Category: Events

Riding blind and loving it

This morning my friend, Kevin Meyers, competed in the Double Bong 40k, ABR Wisconsin State Time Trial Championship, Kansasville, WI. Kevin lost his sight in 1987 when his racing boat hit a wake at 60 mph, threw him into the water, where he was hit by another boat. Lucky to be alive; and living to the max; he now races bicycles (with a tandem pilot). A couple weeks ago, at the Wisconsin State Track Championship, he and his pilot, Bob Springer, took the Gold Medal in Kilo and Pursuit, in the Tandem category. Kevin said, “My bike, Chariot of Fire, almost literally caught fire!” This morning he worked on his record times to qualify and participate in the 2012 Paralympics. Over the years I’ve worked with Kevin on a promotional video and designed the logo for his web site, stationery and motivational speaking work. Kevin’s simply an amazing human being. His web site is well worth taking a look at to discover just how amazing.

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Kevin’s “warm up”

Setting up the “Chariot of Fire”

At the line.

And they’re off to the races.

Coming around the fourth turn, completing the first of two laps.

Leica M8, 50 and 35 mm Summilux asph

Beale Street 25 years later

Twenty five plus years ago I spent a day on Beale Street, the “home of the blues and birthplace of rock’n’roll.” At 39 it felt real. Musicians were on the street and in the clubs. Earlier this month, while attending the ABANA Conference in Memphis, Seth and I spent an evening on the street and it felt a lot more like a bizarre carnival. Every establishment had a hawker yelling out the reasons to enter their establishment. The musicians on every other corner were gone. There was a new little park with a stage where one could “do your thing” and it was surrounded by junk tents. Hustlers were selling Elvis’ drivers license for $45, laminated and appearing never used. Some decent blues could still be heard in a couple clubs; but the street ambiance of 25 years ago has disappeared; or so it seemed to my now 64 year old memory bank. View a slide show of additional Beale Street images.

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M8, 35mm Summilux Asph

Evening demonstrations at ABANA Conference

June 2nd, after the first day of photographing the 2010 ABANA Conference Gallery items, we strolled through the demonstrator’s tents; where metal met fire to become functional and decorative objects. Additional images from this stroll can be seen in a short slide show here.

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Leica M8, 50mm Summilux Asph

2010 ABANA Conference, Memphis, TN

Last Tuesday Seth Tyler and I drove to Memphis for the 2010 ABANA Conference. Seth, besides creating very impressive metal work (both sculptural and functional), turned out to be the best studio assistant I’ve ever worked with.

We photographed about 120 hand wrought metal pieces, ranging in size from virtual jewelry, to pieces 7 feet on the long dimension; in three extremely intense days. Additionally I delivered two 2 hour seminars on how the blacksmiths can improve their own photography. The photograph below shows me working with a shelf bracket on the small sweep. Just to the left we also had a 9 foot sweep.

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porch and pole sitting in Door County

A week ago (before “the tourist season” begins) we drove up the west coast of the great Lake Michigan to Door County.  Historically (and here) the area has been inhabited for 11,000 years. Pioneers, mariners, fishermen and farmers began arriving in the 1700s; and the Native American population was removed, under federal law, in 1830. One rarely sees people of color in this now relatively upscale tourist area serving many Chicago vacationers.

(click images for larger view)

Leica M8, 35 mm Summilux Asph

Sunday — Global Union 2009: music, dogs, children, dancing

Alverno College kicked off its 50th annual Alverno Presents season with Global Union 2009 at Humboldt Park this past weekend. Always a wonderful time and place to enjoy people, music, children, dogs and dancing (additonal images in slideshow).

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(Leica M8, 28 mm Summicron)