Art / PotD

Not Quite Naked: Implicit

May 19, 2015

Reflections of Now (2012)

The living model, the naked body of a woman, is the privileged seat of feeling, but also of questioning… The model must mark you, awaken in you an emotion which you seek in turn to express. -Henri Matisse

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]It’s not especially easy being naked before someone you don’t really know; at least, not for most people. You stand there, exposed, feeling every slight draft of air on your skin, wondering if they’ve noticed that scar on your thigh from when you were six years old and got caught on the barbed-wire fence. You wonder not if but how they’re judging you: are your breasts too small or large or shaped funny? Is your skin splotchy? Can they tell how much you suddenly need to go to the bathroom? How do you tell them your period just started without being embarrassed? Why is this taking so long?

For all the hoopla they sometimes create, especially in social media, implicit art nudes, or art nudes of any kind, are so far removed from anything sexual as to make the imposition of a sexual comment laughable. Artists, whether painters or sculptors or photographers, are consumed with the details of how to recreate or represent the totality of what is before them. Models are more than flesh and bone, but an architecture of emotion, experience, beauty, and humanity. How does one accurately capture all that in a single image in a way that communicates to the viewer everything the artist is feeling? The model, on the other hand, wonders if the pose looks as silly as it feels, if maybe she shouldn’t have had that burrito for lunch, and if she’s going to be done in time to let the dogs out before they mess on the carpet.

What implicit nudes do to the viewer, though, is challenge one’s perception of what is versus what may be. If one comes to an image from the perspective that all things are sexual, then one is going to perceive a sexuality where none was intended. If one approaches an image while consumed with a given emotion, one is going to find that emotion first and perhaps dominantly within the image regardless of what the artist sought to communicate. One of the greatest challenges in working with nudes is that the artist can only control what’s happening, what’s seen, what’s felt, what’s intended, as the image is created. We do not control the viewer’s experience.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]Great art, some argue, is that which communicates its intended purpose regardless of when, where, or under what conditions it is viewed. When multiple generations of people look at a piece of art and come away with the same or at least similar understanding then the artist did their job well and the work is worthy of commendation. Yet, all one has to do is show a five-year-old a picture of Michaelangelo’s David (assuming one probably isn’t close enough to visit the real thing), to see that one’s perspective of art is learned, not inherent. Amidst a flurry of giggles, they will gleefully point out that David is missing his pants. Depending on the child, “Ewwwwww” is likely to be their artistic critique.

That is not to say that great art does not inherently stir emotion within most everyone; there is a sense of awe that comes with standing in front of a painting so incredibly detailed as to seemingly lift off the canvas. A photograph carefully lit to emphasize a specific element while keeping other details shadowed draws us close and raises our curiosity. Abstract sculpture leads us to contemplate our perceptions of shape and construction even when we don’t understand those factors at all. Art does not require an education to have an impact on its viewer.

Art does require, however, that we approach it openly, honestly, recognizing our personal biases but having the ability to set aside that bias to see more of what the artist desired to communicate. Nowhere is that more true than with an implicit nude. There is much to be said in today’s picture about self-examination, self-esteem, and self-worth. We might ponder what the girl feels about the reflection she sees in the mirror, and how we feel when we look at our own reflection. Emotions in this image may run deep if the viewer is willing to take that risk.

If all one is seeing is sex, the problem doesn’t lie with the image but with the person viewing it.[/one_half_last]

Art / Photography / PotD

Not Quite Naked: Tacit

May 18, 2015

Beautiful nudes made it possible for us to contemplate our sexuality in safety. -Martha Mayer Erlebacher

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]”Don’t tag me in these, my family wouldn’t understand.”

I’ve gotten that request often from models since social media became prominent, and not always in regard to nudity. There have been times when the request came simply because the person feared her family’s response to her modeling. Other times because the clothing was so very different from what they normally wore. And at least one time because the model feared her family would think she wasn’t taking her college courses seriously. Social media’s ability to expose our “secrets” to the rest of the world has had a dramatic effect in how people behave, or at least choose to present themselves, when they’re online.

Not that such concerns are entirely new, mind you. Horst P. Horst related the story of one instance where a husband became very upset that Horst had taken pictures of his wife and threatened to kill both the photographer and the wife. This was back before professional models existed, forcing photographers to pull from their social contacts for subjects. Horst had photographed the young woman unaware that her husband had any concerns. Once the photo showed up in Vogue magazine, however, the husband was outraged and accused his spouse of having an affair with the photographer. What made that accusation all the more outlandish was the fact that Horst was unapologetically gay and everyone knew it. Eventually, cooler heads prevailed and no one was harmed.

Still, public reaction to anything remotely resembling nudity is surprisingly severe given how we’re supposed to be so incredibly “enlightened” now. Just this past week, I observed a comment under the photo of a young woman in a relatively modest bikini chastising the girl for “lowering” herself by posing in such a way. The model was, understandably, offended and quickly corrected the commenter. Other friends have had pictures of them nursing their newborn reported to the morality police. Instagram even removed fashion week runway photos if there was a hint of nipple exposed. Social media has become the arbiter of a false morality that works against the very idea of an open and well-educated society. We find it much easier to respond from ignorance than to seek understanding.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]I am convinced that the major reason for such excessive reaction to tacit nudity is that images remotely focusing on the human body stir questions of one’s own sexuality within those who have never fully dealt with the subject. For those raised in sexually oppressive environments, the mere thought of anything sexual scares the living shit right out of them because they don’t have the emotional or intellectual tools necessary to even begin dealing with the subject. People sexually oppressed, whether due to social constraints, religion, or any other number of factors, fail to understand sexuality as anything more than a means of procreation. Therefore, anything that creates any kind of emotion outside that very narrow realm must, in their minds, be wrong.

We are afraid of ourselves. We’re not really afraid of gays as much as we are afraid we might be gay. We’re not really afraid of those who are sexually open as much as we are afraid of our own rampant promiscuity being let loose. We’re not nearly as offended by public displays of affection as much as we struggle to control our own desires to do the kissing. How many dozens of times over the past ten years have we seen instances where legislators who have been most boisterous in their railing against gays and lesbians are later caught in a same-gender relationship? How many hundreds of times have those who preach against promiscuity been caught having affairs? We understand so little about our sexuality that it frightens us to violence against it.

America needs to get itself to a therapist. What we fear in ourselves ultimately does harm to others. In fighting against what we refuse to honestly confront we oppress others who have a need and a desire to learn. When we prevent people from understanding more about themselves we limit their potential in all areas of their lives. While one might make the argument that they have the right to screw up their own lives, one absolutely does not, under any circumstances, have the right to screw up the lives of others.

Get a grip, America. Face your fears. The world is tacitly naked and that’s a good thing.[/one_half_last]

Photography / PotD / Social Commentary

Not Quite Naked: Implied

May 17, 2015

INTENSITY (2012)

“When I met her you could tell she was on the verge. She was a girl becoming a woman. We took those pictures and I thought she looked so beautiful and having a little bit of an edge to her. She loved doing the pictures, and she was made to feel bad for doing them.” Photographer Annie Leibovitz in LA Times interview with Steve Appleford, April 19, 2014. Annie Leibovitz talks Taschen book, Miley Cyrus, John & Yoko

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]In the world of television there is this annual ritual called The Upfronts. This is where networks show samples, sometimes whole episodes, of what they plan on broadcasting in the fall in hopes that advertising executives will encourage their clients to purchase ad time during these programs. Upfronts are a huge party with a huge payoff and networks typically spare no expense trotting out their biggest stars in order to impress the host of advertising and media bigwigs assembled.

So, it was with interest I watch as Adult Swim announced Miley Cyrus was going to be performing this past week at their Upfronts. There was no way this wasn’t going to be interesting and sure enough, Miley didn’t disappoint. In case you’ve not already seen the pictures, she came on stage wearing a giant set of butterfly wings and not much else. Her breasts were fully exposed, her nipples covered with butterfly pasties. She wore a pair of white tights as well, but under the stage lights seeing through those wasn’t terribly difficult. For all practical purposes, she may as well have been naked. What was obvious was the fact that Miley was having fun and the rather uptight advertising suits were more than a little uncomfortable, especially when she told them where to lick her.

All this brought me back to 2008 when Vanity Fair photographer Annie Leibovitz shot a 15-year-old Miley with only her back exposed. You would have thought she had shot Hanna Montana live on the evening news for all the furor it created. Annie was demonized by practically every outlet on the planet for daring to “sexualize” a young woman in such a way. Miley was forced to apologize (and then later recanted). Vanity Fair threatened to not pay for the pictures. Everyone wondered if Annie’s famed career was over and what would happen to Miley as a result of this “horrible abuse.”

Well, now we know, don’t we?[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]Americans don’t know how to handle the nude form. Little difference is made for efforts made toward being socially appropriate or artistically posed; Americans see bare skin and automatically achieve a state of hyper-hysteria that causes them to have difficulty breathing, blurred vision, and an unrealistic fear of judgement from the late Jerry Falwell. Just the notion that a person may not have been wearing clothes when a photograph was taken causes those who feel they must protect the innocence of the world to become absolutely apoplectic. There’s no attempt to understand, no regard for artistry, they’re just angry.

At least, until they think no one is looking. I watch with routine amusement as my website stats fluctuate from day to day. On days when the #POTD is a landscape, hardly anyone pays attention; numbers are in the cellar. Days when the #POTD is an attractive young person see a more respectable hit count based largely on how popular that particular model might be. Let me post a picture that hints at nudity though, even if it’s implied, and watch the traffic soar! This isn’t unique to my site but is an exact reflection of traffic patterns across the Internet. If you want attention, post a picture of someone naked.

