Stroke My Ego

I usually don't like to brag, but I'm going to take a second to crow. I use to have some solid retouch chops, thanks to my professor Carolyn Coffey at ACC. I wonder if I could still operate on this level.

Samos

A little drunk from the island's signature sweet white, I wandered the streets alone after everyone else had retired, determined to see the dawn. I discovered three friends drinking and laughing, the sound of their merriment the only noise to break the deathly calm of the sleeping town. One of the guys eyed my camera gear and inquired about my intentions. He rolled me a cigarette when I asked. This is what I wanted to photograph. Life pulsating and unrepentant. In my shyness, I instead thanked them for the smoke, and found a quiet piece of land next to the sea where I made this long exposure of two ships docked, and enjoyed the peace of solitude until the sun rose.

Scanning in Memories

From my first collegiate level photography class at SIU way back when I was still shooting Ilford FP5 developed in Rodinal 1:50. My friend Joe, who was back then more rocker than doctor, but always a teacher. First guy to show me some riffs, teach me some chords, and inspire me to stick with the ever frustrating process of playing guitar.

Trip East: Final Words

A few words before I continue with the usual, irregularly scheduled, posts. As a photographer I often find myself torn between playing the role of a voyeur or as an active participant. I find myself enjoying experiences much more when I get my hands dirty. There were of a lot of fond memories that were not, or could not be captured by camera. This includes, but is certainly not limited to, good conversation with friends and family, home cooked meals, incredible generosity from both strangers and acquaintances, drunken soccer, drunken basketball, drunken athletics of any kind, interesting coffee houses, baseball on the Wii, music discovery, breweries and craft beers, Philly cheesesteaks, The Kopecky Family Band, finding peace, car problems, more car problems (fixed with duct tape of course), driving conversations, sleep drunkenness, Nathan's hot dogs, hot dog eating contests, people watching, self discovery, the American landscape, stories, more stories, and even more stories from the random people we would meet. I leave you with one final image from the trip. A little inspiration from a two dimensional cook on the wall of a 24 hour truck stop/diner.

Do what you love, and do it often.