Turn the Page...

After reviewing my blog posts for 2010, I was almost at the point of thinking I could simply cut and paste my blog entry from the end of 2009. After all, little has changed.

I still don’t make resolutions. As I wrote in my last 2009 entry:

I forge ahead in life, trying to recall lessons learned before making the same mistake again. Or, I apply knowledge gained during the passing year to make things better in the coming year. Harnessing the processes of wanting to do better, be smarter, wiser, and to do one’s best in everything one does is, at least for me, the best way to go. I see it as more natural, more instinctive.

And so it goes for 2011.

I would have to say that I did experience some worthy achievements in 2010, at least where photography is concerned. I began using all natural light and relatively unstructured environments (at least when compared with the often sterile setting of the studio) for my sessions. In the process, I believe I did some of the best work I’ve done in a decade or more. I resolutely ended my relationship with film, insofar as to accept that my days of working with it and in the darkroom were at an end. Some may not understand how or why I would count that as a worthy achievement. Trust me it is.

Thus, I look forward to 2011 and to the new hope for creative inspiration that it brings. I hope you’ll stay with me, and tell your friends. The more, the merrier.

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And so comes the time where I extend a personal “thank-you” to those that follow and read this blog. Your interest and support of my work is appreciated more than you’ll ever know. If you’re a reader, please become a follower so I know you’re here. If you don’t want to be a ‘formal-follower’, please drop me a line to say hi.

For a variety of reasons, I’m looking at moving this blog to WordPress. Chief among them are the fact I’ve always been bothered by the Content Advisory page Blogger/Google require for any blog containing nudity, regardless of intent. So, after talking some with my web persona and reviewing other WordPress blogs, I’ve decided to give it a go. In fact, today’s entry will be published at the WordPress blog in duplicate. The WordPress URL is:

http://www.billballardphotography.wordpress.com

I’m still working through the administrative processes and such with the site. So far though, I like it. Take a look and tell me what you think. If it looks good enough, and the responses are positive enough, then I will begin 2011 entries on the WordPress blog. Regardless, I'm planning to leave this blog here, as it is.

Here’s to a happy and prosperous 2010!

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Here is one from the last West Hall Street session of 2010.

'Tis the Season...

I wanted to write a quick and simple note to say ‘thank you’ for supporting and following my work through the few words and images I’m able to share on this blog. Your interest is appreciated more than you know.

The last entry indicated I would be absent from here until early next year. Once again, as they always seem to do, things have changed. An unexpected opportunity has arisen and I intend to use it to my best advantage. I’ll be back on my photographic feet soon. As always, please stay tuned.

I wanted to include an appropriate image for the season, but I don’t really have any pictures I can associate with Christmas or the holidays in general. Instead, I picked one that stands uniquely apart from the remainder of my work.

For me, it’s a simple and quiet image. And although it’s not very ‘Christmassy’, I hope you enjoy it as well.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone.

I’ll see you all soon.

What? Time For a Break? Again?

I know, I know. I’ve done this before.

But this time is different. This break is not out of frustration (actually it is – sort of) or because I feel blocked or stale in the work. Hardly. I’ve reached the point where there are literally not enough hours in the day. If I don’t make choices now, they will very likely be made and forced upon me. So, I’m choosing to try this again in order to head off the less desirable choices at the pass.

I’m not planning any further updates here until the early portion of 2011. My website rebuild has also been placed on hold as I’ve had no time to do image edits for the galleries.

So what’s happening? If you really want to know, read on; if not, check back in February of 2011. I’ll be somewhat caught up by then.

This decision is not pegged to one single event, but to a tangled web of stuff. Being self-employed is the biggest part of it and basically, this is a decision of economics and balance. Ask any artist and you’ll know the markets ain’t what they used to be. The risk of speculating new work in the present market conditions is too much for me to even consider. In fact, if I treated photography as a pure business enterprise I would’ve shut it down years ago. While the circumstances I now find myself in are not born of frustration, they are certainly a cause of frustration – and stress.

