I don’t even know where to begin. The world around me is full of contrasts. The gap between rich and poor continues to increase. There is beauty everywhere and plenty of ugliness if you wish to look. I always thought that Heaven and Hell had the same address, it was a matter of what you wanted to see. So far my photography has focused on the beauty I see, and I never plan to stop seeing that beauty and capturing it. However, I also see a world that needs help. Since seeing the Crewdson lecture I have thought about my photography and I have decided to experiment and push into new areas. I spent a good portion of the weekend shooting scenes from the streets and this is my first portrait from the streets. I was fascinated with this man’s face. It tells a story of its own. We’ll see where this goes.
I just got back from an amazing presentation held at the Cincinnati Art Museum. The presentation was given by Gregory Crewdson a photographer best known for his elaborately choreographed photographs that frame mystery in everyday life.
It was inspirational. His work is fantastic. That said, it is not the type of work I usually admire and you will just have to check it out to form your own opinion. However, it was wonderful to see a photographer who thought as an artist and not a documentarian. He conceptualizes images in his head and then goes to great lengths to execute them, the result being masterpieces. I picked up more tidbits of creative thought and insight from his lecture than any other single event in recent memory.
I urge you to check out his work and do enough research to understand what goes into each photo he creates. You may or may not like his style, but his artistry, creativity, clarity of vision, drive to make his visions into reality are without question.
You can get more information about Mr. Crewdson and see samples of his work at Luhring Augustine for starters. He was also in PDN magazine within the last year. That was my first introduction to the artist.
Okay… It has been awhile, but I’m ready to pick my journal back up.
I also just setup a flickr account and I’m testing writing this entry from flickr and linking it to this photo. I took it at the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert a couple days after Christmas 2007. Their concerts are just amazing and I recommend that everyone attend one if they can. Just click on the photo to be taken to my flickr site where you can see much more.
I’ll start writing more, but just wanted to test this before heading to bed for the evening.
I am frequently asked what camera I use for my photos. I have four cameras…
Kodak Pro/N - 14 megapixal digital camera that uses Nikon lenses and is made with 80% Nikon parts. It has a 35mm SLR body and uses a full-frame sensor.
Nikon F100 - 35mm SLR film camera.
Canon G7 - pocket sized digital camera
4×5 View camera - An old style camera that takes big sheets of film and you get behind it and throw the cloth over your head so you can see the image on the glass plate.
Most of my photos you have seen in the last couple of years have been taken with the Kodak Pro/N digital camera. It is the only full frame Nikon compatible camera on the market. Kodak has discontinued the camera and there is no other full frame Nikon digital camera on the horizon. A lot of research between me and some of friends is leading to a decision on my part to purchase a Canon digital SLR soon.
While I have some nice cameras, I don’t have any new furniture or clothes. Well, okay. I do have some clothes and furniture too, but I have spent a lot of money on photographic equipment. However, please understand that an expensive camera is not required for great photos. Your camera will do just fine. Good photos are the result of a good eye. If you have artistic vision then you “see” the shot.
I would say it is probably similar to expensive paints for a painter. When you make a painting, you’d like to use the best paints you can, but the paints do not really determine if you make a great painting. If you are a good painter you can make a masterpiece with the cheapest of paints. And no one looks at a painting and asks what paints did you use. You can make masterpieces with your camera.
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