Rock and Roll Photographer

I’ve been getting more serious about my photography hobby. I’m going to my last session of the workshop I am in with artist Wing Young Huie in the morning. I’m reflecting a bit on what this workshop has done for me in terms of advancing my skills, abilities and interests as a photographer.

Tonight I went to see my friend Leslie Rich play his guitar at the Acadia Cafe in Minneapolis, MN. I decided to take my camera along as it seemed a very good opportunity to find some fantastic photos. I’ve been working on conquering a fear of asking people to take their picture. Strangers always present fascinating photographic possibilities. Sometimes you need to ask them if it’s ok with them that you take their picture. I had not been able to do that until tonight. I asked these two young ladies in coordinating hats if I could take their picture. It was great. They were really something to see together. I did not do them justice in my photos, but the last one I took they were emailing me so I could send them the pics. That one turned out pretty well. I’m posting the pictures on flickr and sending them the link.

I also had a really interesting idea about how to illustrate all the fear that surrounds us. This could be a fascinating photo exploration. I’m having all kinds of ideas. It’s a very exciting and creative time for me and my photography.

Oh and you were probably wondering about the rock and roll photographer. I was one tonight. I was outside with my friend Les after he played and I was wearing my camera. A person standing outside with us called me the personal photographer of the musician. Which technically makes me a rock and roll photographer.

Organized Free Time

If you know me, you know I like to take pictures. I started a photography workshop with a local artist this Saturday. It’s a six week workshop. My stated goal for the sessions is to use this time as focused gumption building time. I want to start several projects that will become something else later and reach completion outside the bounds of the workshop. The artist in charge of the workshop completely understands this objective. To begin again is my objective. We are always beginning again. I’m going through a series of steps with my blossoming hobby to acheive, shall we say, the next level.

I’m printing out all my contact sheets and cataloging them. At the same time I am taking a big batch of new photos each day. I’m getting inspired in the new photos by some of the old photos. I’m experiencing fond memories and a general flashback time period. That’s the next step with digital photography. Experiencing it in the way you experience film photos that you just dug up out a shoebox or an old album you flipped through. I was at my friend Kat’s house the other day and she did just that. She pulled out some boxes with pictures and some old albums. That’s the next step I want to take my photography to. Creating meaningful interactions around the images.

The images inspire us. Everything is an imprint if you just change your perspective a degree. A moment in time. Captured.

Doggies love lemurs too

Doggies love lemurs too,
originally uploaded by evoljen.

I entered the lemur contest. This is one of the pics I took. This book is not just for humans!

I Know It’s True BUT I Keep Forgetting

There are no new ideas.

I’ve been working on this very same project. I like how this person implemented it.

How People Change: Self Portrait

This guy took a picture of himself everyday for one year and four months and put it together as a short film. Amazing how much people change every day (hair, beard, etc.)

Stare at the first then the last image for amazement.

digg story

Photoshop as a painting/photography medium.

I’ve been experimenting with Photoshop again. I like playing with the pictures I take, so much can be altered from the original. So much can stay the same. I’m having fun with colors.

This one is part of a series:

fire self portrait of evoljen

I am doing the work for two reasons

1. to track progress: I am taking these photos as part of a documentation of a new skin care regimen I have undergone. I wanted to see if it really made my skin look healthier and seeing is believing. It’s anthropological.

2. to engage in an artistic endeavor: inspired by two favorite artists, Chuck Close, who said ‘the process will set you free’ and documentarian Morgan Spurlock who shows us 30 days can change us.

Getting to know the canvas of something familiar may be the most challenging. It’s hard to look inside these days when there is so much external noise.

The Mirror Project

Online collaboration is one of the most excellent things that has been made possible by the Internet. I’ve been particularly interested in these kinds of projects lately. I found this oneThe Mirror Project, recently. I had heard of it before and finally decided it was time to check it out. I submitted this week and my photos got accepted and now part of that bigger project. I’m happy to contribute to this and more online collaborations. It’s inspirational to see the things that people can do when they have common interests.

I’ve got 3 photos out there so far, but I take quite a few pictures with mirrors, so I’ll be submitting more. They limit you to 3 a week which is very smart. This makes it so there isn’t a significant domination of one photographer or another.

These are my pictures so far…..
NYC
Colorado
Mexico

If you’ve taken pictures of yourself in the mirror, you should consider submitting too……

Hobbies

We do need them. We need activities that engage us in something we want to do. An intellectual fulfillment, a way to escape, creative outlet. These are different ways I’ve heard my friends describe their hobbies.

I didn’t really have a hobby until about two or three years ago. I had always really loved to take pictures, but never gave it very much thought. Some people told me I had a good eye and I appreciated the compliment.

When my husband and I bought our first digital camera with the potential to print quality photos, that’s when I realized, this was something I needed to spend more time on. He worked for a company that created digital camera backs for really high end cameras that only professional’s used. He built the software that would run their latest camera back. He got to play with this amazing camera attachment as part of his job. I always thought that was pretty amazing. Due to this experience, he really wanted one as soon as it was remotely feasible for us to purchase a digital camera. Well, we bought one of the early Kodaks, DC-10 I believe. We really like the whole digital picture taking experience, but the pictures kind of, well, sucked.

It wasn’t until the Nikon CoolPix came out with it’s cool form factor that let you rotate the lens. That camera changed everything for me. It was a gradual emergence. I finally ended up taking a class from a local artist and his guidance cinched it. He encouraged me, my vision, and my exploration. I really appreciated that. It was inspiring.

Ever since then my husband has been giving me photographic tools for birthdays and other gift giving occasions. Slowly I have built a collection of pieces that assemble an entire on-the-go studio. Taking pictures is my hobby. I reallly love it. It doesn’t help that I can use Photoshop too. That just makes it that much easier to create anything out of that image you’ve captured. You can add to it, subtract to it, combine it with other images, it’s creative fuel.

And this is why we need hobbies. We need a way to escape the things we have to do and the things we should do and just do what we want to do. Life doesn’t allow a great deal of time for it, but you deserve it. Go get a hobby!