It goes without saying that for me, photography is much, much more than a pure business venture. It also goes without saying the economy can’t be ignored. After years of putting my art ahead of so much else, I can see the rendering is coming due and that’s a problem. To continue to keep photography at the top of my ‘to do’ list simply isn’t viable or realistic.

Today’s image is one from this past summer; two wonderful, beautiful ladies looking out into the world, hopeful. I will be back, with new and good work, but it’s not gonna be for a while. Check in from time to time, but don’t expect new stuff to appear. Above all else, don’t stand waiting around. I’m sure you’ve got plenty to do as well.

In the meantime, please feel free to drop me a line and stay in touch. I wish each and everyone out there a happy and safe holiday season – and let’s all hope for a more prosperous and balanced year in 2011.

Sustainability...

Once again, I’ve not much new to report. Lisa is still quite run-down. She finished her antibiotics this morning but really isn’t feeling any better. As for me, I’m definitely better than she is, but still feeling the effects of this crap. This stuff, whatever it is or was, has been no fun.

For better or worse, the day job has had me on the road much of the past week. Sometimes, it seems as if one must decide to ‘no longer be sick’ and typically, I feel better when I get active and on with things. The side effect of course, is fatigue. Still, I believe this is why I may be doing a little better. Yesterday, still miserable with congestion and cough, Lisa accused me of feeling better on purpose.

My hopes of moving ahead quickly with image edits and post work aren’t being realized, though I am making some progress here and there. I’m meeting with the web designer later today to see what progress she’s made, but it admittedly won’t be much as I’ve not been able to get material to her.

Thanksgiving will not be a big holiday this year for us. I’m hopeful to take advantage of the break it will bring and get some things done with photography. Until then, here are two more from this past summer’s sessions.

To all of my friends and family, Happy Thanksgiving.

Two Flu into the Cukoo's Nest...

If this entry’s title isn’t clear, suffice to say it’s been yet another trying week. Both Lisa and I have been fighting the flu.

Actually, the fight was short-lived. Taking hold over the weekend, the flu had us both beaten down by mid-week. Now, after several doses of antibiotics and various legally prescribed narcotics to block the endless coughing and permit snatches of sleep to occur, we seem to be gaining the upper hand. Or at least I do. Lisa’s still having a rough go of it.

Needless to say, not much has happened since my reappearance here last week. I’m hopeful the coming days will be better, as I’m weary of the sofa and television, paperback novels, and canned soups. The bright spot is I’ve managed to scheme and plan. Time will tell where that may take me.

In the meantime, here’s a smidge more of this past summer’s work.

Seven Weeks…

It’s been that long since I posted anything here…pictures or words.

That’s far too long to be gone. My apologies to all.

While I can’t say I accomplished much during that time, I can say they weren’t seven weeks filled with idle nothingness. I’ve actually been quite busy; however, it’s been ‘day job’ busy and not ‘photographic’ busy. I did manage to get a couple of new sessions shot and on the books, both with new models. And I’ve worked on my website updates too.

I've also begun the restorative dental work to repair the cracked molar I mentioned in the last entry. I won't even go into how much fun that is. I'm grateful to have a dentist that not only has an excellent chair-side manor, but an appreciation for my work. Two of my prints hang in his home.

Mostly, its mountains of post work I need to do, to put the finishing touches on this past summer’s work, and to get images in my gallery and on my website. Rest assured, more new work will be forthcoming. In the meantime, here are three new ones; two from recent October sessions with two new models and one bodyscape from an August session with models Michelle and Sarah.

Enjoy and keep in touch.

All Work....and A Lot of Pain.

Work, work, and more work. For the self-employed artist, it’s the blessed curse.

