|
Workspace: A Life in Pictures |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written by Erin Frustaci
|
|
Thursday, 04 January 2007 |
|
|
|
|
 Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Gerald Ford and Stevie Wonder have all smiled for Michael Colwell.
Thanks for the memories indeed.
Through his camera Colwell, 43, of Fort Collins has glimpsed at the lives of the rich and famous.
“Most people were very nice,” Colwell said. “A few are pretty sticky, but that’s not the norm.”
For about seven years, Colwell worked as a photographer shooting celebrity events in Palm Springs, Calif.
He visited the Sinatras’’ home on Frank Sinatra Drive, photographed the Bob Hope Classic, and took pictures at the Betty Ford Invitational.
“It was interesting and fun work as a young man, but a lot of long hours,” he said. “If I had the same job now, I’d be divorced. It wears on you.”
So instead of snapping shots on the red carpet, Colwell focuses on running his own businesses. He returned to Colorado 15 years ago and opened Colwell Photography. He specializes in portraits and weddings.
Three years ago he and his wife, Kari, bought Photo ImageCenter, where they offer photo processing, photo restoration, portraits and digital printing.
Colwell first got the photography bug as a yearbook photographer and newspaper photographer in high school in Taipei, Taiwan.
“Going to school overseas offered new subject matter,” Colwell said.
He went on to study photography at California State University-Fullerton.
Though his business has adapted to accommodate all the technological advancements of digital photography, Colwell says there is room for both film and digital. He said about 60 percent of his business is digital and 40 percent is film, but it changes all the time.
“A lot of people still shoot film,” he said. “There are a lot of good reasons to shoot film. I shoot both depending on the situation.”
Digital photography has the advantage of being able to view the images right away. Film still has some advantages when it comes to quality, Colwell said.
Digital photography also offers an element of convenience. Photos can be uploaded onto a computer and prints can be ordered at www.photoimagecenter.com without ever leaving home.
Another big change is around the corner for Photo ImageCenter, 2601 S. Lemay. In the next few weeks, the store will move to a new location at 2721 S. College Ave.
“The new location is great and will fit our needs better,” Colwell said with a smile.
———
ON THE MOVE
Photo ImageCenter will soon move from 2601 S. Lemay to new digs at 2721 S. College Ave.
ONLINE
You can upload photo and order prints at www.photoimagecenter.com.
———
VITAL STATS
Name: Michael Colwell, 43, of Fort Collins
Company: Photo ImageCenter and Colwell Photography
Title: Co-owner and photographer
How long have you worked there? Owned photo studio for 15 years and image center for three years.
———
IN HIS WORDS
What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
Usually my daughter comes in and screams in my ear. Knowing people dropped off work the day before and that there are things to be done, film to be run and portraits to be shot in the studio. On Saturdays it’s a wedding. I love that the most. I love shooting weddings.
Did you ever think in a million years you’d work here?
It’s funny, when I first moved here after working in Palm Springs, I came here for a job . They gave the job to someone else and now we own it. That was 15 years ago. I was more interested in starting my own business. The two businesses tie in nicely. It’s nice to have the quality control of shooting and printing from start to finish. It’s a good thing.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you do?
I don’t know. This has been a big part of my life for over half my life — 22 years now. Would you like fries with that?
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done while at work?
Oh boy, there’s so many to choose from. My first night I worked with the photographer in Palm Springs there was a grand opening of the Bob Hope Cultural Center. I photographed Burt Bacharach and Stevie Wonder together. I was so nervous I said to them, “Look this way” and Stevie Wonder said, “I’ll try. I’ll try.” I was 22 years old and fresh out of college. It was my first big job. It got easier.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever done to make money?
While in college at a restaurant I worked in I dressed up as the Easter Bunny for Easter and had a bunch
of rotten kids tug on me all day.
Name one thing in your lifethat prepared you for your job.
In college I bartended. That gave me a great background for dealing with people and personalities. You learn a lot about people when you are stuck behind
a counter and you have to deal with them.
Family?
Married to Kari, have one 6-year-old daughter, Katie and one not sure about... Our second is due Aug. 9.
Pets?
I have one dog named Zefram, two cats named Eddie and Alex, three goldfish and nine chickens. The chickens we had as chicks for Easter pictures. They grew up a little bit and weren’t cute anymore, but I got attached. We now have fresh eggs in the morning. | Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
| |
