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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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]

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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 / 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]

Art / PotD

Art On The Urban Wall

April 16, 2015

D on the Square (2013). Model: Diablo

Graffiti that once was considered the bane of urban existence is now a recognized and sometimes highly sought after art form unique to the inner city. All over America, cities are electing to brighten once-blighted neighborhoods with murals and other forms of street art. The biggest challenge? Finding them.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]We frequently travel across a little stretch of road that is strictly utilitarian in nature. There’s no reason for its existence other than to connect one part of town with another. The asphalt runs adjacent to a railroad track with a hospital at one end and an industrial area at the other, but there is nothing useful in between, simply overly-littered clumps of weeds and dirt the department of public works tries to clean up occasionally. Then, just last year, the city decided that the area needed some sprucing up. So, they commissioned a large mural to be painted under the stretch of Interstate 65 that dissects the area. The mural is very attractive, very bright, and appropriate in its depiction of the people who live in the area. Hooray for public art!

Yet, the rest of the area, even the right-of-way between the mural and the road, remains a blight. Trash still punctuates the aesthetics of the road, soot still gathers on the girders of the overpass, and none of the mural is visible unless one is stuck on that very short piece of otherwise forgettable road. Might this be a case of expecting art to do more than it is capable of doing on its own? Possibly.

Cities have long had a love/hate relationship with outdoor urban art. While graffiti has been around almost as long as men have been building walls, only recently have we as a society started looking at it as a legitimate art form. Artists with names such as Banksy, Mr. Brainwash, and Retna, Shepard Fairey, and David Choe have become both celebrities and millionaires spraypainting their works on the side of buildings such as Facebook’s headquarters. What once would have gotten a person arrested for vandalism is now welcomed by many urban building owners and often comes with a very hefty price tag.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]For all that popularity, we’re still not always sure what to do with urban wall art. Today’s picture is shot in front of a very large and attractive piece of work in Fountain Square. Yet, you won’t see it as you take a casual drive through the area. The graffiti art is on a wall tucked back in an alley next to a gravel parking lot used primarily by employees of adjacent businesses. If one doesn’t know the work is there and seek it out, it goes completely unnoticed. Sticking Diablo, at the time one of Fountain Square’s better-known residents, in front of the wall might have brought it some attention had we included a map of how to find it. We like urban wall art, but we’re not always sure we want everyone to see it.

One also has to consider the fact that a lot of street art is intentionally temporary. Traditional graffiti artists never expect their work, welcome or not, to be permanent. Even under the best of circumstances, sunlight fades the colors and changing weather eventually chips away at the paint. Many walls where graffiti is welcome get completely repainted two or three times a year. If one visits an area infrequently or is unaware of an art wall’s rotation, one might easily miss a real masterpiece of urban painting.

Wall art is an exciting part of the contemporary urban landscape and photography helps preserve this all-too-temporary art form. Perhaps one day we’ll no longer relegate such creative work to back alleys and the underside of Interstate bridges. Until then, the search-and-discovery process of finding these exciting pieces is an adventure that defines the uniqueness of the urban outdoors. Get out your camera and start looking; they could be anywhere![/one_half_last]

Photography / PotD

Experience The Night

April 15, 2015

In The Garden (2010). Model: Samantha. Body art: Jennifer Baxter

Cities become very different places at night, some good, some bad. A quiet shopping area suddenly becomes alive with club activity. A busy business district takes on a ghostly creepiness. Shooting in the urban outdoors can be dangerous but rewarding.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]We knew we were taking some risks the night we shot today’s photo. The location was a very popular club area, which meant it would be heavily populated with a lot of lights and activity in the background. All that traffic would give us a certain amount of anonymity for a little while, but not long. Once bystanders, most of whom had already consumed a fair share of alcohol, figured out we essentially had a topless girl standing on the sidewalk, we wouldn’t have long before the scene might potentially grow out of control.

Working in the urban outdoors at night is an experience unlike any other. One never is quite sure whether they are alone, who might be watching or what might be hiding in the shadows. At the same time, the colors and lighting of the urban landscape at night are wholly unique, dramatically different from the long exposure shots taken in more rural areas. Here, there is a beauty and an intrigue that is very different from other forms of photography, but there is also an element of danger.