The safe guess here is that I’m still quite busy. I have managed to begin funneling image edits to my web designer so she can begin the refurbishing of my website. I have managed to get one more session shot; a marathon one with a wonderful and energetic model which yielded some magnificent images.

I’ve also managed to endure some impressive pain when a molar on my lower right side fractured as I ate a piece of peppermint candy. Excruciating pain, then a nearly completely numbed head made for an interesting middle of the week. My crown awaits.

What I’ve not managed to do is keep this blog as current as I would have liked. However, the lack of updates here has meant I’ve been able to get other equally if not more important tasks started, delegated, or completed. But I digress.

Three weeks is too long to go without something, and for that I apologize.

Here’s one from my recent session at West Hall Street, one I’ve decided to leave in color.

The Portrait

In his daybooks, Edward Weston wrote with some degree of fondness of the times when people would come to his studio and browse his collection of ‘heads’. What he was referring to of course, were portraits. It seems remarkable now, but in the early days of photography, photographers often sold their portraits of people as works of art.

While I don’t consider myself to be a portrait photographer, I do enjoy creating them given the opportunity – and figure sessions provide ample opportunities to capture wonderful and intimate portraits. I thought I’d share some of my recent favorites.

More New Work From West Hall...

 Recently, I’ve written about how I felt this blog had become somewhat less about photography and more about writing. I resolved to make the change to shorter, more concise entries, and to include more than one image. After all, this is a blog about photography. I’m happy to see I’m doing just that.

Still, some things should be said; minor details and samplings of life, opinion, and thought. Unfortunately, it’s not much different than it has been: my day job continues to dominate my time; I’m very much behind in my post production work; and I shot another very successful session at the West Hall Street location with models Sarah and Michelle after quite a busy week on the road. It was the first time either had modeled with another model and the results, after a cursory scan, look promising.
 
With this week’s entry, I’m introducing a new series of images. Interestingly enough, these look very much like they were shot in a studio setting. They weren't. This is more of that amazing and versatile West Hall window light. I’ve not thought of a name for these yet; for now they’re simply ‘untitled.’

Enjoy.

The Late Summer Doldrums...

Again, not too much to report. Life moves on, and the day job is keeping me hopping. The editing is lagging and I’m trimming the shoot schedule somewhat. This isn’t as bad as it sounds; working capital and cash flow are powerfully seductive things to the self employed.

Still, I feel a bit stuck; akin to a boat hove to and adrift in the doldrums, heat, humidity, and thunderstorms all around. Summer in Savannah.

More from the West Hall Street location.

In the Summertime...

Once again, I’ve not too much to report photographically. Edits and post work continue on the early summer’s work, and more sessions are in the planning stages for later this month and early September.

I can report that I appear to have developed a successful, workable, and practical image organization system. As with most things, time will tell. So far though, so good.

This past Sunday I did a short session in my home with Michelle R. My approach to the session was one of trial and error, and the results are directly in line with that mindset. We toyed with the idea of some outdoor shots; however, it was burning hot. With the air temperature in the high 90's and humidity in the 60 or 70 percentile, the heat index factor - think of it as sort of a 'reverse wind-chill' - was near 112 degrees. No thanks.

We did create a small number of usable images; unfortunately that was the exception and not the rule. I’ll post one or two with a future entry.

Here are more from that fabulous space on West Hall Street.

More From "The Sessions on West Hall"

Editing and new session planning continues as time and life permits. I’m still very excited about this new work and am very eager to get it out where it can be seen

For some time now, I’ve wanted to get the work onto the walls of art galleries outside of Savannah. I believe one way of doing that is to enter my work into juried competitions. It’s not something I’ve done too often; I think in the past 12 years I’ve entered two. However, after a recent telephone conversation with friend Dave Rudin, it occurred to me it may be the best way to start the process.

Until now, this is not something with which I’ve had much interest. I don’t know exactly what’s out there in the way of juried exhibition opportunities, or how to find them. If anyone can share or recommend resources for calls for entries, it would be much appreciated.

