Riding the Rails for Rocky Mountaineer.

We took 30 models on a train for 6 days to create an image and video bank for Rocky Mountaineer Railtours out of Vancouver BC. It was an amazing journey from Vancouver to Whistler to Quesnel to Jasper and then back!

This is the trip of a lifetime. You really should add it to your bucket list. The cast and crew had a wonderful time which made my job so much easier. In addition to my own videographers, makeup artist, stylist and crew we had the great privilege of being followed on land and by air by the incredibly gifted photographer, Cameron Davidson.  I have been an admirer of Cameron’s forever. Cameron would trade the chase van and helicopter back and forth with another amazing cinematographer, Steve Gordon. Steve and Cameron are way too nice to be so talented. I’m suspicious.

Much of the work can be seen in the Ads, Brochures and Videos that Rocky Mountaineer publish all over the world. You can visit their site at:  http://www.rockymountaineer.com

Here is a video produced from the shoot that features our efforts prominently. All video and photos you see inside the train were done by us. People, Food, Everything! Including Ms. Reba McEntire!!! Who we had the great pleasure of riding with on another train trip with Rocky Mountaineer. People always want to know and the answer is YES! She is absolutely the nicest person you could want to meet. We LOVE Reba!

You can see the video here:  http://vimeo.com/19805707

Thanks for stopping by!

Robert Earnest

 

New Zealand Update.

We went down to New Zealand again for TAG OIL. And once again the country and the people were wonderful. Most of our efforts during this trip were in the Taranaki Basin near New Plymouth but some of our most exciting days were in the East Coast Basin where we spent our days documenting the spudding of Waitangi Hill with a continuous coring drill rig. A core sample brought up from 172 meters showed evidence of oil at depth.

You can see our video from this project AT THIS LINK!

Next we travelled to New Plymouth where TAG has done incredibly well having optimized existing wells at their Cheal site  and having successfully confirmed 4 new Discoveries in the last 5 months. (as of April 5, 2011) in TAG OIL’s 100%-controlled Petroleum Exploration Permit 38748 in the onshore Taranaki Basin.

You can view a selection of our favorites from the thousands of images we shot AT THIS LINK!

TAG OIL is doing remarkable things by bringing western technologies to New Zealands Gas and Oil Industry. We are very proud to have helped them to tell their story and hope to be a part of their future successes!

Robert Earnest

Original Songs and their Best Covers!

I love music just about as much as I do photography and had a great time putting this together. I hope you enjoy it as well. I also hope you have a lot of time to waste.

I am surprised how many songs that are synonymous with an artist or band that were in fact covers!

Suggestions and differences of opinion are certainly welcome!

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ORIGINAL- Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes – If You Don’t Know Me by Now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOOXCx2WquE

BEST COVER- Simply Red – If You Don’t Know Me By Now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTcu7MCtuTs

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ORIGINAL- Willie Dixon – You Shook Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-POnP8O2R0

BEST COVER- Led Zeppelin- You Shook me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj7EizMBRkg

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ORIGINAL- Michael Jackson- Billie Jean

hhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi_XLOBDo_Y

BEST COVER- Chris Cornell – Billie jean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2MgwAJrfXo

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ORIGINAL- Five Royales – Dedicated To The One I Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAuRMFzBCqw

BEST COVER- Mamas & the Papas – Dedicated To The One I Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8h6lPMk9kw

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ORIGINAL- Joan Baez – Babe I’m Gonna Leave You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eCNLY7ezJo

BEST COVER- Led Zeppelin- Babe I’m Gonna Leave You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP9xMobANJM

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ORIGINAL- Irma Thomas – Time is On My Side

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFj0RfZb6iM

BEST COVER- Rolling Stones- Time is On My Side

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIE2GAqnFGw

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ORIGINAL- Carl Perkins – Honey Don’t

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TMF3eK2ojY

BEST COVER- The Beatles- Honey Don’t

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jCdD8pSODU

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ORIGINAL- Carl Perkins – Blue Suede Shoes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79CJON8fv6c

BEST COVER- Elvis Presley- Blue Suede Shoes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1Ond-OwgU8

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ORIGINAL- Dale Hawkins – Susie Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YorJb5LSu8

BEST COVER- Creedence Clearwater Revival – Susie Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mxaA-bJ35s

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ORIGINAL- Traffic- Feelin’ Alright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIYLZOp_Bzc

BEST COVER- Joe Cocker- Feelin’ Alright

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiTcmahEjiY

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ORIGINAL- Blind Willie McTell – Statesboro Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwA8eH5dwAU

BEST COVER- The Allman Brothers Band – Statesboro Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGDdK5L2SX8

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ORIGINAL- Tom Waits- Downtown Train

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZhW76LAnTY

BEST COVER- Rod Stewart- Downtown Train

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6yk9wWNB08

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ORIGINAL- Proud Mary- Creedence Clearwater Revival

