People – Page 21 – Imagist Blog

Lanterns for Peace, Milwaukee, WI, August 9, 2008

Last Saturday evening Pere Marquette Park, an intimate little park on the Milwaukee River in downtown Milwaukee, became a nucleus for Peace. The program for Lanterns for Peace, a ceremony (sponsored by Peace Education Project of Peace Action Wisconsin) in rememberence of the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagaski on August 9, 1945, states, “We remind ourselves that this kind of human suffering must not happen again and that we must unite with all the people of the world to abolish nuclear weapons and put an end to war.” (Additional photographs of the setting can be viewed here) 10% of print sales will be donated to Peace Action Wisconsin.

(click images for larger view)

The evening light, cool summer breeze, musicians, speakers, and people, believing peace as possible, transformed the park into a magical space and time. (Additional photographs of people enjoying the event can be viewed here) 10% of print sales will be donated to Peace Action Wisconsin.

Children of all ages crafted their very personal lanterns. (Additional photographs of people creating lanterns can be viewed here) 10% of print sales will be donated to Peace Action Wisconsin.

Music filled the park; from heartfelt folk songs provided by Dangerous Folk’s Cap Lee and Julie Thompson to the joyful Afro rhythms of the Lucky Diop and Kassumai African Band. Holly Haebig breathed life through her classical flute as individuals read heart wrenching Survivors’ Stories from Hiroshima/Nagasaki; and again through her native American flute as the lanterns floated onto the river. (Additional photographs of the Musicians can be viewed here) 10% of print sales will be donated to Peace Action Wisconsin.

As the sun set the lanterns were lit; with some difficulty due to the wind. (Additional photographs of the lantern lighting can be viewed here) 10% of print sales will be donated to Peace Action Wisconsin.

The creators silently walked their lanterns to the canoes waiting in the river. The canoes took the lanterns into the river as the Native American flute remembered, and called to, all those killed and maimed by the violent ones. (Additional photographs of the lantern float can be viewed here) 10% of print sales will be donated to Peace Action Wisconsin.

Followed the rivers to Ellie’s wedding; then, a damp day along the mighty Mississippi

Last Friday Ann and I packed a few things in the car and drove west by northwest on Hwy 60. We stopped in North Leeds for a bite to eat. The restaurant had what seemed like a romantic little room for two; it also had very little and very red light and quickly began to feel claustrophobic with too much funky decor.

(click images for larger view)

At Sauk City the highway does it’s best to follow the Wisconsin River. I love to drive the blue highways that follow the rivers; the paths of the animals and birds. At Gotham we headed north by northwest on Hwy 14 towards Viroqua to visit Ann’s niece, Jessica, and her husband Matt. They provided us with wonderful hospitality; including a bed for the night. Saturday morning’s coffee and conversation on their new deck — built by Matt — simply delightful.

Back on the road at 9:30 am — Hwy 14/61 to St. Paul, MN — now following the mighty, muddy Mississippi. Spectacular views with no time to stop; except for fuel, juice and muffins.

Arriving just a tad late due to one wrong turn.

Seeing as a guest and not “the wedding photographer” freed me to photograph “whatever” and take note of things I’d have done differently than the fellow and his crew. Slide show of additional wedding observations here. And a few from the “film” camera here.

Sunday morning, at the Best Western, provided pool time for Sophia and social time for family and friends of the iHusband and iWife (Sean is slowly Macifying Ellie):

Strolling, shopping, photographing with a late Mexican lunch in St. Paul before heading south along the mighty Miss.

A chocolate malt while driving through the night. Then south on Hwy 35 (hugging the river on the Wisconsin side); crossing back over to McGregor, IA at Prairie Du Chien. The Holiday Shores Motel provided us with a terrace seat and cooling summer breeze which made it difficult to “go to sleep.” We watched a huge row of barges navigate the water-way in the dark. Monday morning provided a gorgeous view of Wisconsin’s river shore.

Monday passed too quickly — simply enjoying the river, the light, the barge traffic and McGregor (at one time allegedly larger than Chicago because of it’s ferry crossing). Slide show of additional river and McGregor photographs.

What if a client doesn’t have a video production budget?

The current trend toward feeding multimedia information over the internet demands our readiness to deliver professional messages for our clients. We’ve ramped up our video production and post production capabilities; while maintaining a budget conscious niche. Even with our cost conscious approach to video production some clients cannot budget those costs; yet understand the power of audio and visuals to more powerfully deliver their message on the web. For these clients we encourage them to consider fine still photography in combination with professionally captured audio, to deliver a more powerful multimedia message than either still images or audio, alone, can offer.

