Oh No...Thank You

One of the main reason I took the job with Kodak Profession, a few moons ago, was the prospect of dealing with students and educators, and in this man, I hit the Mother-load.

Peter LeGrand has been the principle photo educator at the prestigious Colombia College in Chicago for longer than he cares to admit. He has steered more young people into and away from careers in Photography that I can begin to count.  He is himself a photographer and artist of no small acclaim. Teaching workshop in France and around for many a year.

I tease him sometimes because of his age and his stubbornness to retire, when in fact I only hope that at 72, I have just the smallest hope of hope to look as young and healthy as he.


The odd thing about this session was that he was so grateful to have me shoot his image and it was I who was honored to be doing it. 


Thank you Peter, my dear friend. 

Out...Standing, Out...Rageous...

This is Marc Hauser.  For years now, he has been one of the absolute top names in Portraiture in this country.  I've said this before but his life is a book waiting to be written.  It's just that I'm not writing it here. 


On my recent trip to Chicago I imposed on Marc to sit for me.  It almost never happened because a recent accident left him at the mercy of decent transportation that would allow for his crushed leg to be properly maneuvered without distress. 


I don't know if his injury or something else prevented him from really letting go but I felt he was holding back.  I have seen him perform antics that would embarrass most people, just to get a rise out of his subject.  As I browsed his Face Book pages, I saw many a zany, crazed, totally loose Marc Hauser but none of that was available the day we shot.


I'll be the first to admit, this isn't my best work, maybe I was a little intimidated by his superiority. 

Personally, I think he should charge people to meet with him. He can be the most off the cuff person you might ever meet.  A showman and an eccentric, he still commands the room.  On the other hand, if you ever catch him in a quiet moment, he can be as sweet as anyone.


I'm grateful that he gave me an audience and his patience, though I hope someday we can reprise this opportunity on a day when his full personality is in bloom.

What to say...what to say?

I've been hanging on to this post way too long but I have never just posted an image with no commentary. Alas, I am at a loss for the right words. I'll chalk this up as verbiage to follow as it becomes more clear to me.

My new friend, brother, admirer, photogenic man, Francois Robert.


(click on image for better viewing)

An Apple a Day

So I'm sitting in the Apple Retail store here in St Louis and sitting next to me is this photograph waiting to happen. As I get older I have no hesitation to speak to total strangers, especially if they have photographic beauty at their behest.

Maybe it was a grasp at some retribution for the inconvenience I had incurred while dealing with the repair of my otherwise dependable Mac Pro. She was dressed in fairly normal seasonal attire but her hair and make-up shouted pin-up girl or at least a retro 40's style. Without so much as a hesitation, I introduced myself and asked if I could properly photograph her.  I guess she must have been in a similar state of mind, because she quickly accepted my invitation. 

She had been in a pin-up frame of mind for a while and recently changed her style to a 40's look. At any rate, she was indeed an image waiting to be captured.

She showed up at the studio less than a week later and was prepared to make her mark as a would be subject. We shot for several hours and we still had more options to explore. She worked to the camera very well for an amateur model and was willing to accept direction and encouragement with out skipping a beat.

Normally a new model lacks in hair and make-up experience, hers was as good as anyone could have expected, especially her hair.  

We'll pick this up again in a couple of weeks after I make my way through some others projects of significant importance.

Near Disaster

Yesterday, I invited an old friend to sit for a portrait.  Rob is his name and he is an extremely talented artist who specializes in surfaces.  Faux paint and textural manipulation if you would.  Rob has been the go to guy here for years and one of the most pleasant folks you'll ever meet.  Rob's link


Come time to start the session and everything feasible went wrong; camera, computer, lights and cords, failing at an amazing rate.  I couldn't figure which to address first.  To top that off, I had decided to try out a new pair of glasses that I had made at the V.A.   My god, everything was key stoning and finding the right space in the progressive lens seemed an impossible task. The trick is to remain calm and act like you have everything under control, not that difficult for the experienced shooter...if you can see.


Luckily Rob found some reason to excuse himself and give me a chance to regroup.

Once we finally got started, things went very well. He has a great facial structure with a strong jaw and chin. If it weren't in my nature to mature most subjects beyond their age, he looks years younger than he is.


Thanks Rob for your patience and willingness to stick around through my disaster.

Zia Gloria

She has always been special

I've reached that sad, odd, time in my life where I have become the care taker for the people that once took care of me. This is my 87 year old Zia (Aunt, in Italian) Gloria, for whom I've been chosen to be her responsible overseer or more legally, Power of Attorney.  She had a stroke almost a year ago and has since diminished in capacity a little everyday. Her spirits are still reasonably good but her mind is forsaking her.  It's not an unusual story, many of you will be familiar with it.

