Don’t Wait for the Phone to Ring
February 19th, 2010
Archive
Archive for February, 2010
Steve McCurry in Canton/OH on 2/19/10
February 19th, 2010
One automatically asks oneself who the people behind the amazing photographs in the National Geographic and elsewhere are. We don’t get very many people of this stature here in Ohio, as this place is typically not important enough to attract them. Nevertheless, today we went to a book signing by a man if not larger than life, then pretty close to it.
Steve McCurry turned out to be a regular guy, and a very nice one to boot. Charming and somewhat introverted, somebody I would have liked to just have had time to chat over a beer or a glass of wine with. He’s likely happier in Asia than among all the star-struck people here, but what an inspiration this was.
A snapshot my son took of him signing one of the posters we bought is below.
It was amazing to for once be able to see and, if only briefly, experience a person whose work I have admired for as long as I can think. The Joseph Saxton Gallery didn’t have a lot of his photographs on display, but enough to re-encounter some old friends, like the sheep herder with the henna beard, and of course Sharbat Gula, the photograph he’s most associated with and most famous for. I bought a book, and two posters featuring that portrait for the youngens, the sale of which benefited ImagineAsia.
I couldn’t find any more information, but Steve is at least on their Board and a major contributor, but it almost appeared to me as if he co-founded the organization. Their website is only marginal, with little to no useful information and heinous navigation. A little more can be found on Steve’s own website, a link to which I have posted above.
Unfortunately we had to forgo the talk at Malone University this evening, which I would have liked to have gone to. I’ll just add this to my list of things I would have liked to turn out differently in my life.
When I am reborn, I’ll work for the National Geographic. Or something.
First Pinhole Photography Experiments
February 16th, 2010
First I don’t get to writing in weeks, and then I’m on a roll. But there’s a good excuse. A dear friend (thanks, Rodney!) sent me a pinhole attachment for my Canon today, and I couldn’t help but try it out at once. First experiments are below. I have to admit, they do look a little like “kitsch”, but I was indeed going for the antique postcard look. Obviously, a little post processing in Photoshop etc. did the rest.
Socialize…
February 15th, 2010
Only around here would you encounter such a thing. I’m probably giving this dude WAY too much attention, but I found this SO amusing, I just HAD to write about it. I got a phone call from the one coffee shop in town today where right now three of my photos hang.
They are #1, #7 and #8 of the “Zoe Comes Home” series.
The only problem the model had with them was that I named them the way I did. The problem the dude apparently had, was that I’m supposedly promoting some hidden communist agenda. If you can find it, let me know… 
He was reportedly told they would stay on the wall. (Good for you, guys!)
My personal theory is that whoever it was got “socialize” on the t-shirt confused with “socialist”. Waaahaaaahaaaa……………. Not sure whether the company whose trade show token these were in 2008 knows they are promoting something questionable.
Plant Art or Had Your Veggies Today?
February 11th, 2010
Inspired by some of what I took at Local Roots farms last fall, I set out to experiment a little more with the theme. This is the first of what will likely become a series. (I only wish I had a better macro. Oh, well…) 
