughts of rejection ran through my head like a bad 80's horror montage, but the surprise and delight on Tim's face when he saw me approach his room was spectacular. It wasn't some grand, effusive moment, but I could see Tim's face lighten. I sat in an uncomfortable chair next to his bed while the nurses took their measurements. We didn't talk much because it was March Madness, but he continued to smile. I offered the clementine and he told me those were his favorites. Score one for Justin. Tim was too weak to peel the tangerine, so I had a moment to feel like a dad and take care of him. We joked about hospital food and the poor selection of TV channels.We both agreed that it was a good thing there was college basketball to watch. I visited Tim every day he was in the hospital. I came twice a day some times, saving him from horrible hospital food and the often creepy company of the various "Nurse Ratcheds" who haunted his wing at GW. One night I hopped into bed with him and held his hand. There was nothing sexual about the move. Sometimes human touch is a more powerful pain reliever than any drug because it helps heal a broken heart. Tim and I would watched movies or play cards until the night nurse told me I had to leave. Tim told me how he felt it was too hard to be gay. He tried to live a gay life when he was in college, but it didn't work. He often talked about how "society views [homosexuality]." I told him flat out that he needed to change his environment. Living at home with mom and dad, hanging out with unsupportive fair-weather friends, and excessive drinking had helped bring him to where he was at that moment. Tim and I talked about finding his "center" as I call it, and learning how to be happy on his own. I learned a long time ago that happiness isn't a gift from God for good behavior. I wanted Tim to know that he has a friend, and an ally in me, and I showed him that he wasn't going through this alone. As it turns out, an ally is what he was missing most. We all need a friend who will fight for us when we are weak, lift us up when we are down, and guide us to the path of a better and more productive life. This is the real lesson of Christ's life and what we should remember this holiday season. This is how true Christians should approach gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered, intersex, queer, and questioning individuals. An army of love is more powerful than an army of hate. As a people, we may lose a battle here and there, but the war is ours to win. Gay marriage isn't about altering a religious definition of the union between two people. Gay marriage is about putting fairness, and respect back into the system. It's about allowing families to stay together, to weather the storms of illness and death as free and equal citizens in the eyes of the law regardless of the makeup of a family. Families come in all shapes and sizes, with mommies and daddies, or just one mommy, or just one daddy, or no parents and just older siblings, or grandparents, or two daddies or two mommies. Love is the only ingredient needed to grow a family, and it is this element that should be nurtured and promoted. We as Americans, as Christians need to focus more on respecting one another, supporting laws that treat everyone equally, and returning to the "big tent" country we set out to be 232 years ago. I'm proud to be a gay American and I look forward to a new year filled with hope. UPDATE: I'm proud to report that Tim is living an open and honest life, he's found love and is living on his own. He's turned the corner is able to see a happy future for himself. * I do not actually advocate than anyone be stoned for any reason, unless it involves an EZ-wider and some righteous ganja. ALSO POSTED AT GLEE.COM/JUSTINSCHUCK + FAITHBASE.COM/JUSTINSCHUCK Labels: America, Blog, ENDA, FMA, Gay, Gay Issues, Gay Marriage, Holidays, HRC, Human Rights Campaign, Justin Schuck, LGBT, News, PFLAG, Suicide 25 December 2008A Secret Recipe Revealed: Justin's Famous Mashed Potatoes*
In the spirit of giving, I thought it would be appropriate to give the one recipe I've held closest to my heart for so long. Never once did I reveal all of the ingredients to anyone, and especially not the method of the making.
So here it is, after all these years, for you to enjoy. Merry Christmas. Justin's Famous Mashed Potatoes INGREDIENTS 7 pounds of Idaho Russet baking potatoes 1 pound of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 1 cup of Half and Half (room temperature) 1 cup of Sour Cream 1 cup of Cream Cheese (room temperature) 1 cup (2 sticks) of Salted Butter (room temperature) 1 tbsp of garlic, minced 1 tbsp of Vidalia or white onion, pureed 1/4 cup of green onion, chopped Sea Salt (Greek or Mediterranean are best) Coarse Black Pepper (freshly ground is best) Paprika WHAT YOU NEED Hand or Stand Mixer (prefer the former) Mixing Bowls Ceramic Casserole Dish or other oven-safe container Food processor or blender for white onion and all the standard things like spoons, knives, etc. Estimated Prep time: 60 minutes This recipe should be made at least one day in advance of serving. It is important that all the flavors come together in the refrigerator. It is possible to prepare and serve on the same day, and it will taste and feel just fine. The other nice thing is that you can make this dish up to 3 days before serving. Peel and dice the potatoes into evenly-sized cubes and place into a large stock pot. Boil the potatoes until the are almost done. You still want a very small amount of firmness in the potatoes because they will continue to cook and soften. While the potatoes are boiling, take your garlic and one stick (1/4 cup) of butter and heat in a small saucepan. This will help the garlic to release the flavor into the butter. Strain butter over a large mixing bowl, or in your stand mixer. Place the boiled potatoes the bowl with the butter and mix together on high. Add a third of the half-and-half, and the pureed onion. Mix. Add sour cream. Mix. Add cream cheese. Mix. Salt and pepper to taste while mixing on low, but go easy on the pepper. A dash will do ya. The potato mixture should be fine and virtually lump-free. An errant small lump here or there won't affect the final product. Judge the consistency – they should be thick, not runny – to see if additional half-and-half should be added. Mix in your cheese and green onions and transfer to your casserole dish. Leave about three eights of an inch of room between the top of your dish and the rim of the dish. You don't want it bubbling over. Cut the remaining stick of butter into 1/2 tbsp squares evenly spaced on top of the potatoes. Dust the top with the lightest dash of salt and a light amount of paprika (for color). Let the potatoes cool and place in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you are ready to prepare, place the potatoes in a 350º oven and heat uncovered until the butter has melted and created a lightly brown crust. Serve and enjoy! (The real secret comes the following morning. If there are any potatoes left over, I take my cold potatoes and make 2-3 inch, 1/2 inch thick potato pancakes. Just pat them with a healthy coating of flour and fry in vegetable or sunflower oil. But don't kid yourself, there is nothing healthy about this positively gluttonous breakfast treat.) Once you make these, you'll know why they're called "Justin's Famous Mashed Potatoes," and you'll never want to make mashed potatoes any other way. * This recipe has evolved from the recipes of two amazing women: my mom, and Bonnie Dickman. Thanks for everything you've done, and everything you do. Labels: Family, Food, Holidays, Justin Schuck, Justin's Famous, Recipe, Secret 24 December 2008Happy Holidays from Justin Schuck Photography!
It's the night before Christmas, the fourth night of Hanukkah and two nights before Kwanzaa. From the bottom of my heart, I wish everyone a happy holiday and a more prosperous new year. I'll see you in 2009!