Yesterday when I came into to her room, she immediately grabbed my hand with both of hers, rubbed it gently and then held it to her body as if it were her teddy bear. My heart felt the rush of love and it made my responsibility seem so meaningful.

When my grandfather died, way before I was born, and her brothers married and moved out, Zia decided that she would devote her life to caring for my Nonna (Grandmother). Forget all the suitors who would want to be her beau or even her husband.  She would care for Nonna until she died.

She was a beauty and will always be remembered for her youthful appearance even late into her life.  People come up to me today and say how they remembered how beautiful she always was  and always looked years younger than she really was. This is not to say she wasn't intelligent but on the contrary. For years she was the admin, as we call it today, for the head of the Glass Factory in Alton, Illinois. Since there were no women in management back then, her position was about as high a woman could get.

A funny story arises more often than not these days, at least since it was brought to my attention. My mom tells me that shortly after I was born, she over heard Zia talking to Nonna and saying "I'm not standing up for that kid, (Godmother) he's the ugliest baby I have ever seen".  Now, every chance I get, I remind her of that, and tell her I'm not sure why I'm being so nice to her now.

We laugh of course because she knows I like to tease her.

This could become a book, but since its just a blog, I'll leave the rest of the story for a later date.

Fini?

I really didn't plan on making Cicadas a life's work.  I took a minute to record video and sound this morning and posted it to You Tube but then I found this professionally made version and I thought I'd share this with you instead. 


 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYLxxALTfAQ


There will be no more posting on this subject, I promise.  BTW, I did taste one over the weekend.  While I was firing up the grill to do some Brats, I tossed one in and closed the lid.  When it looked sufficiently crispy, I applied a touch of Lawry's seasoned salt, plucked the wings and feet and took a nibble. I can't tell you what it tasted like but it wasn't bad. I was fearing a squirt of some kind but it was more like eating a shrimp shell.

I don't think I shall ever see, a tree as lovely as a Peonie

I had the need to secure some documents from my recently debilitated Aunt's house and I was absolutely floored by the bed of peonies growing, without her care.  I have long thought peonies were visually the perfect flower, surpassing the rose because of its complexity, but yet, in its simplicity and without the thorns. 

Historically, peonies have been a major attraction to ants and the weight of their blooms cause them to fall over, hanging close to the ground.  Maybe this is their swan song, in a tribute to my ailing Zia (aunt) but they all stood tall, not wavering in the breeze and and nary an ant could be found.

and Last but Not Least

Finally, the guilt is being lifted from my shoulders.  This is Steve Hoke and he is the last of the portraits I shot on location last summer.  Steve is the musical partner of David Eakin, seen in the previous post.


I am ashamed on two counts. 


One, it took me sooo long to finish out this project and that's just bad form and unprofessional, but it has happened more than I care to mention.  No sooner do I launch into a personal project and the phone begins to ring with real jobs. 


Two, it's been such a while, I don't have a great recollection of Steve and his life story. Unforgivable. 


Having said that, look at this face and tell me what you see.  I have already hinted that he is musician.  What else might you discern from this face?


Thank you to all those who have helped in this project, I truly appreciate it and Sallie, I'll give you plenty of notice the next time so we can sit down and have dinner with Sally Mann.

Manson

Over the last few years, I have created a wish list or maybe a hit list or a bucket list, something to set priorities for Portraits I'd like to do, people I'd like to photograph.  At the top of that list is Fidel Castro, because of the historic significance and he is of prime age for my technique.  Then would be my friend and mentor, and I assure you those descriptions are a bit of a stretch, Victor Skrebneski. When I say a stretch I mean, yes, I would call Victor a friend though I'm not sure he would call me one, especially since I have become a bit too persistent in asking for him to sit for me.  A mentor? Not so much directly but he was and still is a major influence. Then on that list, though I don't remember where he ranks, is Charles Manson. Again, a prime candidate for my style.  


Last summer while in Virginia I photographed Dave Eakin and if you were to believe us Portrait photographers when we go on about capturing the true essence of a man, you might think I had my Charles Manson.  Well, the fact is, Dave is as nice and sweet a man as you would ever hope to find. Not sweet as in unmanly but considerate and...um, kind.


The story goes, as some of you may remember, I rented a store front that was air conditioned but it turns out the AC didn't work and in Virginia that time of year it was very warm. Dave came in very anxious about this ordeal and as you might know, anxiety builds on anxiety and he began to perspire and his hair absorbed some of it and the more we shot the more unhappy looking he became.  So what does a good photographer do?  Run with it. I asked Dave to let the uncomfortableness prevail and encouraged him to work the angst. We both loved it. He seem to thrive on acting the part and I just kept pushing.