Social media hypocritically decries nudity while at the same time enjoying the fact that even there a little skin increases their traffic. They’ve each re-written their rules over time to allow for as much skin as possible without actually giving into allowing “real” nudity. So, it is in deference to Facebook and other such sites that we’re focusing this week on photos that are not quite naked. You won’t see any nipples. For that matter, you won’t always even catch side boob. Our goal is to give one reason to think about the artistry of the human body and just how messed up society’s reaction is. We hope you’ll join us. We hope you’ll think.[/one_half_last]

PotD

Conversation

May 16, 2015

Conversation (2014)

“It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity.” ― Dave Barry

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]Some of the most pleasant memories from my childhood are of accompanying my late father to the donut shop on those rare mornings during the summer months when he’d actually let me go. Most days he went alone because for him this wasn’t necessarily a pleasure trip; it was work. I understand him not wanting to drag a child along with him every time; the effectiveness would have been lost. Yet, I was always amazed by what inevitably happened.

We would walk into the little donut shop, a tiny place that couldn’t have been more than 500 square feet in size, and everyone knew who he was. “Hey, Preacher!” they’d call. “Who’s that little devil ya’ got with ya’?” He would place our order: a maple glazed long john and coffee for him, a french cruller and chocolate milk for me. We’d sit at a table with a group of men I didn’t know, and then I would lose my father. He’d sit there in conversation for the next hour while I nibbled at my cruller. I knew better than to interrupt. When finished, we’d head for the door and one of the men would inevitably say something about maybe seeing us on Sunday. Rarely did that happen, but occasionally it would.

That is how I learned that about the power of coffee as a conversation tool. More than just a vital drink to keep us going during the day, coffee is a substance that gives us the ability to bond with people we’ve never met, individuals with whom we might have absolutely nothing else in common except our love for that hot caffeinated beverage. I’ve had conversations with complete strangers, people I didn’t know and would never see again, run deep and philosophical, sometimes even confessional, over a cup of coffee. There have been romantic moments, moments of great debate, and periods of comfort that never would have happened were it not for the shared love of coffee.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]I have long made coffee shops my preferred place for meeting new people, partly because they’re very public and therefore somewhat safer, but also because I know the power of coffee to get people to talk. I can’t explain it; I don’t understand the psychological reasons for why strangers joined together over a beverage are more likely to be conversant than in situations where nothing is available. What I know is that it happens, people relax even to the point they become animated in their conversation, all while holding a cup of coffee.

There have been hundreds if not thousands of conversations over coffee over the years, but it still the ones with Poppa that I remember the most.

“I think I might be in love,” I remember telling him for the first time.
He looked into his coffee and said, “Love doesn’t require a lot of thought, either it is or it isn’t. You just know.”

Then, there was the time, after sitting through half a cup, I told him, “I’m leaving the church. I don’t like how it’s changed.”
“I’m not surprised,” he said, to my surprise. “Just remember that while the church may change, God doesn’t.”

Finally, there was that last cup of coffee. His was decaf. With tears in his eyes, he said, “You know, this is probably the last time we get to do this (have coffee together).”
I choked back my own tears. “Maybe so, but you’ve given me enough great memories to last through a lifetime of coffee.”

Coffee seems like such a simple beverage, but there’s no question in my mind that it changes lives unlike any other drink we encounter. So here’s to coffee, and conversations, and great memories. May they all be part of our lives forever.[/one_half_last]

PotD

Coffee Break

May 15, 2015

Coffee Break (2010)

“It doesn’t matter where you’re from – or how you feel… There’s always peace in a strong cup of coffee.” ― Gabriel Bá, Daytripper

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]Americans are resourceful, especially when it comes to even the briefest moment of leisure. When labor unions first negotiated a 40-hour work week, the only break in the day was for lunch, and even that was brief. That just wouldn’t fly for a workforce that was not only addicted to caffeine, but cigarettes as well. So, it wasn’t long until the coffee break was introduced and workplaces all over the nation were transformed. The break room was introduced, styrofoam cups were invented, and non-dairy powdered creamer was hailed as the best invention of the 20th century. Next came sugar packets, plastic stirrers, and eventually lids with perforated fold-back tabs so the coffee could be consumed without as much danger of a spill.

All because of the coffee break. Ostensibly, vending machines probably owe some of their success to coffee breaks as well, though their initial placement was elsewhere. Coffee breaks have taken on a life, and ingenuity, of their own. While rules vary from company to company, federal law still mandates two fifteen minute breaks for every eight hours worked, in addition to a minimum of 30 minutes for lunch. Even for those very strange and bothersome people who don’t drink coffee, we all need a moment to step away from what we’re doing, stretch our limbs, let our mind relax and wander a bit. A cup of coffee, especially in the middle of the afternoon as we’re starting to hit that post-lunch slump, keeps us fresh.

Efficiency experts, of course, hate any kind of departure from the grind and have tried since the beginning to find ways of minimizing the impact of coffee breaks on production. Carefully positioning of break rooms, staggered break times, and even some humorous attempts at automating coffee delivery have been attempted with varying degrees of success. Evil managers have attempted to bogart coffee breaks as well, delivering new assignments mere seconds before one was about to leave their desk. There’s no end to what mean people will do to keep us from our coffee.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]Ultimately, though, those desperate attempts at interference are short-lived and we find ways to obtain the hot nectar we so desperately need to survive our work days. Smart companies who at least pretend to care about their employees, or at least do care about retention rates, have installed full-service coffee shops on the premises. Other companies, where such a luxury might be slightly impractical, arrange for custom delivery at scheduled times of the day. Increasingly, intelligent employers, those who bother to understand how productivity really works, understand that the coffee break is crucial to employee satisfaction and the quality of work that they do.

Today’s picture represents how that even someone whose work schedule is more relaxed still needs a moment to step outside and enjoy a cup from the nearest coffee shop, shoes not necessarily being a requirement. Forced outside because of her cigarette, and with no convenient place to sit, she still finds that moment of respite balanced carefully on her toes, alternating between sipping on her coffee and taking a drag from her cigarette. While the scene is rather contemporary, and the pose somewhat unique, she is still engaging in that time-honored tradition that is just as much a part of the industrial revolution as is the conveyor belt.

Coffee breaks are such a standard part of our day now that I fear some may actually take them for granted. Yet, without them a great deal of work and creativity would be lost. Certainly, most photographers I’ve known over the years are totally worthless without a nearly constant flow of caffeine coming at them, and the same holds true for the majority of creatives I’ve met. I’ve also noticed a high number of attorneys and physicians chugging their coffee between court dates or surgeries. Even the most professional people need a break.

And now, having read all this, I think you probably deserve a break, too. Don’t you?[/one_half_last]

PotD

Casual

May 14, 2015

The Earliest Morning (2010)

“I sipped my own coffee, heavy on the sugar and cream, trying to make up for the late work the night before. Caffeine and sugar, the two basic food groups.” ― Laurell K. Hamilton, Cerulean Sins

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]I find it interesting how different drinks impose a social setting upon a situation. Champagne is obviously the most formal, being reserved for truly special occasions. Wine comes next, with the vintage and type determining just how uptight and restrictive the conversation should be. Tea, English style, probably comes next; I find it impossible to sip from china cups without extending my pinky. Everything else is more casual, beer being at the bottom of the list with its perpetual “I don’t give a fuck” attitude.

Coffee holds a unique place in that list, though, not truly formal even when served in the best of china cups, but not quite as insouciant as cocktails. There’s an implied comfortableness around coffee that is friendly, perhaps even neighborly, but still leaves room for serious conversation. We serve coffee at important meetings to help everyone relax and focus on the task at hand. We serve coffee after dinner, though, to reduce the formality of the evening and introduce a period of more relaxed conversation. Coffee’s ability to bridge social gaps is invaluable.

Where coffee may be the most useful, though, is in those moments where one is sitting with someone else and you don’t know quite what to say. Maybe you’re strangers thrust awkwardly together at a party. Perhaps you’re lovers who are not quite sure of the next step in your relationship. A parent and adult child sitting at a table trying to figure out how to breach that painful topic no one wants to discuss. Coffee is perfect for those moments, sitting there with a warm cup or mug between your hands, staring down into the darkness, maybe stirring it with a spoon just so there’s something making noise. Coffee is patient. Coffee allows you the time you need to find just the right words.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]For years, I’ve put coffee in the middle of meeting new people. I consider it a test of character, among other things. How a person orders their coffee says a lot about them, I think. Enough so that we can put them into groups.

People who are serious about business tend to drink their coffee black and the busiest of people, I’ve noticed, order an Americano so it’s not quite as hot and easier to drink on the run. These people are not going to have long conversations so get to the point.

When someone orders extra shots in their drink they’re almost certainly night owls, or at the very least people who forgo sleep for either business or pleasure. The downside is that keeping their attention may be difficult.

Occasionally I’ll come across someone who is fussy as hell about how their coffee is prepared, giving the barista special instructions. Be careful around those people; they’re not so much perfectionists as they are just difficult to please.

People who add a lot of sugar and flavoring, though, are more easy-going, more socially oriented, and almost never in a hurry. Find a comfy chair and settle down, these people are ready to talk.

In many ways, coffee is the great equalizer of drinks, enjoyable regardless of one’s social or economic status and generally accessible even when nothing else is appropriate. Coffee doesn’t require a certain style of dress, or being dressed at all for that matter (just be careful about spills), and there’s no requirement for a given manner of speech. Coffee invites everyone to relax and be themselves, and that is invaluable.[/one_half_last]

PotD

Unfiltered

May 13, 2015

Model: Cynthia Schmidt (2010)

“Let me wake up next to you, have coffee in the morning and wander through the city with your hand in mine, and I’ll be happy for the rest of my fucked up little life.” ― Charlotte Eriksson, Empty Roads & Broken Bottles; in search for The Great Perhaps

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]Some people put cream and sugar in their coffee. I’m not one of them. Some people put water in their coffee and call it an Americano. That doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest. I prefer my coffee black, strong, and hot enough to burn my lips on the first sip. I’m just rather crazy that way. I don’t want anything interfering with my coffee in any way. Give me my coffee unfiltered and we’ll be just fine, thank you very much.

