I apologize to all of you who've stuck with me so far...but I need to end this project now.

When I started this project, I really thought it would make me a better photographer to go through the experience.  But honestly, I've found just the opposite to be the case.  Instead of working on producing an image each day that is the result of planning, previsualization, and execution, I find that I don't have the time to do things that way.  Many evenings, I sit here sifting through a bunch of hastily taken images and try to find one that works-- that can be processed at least to the point of being postable.

Even on the days when I have time to really plan and execute an image, the drag of the daily grind eats into it and I don't seem to have the energy to work at making an image the way I want to.  I know I've produced some images that people like, but I've produced few that I am proud to have made.  And I just can't continue, settling for mediocrity just to get it done.  That wasn't what I set out to do, and it isn't something that I can keep doing.  It takes too much effort and that effort is being directed at expediency and not at creating the kind of photos I want to make.

So I am going to shut this project down, go back to shooting the way I used to...trying to work at my craft and make good images.  Trying to improve as a photographer. 

I appreciate all the support I've gotten from so many of you.  And I am sorry I am not able to continue.  But I'd rather have people reading my main blog, where I post only images I want to share...not just the best of a mediocre roundup each day.  The link to the main blog is below.  I don't post there daily, but will post at least once a week.  Please subscribe there and stay with me.

Thanks.  Brian

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy-Eight: What a difference 68 days makes

Way back on Day 10 I took a picture (The Intepids) of some golfers at Hope Valley who were out on a bitterly cold day...in wool hats and jackets.  Today, along that same stretch of golf course, I saw this gentleman in shorts playing a run up from about 20 yards short of the green. 

Spring is here. Even if the flowers don't seem to want to cooperate just yet.  Apparently they don't have half the cabin fever all the rest of us did as the weather finally broke to the good.  They are on the way though.

That's it for today. 


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy-Seven: Bridge

It was warm and spring like today and I got some time to head off to Duke Gardens, a fvorite spot of mine to take pictures.  Unfortunately, my desire for Spring to be fully here after a long cold Winter is a bit ahead of mother nature and there was little in bloom at the gardens.  There are buds everywhere, and even a week from now, the rich pallete of pinks and purples, whites and reds will be spread out in all their magnificent glory.  But today, I had to settle for a picture of one of the many bridges that criss cross the gardens.

Still, you can get a sense of sping the grass now turned back from brown to green.  So, a bridge to Spring for today...and flowers not far behind.
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Day Seventy-Six: Worn and Weathered

The textures dominate here as the various woods from which this log outbuilding and its small shuttered window have all been made monochromatic from long years of weathering. 

And, like the subject of today's photo, I am a bit worn right now.  My abnormally busy schedule, coupled with the loss of an hour of sleep, have me exhausted.  Short post today so I can catch up on the backlog that's been steadily building behind me.  I need to clear the decks so that I can spend more time on my blog photos.  It's been more than a week since I've found more than 45 minutes to shoot on any day.  That just isn't enough time to really work on an image.  These days I've found myself shooting a lot of photos in a short period of time and then making something work back at the computer.  That isn't the way I like to work, but sometimes it's just the only way I can get the project photo of the day done.

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy-Five: Wore my Green a Day Early

I had a number of commitments yesterday-- which barely gave me time to shoot for the project, and no time to post last night.  I love forsythia, and growing up in NJ, they were the first strong sign of spring to me each year.  Here in Durham, NC lots of stuff gets budding and blooming early, and the forsythia, which always was a favorite of mine growing up are now often lost among all the early blooming trees and early spring daffodils that are everywhere now.

I wore this green shirt yesterday (March 16) without thinking about the holiday today (and I'm 1/4 Irish) and left myself with no green to wear today on St. Pat's.  This is getting confusing.  This picture is for yesterday...which was not St. Pat's but was the day I wore green.  Ok...enough babble.  I am having more trouble than usual adjusting to the time change and being more busy than usual to boot is making me punchy and I still have today's post, and two client jobs I need to get out the door. 

Til...well...a little later this evening this time.


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy-Four: Spring

While I was away for the weekend, the trees in the Triangle bloomed.  To me, that's the real start of Spring here.  The redbuds, dogwoods and bradford pears are all blooming now.  Didn't see any blossoms (just buds) last week and now the colors are everywhere.  And things in Greensboro were barely budding it seemed. 