I do maintain portfolios on various photography and art oriented sites, such as Community Zoe, Photo.Net, and the well known Model Mayhem. While these are good places for other artists and photographers to see my work and offer the occasional comment, I don’t think they’re sites gallery directors frequent when looking for new artists to show. Serious market research would seem to be in my future.

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My image organizational system isn’t performing as I’d hoped; time for a bit more investigation into the subject. My image workflow, meaning the steps I take in getting from the RAW digital file or negative scan to the final image isn’t the issue. Organizing my images, and keeping them organized, is. What worked with film isn’t translating so well to digital.

With that in mind, I’m going to slow the editing down a bit and concentrate on getting a very solid file organization system in place.

Stay tuned.

Introducing "The Sessions on West Hall"

Here’s a small sampling of the new work I’ve shot over the past six weeks. As the title suggests, these images will be part of a collection I’m calling “The Sessions on West Hall”.

The collection will show the figure in more of an environmental perspective than my past work has. In truth, I’ve been working in this direction since last year without being fully aware of it. Even more remarkable is the shooting location is so versatile that much of the work shot there will fall under already existing projects and genres I’ve been shooting for years. The only real difference between the new and old work is the light source; nothing but old Sol himself.

Actually, there is another difference: these sessions drug me out of my 2010 winter and spring funk, and into the light again. I’ve approached the work with a renewed sense of direction, vigor, and purpose. I’ve enjoyed shooting this work in ways I haven’t for a long time. Simply put, I’m happy.

As always, I’m curious to hear from you. Speak up and let me know what you think.

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Over the past couple of weeks, I've spent lots of time editing images from the recent sessions. I’ve also been busy planning more sessions at other locations around Savannah, including my own home.

I’ve used my home as a working studio before, but never with window light. The living room of the house is large enough to do portrait and bodyscape work with studio lights, but as is the norm in such a space, the low ceiling is problematic. The saving grace is the large picture window that spans 4/5 of the room. A few weeks back, a friend came over and we tested the window light in various locations throughout the house. The results are promising. Even though the living room window faces west, the two thickly leaved and gigantic magnolia tress in our front yard shade the window nicely. The end result is window light that I think will work very well on the nude form.

Our front door and hallway also provide a softly diffused light that should be excellent for portrait and upper torso work. At a minimum, it’s worth a try.

Check back often and please stay in touch. There are more beautiful and wonderful things to come.

Patience, Patience, Patience

Angulaire

Unfortunately, I don’t have too much to report, photographically speaking. Nor do I have any new images to show. Here’s one with Anna from my 2008 project titled Contre La Lumiere.

I’ve been working on improving my digital workflow. Mostly, I’ve been trying to smooth out some kinks associated with how I store and handle image files which are in process or are finished and ready for output. Lucky for me, something that appears to be workable has emerged.

On paper, it looks quite cumbersome. But when applied, I think it will work; after all, it’s little more than one or two slight modifications to what I was already doing when I shot a mix of film and digital. Considering the thousands of images I’ve shot in my recent sessions, I’ll have ample opportunity to put it to the test.

However, the real post production work will have to wait until early next week. My wife is returning home tomorrow from an extended trip abroad and our goddaughter is arriving for a few days visit. For those reasons, it’s unlikely I’ll have another update here for at least a week.

In the film processing area at the darkroom where I used to do my work, there was a sign over the sink. It read "Patience, Patience, Patience".

That's what I ask of you now. Know that good and beautiful things are on the horizon.

And the Angels Did Sing...

The space I’ve been shooting in the past few weeks is, as I’ve written in recent entries, simply gorgeous. And the beauty is not just about the space itself, but the light within it.

This past weekend, I shot there with three models; two during a marathon Saturday session and one during an intensive Sunday afternoon session, with Sunday marking the fourth time working the space. On Saturday, the models worked jointly and separately and at some point in the day, a miracle occurred. The heavens opened and the angels sang.

