From My Windows I Sometimes See - 12.01.02

Living in a window-less loft style space as I did for two decades, waking up and being able to peek out a window is a real treat. Now that I've moved into a real grown-up, honest to goodness house in the suburbs I have a whole new way of seeing the world. So, beginning today, I embark on a new series I'm calling "From My Windows I Sometimes See." This is an homage to one of the greatest influences on my photography, W. Eugene Smith.

The Nikon F Story

I know I'm coming to this party late, but hopefully some will find it as interesting as I did. The Nikon F was the camera that changed the entire photo industry. It was my first professional tool, and to this day still my favorite camera of all time (sorry Leica).

I've always believed the feel of the camera body could best be described as Zen like because it fits perfectly in ones hand like an extension of your body rather than a foreign object. After watching the video my belief was proven. It was indeed designed with Zen in mind.

In these lazy days of year end wrap up kick back and enjoy the video. It's worth the time spent.

And may everyone have a wonderful and prosperous New Year. See you all on the other side!

The Nikon F Story, part 1

The Nikon F Story, part 2

Freedom to See

Photography is about seeing, not what tool you use. I enjoy going on photo trips -- excursions for the sole intent of making images. These trips are planned out, researched and treated like a major assignment. Sometimes the gear list will rival any commercial photo shoot, sometimes it could be simply a few Diana cameras and a brick of film. It depends on the trip and what, and how, I want to explore.

Lately my camera of choice is the iPhone 4s and my processing lab is Snapseed. The results are amazing and inspiring. No longer do I have to remember a camera when I walk out the door because my camera is always in my pocket. Sometimes I use it as a sketch pad, but more and more I'm using it just to see, to keep my eye in shape, to do that visual shadow boxing a visual artist needs to keep at the top of their game.

It's exciting because I no longer think or plan to see photographs, I just do. Every minute of every day I just see. No matter where I'm at, I'm seeing. And now I capture and process all in the palm of my hand.

Later,

Off the back stoop I

Off the back stoop II

Reflection of Justice

Cigar man

Hertz me

Waiting at the airport

19th Floor, service elevator

Packing and moving

This morning I wrote an email to a buddy, Skip Cohen, who is in the process of moving from Ohio to Florida. Big move. But I started to wonder, is there any small move (other than across the hall)? The reason I wonder is that I'm in the same situation. I'm moving, too. Not hundreds of miles, just a few miles closer to downtown, but for all intent and purpose it feels like a big move, stress and all.

Moving is a job. I haven't done it in 20 years. It shows. I've got SO much stuff because I had the room. Now I don't so I'm severely downsizing. But that's OK. I believe you need to do that every now and then. Always have, even though I haven't taken that advice in many years.

I'm not a stranger to moving. In my adult life I've moved 20 times. Like everyone, my first few moves were easy. I could pack everything I owned in a few boxes and duffle bags. As I grew older my boxes began to grow in number. Even then I tried to keep things in check. My biggest move involved one U-Haul truck and an SUV packed to the gills. Certainly not the 18-wheeler move some folks make, but more than I ever had before. Not sure exactly how this one will pan out just yet.

Once moved the fun will really begin! I have forgotten how enjoyable it is to sit and wait all day for someone to come by to turn on gas, or electric or water. Then there's the cable people, the phone people and... what am I missing? I'm sure I'm missing something.

And so, another chapter begins. Wish me luck!

Later, thanks.

The importance of your archive

This weekend was a trip down memory lane for me as one of my old college photographs resurfaced. John Huffer, a classmate and now head of the photographic services department at Ball State University, was scanning some old photos from their files for use as stadium graphics when he came across a picture I made in 1979 of a BSU football player. Well, that football player (on the right) from the 70's is Brady Hoke, the new head football coach of the University of Michigan!

You just never know where people will go in the years ahead which is just one more reason why it is so important to protect and hold onto your copyright as well as obtain (and file) model releases. Now, for full disclosure, this is 'do as I say, not as I've done' advice for I have made images on a work for hire basis. But in those cases where I've sold my copyright I've been compensated accordingly or worked out a deal that is satisfactory for all parties involved. The bottom line -- pay attention to the work you create today, for tomorrow that will be your archive, your history, your legacy.