It seems only fair to get Spring for real now that we've all lost an hour's sleep after Springing foward.  Can't wait for the cone flowers and camelias, big dogwood blooms, magnolias...the magic time is just ahead here.  In just a few weeks wildflowers will be everywhere.  My favorite time of year for photography...and doubly so this year as finding photos for the blog will be easy for the next month or two.

Til tomorrow...

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy-Three: Garland of Gumballs

Photographically, I am fascinated by guumballs.  Their intricate shapes and pointy tips always seem such a strong natural statement.  I've tried to take macros of them...to capture the intricacy and interest I see in them, but as yet have not made an image that accomplishes that.

I noticed this string of gumballs hanging out over a small lake not far from home.  I liked the way they seemed to form a garland on the branches of the tree and the way the light was playing on the lake behind them.  Not the picture of gumballs I want to make, but one I was happy to discover today.

It's been a very busy couple of weeks and it's been more of a challenge than usual to take pictures for this project.  And there's another fairly busy week ahead.  But I've made 73 straight days and that's 1/5th of the way.  Not that much of a milestone, but I can only achieve them as they come.  For today, I'm happy with this image and with getting this far with an unblemished record (andonly a couple of near misses).

Til tomorrow...

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy-Two: Guilford College

During a break between family events yesterday I was able to get out to take pictures for a little while before it rained.  The clouds were coming in and the light was (briefly) spectactular.  Lasted all of 10 minutes and this is one of the few photos I got before it just went to gray. 

Not much else to say, other than that brings the blog current.  Now...off to shoot for today.  Glad to have some time and a beautiful day here to work with.  Hope I get something good.

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy-One: Almost missed today

Friday was a busy day and between travel, a family event and visiting with friends and family I very nearly forgot to take a picture.  I meant to bring the camera in to the party, but never even thought of it when I got there.  I took this picture of Molly just before she (and, honestly, I) went to bed Friday night.  Not much of a photo...but I took one and that means I've still kept the streak going.

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

No Posts Til Sunday

Going to be without my laptop for a few days, so won't be able to post for today or tomorrow.  I'll shoot em on time, and share em on Sunday.

Have a great weekend everybody.

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Seventy: Morning Fog

The fog on my way to work this morning was thick.  Visibility was short, and my recent deer encounter had me white knuckling much of the way in.  As I came down to the last traffic light I pass on the way in, the way the red light, car headlights, and the lights of the building all bled into the fog led me to sit through a light cycle and grab this photo. 

I did take a few others today...but this one, before dawn, is the one that I like best. 

Been a long and busy day and still more to attend to this evening so keeping things short.  Do need to add however a Happy Birthday wish to Mike Miller (who some of you readers know).  And also just a shout out to Schaulis...hope you make it out (down)  in June.

Til tomorrow...


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Sixty-Nine: Penned Up

I visit this horse on my photographic travels from time to time.  I wanted to take pictures of spring flowers coming up today...but didn't find any on the paths I took.  Hoped to find some gardenias, or camelias, both starting to bloom here now.  But struck out.

So I went to see the horses.  They are stuck behind their railing, but they come out to see me when I stop there.  Don't know why, but the sense that they are penned in spoke to me.  Maybe it's the long winter (now slowly ebbing away)...or maybe something else.  But it was the separation, the fence between us, that spoke to me.  Whatever the reason. 

We stayed on our own sides of the fence...looking at one another.  And somehow that's just a metaphor for my day. 

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Sixty-Eight: A New Perspective

This is another long term photo subject of mine.  I've photographed this (always empty) swing many times over the last few years.  But the composition has always been the same...and boring.  Then today, it was the reflection of the tree across the lake that got my attention.  So I composed to capture that, and got this image.  Nothing extraordinary about it on its face.  But it shows me that I am learning to look more closely, even at the familiar. 

It's been a crazy week...with more craziness just ahead through a long weekend family event.  It's time (more than drive) that is lacking right now.  Took this on the way home from work, posted, then eating dinner and off to a meeting this evening.  But I've made it 68 days without a miss so far, and have a little more time (and an idea for) tomorrow.  See you then.

