Category: Portraits

What do people, places and things look like – photographed?

I’m always amazed when people look at photographs of themselves and say things like, “I look old and fat…” or “I look awful…” I look at the same photograph and think, “I’ve managed to capture your beauty.” It makes me wonder what they see in the mirror. Garry Winogrand said, “I photograph to find out what something will look like photographed.” It would seem that many people do not want to know what they “look like.” Every now and again, mostly while checking the light for some other photograph, I too wonder what I look like photographed.

(click photograph for larger view)

Leica M8, 50 mm Summilux Asph

Taking a photograph to make an illustration

I’ve posted this first example, of using a photograph as a jumping off point to create a digital illustration which suggests a work created with traditional art materials (such as pencils, brushes and/or paints), as a response to a conversation with another photographer. I contend that one has to use the digital tools to move the photograph sufficiently beyond what a photograph “looks like” and enough toward what a drawing or painting “looks like.” I believe this requires the use of hand gestures of sufficient quantity and quality (and well beyond just hitting filter effect buttons) in order to fool the eye and mind. Does this example achieve that desire? I think “just.”

Wacom Tablet, Photoshop, and Painter

Below are two of my early attempts at drawing on the iPad; examples of taking it the other way. Meaning “drawn” on the iPad and exported through Lightroom. We find ourselves in truly interesting digital imaging times.

Griffin Stylus on iPad (drawn from life)

John Stropes brought George Winston’s vast guitar knowledge to Milwaukee

Last Friday John Stropes introduced George Winston to a small group of his guitar students and friends. John has been educating Wisconsin in the various forms of finger style guitar techniques for several decades; both through courses at UWM and his many other venues. In that generous spirit John ensured the lessons were well documented for the educational use of future generations.

(click images for larger view)

George Winston, most widely known as a pianist, has obviously studied slack key guitar with near equal vigor and depth. He’s filmed and recorded the key players in Hawaii; and generously shares his research and expertise at Dancing Cat Records where you can download his books on the subject. Anyone who knows where to find every note and chord on a stringed instrument, in any of  a couple dozen different tunings, leaves a hell of an impression on me. When you add the many different ways to pluck a string or four; and achieve harmonic effects up and down the neck. Well suffice it to say Mr. Winston’s scholarship and musicianship left me awestruck; and wanting to hear him play guitar in concert (or in recording).

(Leica M8, 28 mm Summicron [above], 75 mm Summilux [below])

Real love loves reality

Our parents’ ashes
rest in that great chalice, Lake
Michigan, reflected

now in my dear sister’s Shades

(click image for larger view)

M8, 50 mm Summilux Asph

Jean-Luc Godard said, “When you photograph a face, you photograph the soul behind it.” Can this be true? Some times; perhaps.

Rick Benoit becomes new Wisconsin Coordinator at Vets Journey Home (and needed a new portrait)

Rick Benoit took over responsibilities from Donna Barth as Wisconsin Coordinator for Vets Journey Home. Rick and I had a delightful photo session at my studio last month. Today I installed their pick from the session proofs, along with Rick’s bio, at the Vets’ who we are page; which I designed and launched last year. Kudos! to Rick and all those at Vets Journey Home who give so much to nurture the hearts, minds and bodies of our returning vets and their families. If you know a vet please let them know about this exceptional group of people who’d love to hear from them. The weekend program is offered at no charge to the veterans.

perpetual examination, inquiry, looking into…

“Photography is only intuition, a perpetual interrogation – everything except a stage set.” — Henri Cartier-Bresson

“When gifts are given to me through my camera, I accept them graciously.” — Minor White

(click image for larger view)

Leica M8, 35mm Summilux Asph

kids and dogs

“A well-composed image will catch our attention because the eye finds a certain satisfaction in composure. But that is not enough. Good photographs are also disturbing, and inevitably remind us of what we have overlooked.” – John Rosenthal

Do you find these photographs disturbing; do they remind you?
(click image for larger view – recommended)

Leica M8, 35mm Summilux Asph