I Married a Photographer

The title is a quote made famous by Timothy Leary who spoke openly about taking LSD and like experiences.  Timothy was almost completely shunned by his colleagues, family and friends for his taboo research on the aforementioned drug and it’s effects on the human body.  Though he was made up by the media to sound like a madman, he lead his life speaking freely of his findings with drugs in regards to religion, life, sex and humanity.  He put no end to his learning about LSD and what he could experience from it.  He died while tripping on acid.

Stagnation can be such a creative linchpin.  It isn’t as simple as boredom or as complex as desire.  Having that creative rut is something every person experiences, a dam in the flow of ideas. Spinning wheels to get out of a mud puddle just gets you more stuck.  Sometimes if you lift your chin and tilt your head ever so slightly, you can see a whole new perspective.

Since the busy month of August came to a close, Dean and I have been re-tooling.  Taking a break from the constant task-oriented ‘Fest mode’ to a more mindful approach to the photography business.  This was something we decided early in the summer.  We knew just how exhausted we would be after the long weekend events and looked forward to having time to approach things with a fresh angle.  So we took a trip to the city; where there is always artistic expression and inspiration.  It really doesn’t matter what corner you turn or how long you stay, there is always something to do and see.  It was a much needed creative break for Dean, it was leisurely with culture to take away.  Since living there, I rarely ever plan anything when we do make the trip because I know that within a 10 minute walk there is something to pique our interests!

If anything to take away from this writing it is this.  Self-exploration and internal reflection are integral to connecting with other humans.  Art is one way we can connect.

Food for thought: ‘I don’t believe in photography as art or a job or anything. I think of photography as a language and I think a language should be used to speak, to say what you have to say. So the only things I have to say about my life and what I know about the world, is the way I see it. So, it’s not about photography… I think people should just use photography to say things and not just photography for the sake of photography… The world is full of talented photographers. The problem is just so many of them just don’t know what to say, they think life is one thing and photography is another but they don’t realise that photography is just a way to reflect what you are.’ ~Antoine d’ Agata

Both days at the Bloomsburg ArtFest had a lot of foot traffic.  The weekend weather was muggy, and hot but the general mood was positive and airy.  Though I’d say most of us artists were sweating our tails off while manning the stands, we all stayed positive and chipper.

We were lucky to be located next to Abigail Kurecian who makes exquisite pottery (bowls, plates, vases -you name it!)  She’s really an easy woman to talk to and, whether she knows it or not, helped me a lot with getting into the art scene in Bloomsburg.  Our toasty days were filled with sales, conversation and art.

It was great to get feedback from our customers, hear what he/she ‘got out’ of the piece.  However, one conversation has my husband and I completely puzzled.  To give you a taste of how our day went, it was common for a group of people to stop by, look through our photos, discuss some things technical or not, then just sort of mosey along with their day.  In this one instance, a couple stopped by our stand, looked over some images, and then the following happened.   Standing by our framed images, the lady said, “That’s just like (unintelligible).”  The man asked her what she said and by this time Dean’s ears perked up.  He looked at the photo in question and made a mental note .  Again the lady repeated, “That’s just like (unintelligible).” The man said, “Oh yeah.  It is.”  Without another word, the couple strolled away.  Dean stood up to make sure he was looking at the same image the couple just left; he was stunned.  “Bullets for my Beauty” was the photograph they discussed.  After I returned from running an errand, Dean told me what just happened. I was in disbelief too.  What could this photograph be exactly like?  I can’t think of a movie poster, famous art work -nothing comes to mind.  I have no unoriginal association when I look at this piece.  So if you are reading this and can help, please do!

It is what you make it

On another note, it was 1 year ago today that I married a photographer!  That means one full year of wedded bliss and for the business manger in me, one year wiser!  Though we, at Die Strafbar Photography, have had a successful year, it was a learning experience.  We had our first vendor spots, which helped us identify with the community and other local artists in addition to maintaining relationships with former clients as well as making new ones.  Overall, can say that I’ve grown past some small issues and have better prioritized the business and what we have to offer.

