Monday, April 27, 2009

portraits

My first good photograph was a portrait of a girl name Marsha I shot with my Kodak Brownie in Junior High School. Since then, as my photographic skills improved, I've shot many portraits, often drawing upon my co-workers as models. Looking back, I started a concerted effort beginning around 1986 when one co-worker asked me to shoot photos of her for a Christmas gift for her fiance. I've been shooting portraits off and on from that time. I thought it might be interesting to post a series of these images to gauge the progression (if any) of my portrait-taking ability and to chronicle some of my past associations with my female co-workers. I could have taken portraits of my male co-workers, but let's face it, what fun is that? Below are some representative samples with approximate dates and some comments added where appropriate. They are chronological starting from the oldest to the most recent.

Linda, photographed in 1986. Shot with Kodachrome film. Linda began my series of portraits. I suppose the hair style and clothing betray the time frame, but overall, I was pleased with the results. Linda continues to be one of the most "giving" individuals I know. She is the "Mother Teresa" of all my friends, continually striving to do good in people's lives.

Jane, photographed in 1994. Shot with PolaPan film. Jane commissioned me to shoot photos of her to one day show her grandchildren that "grandma used to be hot." This is one of the more artistic photos from the shoot. The "hot" photos are not included here and reserved for her grandchildren to see. Actually, it's almost time to be sharing them . . .

Siobhan, photographed in 1996. Shot with PolaPan film. My best friend in Connecticut. She made being a stranger in a strange land fun. One of the funniest people I know. I always laugh out loud when I think of her.

Bonnie, photographed in 1998. Shot with Ektachrome 64 film. Bonnie also commissioned me to photograph her as a gift for her husband. Interestingly, of all the women I've photographed, I've known Bonnie the longest. She came to work for AT&T around 1979 or 1980 when she was nineteen years-old. I've seen her grow into an independent, spiritual, intelligent and motivated woman from that young girl of so many years ago.

Stacie, photographed in 2001. Black and white photo shot with PolaPan film. Color photo shot with Ektachrome 64 film. She is my favorite model. I could not take a bad photograph of her. Stacie is one of the most remarkable women I know. She has the potential of being or doing anything she chooses. At present, she has chosen to be a devoted mother and I have no doubts she excels in this endeavor.

Colleen, photographed in 2002. Shot with PolaPan film. I think this is one of my strongest portrait images. Colleen was one of a pair of identical twins.

Sharon, photographed in 2002. Shot with PolaPan film. Sharon frames my artwork for Phillips Gallery. Since then, she has become one of my co-workers. Sharon was the most reluctant of all my models, being very camera shy.

Debbie, photographed in 2003. Shot with PolaPan film. I've also know Debbie for a very long time. I've had the privilege of seeing Debbie grow into a confident, independent woman over the years. She was very reluctant to model for me, but as we started shooting, she really got into the process and started suggesting different poses and ideas.

Hadley, photographed in 2004. Shot digitally. Hadley is one of my present co-workers. I cannot quite get the photographic rapport going with her. All of my photos of her turn out looking quite serious and almost hostile. Hadley is one of the few people I know who is seriously attempting to make a livelihood through her art. She is very disciplined, prolific and dedicated.

Adrienne, photographed in 2006. Black and white photo shot with Kodak TC400n film. Color photo shot digitally. Adrienne was one of my most pleasant surprises. She simply responds to the camera naturally. She seems to love the camera and the camera loves her. This is indicative of her personality, which is very straightforward and honest.

Kim, photographed in 2008. Shot digitally. Kim is the other photographer I work with. Her work is edgier and more contemporary than mine, so I wanted to portray that by simulating "cross-processing" digitally. Kim is always a willing model and really very fun to work with.

Julie, photographed in 2008. Digital photograph. Julie is presently my assistant. Can I say it is a challenge to have an assistant? I have enough difficulties managing myself . . .