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Sixty-Seven: One from the mental rolodex

This weather worn, white wash building is right next to the swing that appeared on Day Sixty-Three.  When I was out there shooting the swing the other day, I took some detail closeups of this building (and a few others littered about the site) and noticed that the shadows that get cast on the wall by the afternoon sun are conflicting.  The shadow of the tree suggests the sun is camera left, while my shadow clearly shows it is actually camera right.  Just a trick of the light based on the way the building, sun and trees line up in the afternoon.  I made a mental note to return for a self portrait.

Today I was pressed for time (again) and decided I'd go an knock this one out.  As I move around shooting for the 365 project I make mental notes of pictures I want to come back for.  It helps a lot when time is short to have a list in my head of ideas...especially a gimme one like this.  The sun was perfect..the shadows are crisp and the hard light brings out the texture in the wood planks. 

Not certain I atoned for yesterday (as this took about 5 minutes total).  But unlike yesterday when anything I got would do, today I had a plan and I executed.  That's something at least.

I asked permission from Alisha, the videographer from Saturday's Uvo shoot to post a few pics of her and her husband and their Stella (classic Vespa) on my (other) blog.  That's her in the heels on the Stella in my pic from Day Sixty-Five and I thought I'd post one here to entice you to click over.  And while you're clicking, be sure to check out Alisha's website.  She is awesome.

See the rest at BMC Portraits Blog

Day Sixty-Six: Whatever.....

After nearly 2500 pictures yesterday for my Uvo Designs shoot, I just don't have the motivation to go take pictures today.  It's a shame, becuase it is a warm, sunshine filled day.  But I'm exhausted.  And between taking all those photos yesterday, and having spent the last 6 hours digging into the processing and editing of the shoot, I just want to be done with photography for the day.  So I walked out to the studio, grabbed the camera, took 7 pictures walking back from the studio to the office.  Chose this one.  I am taking the rest of the day off.

Tomorrow is supposed to be another beautiful day, so I'll plan on atoning for today.

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Sixty-Five: Heels

Day sixty-five was the day of the big Uvo Designs shoot.  I took over 2400 photos at the shoot yesterday and we got some awesome stuff.  I shot for nearly 9 hours before packing it in yesterday and then had some computer issues when I got home so didn't manage to get this post up til today.  First time I missed a post...but there will be others.  I won't miss a day of taking pictures (which is what the project is about) but there will be days when I won't be able to post a shot. 

I have tons and tons of editing and processing to do today, but wanted to put this up this morning since it's yesterday's shot, and I'll have a post of something shot today later.  This photo of Alisha (our videographer for the day) on her Vespa was the one I knew I was going to use for by picture of the day.  I knew it as soon as I took it.

We had a BLAST yesterday and everyone was just terrific and worked hard to pull off a major production.  Want to thank everyone for all their hard work and help. 


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Sixty-Four: Point, Shoot, Done at Dawn

I happened to be outside the building where I work this morning just as the sun peaked over some distant trees.  The shadows on the wall when the sun is at that low angle are always really cool and I always think about taking a self portrait with them but can't really justify pulling a tripod and remote out of my trunk and setting up in the parking lot.  But today I happened to have Molly's little Canon point and shoot with me. 

I grabbed it out of the car and set it on the hood of gold car parked nearby.  Then I just had to figue out where to stand so that my shadow would be cast into the wedge between all the others and how much of the reflection in the hood to leave.  Then I set the self timer, got in position, and was done just after dawn. 

Good, because I have a lot of packing to do for tomorrow's big Uvo Designs shoot.  You'll see at least one of those here tomorrow. 


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Sixty-Three: Swing Is in the Air

It wasn't exactly warm today, but it was fairly sunny much of the day and it was warmer than yesterday-- a trend that is forecast to continue, culminating with a high in the mid 60's on Monday.  While we'll see more cold weather in the weeks ahead, we are in for a taste of Spring and it's just the pick-me-up we need around here right now.  And very soon, children will be playing on swings like this and not inside playing Wii.

Til tomorrow...


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Sixty-Two: Warm and Peaceful

This glass lantern sits in the yard of a house nearby to mine.  It's been a frequent photographic subject for me over the last year, especially when the flowers in the yard where it lives are in bloom.  And there is lots and lots of Asian yard art there, and I love that they move the items around from time to time so all my pictures of this lantern and their other art are not all from the same angle nor set against the same backdrop. 