Over the years, we’ve often taken to the streets at night with tripod in hand, ready to see what the camera might capture that the naked eye didn’t see. Some nights we might only get interesting light flares. Other nights we’ve had rocks thrown at us from unseen sources, frightened those in the act of committing a crime, stumbled across hidden lovers, and possibly crossed paths with a ghost or two if one believes in such things. We’ve attracted the attention of police, but, fortunately, have never needed their services. Armed escorts are a necessary precaution, but we’ve never needed them to draw their weapon.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]This particular night we relied on sheer numbers and our ability to dissolve into a darkened neighborhood as our security method. While the model and I quickly snapped the handful of frames necessary to ensure we’d gotten a good shot, three others, including the body artist, stood nearby looking casual but on alert. By the time someone shouted across the street, “Hey, is that girl naked?” we were done and slipped quietly away from any potential danger.

For shots such as this one, planning and knowledge of the area are critical. We knew we wouldn’t have much time, so we carefully chose our location and discussed posing before we arrived. I also made a solo trip to the area on a previous night so that I wouldn’t need to waste time getting light meter readings. I was very familiar with the street and had a sense of what to expect. None of that quelled my excitement or anxiety as we walked through the shadows of an adjoining neighborhood on our way to the location. We dropped ten frames and were done.

Long exposure night photography is interesting and fun no matter where it is done, but shooting at night in the urban outdoors can be an experience in excitement unlike any other and results in some of the most unique images one is likely to take. While the inherent dangers are not something to be dismissed, a little planning and caution delivers results one can’t achieve anywhere else. Go ahead, experience the night; a whole different world of imagery awaits.[/one_half_last]

Photography / PotD

Urban Seasons

April 14, 2015

On the Fountain (2010) Model: Danelle French

As with nature, urban landscapes go through seasons of their own, just not as quickly or on as precise a schedule. Changes to the urban environment, both subtle and dramatic, keep us going back to the same locations time and time again, always with different results.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]Today’s photo is almost five years old, which is difficult to believe in some regards. I still remember with rather surprising clarity the morning of this shoot, Danelle trying to balance on the rocks, the looks of curious drivers on their morning commute wondering what we might be doing. If I were to take her back to Fountain Square this morning, though, the picture would be dramatically different. The entire landscape behind her has changed rather dramatically. This particular area of town has changed seasons, going from a sleepy Spring of quiet, modest change, to a Summer of tremendous growth with some rather dramatic additions to the landscape.

Any time we shoot outdoors, nature’s seasons factor into what we’re doing; the four seasons offer distinctly different looks, but sometimes those changes are not as obvious in an urban environment. If there are no trees on a street, we don’t see whether leaves have fallen or are beginning to bud. Snow is a rather obvious clue, but a sunny day with no people on the street to give us a hint might just as easily be July as December. Seasons take on a different feel when one is in the city.

Cities also go through seasons of their own, from growth to stability to decay and rebirth. Typically, we see those changes at the neighborhood level though occasionally, such as with Detroit, whole city transformations can be obvious. No city wants to be labeled as boring and just the natural wear and tear of use, not to mention the coming and going of business as economies fluctuate, factor into visible changes in the urban environment. While those changes rarely happen within a three-month cycle, thank goodness, they do happen with enough frequency to give photographers different and often unique settings that can be fun to capture.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]Granted, capturing urban changes requires paying a little more attention than is necessary with nature, which operates on a slightly more predictable basis. If one is not “plugged in” to a community, particularly at the neighborhood level, one can be caught by surprise. In unique little places such as Fountain Square, the coming and going of mom-and-pop, single proprietor shops has a dramatic impact on the visual impact of an area. Full window displays communicate a totally different season than does empty space or, worse yet, boarded windows. The addition of a coffee shop where a bicycle repair business once stood also gives a street a very different feel. Even things such as repairs to the sidewalk make a significant difference from a visual perspective.

Unfortunately, not every seasonal change to an area is planned or positive. When fire takes out a dominant building the entire neighborhood feels the pain and the results are surprisingly visual. Should crime overtake an area, or should a geographically specific economic program end, a once-thriving community may see itself thrust into an unwanted period of winter. New construction might be seen as the “spring planting” season in the urban environment, but street-level disruption might cause traffic congestion and noise that present a challenge.