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkJgR4cNXeg

BEST COVER- Proud Mary- IKE AND TINA TURNER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54XRNQ2C2x0

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ORIGINAL- The Leaves- Hey Joe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWv03Wgz0PQ

BEST COVER- Jimi Hendrix- Hey Joe (teeth solo!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLnKUiybiFo

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ORIGINAL- Hank Williams – Move It On Over

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Lza3NVH6Ig

BEST COVER- George Thorogood- Move It On Over

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV05IH3a4Bg

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ORIGINAL- Dolly Parton – Jolene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_zJb_R5wFA

BEST COVER- White Stripes- Jolene

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zskw3mCQFL4

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ORIGINAL_ I Want Candy by the Strangeloves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiiD8KeAFew

BEST COVER- Bow Wow Wow – I Want Candy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMICD3aMZpw

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ORIGINAL- Alabama Song – Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbxdIJQh-Qc

BEST COVER- The Doors – Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_d_VJbYAfc

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ORIGINAL- HURT- Nine Inch Nails

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvJKVKglIRs

BEST COVER- Hurt- Johnny Cash

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

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ORIGINAL- Bob Dylan- Knockin’ on Heavens Door

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJpB_AEZf6U

BEST COVER- Guns N Roses- Knockin’ on Heavens Door

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRr8g9YtU6U

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ORIGINAL- Falco – Der Kommissar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w4Xulsjo5I

BEST COVER -After the Fire – Der Kommissar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Guvo7gUdUnE

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ORIGINAL- Robert Johnson – Sweet Home Chicago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkftesK2dck

BEST COVER- Eric Clapton & Buddy Guy- Sweet Home Chicago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osdx8nkXvak

BEST COVER- Rolling Stones- Sweet Home Chicago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2t0AAOiPxk

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ORIGINAL- Gilbert Price- Feeling Good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djs5DzaHK7c

BEST COVER- Nina Simone- Feeling Good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8tuTSi6Sck

BEST COVER- Jean DuShon- Feeling Good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HS0QYSTxN4k

BEST COVER- My Brightest Diamond- Feeling Good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dftj5cFuJpw

BEST COVER- Muse- Feeling Good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmwRQqJsegw

BEST COVER- Michael Buble- Feeling Good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYe6tmrFxbw

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ORIGINAL- Jean Dushon’s original version of “For Once in My Life” simply is not to be found on the web. Next in line were the Four Tops

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zdk0Q050-Q

BEST COVER- Stevie Wonder- For Once in My Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vxVyaYuGYE

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ORIGINAL- Gladys Night and the Pips- Heard it Through the Grapevine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWvwP72FuVg

BEST COVER- Creedence Clearwater Revival- Heard it Through the Gravevine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZe9OtFNt_8

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ORIGINAL- Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJTiXoMCppw

BEST COVER- kd lang “Hallelujah”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JStOPpNI4Tk

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ORIGINAL- Fleetwood Mac – Black Magic Woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsaanocINW4

BEST COVER- Carlos Santana – Black Magic Woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaKnRUfh_5I

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ORIGINAL- Stevie Wonder – Higher Ground

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wZ3ZG_Wams

BEST COVER- Red Hot Chili Peppers – Higher Ground

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gs2o5T7oN8

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ORIGINAL- Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgMEPk6fvpg

BEST COVER- Counting Crows – Big Yellow Taxi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvtJPs8IDgU

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ORIGINAL- Guess Who – American Woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OR6HkGS11c

BEST COVER- Lenny Kravitz – American Woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzWHE32IxUc

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ORIGINAL- Hank Ballard & the Midnighters – Look at Little Sister

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d7Yn2pe1HE

BEST COVER- Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble – Look at Little Sister

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLWkpt53UkY

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ORIGINAL- JOHNNY O’KEEFE & The DEE JAYS – ‘Real Wild Child’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0a-ATQZY0k

BEST COVER- Iggy Pop- Real Wild Child

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=def3ob2h-1s

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ORIGINAL- Bob Dylan- All Along the Watchtower

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOdcsK0NM6g

BEST COVER- Jimi Hendrix – All Along The Watchtower

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V008MjXP5Pg

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ORIGINAL- Otis Redding- Respect

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo3aeXZFZkg

BEST COVER- Aretha Franklin- Respect

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSdFTVhFyyc

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ORIGINAL- The Beatles- With a Little Help From My Friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmOtWyjs8iU

BEST COVER- Joe Cocker- With a Little Help From My Friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQYDvQ1HH-E

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ORIGINAL- Led Zeppelin- Stairway to Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9TGj2jrJk8

BEST COVER- Tiny Tim- Stairway to Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzrQrlm4M20

BEST COVER- Dolly Parton- Stairway to Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJHjQ81JtY0

BEST COVER- Dread Zeppelin- Stairway to Heaven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dwh5_hicoE

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ORIGINAL- Bob Dylan- Just Like a Woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5yQ8JJ8R9E