How we prepare coffee, in general, has changed dramatically over the years. Coffee was once boiled on top of a wood burning stove, a process that was aromatic, but tended to result in a lot of burned coffee. There are still modern ceramic pots that duplicate that effect, with the presumed side effect that one is actually watching the range top a little more closely now. James Mason invented the percolator in 1865, a device that used heat to pour hot water over the grounds. Eventually, the design was modified and made electric and by the 1950s there was hardly a house in America that didn’t have one. For special events, there was even the giant two- or five-gallon size that would brew enough coffee for an entire platoon.

Commercially, though, the Bunn company had a lock on brewing coffee that was faster, and in many opinions, better. They invented a machine that was connected to the water supply, so coffee was always ready to go at the push of a button, great for restaurants and all the coffee shops that were beginning to pop up across the country. The Bunn heated the water first, then poured it over the coffee grounds which were sitting in a filtered basket. Coffee would then drip down into a waiting carafe. When Mr. Coffee introduced a home version of this machine in 1972, with baseball great Joe DiMaggio as the spokesperson, it changed the look of American kitchens and killed the percolator. [/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]Dedicated coffee houses also started popping up during the 70s and with that came more specialized types of brewing. All of a sudden, people started caring about where their coffee was sourced, how it was roasted, what blend of beans were used, and how it was ground. Espresso machines were popping up in all the coffee shops, replacing the Bunn in anything that wasn’t a full-service restaurant. People began requesting their coffee to be personalized, specialized, steamed, stirred, and boosted with an extra shot.

Personally, I prefer my French Press for a couple of reasons. First, I find the plunger style of coffee brewing to be more flavorful without risking burning the coffee. The carafe never sits on heat so there’s no chance the coffee is going to slowly turn into sludge. Second, and perhaps most importantly, I can do it at home, any time of day.

I seriously don’t understand people who don’t brew their own coffee. Consider today’s picture. Would this scenario have happened if one had to get dressed and run to the nearest Starbucks for coffee? While I suppose it’s possible, it certainly wouldn’t be likely, and definitely not convenient. I’m all for coffee shops, mind you; I spend a great deal of time in them. But I want that first cup of coffee in the morning to be like love: unfiltered and something I can cherish privately to myself or share with someone intimately.

We get rather religious about our coffee now. Everyone wants it prepared their way, we want it to taste the same no matter where we are. No matter how you prefer to have your coffee, though, there’s no question that our love for the beverage is unfiltered.[/one_half_last]

PotD

Morning Meditation

May 12, 2015

Model: Lisa Marie (2010)

When you wash your hands, when you make a cup of coffee, when you’re waiting for the elevator – instead of indulging in thinking, these are all opportunities for being there as a still, alert presence. -Eckhart Tolle

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]Quiet. It took me more than a few years to get the concept, but once I did it became a permanent part of my life. There’s a reason my alarm goes off long before anyone else needs to get up. There’s a reason to not turn on the television or indulge in the morning’s playlist. Peace. Quiet. Meditation. This is the start to a day that is likely to not return to this quiet moment.

Like all the better habits I have, I picked this one up from my father. He would get up between 4:00 and 4:30 of the morning, make coffee, and sit in his recliner in the living room reading his Bible, usually looking over something related to his next sermon. I remember lying in bed, listening to the sound and savoring the aroma of the coffee brewing in the percolator. This was Poppa’s quiet time. Even if we were awake, we knew better than to get up and disturb him. The daily paper would show up around 5 or so and he would then switch over to that about the time he was ready for his second cup. He enjoyed the time he had each morning that was generally undisturbed. There was little chance of the phone ringing. Rarely did anyone knock at that hour, either. This was his time, a moment to clear his head of whatever was leftover from the previous day and mentally prepare for the day ahead.

Poppa understood the inherent value of starting the day with a quiet moment and a good cup of coffee. We wake in the morning, fresh from dreams that likely made little sense, worries left from the previous day, our mind cluttered with the jumble of all we have to do, and if we’re not careful we can too easily find ourselves lost in a sea of confusion and doubt before our day ever begins. Just sitting, in the quiet, with a cup of coffee to warm our throats and clear out the nighttime rust, can completely change our entire outlook and demeanor for the day.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]For many years, early morning was my time alone with the newspaper. I would start with the most important stories on the front page, but then turn immediately to the comics section, unless it was the New York Times in which case the Style section was equally amusing. Mindless frivolent activity, perhaps, but the comics provided a smile at the start of the day, helped create an attitude that, regardless of what trouble might be on the front page, there was always some reason to laugh. Over the years, of course, my newspaper moved online, and the comics have been replaced with things like Tumblr and Twitter feeds. Still, the importance of this quiet time is sacred.

If today’s picture looks familiar, I’ve used a companion shot from the same set earlier this year. Lisa did a great job of capturing a variety of emotions as she sat there with the coffee cup in her hands. I find the shot, in this case, to perfectly capture the peace and calm that comes with morning meditation. There’s nothing else going on, nothing fancy or sparkling to offer a distraction, just a simple moment with a beautiful face and a cup of coffee.

Our world is nothing short of chaotic and our lives are constantly barraged by everything and everyone wanting our attention. Once children and spouses are up and running, finding a moment to one’s self is almost impossible. That first cup of coffee in the morning is our chance to prepare, not to become mired in the challenges of the day, but a moment to just be, to remember who we are, why we are here, and how truly gracious is the gift of life, and coffee. Morning meditation is as important as that first cup, and holds the power to shape our day.[/one_half_last]

PotD

Caffeine!

May 11, 2015

Need More Coffee (2011)

We want to do a lot of stuff; we’re not in great shape. We didn’t get a good night’s sleep. We’re a little depressed. Coffee solves all these problems in one delightful little cup. -Jerry Seinfeld

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]I can’t imagine most days without coffee though since I’ve been sick the past week my consumption has declined quite a bit. The thought of a Monday without coffee, though, borders on something outrageous; it’s just wrong. There should never be a Monday without coffee, lots and lots of coffee. We don’t give up our weekends, nor their effects, easily or quietly. To be forced out of a comfortable bed that loves you and makes you feel safe into a world that is prickly and mean and leaves you feeling rotten requires some significant gesture on the part of the universe to coax us into even slipping our feet from under the covers. Coffee is what lures us out into the world, and it is caffeine that makes it happen.

Not that caffeine always works. As I’ve gotten older I’ve noticed that a single cup doesn’t quite have the same effect as it once did. Two cups are generally required of the morning now just to get me to the point where I’m not biting off heads and feeding small children to the lions. I can drink a cup of coffee with lunch and still have no problem taking a nap. Coffee after dinner? Absolutely! It takes more than one cup to keep me from passing out by 11. While not every body responds to caffeine exactly the same way there’s little question that our bodies adapt to regular caffeine intake and any deviation from that may cause unwanted side effects.

Heaven help the soul who comes between someone and their first cup of coffee on a Monday morning. I’ll admit to being grumpy of the morning, but I try to keep myself away from innocent bystanders at least until that first cup has kicked in. I’m fortunate, though, in that I can brew my own and be happy. Apparently, there are millions of people who can’t brew coffee and are forced to purchase that first cup. I’m sure you’ve seen the lines snaking around every coffee shop drive-thru, and Monday’s are the worst. I’m somewhat surprised that there aren’t more incidents of road rage on Mondays, but there seems to be little question that Western Civilization might crumble if everyone couldn’t get coffee on their way into work.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]Why do we need that caffeine and what does it do to/for us? Well, consider some of these facts:

Dopamine released from the caffeine in coffee is a mood booster, a 2013 study presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 65th Annual Meeting finds. Getting caffeine from other sugary sources does not have the same effect.
A study published in American Journal of Epidemiology shows those who drink four or more cups of caffeinated coffee a day cut their risk of Oral Cancer in half!
Natural sources of caffeine, such as coffee, are what provide the antioxidants that aid in alertness and other health benefits. Artificial drinks such as soda and energy drinks do not provide the same benefits and can be dangerous to some health conditions.
Coffee increases our recognition and reception of positive words, according to a German study, making it a little easier for us to get along with those perpetually friendly people who greet everyone with a smile.
Recent reports show that caffeine from coffee may reduce allergic reactions due to caffeine’s ability to reduce the concentration of histamines that cause the body to respond negatively to a substance.

A lot of the negative stereotypes about caffeine in coffee, such as it increasing blood pressure and contributing to heart disease, have proven to be false. In fact, the health risks related to moderate caffeinated coffee consumption are extremely small, certainly much less than anything else you might pick up from that drive-thru window. You’re likely doing yourself, and the universe, a favor by having a cup or two.

So here’s to Monday morning coffee and the sanity that comes from being well caffeinated before having to actually deal with real people. Pour yourself another cup. Sit back. Take a few deep breaths. Everyone will thank you.[/one_half_last]

PotD / Social Commentary

The Joys of Coffee

May 10, 2015

At The Coffee Shop (2011)

If it wasn’t for the coffee, I’d have no identifiable personality whatsoever. -David Letterman

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]Yes, I’m well aware that today is Mother’s Day in the US and yes I’ve shot enough mothers and children to have given that the theme for the whole week. That’s rather crowded territory today, though, and if you’re sitting on your computer or mobile device reading this then you’re obviously not spending time with your mother, for reasons we won’t discuss, so we decided to go a very different direction for this week and talk about something that is near and dear to my own heart: Coffee.

