Been Out Of Town -- Could Not Blog From Afar

Back to work...work...work.

Taking The Time To See

I light low light digital photography, because when I push it...there is an amazing amount to see.

Last Few Low Light Images

 

More Low Light Compositions

Low Light compositions

Interesting to see what there is there in low light. 

Folks Who I Would Love to Have Dinner With...

Helmut Newton, Annie Leibowitz, Giles Bensimon (Photographers) Frida Kahlo Toshiro Mifune...the Japanese actor

Thomas Jefferson and Abe Lincoln...Bill Clinton (if he does not bring Hilliary).

Paul Newman, Keanu Reeves, Marlon Brando, Clint Eastwood, Richard Gere, and Gene Hackman...and Ian McShane from Deadwood

Melanie Griffith, Susan Sarandon, Ellen Barkin, Marilyn Monroe, Salma Hayek, Cynthia Nixon (sex in the city), and Sandra Bullock

John Irving, the "best" writer

Scott Hsu owner of Pacific Grill and Chef

More to come...

Just Watched the Tao of Steve Again

One of my favorite small bad movies that I like to watch periodically...great visuals, and phoney philosophy. I like his frisbee golf course. TIVO is wonderful.

The BUT and HOWEVER is: In my opinion most busy people are accomplishing very little of importance. For many of us, busy is just an excuse for marking time until we figure out what we really want to do. If that never happens, at least we were busy.

So, I am going to work at not being so busy...and maybe accomplishing more of the important things...but it is so damn tempting to be busy...I made a whole career out of busy.


I think drinking a cup of coffee by the fire and playing "Chuckit" with Maggie may be important...it is to her anyway.

The Cold May Have Finally Gotten the Hibiscus

We shall see... 

Moon Shadow - Center of the Garden

This is a stacked rock bench which has been there rock solid for years. 

And This is What Dogs Do

 

The Nature of Cats -- Freda "Little Bit"

 

Love the Details - Form and Function

 

Best Meal of Its Type Ever!!

I just ate at the Pacific Grill restaurant...Chef and owner Scott Hsu made (per my request) his take on Chicken Fried Steak, and the meal was elegant, wonderful, beautiful, and the best I have ever had. A three star WOW!

Fresh ingredients, and know how make a big difference...the gravy was a slight twist, because Scott used a Mexican mildly hot sausage...oh, my goodnes it was just right.

And it was the perfect amount...with one glass of good white wine.

Uncle Bob---the only points the restaurant lost was because the waitress did not dance on the bar...two reasons, a waiter and the bar is upstairs.

I Voted Early Today

The best thing about it was there was no crowd of "knotheads" handing out last minute candidate support cards (which is a really dumb idea to begin with...). But there were lots of people voting...a pleasant experience start to finish.

The Girls

Freda Derby Roadie 

Only Roadie likes to have her picture made.

NYC September 2006 - Study in BW

These are a few of the 1200 images I made in NYC last month...on display at Nelson Fine Art in Johnson City through November 2006.

CLICK ON THE SMALL IMAGE TO GO TO MY WEB PAGE FEATURING THESE IMAGES.

New York City BW Images

Nelson Fine Art in Johnson City

I have a permanent gallery space for my fine art work at Nelson's...this is an "all men" exhibit that I had up several months ago.

 

Right now I have a exhibit of BW images of New York City taken in Sep 2006...which I have posted to the article above these images. Come to First Friday at Nelson's...every month there is a new exhibit of art up front, and as always the permanent artists (me included) have some new stuff to show you.

More Stuff In the NY Times

Sudan is actually a very rapidly developing country with oil driving a significant economy...parts of the country are very well off...so this explains the Sudanese governments reluctance to have outside forces interfer in the Darfur region of Sudan, some 600 miles away from Khartoum. The Sudanese sell their oil to the East...not the West...and the West has little influence there. It is a changing world.

Lots of information at: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/24/world/africa/24sudan.html?n=Top%2fNews%2fWorld%2fCountries%20and%20Territories%2fSudan

Will We EVER Learn...?

In reading the John Irving book, A Prayer for Owen Meany, (The Armadillo section) I am again struck but the stubbornness of our American leaders and their unwillingness to learn the lessons of history. Irving has his narrator Johnny Wheelwright talking with his best friend Owen Meany about the war in Viet Nam. Owen says about the war of attrition (code word)..."THAT'S NOT THE KIND OF WAR WE WIN."