Labels: Holidays, Justin Schuck 21 December 2008My view of heaven From a very early age we are told that heaven is a place of comely clouds, airy angels and peacefully pleasant people. We are taught that hell is a place of fire, of demons, of haunted suffering souls. Perhaps this is true, but I have yet to meet a soul who's holidayed in either and returned to tell the tale. In the mean time, you'll have to muddle through my conjecture. In the hell I see, you are surrounded by an endless banquet of the finest foods ever prepared. I dare say even better than my mom's. There are biscuits and croissants and homemade marmalades. Fresh blackberry jams and jellies are no more than an arm's length away. There are hams and yams and pheasants galore. Roasted duck shares the table with lamb kabobs, naan and saffron rice. Oh the saffron rice. Fanciful fruits and vegetables of the ripest fields fill the empty spaces between people and plates. Little bowls are filled with sweet cream butter just waiting for a chance to meet your toast. Goblets and glasses filled with wine and spirits accompany teas and smoothies freshly made. There is no direction that you can see where there isn't something more delicious than the place you looked previously. Millions and billions, and perhaps even thousands, share a place at this vast banquet, yet not a soul is eating. In hell, the food never gets cold, the enticing scent never dissipates. A sweetly savory steam rises from turkey stew simmering nearby. Yes, hell is a place of endless reward and limitless suffering. But how could anyone suffer in such a place? The condemned seated at this colossal fete are unable to eat, for they have forks and spoons strapped tight to length of their arms. Wrists and elbows are unable to bend the trapped souls closer to the food they cannot eat. Their necks are uncranable making the snacks unsnackable. The suffering is as infinite as the feast. The souls, so consumed by their own torment hardly notice the suffering of their neighbor, much less the one missing ingredient that makes all the trappings tastier. Incidentally, it's the same ingredient that makes the sun shine shinier, the water waterier, the carrots crunchier, and the companionship closer. As you may have by now guessed, the lost enchantment is love. Love is missing. The love of family, the love of friends, the love of God. So they sit and sit and sit until it's time to sit some more. The food's still warm, but the tortured see the longer side of eternity before the food sees the inside of their stomachs. In heaven there is the same bounty with buttery croissants, honey-roasted hams, blackberry jams and endless glasses of wine. Roasted chicken shares space with freshly caught salmon fillets, and a good pot of chili gurgles close. Many trillions and quadrillions, and maybe millions, of rewarded souls in heaven have forks and spoons strapped tightly to their arms. They too cannot bend their wrists and elbows, but suffer they do not. At the banquet table in heaven, everyone enjoys every effervescent eat because in the presence of love, in the presence of God, they feed each other. By feeding our neighbors, we feed ourselves. The preceding is a transcript from a podcast using my very best Jude Law narration. Labels: Creative Writing, Faith, Family, Food, Heaven, Homeless, Justin Schuck, Podcast, Religion, Volunteer 20 December 2008VIDEO: Political Foundations (from McCain to Obama)
I'm really proud to announce the release of a little video from the election. I've been wanting to get this out here. Working with that org this spring/summer—the one that screwed me—I didn't have time for much else.
In 2000 I was the volunteer coordinator with McCain Youth 2000. It was a great experience and he ran an honorable campaign. But something was different this time around. Here's a little ditty I put together that *should have* aired before the election. (But then there was a death in the family just before the election, and then I got sidetracked with a work backlog.) So, to the tune of Kate Nash's "Foundations" here's "Political Foundations." I purchased the instrumental tracks without the voices, but I felt that unless you knew the song you wouldn't get the flow without context. If there are any female vocalists with a similar range out there, please call or email me! Please visit my page at: YouTube.com/JASchuck and leave a comment and a rating. Thank you so much. (If I had more time I could have done a more well-produced sample but my Final Cut Pro HD crapped out on me!) Labels: Advertising, America, Art, Barack Obama, Big News, Blog, business, Democrat, design, John McCain, JSDS, Justin Schuck, Obama-Biden, President-elect, Video 19 December 2008Big News: Soft Launch of anLAevent.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HUNTSVILLE, AL – Justin Schuck and Company, an innovative provider of photography, design, consulting and event planning services, announced the soft launch of L/A Events’ website, anLAevent.com, via webcast from his family’s home outside Huntsville, Alabama. “This is only the beginning ... We are actively developing our proprietary system within the company and through partners. It’s very exciting.” company president Justin A. Schuck said as he started his webcast. Andrea Kuchinski, president of After 5 Design and co-founder of L/A Events, designed anLAevent.com and has worked with JSDS on the branding. “The idea for the site and logo is to create modern luxury. We want everyone who comes to anLAevent.com to feel like they are stepping into a boutique. And while we offer services for every income bracket, I wanted to make sure that those using the consultancy also felt like they were working with a luxury boutique.” L/A Events announced in November that it will push back the release date for aLAevent.com to sometime in the second or third quarter 2009. Schuck sited the news in his webcast calling the move “necessary to ensure that a stable beta version reached the market. I want our site to have the benefit of several months of in-house testing, rather than rushing an unfinished product live. This means we’ll have to push back the launch party to the summer, but in the long run I know it will make the difference.” Schuck continued saying that “a lot is riding on the software package Andrea and Dustin are putting together. Our developers are some of the best minds in the field and this was partly their decision. I’m smart enough to know that when an engineer needs more time, you give it to them. I’m not Lee Iacocca pushing the [Ford] Pinto to market.” L/A Events also announced the signing of a alliance with Traveller’s Beach Resort in Negril, Jamaica. Not only will L/A provide event planning and coordination services to guests at Traveller’s, but Justin Schuck Photography has been tasked to capture images that better reflect the resort’s style. Schuck ended his webcast with wishes for a happy holiday season and a more prosperous new year. PR-LA_Events_weblaunch.pdf Labels: After 5 Design, Andrea Kuchinski, Big News, Dustin Keefer, Holidays, Jamaica, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, L/A Events, News, Photo, photography, Press Release JS+Co. November Update
Originally Scheduled: November 3, 2008
Updated: December 19, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HUNTSVILLE, AL – Justin Schuck and Company, an innovative provider of photography, design, consulting and event planning services, announced in an online webcast today that it has completed the sale and merger of its various operations in an effort to raise capital and streamline operations. Earlier this year company president Justin A. Schuck announced plans to sell domain assets, and merge the less successful divisions of the company in an effort to reduce overhead. Schuck also previously announced plans to move the company from Washington D.C. to Dallas, TX. While plans to formally move the company are in the works, the company is not likely to relocate until all restructuring efforts have been completed.. The merger of Innovative Brand Concepts and That’s Sick Viral Marketing into JSDS has been finalized forming the newly rebranded JSDS design + consulting. JSDS is now better capitalized to continue a projected path of growth through 2009, and Schuck also hinted at a new pricing structure for JSDS to better serve companies in the changing market. Acknowledging the company had seen an unexpectedly large number of account defaults in Q2 and Q3 2008 (totaling more than $50,000 in lost revenue), Schuck expects the division to regain full profitability within the next four quarters. As part of the company’s drive to generate revenue, the Schuck Interactive Group (SiG) was sold to its strategic partner Enterprise Applications PH of the Philippines. JS+Co. will maintain ownership of the SiG domain (www.ischuck.com) and the rights to the SiG name. “While our domain fire sale wasn’t as productive as I would have preferred, we are in negotiations to sell a bundles of domains, including those not previously listed. These negotiations are ongoing, but we hope to have the completed in the next few months.” Schuck said in his webcast. He continued saying that any unsold domains posted for sale would be sold through an online service. Schuck said that while this has been a “tumultuous” year for the company, he expects the company to be in a stronger position going forward. In August, Schuck announced the formation of a new partnership with L/A Events, the world’s new premiere event planning firm. “We’ve started the soft launch of L/A Event’s new website: anlaevent.com. It’s very exciting.” Schuck continued that “although we are entering a deep recession, Andrea and I feel that L/A Events is in a better position than other event planning firms. Because of our unique partnership with preferred vendors, and the cost savings from our innovative website, we can offer our services at a fraction of the cost.” PR-Nov3_Update.pdf Labels: Blog, business, Dallas, design, DFW, Domains, Events, JSDS, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, L/A Events, News, Press Release, Sale, Schuck Interactive Group, Texas, washington dc 18 December 2008Happy Holidays, or something...My friend "Blake the Scientist" sent me a lovely holiday greeting and I just had to share it with you all:
I hope that we can all lighten up a bit this holiday season and remember that it's okay to celebrate your own faith while respecting the faith of others without a legal disclaimer. With this spirit in mind, I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Labels: Family, Holidays, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company 17 December 2008Reviews of Justin Schuck Photography
I wanted to post reviews of Justin Schuck Photography by actual clients taken from various sources. I have not edited or altered these reviews in any way. The first three reviews were rejected and removed from our page on Yelp.com, but I thought you should know what these people have said in order to set the record straight. (Star rating is out of a possible five stars.)