Now should I get the opportunity to photograph the real Charles Manson, I'll have had a little previous experience in hand.

Better Off Ed

My friend Eddie has been on this blog before but it was last night that I was able to pry him away from his secure post inside of his house seated in his wheelchair.  


Ed's last 10 years have been something I wouldn't wish on anybody.  He is or was one of those people that everything he touched, turned to gold.  However some years back his wife suffered an injury playing tennis and never ever became functional again.  What was a seemingly minor neck strain became a surgical procedure that became another procedure and it only got worse as the days and years progressed.  She was in such pain that the hospital had to special order meds because they didn't carry anything strong enough for her need.  She eventually passed away a year or two ago and we all let out a sigh of relief.  Now Ed, who had been by her side for nearly every moment since that day, could now relax and pull his life back together.  Don't think for a second that any of us were glad she passed on but after years and years of searching for and trying anything that might help, it was obvious there was nothing in sight that could stop the downward march. The sigh of relief we all felt for Ed was short lived, as he was diagnosed with a variant of Lou Gehrig disease and his prognosis was almost as grim as his bride's. 


A couple of weeks ago several of us from the advertising community got a call to a reunion of sorts and Ed was at the top of the list.  I called and warned him that he had a few days to come to grips with leaving the house, because we were going. 


I called yesterday and as I expected he was quick with an excuse for not attending.  Luckily his housekeeper was as prepared as I and she would not take no for an answer.  She had him dressed and ready promptly at 5.


Skip over the boarding of the car and the drive, and picture this man sitting in his wheelchair, beaming with delight at seeing his old friends and comrades as they one by one came over to him and expressed their delight at his presence, chiding him, scolding him and even hugging him for being hesitant to attend the evening's program.  They doted over him, getting him first a sweater, then a hat and eventually a blanket and while he doesn't care to be waited on, he loved the way they were paying their homage.


Eventually the crispness of the night began to wear on him and he confessed he was tired and needed to go home, but not till the door of his house closed behind me did that smile on his face even think of relaxing.  God love you Eddie.

Ah Spring

A couple of friends, good friends, and I were having lunch and we talked about going out and shooting the tulips or a recent snowfall and I think we all agreed that after all these years there's just not much to shoot that we haven't tried to shoot before.


Well, on the way out to pick up the morning paper, I couldn't help to be taken by the newly blossoming dogwood in the front yard.  


Yes, I have shot just about every possible scenario of the dogwood but the iPhone/Hipstamatic combination brings something quite painterly to the scene. 


It's another one of those feel good shots. I love it I hope somehow you're feeling a bit better as well.

Keyword search might be, Spring, Blossoms, Japanese, Wallpaper, Flora, Pillow cases and sheets, Dogwood and what else.

Old Friends New Music

Classic

Approachable

Not long ago I ran into an old friend and former model, well not so former model, she still works when her family and career will allow. We talked and I mentioned that I got frustrated at times that when an inspiration hits, subjects are not always readily available.  Seeing as how we worked well together years ago, she seemed thrilled at the possibility we could collaborate on new projects together.  When her time allowed of course.


This time I was excited about a series of images to pitch to a client and she was ideally suited for the challenge. We shot for a couple of hours and in the process, I got sidetracked experimenting with video along with the stills.  The videos are definitely a work in progress but the stills turned out beautifully. The videos unfortunately ate up too much time, seeing as I am fairly inept with the process. We had many more ideas that we never even approached, so another day we'll forge ahead with those.


In this image you can see why I'm not a professional fashion stylist.  When show time comes, we'll have the right person there to make this sing.


Thanks Melissa.


We are experiencing a major metamerism issues on this post. The color really over saturates on some screen and settles in nicely on others.

I know, I know...

I know, my blog has slowed over the last month but that's one of the byproducts  of being busy.  This morning I had a wonderful meeting about some exciting opportunities and on the way back I drew my trusty iPhone and started recording the season. The Hipstamatic didn't exactly fullfil my visions but I certainly like the results of this overly systemed shot.

Easter, Easter Eggs, Japanese, Wallpaper, Upholstery, Lingerie and a few other key word search titles come to mind.

The Man with the Amber Eyes

I'll have to remember to thank the HR person at Nadoz, the restaurant I frequent here in my building.


This be Floyd, and he is the second Chef from there to grace the walls of this blog. His story is long and fascinating.  A veteran of the Military service and cancer survivor, Floyd has a very impressive resume that started by steering away from the food industry. That because his father was a Gourmet Chef and Floyd wanted nothing to do with that.


