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What I love about photographing kids is that you never know what you are going to get. And, typically, in a short shoot, you will still get a range of emotion far beyond what you might expect. When I know I'm going to photograph this girl I always get a little nervous because she, and her brother, are so much fun, and I don't want to blow it!

We sometimes set our sights too high when we shoot, especially these days when we can create so many images so easily. We sometimes lose track of the fact that images don't usually come in great numbers. Good images anyway.

Just a small sample. Late light, great hair and the language of negotiation!

Luv the Dutch

Okay. Where were we? Is it time to move?
To try a new place? How can there be so many
bikes?

Year Zero

Okay, here are some pages from a recent book, my 53rd with Blurb, about Cambodia, a trip I took back in 1995 when this Southeast Asian country was still wild and somewhat untamed.

I hear rumors today of the party scene in Phnom Penh, of the throngs of teens going for clubs, etc, and I hear of the developments around Angkor and it really turns my stomach.

I hope, hope, hope this is not the case. I really do. The Cambodians have suffered for decades and to emerge into this style of "modern" life is another cruelty they do not deserve.(According to some reports, the highest AIDS rate in all of Asia.)

Of all the places I have been, Cambodia ranks near the top in terms of the overall experience I had, and the Khmer culture is remarkable to say the least.

I can see why so many people fall for this place.

Rojo

Okay, you remember a few short weeks ago when I posted about my tiny plants? Okay, I know we are not talking photography here, but I need a small vacation.

Well, here are the same plants now. Yikes. Anyone need any?

Twins

Okay, these two images, to me, are exactly the same. Is it me?

Not Sure

Just a grab shot. Reflections are easy. They all look good. I think I was angling for that paint work in the middle, behind the person walking. Too small. Oh well. Not sure about this one.

Buy Small, Be Ready, Always take it With You

A lot of people ask me about which camera to buy. I always say the same thing. Buy small, be ready and always take it with you, otherwise, why buy it?

I have a variety of cameras, but in end, I think the most valuable of all of them are the smallest ones.

First, I always have it with me, always. Cameras are great, but when left at home, they are just metal, or plastic boxes. That's it. They just sit, waiting for you to come home and take them out again.

Also, small cameras are more subtle. For some photographers announcing the fact they are a photographer is important, and I'm sure can be strategic at times, but for most people being quiet and low key is the best mode.

When you have a small camera, one you always have with, you can make a variety of snaps you might now otherwise get. They won't all be good, but some will be, and others are just funny.

This dog wanted nothing more than to sink his fangs into my fleshy thigh. Walking down the road, this evil canine let out a vicious snarl, bark, growl just as he passed by. I nearly stroked out, but was able to get one shot off. Why? Because my tiny camera was in my hand.
It was more of a defense mechanism than a photograph, but I got it none the less.

Go bite someone else Cujo.

Color for Color

Just a few pictures. Color for color. Yes, I do shoot color. Am working on two projects right now, both in color. Still prefer black and white, but have to open it up from time to time.

Saw contact sheets yesterday, not mine, but it was exciting all the same. They were 120 squares, printed on 8x10 fiber paper. The black was inky black and the paper had a glimmer when held to the light.

It was the photographers first foray into a new project, and there was a thoughtfulness to the images. A searching. A feeling out. But not crazy, over the top, shooting for the sake of shooting.

There were keepers on each roll, and also many other images within the 12 on each page.

I also saw framed silver prints in someones office. They were a year-long project on a remote monastery. The light was beautiful. A year's worth of it, all refined down to four or five images. Those pictures said everything that needed to be said. They were personal.

All the work I saw had soul. Soul. Something seemingly lost in our modern photo-world. So much of what I see has no soul, nothing that shows the photographer living with the pictures, both inside and outside. Things now are rushed, polished, retouched, perfected, with the idea being that no image is good enough unless it has been "touched."

But I don't agree.

DNC Presentation

Hey Campers,

This presentation was done by a photo-student at George Washington University in DC. It is quite long, but interesting to check out.
Take a peak. I don't have anything from the RNC to compare. Sorry.

http://media.gwhatchet.com/interactive/20080908-dnc/index.html


Sorry, I'm on an OLD computer and it won't allow links!!!! Yes, believe it or not. You will have to cut and paste until I can change this!