4-Stars / ANDREW L. writes:Bottom line is that I'm imperfect, but I do work hard and I have the credentials and clients to prove it. As many of you know, this has been not only a difficult year for the company financially, but also for me personally. It wouldn't be fair to drag all that stuff up here, but suffice it to say I've become an expert on death and tragedy. 2009 is looking to be a good year, and with the new administration in the White House, I hope it's a sign that great things are coming. Thank you to the clients who have stuck with me through these turbulent months. I will never forget it. Labels: Blog, business, Family, Frederick County, JSDS, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, recommendations, reviews, Scott Rolle, studio, washington dc 14 December 2008They say it's my birthday...
And it is. Most people know this isn't my favorite day of the year. Never has been, and probably won't be. I did want to share with you, both of my blog readers, my little birthday surprise:
Justin's Birthday Surprise I want to thank everyone for their birthday wishes and what not. I'm going to take it easy today and only work for a couple of hours. Labels: Justin Schuck 27 November 2008On being thankful
This Thanksgiving it would be easy for me to find reasons to be unappreciative. 2008 has proved as difficult and emotionally heart wrenching as the previous three years, but I am reminded of the gift of family. Tragedy seems to strike just before significantly happy or celebratory events, ruining the idea of happiness. Although it is hard, I try my best to keep happy.
My family has seen death every six months for too many years, sometimes in twos and threes. On the bright side of life, we are presented with another opportunity to commune, share memories and eat to our heart's content. I look at my young cousin and I feel her sadness for the loss of her mom and her apprehension at moving halfway across the globe to live with her father. However, the tender moments we share as a family will carry her in good stead as she grows to be the beautiful woman her mom envisioned. This is the second Thanksgiving without my father, and it is especially hard since my brother can't join us in our family celebration. My other aunts, uncles and cousins are spread across the country, but separated in distance only. Friends, the extended family with whom we choose to share our lives, are equally spread out, but all are united across these distances by love. Today I am thankful for my family, my friends, the birds, the trees, the rocks and the seas. Every new day the vacuum left by those who departed this world too early grows smaller. I am thankful that we are all blessed to have shared our lives with such extraordinary people. On Thanksgiving, we reunite with the grateful selves we tend to forget the remaining days of the year. I am thankful for our brave soldiers, diplomats and others who serve the cause of our country in more harmful territories. I am especially thankful for my health and that I saved room for tonight's non-traditional feast of ribeyes and New York strips. Unlike in years previous, I was unable to participate in this year's Help the Homeless Walkathon, but I encourage everyone to support my beneficiary organization, the Central Union Mission. The work performed by these caring volunteers brings stability and hope to so many. I long for the day where no one who wants food goes hungry and no one who seeks shelter is turned away. If you have spare clothes, jackets or change, please give what you can. If you have nothing to donate, consider donating your time. Homelessness affects over 300,00 Americans, many of whom are chronically homeless; and that number is growing at rates not seen since the Great Depression. I am thankful that today there is love and forgiveness left in the world to help us greet tomorrow, regardless of the tragedy or blessing we may receive. As the brilliant crew of Monty Python remind us: "Life's a piece of shit,Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Labels: Charity, Family, Help the Homeless, Holidays, Justin Schuck, Thanksgiving 15 August 2008Let's Paint
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON DC – Justin Schuck and Company, an innovative provider of photography, design and marketing services, announced today a new service called “Let’s Paint.” Company president Justin Schuck has been painting homes and offices for years, and recently he’s been branching out to friends and family, bringing his eye for detail to another field. “We’ve thought of hundreds of different things to call this service from ‘Designers for better bedrooms’ to ‘Artists for Bathrooms.’” Schuck adds that painting has “always been a work of love.” Schuck has some experience in the interior design area. In 2000 he started Foster’s Interior Fusions with a partner as a division of Foster Industries. Let’s Paint will be the first service offered directly from Justin Schuck and Company and hints at exciting things to come. The first advertisement reads: “We’ve thought of hundreds of different things to call this service from “Designers for better bedrooms” to “Artists for Bathrooms.” Whatever we call it, we’re offering a new service, something we’re good at: painting. What’s really crazy is that we’re offering our services starting at $200 per room, not including the cost of paint and supplies. We’ve got drop cloths and almost everything else. We’ll tell you what you need when we give you our free estimate. We can do it all from painting a bedroom green to applying venetian plaster to using suede techniques. And the best part is, we’re artists who understand color and focus on details. We’ll even walk your dog. Rooms starting at $200. Call 301 300 1350 today.” Innovative thinking and competitive pricing from will set Let’s Paint apart from any competitor. Images of recent projects can be found at Schuck’s blog at JustinSchuck.com/blog.  PR-Lets_Paint.pdf Labels: JSDS, Justin Schuck, Justin Schuck + Company, Maryland, Painting, Press Release, Virginia, washington dc 13 August 2008JS+Co. to partner with L/A Events
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON DC – Justin Schuck and Company, an innovative provider of photography, design and marketing services, announced today a partnership with L/A Events of Gainesville, VA to provide a range of event planning services to existing photography and design clients. The new partnership announced this morning by company president Justin Schuck is part of the company's larger goal of "providing more opportunities to give our clients value-added services." L/A Events is named for the middle names of the founding partners Andrea Lynn Kuchinski and Justin Andrew Schuck. Along with partner Shannon Jacobs, Kuchinski has developed custom invitations for businesses and individuals for special events. With over 14 years in the event photography business, Schuck brings his first-hand experience on both sides of the planning spectrum. "I've done some really crazy, intense weddings and corporate events through the years. I always talk about this one wedding in 2003 that went from awesome to insane and back to awesome. The church put up scaffolding the morning of the rehearsal, and the bride wanted photos at the U.S. Capitol where the couple met among other things. It was Memorial day weekend and the limo driver disappeared while we were shooting at the capitol – which took a while because of the enhanced security and permit verification process. In the end, we piled the wedding party of 16 into a Honda Accord and a small limo. It was insane, but amazing." Schuck went on to say that the bride and groom still send him messages thanking him for his help that day. "I've had to coordinate permits, lighting equipment, and large staffs for every event under the sun, so it's a natural addition to the business." Kuchinski, a design graduate from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY began her career in design working on brand development, logos and website design. She brings a conceptual eye and a terrific balance of print and web skills to every project. Kuchinski started planning events in New York and Washington, including several weddings. "I'm excited about teaming up with Justin. We work really well together, and by combining we can do what no other event planner can do: everything, well. I'll never say we're perfect, but we enjoy what we do and that comes out in the process and the final product." L/A Events will be announcing the launch of it's new website in the coming weeks and asks people to expect a party. The first event of the new partnership is the "Raise for Cancer" fundraising event in Washington DC benefiting the American Institute for Cancer Research in September.  PR-LA_Events.pdf Labels: business, Events, Justin Schuck, L/A Events, New York, News, Newsworthy, photography, Press Release, washington dc 12 August 2008Designs in progress
In addition to publishing press releases, I thought it might be a good idea to showcase some projects I've been working on. The first design you see is from December 2006 when Justin Schuck Photography opened it's interactive photo/media studio in one of the Dubai Media City free zone with our GCC communications partner Sabi Communications.
