Pocket Wizard Slayer?

After doing some online research, I found the Phottix Atlas (released in June of 2010, it seems), obviously designed to compete with the Pocket Wizard Plus models but at a much lower cost. I bought one; I’ll let you know. Meantime, here’s one of the videos which convinced me to buy it:

Ho, Ho, Ho!

 

I have been having a blast visiting playgrounds in my neighborhood and shooting kids for the past couple of weeks. These visits began when I realized I might be able to drum-up some work by shooting portraits and lifestyle images for use on holiday cards. Between the new stuff I’ve shot and several older images re-purposed, I’ve got quite a nice little collection of samples, I think, viewable on my Web site.

But it’s now become much more about getting out (with my camera at the ready), just enjoying watching kids and their caretakers, and laughing at all the fun children create for themselves. It’s always wonderful to see love being manifested, and I’ve seen quite a bit of that lately. There is hope for the future!

Hallow Weeny!

The clouds last night were low and picking up lots of light from street lights. I took my tripod and camera out into the driveway and took a few shots. But then I noticed my front windows. The drapes were closed, but the light from my bedroom was shining through them, and there were interesting reflections from my neighbor’s cottage. The above was a 30-second exposure, f/22, ISO 200, manual focus.

I had not planned the color palette, but I think it’s appropriate for today’s holiday.

Stimulation

My photographer friend Michael Puff and I went to a Members’ Preview today at the San Francisco MOMA. Two photography exhibitions are opening there this weekend: “Surveillance” and a big show of work by Henri Cartier-Bresson. While I enjoyed the “Surveillance” show (and snapped the shot above; someone sitting at the end of a bench in a small video room, obviously not watching the screen), it was seeing Cartier-Bresson’s work as beautifully mounted prints that really stimulated my love of photography and my appreciation of his art.

This is an artist with an incredibly “good eye.” I think his early training as a painter may have helped, but even his earliest pieces are stunning in terms of both composition and intention. We all know the shot of the guy jumping over the puddle in Paris (the “decisive moment” image) and the bicyclist racing around a curved staircase (both of which are in this show). But the exhibition also includes work he did in the 60s for corporate annual reports; a businessman in a suit and tie behind his desk, dictating to his tastefully dressed and very well-groomed female secretary. Every image in the show told a story and was completely engaging; I could spend weeks just wandering around the rooms full of his amazing photographs. I will go back, at least one more time, and spend more time just luxuriating in his work.

I bought two postcards, both portraits: Henri Matisse sitting surrounded by birds and their cages (1944), and a very-young Truman Capote surrounded by what appear to be huge philodendron leaves (1947). Exquisite.

‘Cause You Gotta Have Friends!

I got a call last night from a friend who moved to NYC four weeks ago, and it was wonderful to hear from her. Having gone through that transition myself (in the late 70s), I could so relate to her feelings of feeling a bit overwhelmed and lonely and frustrated. It was a tough town when I left it in ’95, and I’m sure it’s only gotten harder. I offered a few of my own observations and suggestions, and I do hope they help her as she struggles to make her move into first-class, real-world, seriously-professional photography.

I also had a chance to unload a ton of shit on her which was extremely cathartic. I had spent the entire weekend in tears and rage (and it was cold and it rained, perfect for my mood). Her timing was impeccable.

Love ya, Ms. Neu! Now, what are you shooting today?

Crossroads

A photographer without a studio?

Helping

Last Spring I volunteered to work with an organization called Reading Partners. It’s a program which helps elementary school students who are reading below their grade average by matching them with tutors or “partners” for one-on-one, 45-minute sessions twice a week. It was challenging for me to work with such young students, coming from a University-level position. But it was extremely rewarding, so I’m volunteering again this Fall semester.

My partners this term are two boys, one a third-grader, the other a fourth. I’m also substituting on Thursday mornings, which means I won’t know with whom I’m working until I meet them. Today I partnered with a wonderfully delightful, inquisitive fourth-grader named Guadalupe, whose regular partner wasn’t able to make it to the Berkley Maynard Academy where the sessions are held. My “regulars,” Ricky and Alan, are just terrific, and it’s a joy to feel like I’m being of some help to them.

If anyone reading this post is looking for a worthwhile volunteer opportunity, please consider checking out Reading Partners, now in its tenth year! You won’t find a better use of your time.

(Pictured above: the Reading Partners classroom door at Berkley Maynard Academy)

“Good People”

It’s been a bitch of a month, September. An assault, a court hearing, a hospital stay, insufficient funds in my checking account, the loss of a studio partner… and to top it all off, the dread “Check Engine” light appeared as my car stuttered and misfired it’s way to Reading Partners on Monday morning. So I had to drop it off at the repair shop yesterday afternoon and take public transportation to a little job interview today in Concord, CA. What an adventure!

But just as I was wondering what else could go sour, a friend surprised me with a gift of money, and the mechanic deeply discounted his bill for repairing my car. When he called to tell me it was repaired and ready to be picked up, I decided to take my camera with me because I wanted to make a portrait of him. As I was walking to his garage, it dawned on me that I might consider putting together a collection of black and white portraits of people who have gone out of their way to be kind to me over the past couple of years.

So, beginning with Mr. Lam, the generous Vietnamese mechanic (pictured above), I am going to start a new project, tentatively called “Good People,” to express my gratitude to each of them.

Sharing

I had a wonderful time this weekend working with a couple of newbie photographers from San Jose. They had put an ad up on the Bay Area’s Craigs List, looking for someone to help them learn how to use their Nikon DSLRs. We spent Saturday in downtown San Francisco, going over the settings and menus and then shooting a bit in Yerba Buena Gardens. Then today, Sunday, we focused on composition and intention, covering some of the basic design principles. In addition to the shot of the kayak above, I also got a shot of a young man fishing from the end of a pier, which has found a home in the Lifestyle section of my Web site.

But what I enjoyed most was the sharing of what I’ve learned, passing it along, hoping it may make a difference. So, Jim and Jorge, if you happen to read this, thank you and keep shooting!

Peace, the Absence of Fear

A movement called Repeace has been started by a former student of mine. I support him and his work and have shot several individuals in Repeace t-shirts. Take a look at this video if you can make the time.