Good Work
I just wrapped up a week of meetings in San Francisco. I spent lots of time talking about past jobs, as well as upcoming work. This reflection has made me realize that I've been fortunate to collaborate with a number of companies that are working to make positive change in the world.
This past summer I shot with Underground, an agency that works exclusively with non-profit clients. This particular job was for GreenPoint Rated, a rating system that aims to improve energy efficiency, resource conservation, indoor air quality, water conservation, and community:
The San Francisco Department of the Environment hired OgilvyOne to help increase awareness about recycling. Then Ogilvy hired me to help make the images for the site. Everyone pitched in to make this shoot happen, and we shot in five locations over three days. It appeared all over the city, even on the ass end of a few buses:
This is the second year that I've worked with the fine folks at Cultivator to come up with imagery forMoots Handcrafted Titanium bicycles. Bicycles are good. The work I do with Moots is especially rewarding, since one of their bikes, though expensive, will last longer than their owners. The factory and its people are a real testament to artisan craftsmanship, and exude passion about everything they do. This year they were nice enough to provide me with my own custom travel Moots that will actually break down into small case that I can bring with me anywhere.
Also on the expensive-beautiful-last-you-a-lifetime bicycle client list is the new Paul Budnitz Bicycles.Paul is the founder (and former owner) of KidRobot, and has moved from making Art Toys to making Titanium Art Bikes. I worked with the fine people at XYZ Graphics to make some images for Paul. Currently, there are two models, and they are absolutely stunning:
For the last few years, I've also been working with Chipotle, which is a really big company that is really passionate about the quality of their food. I accompanied their CEO, Steve Ells, on his visit to Marin County to meet with Bill Niman, who serves as one of their consultants. More recently, we traveled to Earthbound Farm in San Lucas, CA to document the organic farming practices and knowledgable farmers that grow cilantro for Chipotle. I was fired up to see that Chipotle also created an insanely intricate, beautiful film about farming, and even got Willie Nelson to cover Coldplay to help their cause. And the food is delicious!
Bill Niman and Chipotle CEO Steve Ells having a chat at Bill's farm in Bolinas, CA.
Furthermore, Chipotle has just formed a non-profit arm called the Cultivate Foundation that is dedicated to food education. I've been working with them as well, and after meeting their Board of Directors recently, it's clear that they are truly passionate about food and food education. Chipotle is big enough to reach a lot of people, and I look forward to helping however I can.
Lastly, but not leastly, I was fortunate enough to work with design firm Berger & Fohr to revamp my identity, site, book, and all collateral. Todd and Lucian are truly dedicated to effecting positive change through being selective about their clients, and doing smart work. As they state on their home page, "Berger & Föhr is committed to the triple bottom line — people, planet and profit — and runs its studio accordingly." Here is a pic of Todd and Lucian, looking all business:
Todd Berger & Lucian Fohr, of Berger & Fohr.
There are many things that I am thankful for in my work. It's always nice to know when the images that I create are being used to make the world a better place.