Perhaps it’s inaccurate to say this burst of creativity only took hold this weekend. Certainly, it was there when I first saw the space, roughly three or four months ago, and it was there during my work with Michelle and Megan. The level of creative energy has been a constant, but this weekend was the first time I was hotly aware of it.

Sunday evening, as I did an initial edit of the day’s images, I began to understand that I’ve created and shot a new and entirely different body of work without any planning or forethought. That makes me one very overwhelmed but very happy photographer. My cumulative efforts in this space have yielded what I feel is my best work in a decade or more. If you’ve read this blog, you know that’s not something I could say if it wasn’t from the heart.

Today’s images are of me working in that beautiful space with Michelle. Friend and photographer Justin Taylor assisted in all of the sessions at this location and shot these at my request. I should mention that the space is also Justin’s home, and had it not been for his and his roommate Eric’s unyielding generosity, none of this new work would have happened.

Wonderful things will follow.

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Web Site vs. Blog…

With the realizations mentioned above comes the realization I’ve more or less ignored my website.

The site has been static since early 2009. I had almost settled on letting the site go and allowing this blog to be my primary web presence. However, with representation through Horizon Gallery beginning earlier this year, and the newly created work, I’ve decided it’s time to revamp the site and to find a way to integrate it with this blog.

I’m a bit uncertain as to how to approach the blog side of things. Perhaps the easiest thing to do is to add a link button to the blog on the website home page. If anyone can suggest other ways to merge the two, I’m listening.

Timing on these changes is up in the air as well. I have a huge amount of post work to do. I’m not quite certain yet as to how or when all this will all play out.

I’ll keep you posted.

Happy, Followed by Sad...

 Two with Megan.

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Yesterday afternoon, I had quite a pleasant surprise when I received a phone call from New York photographer and blogger Dave Rudin. Dave operates the Figures of Grace blog. He is also one my favorite contemporary photographers working with the nude.

Dave and I have exchanged comments on various topics through our blogs and to connect a voice with the words on the screen was good. We both approach photography from the perspective of the traditionalist, though it must be said Dave is adhering much closer to those roots than my present circumstances allow for me to do. We spent nearly an hour talking everything from galleries to darkrooms. I was reluctant to end the conversation to fulfill a dinner obligation with friends. It was good to hear from him.

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The Door Closes a Bit Further…

…for me on film.

In my backyard is a detached storage shed where my larder of film and printing papers were stored in an old upright refrigerator/freezer. During the prior week, while I was out of town on non-photographic business, severe thunderstorms struck the Savannah area, a common occurrence in summer. I’m told power was out for several hours. When I returned home, I stuck my head in the shed and flipped on the light. It worked. Power was restored and my house was cool. It didn’t seem so bad. What I didn’t see was that the breaker to the outlet into which the refrigerator was plugged had tripped.

Fast forward ahead several days; I’m walking by the shed into the back yard when I notice a bad odor coming from the structure. I went in, opened the refrigerator, and recoiled.

In addition to film and paper, food was in the freezer portion of the now warm and stinking appliance. The photo materials in the freezer were saturated with detritus from thawed and rotting food. The materials in the refrigerator portion faired much better, only experiencing warmness.

There was no saving the freezer; rolls and boxes of film along with enveloped packages of paper were destroyed. The experience of cleaning up the mess and throwing it all away was, to say the least unpleasant. Yet as often happens in times of suffering, knowledge was revealed.

I’ve written often of my struggles moving between the film and digital worlds. As I toiled through the foulness in the Savannah summer heat, I began to understand the final reality that my time with film; a time when complete sessions were recorded on film and worked by hand, was over. The financial reality is I can’t afford to set up, run, and maintain a darkroom. Even if I could, the fact remains that other aspects of life simply won’t permit me the time it takes to do it and do it properly.