For The Birds

I know what you are thinking.

"All these portraits are fine and everything, but what do you have regarding birds in black and white?"

A GREAT question.

So, these were just sitting there. Shot for no particular reason. No reason at all actually. I can't explain it.

New Promo

Hey, for all you Blurb fans, here is a new promo. Learn it, live it, love it.

Sandball Anyone?

You start with a glob of really wet sand. Then run to the dry sand and begin coating the wet sand with a small dusting of the dry stuff, all the while spinning the mass in your hands. When you are done, the infamous sandball. The ball will typically form in the size of whatever hands made the ball. Imagine that.

Then, you toss it to your buddy, take one step back and toss it back. Repeat action until ball explodes, crumbles, implodes or bounces off your melon.

Okay, these are not the greatest pictures. The light is horrible. But, who cares? It's sandball.

The Uncle Filter Now Available!!!!

Okay, I know I have been somewhat down on the entire digital revolution, but I wanted to write and say that I have finally decided to play along. Yes, that's right. I'm done with any and all analog and am going to run head first, again, into the digital void. I've seen the writing on the wall, and have been chanting to myself each night, "It's better, it's better," in an attempt to rid myself of any "unclean" thoughts of that dirty analog world.

Now you might be wondering what it was that changed my mind after all these years. I can't say it was any one thing, but there were several "events" that probably planted the seed, got the ball rolling or broke the camel's back so to speak.

First, it was hearing a story about a digital "young gun" actually telling a crowd of people that there was "no longer any reason to watch a sunrise," meaning that his computer skills were so good that he could digitally create something even better than what nature could provide. Whew, what a relief. I don't know about you but sunrise and sunset are my two least favorite times of day. I would much rather be inside, in a room full of electronics.

Second, in the words of Homer Simpson upon buying his first microwave, "What do you mean I have to wait thirty seconds, I want it NOW." In short, I realized the "instant gratification" of digital was most important. Look, at this point, my attention span is so short it has taken me three weeks to write this post. I'm gone. Done. I'm trying to get the camera makers to put a live review INSIDE the viewfinder. I want to see, feel, smell, post, archive and sell the image the moment I even THINK there is a photo to be had.(If I could only get a peak action indicator that would sound a warning horn moments before something happened.)

Third, video. I see the new generation of cameras have HD video capability. Now I know that some folks out there see this as the beginning of the end for a lot of photographers because the idea is that now ANYONE can use these babies. Stills took some knowledge of light, timing and composition, but with video you can just turn it on and hose down the entire scene. But for me, I see this as a good thing. You see, if you could couple this with the idea you can recreate the sunrise, then I actually won't ever have to leave my house. I will just make the world up as I go along. Bangkok riots, no problem. I can whip those up in a few minutes in Photoshop, then film the fake riots in real time and sell them to CNN. This is awesome.

And last but not least, filters. Yes, filters. The same filters I have avoided using all these years, are the same filters I'm going to buy into as fast as possible. Some call these things "action sets" and perhaps that is a better title because I am, after all, a new man of action. Currently we have filters that make things glow, pop, boil, ferment, steam, shake, freeze and drizzle, but I'm going a lot further. I have create the first of many actions, and believe you me, you are going to want it.

My first contribution to the digital world is the "Uncle Filter."

I know, I know, why didn't you think of that? And yes, I already copyrighted this baby, and every other potential family action figure as well.
Okay, say you have a family shot and it's okay. What could make it better? "Gee, I wish uncle Billy Bob was here." Well, bingo. You hit my "uncle filter" and presto, you have Uncle Billy Bob right there in the background. Just like on TV!

I have included a rough, demo version, just so everyone can get a taste.

I'm lucky, my uncles are really cool, but that's not to say I actually want to see them again. So now I have the perfect solution. One button and it's like uncle is right there with me. Surfing, hiking, eating, sleeping, doesn't matter, he is just ONE button away.

Okay, I've taken up enough of your time, and you are probably scrambling for your credit card. Wait, I only take cash! Please send as much cash as you have, to me, and I'll send the action out just as soon as I possible can.

Good luck, and here's to riding the digital wave!

PS: And just to drop a hint so that you can save up your cash. My next filters are "Unicorn AstroBurst" and "Mt. Kilimanjaro," which will place an exact replica of this peak in the background of ANY image.