Can photography de-volve?

As photographers we all struggle to gain control over light, exposure, and composition all on a never ending quest to make the perfect image...in the end, only being truly happy with those little honest mistakes that just seem to claim themselves as art (thank God you were the one that released the shutter) and we are then comforted in our egos by the effort put forth in getting us to that mistake. In my own photography I am still not sure, depending on whose gauge you are marking by, if I have ever accomplished the goals we all have drilled into our heads individually and collectively by critics, peers and institutions.

Overtime, in this pursuit of creating perfect imagery, I have studied thousands and thousands of images made by hundreds of photographers, some as spectacular as Anne Leibovitz, just to throw out a respected name, others as common as my neighbors brothers son who just received his first camera for Christmas, in all, I have found my personal vision of "GOLD". In a return to my own images, I have found that my accomplishment has become personalized by the pastures I can look back upon. By that I mean, it seems that time has brought me to a place where recollection of the work I have created has instilled a certain level of familiarity both in my ability to photograph and with what I have accomplished with a camera, in turn, this has granted me the ability to move forward in the work that I, for so long now, feel the need to pursue. It is also at this point that I feel completely full, a Thanksgiving dinner type full, where you say you will never eat again yet, you know inside that, in a matter of hours…your hunger will again return. This fullness, as it relates to your need to photograph, is a type of boredom spiced with the flavor of quest; with all food metaphors aside, this quest is a need to create more images in the hopes of finding a new direction, thus a return to the never ending pursuit in making the perfect image.

Currently I am full with trying to gain any more control over photographic images, meaning I want my next subject to "JUST BE" in the image as it would be in its visual surroundings.

I am full of trying to control the light of my next subject; I want the light to "JUST FALL" onto the frame with all its burnt highlights and black shadows accepted as they are.

I am full of deciding if an image is better portrayed in black and white or in color, though I will still make a call, I want the color to "JUST FLOP" onto the frame as it is in its moment of being, never caring if it is too harsh, too pastel or just rich enough to make it an image to someone else's eyes.

I guess you could also say...I have hit a wall, a dry spell or a writers block if you will.

To my general mood while writing this I'd have to say..."The image that goes along with this article sums it upbest...until I break the block".

These United States

...over a Makers Mark I sat down with "These United States", like hooking up with that friend you have not seen in a million years it was like no time had passed and we just picked up where we had last left off. Collectively "These United States" is a band made up of multi-talented musicians with roots spread from Illinois to Kentucky. Based out of the D.C area, these guys lay down a straight ahead rockin' roll back beat that takes you in and introduces you to a mixture of melody and emotion spread across intentional lyrics evoking place and time.

"These United States" are currently touring with core members: Front Man - Jesse Elliot, Guitarist - J. Tom Hnatow, Guitarist - Justin Craig and Drummer - Robby Cosenza. Though the guys had been through the Michigan area in the past, playing the Magic Bag earlier in 08, they agreed that touring through Detroit proper and bringing their brand of music to PJ's Lager House was definitely a cool time!

Located at 1254 Michigan Ave. in Corktown, The Lager House plays host to many local and touring acts, featuring a variety of genres in music that range from Heavy to Hip Hop and Punk to Rock a Billy. PJ, owner of The Lager House, is as true a believer in Detroit music and art as one can get, consistently bringing in new talent that will make any night at the Lager House a night worth being a part of.



With the break away buzz surrounding "These United States" the band, on tour in promotion of their latest CD "A Picture Of The Three Of Us In the Garden Of Eden" is genuine in the music, solid in the talent and is honest about all that is a touring band...and if invited, make no mistake they will sleep on your couch and drink your beer.

