Political Photographs & The "Unsung Heroines" of Massachusetts
Last Thursday I strolled through the halls of the Massachusetts State House with my camera and friend State Rep Aaron Vega. His 6 month old son Odin, wife Debra, and staff member Pat were with us as well. Aaron was there on business and I accompanied on this trip to also make photographs of one of his friends, whom was being recognized for the work that she has done. She was among the many other women being recognized as an "Unsung Heroine for the amount of generosity, hard work, selfless dedication, and the volunteer work that they have done within their communities and throughout the state. Some where there being celebrated for their businesses, volunteer work, or the social practices they have used to bettered their communities. The age range spanned from 12-97 years old. In a touching moment, one of the presenters read the story of a 12 year old girl who recognized that a number of her classmates required the school lunch program. Her volunteer efforts inspired classmates to join her in seeking food donations to ensure that her classmates had meals on the weekends. At 12, most youth are concerned with clothes, iPhones, and other 12 year old things. However, she took an initiative to help others, earning herself an award for doing something ensure others had a dire resource.
I stood watching as each name was called, listening to the stories between photographs, realizing that all of these women took a belief and worked hard for it. As an observer, I also noticed that there was a sincere amount of appreciation and joy being spread around the room as the stories were read. Like a smile or a yawn, honest work is contagious. By this I mean, when people do great things it inspires others to do great things as well. As I scanned the room, making candid images, I pondered, "I wonder if any connections will be made today in which community service will foster a broader and larger development within the state of Massachusetts?" Which as we all know, the more people doing awesome things, the better the chances of all of our lives being enriched.
There is a hero in all of us, but few have the courage to live a life in which it is visible.
Political Portraits
In 2009 when I met Aaron Vega, owner of Vega Yoga and now Holyoke State Representative for Massachusetts, we began working on a photography project about yoga. The following year he ran for his first term as city councilor. A seat he held for a term and a half before he became State Rep. In the years since 2009, I have met some incredible people, photographed some political events, and made head shots for some politicians, including the Mayor of Holyoke. Last week I had the pleasure of welcoming Mark Riffenburg into the studio for the first time. Mark is barely 20, a political star rising, and the Deputy Treasurer for the City of Holyoke. in 2013 at the age of 19 he ran for city council. He did not win the seat, but has since taken that energy and refocused for a stronger platform to run his political campaigns on. Mark was a great candidate for making head shots for (pun intended). His patience afforded me the opportunity to make more than just a "business like" head shot. Below are a few shots.
UPDATE: Professional Photography: Be careful what you read
As I have said in the past, with my former blogs, I used to do various articles related to photography. Over the past two years I have been busy with numerous projects, clients, and new ventures that blogging has fallen behind. Also, as I have stated, I am going back to the practice of blogging on a more frequent basis. From time to time I go to Google and just enter various words and throw photography into the mix. I am kind of like Rob Dyrdek, when he bings his words on Ridiculousness. I will not for the life of me read any articles on Digital Photography School. In fact, if you are planning to google that right after reading this, or copy and pasted that from this piece, your wasting your time. Trust me, NOTHING good is on that site. When I did read it a few times, many many many years ago, 90% of what I read was incorrect and written by people that didnt know what they are talking about. The same can be applied for Ken Rockwell's blog. He likes to "discuss" cameras. Ken Rockwell likes to tell people people what they should buy. I do not think I have ever seen any of his photography. I certainly have not seen him in any publication that I have read. He made this post about Professional Photography, which I think is a mere rant, joke, an intimate look about how he has NO idea where the photography industry is. I will agree with him that photography can be low paying, but that is when you are starting out, have no idea what you are doing, or no idea how to be a professional photographer. Being a professional means that your entire income is derived from the work that is done. What he does not discuss is having your own studio, building a business, or how to run a business. Instead, his article is geared towards, this is how you do it, but there is nothing in it really. As far as I am concerned, he is unaware of what it means to be a professional. I say that because as a camera hobbyist, he knows how to read reviews and then post them on his blog, knowing that he has a following after many years of spouting Nikon this or that.
UPDATE - - -FroKnowsPhoto this guy is funny and hits the nail on the head about Ken Rockwell. Watch his video. Bit long, but insightful.
