Painted Face. Taken January 1, 2012 at the Philadelphia Mummers Parade.
Here’s one of my many images from Sunday’s Mummers Parade.
I had originally planned to process this one in color so I saved it for today’s batch. While in Lightroom, I unintentionally converted it to black and white, and subsequently made some additional split tone adjustments. Would love to see what you think in the comments.
I was walking to the library the other day and realized that I haven’t written a “What Inspires Me” post in a minute. Funny how time flies when you’re having fun.
I’ve been really busy shooting, editing, networking and trying to move my photography practice forward that I haven’t taken the time out to jot down some of my thoughts and reflections on this blog. For that, I should be taken out and flogged. But before you pull out the rods, switches, the cat o’ nine tails and the sjambok (whatever that is), please indulge me for a few minutes.
I think it’s important for artists to take time for self-reflection and all that. But I have to be honest with you. Because I’ve been so busy with various projects and assignments, I’ve found it really, really hard to find the right words to describe what and how I’m feeling about my work and which direction I’m thinking about taking my photography in the coming year.
I feel like it’s too soon to really talk about it in a way that other people will understand and relate to. Hell, it’s even hard for me to wrap my mind around. And sometimes, I’m just plain tired.
It’s akin to making bread: You knead and roll and stretch the dough for what seems like an eternity. Then you sit it aside in a bowl, and cover it, to let it rise…you can’t rush the process or else the final product doesn’t turn out quite right. When the time is right, I will find the right words to say to express my fully formed thoughts. Until that time, I will let my photos speak for me.
But anyway, I was walking down the street, thinking about what to write, and being mindful of the fact that I can’t do both simultaneously for too long (without tripping over my feet).
And, since we’re heading into the season for giving thanks and counting our blessings, I want to pause and give thanks to all of those people who have played a role in giving me the freedom and the space to do me, the real me. You all know who you are.
What does the “freedom and space to do me” mean? I can get up when I want, work when I want, work on what I want, go where my curiosity takes me and tell assholes to kiss off when I feel like it and not live in fear of someone retaliating or doling out severe repercussions for speaking my mind or daring to disagree. There is nothing more heady or intoxicating or more inspiring than knowing that I have complete autonomy over my life. I love the fact that no one else is responsible for my failure or success but me. This means that I can take all the credit for if this thing works, but most importantly, I can (and will) take the fall if this thing swirls down the toilet bowl.
Besides. I think I’ve paid my dues. Lord knows, I’ve paid my dues and earned the right to do me. So, let me tighten up my head wrap and keep this thing moving.
And Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who celebrate!
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… “Lovers In Their Own World… ” as my street photo submission!
Lovers In Their Own World. Taken June 29, 2010 in NYC.
I decided to convert it back to color from black and white. I found that there are a number of elements that become apparent when the image is in color that are lost when the image is in black and white. In my opinion, these elements function as the glue that helps hold the composition together.
It was a tough choice to make, but I think it was the best one given the aims of the contest. I am deeply appreciative to those of you who commented here, on my Facebook Page, over at LinkedIn, tweeted me, and otherwise took the time out of your day to share your thoughts and impressions on all four photos I put up for consideration. It’s a real testament to the power and immediacy of social media.
Again, thank you.
Hey everybody, I’m doing a late summer promotion to get the word out about my Portraits of Philadelphia: Camera Therapy street portrait project. I created a short YouTube video slideshow (my first, yes, I was a YouTube virgin before now) of some of my favorite images that I’ve taken since I’ve been here in Philly for your viewing pleasure. That’s all! And while you’re at it, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel, that way you can be in the know when new videos are released.
I’ll make this short. I promise.
First off, to all my dear friends, family and fellow photographers, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but this is not a photography post. No, I can’t say that I have new stuff for you to check out at this present time.
I know. But before you shake your had and chalk up my lack of productivity to lack of motivation and drive, let me just say this: I am gearing up to get back on the horse, camera in hand, as early as tomorrow.
Now that I’ve gotten the pleasantries out of the way, let me take a moment to disclose this bit of information: I’ve been sitting on this post for a while now. It’s hard for me to write when it feels like I’ve been sinking in quicksand with no life line. Working to pull myself out and dust myself off hasn’t been easy. Fortunately, despite the adversity and resultant disappointments I’ve faced over the last six months, I’ve gained a bit of clarity regarding those action steps that must be taken in order to help me fulfill what I believe to be my life’s purpose. With that said, my life has become a lot more manageable, but as with anything that takes time to develop, to blossom and to manifest, these things take time (had plenty of that), and patience (had not a lot of this).
The biggest takeaway from all that I’ve endured? Fear and self-doubt are the true enemies of the good.
Earlier this month, over on my Tumblr blog, I asked the question: “What are you passionate about?”
I got a small but very interesting range of responses that got me to thinking some more about the things that inspire us to take action, to shake us out of our routines, to make us better people. That led me to think about the people, places and things in my life that influenced me to step out on faith, and pursue my aspirations of becoming a professional photographer.