This week marks ten years since I first moved to and began exploring Indianapolis. Visual changes in the city are dramatic to the point that pictures I took then are practically obsolete, taking on a strange “vintage” feel to them. Every year I look around and find reasons to re-visit places that I’ve photographed before, knowing that I’ll get very different results. Urban seasons are one of the things that make photographing the inner-city outdoors fun and exciting. Look around you and be amazed at the changes. [/one_half_last]

Fashion / PotD

Runways From Sidewalks

April 13, 2015

Runway on the Canal (2011), Model: Destany Harte. Dress by Beth Bennett

Creative catwalks are big business within the world’s fashion capitols of New York, London, Milan, and Paris, but for smaller markets getting fashion shows noticed by the public is more challenging. Sometimes the best solution is to stage a show right where it can’t be missed.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]There have been some creative sets for fashion shows over the years. Tommy Hilfiger always creates a set that echos the general theme of his clothes for the season. Marc Jacobs once had models coming up and down on escalators and elevators simultaneously. Sets for Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel shows are elaborate productions costing millions of dollars. Some say the over-the-top sets help set those brands apart. Others say the sets distract from what are otherwise boring collections lacking in originality and creativity. When one remembers the setting for a show more than the clothes shown in it, one has to wonder if the latter isn’t more correct.

Today’s photo is taken from the 2011 Indy Fashion Time presentation on the canal in downtown Indianapolis. Unlike Hilfiger, Jacobs, or Lagerfeld, this presentation showcasing multiple designers wasn’t looking to overshadow the designers, but rather answer the challenge of making sure people notice them. As the Internet has allowed smaller designers to set up shows without having to move to New York or Paris, smaller cities such as Indianapolis have started having fashion weeks and other fashion related events of their own. The challenge: getting anyone to notice without the huge million-dollar budgets of the big cities.

Indy Fashion Time (IFT) founder Dlang Ferguson, a respectable designer in her own right, hit upon a creative solution to the exposure problem when in 2011 she orchestrated a summer-time runway presentation right out where no one could miss it: Indianapolis’ downtown canal. The downtown canal is a leftover from the pre-railroad days in Indiana that has become a popular destination for both tourists and locals, its broad sidewalks, artistic elements, and gondoliers making it attractive to a wide range of people. Drop a fashion show in the middle of that on a warm summer’s evening and people are bound to take notice![/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]Not that such expositions are easily achieved. Ms. Ferguson worked tirelessly with the various government officials months in advance for the necessary permits and permissions to stage the show. Presenting the show outside creates a plethora of logistical challenges, ranging from security to model prep areas to how to provide music without violating noise ordinances. Dlang understood that to put a show in such a public place meant that it had to be a bit extravagant, impossible to miss, and come off without a hitch. No small detail could be overlooked.

Added to all the logistical challenges was the ever-looming spectre of rain. When one has to start planning so very many months in advance, there is no way of predicting at that juncture what the weather might be. Summer in the Midwest, as in much of the United States, is often quite erratic, going from suffocatingly hot and humid one day to pouring down rain and threatening thunderstorms the next with little warning or forecasting to allow one to change plans. Dlang says she had an internal confidence that the weather was going to cooperate, though, and sure enough it couldn’t have been a more pleasant evening.

A couple of seasons ago, Karl Lagerfeld created his own urban street setting indoors because actually using the streets of Paris would have been too dangerous and too expensive. Smaller cities trump the big ones in that regard, giving designers and events such as IFT the chance to bring fashion directly to the people, right smack in the middle of town. While the task is never easy, the urban outdoors is a dynamic fashion set unlike any other. [/one_half_last]

Photography / PotD

Walking The Dog

April 12, 2015

Walking the Dog (2010) Model: Cynthia Schmidt

While being outdoors in nature is a wonderful experience and great place to photograph, the urban outdoors is a far more common and often more complex experience. This week we explore photos that enjoy being outside but in town.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]It was early on a Sunday morning when we shot today’s picture. Cynthia had contacted me because she had rescued a pup that had been in absolutely horrible condition and now that he was all clean and healthy she wanted pictures with him. Animal pictures aren’t exactly high on my list of things to shoot, though. As cute as they are, they tend to not follow directions too terribly well and shots of them just sitting are rather boring after the second snap.

Looking to put some excitement into the picture, I asked her to take the pictures in her underwear. Granted, that’s not a request I would make of too many people. Only someone with a lot of self-confidence, poise, and the ability to drop anyone who might make an inappropriate move could pull off this look without a large security staff standing by. The fact that Cynthia looked great walking down that street with the tiny little dog was almost secondary.

Timing and location were critical in making this shot happen. While we weren’t even remotely at risk of an indecent exposure charge, there was a real chance we could be cited with disturbing the peace if we chose the wrong neighborhood. After all, it’s not every day that one sees an attractive young blonde walking down the street in her underwear, especially in the Midwest. Her ability to be a distraction meant choosing a street and a time where traffic would be minimal. I had been watching this particular location for a while and knew it was our best chance at not being disruptive.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]Of course, we still attracted a small amount of attention. There is a coffee shop just behind where I was shooting and being early on a Sunday there were, naturally, a handful of caffeine addicts who desperately needed their morning fix. No one complained, though, and when we stopped by the coffee shop later they were quite complimentary. One barista even asked if we might repeat the shoot on a regular basis, thinking it would help them attract early morning traffic.