On the technical side. This image was created with a Nikon F and motor drive using a 500 mm f/8 mirror lens. Tri-X film. Exposure was 1/1000 @ f/8.

How do I remember those details 30 + years later?

Easy, Tri-X was all we used back then and the lens has a fixed aperture of f/8 so the exposure must be 1/1000 second because that is the proper exposure for daylight.

How do I remember the exact lens used? The donuts. If you look in the background you see circles of confusion that appear to be donut shaped. Those little donut shapes are the tell tale signs of a mirror lens. A harder than hell to focus mirror lens. The depth of field on a 500 mirror is about six inches. At infinity. Insane, especially when you consider I'm shooting big guys running on a football field.

The Nikon F and motor was my camera of choice back then for anything sports related. I had five of them. They were heavy. They were slow. Luckily back then I was neither so it all worked out. Besides, I was young. It's amazing how much you can endure when youth is on your side!

Later, thanks.

Everything is all right, everything is fine

What a month it's been so far. Busy. Crazy, crazy busy. So far since sometime in early July I've had just two days where I've not been shooting assignments here, Pittsburgh, and in other places across the country. Today is one of those days, hence this blog post.

Tomorrow I fly off to Chicago for another shoot. Not a long shoot, just a day job. In and out same day. On a Sunday. Yeah, a Sunday. Only time the subject had. Only time I had. It worked out perfectly for all concerned. Sometimes good things just happen that way.

Wish I could linger in Chicago, but I can't because I have another job starting early Monday morning back here in Pittsburgh. Too bad. I love Chicago. Great sites to see. Great shopping (my all time favorite haberdashery is on Michigan Avenue). And of course, great places to eat. But not this time.

Can't wait to share some of the images I've been making. Some pretty cool stuff of a lot of great people. But that must wait until the clients publish the work. Not good to trump the client on publication. Even on my blog. Especially on my blog.

I can answer a couple of questions I've been asked lately, specifically about what I take on these assignments.

There was a time when my "kit" was a couple of camera bodies (Leica), a handful of lenses and a pouch of film. Those were the days. Long ago days. More than a decade ago actually.

Then, as digital changed my working life I evolved into the "kitchen sink" mentality. -- if I bring everything I have then I'll have everything I need. It was cases and cases of gear. Thousands of watt seconds of power across multiple packs, heads, modifiers, stands, booms and cameras with up to 20+ lenses. I traveled with an assistant (or two) to help and life was good. Life was good, but my back was a wreck.

Today I work smarter, not harder. I'm back to using available light, or minimal supplemental lighting, to achieve a more believable result. It's back to my roots as a photojournalist. And it's much easier on my aging body. And, thanks to advances in technology, I am now using my beloved Leica system again, only this time it's the full frame digital Leica M9.

So, tomorrow, when I jet away for the quick job I'll be packing the following gear:

• Leica M9 body

• Lenses: 21, 24, 35, 50, 90

• Nikon D700

• 24-70 zoom

• SB-900 w/TTL remote cord and shoot thru umbrella

• monopod to act as portable light stand (held by my willing client)

I could do the job with either Leica or Nikon set up. But having two kits provides me with a back up in case of emergency. Yes, I could pack a second Nikon and call it a day, or a second M9 and do the same, but there a reason I don't do it that way. The reason is choice. My choice. And sometimes that's enough of a reason.

See you soon.

Thanks

Portrait of a physician

Making a meaningful portrait of someone while they're being interviewed is a challenge. All you usually end up with is a series of images of them with their mouth open and maybe, gesturing. Not quite what I want to create. So when the interviewer was finished I began talking with this gentleman about things not related to his work.

Sometimes it just happens, you're given a gift, and when it does you have to be ready for it. In this case he paused, just for a brief moment, while talking about his grandchildren. Compassion, love, humanity, what ever you want to read into his expression is there in its purest form. No open mouth, no waving hands, just a look. The look.

For the techie mind this was captured with a Leica M9 and a 90mm f/2 Summicron using just the available light streaming thru the windows. The image was converted to black and white in Photoshop.