I have been drinking coffee since I was 14. Granted, I didn’t drink as much of it then as I do now, and I tended to dump loads of sugar and milk in it until Poppa caught me and said if I were going to drink the stuff I had to drink it straight. I think he was hoping that would put me off and that I’d stop, but it didn’t. I learned to drink it black and enjoy the flavor of the bean itself, not all the flavor and garbage dumped on top. To this day, I fail to understand the fascination with lattes and cappuccinos and other fancy coffee-based drinks. I suppose there’s nothing wrong if you really like all that sweetness and confection actually in your coffee. I prefer my coffee black, a bold roast if you please, something of moderate acidity.

Coffee drinking has taken a lot of heat over the years (pardon the pun). I was told it would stunt my growth, that it would damage my kidneys, and that it could lead to more dangerous addictions (yes, a dear old church lady actually told me that). Some religions forbid the drinking of coffee because of its caffeine (they’d rather their members not be too alert). Like anything else we try to enjoy, there’s always someone right there waiting to tell us we shouldn’t. We tend to ignore those people.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]Instead, we prefer to consider facts that say things like:

Coffee is the biggest source of antioxidants in the Western diet
A single cup of coffee contains 11% of the daily recommended amount of Riboflavin (vitamin B2), 6% of Pantothenic Acid (vitamin B5), 3% of Manganese and Potassium, and 2% of Niacin and Magnesium.
Drinking coffee can increase your metabolism 3 to 11%.
Coffee drinkers are up to 65% less likely to get Alzheimer’s Disease.
People who drink four cups of coffee a day are 80% less likely to develop cirrhosis.

What may be most compelling about coffee in today’s society, though, is its qualities as an object of social construct. Coffee shops have become the meeting place for everything from first dates to important business meetings. Today’s picture, made somewhat humorous by the expressions on the men’s faces, is an example of coffee’s social attraction. A large storm had just swept through the area, flooding streets and knocking out power. Anyone in the neighborhood when the storm hit was just stuck. There was no getting out. Where did they go? The coffee shop. Their large carafes of coffee were already full and an honor box let patrons pay without needing a cash register. The coffee shop offered comfort, safety, friendship. and a place to pretend to get work done.

So here’s to coffee, the good and bad and everything else we’ll talk about this week. Now, put down your phone and go talk to your mother. Maybe over a cup of coffee.[/one_half_last]

Music / PotD

My Romance

May 9, 2015

I’m still more comfortable with standards than with my own songs. –Carly Simon

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]I had some difficulty choosing today’s photo because, while I knew I wanted to end the week with a picture of Kat, there were just so many choices that it took a while to decide which one to use. I do try to be careful in not over-using photos of Kat, which would be easy to do. While it’s conveniently wonderful that she’s here and ready to shoot at the drop of a hat, and gets excited about most any concept I toss at her, there’s little benefit for anyone else in seeing the same face over and over again. Still, I love her, she’s beautiful, and every photo she takes reminds me of a song.

One of my greatest joys is listening to Kat sing while she’s working. She tends to be a bit shy about that, you won’t catch her singing out in public any time soon, but when the office door is shut, no one but the cats are looking, she’ll start one of the playlists I have saved and begin singing along, perfectly, beautifully. She knows all the words to the Beatles catalog. She knows most the words to the standards. 70s and 80s rock, all the stuff written before she was born, she knows and enjoys. You’ll hear the clicking of the keys on her laptop, then soon, her soft, smooth, gentle voice makes its way out under the door, wanders casually down the hall, and massages my ear. Her voice makes me smile just as quickly as the sight of her face.

I am convinced that the quality of any voice can be found in how they sing the standards. With contemporary music relying so heavily on digital trickery, it’s telling when all the samples and tracks and background noise is removed leaving nothing but a gentle melody line and a haunting refrain. Many people were astonished when Lady Gaga paired with perennial standards hit man Tony Bennet and demonstrated that she could hit a hot jazz lick as well as anyone. Singing standards well isn’t as easy as it sounds. I listen to Kat as the playlist moves from Carly Simon to the BeeGees to Madonna and she rarely misses a beat. Hearing her lilting soprano accurately move between styles and rhythms is one of those things that makes even the worst of days feel better. [/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]My Romance is one of those songs from Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart that comes from an otherwise forgettable musical and subsequently forgettable movie by the same name, Jumbo. How a story about an elephant and a traveling circus can yield such a beautiful song, sung in the movie by Doris Day, is one of those Rodgers and Hart tricks that’s difficult to understand. The song has been covered well over 100 times, but it’s Carly Simon’s version I hear Kat singing so that’s the one we’re using today.

My romance doesn’t need a castle rising in Spain
Or a dance to a constantly surprising refrain
Wide awake I can make my most fantastic dreams come true
My romance doesn’t need one thing, but you

So I’m being a little sappy with today’s photo and song. You’re probably lucky I didn’t choose this route all week. Enjoy.

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Music / PotD

Something To Talk About

May 8, 2015

We’ve been together seven years now. He’s great, but that’s all I can say. You know, [it’s like] the Sippie Wallace song that goes, “Don’t advertise your man.” [Bonnie Raitt interview with Roger Friedman for Parade Magazine, Bonnie Raitt on Taking Control, Staying Sober, and Being Kissed by an Angel April 8, 2012]

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]There’s nothing quite like social media to fuel the rumor mill. All it takes is one tweet or one meme from one person and, like wildfire, the statement takes off around the world on the assumption that it’s true, without anyone actually bothering to check that it is. As a result, we’re told celebrities are dead that aren’t, people said things they didn’t, and hook-ups and break-ups that never happened. We are so eager to find out every last detail, and to be the first to know it, that the truth just sits quietly on the sidelines waiting for someone to notice it.

This Bonnie Raitt song was written before Twitter or Facebook or even the Internet were ever on the scene, but it still captures that bad habit that has likely been around as long as humans started assembling into tribes. There’s even a commandment against gossiping: “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” My late father complained that was the most frequently violated commandment within the church, and even from behind the pulpit. The song’s attitude of defiance reflects how much we’ve come to accept the fact that people are going to talk no matter what we do. No matter how straight-laced and careful one is, there’s always someone else who’s jealous, or perhaps downright mean, or thinks they can somehow improve their own social standing by gossiping about others.

The song was playing in my mind the entire time we were shooting this set. The girls are not actually romantically connected at all, but what if they were? Would you be shocked? Supportive? Disgusted? Happy for them? A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows that 61 percent of Americans would support a gay person running for President and 58 percent are hoping the Supreme Court rules in favor of equal marriage rights. The very concept that one girl might love another isn’t nearly as provocative or surprising as it was even five years ago. Still when a couple kisses in public, or demonstrates any sign of affection, it gets our attention and the rumor mill starts doing its dirty work.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]Written by Canadian singer-songwriter Shirley Eickhard, the song is actually as much as about shy love as it is gossip. Person A likes Person B, Person B likes Person A, but neither one quite knows how to tell the other. By the second verse, the singer realizes there’s no denying what the rumors have been alleging all this time.

I feel so foolish, I never noticed
You act so nervous, could you be fallin’ for me?
It took the rumor to make me wonder,
Now I’m convinced that I’m goin’ under.
Thinkin’ ’bout you every day,
dreamin’ ’bout you every night.
I’m hopin’ that you feel the same way,
Now that we know it, let’s really show it darlin’.

As we approach the weekend, perhaps this is a good time to let that carefree, rumors-be-damned attitude take over. Certainly, if you love someone, or even think you might have feelings for them, there’s no good reason to not say something. People are going to talk either way, so why not just go ahead and give them something to talk about?

And make it good and steamy while you’re at it.

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Music / PotD

Blackbird

May 7, 2015

I was in Scotland playing on my guitar, and I remembered this whole idea of “you were only waiting for this moment to arise” was about, you know, the black people’s struggle in the southern states, and I was using the symbolism of a blackbird. It’s not really about a blackbird whose wings are broken, you know, it’s a bit more symbolic. [Paul McCartney, Interview with KCRW’s Chris Douridas, 25 May 2002 episode of New Ground]

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]I could probably have done the whole week on Beatles’ songs, and maybe somewhere down the line I will. Paul McCartney and John Lennon were especially good at using visual metaphors to get across a message, sometimes subtly, other times rather blatantly, and still leave one with a tune worth humming for the whole of the day. The Beatles’ catalog is a treasure trove of photographic possibilities, but one of the things I find interesting is how the meanings of the songs have morphed and changed over the years. Political situations that were obvious and well-known when a song was written are now more obscure, but in their place the songs pick up new issues that speak just as loudly to a current generation as they did fifty years ago.

Blackbird is one of those songs. Sir Paul, who actually did most the writing, meant for the song to recognize the burgeoning civil rights movement. For many black people across the United States, it seemed that their time had come. The symbolism of the broken wing was clear and evident to a people who had struggled and at the time it seemed they were about to break free of those shackles. Unfortunately, what we see happening now brings the actual progress of that movement into question. Was the wing actually mended or was the bird simply put into a different cage?

Contemporary interpretation of the song probably leans more strongly to the LGBTI movement and the social progress we’re seeing among those people. Certainly, they, too, have existed as an unwanted, unrecognized subculture forever, a bird whose wings were at times not merely wounded, but often removed completely. As society becomes more accepting of people of different sexualities, though, I wonder if there’s a lesson to be learned from the civil rights movement of the 60s, that a mended wing doesn’t always mean freedom from the cage.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]Interestingly enough, it is not the Beatles version of the song that this photo brings to mind, but rather Sarah McLachlan’s. I like the light, simple, acoustic feel she gives the song, a gentle reminder, almost like a lullaby, that things are going to get better, that wings are going to heal. Women, too, are a group that has been breaking out from the traditionally submissive roles for some time, but still have a ways to go in earning as much as their male counterparts.

