Category: Documentary

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.

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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])

Beauty and its beholders

Heading north on Lake Dr., approaching Capital Dr., I notice, for the second time, a newly installed sculpture in Atwater Park. This time I stop to have a closer look. Approaching the transparent human form, by internationally known artist Jaume Plensa, I’m immediately hooked into the visual elements of both the metal and its surroundings. The Leica moves to my eye.

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A young mother, with two children, also appeared, drawn to this installation. They speak quietly about what they see. The little girl attempts to find the letters of her name within the figure.

A truly beautiful, warm, fall day
to experience the powerful presence of this great lake;
these metal sans serif letters loosely describing a contemplative human figure;
and this lovely mother with her children.

Did the camera capture these simple, peaceful thoughts along with my nonverbal feelings? Later, looking at the images on the computer, I think, “maybe.”

So I began writing this post by googling to find the name of the sculptor; only to find this depressingly, negative review of the Atwater installation; complete with absolutely horrible photographs. I agree with the critic, Mary Louise Schumacher, about the frumpy poured concrete base; the rest of her critique – not at all. It seems neither she nor her photographer could see or properly feel this particular intersection of art, lake-scape and humanity. Yet, thankfully, this work, titled Spillover II now exists there for we who care to experience and enjoy it.

Leica M8, 75 mm Summilux and 28 mm Summicron

Tears of joy

Every fall around this time Alverno College hosts the two day Global Union concerts. Yesterday, in Humboldt Park, under deep blue skies, in bright sunlight, I had tears of joy running down my cheeks and hair standing up on my arms, as I photographed Delhi 2 Dublin. These young Canadian men and woman take possession of the stage and drive their brand of world music into your very soul. Celtic, Reggae, Bhangra, Hip Hop, and more, fused seamlessly together with remarkable lyrics in numerous languages. They even have a Study Guide; bless their young hears. Do not pass up the opportunity to experience Delhi 2 Dublin.

Additional photographs from Global Union 2010 can be viewed here.

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Leica M8, 50 mm Summilux

Fallen bloom

The morning of the anniversary of my birth I walked out onto the porch and noticed this tiny (30 mm) birthday cake.

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Leica R8/DMR, 15 mm Super Elmar

The shamrock dropped a bloom on the rotting cedar. It appeared as both a beautiful object and appropriate seasonal event. Attempting to capture, in a photograph, my thoughts and feelings upon encountering this tiny specimen proved elusive (as it so often does). The light changing by the minute. Which lens? How close? What’s the subject trying to say? Which point of view reveals the poem? Why can’t I find the message? These questions did not come consciously to mind; they rather occur non verbally while looking, focusing, moving, changing cameras and lenses, and points of view.

For me these transitional events, summer to fall, water becoming solid, aging, ice becoming liquid, hyper awareness of life in the process of change, hold magical potential; yet this idea seems difficult to express in a still photograph. 3 lenses, 2 cameras; and I don’t know if I’ve achieved anything near what I saw, thought or felt.

Leica M8, 65 mm Elmar on Visoflex

Leica R8/DMR, 100 mm Apo Macro Elmarit

Real love loves reality

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

now in my dear sister’s Shades

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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.

Lovers at the edge

how differently
we each perceive moments which
modify our lives

9/11

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Leica M8, 65 mm Elmar, Visoflex III with Right Angle Finder

Right angle viewfinders, on both the Visoflex and R8, present me with both a fresh point of view and an unobtrusive, candid approach. And we all need fresh points of view.