Studio with Perfect Lighting...

Music | Sugar Rhyme by Bonobo

I've enjoyed going out on days to photograph when the weather has been questionable. The other day, Wil had an idea to shoot out on Sauvie Island, but even before the morning started, it was all ready raining. We both had our concerns, but since the morning was open, we decided to go on.

Before we strutted out under the rain drops, I had Wil jump in the back seat of my car. If I could build a studio with the ratio of glass and solid, my back seat would be a perfect rendering for an architect. I love the highlights over the shoulders and thru the bottom of Wil's hair. The lighting on her face is nice and soft, but defining to show off her jaw line. The light perfectly highlights the highlights, and the shadows drop off quickly and deep.

Maybe a series is in order! Any takers?

Like, the truth, ya know...

Music | End Theme by Zero 7

Typography from Ronnie Bruce on Vimeo.

Anna from 2008

Music | Mad World by Michael Stipe off the soundtrack, Donnie Darko

This year has started out in flux between ups and downs, mostly up. However, I've noticed as the days go by in the new decade, I'm having a bit of trouble jump starting my creativity. I haven't shot a personal photograph in a few months. I hate this feeling and the only walls around me are the ones I have created myself...

So, in an attempt to get going, I reviewed some older images to bring out. This photo was from a very good shoot I did with Anna. I do like seeing things with a different perspective that only time can create.



Often makes me wonder what other treasures I have passed over.

Dream Maker

Music | Wicked Little High by Bird York

For the past few weeks, I was running thru the Craigs List in Portland, Seattle, even San Francisco and parts of Montana looking for a dream. My search expanded to those other areas as I wasn't finding just what I wanted locally. However, my strategy change a bit as I returned to the local market, but much smaller ones. Sitting in the Eugene Craigs List appeared to be one of the perfect motorcycles meant just for me.

1979 BMW R100T $xxxx.00 or OBO

28,470 Miles
New Battery
Excellent Tires
Progressive Fork Springs
Dual Disc Brakes with Stainless Steel Brake Lines
Dual Horns
Many Stainless Steel Fastners

The photographs looked too good to be true, but I had to have a look... A few days later, a 2 hour drive south, the light of the day going fast, I found the address to the seller as the bike sat in the driveway... Just as the photographs showed, the bike was pristine. I quickly sized up the owner and the bike and felt really good about both. The moment came when he gave me the keys to take a test ride. All it took was a ride 4 miles out and 4 miles back. The bike rode like an arrow, shifting like butter, pulling hard thru all the gears and riding smoothly thru the turns, just as I remember my first BMW, a 1976 R75/6 did for over 12 years and 75,000 miles.

8 years have gone by since my original BMW was sold and I've been dreaming of having another for almost as long... The timing of various events have lined up that has given me the opportunity to put in an offer for one of my dreams to come back into my life. With an agreed upon price, transaction made, I walked out with a set of keys and title in hand. Because I had to drive my car back, I had to leave the bike back at a friends until 2 days later.

My 3 hour ride home thru the back roads to Portland was filled with stimuli. Though I felt right at home sitting on the familiar but not exact ride of the BMW, listening to the sweet sound of the engine accelerate thru the gears, it was chilly. Not bone chilling chilly, but enough to let me know my fingers weren't quite working the way they should. I love driving thru small towns and seeing their Main Street personalities, but I knew I needed to make time. My plans changed to the Interstate and though the cold became colder with wind chill factors, I felt great knowing I'd be home with my new baby soon...

As per usual, my rest stops turned into a conversation with a fellow BMW biker who was driving his cage, yearning so much to be out there like me on his bike. I'm sure we could have talked for much longer than we did, but I had to cut him short as I was loosing daylight.

Familiar I5 exits came to pass as I drew nearer to home. My new machine performed brilliantly thru our maiden voyage together. 120 miles and a new home, where new adventures and new dreams will be created!!!


...at a rest stop between Salem and Portland

Fruit...

Music | The Answer is You by Phyllis Hyman

The fruits of my labor from the other day. These set of images were a very nice surprise as I shot them over last summer and had no clue as to what exactly where on those pieces of film.

Timothy is a very articulate, expressive poet who I've known for a few years now. The first time I saw him perform I wanted to be able to photograph him. Years have passed, but I think it was worth the wait. I shot both 4x5 film and digitally, both reaping great images.