 The following two designs are current works-in-progress. They need help and I've been focused on other things at the moment, but I wanted to post these just to get a feel for what both of my readers (joke) think. I keep going back and forth as to whether I want them to be more of a poster or a magazine spread.   Labels: business, Case Study, design, Dubai, JSDS, Justin Schuck, Marketing, photography, studio Domain Sale (.com, .net, etc.)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON DC – Justin Schuck and Company, an innovative photography, design and marketing firm, announced today that it will sell a portion of its domain holdings. The following 15 domains will be available for purchase: ShameClothing.com ShameBrands.com ShameJeans.com ShameDenim.com AndrewLiberty.com AndrewTennant.com FosterIndustries.com TheFosterCompanies.com CrackHeadBitch.com PunkMotherFuckers.com PoliticsAside.net MyGayPenPal.com TimeIsGoingByReallyReallyReallyReallySlow.com RolleLaw.com LAgenceDeSchuck.com The domain sale is set to begin on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 and will continue through September 30, 2008. All the domains being offered will have a set-price of $35 through the sale period. Domains not sold by September 30 will be sold through BuyDomains.com at variably higher prices in addition to brokerage fees. Any inquires about specific domains should call (301) 300-1350 or email info@JustinSchuckCo.com. PR-Domain_Sale.pdf Labels: Domains, JSDS, Justin Schuck, News, Newsworthy, Press Release, Sale, Schuck Interactive Group 09 August 2008Thousands of emails discovered in a server quarantine
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON DC – Justin Schuck and Company, an innovative photography, design and marketing firm, announced today the discovery of 3,673 previously unread emails on it's "Deer" server at SIG's Fremont, California collocation facility. "As part of our reorganization and the preparation to sell company assets, we discovered thousands of emails that were captured and quarantined by the server since January. There are approximately 600 emails sent from JustinSchuckCo.com and JustinSchuck.com addresses that never reached their intended recipients. No error message was ever delivered to any of the affected emails, nor was there any information in the server log." company president Justin Schuck said, clearly shocked by this discovery. "The unfortunate thing about this is that there were vital communications breakdowns on both sides that may have contributed to misunderstandings between the company and our clients. But the vast majority of email appears to be junk mail. We are aggressively sorting and processing these emails and we will address any problem that might surface." The discovery of the emails comes at a time when the company is suffering from a dramatic loss in revenue brought on by recent client account defaults, as well as rising energy, vendor, and insurance costs. Any client who believes they have been affected by this server error is asked to call Justin Schuck directly at (301) 300-1350. PR-Email_Quarantine.pdf Labels: Blog, business, Justin Schuck, News, Press Release, Security The State of the Company
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON DC – Justin Schuck and Company, an innovative photography, design and marketing firm, was founded just over four years ago by an optimistic entrepreneur who knew a thing or two about success in design and photography. Formed out of the ashes of The Foster Companies, Justin Schuck and Company provides a diverse international clientèle with a complex suite of services including photography, design, and domain management. Since 2004, company founder Justin Schuck aimed to provide the highest level of customer service with an emphasis on personal relationships and client confidentiality. "Serving high-profile clients in five countries has been an honor." Schuck says. "I've had the great opportunity to meet amazing people and work with some of the most important people in the world." In a meeting on August 1, Schuck announced that one of the company's largest clients, a political organization, will be defaulting on an invoice of over $5500. This client has canceled future contracts worth over $18,000 due to their pending bankruptcy reorganization. The client's identity is protected by a mutual confidential disclosure agreement that will remain in effect until both parties agree to the public disclosure or if Justin Schuck and Company is named as a debtor in the client's bankruptcy. Schuck goes on to say, "This will be an extremely difficult time for the company. We are looking into what options are available for us to generate revenue to compensate for the shortfall. With the dramatic rise in energy prices over the last year, we've seen a decrease in the size and scope of many contracts, but we never expected this. When our clients don't meet their obligations to us, especially for completed services and delivered products, it makes it very difficult for us to maintain our financial and contractual obligations." As a result of this loss of business, there will be some significant changes to the company. Effective immediately, Justin Schuck and Company's newest venture, That's Sick Viral Marketing, will be folded into the JSDS division as part of the consolidation of the business. "Innovative Brand Concepts and Schuck Interactive Group's merger into JSDS will be accelerated in an attempt to drastically reduce overhead. We need to cut our losses while we still can." Schuck contends that the company can come out of this period stronger and leaner, but it's not going to come "without some serious shrinking pains." He adds that "our operations and ability to survive will depend on our ability to renegotiate our existing vendor contracts, reduce labor costs and significantly reduce overhead. We have photography contracts stretching in to 2010 and I want those clients to know that we will be there to capture those special moments." The company is expected to announce in the coming days plans to sell assets in order to generate revenue, in addition to entering into negotiations with clients who are more than 30 days past due on their accounts. "If we are not able to secure additional revenue streams it will be difficult to keep our heads above water. I've been doing my part to keep costs under control as much as possible, but as indicated in our recent financial disclosure filings, I have not drawn a salary since May." This isn't the first time Schuck has forgone salary to help his business maximize liquidity. For part of 2000 and 2001, Schuck went without compensation during the reorganization of Foster Companies. "I'm a tough cookie and I know that in the end, my life will continue to be blessed with new opportunities for success." Schuck said. PR-State_of_Company.pdf Labels: Blog, business, JSDS, Justin Schuck, News, Press Release 06 August 2008Now it's getting funnySee more funny videos at Funny or Die I never thought I would hear myself say these words: "Thank you Paris Hilton." Labels: 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Energy Policy, John McCain, Justin Schuck 04 August 2008So you may have noticed
Perhaps you noticed the somewhat sudden design change. Yeppers, gone is the tired previous design. There are still a few kinks to be worked out, but I'm glad this new, clean version is online and here to stay.
I definitely took my own advice about self-editing (see "Four steps forward"). I removed so many unnecessary elements and it looks so much better. I decided that the thick black border had to go and it totally fixed what was wrong with the design. You'll notice a few changes in the near future, including a better system of organizing posts and blog labels, but I don't want too much change just yet. So, gone is: And happy am I. Labels: Blog, design, JSDS, Justin Schuck 03 August 2008Four steps forward, two steps back
Often in design there's a tendency to go overboard, to over design, and I am guilty of this on every single design project I have ever worked from the original Foster Industries logo1 that I designed when I was 16 to the current Justin Schuck Photography logo2. The problem often lies in the drive for perfection clouded by wanting a project to be "everything," when design merely needs to be "something."
I know how easy it is to be carried away with a project. You've put together 3-4 different design directions, and once you've narrowed things down to your final choice you find yourself drunk with ideas and concentrate too heavily on unimportant details. You go over every individual pixel, but it is in this focus that you lose sight of the greater balance of a project. When I think I have completed a design, I take a step back and ask myself what can I delete? What can I remove from the design? This is usually my saving grace and it is always my advice to other designers. The ability to self-edit in design, in production, in sculpture, in politics is the ability to understand your audience. Nothing was every made better by being made more complicated3. Too often I see over-thought, over-wrought designs and logos. I see printed annual reports designed in PowerPoint using the same clip-art that Microsoft has included in its programs when Windows 3.1 was king. This disgusts me. Good designers know to remove elements that distract and emphasize elements that enhance the overall objective. If you're designing a report that covers dry subject matter, adding cheesy graphical elements isn't going to make the material any more interesting. In this case, smart font choices balanced with appropriate white space can create a document that is both a pleasure to read, but serves its function well. I have seen great website designs using complex static and motion graphical elements, but the sites that get it right are the ones where the design is not overboard. (The only exception to the rule of self editing is if your product or client is over-the-top. Paris Hilton as a brand comes to mind, but I still urge caution.) Another thing that works for me when creating brand identities is to visualize the logo on everything from a kitchen knife to a race car. When I've narrowed down my design to the final direction, I place the logo on hundreds of things I find around my house. Ovens, fans, phones, irons, printers, cars, bags, envelopes, paper, trash cans, buttons, ties, stickers, soda cans, detergent bottles... I could go on forever. This is important for one main reason: you never know what industry a company or organization may go next, or on what product they might want their logo for company-branded gifts. You'll know right away whether the design you chose will accurately represent the company. Even if you're not including more complex items appearing on the website, you'll know if the brand is reinforced. Applying a logo across a broad range of relevant and irrelevant products also serves another purpose. By experiencing your design this way, you will be better able to argue the merits of the design in any meeting with a client because you have already thought your way down every path the company might grow in the future. And you might be surprised that the client is encouraged to think in a new way about corporate gifts. (It's the design equivalent to adding on to a sale.) When I reach the end of a given project, I love putting design elements into a digital compost pile to be reincarnated in a future project. I'll keep elements in a complex Photoshop, Illustrator or InDesign file for safe keeping. I save everything, even ideas. I recently (about 6 months ago) returned to keeping a "Musebook." I use this to chart thoughts and ideas on designs, political marketing strategies, notes on meetings, you name it. For me and my oft-scattered mind, it's important to have not only all of my ideas in one place, but to have them on good old fashioned paper. It's surge-proof. Bottom line: remove elements to simplify your design; use clean, easy-to-read fonts with balanced whitespace; lose the gimmicks and focus on how the brand can be represented across a multitude of platforms. Follow these rules and you'll find yourself doing better work.  1 The original Foster Industries logo does not exist in digital form, nor does the original font (Traffic) for the "FI" so the representation appearing above is not 100% accurate, but you get the idea. Yes, I know it's bad. I was sixteen!  2 I think I'm happy with the current iteration. It conforms to my desire for symmetry in design and architecture. The current logo came out of a design study to determine what would fit best on our branded products like proof boxes, bags, polos, etc. 3 Stay tuned for a future blog on the logo of "TSG Holdings." I put the name in quotes because I'm not convinced it's a real company. Have you seen their visually offensive logo on M Street NW mocking designers everywhere? It's the worst company logo I have ever seen. Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad if it weren't new! Labels: Advertising, business, design, Identity, JSDS, Justin Schuck, Marketing 01 August 2008What in the world was Justin doing in Ala-by-God-bama?
