patrick roddie photography

As the Chinese curse goes, I live in interesting times. It’s been crazy busy with shoots, the book release, gallery opening (pics to follow) and more things than you could shake a stick at. If you’re in Japan, look out for my spread in My Lohas magazine, if you’re in France, pick up the French FHM Max magazine for a thing on hips. So even as I post seven galleries today, I’ve 25 more to post. Stay tuned . . .

I met the outstandingly beautiful Gema a few weeks ago on BART and she was kind enough to model for me, as were Annie and Tori.

Before that, I was in Mexico for another shoot and I got to photograph the children of San Miguel Allende. Oh, and I shot the California stage of the 2005 Nathan’s hot dog eating contest last week.

I did my first big digital-only (!!!) shoot last month in sunny Cabo San Lucas for Round Table Pizza. Another night I played with digital was at a local fashion show. It’s nice being to see what effects you’re getting on the spot.

Noe Venable played at the Great American Music Hall a couple of times recently. For those who haven’t heard her music, I strongly recommend her latest album and not just because I shot the cover…

Since this site keeps on growing, I’ve moved a bunch of galleries into the new “etcetera” for want of a better category.

Two more weddings today, Gwyn and Damian and Rosemary and Ben.

I’m also posting pictures I took for Boulder Body Works in Colorado last month. I had a tough time editing down to the ones I have, my yoga subjects included cute kids and pregnant women.

The chai tea shoot I did to pay for last year’s Burning Man expenses has borne fruit - the new website’s up.

I got back from Ecuador and the Galapagos on Saturday and I still can’t believe I went. For two weeks I got to swim with sealions and penguins, travel on luxury yachts, stay in five star hotels and shoot as much as I wanted.

The Galapagos Islands are incredible; achingly beautiful with fearless wildlife - you actually have to be careful not to trip over sealion pups and boobie chicks. I also got to play with an underwater camera for the first time, with mixed results. I’m not the greatest swimmer and had never snorkelled before, but I did get a few cool pictures of penguins, sea turtles and a bunch of sealions.

Mainland Ecuador didn’t disappoint either. It’s by far the most beautiful country I’ve visited and surprisingly free of tourists. The indiginous children are extremely cute, if camera shy. If you’d like to go yourself, Metropolitan Tours can arrange it.