A long time has passed since I knew I would have to make the transition to digital imaging. The alternative was to end my photography, and obviously, I chose to transition and continue. Still, I held on to all of this stuff for over six years in the hopes I was wrong.

So here I was, sweating and unpleasantly odorous, two trash bags stuffed with sour smelling film and worse smelling pot roast, chicken, and fish, looking at hundreds of undamaged rolls of film and boxes of paper and wondering what in hell to do.

I decided to pass them along to another Savannah photographer and friend who also works with the figure, and shoots only film and can maintain a working darkroom. At least I know everything will go to good use and not wind up in a landfill. But I’m not giving it all away, at least not the film. I’m keeping a handful of each variety.

You know. Just in case.

Quietly Busy Times, Plus a Change of Heart....

Two more from Michelle’s recent window light session.

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There’s not really much to report.

The delivery deadline for the American Cancer Society’s local chapter annual art auction, to which I’ve agreed to donate a piece, is looming. I’ve not quite decided which image to send; there are a couple I have in mind, but I’m reserving judgment until the upcoming weekend’s three scheduled sessions are in the books.

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Ah, Model Mayhem

I’ve decided to re-do my Model Mayhem profile and portfolio. After my rant here a few months back, I rewrote a good bit of it to reflect my then sullen mood. It was cumbersome, complicated, and quite frankly, off-putting; I suppose something not very different from me at the time. The ‘Profile’ portion revisions are done and the result is a much lighter, friendlier version. Take a read if you like and let me know your thoughts. The actual portfolio updates should happen in a week or two.

Discovering My Independence....

  Here's hoping everyone has a safe and happy July 4th...

 Megan in Studio, 2010

Michelle in Sun, 2010

Creative projects are in full swing, and time for editing and post work suddenly seems in short supply. I’m also reviewing old film prints, particularly the frames and mats they occupy. These newer works will need homes. Evictions may be forthcoming.

I’m continuing to experiment with soft and no focus work and as a part of that, I’m incorporating the infamous LensBaby into the mix; more of those works will follow in forthcoming posts. Until then, here are two from an older session with Megan and a more recent window light session with Michelle.

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Nostalgia can grip me from time to time. For those that know me well, this may not be such a surprise, but an experience early last week was. I’ve written often of my struggle with the transition from film to digital. I’m making progress. Last Tuesday was confirmation of that.

I was in Atlanta and went to visit the old photography school and darkroom where I did the bulk of my work during the early portion of the last decade. Change has swept the place; the darkroom, studio, and upper floor classrooms are gone. All that remains are the lower level classrooms and a small gallery space. This was not new; the darkroom and studio spaces closed over five years ago.

What was new was the emotion I felt as I drove in. I took a route I’d not taken in years, and as I drove down the busy streets I found myself missing the long printing sessions with old friends; the midnight munchies with my lab partners, all of us stuffing our faces with smoked salmon burritos, gyros, cheese steak sandwiches, and of course beer. Well, beer for them. I gave up drink long ago.

What I came to realize is that with the transition to digital photography, photography itself has become a very solitary pursuit. And while I still sometimes think I would kill for a whiff of fixer or to feel my fingers slick with developer, I understood with startling clarity what I really miss is the friendships that were made and nurtured in the darkroom.

So the door closes a bit further for me on film, and opens a bit wider for new methods of achieving the same goal. And yes, I’ve made new friends, very good friends, via digital.

Perhaps it's not as different as I thought.

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Earlier today, I took a stroll through the local Barnes & Noble Booksellers. I hadn’t been in the store for a few weeks and it was clear there had been a significant reorganization of the store floorplan. In fact, much of it was still in progress.

The shock for me was that the photography books – the anthologies, the portfolio collections, the essays, the biographies – were no longer in the “Art” section. They were in the “Digital Photography” section.