So to dispel the rumors that I am moving to Rocket City, I wanted to give you all a glimpse into what I've been up to these last two months. It can be summed up easily: I've been cleaning up dog shit; painting my mom's house; and hanging out with my mom at her new home while lining up various appointments for her.
I spent a fair amount of time prepping the surfaces in both her bedroom and bathroom to deliver a sanctuary that is both feminine and luxurious. The bathroom turned out great. (No mess-ups!) I had to cut a line at the ceiling which hasn't been my strong suit. It looks fantastic, although the color is a bit off. The girl at Lowe's thought that the initial color dose wasn't right so she added some more magenta which gave the final product a slightly purple tint. I think I'll do some kind of rag glaze the next time I'm down there. I didn't take any photos of the bathroom since I was running low on time, the color was really light, and I wasn't in the mood for doing a serious color balance. But check out these shots of the bedroom, my piece de la résistance:    Please take note of the 12-inch-wide tone-on-tone striping which repeats itself in the "tray" or drop ceiling; the coordinating ceiling color; the white molding and doors; and the perfect lines from top to bottom. I'm telling you, it's my best work ever. (Also, the above photos are NOT color balanced.) Labels: Alabama, Family, Justin Schuck, Painting Design Updates Here is an update to the PoliticsAside.net site template. We recently removed all the formatting for the old site and chose a simple, text-only version while we test the new designs. It's less complicated that way. I want to go in a more monochromatic direction. This has two benefits: it creates the illusion of being more "anti" while drawing greater attention to the donate button. There are still hints of the previous red, white and blue theme, but subtlety is cousin of revolution. (Or something like that...)  I've also taken advantage of the same original template created for PoliticsAside.net and used it for the new website for the Law Offices of Matthew Bennett. This takes us in a completely different direction from the current site at BennettShoemaker.com. With the separation of the two partners, it was essential to revamp the brand. It's still a work-in-progress and will likely change some before the final design is complete. Labels: design, JSDS, Justin Schuck 31 July 2008Gosh designing is fun!
I'm working on a few projects right now, including some case studies.
 One thing I've been focusing on is a new ad campaign for Duron Paints & Wallcoverings (a division of The Sherwin-Williams Company). I've also tried revamping the logo and I'm working on a few slogans. "Paint in color" seems to be my favorite at the moment. Having "Paints & Wallcoverings" as part of the logo might not be necessary as they have an established brand identity with commercial clients. The idea with the "little boxes" design study is to test the idea of using "drab" paint swatches contrasted with bright vibrant colors while trying to create motion within the space. It's a work in progress, but the Flash potential is great. One thought is to create a paint game or tool using Shockwave to take people from "drab to fab" in no time flat. (This same tool could be applied across a broad range of brands and using in various other applications, including in-store kiosks.) The hope/focus is to build on the brand and make Duron a designer's must-have. Designers appreciate good design, clean logos and a cohesive brand strategy. Duron does not have that. As a part of Sherwin-Williams, it might be a better option to market the Duron brand as the "green" division in order to capitalize on the current wave of eco-centric consumer interest. As I've stated for many years now, if you look at economic downturns or slowdowns in market growth, you'll notice a trend after the initial shock of the lowered sales revenues and market adjustments: advertising and design budgets generally increase. Most companies understand that the best time to invest in smart, focused and brand-developing advertising is when the market is souring. There is never a more important time than an economic slowdown to prove to customers your company's value and to create or enhance a need. Aside from having a solid product or service, advertising and design is the most fundamentally important thing any company can invest in order to whether the storm while increasing brand loyalty and exposure.  We're also working on developing the branding for a new campaign strategy and design firm. The idea is to capitalize on the growing emphasis of campaigning through the web. The idea behind the above design directions is to no only think about potential slogans and their marketing potential, but also convey a non-partisan approach to campaign website design, administration and strategy. We're playing with color, but I'm a big fan of Pantone 412-406. Especially when it's paired with minty 351 or cool blue 3105. I'm liking 1767 pink this week too. Labels: Advertising, Case Study, design, Duron, JSDS, Justin Schuck, Marketing 30 July 2008Way too much JustinSchuck.com!
I just want to let you in on a well-known secret. I have, along with others, gone over and over on the various design directions for my main photography website, JustinSchuck.com — where this blog is hosted. I'm a consummate perfectionist with a revisionist streak. Here now are some screen shots (in chronological order) of my design evolutions.
The design below was originally designed as a placeholder. Theoretically there was going to be a flash version of the site where the boxes moved around on mouseover and the images would change up and have lots of funky transitions. After about 6 months or more of the placeholder, I started making updates and expansions which leads us to the next design.  So this was the last real evolution of the design still visible on the vintage (legacy) site still hosted on the main server. I eventually reached the point of frustration and admitted that the site wasn't going to change much and I made some adjustments to typeface and the structure of the site.  Before I settled on the semi-permanent design direction above I started working on several new design directions at once. The next four designs were worked on simultaneously. You can clearly tell which design directions received the most attention. You may also note the temporary name change. At the time we were starting this project we were also taking on financial partners to build what could have been "The Justin Schuck Gallery & Studio." There were several designs in this direction, including full identity and letterhead designs.  Again, playing with typeface and trying to think how I wanted my brand represented, I worked towards the following design, but I was really unhappy with it. The "logo" appearing below was also used for marketing materials and display items, some of which I still use today, although not often. We were still going back and forth as to what the new company should be called, ultimately Justin Schuck Photography was the most appropriate.  I was going back and forth on a daily basis as to whether or not I should use my "tag" signature, which I still really like to this day and hope to find some way to use it. But who knows, it's the alt-rocker in me. The following design is a better example of logical navigation occurring "above the fold" as it were. This design was also the first time all four cities appeared in a design. The four cities were later incorporated into the "vintage" design and still appear there today.  This is a progression of the above design. The navigation would animate and "light up" the tab color. This also recalls design elements of my acclaimed original JustinSchuck.com which functioned solely as a personal website. That design is buried somewhere on a CD in storage. Anyhow, back to the design below... I really liked this design, but there was something holding me back from implementing the design. I think the biggest barrier to it's implementation was navigation partially obscured below the fold on a 640x480 template. I honestly can't remember.  What was most likely the death knell for the site above is the design below. It's one of those epiphany designs that occur between the hours of first darkness and first light. I remember working on the design for at least three days straight before making additional changes as evidenced in the following design.  I love the picture of the kids below and seeing this again reminds me that I need to put together a serious gallery of all my work for the last 12 years. There's some really good stuff in there if I do say so myself. Back to designs... I changed the background to gray, put telephone numbers and email at the top which would allow for navigation going down the side. This is also when our company tag line became "Photography for the way you live.™" which is still pending. We also developed a working click-through for the Online Previews service. It was great to see the design come so far. This really was my favorite, but after some server-side testing, some focus groups and a changing design team, this too was abandoned.  This little piece was for our other-branded sites as part of a broader internet ranking strategy for our Dubai sites. It was an extremely effective campaign – perhaps too effective – but was eventually taken down due to the closing of our full-time Dubai operations earlier this year.  After no real progress had been made, and with the current design at the time reaching five years of age, I finally threw the following design up on the site. The "vintage" site is such a mess, especially with so many revisions and so many hands touching it. The code is all kinds of fouled up, and I consider myself as one of the most organized and obsessive-compulsive HTML coders on the planet. The only reason the vintage site is still live is so I don't have to create another temporary site that would likely become semi-permanent.  I really like where the most current site design is going, and it serves as the inspiration of the next site. Hopefully some time soon we will have the new site design templates posted. Because seriously, I've had way too much JustinSchuck.com. (That's why I've transfered "the power" over the new design direction over to my lovely Andrea.) Labels: Advertising, Art, Case Study, design, Dubai, Identity, Justin Schuck, Photo, photography 23 July 2008Reciprocal shout outs
I'm in a self-congratulatory mood today. I'm almost done with the non-stop paint-a-thon at my mom's house. (Pictures to follow soon). But I wanted to thank my designer Andrea for appreciating some of my work. It feels good to get rave approval from a fellow designer. It was certainly unexpected.