Such are the type of things one encounters when shooting outdoors in an urban environment. Like shooting out in nature, there are all the benefits and challenges of light and shadow, but here one also has the addition of architecture, which can be incredibly beautiful to the point of being overwhelming, and traffic, which can be incredibly frustrating to the point of making a shot impossible. There are dangers, to be sure, but there are also some very strong benefits that make the urban outdoors an attraction all its own.

Americans are lucky to live in one of the least densely populated countries in the world. Even our largest cities are dotted with green space and urban planners everywhere are aware of the importance of building aesthetic value into a city’s appearance. Even in New York City, where people are seemingly stacked on top of each other there are places and times one can shoot in peace. We are quite fortunate to have the urban scenery we do and there’s no excuse not to capture it in photographs. Here’s to another week outdoors![/one_half_last]

Nature / PotD

Covered In Nature

April 11, 2015

Covered In Nature (2009). Models: Rose & Emily. MUA & Styling: Kelly Oswalt

Celebrating Spring and Nature go hand in hand. Spring is when nature is at its most glorious so it only stands to reason that now is when we are most anxious to get out and immerse ourselves in its glory and grandeur, taking as many pictures as we can along the way.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]Kelly Oswalt gets the lion’s share of credit for today’s photo; the concept was hers and she did all the makeup and styling. We even shot in her backyard. Kelly’s concepts often involve nature and she makes those natural elements her subject when she is behind the camera herself. Not everyone understands or appreciates how to work with, in, and around nature, but Kelly does it well.

Bonding with nature is one of those concepts with seasonal appeal. This time of year, I’m drawn to Thoreau’s descriptions of living as close to nature as possible. While there have been many others who have perhaps studied nature more deeply or lived more simply for longer, Thoreau’s gift was relating the connection between nature and life.

“The morning, which is the most memorable season of the day, is the awakening hour. Then there is least somnolence in us; and for an hour, at least, some part of us awakes which slumbers all the rest of the day and night… All memorable events, I should say, transpire in morning time and in a morning atmosphere. The Vedas say, “All intelligences awake with the morning.”

and then later he muses:

“A single gentle rain makes the grass many shades greener. So our prospects brighten on the influx of better thoughts. We should be blessed if we lived in the present always, and took advantage of every accident that befell us, like the grass which confesses the influence of the slightest dew that falls on it; and did not spend our time in atoning for the neglect of past opportunities, which we call doing our duty. We loiter in winter while it is already spring.”

[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]While few can afford to do as Thoreau did, building a cabin by a pond and then taking two years to live there and write, Spring ignites in most all of us that urge to “get back to nature,” to be outside, explore, and experience. Our desire to be part of the world, to kick off our shoes, dress down next to nothing, to feel nature as though we were born into it, is instinctive. Human evolution has not lost the primal need to connect with that source from which we originate.

As we’ve seen this week, taking pictures outdoors comes with a host of dangers and challenges. When people are involved, especially, one does not just pick up a camera, shoot leisurely, and expect images of any quality or to not endure some difficulty. Yet, for all the issues that might present themselves, for everything that one might need to consider before going out, just the experience of shooting outdoors in nature is worth whatever trouble might be involved. Even if the pictures don’t turn out as planned, one has spent the time surrounded by and hopefully enjoying all that nature has to give.

Again, from Thoreau:

“If the day and the night are such that you greet them with joy, and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet-scented herbs, is more elastic, more starry, more immortal- that is your success. All nature is your congratulation, and you have cause momentarily to bless yourself. The greatest gains and values are farthest from being appreciated. We easily come to doubt if they exist. We soon forget them. They are the highest reality. Perhaps the facts most astounding and most real are never communicated by man to man. The true harvest of my daily life is somewhat as intangible and indescribable as the tints of morning or evening. It is a little star-dust caught, a segment of the rainbow which I have clutched.”

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Nature / Photography / PotD

Not All Outdoors Is Equal

April 10, 2015

On The Rocks (2012)

Finding that perfect place to shoot outdoors can be difficult and when we do find a place that works we tend to want to keep it to ourselves. Great outdoor locations are almost as valuable, and rare, as gold. Non-photographers think we’re crazy, but experienced photographers know that not all of nature is created equal.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]Mud. Muck. Gnats. Hills. Rocks. Rough terrain. If one is going to shoot with me outdoors, those are some of the conditions that one is likely to encounter. I’m not one of those people who just hop out of the car and say, “Hey, this would make a good place to shoot!” Instead, I study a location for a while, watch it in different conditions, walk it multiple times if I can, and consider exactly what I can and cannot do there photographically.

