The Aussie/Celtic/Rock band Brother performed at River Rhythms Wednesday evening. The band has down sized from when I first got to know them in the mid 90’s. Seem to have lost a bit of energy too. Though still a very lovely way to spend an evening in Pierre Marquette Park. A good time was had by all; from what I could tell. The full set of photographs can be viewed here.
(click photograph for larger view)
Leica M8, 50 mm Summilux Asph or 28 mm Summicron Asph
Almost forgot about this new LUG tradition. Though Wayne Torry reminded me with his wonderful contribution.
I always find it a bit weird when multiple media events vie for my attention.
The more disharmonious — the more weird it seems.
(click image for larger view)
Leica M8, 28 mm Summicron Asph
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])
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.
(click images for larger view)
Leica M8, 50 mm Summilux
Dorothea Lange said, “The camera is an instrument which teaches people how to see without a camera.” Emile Zola offered, “In my view you cannot claim to have seen something until you have photographed it.” I believe that drawing also teaches people how to see [without a camera]. If you truly want to “see deeply” into the wold around you — do both — draw and photograph your life. Each process will provide a completely different “seeing” lesson. And let us not forget writing. “When you are describing, A shape, or sound, or tint; Don’t state the matter plainly, But put it in a hint; And learn to look at all things, With a sort of mental squint.” said Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll). And in her Pilgrim at Tinker Creek Annie Dillard offers, “Seeing is of course very much a matter of verbalization. Unless I call my attention to what passes before my eyes, I simply won’t see it. It is, as Ruskin says, ‘not merely unnoticed, but in the full, clear sense of the word, unseen.'”
(click images for larger view)
Leica M8, 28 mm asph summicron
Yet somethings in life move far too fast to draw or write in the moments of experience. Photography serves our drawing and writing; just as drawing and writing serves our photography. As Henri Cartier-Bresson said, late in life, after putting his camera down, “All I care about these days is painting—photography has never been more than a way into painting, a sort of instant drawing.” Draw, paint, photograph, write, sculpt, make music — in order to draw life more deeply into our consciousness — and dig more deeply into life.
Leica R8/DMR, 100 mm apo macro elmarit
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.
(click image for larger view)
M8, 35mm Summilux Asph
grand pa and grand child
duets with me on guitar
and she on harmonica
(click images for larger view)
hiking to observation towers
developing the habit of sharing a chocolate malt
between pinball and bowling games
or just talking around the kitchen table
always delightful time
well spent
Leica M8, 28 mm Summicron
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)
(click images for larger view)
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)
“At the root of creativity is an impulse to understand, to make sense of random and often unrelated details. For me, photography provides an intersection of time, space, light, and emotional stance. One needs to be still enough, observant enough, and aware enough to recognize the life of the materials, to be able to ‘hear through the eyes.’ “ — Paul Caponigro
Last evening
as Colin Hay
drew music from his guitar strings
formed dramas with his lyrics
the stage lights also
drew beautifully
the form of a fan’s face
(click image for larger view)
(click image for larger view)
My friend, David White, introduced me to twitter. As a web designer and marketing consultant I felt a need to know; to keep up with trends. I began following people that David followed; and posted my first brief message on November 22nd, 2008. It took a lot of time to read what seemed banal and/or narcissistic 140 character messages from people I didn’t really know. Occasionally someone would post a link to a web site or blog which actually had value to me or my business. Mostly I read messages about the value of twittering and social media as marketing and PR tools. It seemed strange; sort of like people calling each other on their phones and constantly talking about how the telephone is a great tool for marketing and PR; or handing out flyers which state over and over again that flyers are great marketing and PR tools. Obviously I wasn’t following the right people. Another crazy thing: we’re only seeing one side of conversations. You have to follow the people that those you follow talk to in order to receive the whole conversation; such as it is. This all feels quite tedious. And for what? An occasional useful link or bit of knowledge.
Then there’s my little messages going out there with links to my work or blog posts. Most times I get no response. I have no idea if anyone found it useful or interesting. Feels quite weird. However, lately I’ve found myself finding and following filmmakers, designers, artists and musicians; as well as buddhists and zen practitioners. And things have become more interesting; at least for my sensibility. All of a sudden I began to receive some positive feedback and participate in conversations which I can actually relate to.
Last week I created a new web page-site poetographs.com to post work which puts words into a graphic context that, hopefully, enhances meaning. I put the link out on twitter and received a number of retweets (RT). Bing Futch, a beautiful and generous musician, responded and RT’d the link. I had some poetographs from back in 2004 which I wanted to resurrect as a series. I put them into a movie form and sent the link to Bing. Within 24 hours Bing returned a link with sound added to the movie. Now that’s gold my friends. Perhaps a small nugget. But solid gold nonetheless. Here’s our collaboration. Thank you Bing. Strange as it seems; thank you twitter; I get it.