I served a year in Viet Nam as an advisor to the South Vietnamese army...it was painfully obvious from the first day I was there...that it was not the kind of war we could win...the South Vietnamese just did not have the will to win. My family fights America's wars...I earned a Bronze Star in Viet Nam...my father did in WWII, and my son did in Iraq...maybe I have the right to say BS when I hear and see it.

Mr. Bush should put this book on his reading list...now that he has taken up "reading."

I remember Pete...my brother.

Patrick Cronin's New Play -- Three The Hard Way

...is wonderful. It is playing at ETSU...We went last Friday, and the four person cast did a magnificent job...a definate must see.

Pat is a remarkable asset for the region:

Patrick Cronin is former holder of The Basler Chair and the first holder of the Permanent Artist in Residence position at East Tennessee State University. As a professional actor, member of Screen Actors Guild, Actors Equity Association, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Mr. Cronin has appeared in over 150 professional plays and 200 film and TV shows.

He appeared as a regular cast member in 11 series, including Seinfeld, Home Improvement, Hill Street Blues, Alice, Knot's Landing, Family Matters and in the films, Splash, Rampage and Rocky V.

Mr. Cronin received his bachelor of arts degree from La Salle University and his master's in directing from Temple University, where he taught for five years.

There is a nice article / interview about Pat at this website: http://www.actorslife.com/PatCronin.html

Reagan Boggs Was Featured on WETS...As You Would Well Expect

Go to Reagan's Website: http://www.reaganboggs.com/

Life's Little Joys...

One of the little joys of my life is getting up every morning and going out to get the NY Times...which is delivered to my side walk (most often yard beside my sidewalk). A national newspaper (you can get the Wall Street Journal if you want...I used to) is the best way to keep up with real news. But like many people, one of my favorite sections is the "important people" obituaries...this morning there is a beautiful piece about Jane Wyatt (mother on "Father Knows Best") who died yesterday at age 95...she was married to the same man from 1935 until he pasted in 2000. She is survived by children, grandchildren, great grandchildren...a life well led.

But there also wonderful obits about lesser know people who made wonderful contributions in their fields...

Who Says I Can Not Be A Sixty Year Old Second Grader

This sweet potato started sprouting in the pantry, so Wilsie and I decided to see what would happen if we gave it little water and sun light...It is growing!! I will keep you posted on our science fair project.

FOUR STUDIES OF FOUR IMAGES in my Garden on a Early Sunday Morning

 

 

 

 

Roses Are From China

China's two-pronged rose strategy
By Keith Bradsher The New York Times

Published: September 25, 2006


KUNMING, China Americans are used to buying mass-produced shoes, toys and microwave ovens from China. So why not roses?

That is the thinking behind an elaborate Chinese government effort to export cut flowers, aimed not just at developing a new business to take on the world but also at redeveloping the social and economic landscape here in southwestern China.

By placing the flower industry, along with several others, far from the coastal provinces that have enjoyed most of the nation's prosperity, Beijing officials hope to take advantage of millions of inexpensive, isolated workers to narrow the income gap between rich city dwellers and unemployed farmers.

Go here to see the rest of the story: http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/25/business/flower.php

My Fortune Today Is: It's right in front of your nose.

Maybe it is this Water Lily on my pond...remember this is Oct 21st.

Just Had A Bath

Maggie and Sandy are not sure it was necessary, but they are clean and shiny
and smell halfway good...they are dogs after all. 

My Coffee Cup - Serves the Needs of a Professional Coffee Drinker

The best coffee cup is one that just fits...not too heavy and not too light...when I pick a cup, I find something on the smallish side...also fits nicely in the cup holder in my truck.

Couple More Good Images

 

Roses and Weeds

Why do weeds grow so well in a garden? Why don't roses spring up in a neglected garden?

Maybe we should learn to like weeds...? I got tired of roses...they are alot of trouble...black spot, aphids, Japanese beetles, thorns. Maybe a pokeweed is just as beautfiful and not nearly so much trouble...it can grow just about anywhere...and it is All American!

Main Entry: poke·weed
Pronunciation: 'pOk-"wEd
Function: noun
: a coarse American perennial herb (Phytolacca americana of the family Phytolaccaceae, the pokeweed family) with racemose white flowers, dark purple juicy berries, a poisonous root, and young shoots sometimes used as potherbs

Our Dogs

Maggie AND Sandy

Gotta Love them. 

FALL is Here

Fall is in the Air...even as warm as it is...

Next Door At Pacific Grill - Best Salad Bar In Town

 

I get to eat next door alot...great food...reasonable prices...friendly people. 

Our Dodge Ram Truck

 
  

DODGE RAM - 1997 - A great truck. What do you think, Joe?

