Harp Man

Chill

Summer Stroll

Bobbistock Visitor

Early Morning Ellsworth Waterfront

Flashbacks!

Been dabbling back to my roots of film photography, I now remember how much of the thought process goes into shooting film. Sure, you can shoot in "point and shoot" mode with some 35mm's but, these were taken with a old Pentax whose meter doesn't work...gasp...I used my gray matter and I'll be darned, I remembered the relationships between ASA, shutterspeeds and f-stops..ahhhh

Looking Up

As with most days, we tend to shuffle along, mind swirling with whats up next. Far too often we fail to look up and enjoy whats swirling overhead!

Simple As Glass

The Overlooked In Life

We tend to see a lot, but fail to look, big difference.

Old School !!

This is gonna be fun!

Nashville 2012

Went and enjoyed a week down in Nashville again with Dotty. This place never fails me for photo ops! Wandering around town with a small Olympus point and shoot tucked into my pocket gave me a chance to observe without announcing; "Hey I'm a tourist with camera equipment galore dangling here for the taking." Granted I would like to have about 2-3 weeks with top notch gear but Nashville, all though rated one of the friendliest places to visit, has a LARGE number of homeless that can be quite agressive at times. Therefore I don't like to chum the waters! This shot was taken in the world famous Tootsie's Orchid Lounge where many entertainers got their starts.

Room With A View

Zoning Out, Sorry Ansel...wrong Zone...

Its an amazing experience..life that is. Going through the formative years, then you get married, have a child, your child has a child making you a grandparent! EEEK. Where did the time go. Ok the prior was a tad cliché to say the least. What am I getting at is that I think for myself that living the past 57 years, and having been involved actively in photography for 47 of those have made me possibly a tad more observant than someone who has not been blessed by being bitten by the photography bug. I tend to stare a lot, gazing quietly…some may take this as A) He has had a seizure, B) He has dozed off and forgotten to close his eyes…again, or C) He is in the “Photo Zone”. Well folks MOST of the time it is C as the correct answer. (At times I will admit it might be B.) I observe! At times wishing that I had a camera with me. I think of how cool it would be to have a chip implanted and a USB port in my ear to plug the PC into to download the images I see throughout the day and have captured through my eyes (which are actually Schneider lenses!) Wow, would that not be nifty…ahhhh..dreamin again. For those that say; “Hey you’re an old film/analog dinosaur, well you are correct but the door to open and insert film sounds too painful, whereas a USB port in the ear…kinda like brain tickling with a q-tip..just sayin.

Hmmmmm

Not apparent at first, the gaze through the window says a lot..just wondering what…

"TUDE"

Dogs..another word for Attitude! While walking thru Monument Square in Portland it was fun comparing the K-9s with their owners!

Strolling Portland

Dotty and I took a couple of days off and went down to Portland. Saw Glen Campbell, experienced the earthquake of 2012…wowzaa. Went to the Portland Museum of Art and saw the Winslow Homer show along with their incredible standing exhibits. Very inspiring, to say the least. But one of the parts I also

enjoyed about our visit was strolling around Congress Street and taking some grab shots. I love just observing the everyday occurrences in larger cities, such diverse subject matter to choose from.

August Show...EVOLUTION

During the month of August I will be exhibiting some of my photographs and paintings at the Harbor House Community Room on Main Street in Southwest Harbor. Its been awhile since I last had work hanging in public. Even after creating work for over 45 years, I have runs of uncertainty about my creations, but I then step back and ask myself if I am happy with the work. 99% of the time I am, and this includes the work I will be showing. I have come to the conclusion that I shoot and paint for myself first and foremost…if anyone else likes it, even better....this is my "Evolution"! If you get a chance to drop by and see the work, I hope you enjoy it. Oh yeah, necessary “Blatant Sales Pitch”: Like most things in life the works are for sale, if they are not there will be the ever-present NSF posted…see ya!

Union Street

The colors that arise on an overcast wet day are nothing an artist's pallette can recreate.

Love The Critters!

Woodbine, Memorial Day 2012

Went to Woodbine here in Ellsworth on Memorial Day to place flowers on my dad's grave. When Dotty and I left I took a side avenue to look about the cemetery. Decades ago while in High School I worked on the grounds crew at Woodbine during summers and I have always since held these final resting places close to my heart. While slowly driving along Dotty said “stop” real quick. “Look there” she said pointing to the south and there on top a monument sat a male cardinal. Trying out my new camera with its image stabilizing feature I came up with this shot…I like the feature!

