March 30, 2006

PAW 12 | Daffodil

They've been blooming here now for a few weeks. My daughter cut one out of the garden and brought me one...

March 24, 2006

Simplicity...

In finding vision, it is often said that one needs to go back to the basics. Yesterdays photography, which actually included other subject matter that I didn't publish, was all shot with one body, and one lense, and it wasn't even a zoom lense. I walked out of the house with a bag, actually 2 lenses and a camera. I never pulled out the 100, only using the 50.

Though the crop factor is increased 1.6X, which makes viewing thru my camera relatively 80mm, the freedom of looking thru the fixed lense is a joy. Like using a larger format camera, your forced to comtemplate your space. I've often considered not using zooms for that reason.

My first foray in photography was with my trusty Canon AE-1 and a fast 50mm f:1.4. Through most of high school and my first 2 years of photo education was with that combination. As I've written before, some of my fondest memories of photography are my earliest years. The simplicity in approach often needs to be revisited to restore some lost vision.

March 23, 2006

My shooting partner for the day...

A quick point and shoot shot...



sometimes captures true essence...

More from the Cemetery


117 years since Rachel J. Johonnet's passing...

While shooting with G, we talked about what we'll do with all these photos of gravestones and such that we've gathered today. I ended up with over 60 images... looked as if G had even more! Often for me, just being behind the camera is relaxing; no agenda, just looking for interesting points of view. And then, things just tend to happen when your are working your craft, even when there is no specifics involved.

While editing down my photos, I found this image. I didn't have any specific vision as to how I wanted the end result to look like, but I just experiment.



The first image is pretty much straight out of camera. The second image is one of my Black and White conversions.

For the final image though, I thought the shot would look great with a more cinematic feel. I didn't know how to get there, but thru working the conversion, like a print in the dark room, I came upon the version shown at the top.

For as much as I shot today, 95 percent of the images won't ever be seen. With the relaxation and enjoyment I get out of all this, it's most gratifying when discoveries are made.

PAW 11 | The Columbia Pioneer Cemetery



This is my 3rd time returning to this cemetery. I always come back calm and relaxed. And I also always come back with an image I like...

March 20, 2006

Diana...

To be mesmerized while running errands is a great gift. This afternoon while driving, the dj for a local radio station is introducing a song by the well known singer, Diana Krall. I haven't been much of a fan of Diana, but I haven't really listened to her in depth, either.

A Case of You, demands your ears to listen the way a small master piece demands your eyes to look. With only a piano accompanying this magnificent voice, you yearn to see every subtle nuance. I often find live performances distracting, but only a faint cough in the background hints at this. It is obvious that the crowd has all ready been engrossed by Diana's performance.

The piano starts a solo, quiet and gentle with the pedals surprisingly coming in like a percussion. The intro ends and the show begins with both a powerful and delicate voice. I haven't heard sultry like this in a long time. I'm sitting in the car having reached my destination, with no intention of getting out, listening with eyes closed. I manage to fade the volume down as the crowd rains applause. I'm dying to hear the song again, but realize my time of serenity has ended.



By the end of the afternoon, I track down the song, run to the store and purchased my own copy. I haven't yet listened to the rest of the CD, just A Case of You.

Cat Power

Matador Records | Cat Power Biography

I got invited to become a member of emusic.com a few weeks ago. Not a bad deal to get 25 free songs to join, but I got 100. Over an accumulation of maybe an hour, I went thru 98 songs, of which I highly recommend Cat Power, The Greatest. You'll hear a sultry voice, reminicent of Fiona Apple. The entire album is great!

March 19, 2006

Artists, take note...

As pointed out via SJ Hammack, an important article regarding legal rights to the artist to show and display their work... The Theater of the Street, the Subject of the Photograph - New York Times: "Philip-Lorca diCorcia "

"The suit was dismissed last month by a New York State Supreme Court judge who said that the photographer's right to artistic expression trumped the subject's privacy rights. But to many artists, the fact that the case went so far is significant."

March 17, 2006

G

A few weeks ago, I lost my phone. I had to get a replacement asap and the only way I could was to upgrade my "digital" service to a GSM service. Don't ask what that means... The service I had used old technology where phones were no longer being offered. Anyway, I get my new phone which has everything. An FM receiver, a camera that can take stills and video, access to the internet... I would have been happy with just a phone.

