Episode one of Talent Freaks introduces photographer, filmmaker, and YouTuber Dave Herring, a Bay Area–based visual storyteller known for capturing the rugged beauty of the American West with his Leica cameras and sharing an honest, thoughtful philosophy on creativity. In this conversation, Dave dives into his journey from music to photography, how time in nonprofit work shaped his human‑centered storytelling, and why he believes a photographer’s role is to capture rather than create.
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​Listeners get a front‑row seat to his approach in the field—from hunting ghost towns and abandoned places to scouting locations in wild landscapes—plus the story behind some of his favorite images, including a family portrait in the Dolomites and a one‑of‑a‑kind “fishing” shot from Greece. Along the way, he unpacks common mistakes photographers make, his process for balancing film and digital, and the deeper connection he sees between beauty, adversity, and a meaningful creative life

A cinematic exploration of San Francisco captured entirely in anamorphic 1.5x. This 5-minute visual piece showcases the city’s architecture, light, and movement through intentional framing and deliberate pacing.

Shot on location over a single day using the Sony FX3 paired with Blazar Remus-M anamorphic lenses (35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm), the film demonstrates run-and-gun cinema techniques with stabilized handheld movement via the DJI RS4 Mini. The edit focuses on rhythm and atmosphere, with licensed music from Track Club driving the narrative flow.

This project represents a focus on visual storytelling where composition, lens character, and sound design work together to create mood and emotion without dialogue.

Technical Details:
• Camera: Sony FX3
• Lenses: Blazar Remus-M 1.5x Anamorphic (35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 135mm)
• Stabilization: DJI RS4 Mini
• Music: Licensed via Track Club
• Location: San Francisco, CA

This video is a short employee profile about Tao Guan, a Senior Staff Engineer at Nutanix who is also an event photographer, highlighting how his passion for photography shapes the way he works with customers and colleagues.

Co‑creator, director, and producer of Often Awesome: The Series, an award‑winning 36‑episode documentary web series following a friend’s ALS journey and the community that supported him; recognized by Vimeo Festival, Webby Awards, LAWebFest, and Melbourne WebFest (Outstanding Diversity Award).

A SingleStore culture piece created for talent attraction and to give candidates a realistic view of what it’s like to work there.