Back in June Ann’s nephew, Mike McDonald, played in the Wisconsin State Amateur Golf Tournament. Mike also plays on the Marquette University Golf Team. At the State Tournament his dad, Bob, caddied for him. A fine father/son moment caught. (click image for larger view – Slide show of additional tournament images)
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Traveling through the last few weeks with thoughts mostly of Ann and her upcoming birthday; which occurred on August 17th. It all began with a trip up the coast to Sheboygan, WI to introduce Jim Proue and David White. I’d thought it would be fun to have them sing and play at Ann’s little surprise family birthday celebration. They’d never played together yet hit the mark right from the get-go.
(click image for larger view – Slide show with more images from this get together)
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The night before the party we went to hear Tracy Chapman at the Pabst Theartre. Without doubt – the most incredible concert I’ve ever attended. Ms. Chapman (and her band) performed flawlessly; and actually “better than” the original studio recordings. (click image for larger view – Slide Show of a few “intermission” images)
Of course it took a few phone calls to invite the family; a bit tidying up, arranging for food and errands with Erin’s help; and then – the party sort of just happened. (click image for larger view – Slide show of additional party images)
The day after the party Ann did her annual Irish Fest. Below we see one of Ann’s customers — not showing off his hair cut — but rather performing a fine Irish kick. (click image for larger view – Slide show of additional Irish Fest images)
Then it was getting ready for a four day road trip to the beautiful Mississippi River hills and valleys in Northwestern Illinois, Eastern Iowa and Southwestern Wisconsin. (click image for larger view – Slide show of additional river trip images)
“As photographers we sell emotion not emulsion. The tools are immaterial, the resulting piece is all important.” — Jeff Adams
In principle I agree — yet fine tools do make getting to the result a tad easier. Today I began a 15 day trial of Silver Efex Pro for use with Lightroom. It is quite a fine tool; if you’re interested in processing digital color files to black and white effect. Its built-in presets for tone-color, various filtration effects and simulation of (various types of) film grain appear first rate. This image of Sophia at the Children’s Museum (last week) was processed to Acros 100 with slight Selenium Toning and subtle ‘rectangular’ edge burn. Very quick and easy to compare effects. If you’re familiar with the Lightroom GUI (graphic user interface) you’ll find the Silver Efex GUI very intuitive.
In the end every craftsperson (and artist) appreciates fine tools; yet will find a way to express themselves with the tools at hand.
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Duncan moved on out of this life Wednesday evening.
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Mary Kelly stopped by to show me
that 10 years after receiving a print from me as a birthday gift
she decided to frame it.
I was most impressed with my multi-color inking on my chop
Last Sunday (father’s day), before a lovely brunch, Sophia presented me with
an abstract expression titled “fireworks” (from her fever series)
after which Ann and I headed for her son Josh’s farm
where Cadence and Cassidy rode around the barrels and Clyde chewed on T-bone’s ear
(slide show of additional images from the farm)
This past Wednesday Sophia and I walked down to Doctor’s park beach on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Why do we all love to look for and pickup water-smoothed rocks and stones? What makes throwing stones into water so enjoyable? I understand the challenge of skipping; but the kids seem extraordinarily happy with a throw and kerplop.
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Mary Kelly called and said we needed a birthday celebration invitation; and in a few weeks we had this delightful album invitation off the press and in the mail. Then of course we celebrated with Mary.
(click image for larger view – or go to the slide show for more images)
“Photographers may be concerned, conceptual, confrontational, candid, casual, constructing, but what is important is that they have a point of view.” – John Loengard, Pictures under discussion by John Loengard
“Taking photographs, taking candid photographs, means that the photographer is an invisible man. Whereas there is still a feeling that in having a photograph taken there is loss of face: something of the soul is gone.” – Bruce Davidson – talking on Beautiful Beautiful, a BBC film shown on 5 October 1969 [cited in: Creative Camera February 1970, p. 41]
“My pictures are not escapes from reality, but a contemplation of reality, so that I can experience life in a deeper way.” – Bruce Davidson – 1968 [cited in: Creative Camera April 1970, p. 104]
Grandfather’s point of view
after applying scissors and pencil
to paper
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“A painter works with color as the medium, a photographer works with light.” – Carlotta M. Corpron
(click on image for larger view)
and time — the photographer works with light and/or time
Last Sunday Ann’s son, Josh, brought Clyde over for a visit.
times gone by
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and those to come
NOW
between history and mystery
may the New Year — 2009 — bring
a shift in consciousness, however subtle, toward
non-violent, genuine communication
and compassionate understanding