MC5, 40th Anniversary Bash, Pontiac Michigan

On the cusp of Halloween night was the 40th anniversary of the Detroit legendary rock group MC5. In the stream of a new documentary currently being filmed to honor MC5, a "To the Day" blow out bash was held at the Crofoot Ball Room in Pontiac Michigan. Featuring 18 local groups consisting of new sounds in music from Detroit bands like "Lies Unknown" on through national spotlight acts like "The Muggs", each group paid honor to Detroit royalty by covering songs from such bands as Grand Funk Rail Road, Bob Seger and Alice Cooper to name a few. As well as being hosted by poet and activist John Sinclair, former MC5 manager, on scene was Brett Callwood talking with people, selling and signing his book "Sonically Speaking - a tale of revolution and rock'n'roll" a book that targets the impact MC5 had both musically and socially in a time when revolution and radical politics reined. A night fueled by rock and roll, social reminiscence and documentation of Detroit history...a night this photographer was honored to have a chance to witness.

Joe Satriani Concert

Sometimes you stare at the lights and you are blinded, others, you are swept into a time of contemplation, emotion or awe. While photographing the recent Joe Satriani concert at the Royal Oak Music Theater in Royal Oak Michigan, I stared into the lights and was blown away. Shifting gears, these days, in an attempt to expand my photography and the portfolio I am developing; I can not figure why I have not jumped into concert photography earlier. I have been around concerts, bands and stages since I can remember. Being a Bass Player and having a family with a stage crew background I never merged the two. I guess at the time, I was using photography as sort of an alter ego to be something separate from my music. Well... these days are new days. When I received the Photo Pass for the Joe Satriani concert at the Royal Oak Music Theater, I was freakin' geeked! I have photographed quite a few bands in the past but, this time was actually different. I guess all went as expected light, camera action, magic...I must admit...while in the photo pit, I took the time to just sit back, stare into the lights and watch as one of my favorite Bassists, Stu Hamm, and a phenomenal Guitarist Joe Satriani did their work.
you can see some of the photographs on this following page

Concert Photography
...enjoy!

Latest Shoot:

Stop over at the Motor City Blog to View some of my current concert Shots and Event Coverage.

Photos Of: Michael Hurtt and his Haunted Hearts

Photos Of: Bark in the Park 2008

Photo Of: Pj's Lager House Detroit Michigan

Photos Of: Scary Kids Scaring Kids - St Andrews Hall, Detroit

50mm 1.4 prime Nikon lens

Have you been searching for a Quality 50mm 1.4 lens...are you a Nikon shooter?

With the release of the new D700 DSLR and knowing Nikon's past history of "bait and switch" one may not need to much of a crystal ball to figure a re-vamp of prime lenses could be in the works.

I have been hunting camera shops U.S wide and nobody has them in stock, they are all back ordered from Nikon. All though I could be proved wrong on this (currently), with the advent of a resurgence in the FX CCD, inherent in the Nikon D3 and D700, it would only make sense that new primes that match the technology of these new cameras should follow. I can't wait to see....Plus I currently need a low light lens.

Bears Journal Day One...

....an hour's flight from Kodiak City we lift
into mornings low hung scattered clouds. Dodging our way through snow capped mountains sitting high over lush green alders dotted with purple splashes of Lupine growing vivid against the greenery. Between picturesque valleys, out across the Shelikof Straight. Calmly above whale spouts and salmon fisherman, a history is revealed. Dean, a float plane pilot with knowledge of the straight and airways brings to light the mountain ranges, the sea and its Russian and American heritage. As the plane dips left, he positions for a smooth landing into Kukak Bay. The Aleutian Range and Katmai Mountain swallow the horizon. The bay is still, almost like it is resting in the diffused light, as the sun burns off the remaining cast of sky, presenting a day before me unlike any other day I had ever visited.