The new decade is promissing! I'm happy at what I'm seeing and optimistic for the future. I think I'll be on my way with images as strong as this one.

Refine...

Music |

01 01 2010 I like the looks of those numbers. With the start of the new year, I just finished processing my 1st batch of sheet film with some new film developer... My move into large format has been determined, but slow. Judging from the film as it sits to dry, I'm headed in the right direction. I've got another 20 sheets or so of unexposed film, to start to refine my process. I'm happy now to just get back into the swing of processing film again. The new decade brings me hope!

A Beautiful Print

Music | Polaris by Zero 7



A recent purchase from Ray Bidegain. It is a beautiful Platinum Palladium print rendering light, shadows, textures and transitions that only a print of this quality can relinquish. What I have in front of me is an example of what photography really is... The simple subject standing in front of a wall, directional light flowing in from the right. There is no mysticism here... This is just pure beauty captured by an artist that has honed his skills over years of learning, years of knowing.

Encounters...

Music | Let's Get it On by Marvin Gaye

Feeling in a rut, stagnant and not very positive lately, I am trying to move around, stir something up... I've read articles, a few books, hit a few galleries in the last few months, but nothing... Years ago, the way I got a push start to shooting was to set up a little studio in a café and photograph some of the folks that came in. A great series came out of that and I was inspired to move, to create, shoot!

Well I'm back in that mode and came upon an idea that I've altered from another photographer. Not on any specific day, I'll walk out with my camera, and photograph people I encounter. So far, these folks are people I know or know of someone who knows them. I hope to expand that to people I do not know, so long we've at least had a glance in each others eyes... Strangers aren't as scary as they used to be, but I still don't want to come across as the creepy guy with the camera wanting to take photos of them...

This is the first of the series, that I hope to continue until I hit 100 faces. Maybe I'll put up a collage...

A Vase...

Music | Color For Duke by World Saxaphone Quartet

Suddenly, a photo appeared before me...

M I S H I M A

Music | Tired of Being Alone by Al Green

My brother sent the family an email with a subject title that didn't make me expect what I got...



Upon opening the attachment, I think I was initially shocked, but quickly a calm fell upon me and a smile that came straight out of my heart. I think for the moment I was truly happy for them... Tom and Yuki, together.

I look at those letters, M I S H I M A and I am very proud to have that name, to be associated, to be apart of the family that Tom and Yuki brought up.

I love you always...

Ted

Printing Again!!!

Music | Nevoa Do Inverno by Leo Trauman

It has been over 5 months since the 4800 has printed anything! I've spent LOTS of money buying 8 110ml Ink Cartridges and a couple boxes of Velvet Fine Art. I had anticipated blowing a lot of ink getting the printer heads cleaned, but amazingly, only 3 run thru of cleanings and now I'm printing again! I've run thru 3 images of tests and 2 out of the 3 look like final images ready to sell. I know I've got some tweaks to make, but I'm feeling really good about what I'm getting on paper. Oh baby!!!

Some things are eternal...

Music | Harmonique by John Coltrane

The world as I know it has come to an end regarding my Mother and Father. The early morning wake up call was difficult for both Dara and I. Still somewhat dark, clouds looming overhead, the sadness omnipresent. We had a roughly 3 hour drive up north to the final resting place for Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, respected world citizens from the people who knew them...

Though it has been over a year since the passing of my mother, I still am not over the fact that she is gone. And recently, the passing of my father has opened up more feelings of the unknown, a sadness that does not come along very often...

I've been awaiting this day... The day where I would see the final resting place of my parents. Though my Mom passed a time ago, she wanted to be put to her final resting place at the same time as her husband. Side by side for over 60 years, one lifetime, raising children, grand children, the pillars of the family, a nice poetic ending as we know it was quite appropriate. It was my Mother's wish and it has been done...

Standing there upon the grass, gazing at the flowers my sister left the day before, tears streaming, Dara consoling, I felt a sense of peace... Together once again, thru eternity... A chance meeting way back in the 1940's, my Dad's perseverance, he won over the heart of my Mother. And so a lifetime together begins, but yet now, will never end...

I've found comfort today...

Love you Mom and Dad...

Eureka!

Music | As the Stars Fall by The Cinematic Orchestra

It feels good to know that over time, you start to realize some things about yourself, the things that define you as a person, as an artist. I have in my head the type of portraits that I want to create, but often times, things get in the way and you stray... I know of this phenomenon and it's desires are to quash my creative intent and mold me into mediocrity.