I had a few pictures I was considering today.  That's the way it is most days.  Donna came in the office while I was deciding and she liked this one best, so this one it is.  Once I narrow down to a half dozen possibilities, I am always happy if a member of the household has a clear favorite.  Then I just go with that. 

Today was kind of a raw and chilly day and what little sun poked through the clouds did so for only a few minutes at a time.  This is the type of day when it's hardest to get pictures outside along my travels.  But as I was driving home I decided to drive by the yard here and see if there were any early signs of spring.  There were, but nothing that stood out in the low contrast light.  But this lantern was on a small slab of slate right near the street this time and that gave me an angle I'd not seen before on it.  One of my other choices was also from this yard.  If you want to see it (and tons of my work not on this or the main blog) you can on my Flickr stream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/bmcphoto/

You'll see something I've seen again tomorrow.


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Sixty-One: Who You Gonna Call

I had a small incident with a deer on the way to work this morning, which necessitated a trip to the dealer to see about getting my fender repaired, which led me to the Ghost Busters hearse.  I've seen this vehicle around town a couple of times over the years, but there it was, sitting right outside the bodyshop at the car dealerr.  I grabbed the camera and started shooting. 

Yucky gray day and the light is flat and boring.  But some things just stand for themselves and I think the Ghost Busters hearse is one of those things.  The top photo is not my favorite of the series, but it's the one that gives the clearest picture of the vehicle and I needed that so I could name this post "Who You Gonna
Call." 

Here are a few of the others:

And one of the minor damage done to my car:

While the Ghost Busters hearse was a great find on a gray day when I really had no idea what to shoot, would have sooner avoided the deer, missed the hearse, and took a picture of one of the dogs.  Til tomorrow....


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Sixty: March 1st and winter is hanging on

It's March 1st and winter is still well entrenched here in Durham, NC.  We are expecting a wintry mix again tomorrow.  But things are looking up for the coming weekend with temps in the low 60s.  Excellent.  Parts of my shoot this Saturday is expected to be outside and if the weather is delivered as advertised, we'll all be styling.  Of course if it's colder than expected it's really the models who will suffer the cold.  Behind the camaera, I can wear whatever will keep me warm.

It's been an exceedingly long day which began when I left the hosue at 5:30am this morning and didn't get home from my creative meeting for the shoot until 10:30 this evening.  Had just a short time this afternoon between work and meetings to get out and take a few photos.  This one, posted at the club house of a development on Glenwood Ave in Raleigh pretty much sums up where we are weather wise (for tomorrow at least).



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Day Fifty-Nine: Hit the Bricks, Frosty

It's nearly March and I am MORE than ready for the end of this long, cold Winter.  It's bright and sunny today, but still unseasonably cool and there's more of Frosty's kind in the forecst for the week ahead.  Enough. 

Short post again today.  I am working on my upcoming fashion shoot this coming Saturday.  Big production (including a videographer documenting the shoot).  Going to be fun.  Til tomorrow....


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Fifty-Eight: Teething Biscuit

We bought Isaac (5 months) some teething biscuits this week.  He LOVES them.  He likes to grab things and put them in his mouth anyway, and he's teething, so these biscuits are great.  Of course, they make an unholy mess, but he is loving them and he's very cute (and surprisingly coordinated) with them.  I had planned on trying to set up something to take pictures of him this afternoon, but when I got home he was gumming a biscuit and I just grabbed the camera and shot this. 

I like it becuase it's real...it's who he is today and remembering things like this are a part of what this project is about.  It's a snapshot...but he's cute enough (I think) for a snapshot to stand as today's post. 



Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Fifty-Seven: The Fabulous Dr. Freud

"A man should not strive to eliminate his complexes but to get into accord with them: they are legitimately what directs his conduct in the world."  Sigmund Freud.

Don't really know what I can add to that.  See you tomorrow.


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Fifty-Six: My Flower Child

No, the lawn jockeys from the other day did not get me nostalgic for the 60's.  This is the costume Molly wore to school today for 60's Day. We had a lot of fun finding all the pieces for the costume and everyone at school agreed Molly had the best 60s costume of all.  When she got home we went out to the studio and set up the flower background.  It's pretty sheer, so we lit it from behind which gives a nice glow around Molly that I think adds to the feel of the image. 