The words of the refrain are worth taking through the day:

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

I think a lot of people relate to the experience of having their wings broken, their spirit crushed by a seemingly unending tidal wave of negative events. This song carries the assurance that things are going to get better. You were just waiting for the right moment.

Maybe that moment is today.

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Music / PotD

Summertime

May 6, 2015

That “and” is worth a great deal of attention. I would write “Summertime when” but that “and” sets up a tone, a whole poetic tone, not to mention a whole kind of diction that is going to be used in the play; an informal, uneducated diction and a stream of consciousness, as in many of the songs like “My Man’s Gone Now.” It’s the exact right word, and that word is worth its weight in gold. “Summertime when the livin’ is easy” is a boring line compared to “Summertime and.” The choices of “ands” [and] “buts” become almost traumatic as you are writing a lyric–or should, anyway– because each one weighs so much. [Joanne Lesley Gordon, Art Isn’t Easy: The Achievement of Stephen Sondheim, Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, IL., 1990, p.13]

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]In my opinion, the two great American composers of the twentieth century were Aaron Copeland and George Gershwin. Without casting any aspersions on any of the other wonderful composers of that era, those two managed to find unique ways to take the American experience, both good and bad, and translate it to a tonality that is rich, vibrant, unique, and immediately identifiable. Copeland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue may be two of the most distinguishably American compositions of that century. I grew up listening to a heavy mix of both composers, but it was Gershwin’s Porgy & Bess that captured my attention most strongly, particularly the aria Summertime. Of all the songs from this first truly American opera, Summertime captures our deepest longings not only for ourselves, but for our children.

As a child, it was Leontyne Price’s incredible voice I first heard sliding through the lazy melody of the song, the vocal line at times reminiscent of the opening clarinet slide from Rhapsody in Blue. This is a song one doesn’t rush through, its phrasing and emphasis requiring a deceptively difficult level of vocal control and discipline. Do it right, and one can feel the heat of the sun beating down, smell the cotton and the dirt, hear the water gurgling over the rocks. Summertime is a song that catches us not at the beginning of the summer when we are happy to finally be warm, but at its apex, late July or August, when we’ve grown tired of working, when the sweat doesn’t require any effort before soaking our clothes, and grabbing a pole and going fishing may be the most sensical thing a person can do.

I didn’t hear Janis Joplin’s cover of the song in 1968 when it was initially released, or if I did, it didn’t stick. Price’s version was so strong, so dominating, that my classically-sensitized ear was certain no one else could do the song justice. After the Houston Opera’s revival of Porgy and Bess in 1976 restored the full opera as initially written, though, there were a number of comparisons, at least on an intellectual level, between what Gershwin wrote and the incredible emotion Joplin gives the song. It might have taken me to the second verse before falling completely in love with Joplin’s cover that not only modernizes the song with Peter Albin’s mesmerizing guitar but embeds the emotion all the way down to one’s soul.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]Based on DuBose Heyward’s novel Porgy, the song’s lyrics are based on the spirituals of the 19th century South, and while the first verse sets the stage for how things are, it is the future-leaning words of the second verse that Joplin pushes, giving strength to the phrase “rise up singin'” in a way that even Ms. Price never quite managed to accomplish.

One of these mornings, you’re goin’ to rise up singin’
Then you spread your wings and you’ll take the sky
But ’til that mornin’, there’s nothin’ can harm you
With daddy and mammy standin’ by

Today’s image, in my mind, perfectly captures the end result of Joplin’s version of the song. I could feel the song in my ears even while we were shooting this set (in a public park). Where Gershwin’s original leaves one in the cotton field, Joplin leaves one in the tall grass, lying on your back, looking up at a terminally blue sky, not a care in the world, and confident that whatever comes next is going to be wonderful. One of these days we’re goin’ to rise up singin’, but for now, it’s summertime and living couldn’t be any more easy.

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Music / PotD

Gold Dust Woman

May 5, 2015

Model: Jenn King. MUA: Danelle French. Hair: Anthony Perez. Styling: Nativa

“You know what, Courtney? I don’t really know what “Gold Dust Woman” is about. I know there was cocaine there and that I fancied it gold dust, somehow. I’m going to have to go back to my journals and see if I can pull something out about “Gold Dust Woman”. Because I don’t really know. It’s weird that I’m not quite sure. It can’t be all about cocaine.” (Stevie Nicks interview with Courtney Love for Spin in October 1997)

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]Actually, Stevie, it probably is all about cocaine, either directly or indirectly. Coke is one of those drugs that takes over the mind after a certain point, distorting logic and reason and even turning the most creative thoughts into nonsense. This isn’t one of those songs where one can take a hit, lean back, and suddenly be thinking, “Okay, I get it now; that’s really deep.” Instead, one ends up grasping for the obvious, that the song is about love and someone (or something) that broke your heart, didn’t quite turn out to be who/what one had hoped. No, that doesn’t describe cocaine at all. Noooo. [/end sarcasm]

Gold Dust Woman is one of those songs that gets stuck in the back of your mind and you’ll suddenly find yourself humming it in the middle of the afternoon without realizing or even knowing for sure how it got there. Fleetwood Mac released the song as B-side filler and, as so often happens, it took hold and ended up selling decently on its own. While never getting higher than number 30 on the Billboard charts, it was enough to cement its place in the minds of an entire generation that, go ahead and admit it folks, at the very least dabbled in recreational drugs. Not everyone developed a dependency issue, but we have this song as one of the side effects that won’t go away and we’re okay with that. It’s a cool song.

This is the one time this week where the photo was actually taken to go with the song. Danelle French developed the concept for a Girls Of Rock series but because of schedules and weather this was the only song we did for the concept. We did three editorial looks on the theme, one of which I used as a Photo Of The Day earlier this year, and the team did well enough composing the looks that it is impossible to decide which one best fits. This particular image, though, is my favorite of the set. The dress has an inherent sense of motion and Jenn’s pouty look, like the song, could be love, could be the coffee, or maybe is just damn good posing. The photo fits the music and, like the song, stays stuck in the back of my head, resurfacing at the oddest times.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]Even though this is one of Stevie Nick’s most popular songs, it’s one of those where no one is quite sure of the lyrics until they get to the chorus, which may arguably be the strongest part of the song:

Did she make you cry
Make you break down
Shatter your illusions of love
Is it over now — do you know how
Pickup the pieces and go home.

It is that last part of the song, the line about picking up the pieces and going home, that may resonate the most because we’ve all been there in some fashion. Not everything turns out the way we want or the way we expect. Illusions are shattered. We pick up the pieces, retreat to a place of safety, and try again another day. Even when one is high that line is still good advice.

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Advertising / Music / PotD

Living For Love

May 4, 2015

Model: Erica Von Trapp (2009)

“We knew we wanted to make a dance record. But you know, there’s so many different levels of dance music and even different categories of house music. So, it was really like, what’s the bass line gonna sound like? Is it gonna be really stripped down and sparse, or is it going to be loaded up? Is it gonna be Chicago house? Is it gonna be U.K. house? It’s like, all over the place. Is it gonna be a little bit of one vocal line? Is it gonna be a whole choir singing? So we were experimenting and trying out different things. They all sounded good, but at the end of the day, we wanted it to sound timeless, also. Not just something of the moment” (Caulfield, Keith (December 21, 2014). “Madonna On New ‘Rebellious and Romantic’ Music, Demo Leaks, ‘Possibly’ Crashing the Grammys and the ‘Crazy’ Sony Hack”. Billboard.)

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]Some people handle adversity better than others and the fact that Madonna is still writing breakup songs at an age slightly more advanced than my own says something about her resilience not only in the field of music but in life as a whole. Yes, this is very much a breakup song, and if you’ve seen the video that goes along with it, full of matadors and a half-naked guy in a jeweled, horned mask, you know the passion Madonna puts into this song. She even does the whole choir thing, again. For someone who has been topping music charts for almost forty years, to still be writing breakup songs is both impressive and a little heart-breaking. Shouldn’t she have found that “happily ever after” love by now?

What’s different about this song, and the reason it reminds me of this photograph from 2009, is that it’s not all down on love, it’s not all hateful toward the lover that left, but rather it is a very positive-sounding anthem for picking one’s self up and moving on. There’s no time for melancholy, it’s on your feet and back into the game. Sounds a little crazy, perhaps, and such an approach may even leave one a little dizzy from the experience, which again, is part of the attitude of this photograph. Broken heart? Yeah, that’s over, I’m going to carry on. Disappointment? Sure, but you’re not stealing my smile. This isn’t a slow dance; it’s a get up, keep moving, don’t-stop-til-you-drop song.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]The first verse of the song admits that she let down her guard, let someone in who ultimately did her wrong. The second verse, though, is where the determination kicks in. The line, “I deserve the best and it’s not you,” is like a slap in the face and then she follows with these words:

You broke my heart, but you can’t bring me down
I was falling apart, was lost, now I’m found
I picked up my crown, put it back in my head
I can forgive, but I will never forget

There is strength and courage in those lines. Going through a breakup is like being caught in a windstorm, being battered by flying debris coming at you from every angle. You come through with your hair out of place but still a smile on your face? You win.

