Shot one from the project. Ronny and Dale, Alabama fans.
Blog Archive
So, yesterday Rob and I started a new personal project. Neither of us know exactly what it will become, but so far, I think I could say we both enjoyed it.
Yesterday I photographed random fans for both teams of the Iron Bowl, this year down in Auburn. The Iron Bowl, for those of you who don't know, is a long-time football rivalry between the University of Alabama and Auburn University. It. Is. Intense.
More importantly to me it brings out weird parts of people you may not normally see. People use the team catch-phrases with strangers like greetings to long lost friends. A simple yelling of "war eagle" can be, at once, intimate and anonymous, individualizing and unifying.
It's weird.
It's interesting.
Anyway, the above photo is rob helping me test the light. It is a polaroid-style shot (technically fuji 100C45, which, yes, is color. I converted it...) just trying to get a feel for how things would look. Note that Rob and I both wore clothes that let us appear totally neutral. (In reality, Rob likes Auburn, I think, and I don't care. I did route for Auburn this time because they were such a massive underdog.)
I'll note here two things:
1) Yes, I did my best to rip off Avedon. I proudly walk in his shadow and will unabashedly steal his idea. This stuff won't be anything nearly as moving as his American West series, but I enjoy shooting these people on white for the sake of stripping everything down to just THE PERSON...who they are with no context.
2) I also chose to shoot everything on black and white film to further strip away the rivalry and draw lines between their collective humanity. I KNOW that a lot of a team's identity lies with their choice of colors, and GOD there were some crazy looking people. But, I couldn't care much less about the teams. I care about the people. I want to see the side of them thats present in such a weird environment.
More to come, though part of me wants to keep it all a secret (for now). Tremendous success or tremendous failure; I can only hope for those two things. I have no interest in anything in between.
Family polaroid (4x5) of my family, give or take.
For the record, I had just asked the question "Who wants to go inside?" and steph was obviously really eager. I have no explanation for my sister's action with my tiny cousin person. But i'll be damned if we're not a great looking group. You can't tell my granddad isn't a stud. Not without a punch to the guy anyway.
btw the scan is super dusty because I just scanned it really fast to be a link from my thanksgiving Whiskerino shot.
Happy thanksgiving indeed, everyone.
One early morning during my weekend upstate we went to a place called Stockbridge Bowl to watch the sunrise. Here's John drinking in the morning.
As a matter of circumstance and habit, I don't often see other photographers' work unless I subscribe to a blog they produce or a blog that I read that happens to show their work. On one hand, I find this a most appropriate work to follow / lead my own to wherever it may be headed. (Recently, an artist I greatly admire said to me, " imitate and emulate, no one but yourself," and I am finding this advice to sound quite satisfactory.) On the other hand, I occasionally take a gander at others' work by accident or by way of direction from a friend, and I can find it most inspiring.
There are two recent images that wound up saved to my computer for the inability to let them go. By that I mean, as much information as I intake daily (important or utterly, utterly banal) most of it flows right back out and I only grab one tiny nugget of it. But occasionally I'll see something that demands its own room in my brain.
The first of these is by a photographer I have never heard of—Aneta Bartos. I don't exactly recall how I found this image, but I love it. Her work is totally different than what I am used to seeing, but there is something so...something..moving? genuine? that it stops me in my tracks.
© Aneta Bartos
The next image is the result of a long bunny trail. My new friend Jonathan Canlas sent me a message to check out a podcast by The Candid Frame on Dan Winters, which was a very good listen. I decided to check out their blog a bit more and ran across the classic Jim Herrington. I don't know if it matters that I love the music this woman creates, or if this portrait of Gillian Welch is just universally arresting. Just look.
© Jim Herrington
Anyway. That's it. Two inspiring images.
In honor of Alan's birthday, here's another shot of him. This time with his bike, and a tie. Who knew.
Alan from yesterday. His Whiskerino shot yesterday was pretty bitchin.
Film outtake of David's shot for Whiskerino yesterday.
Jason for Whiskerino today.
So I went up to New York for a photo retreat with this lot here. John Dolan, Holger Thoss, and Philippe Cheng put on a nice little shin dig up in the Berkshires with a pretty killer crew. Not pictured is my new favorite person in life, Anne Watkins. She does amazing water colors. Hard to explain. Check out her flickr stream.
Some building. Yep.
More from Long Island City.
So I've been gone. I've been in New York and this is the view from my sister's neck of the woods. She lives in Long Island City near the shore of the East River. For a larger view, if for some reason you require that, click here.
Little River Canyon is ripe for POPTPOPs
These shots are being posted in mild mourning of fall, as I feel like it came and went. FORTUNATELY we got out to the out of doors before it all went away. Thanks IDA.
POPTACTIVATE!
My favorite part about this first one is THERE IS NOTHING OF INTEREST BEHIND THEM. Seriously.
