5 posts tagged “b+w”
This year they built a new middle school in my town. I understand all of the reasons why the old building had to go, but I was still sad to see it happen. The building dated back to 1922 (if I recall correctly) and despite some issues with drainage etc., was still a marvelous building. Naturally, my favorite feature was the long decommissioned but still functional single lane shooting range in the basement. Imagine building a .22 long rifle capable shooting range in a school today.
A few days before the demolition commenced the district held a salvage auction in the school and I spent quite a few hours wandering around inside. I was struck by the solid oak built in furniture, Italian marble entry ways, and the sheer mass of the place. I wish the district could have been convinced to renovate instead of demolish, but I suppose it's all part and parcel to a throw away culture. Anyway, enough whining. Here is a view from the back of the school during the big blizzard a few years ago...
And here is the view of the front entrance last week with demolition nearly complete...
My friend Tsuyoshi at project basho is celebrating the opening of his new gallery space with the "Friends of Basho" show opening this Thursday night (11/8). I'll be showing a couple of pictures including Beef Obstacle Course.
My little town of Wayne, PA has an annual Memorial Day Parade. It is a really wonderful throwback with lemonade, flags, veterans, and a 21 gun salute to punctuate the ceremony at the local war memorial. My house is so close that I walk over every year. I usually don't take pictures but this year I decided to try to capture some of it.
Every little leaguer in the region was coming right at me...
One of my favorite parts of the parade is all of the old cars too...
I already posted one picture from Lauren's birthday but I have two more that I liked enough to scan. This is Lauren's grandfather Dominic.
Dominic was an engineer with Bell Labs; the kind of guy that has brass plaques in the hallway with his picture on it. He's a great guy and I think this picture captures him. One time he made a plate of spaghetti and "gravy" for a little "before dinner snack" that had a pork chop, a meatball, and two pieces of Italian sausage (if memory serves). It was enough food to last me a week; but only needed to tide me over for two hours until dinner.
This next picture is my favorite picture from this summer (so far). Taken only an hour or so after the "reading on the swings" picture in an earlier post; it is completely different in technique and feel. Where "reading" was highly scripted and set up, this one is one of a series of about 10 negatives made in rapid succession with hand held camera and flash.
I'm really pleased with the energy contained inside this pictures tight crop. I also like the way each subject is looking in a different direction; you can sort of follow their eyes from one to another than then to me.
I've spent so much time at their house with Cameras that they don't really even notice anymore... but they noticed as I set up for this one. This shot involved a 4x5 field camera and a large strobe with a soft box to provide fill.
I noticed the two of them reading on the swings and asked them to stay while I set up. It probably took 15 minutes and I think I made six pictures.
