Nature: Fog & Spiders

As hurricane Irene loomed, it seemed like a good idea to take a photo or two.  Seeing as I'm not into the whole risk getting blown away for the sake of art thing, the front porch seemed like a good place for a quick documentation.  It had been raining off and on.  It was foggy.  The wind had yet to make any major visit at this point.  As I looked through my camera I thought to myself, wonder how this will look in black and white?  When I started processing it, I immediately realized that I have not perfected the art of shooting fog!  At any rate, I wanted it to look somewhat like an old postcard.  I'm into this type of look/processing at the moment.  

The above fella was bracing for the storm.  We have lots of spiders and webs in our yard and I've been saying I was going to capture some of the webs.  That's easier said than done.  Apparently there's great skill to the art of taking photos of spider webs!  I don't have that skill it seems.  No matter what I seem to do, the web doesn't show well.  Without the processing, you can barely see the web. Oh well.  But, since we have five hundred billion spiders constantly making webs in the yard, I'll be able to get plenty of practice and figure out what I'm doing wrong... eventually!

Newport Folk Festival: Earl Scruggs

Earl Scruggs at the Newport Folk Festival, July 30, 2011

One of the things I like about the Newport Folk Festival is you get to see legends as well as the younger artists.  This year, I got a kick out of seeing banjo legend Earl Scruggs perform.  I mentioned to a person I was chatting with right before his set that one of my favorite live albums is Flatt and Scruggs at Carnegie Hall.  They looked at me oddly.  Apparently, I didn't look the type to them!  Of course, I looked at that person oddly when they declared that the "Ballad of Jed Clampett" was their favorite and would be disappointed if it wasn't played.  I might have rolled my eyes.  Don't get me wrong, it's a fine enough song and I'll watch a Beverly Hillbillies repeat in a heartbeat but, I wouldn't have been disappointed if it hadn't been played, there are too many classics I'd pick over that.  Thankfully, my fellow festival goer wasn't disappointed as the song was played and more than a few people sang along.

Mr. Scruggs and his band, which featured sons Randy and Gary, kicked things off with "Salty Dog Blues."  I was, for lack of a better word, giddy over that and nearly forgot to take photos because I was too busy singing along.  I went up to the roof of the fort to take photos during the set which is an amazing spot to listen to music.  At some point while I was up there, they ripped into "Orange Blossom Special."  I might have kinda, sorta danced up on the roof; it was impossible not to!  

The view from the fort roof during Mr. Scruggs' set

My Favorite Images: Delta Spirit

Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit at the Newport Folk Festival, July 30, 2011
(More Photos HERE) 

Some photographs you just like.  There isn't some profound reason as to why you like it; you just like it.  I look at this image and just like it.  Matt Vasquez led Delta Spirit through one hell of a set at the Newport Folk Festival this year.  "THE PEOPLE," who flocked to the Quad Stage to see the band, showed them insane amounts of love.   

Vasquez is an expressive and energetic performer.  So, I suppose it could be considered odd that of all of the photos I took of him during his Delta Spirit set, and his performance the following day with his other band Middle Brother, that this would end up being my favorite.  Hey, I'm quirky that way!

My Favorite Images: Ambrose Akinmusire

Ambrose Akinmusire at the Newport Jazz Festival, August 6, 2011

I spent this past Saturday roaming around Fort Adams State Park taking in the sounds of the Newport Jazz Festival.  Of course I had my camera!  I wondered over to the Harbor Stage to catch some of Ambrose Akinmusire's set.  I knew before I took the photo, that even though I was taking it in color, it would be a black and white photo.  Some images you just like.  This is one of those that I quite simply, just like.

 

My Favorite Images: Brown Bird

David Lamb of Brown Bird at the Newport Folk Festival

This past Sunday, I was at the Newport Folk Festival.  One of the bands performing that day was Brown Bird.  I was sitting on my knees, on the hard dirt that was sprinkled with worn patches of dried grass, in front of the stage, listening to their warm blend of spirited stomp and clap music while trying to capture a few photos of them.  As I sat there, I was drawn to David Lamb's hand while he was playing the banjo.  My inner voice kept telling me I needed to get a shot of his hand.  I pondered what my inner voice was telling me before realizing why the urge was incessant.  What was that realization?  His hand was three letters short of displaying the word that Brown Bird made their audience feel, welcome.   

Newport Folk Festival: Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples at the Newport Folk Festival, July 30, 2011

Legendary vocalist Mavis Staples took the Quad stage this past Saturday at this years Newport Folk Festival.  Staples, who looked to be having a lot of fun onstage, had the crowd dancing and singing along.  She brought The Decemberists' frontman, Colin Meloy out to join her for the second song of the set, "The Weight," before he headed over to the main stage for his own set to close the festival's first day.  She and her band performed a rousing version of "I'll Take You There" that turned into a soul clap sing-a-long.  