Over the first several days of having this phone, I didn't touch any of the other accoutrements that it offered. But being a photographer, I thought I would try the camera. I have taken several photos with it, viewing it on the tiny lcd screen. Cute...

I ended up emailing myself one of the photos and to my amazement, it shots a nice file. It actually takes 640 x 480 pixels. This photo was only resized, straight out of the phone.

Damn!


a fellow regular at a café I frequent.

March 12, 2006

PAW 10 | Ruby and Asta

There are few things I truely love in this world, but here are 2 of them.


Ruby


Asta

Wabi Sabi

I'm reading Wabi Sabi Simple, a not so well received book by Richard R. Powell, but I'm finding it enjoyable. The concept of Wabi Sabi is not new to me, as I've always had a feeling for it, but as per the essence of Wabi Sabi, you can never really define it. Having another viewpoint however makes my understanding a little more profound.

"Wabi Sabi is the quintessential Japanese aesthetic. It is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. It is a beauty of things modest and humble. It is a beauty of things unconventional..." as taken from another book I plan on purchasing, Wabi Sabi:for Artists, Designers, Poets and Philosophers, by Lenard Koren.

...lastly, Wabi Sabi... it's just fun to say it out loud...

March 10, 2006

PAW 9 | Sam Moy

In the interest of things that are slowly fading away with time, I found this painted ad on the side of a building. These artifacts that slowly die away, are the real ghosts from our past.

March 04, 2006

Array Designs

Array Design, hat maker extraordinaire is working on a fall campaign promotion. Together with Kristen Arnett - make up artist and Mackenzie our model, we created a wonderful "array" of images, 2 of which are here...





The photos for the ads will be in colour, but these images in Black and White are just as classic as the hats themselves.

Back in the Day...

Before I knew how to even ride a motorcycle, I bought one. Before I owned a motorcycle, I bought a helmet. I didn't want to follow logic, because if I had, I would have never gotten the 1985 Honda Nighthawk and begin my new adventures of motorcycling. This was a time far longer than I would like to ever admit, but which brings back so many wonderful memories of my younger years, besides my own striking appearance (HA).



Which brings me to ponder my present and to maybe shuffle things around and not follow the rules, the logic of living a life.

March 01, 2006

actually only 240,000 miles or so...

So the end of 2005 granted me with a hit and run of my car, right in front of my own home. It happened over night and I didn't hear it to try and see what idiot that did it. The car was a very nice Acura Legend, pristine for the most part. When I walked out to hit my daily jaunt to a café, I was greeted with a rear bumper half off of the car, a huge slam to the rear drivers side quarter panal and debris everywhere. There was also a nice open gash that let the rain water free to enter my trunk. Beyond furious! Without thinking, I bought the first car that looked decent to me. I thought I had my emotions in check and purchased an Audi 5000S. I missed German cars and was pretty happy at the thought of driving a 5 speed made for the AutoBahn. Well, several weeks later, one thing after another, I realized I bought a lemon. It was like having a wad of cash in my hand and setting it on fire. I went months without driving a car, relying on my bicycle, public transportation and the generosity of friends. Well, December was very cold and snowy, January was very wet, February was wet and cold. The last straw was having to wait for a bus, in the rain without being prepared for 45 minutes.

My second foray into getting another car was filled with paranoia. I didn't want to pull the trigger and put to fire more of my hard earned cash. Weeks of the Craig's List and a few conversations with a car fanatic buddy in Chicago, I was set to find of all cars, a Volvo. I laughed at the thought of having a Volvo, but as I did my research, it became apparent that these were great cars suited for ME. The 240 series cars have been around for a L O N G time and the basic car has been the same for over 15 years. I could go back to working on cars and suit it to my needs like I used to do to my old GLi.

1984 Vovlo 244, lots of work recently done, decent looking and GREAT PRICE! I took my mandatory test drive and loved the way it drove. Typical European in the way it felt, heavy and tight. Response was a little loose, but this car had some huge miles on it. Not as slow as I thought it was going to be and anything I did to the car was only going to make improvements.

I've waited to take my sigh of relief. After my Audi fiasco, I didn't want to get my hopes up on the Volvo. After having this car now for 3 weeks, I feel confident that I got a winner. (I've knocked wood several times all ready...) By no means will I not have to do any work to it, but it feels good to be among the driving.

I no longer park in the same spot as my Acura.

that says 299,600, but really, it only has around 240,000...
 
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