Pre- and mid-yawn cat diptych

Alaska, Black & White, Film, Photography, Portraits

The title pretty much says it all. I was just shooting a few frames of my cat Carlos sitting in the sun when he opened wide for a yawn. The two frames were mere seconds apart. I feel it’s hard taking pictures of pets that are not simply snapshots. One way to change the aesthetic could be trying different gear, editing or processing techniques. Much of my aesthetic comes from shooting film. Another way is to turn it into a study with multiple images. In this case a study of a cat yawning. Of course I couldn’t have anticipated his sudden inhale, but also would’t have caught it had I not just taken the preceding picture. It could be argued only one picture is needed, but I think the combination of the two paints a more complete picture, allowing the viewer to get an idea of the cats appearance.

Spring, snow melt and cattle

Abstract, Alaska, Black & White, Film, Photography, Portraits

Record temperatures in Fairbanks means snow’s melting, fast. I’ve been photographing the farmer who is raising Black Angus cows some more. Here water drips off a fence highlighted by sun with a cow in the background. 100 speed film means not a lot of grain, but on 35MM it still comes standard, shallow depth of field just because I can.

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Fishing in Valdez: The people, the fish and the boat.

Alaska, Landscapes, Photography, Portraits, Travel

Here are two images of life on the water in Valdez. The first image I believe is a combination of family and friends that work together commercial fishing Silver Salmon. Trollers go out in smaller skiffs deploying nets before they are winched back in. It’s hard work, and despite the apparent calm in the fishermen there is noticeable tension in their postures.

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Next, a fishing boat sits in the shade as the light falls on the hill behind. The boat had overnighted in Sawmill Bay, sometimes it’s easier to find calm water to sleep on then sail back to the harbor. Even though in this case Sawmill Bay is only 15 miles outside Valdez.

Raindrops and Spirits. One of the spirits.

Alaska, architecture, Arts, Black & White, Film, Landscapes, Photography, Portraits, Travel

It’s only four days until my first solo show, I’m excited and busy, but feel it should come together nicely. There are already things I wish I had done differently, but it’s not in my nature to worry, so I’m chalking it up to lack of experience.

As I said previously, my show is to deal heavily with the role of people within place. Even when people take a a large portion of subject matter they are meant to complement the surroundings. Such is the case with today’s image “David in Kennicott,” A large, strong figure in a commanding environment. Also worth noting is location, most of the images are paired, some in multiple ways. This is at the same location as my title piece “Rain Apparition,” Kennicott in the Wrangell St. Elias National Park. With pairings the viewer is allowed to view locations with many more meanings; the ability to step back, taking in the scene, then moving in closer for detail.

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David in Kennicott

Combining garbage and pictures.

Alaska, Photography, Street

They say you can tell a lot about someone by looking through their garbage. They also say a picture is worth 1000 words. So this could qualify as 1000 words about people.

Transfer stations are, to my knowledge, uniquely Alaskan. When people live 20 or more miles from town on remote dirt roads waste disposal becomes more challenging. So Alaska has stations set up where people take their refuse. Often these also serve as recycle centers where people look for discarded items they deem valuable. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

This transfer site is located in the community of Two Rivers, about 17 miles North East of Fairbanks on Chena Hot Springs Rd. I’m not trying to say this picture is indicative of the community. What I really love about this frame is the mix of subtle and, well, in your face.

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Two Rivers transfer station

The eye is immediately attracted to the slightly covered profanity. But then the eye is allowed to wonder, taking in a very demolished truck, old TV, animal carrier and fridge complete with mayo and a Mickey’s fine malt liquor. The high mid-day sun helps give the feeling of harshness. Also helping: red, green and blue, the three primary colors, are also the main colors of the picture.

To me, the picture is representative of the presumed racial slur. We don’t know exactly what it means, but we get a pretty good idea.

Black Angus in Alaska and Canon G1X vs. Lumix GF1.