Central Park: The Beauty Of Trees

Earlier this year, I was in Central Park with my camera.  Spring buds were blooming, the weather was perfect ... not too cold, not to hot.  I had spent a good portion of my time photographing flowers.  But, there were a few trees that caught my eyes.  From a vantage point across the park, I saw a line of beautiful flowering trees.  I made my way to were they were and went about trying to capture them.  As I made my way around a curve to capture them from another angle, I noticed people in one of the trees.  I found it fascinating that the branches left a gap where the person were standing.  The tree quite simply looked like a living picture frame and thus reason this image is one of my favorites.

I find something very beautiful about bare trees.  Their limbs tend to take on the the look of long beautiful arms preparing to do a Woodstock era hippie dance.  I'm also fascinated by tree grids.  Without their blooms and leaves the lines can be seen unhindered ... the trees all lined up and perfectly spaced.  Of course, the lines are beautiful with leaves as well.  I just don't see the same dancing imagery.  I know, it's a weird thing to be fascinated by but, to see these grids at work in large areas is magnificent to me. 

Models: Experiments With Selective Color

Early last month, I participated in another workshop involving models.  This time out, instead of designer clothes, it was a lingerie.  I'm still horrible at directing models but the two young ladies that modeled for us were so fun and easy to work with that even a horrible director such as myself could manage some halfway decent work.

One of the models reminded me of an old school pin-up model.  The minute I saw her and the pieces she was wearing, I knew that most of her photos would likely end up in black and white.  I've been slowly but surely editing the photos and I was correct, most of her images have ended up in black and white.  But, I've been having fun experimenting as well.  I share with you today, my experiments with selective coloring.

The above image was my first attempt at using selective coloring.  I also think it's my best attempt to date.  This has turned out to be one of my favorite images.  When I took the photo, I remember commenting to a fellow photographer that I felt awkward standing over her to get the shot.  Maybe it's just me, but, it feels weird standing over someone while they're lying on the floor.  Awkwardness aside, I think the shot turned out nicely if I do say so myself.

My original desire for the above photo was for her lips and the space in front of her to remain red while the space behind her was left without color.  At some point during my experimenting, I decided I liked the look of the red bleeding through in back of her.  It just dawned on me that I never did an edit carrying out my original plan for the image.

  

Above, I've left the background color while taking the color from the model.  Something about the finished image makes it look like she has been inserted into the photo. 

Coney Island Mermaid Parade: Happy Pairs & Warrior Women?

Last month, June 18 to be exact, I ventured out to Coney Island for the annual Mermaid Parade.  It's the perfect place to capture images of people in costumes.  

As you may know, I feel that portrait photography isn't my strong point.  But, I knew moments after I started taking photos that sunny Saturday, that the majority of my photos were going to be portraits.  What I hadn't envisioned was that I would create a black and white series.  The colorful costumes are wonderful sights but when I started editing I kept seeing them sans color!

More photos HERE

In keeping with the water theme, the above images capture a couple of striking Viking ladies.

 

Above, the first couple were a part of the parade ... a sailor and his bride, again keeping with the water theme of the parade.  The second couple apparently got married on the beach after the parade.

I didn't turn all of the photos black and white.  Color images can be found HERE.

Summer: Coney Island

About a month ago, I was out on Coney Island.  Of course, I had my camera with me!

Parachute Jump, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY - June 18, 2011

I took about a half dozen images of the Parachute Jump trying to translate what I saw in my head to my camera.  I didn't want a wide shot that captured the whole structure nor did want just the top portion.  I couldn't put into words then what I wanted, I just knew I'd know when I found the right angle.  Now I realize that I wanted to give the feeling that I might be climbing up the structure.  Originally, I envisioned the image as black and white.  However, when I sat down to start editing, the image told me it didn't want to lose its color.  I went about trying to figure out what the image wanted and ended up with a high contrast "retro" type image.

Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY - June 18, 2011

When I took the above image, I knew based on the skull, that I wanted the image to be rather dark and gloomy looking.  I wanted it to look ominous.  I wanted to give the feeling that if you got into one of those buckets, you would mysteriously vanish.  I don't know how well I captured that but that's what I was after.

Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY - June 18, 2011

I've been fascinated by retro imagery for a while now.  I gave it a try with a Holga and well, that experiment didn't turn out well at all!  So, I've settled on using editing software to make my digital images look old.  I of course need some practice.  I envisioned this image as an old postcard.  A part of me wants to flip it over and read about Aunt Birdie's Coney Island wish you were here vacation.

Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY - June 18, 2011

I love black and white photography.  But, I often find it difficult to take the color away from scenic images.  Flowers, landscapes, water, etc. always feel right in color.  As I was preparing a number of images for a black and white series, I decided to give this beach shot a go.  I've found that as much as I like it in color, I now like it more in black and white.