A case for lo-tech.

    I was having a conversation this week about film photography versus digital. Actually, in my world, it's an ongoing conversation. The point of this particular "thread" was that, as digital photographers, we've become lazy. At first, I was defensive. I started in film, I understand the basics, digital just enhances the workflow, etc.. Another photographer, a while back, who also started in film, but now shoots all digital, dared us to shoot one session a week with the LCD display covered up on our cameras; the way we used to shoot film. At first, I thought is was a stupid idea, but have come to realize how smart it is. 

    The point is technology does make us lazy. Worse than that, it may actually be causing parts of our brain to de-volve. Nature is very efficient, and if something is not being used, she'll find some other use for it. I'm not going back to film, but I might just shoot some images with the back of my camera covered up, just to keep that part of my brain from withering away. I simply can't afford to lose any more of it.

   So, anyway, the image. One of my grandfathers probably forged this right there on the farm. It served exactly the function for which it was intended, no more, no less. Very efficient. three generations later, it waits, still ready to perform. It never needed any additional energy, it never had a software malfunction, and it didn't even have an owner's manual. Yet, it will outlive it's creator, but not it's purpose.

Three for One

       In an attempt to catch up some on my posting, I'm including four images today. I think that'll still have me a bit behind, but I'll catch up later. I've had two model shoots this week and both produced some good images. One was a fashion shoot, kinda hip and trendy. The other was a fine art shoot, female form, bodyscapes. The bodyscape shoot contains some mild nudity, so those are posted last. That way you can skip them if it's a problem. 

Open Doors

    As long as I've been a photographer, I've wanted to make movies. The creative opportunity that photographs offer is magnified tremendously in motion pictures. When Barbara introduced the idea of working as a background, I really didn't understand the potential doors that might open.

    Being on the set of a major production has opened my eyes to the scale of artistic ideas in the world. It also broke down some of the mystical barriers I had imagined. The realization of a creative vision is the same for each artist. To have an idea in your head, either visually, verbally, musically, or any other, and see that vision brought to life is what art is all about. It's the creative process. While, to me assembling 50 wedding guests, or a family of four for a portrait still seems daunting, these guys create daylight where, before it was night. They change the weather, even the town you're in. To coordinate 300 people on set over the course of a day only to come away with seconds of finished product has really opened my eyes to the bigger world of artistic process.

A Little Behind

    I realize that I missed two days posting, so I promise to catch up over the next couple of days. Not that anyone besides me is keeping score, but it does matter. For today, I'll share this image from the homestead cabins over on Museum Road. 

Model Session

    I shot a model session last night for a young lady in Mooresville. We had a blast and got some pretty cool pictures to boot. This blog has, so far, been artsy pictures. I thought I'd share this portrait to change the mix a little. Tracey has been out of modeling for a couple years and wants to start back up. Hopefully  the images from last night will help her out.

Papaw White's Shed

     At my Aunt's suggestion, we stopped out at my Grandparents' old house to shoot pictures of the old buildings and such. Turns out there was quite a bit of stuff there to look at and as I was under-dressed for the cold, we cut the visit short. I did come away with a few good shots, and an appetite for more. This image is from inside one of the buildings where Papaw White kept his tools. He loved Mules and used them to plow even after he didn't need to anymore. I think after another visit or two, I could come up with a pretty good collection if images from the place. I'll add it to the list of ideas.

 

I'm excited. This week I was asked to install some of my local images in a busy government office downtown. While it's not a paying gig, it is for sure a confidence booster, which I sorely need at this point. I think I'll use this image in a 12"X33" because it will fill a great portion of one of the walls, and you don't see many photos that proportion. Anyway, that's the post for today. Have a great weekend.