Changes
April 14th, 2010
Well, it looks like I’ve set a new record. I think this is the longest period of time I’ve gone without a post here since I started the blog. Sorry about that. I’ll let you in on a few of the reasons.
Let’s start with my web site. It’s gone. One day it was there, the next it was completely gone. Not even able to get it in google cache. Poof, no more. I’m not actually surprised. The webmaster is in Germany and it has been years since he has done so much as respond to an e-mail. I’m sure he has just moved on to other things and finally did away with the web space that I and a bunch of other photographers had been using with his web design.
So, I’ve been trying to figure out what to do. I’ve set up a temporary site using google sites. The website link to the right here will now take you to that site. It aint pretty, but it’s functional and looks as good as I could make it look using the amazingly awful templates and tools available from google. Seriously, if google had something that was even remotely decent I’d just keep the site there, but it sucks so bad that I can’t see doing that. I’m really surprised that google can’t do any better than that. WYS aint WYG over there.
My friend Dave Rudin is in the same boat as me because his site was at the same place and also vanished. In fact, it was Dave who sent me a message telling me my site was gone when this happened. He has built a new site using GoDaddy templates that looks pretty good. I’m thinking I might just do the same thing. I’ll let you know, of course, when I figure this out.
In other news, I finally got my prints shipped out to the Seattle Erotic Art Festival. I’ll be going out to attend the artist’s reception and will be at the festival on Friday night. I’ll also be meeting up with some friends and doing some shooting while I’m out there. This will be my first visit to Seattle, and my first chance to meet in person some folks I’ve known on line for quite a while, so I’m really looking forward to the trip.
Now that I’ve finished the work to get things ready and shipped to Seattle I’m starting work on the prints for my next show, opening in Chicago at Gallery Provocateur on Memorial Day weekend, with a second opening the following Saturday night. I’ll be there for both of those openings.
There’s also been non-photo stuff going on that has kept me away from the blog. We’ve had a very pleasant visit by relatives from Vermont. We will be going out of town for a couple days to attend a memorial service for an aunt who has died.
And, last week I went for one of my regular eye doctor appointments to keep track of the glaucoma that I’ve had most of my life. The doctor had been warning me for about 10 years that the day would come when the eye drops would not be doing the job and a lazer procedure would be needed to reduce the pressure in my eyes. Well, that time has arrived and next week I’ll be getting my right eye zapped about 100 times by a lazer. It’s an office procedure and he assures me the only possible side effect is that it doesn’t do the job and we need to try something else. Still, I’m not really looking forward to it. But, better than going blind, which is what would happen if this condition were left untreated.
With all that, I’ve also been doing just a little shooting. That’s Angie up there stretching a lycra sack that I stuck her in. I shot a dance concert in March that included a reconstructed piece that was choreographed in 1953 that had three dancers inside similar sacks for the entire piece. I loved the effect and found some similar bags and ordered them to see what I could come up with putting figure models inside them and trying different lighting setups. This is from the first use of them, just using the morning window light in my new studio. I’m sure there will be more “sack full of model” photos coming in the future.
A reminder that both volume 1 and volume 2 of the f-eleven books are still available. All of the profits from these books go to support charities. They contain some wonderful photography. Check out the full previews and other information at those links.
Volume 2 Is Out
April 2nd, 2010
Coinciding with the month of autism awareness* and to raise attention to the effects of the Fragile X Syndrome, 100% of the proceeds from the sales of the f-eleven vol. 2 will be donated to autism research.
The coffee table quality photography book, edited by internationally published photographer and art director Wolf189, features the work of 19 talented photographers of multiple genres.
The result is a trend-challenging, and visually stimulating collection presented in a luxurious format. Printed on 100lb coffee table book standard paper with a silky finish, the book will handle many years of viewing.
f-eleven vol.2 is on sale now: ( at above or by visiting : )http://www.blurb.com/my/book/detail/1239715
“We hope that this book would help raise awareness and provide some financial assistance for this worthy cause,” said Leo Lam, a fashion photographer in Seattle, and one of the contributors of f-eleven vol. 2.
f-eleven is an exclusive private photography group. The book project was started by its members in late 2009, and since then have produced two book releases. The books are diverse and progressive, with the fundamental aim to effect small positive changes in worthy causes; one shutter click at a time.
website: http://f-elevenbooks.com/
blog: http://www.blog.f-elevenbooks.com/
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/f11books
twitter – http://twitter.com/felevenbooks
tumblr – http://f-eleven.tumblr.com/
List of contributing photographers:
Brooks Ayola (portraits)
Ralph Barker ( fine art landscape + still life )
Mariah Carle ( portraits )
Sita Mae Edwards ( fine art nude )
Stephen Haynes ( fine art nude + travel )
Patrick Robert James ( fine art nude + landscape )
Leo Lam ( editorial fashion )
Dave Levingston ( fine art nude )
Frank Love ( street / documentary work )
Darryl Martin ( fashion portraits )
Stephen Melvin ( journalistic wedding )
Ken Mierzwa ( documentary / commentary portraits )
D. Brian Nelson ( Nude Portraits )
Keith Allen Phillips ( fine art fetish portraits )
Sarah Robertson ( personal work )
Dave Rudin ( fine art nude + travel )
Ward Shortridge (street photography)
roman T. (street photography)
Wolf189 ( editorial fashion + erotic portraits )
Thank you for all of your support… help us to make our efforts count.