Now “Digital Photography” has long been shelved separately from “Photography.” However, I will readily confess it came as something of a surprise to see the portfolio collections of Imogen Cunningham and Henri Cartier-Bresson shelved alongside works such as “The Photoshop Darkroom”, or “No Plastic Sleeves.” Reality was impressed further upon me when I saw Ansel Adam’s immortal work “The Camera” alongside “Adobe Photoshop CS5 for Photographers.”

Make no mistake; this change pushes my experiences last Tuesday while driving in Atlanta a little further home. And, like much of the digitizing of photography, I understand that retail sales ideals and strategies drove the changes. My head isn't buried that deeply in the sand. But was it really necessary to separate photography from art?

Blurring the Lines...

Two more from the recent session with Michelle.

I wanted to experiment with creating mysterious and graphical shapes of the body using very soft or nonexistent focus. I like the results and plan to incorporate more of this technique into upcoming sessions. Stay tuned.

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My follower count continues to hover at thirteen. I’m not by nature a superstitious person, but I readily admit I’ll feel better with an increase of follower roster numbers. Feel free to spread the word about this blog to anyone you think may find my work of interest. For those of you that lurk, and I suspect there are at least a few, please make yourselves known. After all, photography is about communication.

I had said I wasn’t planning to shoot over the summer of 2010 unless I was struck with staggering inspiration. Well struck I was, literally, by some of the most stunning natural light I’ve seen in recent memory.

These are four brand new images from a session with Michelle R, shot in another old Savannah home, with some of that stunning natural light. Enjoy.

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I’ve decided on something of a different approach to this blog.

When I first started the blog in June, 2009, I wrote that this would be a journal to show not only my figure photography but my documentary, travel, and other work genres as well. I also identified it as a place to discuss art and photography and expressed the hope that it would encourage and foster such actual discussions among artists, models, collectors, and so on.

Of course, showing my photography was the easy part. Has it fostered any discussions among artists? I don’t know. Or more accurately; not that I’ve heard.

Having said that, I always wanted the blog to be centered on and about photography; particularly artistic photography of the nude human form. To my own credit, I achieved exactly that; however, during my short lived but rejuvenating break I came to realize that I was writing more and posting fewer and fewer photographs. Certainly I was writing about photographic topics, and rarely strayed from that. But with the numbers of images being posted dwindling to one per post, and on more than a few occasions, none per post, I felt the blog was heading astray.

With this entry, expect the face of the blog to change somewhat. I’m still going to write about things I believe are of interest to the artistic and photographic communities. Treatises on the difficulties of finding models, the travails of my studio sessions, or the state of the art collector markets will only occasionally find their way inside. And when they do, I’ll keep them concise and to the point. I’ll try my best, anyway.

Well that didn't last long...

Yeah, I know. Just call me Brett Farve.

I've no image to put with today's post; sorry for that. However, the real purpose of this little note is to say that the break I mentioned in my prior post is now suspended. indefinitely. Inspiration, I'm pleased to say, has struck!

In short, I am seeing once again.

Stay tuned for details...

Until Further Notice...

Deaf Man

It’s sounding more and more like the refrain of a bad song; nonetheless, my time has not been my own of late.

To say the past few weeks have been stressful would be an understatement. I won’t bore you with the sordid details, but a minor medical scare, the loss of a long lived and much loved pet, and the strains of being a self employed person married to a self employed person are taking their toll, which amounts to much more than their due share.

Couple that with the simple fact I’m not very happy with recent work. I’m making decent images; even a few good ones here and there, but overall it could be better. I had been hopeful a shift in direction, a move out of studio to shoot with natural, available light would bring about a surge of inspiration. It hasn’t. The honest truth is I can sense the tingle fading.

