You Crack Me Up

Here's a portrait of explosive happiness.  I didn't take the photograph -- one of the very talented fourth graders I've been working with did. The student photographer worked with Una, the exuberant girl on the left. Una wanted her self-portrait to describe her love of friendship and so she picked Zoe, one of her many good friends, to join in the frame.

I don't know what you think, but to me friendship never looked so fun. Such hilarity and closeness. And doesn't this portrait contain its own soundtrack.  

And doesn't it so perfectly demonstrate what the great Ernst Haas once said about color photography: artists are not making color photographs, they make photographs about color. 

Welcome Home, Mister Barry White

Got some serious Barry White action going in the house last night. Felt good to hit that groove and remember how it feels to dance on and on, to move and just let it spin.

And, once again, friends and butterflies, it's that third time that's turning in the good stuff.

There's something about threes - triptych and trilogy, three act plays and third time is the charm belief systems. It's as easy to see as one, two, three.

Thanks to the dancing Mizz A and to lights man extraordinaire Mistah M

On the Way

Now that the ABES auction is over, I can post this picture made to support a wonderful school where I've been lucky enough to work since 2004.

It was a warm and windy August afternoon when a small group of collaborators got to work. When I say work, though, that sounds too stiff and serious for the easy flow of what happened. We took to the streets with a theme, a dress, a balloon, a lovely girl ready to walk the walk and then a little magic took over. The beauty and confidence of R.M.'s steps, her feet and especially that left hand, pulls me in again and again. 

Thanks to whoever ended up buying this piece. Appreciate your support!

Two for Tuesday

Going to the barber sets up a natural twosome - stylist and customer. I found these fellows at a classic looking shop in Melbourne during an early evening stroll last spring. These guys who look a little bit alike were kind enough to let me in on their appointment. The old time feel of the space (check out the phone on the wall), the barber's hunch and his pouty concentration amuse me. 

Take Three

Revision is about my favorite part of writing, but as a photographer I've resisted it because that form is twinned so often with the instant, the snapshot, the captured moment. But what I'm making now are images that seem to demand at least three go rounds.

Today's take three of the funeral dress seems to have landed in the sweet spot, finally, after a wonderful process of figuring out what I was trying to do, and say. 

The only doctoring post production involved cropping and a little blurring out where the security system stuck to the wall like a wound.

Two for Tuesday

Labor Day has come and gone, but this fabulous pair of white sandals had to make it into the waning days of summer images. The look is fetching. And, holy mother of god, check out the tear-shaped cutout in the wedge -- that's what prompted me to ask this lovely young lady walking down the street to pause long enough for me to bend down low and make a photo.

Personally, I can't walk in heels, but women who can do capture my attention. Of course, I wouldn't mind being three inches taller, but that won't happen in this lifetime.

Hope you're steps are high and happy ones, everyone.  Enjoy.

High School Graduation

Working like mad over here. Pulling together a bundle of elements and making a serious dose of possibilities. I'm lost in it. This shoot involved three people, 24 balloons, 24 plastic eggs, countless quarters and dimes, and secrets a plenty I can't reveal.    

Lift off has begun.

A line from the high school graduation story:  "Freedom stood on the other side of ceremony and I could not wait to wave adios." 

Does this look like waving adios? 

Artsy Thoughts

It's been a productive and emotionally whirling week. Here's a discarded draft of a photograph I'm working on in my series. The momentum behind my project is building like the movement of the skirt of this dress. Locations, props, people, dots - it's all combining with energy that gives me hope.

But why this blog title?  Well. I just have to say how much I loathe the word "artsy." It's an adjective that makes me go eeewww, makes me cringe. Lately I've been described as artsy, and I know it's been done with affection, but it rattles my cage. Is it because I hear that echo, that rhyme...artsy fartsy? Maybe. Or maybe it's just sounds diminutive, dismissive, maybe a little too cutesy. 

Two for Tuesday

I can't say what these two ladies decided before they began their walk together, but they make a lovely twosome, uniformed and united.

Small white dog - check.
Black capri workout pants - check.
White sneakers - check.
Sweatshirt with zipper wrapped around the waist - check.
Ponytail - check.

Still Life

A still life is a classic practice for working artists. It's a good exercise in seeing.

This summer my life has been marked by a stillness of a certain quality I've not know. It became at times so quiet that every little object and sound came into focus.

One day I washed a bunch of pears and put them onto a wooden plate my friend Dennis made and let the late afternoon sunshine do the rest. Quiet and still can be beautiful.