12 Easy Steps to Improve Your Photography Without Photographing

FROM THE ADVANCED PHOTOGRAPHY NETWORK: Photography, like every other creative art needs inspiration to improve. Be it a professional or an amateur photographer, human beings are prone to running dry of new ideas. Instead of getting frustrated and trying hard to come up with something innovative, take some time to indulge in activities that will provide inspiration to you for your photography and let you start afresh. Given here are 12 such tips. 1. Observe The Work Of Others What better way to improve your photographic skills than taking inspiration from the creation of others. Visit art galleries, observe the photographs in newspapers and magazines, search Google images, browse photographic sites like Flickr, Fotolia etc. — keep a keen eye for photographs, wherever available. 2. Join Photography Forums Photography forums let you showcase your work to others and view the work of other photographers. They also help you obtain useful feedback and suggestions of how you can improve your work. 3. Read Autobiographies/Biographies Of The Masters Going through the life of the experts will give you an idea of what it takes to be a good photographer. Also, the tips and techniques of these great personalities when combined with yours will give a uniqueness and professionalism to your photography. 4. Visit new places New places refresh you mind and provide an ample supply of new ideas for photography. You can visit an entirely new place and discover new locations and subjects. You can also take a walk down the local flea/farmer’s market. These markets are full of life, objects of strange shapes and vivid colors, providing you a scope for unique compositions. 5. Join A Workshop Joining a workshop will help you interact with different levels of photographers and know their photographic qualities and your drawbacks. 6. Learn To See Sometimes, leaning back and observing your subject is the best way to relax and get new photographic ideas at the same time. For example, watching children or pets at play will help you guess the approximate pattern of their unpredictable movements. Similarly, observing a landscape at different times of the day and in different seasons and climates will help you decide the best atmosphere for your landscape photography. 7. Read Your Camera Manual While it may seem a tedious task, going through the camera manual will let you become acquainted with your camera features and help you in the long run. 8. Experiment With Your Photos On Photoshop Post Processing is an important part of obtaining a professional grade photograph. As such, keep experimenting with the tools and features of Photoshop to become well informed about the steps and techniques involved in photo editing. 9. Be In Touch With Photo Critics Keep your critics close so that you can get a constant feedback about your work. Try to improve your flaws that they point out. However, try to ignore silly criticism instead of getting upset. 10. Read Photographic Blogs Photographic blogs are a rich source of new ideas about photography. Read some good photographic blogs on a regular basis get more knowledge about photography. 11. Take A Look At Your Old Photographs Go through your old photographs and understand what’s missing in them. This is a great way to learn from your previous mistakes. Also, editing old photographs in Photoshop for some additional effect is fun. Taking a look at your own portfolio will help you decide which photographs of yours are most liked and which least. 12. Get A New Equipment Adding a new photographic gadget to your collection will make you happy and eager to try it. If possible, get a new equipment and use it to explore its features.