Everyone has a quirky behavior, at least to some degree.  I find a direct correlation between degree of artsy to strange behavior (there are exceptions to every rule).  You don’t need a Psych degree to determine this, hence my next facet along these lines.  Dean and I work in Bloomsburg, driving 45 minutes one way, which can be very draining not to mention boring.  On our route, we listen to NPR in the morning and pick apart their stories some of which I think are entirely fictitious; we try to avoid route 11 because of all the GMC traffic during our commute.  One morning after we had been into a year’s worth of familiar on the same route, I was half asleep yet studying the neighborhoods.  Passing farms, schools, little town churches which probably seconded as schools at some point, I noticed this odd little house.  The structure of the home was a run-of-the-mill 50s ranch type, shaped like a U, with the center portion of the home inset from the two sides.  Outward appearance was within the normal range of living except for this one ‘thing’.   I don’t remember if I mentioned anything to Dean at first but after a week or so I noticed that this ‘thing’ changed, not drastically, just enough to keep me coming back for more.

This is total speculation, from what I gather the residents of this home are either an older married couple or a mother daughter duo, in the last few years of life.  The ‘thing’ that I mention is a mannequin, female, probably about my build.  We’ll refer to her as “pretty woman”.  She sports a different outfit on average every 3 weeks and if it is raining, she’s either using an umbrella or covered with a poncho and mask.  I have only photographic evidence of one wardrobe but  besides the majorette outfit, she has worn a blue Easter/Spring type dress, heavy red cloak with black detail and a patriotic red, white and blue outfit with a flag pring top hat.   Not only do Dean and I bat ideas around about this home and the inner workings thereof but we enjoy glancing over to see what this woman is wearing.

My guess is that the resident used to be a seamstress (how or why else would one have a mannequin?), she’s made these outfits in her hey-day and maybe wore them at some point too.  The effort to dress a large doll, who resides on your porch everyday I think it’s strange for a few reasons yet I kind of get it.  I loved ‘playing Barbies’  at about the age of 12, I realized that I have enough friends and varied intrests that I don’t need the Barbie world for me to make my own choices and enjoy life.  On the other hand maybe she’s a disgrunteled employee who used to work for Mattel!  Once, I saw her taking off pretty woman’s poncho and thought There is the mastermind!

About a week ago, Dean mentioned to me in passing, that the Degenstein art show was coming up soon.  After all of the normal life events, we’ve been busy organizing and cleaning at the house along with working 40 hour weeks.  So, yes, it slipped my mind.  One morning, while I was at work, I had a chance to research the artist submission dates. One day, we had one day. Ugh!

Luckily, I don’t go into panic mode very easily. I called the usual suspects, to see if I could get some last minute matting to enhance the photos.  Of course the only day I need it, is the day she happens to be closed. In a moment of clarity, I thought that maybe we should just take what we have, re-mat and ref-frame some pieces and submit them. Since last year, Dean has done a lot of different works such as, the abstracts and the vehicle HDR’s, most recently we’ve been working on night photos playing around with the lighting.  Until we get some actual studio equipment, using just the SB-800 is tough.  We’ve found that in most cases that one flash simply does not do the trick.  With that said, we concluded to submit, “Enlightened”, “Cracked Stone [ala Brett Weston]” and “Union Tree”.  At last year’s competition, a photo of a sepia tree won first prize, Dean and I figured that we couldn’t go wrong entering a tree, a wall and one that sends a bit more of a message (please read the chalkboard).

I chose the matting cleverly, using colors that enhanced the images.  For the “Cracked Stone” piece, I used a sharp looking, satin-like, black mat which really made it look even more moody.
Thursday evening came, we went to the artist’s reception saw lots of photos of birds, bees and flowers.  One of the other artists there has kind of the same feel as Dean’s photos, subject moody, dark, interesting.  Her image was very well processed, and cleanly framed, she was awarded first place in the advanced photography, rightfully so.  Second place was a Hallmark looking image of a book and lantern on a window sill with a lighthouse in the background, honorable mention -a staircase.  Ugh!  That’s really all I can say.
Now I do agree that not everybody has to have the same taste in art but I suspect that some of the chosen winners had a relationship with the society or the judge.  I am not certain if the artist’s names were made known to the judge but I have a hunch that it was common knowledge.  With all of that said, I think we’ll lean toward larger prints and maybe a more dramatic frame, next time.

