Sound Century Radio

I am pleased to announce that after the new year Soundcentury radio, an indie radio station I developed with my partner Jean in California will be relaunching with new and improved features. Please take a moment to view the current site to get a feel for what is in store. It is going to be pretty amazing and absolutely huge. Look out WORLD!!!


Take a listen and then get in touch with Strainephotography to book an affordable, professional Hilton Head Photographer.

Santa Claus nearly clobbered me on Tybee Island, Georgia

Santa Claus nearly clobbered me on Tybee Island, Georgia. Thats right. On Saturday December 8th my amazing, incredibly beautiful, intelligent and so much more girlfriend Erin Howell and I were on the beach hanging out, kicking the soccer ball around and just relaxing in general.
A dense misty fog hovered heavy in the air and visibility was poor at best. In the distance a rumble could be heard, but the sound was more of a mellow gurgle and so we dismissed the sound as that of a plane soon after it was audible.
Then, as the sound neared, as our hearts beat faster and our curiosity grew, a shape appeared out of the grey-blue mist that was making us wet. Were we in a steam room or on the beach?
The shape appeared to be a flying man. It was indeed the source of the sound. The man was wearing an odd costume and if Christmas were not just around the corner I would have never guessed it, but I did. It was Santa. It was Santa flying in the sky, through the fog, above the ocean, and coming right towards me. But how, how could this Santa fly? I did not see any reindeer. I did not see a sleigh.
This Santa was flying via a fan propelled hang glider and he was obviously very skilled.
He dipped down just enough to offer me a friendly wave from the sky and then off he went. He drifter mysteriously off into the mist. He must have been taking a break from all that work getting presents ready for Christmas.

Hilton Head Island Photographer

This is a really cool photo from a wedding I photographed just outside Charleston, South Carolina. There is something just really bitching about it. He just looks so happy and so in tune with what he is doing. Would you guess he is walking up the aisle to wait for his bride to be? Maybe... I don't know. I just like it.

Frank Black and The Catholics Music Video

I think it is only proper to put a video up of one of my favorite bands of all time. Frank Black and The Catholics are simply amazing. I saw them play a few years back at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and it was one of the coolest shows I have ever seen. They are not only extremely talented, but they rock. Absolutely rock.


Frank Black and The Catholics Music Video

Hilton Head Island Rock Band Photographer

The post title is not really true. I mainly travel outside of Hilton Head to shoot bands. The music scene on Hilton Head, for a lack of better words, sucks.
I have been photographing rock bands for close to ten years now and have accumulated a serious body of work. Here is the guitar player for "The Coup" I shot this image while working as the House Photographer for the Northeast Kingdom Music Festival.
I am in the process of trying to get booked as the house photographer for the Pixies.
I can only hope it actually happens. I think it is going to. Two weeks on the road with one of the greatest rock bands of all time. HEAVEN!!!
Hilton Head Island Rock Band Photographer

Wedding Photographer on Hilton Head Island

I have to say that I really never thought I would become a wedding photographer. I was always more into fine art photography. In fact, I never even touched a digital camera until a couple years ago. I ran a darkroom in Vermont and did everything with film the traditional way. Never did I think I would become so deeply involved with photographing people in any form or fashion.

The other day I was thinking of all this and it hit me. I am a photographer who now specializes in wedding photography. I have shot over 20 weddings and I am nearly completely booked through next year. It is truly amazing.

I started to wonder do I really like it. I guess what I mean, is that, do I go, "Oh no, shit, I have a wedding to shoot today." Or, "I would love to go do that, but I have this stupid wedding to photograph and I have to work it, so I can't"

No, No, NO. It is not like that at all. The truth is, I really love photographing weddings. I really do. It is such an important job and such an intimate experience that I really think only certain people can handle. To get great images you need to get close and personal and you need to this with people you have never known previously. You have to be fast. You have to quick and you cannot waste time.
For some reason, I am not sure why, this comes completely 100% natural to me. I just get in there, right away, and get the shots that make my photography stand out and why I continue to get booked up and down the east coast.

My images come directly from my heart. The day wedding photography does not mean as much as it does now to me, is the day I throw in the towel and right now I don't see myself throwing that towel anytime soon.

Dan Straine
Wedding Photography Chatter.
Speaking the truth about his wedding photography on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

South Carolina Wedding Photographer Journal: Charleston Wedding Photography

South Carolina Wedding Photographer Journal: Charleston Wedding Photography