Splash of Color

Spring Color

FROM: Assignment Chicago

Once upon a time in a faraway land, the lords of photography lived in a castle of many darkrooms. They enjoyed wisdom and knowledge about the craft. Some devoted themselves to their art in monastic fashion. Others enjoyed their power and lorded it over others at a high price. Many of the townspeople were intimidated away from the mysterious castle with its cauldrons of chemicals and rooms of red light. One day, a wizard of technology conjured a powerful spell upon the land. The next morning, digital cameras were magically found on every tree. Now, taking photographs was as easy as picking an apple. The townspeople rejoiced. The castle walls of photo knowledge came crumbling down. Photography was now freely available to all. The photography lords were aghast. They knew cameras did not possess the magic of photography, but their mystique was now gone. "Free! Free! Free! " Ideas and creativity flourished as the digital revolution upended the established order. And there was much rejoicing. But soon, a huge cloud of confusion emerged across the land. There were no rules about who could call themselves a photographer and how much townspeople should charge for their photography. Strong arguments over quality ensued that ended in clashes of ego. Out of this confusion rose a king from a man from a village called Mediocritee. His name was King Goodenuff. King Goodenuff's first declaration: " Excellence is a waste of time and money. Excellence is the same thing as perfection, and since nothing is ever perfect, let us not argue about such things.” Knowing that feelings were the new truth, King Goodenuff often said in magnanimous fashion to the crowds, "We are all Goodenuff now!" And there was much rejoicing. But one thing became clear: it was far easier to take pictures than ever before and even easier to share them freely. The inevitable happened. Many villagers wanted to freely use the photos that were freely being shared. They raised their pitchforks and chanted, "Free! Free! Free!" Soon, the resistance of villagers not to part with money caused them to doubt the value of other created works, such as music, news and information of all kind. Like cameras, some thought everything else might grow on trees too. The technology wizard and his fellow merlins capitalized on this confusion. They started to create billion-dollar digital castles of content in the cloud, all built from the land of free. They stoked the call for everything to be free and enticed the vulnerable with the idea of free exposure. But other townsfolk saw this and said to themselves, "Something is not right." Meanwhile, in the town square sat an elderly lord of photography who had lost stature after the digital revolution. Once ignored and ridiculed by the townsfolk, they were now patient with what the elderly man had to say. "You have been deceived by a grand illusion. Food does not magically appear on your table. News is not created out of nothing. Cameras do not take pictures. You must pay the creator for his creations." The technology wizards were aghast that someone would dare point out the obvious. They had used clouds and mirrors to enrich themselves and to hide a basic fundamental truth from photographers: Technology trades on the value created by others. Panicked, King Goodenuff tried to change laws to take away rights from their creators to help the wizards of technology. But the villagers became wise. More of them began to use words such as copyright, licensing, and value. Some banded together in creative communal sharing of content. The tide had shifted. The cloud of confusion began to lift as the light broke through to the land. And the elderly wise man rejoiced.

Another Rambling Commentary from The Peanut Gallery:

OK, I will admit it, I shoot digital. I shoot lots of it too. I would rather shoot film 100% of the time but come on, lets face it, digital is easier and cheaper. This is where the basis for this diatribe rises from; the word "easier". The aspect I pick on today is what I have heard called by many photogs as “Barbie filters”. You must of seen them advertised in Shutterbug and mostly Rangefinder magazines. Take a shot of an attractive individual and ‘click’…they be all shiny and smooth, like Barbie and Ken. Blech. I know, I know..its what the client wants from those that shoot to get the big bucks and put food on the table. BUT, why not try and show people in their true beauty? I am fortunate, I do not make a living with my photography, (found out the hard way it takes all the fun out of it) so I am not at the mercy of a uber vain society. People are individuals thanks to the powers that be. I love showing people in such a way that little is needed to be asked. Where as when I see a Barbie-shot, I have to ask myself what the hell they really look like! Hope no one took offense...none intended, just my often ignored, over inflated ego type of rambling that most are used to. Peace out

iPod Touch Still Life with Hipstamatic

Late Cosmos

Annie

I recently watched a great show on Ovation TV on Annie Leibovitz , a great documentary photographer that I have admired for years, Starting with Rolling Stone magazine living the rock star life herself to more recent personal work and fashion work for Vanity Fair. Her work stands out and demands attention. So, if you get a chance watch” Life Through a Lense” and enjoy two great hours!

Wet Winter Wonderland

Love Grab Shots

New Beginnings

Time Goes By

I have decided after much thought to remove myself from and position of “power” from the Hancock County Photo Club. This was at first a hard decision because I have been involved in keeping photo clubs afloat for almost 25 years here in Ellsworth. When I first started out with fellow photog Mary Ellen Martell in forming the most recent club, a past member of the Ellsworth Photographic Society which I started back in September of 1987 said to me, “WHY? Heading up a photo club is like herding cats, and you should know that?!” Well, he was right, but don’t get me wrong, they are all well-mannered and likeable cats. You see, keeping any group, especially one involving extremely creative individuals such as photogs are concerned, is a almost full time position.
Being at a stage in my life that is very active in a number of venues, I had to back down and believe that hopefully someone will step up to the plate and take over HCPC. I am looking forward to starting a few personal photography projects that have been put on the back burner for a couple of decades. I look forward to putting my work out in the public view soon with the results of these projects. I just plain look forward to being just a photographer….and meeting with my fellow OFs again on a regular basis!