I found this song appropriate for a Monday, which is also frequently disappointing. No matter what hits you today, don’t let it bring you down; pick up your crown, put it back on your head. Those who live for love are the ultimate winners.[/one_half_last]

Music / PotD

Take Me To Church

May 3, 2015

“Sexuality, and sexual orientation – regardless of orientation – is just natural. An act of sex is one of the most human things. But an organization like the church, say, through its doctrine, would undermine humanity by successfully teaching shame about sexual orientation – that it is sinful, or that it offends God. The song is about asserting yourself and reclaiming your humanity through an act of love.” (“Q&A: Hozier on Gay Rights, Sexuality, and Good Hair”. NY Magazine. 11 March 2014.)

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]This morning we’re starting a week-long series on photographs that remind me of songs. Understand, almost every photograph reminds me of one song or another. The photographs we’ve chosen for this week more specifically relate to songs that, once I hear them, I can’t get them out of my head. I’m sure you’ve experienced that phenomenon. Imagine what it’s like trying to edit a whole set of pictures when the same song keeps playing over and over and over on endless repeat in your head. Fortunately, they’re usually songs that I like so that’s not a terrible problem to have.

I’ll admit, we chose the picture that reminds me of this song for today partly because of the obvious connection between church and Sunday, but also because it is one of those instances where the picture came long before the song. The photo was taken in 2010 and Hozier’s song wasn’t released until 2013. However, that’s just how strongly the connection is in my head. The instant I first heard the song, which I quite like, I thought of this photo.

Not that the song actually has anything to do with the act of going to church in the traditional sense. Hozier wrote the song after a bad breakup, which isn’t all that uncommon in the music field. Comparing a lover to religion is a little more unique, but in making that comparison, the young Irishman takes on centuries of Catholic dogma in a way I’ve not seen since another young Irish performer, Sinead O’Conner.

Hypocrisy, bending truth to fit convenience, attempting to exert control over someone else’s life, tarnish the symbol of the cross that holds one’s attention in this picture. That the cross is blurred speaks to the less-than-clear meaning it holds in contemporary society. I find it humorous that many who wear it see no actual religious connotation to the symbol at all, but find it merely a pretty decoration. Do they feel the same way about love; is that just a pretty decoration as well? Or is the cross a warning that the person, like the Church, will attempt to diminish one’s own humanity? Perhaps it has no meaning at all.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]The words to the song’s chorus speak the loudest:

Take me to church
I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I’ll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life

Religion and love are both inescapable. Both have the ability to do good, but too often they both leave us wondering who we are versus who they want us to be. So we ponder.

Take a listen to the song. Enjoy the picture. This is going to be a fun week.

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Advertising / PotD

Sugar Cream Pie

May 2, 2015

7 Billboards You’ll (probably) Never See. Day Seven: Sugar Cream Pie

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]There’s no question that Indiana’s reputation has taken quite a hit in the past month because of all the political gaffes that managed to garner nationwide attention … and embarrassment. By the time all the talking and maneuvering and political posturing was complete, Hoosiers were left wondering who they could trust. Certainly none of the politicians are worthy. Bakeries took a hit. Pizza took a hit. Repair shops took a hit. Corporations threatened to pull out of the state. This was the time for the good people, the reasonable people, of Indiana, the ones who care, the ones who welcome everyone to their state, to do some deep soul searching about where to place their trust and what traditions were really worth keeping.

The answer is simple: Sugar Cream Pie.

Sugar cream pie is to Indiana what apple pie is to the rest of the country. This pie originated here, or at least that’s the story food historians are telling. Amish and Shaker wives of the 1800s would bake this sweet, simple pie during those times of the year when apples weren’t naturally available, such as early Spring. Often they would skim the cream directly off the top of fresh milk to make a pie that is rich, sweet, but uncomplicated in its taste. Ingredients were cheap and readily available year-round, making it a perfect dessert even in the most brutal of winters.

I’ll admit that I had to break my rule about using pictures from the archives for today’s image. I really thought I had a picture of sugar cream pie somewhere in the mix, but if I do it’s stuck someplace where I can’t find it. So, that meant I had to go find, and shoot, a piece of sugar cream pie. Oh horror of horrors, I thought with the deepest of sarcasm. I couldn’t give myself a better assignment. I already knew of a couple of places that made the sweet dessert, but they were both across town and require careful timing to get there before all the pie is gone. I asked around and food writer Jolene Ketzenberger suggested a few places she knew make a good pie. One was directly in the path of other errands we needed to run. Easy.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]Locally Grown Gardens is one of those places I’ve passed hundreds of times, especially when walking on the Monon Trail, but never actually visited, despite the constant aroma of deliciousness pouring from the place. Chef Ron Harris has created a country-style market most recognizable for its locally grown vegetables that sit out front. I knew they had sandwiches and meats that drew people from all over, but I wasn’t aware they had pie until now.

We arrived late morning, just as the early lunch crowd was showing up. I looked around, and there, behind the counter, sat one last piece of sugar cream pie. There was one person in line before me. I was worried. Glancing around, though, I discovered there were more pies waiting. Chef Harris was prepared. I ordered my pie and took it to the sun room/library to photograph, not really worrying that the other people already in the room might think I was nuts. Once I was certain I had enough pictures, I sat down and promptly devoured the object of my very-short-term affection. The pie was everything it promised to be: warm, sweet, simple, and delicious.

Sugar cream pie isn’t especially difficult to make and recipes are easy enough to find. Recipes, of course, vary and every Hoosier family that has lived here more than a couple of generations seems to have their own version. No matter where you find it, though, you know it’s going to be delicious. Sugar cream pie is a wholesome Hoosier trait more reliable than anything, or anyone, else. Sugar cream pie can be trusted.

This is the last in our series of Billboards You’ll (probably) Never See. I hope you’ve had as much fun with them as we have. Next week we take a look at photographs that remind us of songs. We hope you’ll join us every day. Remember, you can subscribe at the bottom of the page and get an email to let you know the instant we’ve published a new entry![/one_half_last]

Advertising / Mythology / PotD

Popular Mythologies

May 1, 2015

7 Billboards You’ll (probably) Never See. Day Six: Popular Mythologies

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]People have always created gods as they’ve had a need for them. My late father, a Southern Baptist pastor whose views he considered conservative now seem at the very least moderate compared to today’s denomination, frequently explained that the need for God was inherent in man because there was no other way to explain the things their minds could not understand. Prior to Galileo, humans thought the universe revolved around the earth because God had placed it at the center of the universe. Before Sir Issac Newton’s ponderings on why apples fall from trees educated people used God to explain what we now call gravity. Wherever there is a void in understanding, humans have filled the empty intellectual space with deity; sometimes a great number of them. When one looks at the process over time, it really is rather amusing.

Finding the very beginning of religion is difficult because its earliest traditions and stories were strictly oral. If one considers the remnants of ritualistic burial behavior, an almost-certain sign of religious activity, religion was present as early as 250,000 BCE. Those ancient mythologies were polytheistic with the number of deities varying dramatically from tribe to tribe. While tracking ancient Asian and Northern European mythologies is difficult, we know that by 5000 BCE semi-nomadic peoples along the Nile River, what would eventually become Egypt, had a very elaborate set of deities and as that society developed, their leaders, called Pharaohs, were assigned deistic power, beginning a long mythological tradition of god-men.

Around 3000 BCE, once language was largely codified in textual form, the number of recognizable mythologies seems to explode. Actually, most of these are formalized versions of more ancient oral myths, but setting them to print had the effect of universalizing the belief system so that it remained consistent from one location to another and also established a more firm code of discipline for those whose behavior put them outside their mythology. Religion was a critical part of keeping society together in this age and no one even considered questioning what was being handed down from generation to generation. They had no desire, no curiosity, to know about things outside the very dangerous and frequently lethal realities of the here and now.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]Most of the religions we recognize now had their beginnings between 500 BCE and 500 CE. Everything from Buddhism to Zoroastrianism, Christianity to Islam are all born during or near this period (Islam didn’t actually begin until the seventh century). Religion during this period is cultural with belief systems giving definition to specific people groups. By the time Constantine The Great became emperor in 306 CE, religion’s political influence had grown to the point that it became a part of his government. Expansion of the Roman Empire under Constantine not only meant administrative and financial reform, but saw the first significant spread of a religion outside its base geography. One’s religious beliefs became more of a political statement than a matter of actual faith.

Education and travel led to challenges within the world’s major religions and by the 17th century Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism had all split into a number of different sects or denominations that reflected changes in social attitudes. People of reason, who had been hiding quietly amongst themselves began to loudly question the validity of a first-century god in modern society and fewer of them were being killed for their opposition. The concept of a secular government, as opposed to a religiously dominated one, took hold and fostered significant revolutions most notably in the United States but also in France and Russia, eventually spreading across much of Europe and Asia with the political concepts of socialism and communism.

We continue to morph belief systems to fit our social needs and fill the gaps in our understanding to the point those early founders would likely not recognize their religions today. Reason and dependence on science has developed into its own cult, sparring with more traditional belief systems. Present an idea, give it a snazzy title and a great website, and someone will bite. Today’s billboard isn’t anti-religion but a statement of the obvious. Some people will believe anything, which makes all belief systems suspect and none fit for government.

Maybe today’s billboard isn’t so unrealistic after all.[/one_half_last]

Behind The Scenes / PotD

A Moment To Relax

April 22, 2015

Behind The Scenes: Rosewood Cookies (2011). Model: Kristina

Long days of shooting multiple concepts is exhausting both mentally and physically. Different people use different tricks to keep going and that sometimes leads to behind the scenes antics that are more entertaining than what actually happens on set.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]Models will quickly tell you that even under the best of circumstances, shooting multiple concepts in a day can be exhausting on every level. Wardrobe changes, location changes, makeup changes, and just trying to wrap one’s head around the different concepts, with different posing styles, requires a lot of energy and effort that doesn’t seem like a lot when divided into small segments but builds up over the course of a day. Given all that is demanded of them, it’s not too surprising that they each have different ways of coping with the stress.