Thank you! I'm humbled. Labels: Art, Blog, business, design, Justin Schuck 30 June 2008As time goes by, so goes the Merrimack
As a lifetime political junkie and someone who appreciates the subtleties of small town retail politics, I know the value of a dingy restaurant on a corner facing Main St. Or in the case of the Merrimack Diner in Manchester, New Hampshire, Elm Street.
For every election cycle since the time I was a fetus, the Merrimack has served as a place where presidential hopefuls could easily mingle with regular, hard-working folk in this former mill town. But we junkies of the political realm will have to find a new place to warm our hands and noses. Over the weekend the Merrimack, with their delightful if not sharp-tongued staff serving up endless cups of hot coffee with a dose of dish, opened their doors for the last time. I feel honored to have had the privilege of getting "The Full Merrimack" this past January, and I will miss it when I'm there for the next go around in 8 years. Thanks Jane for the extra cream in my cup. You were enough sugar for me. Labels: Justin Schuck, Manchester, Merrimack Diner, New Hampshire 08 June 2008It's time we truly supported our troops
The only real way we can support our troops is to have the ability to pay their salaries and benefits with American Money. It is far past the time when running up foreign debt to pay for our wars and the sacrifices of soldiers if the burden isn't shared by all.
Unlike no other war in the history of the world, we are asked to shoulder the burden not with responsibility or care, but on the backs of low-income Americans often from low economic hope areas. We place yellow ribbons around trees. We put magnets on our SUVs. We bedazzle our license plates with ghosts of our sacred flag. "United we stand" is emblazoned on everything from coffee cups to baby bibs. But what does that mean? Do these hollow phrases ask us all to share the sacrifice? Does it ask us to drive less to leave more petrol for our military? Does it ask us to buy used cars or to recycle more to free up industry to convert to war-supporting operations? No. "United we stand" has gone from the lofty rhetoric of a nation healing from the wounds of the attacks of September 11th to the Republican rallying cry. They defame the definition of "united" to make us more divided. Nowhere has anyone asked us to make sacrifices in our daily lives for our freedom. It's time this burden is shared. If our leaders see fit that our security as a nation is compromised and requires a military solution, our leaders owe us the respect of asking for our shared sacrifice. The idea of shared sacrifice is practiced often in humanitarian crisis at home and abroad. When earthquakes level hundreds of square miles we give; when tsunamis devastate whole continents we give; when hurricanes and floods destroy lives, communities and cities we give; when terrorists murder thousands we give. But when our country is fighting wars on multiple fronts we give nothing. I don't wear a flag pin on my lapel; I wear one on my heart. I try to remember the tremendous sacrifice Americans are making at the direction of our president. We do have one of the finest fighting forces in the world today, but this administration's stubborn naiveté in it's nonacademic prosecution of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq show the vulnerability of a nation ruled by sound bites and slogans. We again need a leader who can talk outside of an outline and stand in his (or her) own shoes to direct a thoughtful U.S. foreign policy towards a respectful engagement of the international community. Labels: Afghanistan, Bush Administration, Editorial, Flag, flag pin, Iraq, Justin Schuck, September 11th, U.S. Military, United We Stand, War 08 January 2008Hillary is going to win
It's all my fault. I have been seduced by the promise of a completely different and improved America. I've been blinded by the Great Hope. I've fallen pray to lofty rhetoric. I've fallen victim to my utter disgust for the politics of the 1990's. I've been mean. I said something this morning that I shouldn't have said, in a tone I shouldn't have taken.
It was around 10:30 this morning and I had already been to the Merrimack Diner and listened to the local radio personalities talk with various politicians passing through. (Katie Couric among many other news celebs passed through.) I was in the frenzy -- I'm still in the frenzy. I felt totally connected to the political current pulsating through this state. As I walked up Elm street away from Granite, I just wanted to see the parade of political animals who I could capture with my lens. I heard ABC News had a big tent up the street so I walked a bit then stopped to take a look at my camera screen. I was just playing around. My fingers were cold and so was my coffee. This couple came walking towards me covered from head to toe in Hillary stickers and yard signs. It was truly a sight to behold.   I captured their image from behind before I asked them to turn around. As I was snapping pictures of their front side I said one of the dumbest things I could have said in my position as a blog-journalist: "You know Hillary's not going to win. Obama's going to kick her ass." Yes, I said it. I'm not proud of it, but it came out of my mouth. It was an out-of-body experience almost. I knew that as I uttered that vile two-sentence statement that I have doomed Obama to lose today's primary. A couple standing to my right admonished me with their eyes, shook their head and walked away. I knew right then that Obama's fate is sealed. I guess we'll have to see, but I finally saw the Clinton undercurrent that has been pulsating beneath the surface. And with the rip tide of Hillary's tear show, I'm all the more convinced that today's prophecy is true. Labels: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Justin Schuck, Katie Couric, Manchester, Merrimack Diner, New Hampshire, Palace Theater, Politics Aside, Primary 30 July 2007Montgomery County Maryland's Parking Hypocrisy
Who is watching the meter maids (or better yet, the Meter Nazis) when they are out giving tickets?
