Friday flowers with a different sort of twist, tilt and shift

I photographed this flowering shamrock with a Leica R8/DMR attached to the back of a Cambo Ultima view camera chassis and a 90 mm Apo-Rodagon enlarging lens mounted to the front. This photograph made full use of swings, tilts and shifts to achieve the framing and focus we see. The “look” could not have been achieved without the use of those camera movements. The flowers measure approximately 25 mm across. If you look real hard you can “feel” some of that view camera “look” even on this little sensor (or maybe I’m kidding myself).

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Seth presents a studio challenge

A couple weeks ago Seth Tyler completed two chandeliers. In this particular case Seth felt a “neutral” background would be preferable to their installed environment. We met to discuss how best to photograph them in the studio before they were permanently installed in the commissioner’s home.

So the challenge begins with questions like, “Do you want the illusion of a ceiling meeting a wall? Or the look of a ceiling meeting two walls (as in a corner)? Or the feeling of a studio sweep (more of an abstract space)?” Each of these possibilities requires a different approach to set design and construction as well as lighting; and of course budget in terms of time and materials. We must also consider the space limitations of my two relatively small shooting areas. In the end we decided to create an “upside down” sweep using a 4×10 foot sheet of gray Formica which I had in inventory; with the bottom edge held firmly in the channel of my Foba shooting table; we had only to figure out how to suspend the other 10 feet. When creating studio sweeps gravity is normally your friend. Gravity becomes your enemy when turning the sweep upside down. To save “my” time I drew up a suggested frame design that Seth could build and bring on the day of the shoot. But on the day we stood in my studio, discussing that approach, we also started pulling out nearly every light stand, clamp, and horizontal pole support I own. Three hours later we had the sweep inverted and needing only a 2″x4″x8′, properly drilled, to mount the chandeliers to. Lighting through the maze of light stands was, of course, yet another challenge. (additional chandelier details and lighting options can be seen in this slide show).

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Leica R8/DMR, 60mm Macro, (additional image slide show includes 100 mm Apo Macro)

Temkin-Taylor Design web site launches today

Over the last 6 months Kim Temkin-Taylor and I worked diligently to find the correct tone and accuracy in both words and images; to effectively reflect her commitment to detail, quality and customer service. Today we went live at temkin-taylordesign.com.

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Richard Taylor provided photography for Kim’s site (with some interior photo and art direction, and post processing from me to achieve what Kim required). I began working with Richard on his corporate identity and web site in the spring of ’05, as he began his new “Life Journey Photography” business.

“Hwy 51 runs right by

Luckily both Seth and I prefer two lane black top over the Interstate. So we took Hwy 51 to and from the ABANA Conference in Memphis. The photographs seen below were created on the way home “…up Wisconsin way…” in Historic Cairo, IL (which has the highest child poverty in Illinois); at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. And a slide show with more photographs from Hwy 51.

“…my baby’s door
Highway 51 runs right by my baby’s door
If I don’t get the girl I’m loving

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Won’t go down to Highway 51 no more.

Well, I know that highway like I know my hand
Yes, I know that highway like I know the back of my hand
Running from up Wisconsin way down to no man’s land.

Well, if I should die before my time should come
And if I should die before my time should come
Won’t you bury my body out on the Highway 51.

Highway 51 runs right by my baby’s door
I said, Highway 51 runs right by my baby’s door
If I don’t get the girl I’m loving
Won’t go down to Highway 51 no more.”
—lyrics © Bob Dylan

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