Our first opportunity to provide an example of putting professional quality still images with professional quality audio came from attending a JoeNetworks “networking coffee and donuts” event at JRA — and here, brought to you by MediumRareProductions, is the result:

Access to Awareness precedes Awareness itself

“The whole point of [making] pictures is so you don’t have to explain things with words.” — Elliot Erwitt

(click images for larger view)

Brady Street Festival, 2008. Slide show of additional images from this event.

Vistor from out of town, parks, families gather

“I have to be as much a diplomat as a photographer.” — Alfred Eisenstadt

Ann’s sister, Teri, visits from Florida and the family gathers together at Menomonee Park, the 297 acre site of a water filled Lannon Stone quarry. Additional slide show of images.

(click images for larger view)

Taking It Lightly Documentary Live on Internet

While the DVD has been available for a couple months it has taken some time to figure out how to present a 30 minute documentary on the internet without incurring excessive monthly fees. MotionBox has made it possible. Allowing the video to load for a minute or two will provide a better viewing experience than if you hit play immediately.

From the client, “George, I am so grateful for your commitment to this project and the gift of your vision and talent. I am feeling a lot of excitement about the potential we have opened up with this project.” —Patricia

For additional samples of our video work check out Heartflick.com.

Giving and receiving = utopia

The 365 Tao, 103, on Reciprocity (paraphrased):

Hands grasp, but also give; and can teach us generosity.
Mouths taste, but also speak; and can teach us to give thanks in word and song.
Noses breathe, but also smell; and can teach us to learn from our environment.
Eyes see, but also show; and can teach us to show compassion and sincerity.
Ears hear, but also balance; and can teach us to remain balanced.

The eyes –some say virtual windows to the soul– of a dedicated person show an inner fortitude and charisma that the eyes of the ordinary do not. Each one of our senses gathers information and also serves as a channel of expression. All parts of ourselves give and receive; functioning on the principle of reciprocity inherent in their very character. Perhaps we can learn from our senses.

Google “tis better to give than to receive” and you’ll find that scientific research backs up the line attributed to Jesus in the book of Acts. However, living the suggestion in a consumer-society requires discipline and faith. As a closet utopian I love to entertain the notion of a society where we all simply do what we love; give away the fruits of our labor, spontaneously, from our hearts; without thought or expectation of return or payment; with the faith that our needs (or even wants) will somehow be met. Yet in my life as a micro business entrepreneur I must constantly put a price on my services. While I do practice heartfelt giving in my art and other areas of my life; I’v previously found it difficult to practice in my business. Some suggest that the “give-away” in business will also find its reciprocal balance.

Yesterday I gave a professional friend some professional service, straight from the heart, without expectations of any kind. Today the gift was reciprocated. Maybe Jesus knew what he was talking about.

Let’s all give work towards utopia without expecting to achieve it. To get started watch this video (be sure to click “watch in high quality” to the lower right, under the video controls).

A lesson in discipline, down time, respect and divine connection

“Some of us cynics say that ‘the quickest way to make a million dollars in photography, is to start with two million dollars.'” — Anonymous

Saturday afternoon we found ourselves at Al Simon’s 70th birthday celebration at Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue. I managed to see and document two moments of fine light before being told that I cannot do this “work” in the temple during Shabbat. I did not understand this rebuke. Pushing a tiny button in response to beautiful light is “work?” I think not. After-the-fact research and dialogue brought understanding. A kind, Jewish acquaintance offered, “One should not try to view any of this from a rational perspective. It is a discipline.” A web site added this insight, “Working on Shabbos… means doing creative acts that manipulate nature… When G-d rested on the seventh day… He rested in the sense that He ceased creating. We must do the same.” Aha! Not a silly “rule;” rather, a discipline to help one connect with the divine. I get it. Respect and honor discipline (including the discipline to continuously learn from and about others).

(click images for larger view)

Later: While walking with Sophia on her Radio Flyer.

And still later: Popcorn and video.

Happy birthday Sophia. We remember mom and dad with a sail on the Great Lake

“In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.” — Alfred Steiglitz

Last Saturday Sophia, family and friends celebrated her third birthday. Slide show of additional images.

(click images for larger vew)

And on Monday we remembered Mom and Dad, together. Slide show of additional images.
Huge thank you Doug. You’ve twice given me and my family precious memories.