We did a few with a super wide angle lens as well (those glasses cried out for a distorted upclose perspective and we got a few good ones):

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Day Fifty-Five: Tia

I am getting this in just under the gun of midnight tonight.  This is Tia, who is going to be my model for the upcoming Uvo bag shoot. I really am geting this in just under the deadline so that's it.  But look for more of Tia (and the Uvo bag) in the weeks ahead.



Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Fifty-Four: Gone Fishin and Other Yard Art(?)

Off and about a few new neighborhoods today as part of my ongoing Suburban project.  Caught a few today, including the one above, that I wanted for this post. 

And then there's yard art(?) you don't see every day...or nearly anyday these days:

And one to remind us that Spring is nearly here:

Nice colors today, because tomorrow is going to be cold and rainy (and may have flurries).  Though I have an evening engagement that may turn up a shot for the day.  Otherwise, it will be a studio night.  Tune in tomorrow to see.

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Fifty Three: Love is....sharing an umbrella

It was a rainy and miserable day here today and I barely had time to shoot at all.  I came across this couple sharing and umbrella in a parking lot while I was running out to get a quick lunch to bring back to work and eat at my desk.  And the afternoon and evening were full with other responsibilities so I was counting on this image to work for the 365 and, happily, it did. 

I like the atmosphere here which I feel captured both the look and feel of the day and the arm in arm closeness of this couple who clearly share more than just an umbrella when it rains. 

That's it for today...still have a bunch to get done.  Til tomorrow....


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Fifty-Two: Self Portriat in the Park

It was a busy Sunday for us.  Molly and I had a lot of shopping to do for costume week at her school  She'll be dressing up as her favorite character on Tuesday, what she wants to be when she grows up on Wednesday, and it's 60's on Thursday.  That's a lot of costumes to pull together in a hurry.  Plus, she had a birthday party to go to in Chapel Hill this afternoon. 

While she was at the birthday party, I went off to take a self portrait for today's post.  Took a bunch and chose this one, set in a park in Chapel Hill not far from the party.  Sunlight was streaming through the trees from behind me and so I needed to add a little light on the front of me to stand out from the background. 

It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm (FINALLY) and I'd been carrying lights and stands arond in my trunk the last month but it was nearly always too cold and/or windy to break them out and light a self portrait...something I was doing a lot of last year before I started this project and found myself in the midddle of unquestionably the coldest winter I've seen in my 13 years here in North Carolina.

So I knew all day I was going to find a place to take a self portrait.

Strobist:  SB800 at 1/2 power in a small (Lumiquest SBIII) softbox camera left at 30 degrees.  It's set up just above head height to let it fall off on the lower half of me. 

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Fifty-One: Sneak Peak at the Uvo Bag

This is my friend Lisa wearing an Uvo Bag from Uvo Designs (http://www.uvodesigns.com/).   Lisa and I met with the owneres of Uvo designs this afternoon to work on concepts for an upcoming ad campaign I'll be shooting for them.  After the meeting we got a few quick shots of Lisa with the bag, mostly to let me start thinking about the ad campaign. 

This is a very cool bag, both as a fashion statement and in its utility.  I'm excited about the upcoming shoots featruing the Uvo product line and I'm sure some of that will be back up here in the 365 over the next month or two. 

Thatt's it for today.  See you tomorrow.

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Fifty: Just Monkeying Around

I found this little fellow in the parking lot at work this morning.  Not sure where he came from, but I expect that he will be a recurring character here on teh 365.  I have some plans for the little guy.  But today didn't allow a lot of time for shooting and it's family movie night here at the homestead, so his innaugural appearance is merely an introduction.  He'll need a name.  Suggetions are welcome.

Time for Despereaux (which Molly just finished reading at school).  Til tomorrow...

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Forty-Nine: Red

In addition to the stuff I shoot for this 365 project, and the stuff that goes on my main blog (link below) I am also working on some longer term projects.  One that I have been concentrating on a lot lately is pictures of yards and porches around Durham.  I am not certain yet what it is I am trying to show.  It's more of an exploratory exercise...to take a thousand or more photos with a common subject matter and to see what it tells me about the way I see the world through a lens.  I've been calling it my Suburban project, though not sure that's even a working title...it's just a way to refer to the work at this point.