Different studios and agencies have different rules, of course, and those rules have evolved dramatically over the past 30 years. When I first started, it wasn’t the least bit unusual for everyone to take a smoke break in the studio. No one ever gave a second thought to the health concerns that would soon enough force changes in smoking laws. Large clients would provide a Kraft services table that might contain fruit and vegetables, or bagels and cream cheese, and almost always coffee and soda. Occasionally one might luck out with a client that provided alcohol, possibly even champagne, but those were much more rare.

Over time, though, both clients and models became more health conscious. Many models now stick to drinking water on the set, with maybe a protein bar or some other healthy snack they’ve brought with them. Some models do yoga between sets, some walk the small dogs they’ve brought with them, and any more one is likely to find the model on her phone checking social media or posting a selfie if their contract permits. Everyone has a different way of relaxing and keeping the day from becoming too stressful. Stress inevitably makes for bad pictures, so whatever works to keep that away is often allowable. [/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]Of course, there are stories of the whole relaxing thing going a bit too far. During the 80s and 90s, it wasn’t all that unusual for illicit drugs to be running around the set. Joints were as common on the Kraft table as were donuts and if there was alcohol there was probably cocaine to go along with it. Even harder drugs were easily available, all in the name of staying relaxed and having a good time. Tales of those who succumbed to addiction are legion and many models and creative staff have ruined careers and even lost their lives because of the problems.

On the occasion of today’s behind the scenes photo, it is simply a single glass of white wine giving our model a bit of a break. She had already finished four concepts and still had two to go, one of which involved being covered in cookie icing. While such a sweet task might sound like fun, it really is time-consuming, and even a little frustrating, to get the icing placed and shaped just right. Melting is also a factor, as natural body heat causes most icings to break down within a relatively short period of time. Revisiting the wine a time or two was necessary before we were done.

Ultimately, the concept, seen below, was deemed too racy and ditched in favor of one more family-friendly. Still, it made for an interesting shoot and a very provocative behind the scenes moment. These are the pictures that cause some people to envy my job, and yes, it is every bit as much fun as it looks.[/one_half_last]

Behind The Scenes / PotD

Watch Your Step

April 21, 2015

Behind The Scenes: Explore Wild Wear (2011). Model: Kathi

We don’t always like to admit that some of our best shots are not the ones we planned, but rather the ones resulting from some error occurring behind the scenes. For all the planning we do, sometimes fate takes over, and fate often comes with a sense of humor.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]I never intended for Kathi to be inside the dumpster. On it, yes. Hiding behind it, yes. Inside the thing? No. That part was rather unintentional.

We were working on a series of mock ads that used seemingly careless situations to make a point. One had her standing in the middle of an intersection taking a selfie. Another had her walking into a street with a traffic cone on her head. Yet another had her “falling” off a mailbox. These came with tag lines such as, “Following your passion has challenges,” “When protection doesn’t fit, you’re doing it wrong,” and “Some moments are more exciting than others.” Each shot had an element of risk to it that we were able to mitigate through careful planning. At no point was the model in any serious risk of danger.

The shoot took place all over an urban neighborhood, encompassing several hours. This was one of those “you can’t believe what the photographer asked me to do” days and Kathi was a good sport going through multiple wardrobe changes and running from one set to another. We were both quite exhausted by the time we got down to the last concept, one which included a dumpster.

Dumpsters make for tricky props. First, they’re private property and therefore being in or on them technically constitutes trespassing; this is a safety issue to prevent people from sleeping in them and accidentally squished in the back of trash trucks. Second, they move which makes them dangerous and unpredictable. Third, one doesn’t always know what they’re going to find inside. Dumpsters have been known to attract both the disgusting and the bizarre. [/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]Care had been taken to choose a dumpster that had been emptied earlier that day, served a business that wasn’t likely to be throwing away anything potentially hazardous or especially icky, and was facing the correct direction for waning sunlight. My concept originally had Kathi crouching behind the dumpster. Unfortunately, when we tried it the image lacked the punch I wanted. The dumpster was significantly larger than the crouching model, so the ratios appeared totally skewed.

After talking for a moment, considering the risks, Kathi agreed to try climbing on top of the dumpster. She felt certain that she would be able to balance along the side with no problem, something she was able to do long enough for me to drop five or six frames. Then, as she tried to actually stand on the edge of the dumpster, she lost her balance and chose to jump into the dumpster rather than risk falling. The shot of the jump itself wasn’t especially impressive, but this one, the moment she looked down and saw the rotting flowers on which she was standing, was perfect.

When fate intervenes in a photoshoot it often has a better idea. Kathi was a good sport and we ended up making the best of it as can be seen in the shot below. In fact, had she not jumped into the dumpster, I probably would have dropped this concept from the finished project. So, thanks to fate stepping in and gravity for doing its thing and giving us a shot better than what we had planned.[/one_half_last]

Behind The Scenes / Photography / PotD

Hold Your Horses

April 20, 2015

Behind The Scenes: Sunday Morning Ride (2011). Model: Cynthia Schmidt. Horse wrangler: Jewel Emery. Horse: Duke.

Working with horses is a good reminder of why planning photoshoots well in advance is important and why no detail is too small to let go unattended. With sufficient time and care, though, they can take incredible photographs. The same can be said of people on occasion.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]I like horses. I still remember my first pony ride as a tot. I still remember struggling to try and carry the saddle by myself. I still remember the thrill of jumping gates. Growing up in rural areas, horses were frequently part of our lives and the love and respect I have for them continues. Horses are bright, intelligent, and noble regardless of age or pedigree. Occasionally ornery, they are often great hams in front of a camera and even show jealousy if one gets more lens time than another. They also tend to be great judges of human character and won’t tolerate someone they don’t like.

Having a horse in a photograph almost always makes for a great image, but those pictures don’t just happen by showing up at a ranch one morning and asking to borrow a horse. Most city-raised people don’t know how to ride, or even how to behave around a horse, which can be a bit dangerous. So, when planning to work with horses we have to take plenty of time, choose our models carefully, and take extra precautions such as giving the horse and the model a little time to get to know each other before taking the pictures that count.

Today’s picture is one such bonding moment between Duke and Cynthia. Duke’s owner can just barely be seen on his right side, adjusting the stirrup for Cynthia’s long legs. It was fairly early on a Sunday morning, Cynthia hadn’t ridden in a while, and I’m not sure Duke was all that crazy about having someone on his back at this particular hour. Everything went quite well except for this one tentative moment when Duke moved a little unexpectedly, catching Cynthia by surprise. Very shortly thereafter, they were riding around, getting to know each other, and having a good time.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]We arrived even earlier the next week and fog hugged the pasture as Cynthia mounted Duke and took off. He pranced and trotted beautifully, responding well to her instructions. One of my favorite shots from the day is where Duke appears to be sticking his tongue out at me as he trots my direction. After playing in the field for a while, Cynthia changed clothes and Duke proceeded to stand beautifully still as she laid across his bare back for a number of images. Something tells me that Duke thought he was the focus on the pictures and the girl was just decoration.

I should probably take a moment to insert a cautionary note here. Not every horse is as cooperative as Duke. In fact, when it comes to editorial style photographs, one is almost always better off with an older horse who is accustomed to being ridden by a number of people. Younger, more high-spirited horses are likely to be a bit temperamental about who is on their back; they need strong, experienced riders who know how to take charge and aren’t intimidated by a horse’s dominant personality. Listen carefully to the advice of a horse’s owner and/or wrangler. I’ve never had anyone hurt while taking pictures around horses, but the danger is definitely there.

Pictures circulating in Las Vegas this week show an intimidating Cynthia in her football uniform, promoting that city’s LFL team; she looks as tough and dominating as she is beautiful. So, this seemed like the perfect time to pull out a picture of the one moment, that split second, where she might have been a wee bit anxious. Obviously, her confidence was back by the time we took the pictures below, but we’ll always remember that one moment and the horse that made it possible.[/one_half_last]

Behind The Scenes / PotD

Give Me A Little Smoke

April 19, 2015

Behind the Scenes: Two Faced (2011). Model: Lisa Petrini. Makeup: Christopher Thompson

What happens behind the scenes of a photoshoot? Everything! More than just doing hair and makeup, off-camera actions tell just how hard we work to capture those great shots and how much fun we have along the way. We look this week at events not intended for public viewing.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]Over the years, younger photographers have often asked if they could “sit in” and watch what we do during a photoshoot. Every photographer is different, has their own style and approach to taking pictures, so there is some benefit in observing all the different methods that might be applied to the craft. I usually don’t mind having extra people on the set unless space is already severely limited, but this week we’re taking everyone along with us behind the scenes of a wide variety of shoots. Pay attention and you may learn something. Or maybe you’ll just laugh. We’re betting on the latter.

The role of Art Director (AD) on a photoshoot is one that is often dropped when the shoot isn’t being funded by a magazine or commercial concern. Part of the AD’s job is to have a clear vision of exactly how the finished product should look and make sure everything and everyone is available to produce that look. When we’re working on unfunded projects, though, that planning responsibility typically falls to whomever had the original idea. When we run with a less than crystal-clear concept, or the personal doing the planning doesn’t have a lot of experience, we don’t always think of things we might want/need until we’re in the middle of the shoot.

Such is the case of this shot from a special makeup effects project for Chris Thompson’s portfolio. The idea of creating a split-personality look that was nothing short of horrific on one side while glamorous on the other has received various treatment over the years, but Chris had an idea for how to create a unique look that wouldn’t take 12-14 hours to achieve; this one only took about four hours, super fast by industry standards. We were working from Chris’ apartment so he would have ready access to all the little tricks he might need to apply along the way.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]We were working from Chris’ apartment so he would have ready access to all the little tricks he might need to apply along the way, which made sense. What that meant, however, was we would be shooting in his living room with a black cloth draped across a cord for background. He was focused on producing the effect, the result of which was more fantastic than I could have ever imagined. Not until we were shooting did either of us think that the addition of a little smoke or fog to the scene might enhance the appearance.

