Something's Fishy!

You know how you have a favorite song, then get tired of it and get another favorite song?  Well that's how I am with photographs and this is my favorite image for now.  Philip Peterson, my former student and a photographer extraordinairre turned me onto it.  It's a photo made by Erik Johansson.  He has a bunch of very creative images.  You can check his talent out at http://www.alltelleringet.com/

This motivates me to do something like this.  Anyone care to join me?  I can post our best attempts.

~click on the photo for a larger view~

My wife has a good eye!

Jo is a good photographer!  She has a real natural eye for an interesting subject and has especially shined through the years with candid portraits.  She has a way of making the person comfortable then catching just the right moment to get that great expression.

Recently she ventured into digital photography and has been unofficially the official photographer for our band.  Last night we were playing for a fundraiser in Freight House Square, downtown Tacoma.  She took some colorful pictures of each of the band members then turned around and started watching the crowd.   A cute, spirited gal with bobby socks and red shoes was really stealing the show.  Jo loved the way she danced and how her red shoes sparkled when the light hit them just right.   After taking a few shots she timed it perfectly and caught this image.

When we were all done for the night I stepped outside onto the deck to cool off.  She stood back with her wide angle lens and made this photo with me framed in the doorway.  I love it!  Both images are visually interesting and capture the flavor of the night perfectly.

-Click on an image to see it larger-

Free-Range Tumbleweed

For whatever reason this image I made has been fairly popular.  A company in Wisconsin uses the color version as their web banner.  A head banger band in Germany used it for their CD cover, posters and buttons.  An author put it in his book on social disorders.  And most recently a guy in the Netherlands is using it for a poster on homelessness. 

For me it just reminded me of the fields around my childhood home in eastern Washington. I loved the energy of the wind storms and watching the tumbleweeds come alive. 

~Click on the image to see it larger~

You can see how I created it by going to http://www.pierce.ctc.edu/bbenedet/fall04/Documents/tumbleweed/tumbleweed.htm

Sorry Joyce!

This is one of those images where you just start doodling with ideas that never really work.  I have no idea what the image means except that I was trying to copy famed photographer, Joyce Tennison's style.

My niece, Kylee, was my victim who briefly tolerated being posed.  I guess if I was serious about the image I would have asked her to wear something different than a spanish Coca Cola shirt, but then in hindsight someone could look at it and ponder, is there an ethnic meaning behind this?? It could have been one of those little accidents that sometimes make an image more interesting.  

I briefly thought about using butterflies instead of feathers but then why be trite?  At least with a feather you get to ponder again.   

In fact I'm pondering right now as to why I'm even putting this in my photo journal. I made this image a couple of years ago and didn't do anything with it then.  I still won't do anything with it except put it in this journal and say...what was that all about??  :)

Texas Hold 'Em Up!

At a family reunion in Texas my cousins kids were happily playing together in a corner of the room.  I went over and got some cute mug shots but also wanted something more creative.  I asked, if I was a movie star photographer how would they like to pose?  I had no idea what they would come up with as the boys  grabbed their toy guns and pretended to shoot their sister. The fact that she seemed to care less makes the image more compelling.  What works for me is the images symmetry and mix of 'adorable' vs 'disturbing'. 

You may click on the image to see it larger.

You don't need a lot of people to have a good time!

What is a disclaimer?  Ahem... A disclaimer is generally any statement intended to specify or delimit the scope of rights and obligations that may be exercised and enforced by parties in a legally-recognized relationship.

It's also a band, a band that I even play in.  Last Saturday we attracted a whopping 30 people for ribs, lemonade, homemade beer, and our music under the warm farm sky near Orting.  It was an end-of-the-year party for folks running a farm that produces fruits and veggies- all of which are distributed directly to local food banks and hot meal programs.   Nice folks. :)   

You don't need a lot of people to have a good time!

The best time was clearly being had by Ellie, the dog.  If you had barbeque ribs you were her best friend.  When the music began she went into happy mode prancing and wagging.  I thought she loved us until I realized it was her leash in her mouth which she was bringing to everyone to take her for a walk....Get me outta here! 

Meandering out into the field we smiled with the sunflowers for our annual band photo.   Not that we necessarily think of ourselves as a sunny band, but it was either that or stand by the port-a-potty.  Come to think of it maybe that would have been a better fit :)    

Since this is my photo blog I'll mention that I put the camera on a tripod and ran into the picture. In hindsight, if I did it again I'd raise my tripod higher so our heads don't compete with the trees and sky.  

You can also see photos my wife took of us at www.thedisclaimers.net     

Rock on!  

disclaimer- no one in the band is considered armed or dangerous.....damn, maybe standing with sunflowers is appropriate.

Click the picture to see it larger

Rob

My buddy Rob and I were having a drink in a high rise overlooking Portland when I was suddenly inspired to make this nice portrait of him. :)