I took art history classes in college. They transformed how I began to see myself and the world, but I didn’t stop there. I took my passion for art and sought to build a conventional museum career, but it just wasn’t my time yet.
Fortunately, for me, I got a second chance…..a number of disparate elements did conspire to bring me back to my center, to my first love, my deepest passion. Conversations with trusted confidants. The melody or the lyrics or the message in a song that moved me in a deep and indescribable way. Other times, it was the touch of a hand, or a kiss on my lips. Still, other times, it could be a novel, or a poem, or a movie. Dreams I’ve had were disturbing yet inspiring. I’ve been touched deeply by someone’s scent or the innocent and playful laugh of child full of hope and determination to spread her wings and fly.
The point is, I can’t really point to one discrete element and say, yes, that is what inspired me to give this thing a try one more time. I can’t always anticipate those things that will move me so, but I try to be open to all things so that I don’t miss those opportunities.
With that said, from time to time, I will blog about that which inspires and informs my photography and more importantly, that which influences my general outlook on why it is vitally important for a post-modern society to embrace and support the arts. A society that devalues the individual creative impulse is a society doomed to certain failure. In my humble opinion, art, creativity, culture, are all important civilizing elements; technology, philosophy and politics can only take us so far.
So, I thought it would be fitting to launch these series of posts with a short video retrospective of the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson, widely considered to be the father of street photography/photojournalism. He wrote and spoke of the “decisive moment” in photography, ‘the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as the precise organization of forms which gives that event its proper expression.”
This is what I’m strove to work on as a shooter during year one of what I term Act II of my life…….to align my mind’s eye with what has been described as “the camera’s ability to transfix a moment in time’s flow.” Over a year ago, I bought a new camera, starting first to seek and document the beauty in ordinary people and things….venturing into places overlooked or outright rejected by others…. and, as Bresson eloquently noted, to mine the depths for decisive moments, hoping “to preserve life in the act of living.”
As I move into year two of my Act II journey, I don’t know what the future will hold for me, but I am committed to opening my heart and mind to the little things that can prove themselves to be big game-changers.
Watch the video and be sure to leave a comment or send me a private note.
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“You gonna take my picture??”
LOL! I usually get the question after I’ve already snapped the photo, but I will fire off a few more shots where they smile and pose just to satisfy their request. When I’m on the street, my goal is to capture the unposed candid images better….where I catch people just being themselves.
Taken April 4, 2011 in Philadelphia, PA
Taken April 2, 2011 in Philadelphia, PA (click for full-sized image)
After spending some time in Germantown, I ventured south to Center City and to Philadelphia’s famed South Street, under the guise of looking for some camera equipment (a 50 mm lens for my Nikon).
Well, of course, I couldn’t resist the urge to snap a few photos, including the one above of the two gentlemen sitting outside of what I believe to be The Bean Cafe.
They both seemed to be enjoying their coffee and their view of the throngs of people walking past. One was puffing away on a cigar, as well. And neither seemed to be a bit surprised by me snapping a photo of them.
I’m gonna enjoy this summer.
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It’s entitled “How I Deal” (from his newest release, W.ants W.orld W.omen) and it features Slum Village.
.. so I’m listening to it and I’m like, damn..this is tight. Listen for yourself.
He’s a very talented songwriter with a sense of humor…that’s hot.
That’s all. Just wanted to share this. Happy Friday!
Disclaimer: Before you Marvin Gaye fanatics run to your laptops, please understand that this is just my opinion. You don’t have to agree.
So many of you may know that I’ve been talking about stepping up my street photography game, and given that, I’ve decided to use a method commonly known by street photographers as “shooting from the hip.”
Since I’m pretty tall (5’10”), shooting from my hip really translates to shooting from my boob area. That’s okay though, because that means no one will really notice or really give me grief, especially the menfolk. ;-)
I decided to change my strategy because I’ve found (much to my chagrin and disappointment) that since I began shooting with my Nikon almost a year ago, everyone doesn’t want to be a star and that no one wants a camera with a telephoto lens pointed in their direction or shoved in their face.
Image Backstory: I was drawn to this young lady at the Chinese restaurant yesterday because she was busy gabbing on her cell phone, while waiting for her order. I wanted to see if I could get a shot off without her noticing. I was able to get a few off before this one, with which I was pretty pleased. I know the angle was pretty drastic, but that’s because she was standing up and I was sitting down, directly in front of her.
So over the next few posts, I will be sharing with you images birthed from my hips. I mean, images birthed from my camera, perched comfortably near my hips. Enjoy.
P.S. – I wanna send a big shout out to all my folks in the Midwest who got hit by SNOWPOCALYPSE, SNOWTORIOUS BIG or whatever you want to call it. Please be safe and I’ll be praying for sun to melt all that snow y’all got.