Today I caught a Meter Nazi double-parked on Elm Street in Bethesda, next to the PNC Bank branch on Wisconsin Avenue, who had parked in TWO metered spots, not leaving enough room for any car to fill either space. When I asked the Meter Nazi if he would be so kind as to move his car up some so that I may park, he said "No." No?!?!?!?! "N-O," as in a "I will not move my car, and you may park on the other side of the street [illegally, so that I can get another parking citation]" NO? Well, that just set me off! And I turned on the camcorder on my cell phone and captured this video: PLEASE SHARE THIS VIDEO WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW! I want to do whatever I can to bring the hypocrisy of parking officials (Meter Nazis) to the attention of the citizenry, local officials and the media. Why should Meter Nazis not be held to the same standard as the ones who are paying HEFTY property taxes to pay his salary? After the Meter Nazi moved his car (I had to raise my voice some to get his attention. Or perhaps he didn't understand my English!**), another car tried to slip into the newly open spot on the street -- the very one I was waiting 10 minutes for. Thankfully, that nice gentleman waited until I got out of the bank and he took my spot which had 18 minutes remaining on the meter! (In case you wanted to know the license plate number of the Meter Nazi, it's "HZG-691") **NOTE: I recently received a comment via E-mail (9/2/07). I want to make sure it is posted here in its entirety: "I found your comments about the parking officials lack of english rather racial. It would be like me saying that your voice in the video sounded rather gay. Your photography site is linked to this and on it you say you treat everyone equally. I feel that your video comments say the exact opposite of your professional website. I won't be using you for my wedding to a beautiful lady I met who is from India. Have a nice day. " MY RESPONSE: First off, I don't care if my voice sounds gay. I am gay. It's not an insult. In fact, I think that probably makes me a better judge of style than you. (Granted, I have no idea who you are, nor would I attempt to make assumptions.) In this blog I did make a comment about whether the parking officer was able to understand the words that came out of my mouth. This was due more to the fact that he was willfully ignoring me when I kindly asked him to move his car. I know plenty of blond-haired, blue-eyed "Americans" who have an even more tenuous grasp of the English language. See, what this video does NOT show the viewer is that for almost 5 minutes prior to activating the camcorder feature, I was (honestly) kindly asking if he would move his county-issued vehicle forward. After several refusals, and his suggestion that I park on the other side of the one-way street (where there are "NO PARKING" SIGNS!!!), that is the moment the camera came on. I did this in hoping that he would feel compelled to move or I would turn the video in to a supervisor. NOWHERE in the video do I make racially-motivated comments. Nor did I EVER make them off camera. This is NOT how I was raised to be a loving respectful human, and it goes against everything I believe. I'm sorry that you feel that I was rude, wrong, ignorant or all of the above. So to you, ANONYMOUS COMMENTER, I wish you many happy years of marriage, and hope that your photographer does a splendid job. Labels: bethesda, Bethesda Urban Partnership, Blog, Government, Justin Schuck, Maryland, Meter Maid, Montgomery County, Parking, Photo, photography, Street Parking, Video, washington dc 16 July 2007Diet Blog: Out with the New, In with the Old
Okay, so the diet didn't work. I was exhausted and nearly starving. The urge to cheat was too great. The urge to eat healthy and smart, not so much. So I stopped this nonsense. Besides, friends came in from out of town, so there were lots of drinks, brunches and movie nachos.
Bottom line: drastically cutting calories doesn't work. Weight loss: Zero. Stay tuned, because I'm working on something else. Labels: Blog, Diet, Justin Schuck 13 July 2007Diet Blog: Day 4: Is it over yet?I decided not to reduce my driving today. I'm either going to walk or Metro everywhere. It's healthier. Unless of course, it rains. In that case I have my keys on standby. So I woke up this morning completely exhausted, and perhaps that's because I was cleaning my house (i.e. making a bigger mess). I found some things I couldn't believe I still had in my possession like love notes from my high school girlfriend; postcards sent to me when I lived in San Francisco; pictures from my summer in Mykonos in 2005; and my old cigar humidor. I'm a pack rat of the worst sort, but nothing give me the satisfaction like a good clutter purge! My godfather and photography mentor used to say that he wanted "things [he could] throw away" for Christmas. God bless shredders and trash bags. But now I'm doing a purge of a different sort. I'm purging those extra calories that I don't need, and those that have contributed to my recently-expanding waistline. I don't know that I've said this before, but I'm drinking lots of water. Not too much, but lots. And my skin is benefiting too; it's even more perfect than usual. This diet doesn't mean that my general philosophy of enjoying life and enjoying food has been thrown out the window. I'm just taking a little vacation from indulgence. I've conquered smoking, and now it's time to conquer food. Let's see how day 4 went. CALORIC INTAKE GOAL, DAY 4: 1200 calories Day 4: Breakfast
Day 4: Lunch I totally forgot to pack my lunch, so I ended up having an early-ish dinner. And it was delicious.Day 4: Mid-Afternoon Snack
Day 4: Dinner So no boneless breast of chicken tonight! I had a DELICIOUS onion bagel hot dog from Bagel City in Rockville. Yum! It brought back many fond memories from my childhood. (I even remember when Bagel City was half its current size.)
Day 4: Game Night at Tim's
TOTAL CALORIC INTAKE, DAY 1: 3027 Difference from Goal: +1827 Funny thing is, I felt so much better after having the Coke. Also throwing a major kink in my diet armor was an invitation to a game night at a friend's house in Virginia. Not only will undoubtedly be consuming alcohol, but I'll be driving my car. I could Metro, but honestly, I'd rather not go through the hassle this late in the evening. Obviously, from a "diet" perspective, game night wasn't such a great idea, but it felt good. Too good. Labels: Blog, Diet, Justin Schuck 11 July 2007Diet Blog: Day 3: Now the Hard Part Starts
A day filled with laundry, work and computer work. Let's see if I did any better today than in days past.
CALORIC INTAKE GOAL, DAY 3: 1200 calories Day 3: Breakfast
Difference from Goal: -135 I thought I would go running earlier in the day, however, sporadic rainfall made scheduling a jog more difficult. I decided I would go for a run tomorrow. Besides, I still have laundry to do. I also think it would be a good idea if I went grocery shopping tomorrow so at least I can have more nutrient diversity. I should stock-up on veggies for salads and snacking. (I love me some carrots! -- And did you know, carrots weren't always orange. You have the dutch to thank for that one!) Labels: Blog, Diet, Justin Schuck Diet Blog: Days 1 & 2: The Beginning
Yeah... Cutting calories isn't as easy as it sounds.
I started day one enthused and ready for a new, healthier me. I made the decision that I wasn't going to eat ANYTHING that I didn't know the exact caloric content, at least for the first two or three weeks. Let's see how I did... CALORIC INTAKE GOAL, DAY 1: 1000 calories Day 1: Breakfast
(I first want to point out that I had NO CLUE as to the specific calorie content of the following goodies prior to their consumption.)
Difference from Goal: +571 CALORIC INTAKE GOAL, DAY 2: 1000 calories Day 2: Breakfast
Difference from Goal: -92 I actually found a few websites that have made calculating the caloric content of foods much easier. I'm a huge fan of CalorieKing.com and their Calorie Counter. Also, ShapeFit.com's beer index is amazing. They have cataloged every major beer in America. The USDA has a good "pyramid tracker" that helps you calculate the healthiness of your meals. This is especially important, because just cutting calories and not eating healthy can actually cause more damage than maintaining your current diet. Perhaps tomorrow I'll do some exercise, and up my caloric intake goal to reflect that change. And I think I need to throw some more fruits and veggies in there too. Labels: Blog, Diet, Justin Schuck 09 July 2007New Diet, New Blog
I've started a new diet. (Today's actually day three.) And I've started a new blog:
http://justinsdietblog.blogger.com Check it out! Follow my progress and learn ways to monitor your eating habits, and find healthy new recipes for successful healthy living! UPDATED: December 27, 2008 Justin's Diet Blog has been deleted and its posts have been transferred to JustinSchuck.com/blog for reference. Labels: bethesda, Blog, Diet, Exercise, Food, Health, Healthy Living, Justin Schuck 01 June 2007Explosion in Bethesda! So I was sitting at my desk listening to the news this morning when a bulletin came across saying that there was a developing story related to a fire on Elm Street in Bethesda. According to news reports, Pepco was responding to a manhole cover explosion on Thursday on the 4700 block of Elm Street in Bethesda. Pepco employees may have been working on a feeder line into a transformer when the explosion occurred shortly before 10:00am this morning. Emergency response teams were on site investigating the explosion. As seen in the images here, smoke was billowing out of a vent in the street, and there appeared to be considerable fire and/or smoke damage to a truck belonging to First Class Plumbing, LLC of Virginia. (Their slogan: "We put the Squeeze on Pricing." Their new slogan: "We're Smokin'!") From a photographic perspective, I was disappointed that there wasn't greater chaos, but I'm glad no one was reported as injured. Justin Schuck Photography & Video media contact number: 301-760-7476 Read/See the NBC-4 news report: http://www.nbc4.com/news/13425533/detail.html?dl=headlineclick  Labels: bethesda, Blog, Explosion, Fire, Fire Department, Justin Schuck, Maryland, Montgomery County, News, Newsworthy, Photo, photography, property-casualty, washington dc 23 February 2007My New Favorite: Mama Ayesha's
(Sorry for yet another non-photography-related blog, but I just had to!)