Stop Taking Pictures and Start Producing Photographs

Interesting meeting last night of the Hancock County Photography Club (HCPC). Small turnout but lots of interesting dialogue on what we wanted to see in the future for topics to be discussed, possible guest speakers and such. Normal club-fare. One area we mentioned was the basics of photography and how they pertain to today’s digital shooters who have little if none background in analog photography. I have stood on many soapboxes here in this blog about my feelings about at least learning what a f-stop is, what a shutter speed is and how they relate to each other in producing a image that is acceptable to you. Remember, first and foremost you are shooting for you…make yourself smile about an image and others will be infected as well. Back to the basics..digital allows someone to start off running the marathon without learning to walk first…great photos..or should I say pictures. There is a difference you know. Get to learn the very basics of this great artform and you will stop taking pictures and then start producing photographs..believe me, it works.

Sculpture and Photography? Just My Opinion.

I attended a meeting of the Hancock County Photo Club last night. It was a unique meeting, a sculptor, John McMurry, spoke to us on the art itself and how to photograph it. Now you might ask, why have a sculptor speak at a photo club meeting? A number of reasons. First, McMurry was not only a ex teacher but a photography teacher who also sculpts from recycled materials. Second, I feel sorry for artists that are so etched in one genre and fail to see the importance of studying art as a whole. This was an great opportunity to evolve as artists. Third, this artist was invited to our club by a young member who has come out of his shell and wanted to share a friend with us whom this fellow member thinks a lot of, and after meeting and speaking with John I know why. I was taken aback by the lack of thought about the feelings of other fellow members especially seeing how this speaker came to be asked to speak. Let’s stay open-minded, we are all artists, whether photographers, painters, sculptors or written word….learn from each other, enjoy the moments that we get to share experiences. Thank you Jared for sharing.

Love This Time Of Year..Good Photography Weather!

Another restart to the Hancock County Photography Club tonight. We will see where this ends up. I love a Photo club such as we have with HCPC…open, friendly learning/sharing experience. This past summer it kinda fell by the wayside. Everyone here in Maine sets their sights on better things to do than sit in a meeting atmosphere on a warm summer night, myself being one of them! But now with Fall quickly approaching and the sun setting waaayy before bedtime, good friends and photography seem not so bad. I have been shooting tons of digital with all good intentions of digging out the TLR and a couple of rolls of Tri-X. Not having a darkroom anymore I have used this as an excuse. But with a little help of the Google-Gods I see that there are alternatives…just got to dig deeper and see what I can do. First of all is tackle that nasty procrastination alligator and put him in a cage for awhile.

Where Does It End?

Max

Union River, Ellsworth, ME

Mall Spirits

He Watches Over Us.

Alternatives

Photography is about the image and what it says, the trip to that final image is the fun stuff. This shot was with an iPod touch with processing done, blog entry done with image uploaded using one item....cool.

Think Film While Shooting Digital

The last time I posted here was in April of this year and made mention that Labor Day was right around the corner. Guess what, today IS Labor day. I have a summers worth of images to process now. I must sit back, take a deep breath and think like I am shooting film and be selective instead of just dumping the whole lot on some site which digital has made it very easy to do. Trust me, it makes you a better photog thinking film while shooting digital!

Blue Hill Fair..Summer Is Over

SHOOT...for God's Sake Shoot..now...!

Life breathes deep energy into a winter worn soul, grass sprouts up against the warm foundation of home, the snow piles die a blessed lingering death, holding on to the last vestiges of it’s miserable exsistance. “Die, you damn white trash” I mumble as I stroll the canine across the reviving lawn to enable him to crop dust the area. What the hell does this have to do with photography…get your ass out there and shoot images..that what it means..we have been hibernating for too long. Look at it this way, Labor Day is just around the corner…he, he..sadistic? I agree but its true!

Dead Economy

Spring Storm

Faux Holga Congo

Cole's "Rule of Thirds"!

COLE THOMPSON:

"A great image is comprised of 1/3 vision, 1/3 the shot and 1/3 processing
A great image begins and ends with your vision. Vision is a tough concept to describe, but I think each of us instinctively know how we want our image to look, and our job as an artist is to bring that image into compliance with our vision.
When we pursue an image with vision, then equipment and process becomes the servant and the creative process the master. It’s only then that great images can occur.
Vision is everything."


When you get a chance, check out Cole's great site!

http://www.colethompsonphotography.com/

Wintertime At The Ellsworth Library

Its cold, windy and white...what better time to take Winter photos!