Forgive them Father, for they do not know what they do

Walking through an antique store I saw these cameras, and my photographic heart went out to them.  They looked so lonley, in such great condition. It felt as if I was at the dog pound looking at a caged dogs begging to be set lose in someone's backyard to play.  These camera's was begging to take pictures.

Before I leftI gave the owner of the store a roll of film to give to whomever wants purchase one of these caged cameras.

AC3 HipHop Festival

Whomever says that 3days, 5 stages, 200 artist from the likes of Biscuit from West Virginia, Big Crit from Mississippi, DJ Kid Cedic and Atlanta's own Pill were the main events at this year's festival, I'd call them a liar.




The main event was taking place on Saturday afternoon, on the second floor , there was a B-Boy & B-girl Competition.

Let me preference this with my position.  I'm from the gangsta rap generation: 2Pac, NWA, UGK, etc. So I'm not a hiphop connoisseur.  But, from what I know I experienced something there; something that was prolific.  The event began to a slow start, then the ball got to rolling. B-Boys & B-girls started to bust it out. As you walked around you saw different circles develop of these hip-hop fanatics, break dancing, cheering each other on in support.  They where giving it their best.  For some it was their first competition, for others it was another step in being the best.


This was a Vintage moment, which bring me to the Black & White exposures. What better way to capture the moment.

The atmosphere was one of great electricity. Dookie Chains, Snap-backs, Addidas, and Vans were all in the house.  My props goes out to the DJ's. The DJ's had more to prove more than the breakers. The DJ's rocked the crowd, they spun some of the greatest breaks possible.  There where three type of people there: those participating, those observing, and those vibing to the music.  I talked with serval of those vibing and we came to the conclusion that the music was just as captivating as the breakers breaking, and the audience vibing on one accord.

Toward the end they came the Dueces Wild  45's Edition. The MC announced to the audence to turn their attention to the DJ on deck, and if you were there last year then you know what is about to happen. This is where the soul of Rap came from, I'm mean this guy looks like HipHop's Angel delivering the new testimony to the masses. This guy was your favorite DJ's favorite DJ's favorite DJ. He was just that high into the the rarified atmosphere. 

While waiting patiently to get to the front to watch the MixMaster on the ones & twos, I looked around to see everyone there rocking, vibing, breaking, or just nodding their head to the beat. I finally got to this position to get this shot, and I was elated.

As I began to exit AC3 I looked back at everyone, and smiled. there was an euphoric energy inside of me that words can't explain. It was emotional. The trek back to my car was a phlegmatic one. Most  of me regretted leaving, but for the first time I've felt oneness with the crowd.



Props to the B-boy & B-girl out there representing.  Please continue to doing what you do, and I look forward to seeing you guys & gals next year.

Testing the metal.  This shot is one in which I had a digital camera to take a look at this one.  But in hind sight I'm glad I didn't. No alterations on this shot, it turned out exactly the way I wanted it to turn out. (Sometimes you really ought to trust your eye)
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I really enjoy the infinity in which the circular barbwire that travels off into the background. The straight lines of the pipes. The layers that this picture has really looks great. It takes me to a place very metropolitan in the 70's, where hard work was the name of the game,  guys wore afros, and women wore tight bell-bottom jeans.

"Keeping your head over water,
Making anyway that you can
Good times,
Ain't we lucky we got'em
Good Tiiiiiimmmeessss"

Atlant Botanical Gardens



Have I ever mentioned on how I love photography.  Here are a few flowers that I caught a while back. Shooting flowers at your local botanical garden makes for a good day of shooting, especially when they charge four dollars for a 16 ounce bottle of water. Thankfully my camera bag could hold a 32 ounce bottle of water.

Two pictures one person, or one picture, and one image of one person.  This is is the first attempt at the hi-speed low drag "photoshopping", or alterning a picture.  I must say that I enjoy both of them from two different stand points. The top picture I enjoy because everything looks natural, and smooth.

The second shoot is my attempt to jazz the shot up.  Which I believe to have worked. The lettering, vignetting, color boost, and a tiny time crop. This was the image that was he was looking for, I was glad that he was satisfied with the results. I'm also proud of the results also.

I really enjoying shooting this guy, and I must say that all the stuff a person my talk, when you stick a lense in their face, they become slightly itimidated.  Often I've read about putting you subject at ease before you start. Well, I most definately knew it would be the case for him. Towards the end when I got this shot, I knew we hit that point in which he was comfortable in front of the camera, and I was comfortable with taking his idea and turning it into reality.

Classics

The thought of composing this picture came from an article I was reading on the internet about portrait photography. The article said thing such as a portrait doesn't actually have to have a person's face in the the picture, and step outside of your norm.

I recently had this picture enlarge to an 8x10, and I wasn't satisfied yet. So I imagine that the 11x14 will surfice.  It says so much more. Or am I the one that only likes this picture?

Say your prayers before your prayers are said before you

Wow, I read that on a bumper sticker on a van with no windows.  Interesting, it really makes me eat that whole statement.  I pondered for a while thinking of what person would have that statement on their van, and who thought of something that deap.  I enjoy it, when I see it. 

Man, something completely make a picture, and when something such as the hat above shows how a shot is accentuated.  This shot right hear was shot with a telelphoto lense, and it came out great. I never it imagine how great it would look. Thanks film

Happy Birthday

August 24, 2011. Two things happened to me today. My youngest turned 14, and my oldest went to his first day of college, well technical college. Sitting down thinking about it, when I was 14 I was knocking off gas stations, sagging my pants, and breaking my curfew.  Now I look at my boys and see how much they aren't like me. Whew! 

I took my oldest to school today, and I had a moment in which I could actually see him growing into above average young man. (aside from his crappy hair that barber gave him) But none the less I'm still proud of all three of them.

This picture is one of many in which we've taken in the past.  This was taken on our yearly "Guys' Day Out" in which before school starts for them, we hop into the car drive down to the city, and have ourselves a kick-ass lunch, and some type of event. Then before we head home, I give my expectations speach.  We've done it so long we can just hit rewind on the tape, but there is nothing like hearing it live.

I love the composition of this shot, the apeture setting that has the background and the brothers there out of focus.. They are my best subject; although, they are exhausted, they can post-up for a shot at any given moment.

Well, he wants to have dinner at IHOP, so we're off.

Photography. Tough, trying, patience.  This shot right here has been shot three times.  Did I mention exhausting. I've shot this Cadilliac at three different times in a year, everytime I recieved my results back I was never satisfied. I say I'm reasonably have with this result. I don't know about you, but I know about me, When I load a roll of film into my camera I know, and I say it will be a good roll if I get 5 good shots in.  I'd love 7 but I'm not going set myself up for disappointment.... Yes I still shoot film.  Love it, Like it, Got to have it. But anyhow, I know when I hear that shutter fire I know wheather or not if  I got a good shot.  I can feel it.  I'm not sure if I felt it on this shot.

Those shots that I know that I get, sometimes I recieve instant gratification, I think... I can whind this roll just for that shot.  But this that would leave me with 23 unexposed shots.... Not in today's economy.