Last night I went to dinner with an old friend at Mama Ayesha's. Oh my goodness! Can I just say how much I loved it. The hummus we ordered for an appetizer came with some nice and soft chick peas and some pickled turnips which were really good. I've really taken a liking to Middle Eastern cuisine, especially with my oft-scheduled trips to Dubai and the GCC. So the hummus was great, the Lebanese wine was fantastic, the Lamb Shank I ordered was so fall-off-the-bone tender I almost cried. Our server Mohammad was attentive, our water glasses were always filled and there was a peace about the place. We ordered baklava for dessert and it was the perfect blend of honey and spices. Baklava is one of my absolutely favorite food items and Mama Ayesha's did not disappoint. In fact, Amy and I were enjoying ourselves so much that even after dinner and after we paid our bill, we ordered another glass of wine and enjoyed the ambiance. Bottom Line... It was a great way to cap-off what might have otherwise been a bad food day. You would be missing a true gem if you missed out on Mama Ayesha's. Labels: Dubai, Food, Justin Schuck, washington dc 22 February 2007They shouldn't (legally) be able to call it a cheesesteak, much less a "Philly" cheesesteak.
(Sorry, business and photography-unrelated blog to follow...)
I have never in my life ever been so disappointed with a food item in my life. I cannot even begin to describe to you just how significantly let down I feel. All I wanted was something ridiculously greasy and delicious. One would think that if you put "Philadelphia" in the name of the business, it has to adhere to at least some basic "hero" principles:
Here are my thoughts:
I've actually had a better Philly cheese steak from McDonald's. But in the end, I'm out less than nine bucks and I'm full. Labels: bethesda, Food, Justin Schuck, Maryland, Montgomery County, Philadelphia Mikes 19 November 2006Mission Accomplished
The Help the Homeless Walkathon was a resounding success! We far exceeded our goal of raising $500 for team Justin Schuck by raising $860 in online and offline donations.
I want to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for their thoughtful donations, especially Shane King, Marti Cullen, Barbara and Bob Salvucci, Keith Richburg, Carl Tugberk, Ilissa Suss and Marisa Sellinger-Fisher. I also want to thanks Mariana Reynolds and Christina Hee for joining my team and helping me raise money, and Mabel and Michael Reynolds for walking with us on Saturday. Our beneficiary organization, the Central Union Mission, received hundreds of dollars from various organizations and individuals, but I am pleased to say that team Justin Schuck was the most successful single team. And while that is all fine and dandy, next year I want to raise more than double that amount. They do terrific work with men in DC and provide a safe stable environment that helps the men help themselves with job and skills training among other things. Bottom line: it's a great cause and we are going to raise more money, walk with a larger team and continue doing the work that serves the greater good. Labels: Charity, Help the Homeless, Justin Schuck, Volunteer 12 August 2006On the Trail with Scott Rolle
In late July I was hired by the Committee to Elect Scott Rolle to document the campaign on its quest for the Attorney General's office in Maryland. It is little secret that I am a registered Democrat and an outspoken advocate of individual rights and freedoms, but I've often found my loyalties lie with no single party. Rather my loyalties lie in truly American principles of governing and honesty that no party can claim solely as their own.
I have worked on national and local campaigns for both parties, most notably Sen. John McCain's unsuccessful presidential bid in 2000. Even as a young boy I found excitement and joy in learning about and participating the political process.  The image that you see above was captured after a luncheon in Hagerstown, MD with Lt. Gov. Michael Steele. I caught Scott literally in a moving car speeding on his way to the next community event. It's certainly one of my favorite images of the year, not so much because it's Scott Rolle (who is a handsome gentleman), but because this one image conveys so much more than it might let on. In looking at this image, I'm struck by his measured expression and strong posture. It conveys warmth, heart and vigor all in one. I've been lucky enough to capture the essence of a man before, and I've been lucky once again with Scott Rolle. Interestingly enough, the folks on the campaign loved this image so much that they used in on the banner of his website: ScottRolle.com. Check it out! I think it looks fantastic. And hopefully soon you'll see all of the other images I've taken for the campaign. I'm excited to be working with Scott Rolle and his staff. Of all the campaigns I have worked with over the years, this campaign seems to put forth a youthful optimism and sense of duty that I've never seen before. Of the leading candidates, Scott Rolle strikes me to be the least affected by partisan bickering. It is refreshing to know that he surrounds himself with trusted advisers whose base ideology may be different than his own. I've watched him take counsel from everyone -- from me down to the 16-year-old volunteers and everyday citizens on the street. I am glad to see real democracy in action with Scott Rolle. While I may have initially said that I wouldn't vote for a Republican for Attorney General, Scott has proven himself to be a Republican of a different stripe. His ears and his heart are open to everyone and I hope he wins come November. It would be a tremendous win for the State of Maryland and a warning for sexual predators and violent offenders. I guess you could say I'm a bit of a convert. But that's okay, I'm voting for integrity and justice, not by the tired party line. Stay tuned here for my perspective on Scott Rolle, the campaign and his journey to become the next Attorney General for the State of Maryland, now occupied by the retiring Attorney General Joseph Curran. Labels: Attorney General, Democrat, Doug Gansler, Frederick County, Hagerstown, John McCain, Justin Schuck, Maryland, Michael Steele, Montgomery County, photography, Republican, Robert Ehrlich, Scott Rolle 06 August 2006New Orleans: The Katrina Devastation, Part 1 I recently returned from a photographic expedition to New Orleans. Having not experienced the pre-Katrina New Orleans, I long for something that, for me, never was. But the New Orleans of old is still a sad and painful memory for most. The old mind's picture is of children playing and going to school; of families enjoying loving meals in their dining rooms; of a community that served each other. It could be said that I toured the devastated areas, and visited and patronized others, but to me, there was no neighborhood that was not devastated. I had the great fortune to volunteer in New york immediately after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. I witnessed and documented the devastation, and the massive loss of human life. In New Orleans, the devastation is far greater than that in New York. The devastation of the entire gulf coast is about more than destroyed homes, schools and the physical structures that man erects. The devastation has separated families, in many cases by thousands of miles. The devastation separates pets from their families and friends. The devastation turned cities with astonishingly low homeless rates into cities with low home-dweller rates. It's honestly the saddest thing I have ever witnessed. I will continue to occasionally post items here about my stories from New Orleans, including selected images for my new rotating gallery show.  Labels: Art, Gallery, Gulf Coast, Hurricane Katrina, Justin Schuck, New Orleans, photography 27 June 2006The Sky Opened and Zeus Proclaimed his Power!
The sky was glowing different colors throughout the day and if the world were to have ended, I would have believed it. I've always been fascinated by thunderstorms, ever since I was a young boy, but I had yet to capture one with my camera lens. Until this night. I happened to be on the ball, in the right place, and prepared. I was up on my balcony in Bethesda, scanning the sky. There was a lot of lightning activity in Silver Spring, but even with my telephoto lens, it was difficult to capture accurately. There's a whole series of shots leading up to this one. It was amazing to watch the sky churn with anger. I was mesmerized. To capture this image, I had my shutter on the "bulb" setting for increments of about 80 to 180 seconds. Due to the increasing darkness and the heavier rain showers, I was worried that I would not be able to capture anything. There was a triple lightning strike in-between my shutter opening and closing. I was disappointed. But in one frame, after I had held the shutter open for about 50 seconds, lightning struck within my frame! I was so startled and excited that I let my finger off of the shutter release too soon. (That's why there are details missing in the foreground and why you can almost see the cars on Wisconsin Avenue.) But when I saw the image on the screen, I was so happy. I loaded it on my computer and just stared. I began to wonder if it would be stupid to hang an enlargement of that image on my wall, when the view is just outside. The jury is still out on that one. So now I've finally captured lightning, harnessing the powers of Zeus himself in my hand. It's not the first or the best lightning photo ever taken, but it's not my last, so there's still time to capture another great image. Labels: bethesda, Justin Schuck, photography Subscribe to Posts [Atom] 
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