I was at my daughters softball game and as always had my camera with me. I enjoy catching photos of her in action. My favorite photos at her games are the everyday moments that happen all around us. This was a nice moment shared by a mother and her daughter right before the start of the game.
Some of my favorite portraits come from driving around and finding cool things, like this old Studebaker, and then seeking out the owner. Meet George Gardner who was nice enough to let me take portraits of him and his family.
Some of my favorite portraits come from driving around and finding cool things, like this old Studebaker, and then seeking out the owner. Meet George Gardner who was nice enough to let me take portraits of him and his family.
I have a pair of Grinch Christmas boxers. There I admit it. I can’t say I have worn them much because my daughter who is now seven grew up with a fear of the Grinch. All kids have their fears and for my daughter it was always the dreaded “G Man”. The other night I was folding laundry (my wife just stood up and cheered somewhere) and there they were. The fearsome G Man underwear with the little G Man heads in Santa hats floating around a sea of green. My daughter was next to me telling me a story from school. As in past encounters with the G Man my heart stopped for a moment and I began to mentally prepare for the panicked run into Mommy’s arms and the hour or so for my daughter to calm down and come off the ledge. Trust me, the G Man was always the “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named” in our house. I was in a moment of shock when Emily gave them a bored look and then continued her story. I guess my eyes said it all because she stopped in mid sentence and said “Yea, I’m not afraid of him anymore.” In my own guilty way I was sad to learn of this new milestone. For some reason I always associated the G Man with my daughter growing up. I always felt once the fear of the G Man went away so would a part of my daughters childhood. Maybe it’s because when I was her age I had a fear of vampires. I look back on my childhood nights watching my window waiting for the scratch at my window with fondness. I learned as we grow up there are much bigger fears than vampires at our window. Besides, I had my own wooden stake made from the woods near my home and my India Jones hat if I needed them. The G Man losing his power reminded me of one of Emily’s first fears. The lion. We found this awesome lion costume for Halloween and got it for Emily before she was two. When we showed it to her there was panic in the house. She was scared to death. The lion was banished to the top of a closet safe where it could do no harm. A year later, we brought the lion costume out and the fear was there but she fought through it. Eventually, she worked up the courage to put it on. It no longer fit well but she was able to squeeze into it. My wonderful, beautiful daughter had become the lion and swallowed her fears. Maybe it’s time I did the same.
Happy holidays.
Johnny Warshuis "The Last Saddle Tramp" is traveling from Redding, CA to Times Square, NYC, on horseback. Warshuis left California with $40 in his pocket on March 28, 2011. He sleeps where he can and he relies on the generosity of others. His goal is to raise awareness for GBS/CIDP a rare disorder of the body's immune system that attacks the peripheral nerves. This disease attacks only one or two in 100,000. His mother is a victim of the disorder. Johnny Warshuis "The Last Saddle Tramp" is traveling from Redding, CA to Times Square, NYC, on horseback. Warshuis left California with $40 in his pocket on March 28, 2011. He sleeps where he can and he relies on the generosity of others. His goal is to raise awareness for GBS/CIDP a rare disorder of the body's immune system that attacks the peripheral nerves. This disease attacks only one or two in 100,000. His mother is a victim of the disorder.
Photography legends Nick Ut and Bill Eppridge share a moment at the 25th Eddie Adams Workshop.
I had the honor of being a student at the Eddie Adams Workshop in 2005. I have been a member of the Black Team for another six years. The workshop, now in it’s 25th year, is a great opportunity to be inspired, tired and feel the joy of being part of a wonderful family. This year was extra special being number 25 and I am glad I had the opportunity to be there. It’s always great meeting old friends and making new ones. Being a member of the Black Team with all it’s leaf raking, barn cleaning, long drives to the airport and everything else that goes with it is a special opportunity. You get to feel the pride of knowing you had a direct impact on the 100 students who experience the whirlwind that is Barnstorm. It’s an opportunity to give back as freely as you got it. I have never met a student who hasn’t let me know that the workshop was a life and career changing experience. I’ll never forget my walk up the driveway to the barn and seeing my friends there to congratulate me on “arriving”. I did a lot of soul searching at this years workshop and had some amazing conversations that have reminded me how much I love being a photographer. I was also reminded how fortunate I am to be part of such a wonderful group of passionate and love filled people. Some of the conversations I had this weekend will be ones I will remember forever. Anytime that happens it’s special. I’m tired as everyone is who experiences Barnstorm. But I am also inspired. I am thankful for the opportunity to have my friends, lessons and memories from the Eddie Adams Workshop. I’m excited to get to work and make some pictures.
The D.C. Shoot Off held every year in Arlington, VA, has quickly become one of my favorite events of the year and this one was no different. I enjoy the opportunity to mentor the photographers who attend it’s an opportunity for me to see old friends I love dearly. For a few months leading up to the Shoot Off I have felt a photographic funk and its been hard to break out of. Sometimes all it takes is a workshop with like minded passionate individuals to get your wheels turning and heart racing once more in the right direction. I had many light bulb moments at the D.C. Shoot Off listening to my fellow speakers present their work. For me, there is usually one lesson that I sink my teeth into and hold on until I own it. This year, it came from Preston Keres and it’s something I’ve heard several times over the years but this time it really hit home. It’s the hierarchy of successful photos. In a nut shell the hierarchy of photos goes like this:
A beginning: Informational
Getting there: Graphically appealing
REALLY getting there: Emotional
You have arrived: Intimate
I realized during Preston’s presentation that it’s the intimacy in photos that drives me and what I love about portraiture. I realized it’s what I am always seeking but often calling it gesture. It’s nice to connect with a word and move forward with it as a photographer beating in your head and in your heart. Below are some of the portraits I shot in my hotel room in between mentoring our Shoot Off students.
Kareem and Mariah.
JD and Sharon
Drew and Mila
Andrew and Annie
The Bivera's.
Flywheel Staff Portrait, Millburn, NJ
Flywheel Staff, Millburn, NJ
Flywheel Staff Portrait, Millburn, NJ
I had the opportunity to photograph Joseph Matey in his home on his 100th birthday. He has been married to his wife Elizabeth, who will turn 97 in March, for 75 years. When asked what advice they would give a newly married couple Elizabeth said, remember the good, forget the bad. Sure, we had our fights but you just remember the good times and forget the rest.”
Sister Mary Beth Lloyd of the Religious Teachers Filippini in Morristown, NJ. Sister Mary Beth is committed to helping Aids Orphans have a future with dignity.
Sister Mary Beth Lloyd of the Religious Teachers Filippini in Morristown, NJ. Sister Mary Beth is committed to helping Aids Orphans have a future with dignity.