Oops. No fog machine. Not that we didn’t have access to one, but neither of us had thought about it prior to shooting and the relatively late hour at which we were working made running to fetch one impractical.

So, we tried the only thing we did have available: cigarette smoke. Today’s picture is our attempt at creating the desired atmosphere by blowing a full drag of cigarette smoke into the model’s face. Unfortunately, cigarette smoke is considerably more fine in composition than is the normal stage smoke we would use in such a situation. Despite multiple attempts, we ended up not using the smoke, but going with the image below instead.

Photoshoots are rarely perfect, but in many ways that element of experimentation born out of either necessity or a whim is what makes the job so much fun. We never know what we can do until we try, right?[/one_half_last]

Nature / PotD

Urban Greenspace

April 18, 2015

Concert in the Park (2014). Model: Laura (L Modelz) Makeup: Danelle French Hair: Anthony Perez Styling: Nativa Photography assistance: James Thorpe

City planners have long understood the benefit of having large expanses of urban greenspace scattered throughout an urban population. While how that greenspace is used has changed somewhat over the years, a city’s largest parks and outdoor recreation areas are consistently the places where people gather for fun, relaxation, and sometimes meaning.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]I still remember the first time I set foot in New York’s famed Central Park. I was there for hours and still barely covered a third of the space the park occupies. Coming from rural Oklahoma, I had braced myself for all the concrete and steel of the metropolis, and it wasn’t like I didn’t know Central Park existed. What caught me by surprise was the reality of just how large it is and all the varied ways New Yorkers take advantage of the greenspace, both for good and, sometimes, not.

Central Park was the first such landscaped space in the United States, having reached its current size by 1863. While acquiring that much land in an already immense and densely populated city wasn’t easy, and fraught with political tension, there was little argument that the park was something the city wanted. The greater argument was over who would control it, the city or the state. By 1870, the city won that fight and from there it has possibly become the most famous park in the world, a shining example followed by other burgeoning cities all across the country.

Environmentally, urban greenspace is like gold to a city. The more people that are gathered putting off carbon dioxide, the more we need trees and vegetation to absorb what we produce and provide us with the necessary oxygen to sustain life. While no park totally makes up for the accumulation of millions of people, even small space with a handful of trees has a huge impact. Parks help with flood control, pollution control, stop soil erosion, and help keep down urban temperatures in addition to providing a balanced home for urban wildlife.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]Beyond the ecological benefits, though, urban greenspace provides people with a place to be, a place to relax, to sit under a shade tree and read, to have a picnic with family or friends, to fly a kite, walk a dog, chase a ball, learn to ride a bike, go for a jog, or just enjoy a bit of fresh (more or less) air. While urban living can be exciting and fun, the fact is we miss nature and long deeply to have it around us and to be part of the natural earth. We don’t like being cooped up all day, surrounded by four walls, looking longingly out elevated windows. We need space to get out and roam and explore and stretch.

Many cities have experimented with variations on the greenspace over the years. Some have put in large ponds, streams, or other water attractions. Others have put in playgrounds for children, though most were later removed due to rising insurance costs. Still others provide tennis courts, basketball courts, and little league and softball fields for organized recreation. As soccer has become increasingly popular we’ve seen space reserved for youth and adult league games. Portions of large parks have been converted to major music venues, offering concerts of all varieties in an atmosphere where one doesn’t necessarily need a ticket to listen and enjoy the music.

Benefits of urban greenspace are endless and for photographers especially they provide countless opportunities to capture seasonal natural beauty while also providing a dynamic backdrop for portraits. So, we end this week’s look at the urban outdoors celebrating the great parks around the country. Let’s go now and enjoy![/one_half_last]

Photography / PotD

Concrete, Glass, and Steel

April 17, 2015

Capturing the Night (2008). Model: Sarah

Nature gives us earth, wind, and fire. The urban outdoors responds with concrete, glass, and steel, its own basic elements of which every city is composed. Yet, when photographing a city we must first make the choice of whether our subject is the people or the architecture.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]I went with another long-exposure night shot for today’s image because it emphasizes, perhaps more than any other image I immediately have available, the choices we must make when shooting in the inner city. Urban architecture and design can make for wonderful photographs. Yet, the heart and soul of any city is its people. Trying to fit both into the same photograph is almost always disappointing, or at best, cliché. Sarah is standing in front of a work of beautiful design, but the landmark wasn’t our subject, she was. To say this is a picture of the landmark would be totally inappropriate.

I am reminded of the time a friend returned from a trip to Paris and arrived back home with boxes of slides under his arm. I realize younger readers may not have ever experienced the mixture of joy and boredom that comes with watching someone else’s vacation pictures projected onto a white sheet in the living room, but this particular experience was especially disappointing at first. I was expecting grand, sweeping images of Parisian landmarks, and upon seeing sleeves marked “Arch de Triomphe” and “Notre Dame” was prepared to be thrilled. Yet, not one such shot existed. No flying buttresses. No stained glass. No arch.

“So, where are the landmarks,” I asked. “I only saw a hint of the Seine and nothing at all of the cathedrals.” I’m sure my disappointment was evident in the tone of my voice.

“I didn’t go to take pictures of tourist attractions,” he responded. “I wanted pictures of Paris, so I took pictures of people who were to be standing around tourist attractions.”

Looking back through the slides, there they were: the painter along the Seine; the street vendor in front of the arch; the woman asking for alms in the shadow of the great cathedral. He had captured the very essence of Paris without a single landscape shot, no hint of Eiffel’s tower, or even the Louvre’s pyramid.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]Cities are easily recognized by its architectural landmarks, to the point that even the silhouette of some skylines, such as those of New York, London, Dubai, and Seattle, are enough to identify the location. Architecture and design that varies from one city to the next help give one a sense of place, uniqueness for a given geography. Architecture is to the urban landscape what mountains, rivers, and trees are to nature’s domain. They make for wonderful images, but require one to step back, to look at the city from a distance. One does not capture the glory of Notre Dame standing on its front steps. To capture this view of the city requires distance to achieve the best perspective.

Yet, if one really wants to capture what makes a city tick, one needs to photograph its people, the ones who live and work in and around those gigantic landmarks; the ones who put life and breath into the concrete, glass, and steel. These pictures require getting close, choosing a more intimate perspective, and perhaps exposing the city in a way that isn’t necessarily glamorous, or what might appear on a tourism brochure. Find the people who haven’t given in to the fashion hegemony of the malls and capture them in their natural element.

Each summer I have to stop myself from interfering with tourist trying to fit a large landmark into the same frame as Aunt Sue. Inevitably, one must choose: is it a picture of the architecture, or Aunt Sue’s quirky grin? Neither is wrong, both capture a piece of the city, but they are different pieces. Know which is your focus before you start.[/one_half_last]

charles i. letbetter

The living model, the naked body of a woman, is the privileged seat of feeling, but also of questioning… The model must mark you, awaken in you an emotion which you seek in turn to express. -Henri Matisse

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Beautiful nudes made it possible for us to contemplate our sexuality in safety. -Martha Mayer Erlebacher

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“It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity.” ― Dave Barry

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“It doesn’t matter where you’re from – or how you feel… There’s always peace in a strong cup of coffee.” ― Gabriel Bá, Daytripper

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“I sipped my own coffee, heavy on the sugar and cream, trying to make up for the late work the night before. Caffeine and sugar, the two basic food groups.” ― Laurell K. Hamilton, Cerulean Sins

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“Let me wake up next to you, have coffee in the morning and wander through the city with your hand in mine, and I’ll be happy for the rest of my fucked up little life.” ― Charlotte Eriksson, Empty Roads & Broken Bottles; in search for The Great Perhaps

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When you wash your hands, when you make a cup of coffee, when you’re waiting for the elevator – instead of indulging in thinking, these are all opportunities for being there as a still, alert presence. -Eckhart Tolle

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We want to do a lot of stuff; we’re not in great shape. We didn’t get a good night’s sleep. We’re a little depressed. Coffee solves all these problems in one delightful little cup. -Jerry Seinfeld

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If it wasn’t for the coffee, I’d have no identifiable personality whatsoever. -David Letterman

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I’m still more comfortable with standards than with my own songs. –Carly Simon

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7 Billboards You’ll (probably) Never See. Day Seven: Sugar Cream Pie

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7 Billboards You’ll (probably) Never See. Day Six: Popular Mythologies

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Long days of shooting multiple concepts is exhausting both mentally and physically. Different people use different tricks to keep going and that sometimes leads to behind the scenes antics that are more entertaining than what actually happens on set.

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We don’t always like to admit that some of our best shots are not the ones we planned, but rather the ones resulting from some error occurring behind the scenes. For all the planning we do, sometimes fate takes over, and fate often comes with a sense of humor.

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Working with horses is a good reminder of why planning photoshoots well in advance is important and why no detail is too small to let go unattended. With sufficient time and care, though, they can take incredible photographs. The same can be said of people on occasion.

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Like this:

What happens behind the scenes of a photoshoot? Everything! More than just doing hair and makeup, off-camera actions tell just how hard we work to capture those great shots and how much fun we have along the way. We look this week at events not intended for public viewing.

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Nature gives us earth, wind, and fire. The urban outdoors responds with concrete, glass, and steel, its own basic elements of which every city is composed. Yet, when photographing a city we must first make the choice of whether our subject is the people or the architecture.

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