We board a research vessel, the MV Waters, which will be home for the next 7 days. Katmai Coastal Bear Tours, which is owned and operated by John Rogers, offers first class hospitality. Along with his entourage of fine on board chefs, skiff operators and world class bear guides. John presents an adventure to clients ranging from Discovery Channel film crews to retired folks traveling the world. Wasting no time after introductions our bear guide Buck Wilde, a man who quite literally holds the spirit of the bear and its world deep within his soul, is eager to venture us into bear country. It is important to understand the choices that you make in life, for only you can be responsible for the consequence. It has been a long time dream of mine to be at one with nature. I felt, no, I trusted that my vision to approach nature on its terms had to be possible. That with respect, common sense, caution and research entering bear country would be a choice that on some level would effect the rest of my life.

On a shore not too far off the bow of the Waters, an adolescent male bear tosses large flat rocks aside as if they were made of styrofoam. Underneath are mouth loads of Blennies, a small 4-5 inch long fish that can be found caught in tidal pools. All at once as if from nowhere, I am in bear habitat. I am learning of an ecosystem that sustains these coastal bears. No different a brown than the Kodiak or Grizzly. In fact no different a species than a Polar Bear, just a bear that has taken a different path and developed a behavior to set it aside from other bears to become known as a Coastal Brown Bear. The skiff, a small boat designed to do shore runs from a larger ship, takes us further on across the bay. We approach eaglets perched in a nest atop a weathered sea stack; their heads tilt and bob as we approach around their sentinel view. The sea stack marks as entrance to a quiet cove worlds away from life as we know so well. It seems a courtship of bears has gone awry, and that the female has nestled herself amongst a bush surrounded by daisies out on a cliff far from the reach of a pursuant male. Buck and I set up our tripods and wait to photograph moments of graceful beauty as the brown bear lifts its head to check the breeze for troubled scent. Tidal waters are rising we are forced ashore where time has sent the male to feed on sedge grass, but gazing upward occasionally as if he was waiting for his female to have a change of heart. We photograph the male brown bear and he grants us permission to come in close. For the first time in my life, I am standing in the presence of a great predator. The ambient light filters through his powerful profile, highlighting the prominence with which he carries himself. The tell tale hump that forms at the shoulders made of muscle from years of flipping rocks and digging clams. His massive head weaving in the sedge grass as he forages for the protein that will carry him through winter. And last, his cautious gaze as he affirms our position relative to his plan for moving on, and it was over. In a bears environment you must give into the fact that only by the decisions that you make can you help to create a safe bear encounter. A bear's life thrives on instinct, gestures and intent. Along with his enhanced senses of smell and hearing, a bear is constantly making decisions that are best for him. Your choices have to be best for the bear also. We waded on through the drowning rice grasses around the point that embraced the cove, to the opposite side of the sea stack that held the two eaglets. Rather large at this time of year, it will not be long before they drop on to a current and take their majestic qualities to flight. Today however holds a challenge as a curious adolescent brown bear scales the seaward side of their rock perch entering onto the nest. The eaglets in all their innocence and beauty remain stationary with restless hisses toward threatening danger. The giant bear eases his head well within striking distance. The moment is still as everyone holds their ground, in another classic moment as two species encounter one another the curious brown bear moves on. Truly amazing visions of Alaska's grandeur flow through my head. The skiff ride back to the MV Waters is like a dream, the evening last forever and sleep comes late as thoughts of coastal bears graze through my head.

It is a well-known fact that this location holds the highest concentration of brown bears anywhere in the world. As beautiful as this sounds it is equally as sad to know that this sanctuary is one of the last untouched frontiers for the bears. Even in this protected habitat poaching still occurs. It is a known fact that bears have a low reproduction rate, and that the survival rate of even 3 year old bears (which is the age that mothers send their offspring out on their own) is very low. Coupled with occurrences in nature, such as last years warm rainy winter. You can see the need to take on roles toward conservation. Conservation does not necessarily have to be in the form of money, nor does it have to overtake your daily life with hours invested in fighting causes. Conservation can come by adopting true insights towards nature, and help to dispel horrifying myths that have been tagged to animals such as Wolves and Bears. Simply, conservation can spread word of mouth from old to young. A walk amongst the bears has changed my life. Now, I will walk amongst the world an advocate for their protection.