I Married a Photographer

On the side to exercise my artistic and technical skills, I do a bit of web design. A friend turned me on to jQuery and I’ve been consumed with learning the language through pet web projects for local bands. It somehow wraps all my interests together. Because I have had an interesting (read: frustrating) experience, I feel compelled to share.

In building a certain web site, I intended to have blocks of content appear and disappear with certain events (click, mouseleave) but found frustration when trying to animate them using the $().slideUp and $().slideDown methods. To add to the confusion, the block entering from the window top seemed to work with these methods, but a menu that slid up from the bottom did not. I saw unpredictable behavior; blocks would not move yet their successful callbacks would fire, the blocks would bounce in and out, or the blocks would show the opposite behavior as intended.

That last odd behavior made me think. Why would $().slideToggle work but not $().slideUp or $().slideDown as expected. After searching I came to the idea that the “up” and “down” parts of the method names are not absolute directions! So I quickly tested this idea on the bottom block that is intended to slide down upon $(document).ready after a slight delay. I changed:

$(‘#menu_block’).slideDown(900);

to

$(‘#menu_block’).slideUp(900);

et voila! It worked!  Now, using the $().slideUp method I have commanded the block to slide down.  Why?  I suppose the reason for this is that these methods are based on the idea that all elements are relative to the top. Every example I found demonstrated an element sliding down from the top, none that slid up first from the bottom.

So, in the end I discovered that $().slideUp behaves more predictably if thought of as a method to hide an element and $().slideDown acts to reveal an element despite the actual direction the element travels.

On February 12, Dean was asked to present his art work  at the Dress Red Luncheon held at The Pine Barn Inn.  He featured 4, 20″ x 30″ photographs printed on metallic paper and mounted for display, all were within the “red” theme.

Both Dean and I put a lot of thought, time and effort  into these photos; shopping for props, working on lighting techniques, making blood. We were very proud of them (as we should be).  After selecting the correct printing company and viewing the test prints, we sent out our order only to receive them  a few days ahead of schedule -ugh, down to the wire! We were completely happy with what our finished product was and were so very excited to show our work to the patrons of the “Red” event.  Full well knowing that our art wasn’t necessarily what people expect to see at a benefit luncheon, we prepared to be booted from the event.  We had emailed some people who were in the area to get a fan base and were successful, which was great!

With all this said, I am somewhat delighted to relay to you that one lady who helped put the event together was very vocal about our art being inappropriate for the event!  I was so proud upon hearing this!  Our images are all featured below and as you will see, they all contain similar ideas but there is no outward idea, just simple hints for the viewer’s enjoyment.  I also have checked the event’s website to see if they have any PR for us to pump out to our fans.  Other than the blog listing us as a featured artist, there is no image of our work or mention of our contribution for the event.  Dean always wants the viewers’ of his work to have a reaction, mission accomplished!  And a HUGE Thank You to our models Tim Coyne, Sadie May Dorman, Sarah Irene Hamill and Brittany Kanour,  you were all wonderful to work with. Cheers!   Click on the images to enlarge.

Struggling through personal battles as well as running a business has its challenges.  A few months back, Dean was very vocal about not picking up his camera again.  When faced with these tough times, what is the best solution?  On this topic everyone is so very different.  The best choice for me, is not the same for everyone.

So once we started on our most recent project (which will be debuting on February 12th) we really did our best to find new models, branch out  creatively, and apply technique and skill to all of our planned/posed shots.  About a year ago, Dean and I talked about our approach to photography, he mentioned that it is very difficult for him to feel satisfied taking shots of things that he ‘finds’.  I completely agreed, there is no originality in finding things even when you do photograph them.  It’s not really yours, anybody could have done that. True, but to play Devil’s advocate, not every person has the same perspective. A plain photograph taken of a forest could remain plain or with the knowledge of certain techniques and different lenses it has a better chance of becoming a unique and beautiful snowflake.

