10 posts tagged “photography”

My parents moved back to the midwest a few years ago after a 35 year absence in Florida.  Tired of Brooklyn with palm trees, sick of hurricanes (they weathered three in one season before they left), or just responding to that human urge to return to their roots I'm not sure; but they packed up and moved to Mishawaka, Indiana. 

I visited them for Thanksgiving that first year, and again a year later on the same holiday.  During the two visits I shot a lot of film in a variety of formats and then put it all together into a kind of reflection on their transition.  The prints are all four inches high but range between four inches and ten inches wide depending on the format they were shot in.  They were carefully sorted and then matted, sometimes two to a mat, to display in a long linear sequence.  Keeping everything the same height was designed to give the project a sense of visual flow despite the format variations.

Because it was so cold and snowy already, and because the cold was such a shift from their recent Florida home, I printed the project on a cold tone paper and then further toned it with gold chloride (an archival toner that creates a slight blue shift).  The cold tone accentuates the mood of the project and brings out at least my feelings during those first two visits.

I recently completed the finishing touches on the project and engaged a friend of mine, Kevin Martini-Fuller to custom make a presentation box.  The box design had to handle the fact that the mats are sized differently (and in non standard sizes) and I wanted it to make transport and presentation simple.

I think Kevin and I came up with a cool design.  When the box opens it leans back onto it's lid and allows the front to fall open.  The result is sort of like an easel leaned back at about a 15 degree angle that allows a viewer to lay each image face down as it is viewed.  The lid is sturdy enough that the box doesn't tend to fall over backwards during viewing.  The entire thing is covered in a beautiful textured midnight blue fabric that further enhances the coolness of the images.

I'm driving to Indiana tomorrow and am giving this first set to my parents as a gift so I only had time to quickly photograph it.  I thought I'd share the design though despite the quick pictures because I'm really proud of how it turned out.

 

Going through my more snapshot oriented photos today to try to get a little bit more organized.  I think I'm living in too many hotel rooms...

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.

I took my first (very brief) trip to Ottawa about six weeks ago for a friend's wedding.  Nice city and fun event.

The wedding was held at the cathedral across from the museum of art; I really liked this juxtaposition.

Walking around in the market I came across these acrobatic street performers. 

And finally, this is looking up at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel where the photographer Yousuf Karsh lived for many years.  His wonderful portraits grace the lobby as well as a suite that was named after him.

 

I have two pictures in the national spring open at the wayne art center in Radnor, PA.  The two pictures are "I used to Dream of Flying"

and "Thomas and Friend".

 

Additionally,  "I used to Dream of Flying" was selected for  Photo Review's annual contest issue.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it to the opening reception at Wayne, and in fact, haven't been able to get there during their weekday hours to see the show and it ends next week while I'm away in Portland.  This is the first time I've had a show that I wasn't able to make.