Our intention (editor and the contributors of this book ) has not been coordinated with this respectful charity yet, but it is our wish and intention to donate all of the profits of this book to autism research.
Learn about Fragile X Syndrome:
http://www.autism.com/autism/behavior/fragilex.htm
More Angie At Night And f-eleven Volume Two Coming Friday
March 31st, 2010
Here’s another of Angie in the light from the street light outside my new studio windows.
Friday is the day for the new f-eleven book, volume two, to be officially released and available. I’ll have a link to it here on Friday so you can go look at the preview and order a copy. It’s a great book. Lots of very fine photographs from some amazing photographers. And some from me too.
Meanwhile you can find out more about volume one and read about the charities we are supporting with the profits from these books. Volume One profits are going to Friends Without A Border. Here is a bit about them from their web site:
“Every child has the right to a healthy and loving life. Friends Without A Border is committed to improving the health and well being of the children of Cambodia by providing quality medical care, extensive outreach and crucial medical education through Angkor Hospital for Children.”
Volume Two profits will be donated to The Autism Research Intitute. We especially want to bring attention to Fragile X Syndrome.
To find out more about the charities visit this link: http://f-elevenbooks.com/charities.html
Here are more links to information on f-eleven and our books:
f-eleven books: http://f-elevenbooks.com/
f-eleven books blog: http://blog.f-elevenbooks.com/
f-eleven books twitter: http://twitter.com/felevenbooks
f-eleven books tumblr: http://f-eleven.tumblr.com/
f-eleven face book: http://www.facebook.com/pages/f-eleven-books/241223479911?created&v=wall
Studio Noir
March 26th, 2010
Finally got to do the evening shoot at the new studio, thanks to Angie once again. She’s been great at making herself available for shoots regularly. I’m really pleased to be working with Angie so often. She is beautiful, talented and a real pleasure to be around.
I’m sure I’ll be doing lots more stuff as I explore the possibilities of this “street light” available light in the new space. But I’m already pleased with what I’ve been able to do with it. Next I plan to spend some time seeing what new things I can come up with using studio strobes on that cyc.
As always, there is a lot going on. I have several things coming up in the next couple months that I’ll be telling you about soon. Today I’ll start with one of them.
I will have work in the Seattle Erotic Art Festival at the end of April/beginning of May. And I’ll be making the trip out there to attend the festival. So if you are in the Seattle area and would like to get together while I’m there, let me know. I will be doing some shooting while I’m there. That schedule is pretty full, but if there’s a model in Seattle who wants to work with me on this trip, I can probably fit in one more shoot while I’m there. Just get in touch and I’ll see what we can work out.
More news to come soon. Stay tuned.
Cyc At Dawn
March 20th, 2010
Still haven’t been able to do an evening shoot in the new studio. There seems to be a jinx on that idea. But Angie came back for another morning shoot, this time we started just as the sun came up. Daylight Saving Time made that a little less of a sacrifice than it would have been a few days earlier.
So, here’s Angie on the cyc with the morning sun coming in through my big beautiful windows.
More Morning Light
March 14th, 2010
Well, my mystery model who was supposed to do the evening shoot on Friday called and cancelled at the last minute. So that didn’t happen and her identity will remain a mystery. And I have no evening light photos for you from the new studio.
So, instead, here’s another photo of Angie in the morning light. This week Angie will come in for a shoot even earlier in the morning (easier on us now that we are on daylight saving time) and also do a shoot in the evening. So there will be more photos of what happens with light through the big windows at the new place. I love Angie. She’s always there when I need her and she is just so beautiful and talented.
Also this week I have a dancer coming to the studio to do some dance photos. I’ll get to put the cyc to good use for those…it will be much easier than the backgrounds I had to hang in the old place, and there is a lot more room for the dancer to move around in, and for me to set the lights just where I want them, so that will be another chance to see just what I can do in this new environment.
That’s all for today, but soon I’ll have a bunch of new things to announce here. Lots going on right now, so it’s a very busy time.
First Shoot
March 10th, 2010
After more than a month of moving and organizing and fixing I finally got the chance to do an actual photo shoot in my new studio. The giant windows face east, so I wanted to shoot with the morning light coming in through them. Light is a major interest of mine and I like to see what each natural lighting situation presents to me and see how I can use it to create something that works for me.
Of course, for this to work the sun actually has to be shining. That hasn’t happened much lately around here. But Angie and I went ahead and set a date for a morning shoot and much to my surprise the sun cooperated and showed up. That’s my favorite from the shoot above. And, yes, I know it relates to one of Edward Weston’s most famous nudes. But it’s different too. So it’s mine. But I had to acknowledge the reference point in his work.