Unfortunately we had a very short session and I really didn't get to digest all of his history, maybe I'll update this page at a later date when I've have more time to spend with Floyd.

It was good to get back into the mode of shooting character based black and white portraits. I tend to get sidetracked and that's not always a bad thing.

Page One

Some years ago I did an exhibit of my work that was Italian Design as Art.  In that assemblage were some figure studies in color using a Red leather chair as the centerpiece of the image.  I have thought for sometime that I'd like to do a reprise of sorts, in Black and White, using a different chair.

Recently I began an exploration of light and style for this new work. I really didn't have any expectation of getting to a formula right off the bat.  I did have a basic idea and wanted the figures to have this sheen to emphasize the the highlights that would basically trace the contour of the shapes.

Well, I'm surprised and delighted that I was able to get right into the feel I was hoping for.
Next, I'll need to see if I can keep the continuity for the remainder of the images.  Maybe the continuity isn't as important as I originally thought.  We'll see.
I'm scouting for additional models of differing genders and body types.  Rubenesque and lithe are key to this project.

Perhaps "very old" would work but I wouldn't want to intrude on Joyce Tennesen's style.

I'm open to thoughtful suggestions as to models.

Getting in My Exercize

 

Without a lot of verbiage, I shot these today on the way back from lunch.  I think from time to time I need to try a make something interesting from relatively nothing. We have an old Masonic Temple that was converted into a Theater and Bowling Alley and as I left the grill within the Bowling Alley, I spent 10 minutes, doing this exercise.  Me and my iPhone.

This is how I got there.   Got it figured it out.

I shot this into the gold chrome lid of a trash can sitting inside the door. You can see the black iPhone and my hands reflected in the dome of the trash can.

One more thing, I am certainly not the first person to shoot up into a winding stair case.  As I think about it, as a freshmen in Photography 101, I shot up into a Forrest Range's observation tower and that was in 1964. I think maybe Charley Sheen recently shot up in a stairway.

Friends beget Friends beget...

Regular followers of this blog will remember not too long ago I had a post of a friend of the family, Emily, and Emily allowed herself to be my temporary muse in an effort to build a small portfolio for a new project I had begun.  Afterwords, Emily's friend expressed her unbiased opinion in favor of our efforts.  When Em told me of her positive delight, I suggested we invite her to follow suit. Well, Maggie didn't consider herself material for the cause and she wasn't going to have any of it. I went back to Emily and while discussing my options and she happened to mention that Maggie possessed a full head of curly, very curly, red hair. I'm a sucker for redheads.

Now challenged by her resistance I doubled my effort and enlisted Emily to help. Sufficed to say, we won.

A couple of evenings ago Maggie came over to see if I could indeed do what I had claimed.

Now, I guess you're thinking, if you love red hair so much, why the Black and White image.  Well, dangit, because I like it. 

I would have never thought to do anything but glorify her amazing hair color but in this case I think it works well. Do not despair because we have many captures of her tresses in full living color.  

I guess at this time I must say that we spent a good deal of time shooting with her hair down and fluffing it and shaking it and pretty much abusing it and when it was all said and done, my favorite image turned out to be this one, with her hair up.

 

Here's another thing.  I got so caught up with the whole curly red hair theme, I hadn't even considered she also possess these amazing eyes and a very pleasant smile.

Thanks Maggie and Emily, it was fun.

All right, by popular demand, I'm adding a third image with her locks in full glory.

Rock Goddess

The First Sign of Spring

Ah yes, it's the one thing that lets you know that Spring is just around the corner.

No, it's not a Robin.

And it's certainly not the Ground Hog.

It is that infamous call from Florida and Arizona...Pitchers and Catchers Report.

Yes, when Major League Baseball declares that spring training is to begin, my mind relaxes from it's winter's clinch 
and I start the anticipation of warmer weather to come.  Life is Good.

I Think You Can See Clearly Now

OK, the response to the previous post was very entertaining.  The vast majority of the comments were positive and complimentary.  There were however, a few purist that chastised me for the extreme softness of the image and their inability to imagine what my friend might look like otherwise.  I did, if you remember explain why I took the direction that I took.


So, in an effort to make everyone happy, here is the "Bets" in her more natural form. Sure, someone is gonna say, you still added a blur to this image.  Aha, wrong.  I used a tool that controls tonal contrast and it's amazing.


Enough of the tech talk.  Please enjoy.

BTW, if any of you aficionados' of blogspot know this answer, please let me know. That last post has shifted colors considerably since I first posted it and I've noticed this before.  Cause and fix?