After a long hiatus of not reading for leisure, more specifically, not reading anything interesting for leisure.  My husband bought me a book on our recent trip to California.  I like reading and I enjoy it even more when I can commit to completing a book.  I used to read all the time, I always had a book in my hand.  After passing my boards, I would look forward to pouring myself a glass of wine, spending the evening on my bed or futon and diving into a good book.  Since Dean and I have been married I think I finished one book (In Cold Blood by Truman Capote),  just measuring a milestone to a milestone.
With all of this being said, my writing skills are severely crippled.  When I don’t read for a creative outlet, I cannot write with much of a flair it becomes clinical and concrete.  When I was a Chemistry major at Bloom, I had to take a few gen eds my first 2 semesters, one was Comp 1.  I found that when I applied myself to the topic, I did very well at expressing how I felt and why I felt that way.  It became a great tension release, eventually I found that I somewhat relied on my writing to help me work through my problems.  So let me give it a whirl again.
On a Summer morning, one of the Pennsylvania summer days where at 9 am the weather is that cool muggy feeling.  You walk outside and you can feel the layer of  humidity stick to your skin.  I zipped up the lap-top bag and walked out the front door.  Running over The Checklist.  I have this tendency of doing the check list before I leave the house, fridge door closed tightly, toilet running,  stove off, iron unplugged, doors closed, windows shut, etc.  Really the way I was raised, this list could go on forever. I reached to my ears, slipping my earrings on while getting into the passengers side of the car.  Though on the drive we had light conversation about the future’s events, I ran through how and when I should approach people when I am out; and one thing I make a point to do is wear something memorable.  Identifiable.  For example, when Dean and I decided to go to the Children’s Miracle Network motorcycle ride at Quaker Steak and Lube in Bloomsburg, I had starfish earrings on and my hair styled in pigtails.  That should be easy to spot, right?
As the morning progressed, the sun beat down hard on our shoulders and noses forming beads of sweat that no matter how often you wipe them off, reform in the same spots seconds later.   We approached the entrance gate where a woman stood, wearing a baseball cap and a bright orange or yellow vest, as if we’d all have a hard time seeing her without it.  Dean, wearing one of his tie-dye shirts, grabbed his camera equipment, strapped it on him and away we went.
Lined on the south by the river and the north by the edge of town, the open fields of the airport were a welcome setting for a car show.  We entered the grounds and turned left toward an open macadam lot where, in clear view, were the hangars.  After zigzagging through  the crowd of people and beautifully shiny chromed-up cars, trucks and bikes, we were  fortunate to find a ton of friendly people who permitted us to take photos of their vehicles.  I remember thinking that by 1130, the sun was so bright and unobstructed that I could barely look at 50% of the vehicles. Much too too shiny and clean!  Ouch!  We made it a point to give out as many business cards as possible, meet and mingle with as many people as we could and really sell our idea and skill.  Looking back, I think that it was a great marketing move.  Word of mouth is still one of the best forms of advertising out there and when people can put a face to it, how can we go wrong?
Well, I’ll tell you how.  The evening before the car show, Dean and I were playing around with the flash on the camera.  Trying  different lighting techniques, etc.  As one of the settings on the camera changes the white balance to compensate for the different lights one can shoot in. The entire collection of photography taken at the car show was done in an incorrect white balance.  Now thanks to technology, all of those types of errors can be corrected through a few different programs.  I can’t recall the software that he did end up using but thankfully, he could correct them.

taking a sharp turn during the STPR

To top off the birthday celebration of our son, we drove up to the Wellsboro area for their rally car events.  Saturday was the main day for races and meet-and-greet with the drivers and crews.  Having left around 0730, in order to have enough time to scout out a good location and schmooze up some racing persons who will hopefully be interested in Dean’s HDR photography, I was feeling sub-par.  Excited for the opportunities that may come from this experience, meeting new people is always enjoyable and showing off my husband’s work is something that greatly interests me.  That morning and most of the day I just couldn’t muster up any sort of motivation to do anything, other than feel miserable.

Thankfully after the races, the drivers and co gathered at the fair grounds to show off the mud and dents from the day’s battles.  Here was me chance!  I eagerly introduced myself to a few key people, after asking around for if there was a PR rep there and where may he/she be?  I met one of the Subaru Rally America team members for whom Travis Pastrana drives. I was so excited to be able to confidently advertise for my husband, explaining his work and process with examples to hand to him.  He was very nice and easy to speak with, he asked me if he could have one of the images as an example to take back to Vermont with him.  I could hardly contain myself and happily handed over this shot.

The last portion of the ‘race’ was a course that we all could spectate from the bleachers, featuring a hairpin turn, man-made course that I couldn’t see at all and a jump that some drivers had a boat load of fun with.  Dean practiced some new timing and techniques with the flying cars.  It was  a learning exercise for both of us.