Even with all the planning I’m sometimes surprised. More water. Less water. A visiting herd of cows. For all the challenges to shooting outdoors, finding the best location may be the most challenging. Certainly, it requires the most energy.

I couldn’t get to the location where today’s photo was taken if I wanted. With all the rain we’ve had this week I rather doubt there’s a natural tributary in the state that isn’t at or overflowing its capacity. That’s the one draw-back to an otherwise almost idyllic shooting location; one I’ve used several times over the years and almost always with impressive results. Even though the location is public property, it is secluded enough I tend to consider it mine and would probably be a bit jealous if I saw pictures from another photographer taken there.

Perhaps the biggest challenge to shooting outdoors is finding just the right location that works for the time at which you want to shoot. To the uninitiated, it seems that any bright, sunny location ought to work for taking pictures. After all, if we have plenty of light and maybe some flowers and trees in the background, what more do we need? Experienced photographers understand, though, that finding just the right location, one that can be used repeatedly while still generating unique looks, is almost as difficult as mining for gold in the Midwest. There aren’t as many locations running around as one might expect.

Finding a good location is not unlike going on a treasure hunt. One can drive, and hike, for hours, through all manner of conditions, before finding that perfect spot. We don’t want it to be recognizable, because then everyone else will want to use it. We want our pictures to be unique and that means having locations different from where everyone else shoots.

Understand, there are thousands of locations where one can take a good photograph. The challenge is that for most of those locations one good, usable image is all one is going to get. No one needs a portfolio where all the photos look the same. Things such as notable landmarks, unique trees, and recognizable gardens are fantastic for that one shot, but don’t provide the long-term use for which we ultimately look.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]Everyone has their own opinions, of course, but here is what I look for in a good outdoor location:

Flexibility. Can I get more than one look out of a location? If I shoot from different directions and different times of day does it look like a different place? Does it work both morning and evening? How does it look during different seasons? The more I can get out of a location the more valuable it is.
Lighting. Sure, most any outdoor location gets light, but is it the right kind at the right time? Are there barriers between me and the sun? If so, do they make good filters? Is direct light the only option or is reflective light available as well?
Background pollution. Look toward the horizon and what do you see? If it is anything other than trees, clouds, and maybe a mountain, we have a problem. Power lines are the most frequent offenders, but randomly visible rooftops, or hints of urbanization in an otherwise forested setting reduce the visual impact.
Access. Is the location public property that can be accessed legally at any time or is it private property for which one has to obtain permission? Used to I would fudge this one, but as private property laws have changed in many states I no longer consider it worth the risk. I prefer public property whenever possible and will ask before shooting on private property.
Traffic. If I can get to a place, other people can as well. How well trafficked is the location? Do we need to watch for people in the background? Might people stand around gawking? I don’t exactly enjoy an audience.
Remoteness. How difficult is it to get to the location? The image above required a little over a mile’s hike, which is fine for a location where I don’t need additional equipment. Being remote means better privacy, but also means more difficulty getting help if something goes wrong.
Peacefulness. Very much a personal preference, is this a location I would enjoy even if not taking pictures? Would I just sit and read a book here? Is the place one I can enjoy just being? Such qualities inevitably transfer to the photos.

Every picture tells a story and we want every story to be different but having to find a new location for every outdoor concept is time-consuming and often frustrating. Finding one that offers multiple options all year long is like finding treasure.

And no, I’m not telling where mine are.[/one_half_last]

Nature / PotD

Stormy Weather

April 9, 2015

Color of Spring (2012)

Nothing adds drama to a photograph quite like dark, brooding, rolling clouds in the background. Capturing those clouds, without resorting post-processing trickery, is rather challenging. By the time clouds get as dark and ominous as we might want, chances are the weather is getting feisty and that’s not a good time to be taking pictures.

[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 2px”]Rain was still about an hour off the afternoon we took this picture. The model only had a short window of time available but was anxious to get pictures of the dress she had created for a competition. She wanted the pictures outdoors and the weather was perfect for getting the level of drama she desired. We weren’t out long, maybe thirty minutes max, but that was enough to set my weather anxieties on edge.