Hard to Believe That It Is Oct 19th

We have a potted hibiscus blooming on our back patio. I can not remember this happening in the years we have been in Kingsport...probably has...just don't remember. It is a bitch when I can not tell if it is "global warming" or my failing memory.

I Should Try to LOVE Walking As Much As Eating

When I look at my "I love" list...it really should say things like walking, tennis, exercise...I need to work on that. Really no excuse for not.

Got It!

The new Annie Leibovitz's book "1990 - 2005 A Photographers Life" is magnificent. I have seen many of the images...the familiar...and there are alot of previously unpublished images...the new.

We Gotta Plan...We Need a Plan and We Got One

Planning is on going...change according to need...meeting the changing environment.

We like doing weddings...we are good at wedding photography...how do we let people know that and how do we let them have information prior to meeting with us?

Web site development...

My Wife Needs To Read This Blog

...so she knows what I am thinking.

Maybe the world would be a better place if men were required to blog everyday? Maybe not...

It is raining and 57.6F on our porch...but I guess if she can go to work so can I...

Ode to a good bolonga sandwich...

Nothing better than a thick cut bolonga sandwich with mayo...I prefer white bread with my bolonga, but rarely have it...and I have learned that dill pickle on a bolonga sandwich is just right!! Who says that I don't have a sense of adventure and fun.

Everyone (even our President) needs a bolonga sandwich once in awhile...he actually does...check it out...one of his few saving graces.

Hotel New Hampshire

Just finished reading John Irving's Hotel New Hampshire...and all I can say is "EARL!!!"
All we can do is the best we can...remembering that Sorrow and Hope Float.

I Really Must Think In Images

I often can not remember the names of common things...or people I know well...but I can describe them in glorious detail...stuff I remember for years. Works great for me as a photographer, but not SO good at a party with people I know perfectly well. I am not alone...there are many of us. And I have given up trying to fix my problem...just using the visual as best I can. Talking on the phone is painful for me because I "...cannot SEE what you are saying." I like e-mail because I can see the words you are saying...but still not as good as face to face conversation...always the best.

Photographers I Admire

Gilles Bensimon - his monthly photography in ELLE. The BEST.

Annie Leibovitz -- latest image is by Susan Sontag - Annie pregnant at 51 -- nude (ala her Demi Moore) in Vanity Fair -- November 2006 issue. I just ordered Annie's new book -- A Photographer's Life, 1990 - 2005.

Woman...an informal study

CLICK ON THE SMALL IMAGE TO GO TO MY WEB PAGE FEATURING THESE IMAGES.

I am working on converting color images to BW...there are a number of steps and best ways...this is a place I am experimenting and seeing what I like.

Bethany

CLICK ON WOMAN

Thoughts about what is unique about my photograpy

THIS IS MY CURRENT LOGO



THIS IS A POTENTIAL LOGO IDEA



I am working with a graphic artist who is designing an updated logo for my photography business, and she has asked me to send her a list of words that describe my photography...my style, my interests, so this will wonder around a bit, but here goes.

I am:

• kind


• concerned


• quiet


• careful (to the point of being fussy)


• real


• dedicated


• technical


• interested


• listening


• seeing


• opinionated


• well informed


• happy


• energetic


• committed


• learning


• growing


• well equipped


• willing to try and fail, but learn


• patient


• talkative


• outgoing

It may also help to describe what I am not...for good, bad, or indifferent

• dark


• stressed


• political


• harsh


• directive


• completely knowledgable about techniques and equipment...there is alot to learn


• able to suffer fools gladly

Just by the nature of our society, most photographic decisions are made by women...they are my primary customers...many woman want to be photographed, and few men do. Women decide to have photographs made of the children, the family, the weddings, etc. It is natural that I consider my self a photographer of and for women. I like women and can generally reach a good understanding with them. This is one of the major foundations of my photography business and interests.

I am not happy photographing just buildings or "nature." I need to have people as part of what I am seeing and making images of...so when I photograph a buiding I want to show the people interacting with it...coming and going...working there, and so forth. There are many better nature photographers, so I like to put birds and animals in my images, or show the path through the woods...places that are used by creatures and people.

In sum, I photograph life, and I have a strong need to be "right in the middle of it."

This way I can have a running commentary with interested people.

A Series of Images of a Wonderful Family

http://picasaweb.google.com/Studio5zero1/DeVaultFamilyAug32006

I am getting this blog going so I can post it to my website.

Getting the blog up....

This is a first entry in my new blog