If you want to be a professional photographer, shoot a lot, find your niche, build your portfolio, solicit your work, build up a client base, generate invoices, shoot, retouch, and repeat. There are fancy things you can do to become a professional. Once you get to the right level, you'll figure it out. The moral of the story is, make photographs. If you love it, live it, breath it, enjoy it.
Tattoos and Photographers
I have tattoos and so do a lot of people. I have met quite a few people that have tattoos. A lot of my friends do. Jason, shown below, he does too. He came into the studio a few months back and I did a few portraits of him then, when his chest piece was "under construction." Since then, it has been completed. Tattoos, like clothing, are worn as an accessory. They, like a scarf, specific style of hat, or type of shoes, become an element of style, which define who we are. On Friday night as the girl who took my order slid my debit card, (has my business name with the word photography in it) asks if I am into photography. Realizing that she was making small talk, borderline flirting, based on how she acted next, I simply lifted my right hand up, exposing my wrist, where I have a small camera tattoo. A very simple vector based outline, enough to show people, "yes, I am into photography, I live it every day of my life." I chose this location, because like some people who wear their heart on their sleeves, I wear my occupation on mine. Ever visible is the lifestyle that I live, the job, the passion, the obsession, that is my life, photography.
Cape Cod: Photography
For the past three years, Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of summer for Sue and I. This past weekend was not the same as the preceding years. The weather as sub-par and made for a mediocre trip. Mediocre isn't the correct word that I would like to use, but it is the only way I can quickly describe our trip. The last two years it has always been 10-20 degrees warmer. Enough that I would trudge my way into the still cold waters of the Atlantic. On the ocean side, the water temp is still relatively cold. It was my own ritual within our growing tradition. This year I did not swim with the sharks, befriend the seals, or test the waters of the Atlantic. Instead, I read. Reading is one my favorite things to do on the Cape, (sounds like a dating profile list of things to pass the time but it is true) aside from make photographs of the landscape, towns, beaches, people. Reading on the beach is one of the only places I can get into a good book un-interrupted. I read a lot for my business, business interests, blogs, etc when I am working, but with all the technological interruptions, emails, texts, phone calls, it gets hard to focus. With the summer heat, the light wind flapping sounds of the umbrella, the sounds of the passing tides, pages turn quickly as the stories come to life.
Even though this weekend went by quickly, I was still able to find peace. My phone stays off. Interruptions come in the form of children running by, breaking for lunch, or taking a stroll a mile out into the bay at the peak of low tide. I took a walk on Saturday when the sun came out. I left my book behind to get a tan while I strolled down the bayside's coast. I had one agenda, make some photographs. I did just that. When the mind is free of burdens, stressors, work, it is free to think freely and explore. As a creative person, this means that my mind goes to ideas with the creative gears turning. I have been working on article for a photography blog/publication that I firmly believe can be an eye opener for some. My walk was a moment of clarity. As I returned to where Sue was sitting a thought came to mind. It was a simple idea that turned into a two paragraph spread for the article.
As the summer progresses by, each month, June, July, August, are all different. The summer heat of July is more intense than June or August. The daylight, evening sunsets of each month bring their own hue and saturation as the temperature influences the colors of the fading days. As a photographer, I am fortunate enough to be able to observe these changes so closely. Memorial Day weekend is the start of these awesome changes. I look forward to each month at the cape, observing and capturing these changes. For me, Cape Cod is in my DNA. As a child, my family vacationed on the outer cape. I know without a down I ingested enough sand to have had a few grains bond to my DNA on a molecular level, making the cape a part of who I am. While I am expanding and adding locations to my passport and travel itinerary, I still feel the cape will always be on of my favorite places to go back to until my life is over. It sounds sad saying it that way, but when a place is a part of who you are, you cant help feeling that it will be with you until you are no more.
Here are a few photos I made this past weekend.
Lifestyle Photography: Boston
I am heading to Cape Cod for the long weekend. Before I do, I want to share a few new photographs I made. Have a great long weekend! Stay safe.
This first photograph was shot for the silhouette, but in post, I played around with some new light leak actions I am working on. Fun stuff.
I love photographing people. Especially doing head shots. I've been playing with light and a specific backdrop I have in studio. #notjustablackbackground
Recently I did head shots for a child actor who needed to update his comp cards.