Growing up in Kansas and Oklahoma, one learns a lot about weather; it’s a necessity of survival. Weather forecasting back then was still in the relative stone age compared to the computer-driven real-time analysis available to meteorologists now. No matter how much one knew about the weather, usually the best tool in forecasting was having a large window through which one could look out. We were taught to respect, not fear, bad weather. Tornadoes could be avoided with some precaution, we were told. What we had to watch out for was lightening.

Stories abounded of people getting hit by tree limbs or knocked out of fishing boats because of lightening, but the incident that really drove the danger home was Johnny Bill. I met Johnny Bill (yes, that was his real name) through his grandparents my final year of college in 1983. He was the type of kid grandparents took pride in introducing to everyone. He was tall, athletic, an unruly shock of ginger hair on his head, and the kind of kid that attracted a following of little girls no matter where he went. He was intelligent, polite, and extremely kind.

Football season was still young. After school practice was critical, but Oklahoma high school coaches had strict policies about weather. Playing or practicing in the rain was acceptable, but at the first sign of lightening everyone was to be off the field. So it was this Thursday afternoon. Storms were still several miles away it seemed, but at the first rumble of thunder the coach called practice and sent his team toward the locker room. Johnny Bill was crossing the endzone, his helmet in his hand, when lightening hit. He and two other players fell to the grass. The other two slowly got up. Johnny Bill didn’t.[/one_half]

[one_half_last padding=”4px 2px 0 8px”]Two weeks passed and then stretched into a month. His family, the school, and the entire community prayed. Hard. Doctors did everything they could to relieve the pressure on his brain, but he had taken a direct hit, effectively burning out his entire nervous system. After several weeks, the decision was made to remove Johnny Bill from life support and he passed within minutes.

A lot has changed in meteorology over the past 30 years. I’m sitting here this morning knowing that storms are, once again, on their way. Where, when, and at what strength is hardly a mystery, though. I can watch my phone and see exactly the same information meteorologists see. I know upper level wind speeds, I can see barometric pressure readings, and radar has real-time accuracy. I don’t have to wonder whether it is safe to go out. I’ve known all week, in fact, that today’s weather was going to be rough, so we didn’t schedule anything outdoors.

Would it be tempting to take advantage of the dark clouds I know will be rolling in this morning? Sure, tempting, but stupid. By the time the dark clouds are most photographable lightening is likely at its most ferocious. Just because it sounds like it is still miles away doesn’t mean the next strike won’t be right on top of you.

For that reason, I’m not bothered too much by photographers enhancing skies in post-processing, provided it is done well. I would much rather see a carefully used photoshop brush than an obituary notice. Little of what photographers encounter has the ability to be lethal, but lightening is one element of nature that’s never worth the risk. Please use some common sense before going out into stormy weather.

And perhaps consider learning how to photoshop clouds really well.[/one_half_last]

Photography / PotD / Social Commentary

Beware The Ides

March 15, 2015

DISCONTENT (2011). Model: Rachel

The same author who warned his Julius Ceaser to, “beware the ides of March,” (Julius Ceaser Act I scene ii) also has Polonius instructing Laertes, “This above all: to thine own self be true,” (Hamlet, act I, scene iii). Both are instructions that photographers and other creatives would do well to heed.

[one_half padding=”2px 6px 0 2px”]I have had work published in a lot of magazines around the world. There was once a time when we were averaging more than 20 new publications a month. Then, things changed. A lot of things changed, actually. The “digital revolution,” the “dot-com bust,” and the “let’s lay everyone off and hire contractors” movement. Business wasn’t handled the way it had been in the past. There were more photographers in the market than ever and occasionally one would even find one who knew what they were doing. Demand for creative talent diminished as stock companies flourished.

Then came digital printing and online magazines. Suddenly, there were new magazines popping up everywhere looking for, begging for, content with which to fill their pages. I would pass by more upscale newsstands and not recognize two-thirds of the banners facing me. I would pass by a month later and find a whole new crop in their place. Longevity didn’t seem to be in the cards for most new titles.

Being a freelance creative means going out and finding the work; it’s never going to just show up at your front door unprovoked, though that’s what many of us dream. We network in circles with which we’re less than comfortable. We push ourselves well out of our comfort zones. We play nice with people we really don’t like all that much. We do whatever it takes to get that plum assignment.

Then, we’re asked to work for free. Or at least, if not for free, for roughly a third of what our services is actually worth. We sit at our desks or on our couches and begin to wonder: is it all worth it? Why do I keep chasing something that seems to want no part of me?

Hello, self-doubt. I’ve been down this road enough times now I know it’s coming, typically mid-March just as things are starting to thaw. We have fashion weeks out of the way, we’re scheduling editorial shoots as heavily as we dare, and all the while we’re thinking, “Is it worth all the trouble?”

