I Married a Photographer

I had some surprising news, not life changing or anything but enough of a burr in the saddle to frustrate me and ultimately create more work.

Model: DK

 Thankfully, I have been able to appreciate my break from school and the photography business for the past month.  Dean has exercised many of his other talents during this time while we have discussed how much effort our business is worth.

Over the past two years, we’ve seen a clear evolutionary  division in photography and art.  We have always sought to define ourselves as artists with the medium as photography.  To some of you this may sound like I’m playing semantics but there is a clear difference.  Art encompasses many ideas, feelings and an obvious perspective.  It should evoke emotion, feeling and pique one’s interest upon inspection.  Ultimately, there is something to take away from art; a message or a vantage point.

On the other hand, there are many people who take photos.  Camera equipment has changed progressively over the past 20 years that one can now use a phone to capture a moment in time which is of equal or better quality than some cameras.  The effort, for many of us, doesn’t have to be there because the camera does all the work.  I can enjoy those who have a hobby of taking photos but  maybe don’t fully understand what it is he/she is doing.

My point is this, appreciate art when you see it.  Understand that there is a message from an artist who finds it important enough to share this piece with you.  The artist wants a reaction -good, bad, passionate, disgusted, anything is better than nothing in most cases.

In our process there is a clear point of choice.  We can choose to aim for a strong reaction or to tame things a bit for whatever reason.  In instances where there are two options and neither are optimal, it is what you do after making that choice.  For me, yesterday, it was Geography or Oriental Art 2 but I know that with either one, I will learn something I didn’t know before and earn my way to the top of the class because given my choices I have the control to make it a fruitful experience or not.  For our business . . . at this point, I’m not sure where things will go but I know that we’ll welcome the choices and experiences.

Please, support your local artists!

Those of you who are close to us know what kind of a year this has been for us.  Last year takes the cake for crappy activity but it seems like every year offers it’s challenges.  With that said, life doesn’t slow down for anyone.  I know I heard this statement many years ago, The only constant is change. How true this is (for good and bad)!  Thankfully, all of us at DSP have enough happiness, success and love for which we are grateful.

The frustration and sub-par activities and events served as lessons, we embraced new beginnings -highlighting the benefits of surrounding yourself with positive people and lastly, we had a huge sigh of relief that was like a ton of weight lifted from our shoulders.  We are approaching the new year with new beginnings, goals and interests!  We are very excited to look forward with our families and friends.

DSP has put the photography on hold, temporarily, but will have some projects on the horizon.  Thank you to all who support your local ARTISTS and we will keep you posted (even if a few months behind)! Peace.

Who's who, Bread will be there, will you?

As most of you know, Dean currently has his art showing in a new venue, the name of the show is titled “US and them” and is housed in Art Space Gallery in Bloomsburg, PA.  The meaning behind “US and them” has both a literal and figurative connotation depending what your perspective.  Dean and Ken took a unique approach towards examining how each is seen by other people and as a study of self.

The options are endless when one thinks about what “US and them” could encompass. In actuality, it has potential to mean anything.  It could be used to define the duality that all people possess, acting in a certain manner but feeling or thinking in a way that misaligns your actions.  What I want each reader to take from this is that “US and them” has been constructed for you to enjoy, you may not love every piece but we want you to think about each image/sculpture -attach some meaning to it and use it.

Since the opening day of the show, we have had a bit of controversy surrounding one image, in particular.  It has been taken down but as Dean stated yesterday in Homemade Jams’ radio show, “Art will prevail!”

A HUGE THANK YOU to all of our models and those who helped us out with finding them, we do hope you can make it to the reception on Saturday!

Thank you for supporting your local artists and CHEERS!

I will post the radio interview, once I figure out how to . . .   Interview at WQSU 5-28-11

In a neutral room, poorly lit with a flicker of sunlight poking through the oversized under dressed window.  The evening rain settles to a fine mist, almost refreshing.  I look down to my steaming mug of tea and try to not feel neutral and dim.  I am surrounded by influences but which one wins?  Scanning the room for inspiration, I see the many objects of significance.  What I really want to write about is, pain.

It’s a powerful tool in the medical world, defining pain can be very telling of one’s internal problems.  Every now and again, pain is used as a great comparison and gauge for daily choices (usually to avert one from being on the receiving end of it).  Coupled with a word like terrible or unbearable it is an experience everyone has but can easily forget  -depending on the situation.  From my experience, non-physical pain is the worst.  It can -and usually does, manifest years later in an unrelated situation and once identified can be the source of growth and learning.  I don’t want to speak only for or about myself but have a broader idea of what pain is to humans. We experience physical pain during child labor, death, injury, laughter and loss.  It is so important to understand pain for what it is, a system to of self teaching.  What person burns themselves once and goes back for more?  Surely no healthy person would, yet, there are so many adults who raise children who are so fearful and shielded from pain that upon entering adulthood these persons lack the coping and adversity skills to understand the meaning behind the pain.  What do you think of a person who can’t describe pain?

My father is a minister.  As I grew up, I attended more funerals than weddings or baptisms.  Having had watched family after family grieve, I slowly began to understand that life is a cyclical process and we can experience a wide spectrum of emotions, once we pull the blinders off.  Open yourself to experience and life because the pain is what teaches and the joy is what we savor.

Art can prove to be an effective catharsis for pain.

I need a break from thinking about government conspiracies and how important unimportant things have become.   Dean and I were recently able to shoot at the Pajama Factory for an upcoming art show.  One of the many shoots needed for his compilation of art.  We feel honored that we are sharing the space with Ken Conner and his amazing work.  I don’t want to leak too much info because I would like you all to come to the opening!  The artist’s reception will be on June 4 at Art Space Gallery in Bloomsburg, PA.

A big thank you to our models past,present and future!  And keep in mind, we are looking for persons who show distinct physical signs of ‘overcoming’. For instance, a former soldier with war wounds. Contact us privately, must be within a reasonable driving distance of Selinsgrove, PA.

It is what you make it

Continuing with my previous post.  I need to tie this into photography which is completely possible, hence the title of the blog.  With that said, some us us are driven by righteousness, some fear and others truth; I could continue forever but I’ll stop with those three.  It amazes me that when the “fears” meet the “righteous”, that is a dangerous combination, it is somewhat like the parasite or virus meeting its host.  The “truth” seekers are the ones that maybe don’t know the best route but aren’t afraid to try and learn along the way.  It is not the case that everyone falls neatly, into categories but those steeped in their quest, the character becomes more obvious.

Being married to Dean, talking with him and seeing or being part of his art, his approach comes through.  He produces a visual argument, something that usually is very subtle but forces the viewer to walk away, comment (whether in agreement or not) or simply, think.  That is what every artist wants, the viewer to think about their work after it was viewed.  I don’t know that Dean is a complete truth seeker but his path is bringing him a number of great resources and ideas.  We’ll just have to see where we end our journey.