With all that said, I have a great feeling about this next collection of 4 photos.  It’s not many but they all make a clear and great statement.  I spent hours working on props and wardrobes, calling people to find new models or people who knew people who were willing to help, etc.  It was sheer chance that we  ended up with the models we did!  They all worked out beautifully!  Writing this, I have a huge grin on my face just imagining people’s reactions to our art.  As Dean said a couple weeks ago, “If I’m not going to be famous for my art then I’ll be infamous.”  He’s hit a sweet-spot!

Teaser

Event Information: February 12, 2010 marks the First Annual Dress Red Luncheon hosted by ACTION Health’s, Aging and Wellness taskforce at the Pine Barn Inn starting at 11am. Dr Robert Davis, Cardiologist at Bloomsburg Hospital will be the Keynote speaker. “Our aim is to set aside this day when people can come together where the prevailing message is that heart disease is a profoundly different disease between women and men,” says Dr. Larry Schardt, Chairperson of the Dress Red Luncheon. The luncheon will start at 11am with social hour to enjoy the photography of Dean Dorman & Marlin R. Wagner following with welcoming remarks and Keynote presentation. Lunch begins at 12 noon followed by a Red Fashion show and closing remarks. The Red Fashion Show includes a collection of red attire from a variety of local stores. “What better way to promote awareness and celebrate National Heart Health month than by supporting ACTION Health – and enjoying the camaraderie of others at this entertaining, fun event” says Lisa Makara, co-chair of the Dress Red Luncheon. Dressing in red attire encouraged but not required. Tickets for this event are $20.00 in advance and $25.00 at the door. Seating is limited. Men and women are welcome to attend. All proceeds benefit ACTION Health’s Aging and Wellness taskforce. For information or to purchase tickets call ACTION Health @ 570.275.9150. Visit our website: www.actionhealthpa.org
You can call me for tickets.

Lisa M. Makara, MS, CTRS
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Bloomsburg Health System
549 Fair Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815

570-387-2099 Office phone
570-336-0036 Cell
570-387-2316 Fax

I am proud to announce that DSP has been featured in Bloomsburg University’s Spectrum Magazine! To read the article  click on the link : Die Strafbar Photography

Thank you to all who support your local arts!

A few months back, DSP decided to take an extended break.  Our year was full of new events and projects.   Creating a business model and a name for our ourselves was our top priority.  We succeeded and looked forward to having time to devote to the creativity and art in our photography rather than have to hit the pavement to increase sales.  Unfortunately, we knew that between our personal lives, careers and our business we quickly lost steam.  Dean had a difficult time producing artistic, meaningful shots with little muse, I found that I just had no energy to blog or manage the business, like I had been.  If we were teachers it would have been an indefinite sabbatical leave.  Neither of us talked about any creative projects on the horizon or what we want to make the next statement about.  We spent time just being artistically unproductive people, frustrated and down trodden. We were ready to let go.

Many, many discussions later Dean and I had decided that maybe we should just not produce art anymore, we should resign to the idea that it isn’t working and sever the bond.  In a number of ways this idea sent a sharp pain through my soul, I felt that if we end the idea of this photography business then what other outlet could we have?  On the other hand, I am a supporter and aid to the creativity and I know that it cannot be forced.  I acquiesced to the idea of our lives without Dean’s photography and hoped that something would strike his fancy.

Luckily, after about 3 months of Dean not even wanting to pick up his camera, he was approached about a new project.  Over the past year, he has made a number of great connections who have been loyal and very supportive. This one in particular has given back to him the artistic breath of life.  Lisa has loved Dean’s photos since first glance, she’s asked for some prints for her office and has done her best to help us to ‘get noticed’ in the community.  When she asked Dean, she allowed him to have freedom over his art and gave a very broad theme.  As he told me the good news, I could hardly contain my excitement!  This was exactly what we needed – a limited venue, broad theme and the opportunity for us to break through the cobwebs that had taken over our  left-brained neurons.  Within 2-3 days Dean and I collaborated with some friends about our topic and what route we’d like to take this project.  We have solid ideas for the shots now we’re looking for props and models.

It was so incredibly wonderful  to hear Dean talk about photography again (in a creative fashion).  We’ll keep you posted on our progress with this new project (I CAN’T WAIT!!!) and what exactly we may need from our fans!

Abject and Flake are the two photos Dean completed today, have a look!