Shakespeare’s Caesar is warned against the betrayal of his best friend, Brutus. Perhaps the soothsayer would similarly warn creatives against the betrayal of ourselves. Once we begin to question whether we’re good enough, once we start wondering why someone else got a job we wanted, once we start thinking that perhaps we made a wrong turn in our career, we’re slowly but surely killing ourselves. We might as well be plunging a dagger into the heart of our creativity.

Not that some self-reflection isn’t occasionally necessary, and no, freelance creative work isn’t appropriate for everyone. Yet, when we begin doubting ourselves we betray the talent within us that leads us to be creative. Coming up with new ideas, exploring new concepts, stretching the bounds of our media, requires us to have faith in ourselves, faith in our talent, and the resolve to see a project through to its end, even if that end isn’t exactly what we had hoped when we started.

“This above all: to thine own self be true.”

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[one_half_last padding=”2px 2px 0 6px”]The commercialism of creative fields has created a sense of competition that, too often, is unhealthy. We begin worrying more about whether an image is commercially competitive rather than whether we captured the image we intended to take. When we look at magazines and see styles dramatically different from our own, there’s a temptation to change, mimic what we see is being published, rather than continuing to pursue and refine our own style. In short: we stop being true to our creative selves.

I was perusing through a stack of magazines recently, one of those stacks where, once again, I recognized none of the titles. In considering the imagery being used, I found myself asking, “Is this what I have to do to be commercially viable anymore?” Where does one find the balance between what seems to be popular demand while staying true to one’s own creativity?

Again, we’ve been here before so I have some idea how to snap myself out of this deadly loop of self-denial and betrayal. It goes something like this:

Stop trying to be all things to all people. One of the biggest fallacies of being creative is that we have to be able to do it all. No, we don’t. In fact, chances are pretty f’n high that you can’t. Stop wasting time and energy trying.
Find your niche and work it. If you don’t like doing color photography, then stop chasing that medium. Find the black and white markets that are best suited to you.
Present your best work. Web sites and social media make it really easy for us to just toss up everything we produce, whether it’s really our best work or not. Smothering people with our work doesn’t make them like it any better. In fact, it has the opposite effect.
Choose the right place and the right time to show your work. Not all creative work is conducive to online presentation, so why force it? Facebook and Twitter never have been especially kind to graphic mediums, so why treat that as your own website? Control where your work is seen and make sure the right people are seeing it.
Don’t compromise your talent. You alone know whether you’re doing your best, producing your best work, and trying your hardest. Don’t let others set your standards. Be true to yourself, to your talent, and to your creativity.

I know there are some who argue against my approach, who say we have to “evolve” and “change with the times.” What works for someone else may not work for you, though. What works for me works for me and may not help someone else one bit. Some people do need to evolve and do so well. Others, though, need to hold tight to what they are already doing.

What’s important is that you are making those decisions for yourself. Stop chasing trends that are going to change next week. Stop trying to be like someone else. Stop mimicking someone else’s creativity.

Don’t be your own Brutus. To yourself, above all, be true.[/one_half_last]

PotD / Social Commentary

Blurred Lives

March 14, 2015

Blurred Lives (2013)

How strongly are we influenced by what we hear, what we see, and what we experience without ever actually giving the matter direct thought? Is there such a thing as an original thought anymore or is everything merely a re-interpretation of what someone else created?

[one_half padding=”0 4px 0 2px”]One of the big news items this week was a jury’s decision to award the family of late singer Marvin Gaye $7.3 million for copyright infringement after determining that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams had used, or been strongly influenced by, portions of Gaye’s “Got To Give It Up” when writing their hit song, “Blurred Lines.” While the amount of the award is staggering, and some naysayers predict this is the end of original music, the fact is we’ve been here before (Michael Bolton vs. the Isley Brothers, 1994) and the music industry will continue to produce “new” material to meet demand.

The larger question, though, is to what degree we are all influenced by the more subtle aspects of our environment? We go through the day with music playing in our ears, but we aren’t consciously listening to the songs. We read various headlines and snippets of stories without paying particular attention to their source. We see ads and commercials almost everywhere we look, but can’t tell someone what product was being sold. How much of what we experience is sticking?

Memory is difficult to quantify and is an extremely large field of scientific study. Just about the time scientists and doctors think they have a complete picture of the situation, there is even more adding to the constantly increasing bulk of information regarding what we remember, why we remember, and how much we remember. Midst all this ongoing research, though, one thing is for certain: we are all affected by the experience of our environment.