BEST COVER- Ritchie Havens- Just like a Woman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNM09-6kxUg

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ORIGINAL- Guns N Roses- Sweet Child O Mine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA_ZCHEZ0PI

BEST COVER- Cheryl Crow- Sweet Child O Mine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RFmILU9HlA

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ORIGINAL- I Think It’s Going to Rain Today- Randy Newman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60AChuvfzUo

BEST COVER- I Think It’s Going to Rain Today- David Gray

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5jrJgkX4F8

BEST COVER- I Think It’s Going to Rain Today- Bette Midler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H9HEyjzog4

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ORIGINAL- Mercy Mercy Me- Marvin Gaye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9BA6fFGMjI

BEST COVER- Mercy Mercy Me- Hall And Oats w/Sing Like Talking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKO3iMEvoJ4

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ORIGINAL- I Want You- Marvin Gaye

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_mvsWJdVgw

BEST COVER-  (Why would anyone bother?)

ORIGINAL- I Will Survive- Gloria Gaynor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBR2G-iI3-I

BEST COVER- I Will Survive- Gladys Knight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCvl41nFMns

ORIGINAL- Me and Mrs. Jones- Billy Paul

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8HJyTic5Vo

BEST COVER- Me and Mrs. Jones- Darryl Hall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i2PKOI06dM

A project in New Zealand

Most of my work over the years has been for advertising agencies. But it wasn’t always that way. I began as an artist. Well, with the aspirations of being an artist anyway. To follow in the footsteps of the great street photographers who inspired me so much. In the beginnings of my professional career I began working for designers doing corporate collateral works. Annual Reports and Capabilities Brochures that had me crawling around factories trying to make silk purses out of  sows ears. Spending all the next day pulling extension cords through rags to get the grease and gunk off them was a long way from the leather pants and Porsches that I was sure all the other photographers were enjoying. 

Still, I found the work to be very satisfying. Over the years, as I began to do more and more advertising images, the work got more technical, more conceptual and more constructed. I found that to be even more challenging which brought even greater satisfaction. Although I was still occasionally hired to produce images that had a “found” feeling to them, which I considered my best work, I found less and less time to just wander out into the world with a camera and see what it looked like. 

Recently though, I had an assignment that combined the best of all these worlds.

Trans-Orient Petroleum commissioned me to visit their 2.5 million acres of Petroleum Exploration Permit areas in New Zealand and bring back a collection of still images and video to help them explain to the world what they are doing down there. What they are doing is called an unconventional oil play and I think I’d best let Drew Cadenhead explain it to you in this video.

We produced several videos from our visit. Here are a couple of my other favorites.

and this:

In addition to the video we brought home 6500 still images that we catagorized, identified, processed and organized on portable hard drives for delivery to the client and their designers. The designers were overwhelmed but ecstatic with this treasure chest of imagery. “We have always spent so much time researching imagery, trying to find something that will work for us and now we have so much we can’t decide what to use first”, one of the designers in California told me. I made myself available to them at any time should they have a question as to whether we had an image in the library to fit their needs. And I am proud to say that we always did!

The images seemed to break down into 3 categories. The first thing we wanted to do was to provide a cursory observation of some of the present day oil and gas operations on New Zealand’s north island. If you are in the oil exploration business, it is good to know that oil is being found, brought to the surface and reaching the marketplace. It also helps to have an existing infrastructure ready and available to help you deal with the spoils of your success. You can see a sprinkling of New Zealand Oil and Gas Activity images here.

The second category is of course the exploration process itself. This was the most remarkable part of the story. Tramping through the outback with some of New Zealand’s top geologists was an amazing experience. As you can read in the comments that accompany these images, to a geologist, the whole planet is like Disneyland. But it doesn’t end there. What do you do with the gas and oil when you do find it? What other industries might benefit from your finds? Who would you sell it to and how would you get it to them?

You can explore a collection of photos of  Petroleum Exploration in New Zealand here.

The third category of images would be scenes of the country itself. Some of these images help to describe the physical working conditions of the area (which in this case couldn’t be any more attractive), and some images have nothing at all to do with the oil exploration business itself but give the designers more to work with when trying to put together business communications with flair.

You can see some of my favorite images in this collection of  Scenes of New Zealand.

I hope you enjoy this work half as much as I did producing it.

Thanks to TransOrient Petroleum for giving me the opportunity and for being such a great client. I am sure they are going to find great success in New Zealand.

 

cheers!

r

Welcome to Robert Earnest’s photo blog.

I’m Robert Earnest and will be my photography blog. Welcome. It’s nice to meet you.

I have been looking for a way to share my imagery that would allow me to share all the stories, anecdotes and gossip behind them. All the things that made them so fun and interesting to create in the first place. All the things that I would be able to tell you about if I were to able share my portfolio with you personally. 

You can see more of my work on my website. I invite any questions or suggestions for images you might like to see discussed here.

Thanks for stopping by,

r