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

phoebe in wonderland

As I've mentioned earlier, I'm an avid moviegoer. I'll even compromise my normally high standards some weekends (when the new releases are somewhat "iffy") and see some pretty marginal films. "Dragonball Evolution" is one example. Normally, I don't sing the praises of many films unless I find them truly exceptional. This weekend I had the opportunity to see one such film, "Phoebe in Wonderland." It is a gem of a movie that first showed at the Sundance Film Festival two or three years ago and has since had some difficulties in distribution. The film revolves around Phoebe (Elle Fanning), a troubled, but gifted nine-year old. When Phoebe's mother (Felicity Huffman) is summoned to school to address an "incident" involving Phoebe, she chooses to ignore the misgivings voiced by the principal (and later, Phoebe's psychologist). She does not want to stifle Phoebe's creativity and dull her spirit through medication. Sadly, Phoebe's behavior escalates and we witness the pain and suffering that begins to unfold around her as a consequence. Wonderland, it turns out, is the only place where Phoebe can find solace and comfort.

The cast also includes Bill Pullman, Campbell Scott and the always brilliant Patricia Clarkson as Phoebe's drama teacher. During the screening, I became aware of somebody sobbing several rows behind me during the more emotionally resonant scenes. I probably would have responded similarly had I not been distracted by those outbursts. At the end, I had to turn around to identify the perpetrator. Much to my surprise, the source of all that sobbing originated from a rather burly middle-aged bald man! None of us are evidently immune to the suffering of a nine year-old girl.

csa

Last weekend, the Salt Lake Tribune published an article about CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). In essence, consumers can purchase shares in a farm's upcoming crop. The consumer thus shares in the success or shortcomings of a farmer's crop yield during the summer to fall growing season. Each week starting from June, the farmer arranges locations for the shareholder to pick up their weekly harvest of fruits and vegetables. A number of farms participate in this program, and surprisingly, a lot of them have already sold their shares for this year. I became a shareholder this week and anxiously await the first yield. I'll keep you posted. Below is the information taken directly from the website (www.csautah.org).

CSA Utah is a project of the Great Salt Lake RC&D Council that provides a one-stop resource for those interested in CSA in Utah. Both consumers looking for fresh, local food and farmers looking to diversify their operation and make a positive impact in their community will find something here. CSAUtah.org is your door to Community Supported Agriculture in Utah.

Many farms offer produce shares, where buyers typically receive a weekly delivery of produce, flowers, fruits, eggs, milk, meats, or various other locally produced items. Cost, quantity, length of season, varieties, delivery options vary depending the farmer.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a way for the food buying public to have an active dialogue with a farmer, learn about how they grow their produce, where it is grown and other aspects of their farm. Members invest in farms in their community by paying a lump sum (usually before the growing season) and receive a portion of whatever is in season in their local ecosystem, typically on a weekly basis. In this way ordinary citizens can vote with their wallet by directly supporting farming into their community, inviting sustainable farming into their neighborhood and become an integral part of their world. By making a financial commitment to a farm, people become "members" (shareholders) of the CSA. Some CSAs also provide opportunities for members to experience their farm directly through field events, potlucks, a pumpkin patch or other activities. Some may offer members to earn a share by working for the CSA. In Utah, the growing season usually lasts 16 to 20 weeks, from late June through October.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Talent

For a treat, click on the URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

B.B.

Last night I had the privilege of attending a B.B. King concert. As he wailed, "I'm a blues man . . . " I couldn't help but think he is indeed, a blues man. B.B. you haven't lost it, even at the ripe old age of 83. You da' MAN!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

like the witness protection program . . .

I returned from strike duty training in Monterey Park, California, Saturday. In retrospect the experience was akin to being in the witness protection program. I was transported to a place I had never been before, training for a job I had never performed, surrounded by complete strangers. It's a strange premise if you think about it. I could have totally re-invented myself for that one week, perhaps mustering the semblance of charm and gregariousness over my normal misanthropic, grumpy self. Actually the effort to sustain that for one week would be far too burdensome . . .

Although the hours were brutal, with six weeks of training condensed into one (and the extended hours of 8 am to 7 pm each day), it was refreshing. It would be fun to have the opportunity to live a different life for one week every year . . .