Kat and I were recently re-conversing along a topic that is fun to consider: what would a person such as one of the country’s founding fathers think were they to suddenly be transported into modern America? While there would unquestionably be a high amount of astonishment, and perhaps even fear of outright sorcery, one thing almost for certain is that they would experience sensory overload. We have so very much going on around us that our brains are required to process external information almost 24/7. There is little time to relax, to absorb, or to ponder because of the near-constant barrage of new information coming at us.

So, how do we know what part of our consciousness is us, original, new, having never existed prior to this moment, and how much is simply a re-manufacturing of material recycled from all our experiences and the things that influence us? There doesn’t seem to be any consensus on the topic.

National Public Radio’s Ashish Ranpura writes:

Fundamentally, memory represents a change in who we are. Our habits, our ideologies, our hopes and fears are all influenced by what we remember of our past. At the most basic level, we remember because the connections between our brains’ neurons change; each experience primes the brain for the next experience, so that the physical stuff we’re made of reflects our history like mountains reflect geologic eras. Memory also represents a change in who we are because it is predictive of who we will become. We remember things more easily if we have been exposed to similar things before, so what we remember from the past has a lot to do with what we can learn in the future.

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[one_half_last padding=”0 2px 0 4px”]That first sentence is the kicker: what we remember changes who we are. What sticks now helps determine what sticks stronger, later. So, consider the maxim that a lie repeated enough times becomes Truth. The more we experience the same thing, whether it’s a statement, a song, or a photograph, the more likely we are to not only remember that one specific item, but items similar to it, even to the point our memories no longer distinguish between different but similar entities. Everything becomes a giant blur.

Consider the image above. At first glance, it appears to be a double-exposure, what happens when the shutter is opened more than once onto the same piece of film. This is a digital image, though, and what we are seeing is very similar to what our brains must at time experience: an over-abundance of information. Taken at ISO 100, the shutter was open a quarter of a second with a wide-open aperture of f/2.8. The image appears to be doubly exposed because it was left open to an excessive amount of information. As a result: everything is blurred.

So it is with our lives. Very little of our experience is clearly defined. We are so inundated with information that even our own memories can’t be trusted to be accurate. Our very lives are blurred to the point of not being sure who we really are. Are we individuals, or are we a conglomerate of our experiences?

Perhaps we need to step away more often. Psychologists have been telling us for several years now that having quiet time, alone, totally disconnected from all the unending madness of the world, is critical to our development, if not our sanity. Most people try to “get away” perhaps once or twice a year on something called a vacation, but too often even those attempts end up being little more than exchanging one set of overwhelming experiences for another. We rush to get in as much “vacation” as possible before having to go back to work and, as a result. our brains get no rest.

Here’s the kicker: we control, for the most part, how much we experience. We’re the ones who spend hours on social media, keep earbuds glued to our ears all day, watch endless hours of television or streaming media. Little is actually being forced upon us. The blurriness of our lives is of our own doing.

So perhaps, this weekend, we step away for a while. The weather should clear up a bit this afternoon, so step away. Go for a walk in the woods. Sit for an hour or so beside a babbling brook. Take a nap. Better yet, take two. Eliminate all the experiences manufactured by someone else and take some time to create your own; do something that is totally you.

We might be surprised at just how much more focus we have come Monday if we spend more of our weekends defining our own lives.[/one_half_last]

photography

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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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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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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Cities become very different places at night, some good, some bad. A quiet shopping area suddenly becomes alive with club activity. A busy business district takes on a ghostly creepiness. Shooting in the urban outdoors can be dangerous but rewarding.

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As with nature, urban landscapes go through seasons of their own, just not as quickly or on as precise a schedule. Changes to the urban environment, both subtle and dramatic, keep us going back to the same locations time and time again, always with different results.

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Creative catwalks are big business within the world’s fashion capitols of New York, London, Milan, and Paris, but for smaller markets getting fashion shows noticed by the public is more challenging. Sometimes the best solution is to stage a show right where it can’t be missed.

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While being outdoors in nature is a wonderful experience and great place to photograph, the urban outdoors is a far more common and often more complex experience. This week we explore photos that enjoy being outside but in town.

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Celebrating Spring and Nature go hand in hand. Spring is when nature is at its most glorious so it only stands to reason that now is when we are most anxious to get out and immerse ourselves in its glory and grandeur, taking as many pictures as we can along the way.

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How strongly are we influenced by what we hear, what we see, and what we experience without ever actually giving the matter direct thought? Is there such a thing as an original thought anymore or is everything merely a re-interpretation of what someone else created?

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