In my latest sitting, a portrait of a woman that I've been acquainted with, but don't really know, I had visions of an image that was somewhat historic, but yet timeless. Frankly, I want all of my images to have an ethereal quality that can't be defined by time.

Yesterday, my priority was not to let the phenomenon of mediocrity affect my time with my subject. Though my heart is heavy with the passing of my father, I worked thru that and easily fell into my moment with my camera, my subject. The weather really couldn't have been better, with slight drops of rain on occasion, clouds flowing in and out with even some sun rays - being in the moment of just creating a fine portrait allowed me not to worry and just go with the flow.

I think what I've learned recently is that there is something inside me that can be defined, that I am not just some wannabee with no skills. I have something to say and it is starting to speak. It has certainly taken much longer than I ever anticipated, but the wait has been good.


Anne | Grounded and Discordedness

Erio Tom Mishima

Erio Tom Mishima

Rest in Peace...

1922 - 2009

Photo Privé Newsletter

Music | The Walk by Imogen Heap

The folks over at Photo Privé have just published their first newsletter...


To download, click on the image

1 Year Anniversary

Music | I Want to Talk About You by John Coltrane

I've got a heavy heart today, out of the blue shedding tears... It was on this day a year ago my mother passed. Last year it was a Friday... I found out around 2:30 in the afternoon... I had to pick up Dara from camp and just felt the need to do something with her after I had told her the news... We drove to Forest Park, walked deep into the woods along a path that had a creek. I had told her that all of the water that fell down this creek would eventually make it to the Pacific Ocean where Grandma's home land was... Japan. We took solace knowing this and made a few rock sculptures in the river bed in her honor. We whispered our well wishes on to leaves, placed them in the water and watched them float down stream.

Today, Dara had remembered what we did and wanted to go back. However, she decided we should write notes and leave them with more rock sculptures that we would create, again in the same general place we did last year.

I'm so happy that Dara has fond memories of her Grandmother and the tradition we started one year ago today.

We're thinking of you, Mom. We love you and miss you terribly...

Stepping Off...

Creating a work of art is no easy task. Just from an idea, we work and strive to be able to create something of substance.

There are many reasons we can create to not pursue our goals in life, but only when we break thru our own barriers do we see enlightenment, a discovery.

Terrifying as it is, stepping off and facing our fears whatever they might be can sometimes reveal the incredibly beautiful.

Comfort Is The Enemy Of Greatness�|�Accidental Creative

Comfort Is The Enemy Of Greatness�|�Accidental Creative

When I stop and think, times of discomfort often brings on the bigger returns in the creative process. I've written on this topic before and I'm glad to have run into Accidental Creative's post to remind me, I'm OK... I am in a state of transition and feel like I'm floating, no ground beneath me to stand upon. I've been quite concerned being in this state, but I'm beginning to feel I should just enjoy the ride. Out of the tunnel, I'm sure I will have some foundation to take a few steps forward to change the direction to something different...

Photo Prive

Photo Prive

Music | Big Paul by John Coltrane

Photo Privé

This is the latest incarnation I've come up with where creativity, art and commerce is balanced and where I feel I am not selling out my vision as an artist. That is also the basis of Photo Privé, more so about art and the provocative nature of women, than the 'sexy", "pretty", "gorgeous" adjectives used to portray other photographers that are photographing women in the "boudoir" style.

I don't think Photo Privé and boudoir have anything in common. But to reach the women who want to step up and in many ways, create art for themselves or to the masses, we have to start somewhere. I do in fact think Photo Privé is far beyond where boudoir ends. And so today is born the phrase, photographing women in the Privé tradition...

At the Café

Music | White Flag by Dido

She slouches a little, but is so engaged that she is letting her passion of what she speaks of come thru her body, ever more creeping up to the edge of the table. Her eyes are focused and intent. Everything about her says wall flower, down to her brown flats and ruffled brown skirt just above her ankles. She wears a green cardigan sweater covering up a non matching blue and white striped shirt. She reminds me of photos of my Mom that were taken in the 50's. I can't hear the conversation, but it looks of acedemic subject matter. Besides her is a green over the shoulder bag and a book that is 3 inches thick with a pink book marker towards the end. As she and her gentleman talk, her macbook sits in front of her, but closed. Note pad and pen all within reach... Pictures are drawn, ideas being conveyed... I am piqued...