My second shoot in the new place will be Friday night. That will be something completely different with darkness outside those huge windows, and probably some street lights shining in. So I’m looking forward to that…and it will also be my first shoot with a wonderful model. We’ve been trying to work out a way to work together for years now, but all sorts of things, including an ocean, have prevented it from happening. If you haven’t figured out who the model is, I’ll just leave you in suspense until I’m able to post something from the shoot.
New Studio
March 8th, 2010
Sorry posts are so few and far between these days. It’s a busy time. As soon as Dave Rudin headed back to his home in NYC I took off for a couple days of photographing a dance concert at Ohio University. I’m just now getting my head back above water. I’m still trying to get things organized at the new studio and there are shows coming up that I have to prepare things for. The show at River’s Edge Gallery near Detroit ends this weekend, so I’ll need to run up there and pick up my prints. If you haven’t gotten over to see that show, it’s worth a look and time is running out. Friday is the last day.
There has been some progress at the new studio, but it’s slow going. Below you can see the condition the cyc was in when we moved in. That’s all fixed now. It took me about a week of work, mostly while Dave R was here, to get the masonite replaced and plastered over well enough that the seams are blended. It isn’t perfect now, but it’s good enough for the purpose.
Except for the quick shoot I did with Angie and _G_ while they were helping me move in, I haven’t had a chance to work in the place yet. Angie will help me end that drought tomorrow. And another, very special model will be visiting Friday. So I’ll have new things to show soon. Meanwhile I thought I’d just share some more views of the place before I started working on it. Of course I think you’ll enjoy the way Angie and _G_ decorate the place.
That hardwood floor is pretty and you can expect it to show up in future photos.
The ugly green blob and the little pink blob are gone now. When I had the paint roller in my hand from painting the refurbished cyc I couldn’t resist blotting out those eye sores. That’s the office up the stairs, where I’m now sitting typing this.
So now I have to get to work and start editing 20 gigs of dance photos. Hope to have that finished by the end of the week.
Meet the Artists
March 2nd, 2010
I’m so far behind I’m afraid I’m going to lap myself. Not sure what that means. But I know it’s time for another post, so here goes.
On the last full day of Dave Rudin’s visit we drove up to Detroit for “Meet the Artists” night at the River’s Edge Gallery where I currently have a couple prints in a show. It was a fun night with a lot of good friends. Those are my prints on the wall in the photo at the top. The rules for this show were to send your favorite work of art and a self-portrait.
The wonderful creative force behind this show is Patty Izzo. That’s her on the right below with Dave and one of the hostesses for the evening.
And the big surprise for the evening was the arrival of Joe Crachiola who came all the way from his new home in New Orleans. He decided to do a road trip and visit family and friends as well as attend the opening where he had his own work in the show. That’s the lovely Iris giving Joe a hug. Iris had some great work in the show too.
Tomorrow morning I take off for a trip to Athens, Ohio, to photograph a dance concert. It’s always fun to get back down there and get back to shooting dance. I’m hoping to get some of the dancers up to Dayton in the near future so I can photograph them in the new studio with that 16-foot cyc that is now all repaired and ready for use. The rehearsals go late into the night, so although I expect to have internet access at my motel I don’t know if I’ll have the time or energy for another post before I get back…but there is still a lot to catch up on here, so I might give it a try.I’m Tired
February 26th, 2010
Sorry it’s been so long since my last post. I’ve just been too busy and too exhausted to sit down and write anything. Between Dave Rudin’s week-long visit and working on getting the new studio ready for shoots I’ve not had much spare time. But I’ll try to catch up in the next few posts.
First, there’s the week with DaveR. After we got back from Chicago Dave worked with several models who I had suggested to him. Here he is in my new studio working with Ophidian Marie.
One day during that week I took Dave to the Steelepointe Gallery here in Springfield, where he showed his work to my friend and gallery owner, Rob Steele. Rob represents me through his gallery and has shown my work there practically since he opened. Of course he liked Dave’s work and kept several prints to put on display.
For one shoot during the week, Dave talked a couple of my favorite models, Ophidian Marie and Angie in to doing a shoot in the snow. As some of you may know, Dave tends to work pretty slow. We joke that when we are shooting together I’ll fill up a memory card while Dave is setting up his tripod. Well, he wasn’t a lot faster out in the snow. Here it looks like Angie is praying that he’ll finally take the damn photo so she can get her coat back on.
And here is Dave directing his frozen subjects. Note how Dave is dressed. He’s using a tripod so he can’t even claim he has to stay warm to avoid camera shake…that’s my excuse when I do this kind of work.
I’ll try to post more often now, but next week looks pretty busy too. I’ll be in Athens, Ohio for a couple days shooting a dance concert at Ohio University. But there is more to tell you about Dave’s visit, our trip to another gallery in Detroit, and my work on the studio.