Alaska, Black & White, Photography, Portraits

Last semester I started following a local farmer who raises Black Angus cattle here in Fairbanks. The following is Stacy Hansen of Midstate Meats, cleaning one of the cattle just after it is drained of blood.

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I’m debating a new small digital camera, and so far the two contenders are a Canon G1X or a Lumix GF1. The G1x is $799, the Lumix is discontinued, new units can still be found, but for a price.

The G1X is a sealed point-and-shoot with full manual controls and manual focus through live view. The lens has a 4x zoom, and operable aperture from 2.8-5.6. The biggest advantage of the G1X is the large, almost APS-C sized sensor, allowing noise-free pictures at ever higher ISO. The sealed body also means you will never get dust on the sensor.

The Lumix uses a slightly smaller Micro Four-Thirds sensor which will mean more noise (the digital equivalent of grain) at a higher ISO. On the flip side it has an interchangeable lens with an aperture opening to 1.7 allowing more light in. Both cameras cater to the higher end user, with near-digital SLR capabilities. When it comes down to it I find myself debating what I want in a lens.

A first, first Friday. “Raindrops and Spirits.”

Alaska, Arts, Black & White, Film, Landscapes, Photography, Travel

After a few years of persuasion from local photographers, April 6, 2012 I will be holding my first solo show at Frank’s Menswear, downtown Fairbanks, on 2nd Ave. The show, titled “Raindrops and Spirits” will be around 15, 8×10 in. silver-gelatin darkroom prints, taken at various locations around Alaska including Fairbanks, Homer and Kennicott. It’s very exciting to know my work will hang on the walls of a business for a month, and hopefully it will lead many more shows at many venues, as well as a few print sales.

People play an important role in the theme of my show, the absence of people equally important as the inclusion. The title is derived from the following image, which features a blur in the lower left-hand corner. People often ask me what caused it, and I reply with “A raindrop on the lens.” But having a vivid imagination I often like to think it’s something more, in this case the apparition of a forgotten worker from the mine, wandering the grounds he calls home.

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Rain Apparition

Drosselmeyer and his clock.

Alaska, Arts, Black & White, Film, Photography, Portraits

Drosselmeyer is the magical character who gives Clara the nutcracker doll which allows her to visit the Land of the Sweets in Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Jim Baird currently inherits the role of Drosselmeyer in North Star Ballet’s production. Here he is on set, next to the clock which he uses to magically enter and leave scenes.

Lake Washington, panoramic and a spider.

Landscapes, Photography, Travel, Wildlife

My parents are currently visiting my grandma on the shores of Lake Washington. Since I wasn’t able to make it down on this trip I figured I should post some pictures from last time I was in the area. Maybe they will find their way to my relatives.

Lake Washington and spider

I was only in town for a few days, but caught gorgeous fall weather, allowing me to take this picture of a large orb weaver silhouetted by the setting suns reflection.

Lake Washington panorama

I also took the opportunity to take a panorama. These are very easy to create, simply shoot multiple images, select them all in a viewing application such as Bridge, and choose photo merge. It’s amazing how good the program is at combining images. Unfortunately I didn’t overlap a few images enough and lost a few frames, so overlap significantly.

Everyone dances

Alaska, Arts, Black & White, Photography, Portraits, Wildlife

While down in Anchorage photographing a character study of Sue Perry, a seamstress making costumes for Alaska Dance Theater’s production of Othello, I took some time off to photograph rehearsals. The fluid movements and long extensions often seen in ballet were there, but wonderfully contrasted with sharp, edgy lines and tense, jerky motions showing both internal and external character struggle. I was lucky enough to have my telephoto on when through the window I caught raven making his own graceful movements. I couldn’t find the mythological view of ravens as tricksters, shape shifters and on rare occasions sinister, more fitting while looking at the dancers practice this dark play penned by Shakespeare. Sometimes life shows true serendipity.