I think any artist, regardless of the medium in which they work, will say art and all it involves is no different than life itself. For the artist, art is cyclical. It’s like riding a roller coaster, or a being a surfer catching a wave. Inspiration rises and falls, projects begin and end, and some things simply get stuck and go nowhere. The ideas and creativity spin in space, and it’s easy to feel as if all is aimless and without direction or purpose. And like the rider on a roller coaster or a surfer looking for a wave, it’s impossible to not question the structure of your support; what’s really holding this speeding car on the rails or waiting to swallow you in one watery, salty gulp. Thought processes like these make one, for lack of a better word, think.

I’ve decided I’m going to stop, at least for a while. I’ll get off the roller coaster and sit on the beach. For a change, I’m going to spend my summer watching others.

Of course, this decision directly affects what I do here, perhaps for the entire summer. Unless I’m struck with staggering inspiration, which is of course one hopeful outcome of this little vacation, there will be no new updates until the fall.

Thank you for your patience and understanding. I’ll see you soon.

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And Since You Asked...

Nude With Flower, Cropped Version

Some of you suggested this crop for the image posted with the previous entry. You can see that entry here. The image is from a studio session with Megan.

I have to say I like it, as it shifts the focal point of the flowers away from center frame. However, I’m fond of the other too. I feel they both work well.

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And Since I Asked...

When I wrote the post prior to this one, I suggested an adjustment to my follower base as I was at 13 followers.

Well, someone responded. They left.

I’m now at 12 followers. Not exactly what I had in mind, but at least I’m off of 13. Of course, there can be a thousand reasons of why one follower dropped away. I'm not taking it personally.

I expect this blog will benefit from something of a rest as well. Still, even though the blog is going to be in hibernation for some time, please feel free to tell others about it.

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Deaf Man pose, from an '08 session with beautiful Anna.

A Continuance...

 Nude With Flower

Not too much has changed since my last post.

The day-job workload is slacking and I’m getting better at managing the hours of my days, or so it would seem. I’m finding stretches of time in which to do some editing on past sessions. I’ve come to realize there are bad habits I could cut out of my day in favor of doing things more productive, which I’ll touch on a bit later; certainly, this has been a big help. Regardless, I’m still far behind from where I’d hoped to be by this time of 2010, particularly where photography is concerned.

There’s a bit more to discuss, but I’ll save that for my next post.

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Events at Horizon

The opening parties at Horizon Gallery went very well, and were wildly successful for a few of the 37 artists represented. No photography sold. Still, the gallery and work was seen by many. Gallery director Luc Ebner holds high-hopes for the gallerie's expansion into other markets. As always, I remain optimistic.

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And On That Note...

Please feel free to spread the word about this blog and my photography. If you’re a reader, but not a formal “follower”, please become one so I know you’re here. I love meeting people at my show openings and it’s always nice to know who the audience is. Having said that, I will confess to ulterior motives here: I’m not superstitious; however, it would be nice to see the follower count rise above 13…

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Another from my session with Megan.

A Coping Mechanism...

Life remains and moves fast.

The day job is keeping me busy, and the need to earn cash and then immediately redistribute it is overwhelming. There has been little time for other pursuits, photography among them. I’m two sessions behind in editing, and I’m shuffling my planned shooting schedule around, pushing dates back on the calendar closer and closer to spring and the start of ‘tan-line’ season. Not that I’m complaining; far from it. I’m grateful to be busy; and as strange as it sounds, grateful to have an income to redistribute.

My primary concern is I’m not devoting the time to my photography work that it both demands and deserves; this is especially true for the figurative work . I’ll get there; I’ll get the edits done and images in gallery inventories for sale, and images on this blog for all to see. Still, it bugs me. I feel almost guilty.

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Come One, Come All....

...and tell a friend or two. Horizon Gallery, my current sole representation, is having an artist’s reception on Friday, April 16th from 5pm-8pm and on Sunday, an open house, from 3pm-7pm. All are invited; feel free to spread the word. The gallery is located at 206 East Bay Street, Savannah, Ga.

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One from Megan’s first studio session.