Monday, February 20, 2006

Look what I found...

While organizing several hundred print photographs I stumbled upon this image. It is 20 years old and was from the Ramstein Air Show Disaster in Germany. I thought I had given all of my images from this event to the authorities but somehow this one made its way home. It is titled "Am I My Brother's Keeper" and after all of these years it still brings back memories as if it were yesterday.

I won't go into detail as there's so much here, but while I was taking this shot my roommate grabbed me and my other roommate and we started to run as fast as we could. I could feel the heat behind me as the flames from the burning jet fuel began to engulf the area where we were standing. As we could feel the heat on our backs getting closer to us we suddenly dove behind a garbage dumpster and hugged the ground. We didn't know if the burning fuel would come over the dumpster, but it was all that was there to cover us.

When we heard the fuel splatter on the dumpster, we got up and witnessed what can only be described as a war zone. Not to be morbid, but understand that there were people sitting under those canopies that are engulfed in the flames in this image.

On that day, my roommate was his brother's keeper - he saved our lives.



One of the photographers I admire...

As a visual artist, one of the aspects of photography I really enjoy is being exposed to the work of other artists. It seems that with the advent of digital photography and Adobe Photoshop, we are only limited by our imaginations. And yet as a discipline Photography still requires a certain level of technical prowess, visualization and spatial relational perception, and an "eye" tuned to capturing the moment.

Harmoniously bringing all of these elements together is no easy task, but one photography studio has mastered both the technical expertise and visual artistry of photography in a way that can only be described as "extraordinary." And that studio is Red Leaf Studios!

These guys are operating on another level from the rest of us mere mortals. I don't say that in jest, their work is simply excellent! It doesn't matter the format or style, they have elevated the bar and changed what we use to consider great photography. The more I study their work, the more I come to believe that they have been touched by God. I know that's heavy stuff, but just look at their work!

I'm speechless (and for those of you who know me personally that's a first). Enough said, may I have the privilege of introducing you to the work of Red Leaf Studios!

http://www.redleafstudios.ca

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

One of the photographers I admire...

One of the things I really love about photography is the never ending expression of individual creativity. And, one of the photographers that I admire has an uncanny eye for color and a wonderful way of expressing the individuality of his clients. I really love the work of David Jay of David Jay Photography.

His images are literally loaded with emotion and humor. There's "life" in his work that is expressed in everything from the color, tone, and composition to the joy that is present in the eyes of his clients. It is really is amazing! Whenever you view David's work you walk away refreshed, invigorated, and believe it or not - hopeful for the future. How he does it, I don't know. And, if I knew I probably wouldn't tell.

I pray that as you view his work you are encouraged and motivated to truly believe in the gifts God has given you. And, to really let your gifts shine in all of your creative expression. May I have the privilege of introducing you to the work of Mr. David Jay of David Jay Photography!

http://www.davidjay.com/

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Embarking upon a new creative journey...

The next photographic assignment I'm working on is a photo essay of the homeless. It also coincides with a rangefinder photography contest I am participating in that makes this project even more fun!



The title of this photo essay is "There but by the grace of God(c)" and it should be finished within a few months. I haven't decided the exact number of images I want to include so I may keep shooting for a few extra months. This has been a very interesting and more challenging photo assignment than I envisioned. I'll go into more detail later, but this isn't easy. Sure, you can point and shoot and capture the image, but that doesn't translate into the emotion of living on the streets.



My goal is to not only capture the neglect and poverty that are inherit to being homeless, but to also capture the human spirit of each individual. I've found that the even in these circumstances, the human spirit refuses to die, refuses to quit, refuses to give up, and refuses to live without hope. Stay tuned, this is going to be interesting, emotional and inspirational!

One of the photographers I admire...

Whenever I prepare for a shoot I revisit the work of photographers who's work inspires me. Not to "copy" their work, but to seriously ask myself "why do I like these images?" And most of the time I can articulate what it is about a particular image that caught my eye. However, there are times when the only thing I can say is that the image just "touched" me.

One of the photographers who's images always seem to "touch" me are Sarah Barlow's of Sarah Anne Photography. Sarah is one of those visual artists who has a keen ability to capture the emotion and heart "tugs" of a scene. I haven't quite figured it out other than Sarah is anointed, and that anointing is visually present in her work.

Her images are full of heart, light, beauty, energy, life - God! I know that's heavy stuff, but her images have the same presence and "light" that Thomas Kinkade's paintings have. Again, I know that's heavy but Sarah's work has a "light" that shines far beyond the lighting of each scene.

If you don't believe me, check out her work for yourself. May I have the honor of introducing you to the work of Ms. Sarah Barlow of Sarah Anne Photography!

http://www.sarahannephotography.com

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Allowing another gift to shine!

this is an audio post - click to play