That series is all in black and white.  Today's photo won't make the cut for the project.  It's all bout the color.  Red. 

I've thought about featuring a photo that I've taken for the Suburban project here on the 365, but for the most part it's not the individual photographs but rather the compilation that is what I hope will make the final presentation compelling.  That is not to say that the individual photos aren't good.  I think they are.  But my intention is to portray them as a series of diptychs (two photos side by side) where the images either reinforce or contradict each other.  And while I could put up a diptych as my photo for the day, it's rare to find two photos on the same day for a diptych. 

I have a mental catalog of the images that I've shot for the Suburban project and I look for the second photos that I think will be interesting side by side with them.  Or start new diptychs when I find new subjects that don't fit against something currently in the catalog.

But while I was out driving today shooting stuff for the Suburban project, I came across this singular pair of red pants drying on a clothes line strung across a porch on a house with red shutters.  I circled the block to come back and get the shot.  I knew it wouldn't work for that project, but would be my 365 for today.

Til tomorrow....

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Forty-Eight: Molly in Costume

Molly hans't been on the blog in a while.  I was thinking I would try to get Isaac on here this week and Molly next week, but Molly wore this costume to a school event earlier in the week and I wanted to get a picture of it for our scrapbook.  Usually shooting Molly in the studio is quick and easy.  But not today.  I struggled with lighting the portrait because of the contrast between the bright flower and hat and the navy blazer.  It made me tense, which made Molly tense, and made it hard for us to get into our usual relaxed way of collaborating on a portrait.  She was a trooper though and really stuck it out.  I owe her a treat this weekend for putting up with me tonight. 

This project actually takes a good bit of time most days.  There's the shooting (fit between work, after school activities, dinner, bedtime, etc.) and then editing, selection, processing and posting.  I appreciate the sacrifice the family makes to give me the time to get things done each day.  When the weather gets warmer, and the days get longer, it will be a lot easier to fit all this in each day. 

Anyway, wanted to thank Donna and Molly (and Isaac) for the sacrifice they make for this project.  I couldnt' do without their support and patience. 

Til tomorrow....


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Forty-Seven: St Barbara Greek Orthodox Church

Today is Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras is underway...fresh on the heals of a Superbowl victory for the hometown Saints.  All very good for New Orleans.  And I guess why I thought about going to take photos Saint Barbara's today.  It was completed only in the last year or so and I love it's dome and arches.  I've photographed it many times over the last few years.  Construction took more than a year and I first shot just the steel scaffoldings that came to hold the dome. 

I don't honestly know very much about Greek Orthodoxy, other than that it has no connection whatsoever to Fat Tuesday, Ash Wednesday or Mardi Gras.  And that they build beautiful churches.  St. Michaels, in my hometown of Clifton, NJ was a beautiful church, and I've seen others in Boston and the DC area that are also gorgeous. 

You can learn more about Saint Barbara's and Greek Orthodoxy at the Church's website:   http://www.stbarbarachurchnc.org/NewsandEvents.dsp

Til tomorrow...


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Forty-Six: Seagull

Well...I had a lot to say yesterday about my photo.  Today, I got nothing.  I came across about a half dozen seagulls fighting over the remnants of some litterbug's lunch in the parking lot of Target.  I sat there in my car with the window rolled down, trying to find interesting photos.  This is my favorite.  There's no great meaning here...just a photo for day forty-six. 

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Day Forty-Five: Untitled

I chose this to be the image for today the moment I took it.  It is SOOC (straight out of camera).  I saw it, and it spoke to me a million little ways.  I wanted to capture it on the chip just exactly the way I saw it with my own eyes.  Like back in the days of shooting slides...you nailed it or you didn't.  No fixes.  Of course digital images are so maleable.  Too much so for my taste really.  We are taught to "shoot to the right" over exposing (but not clipping highlights) images to capture the most digital information possible.  But I don't want to capture digital information...I want to capture things that speak to me. 

I confess that there are days (some that show, some better hidden) when I work hard on a marginal capture to make a bloggable photograph.  Every day isn't easy.  I look back at the accumulation from start to present (and you can see it that way if you go to my 365 set in Flickr) and I know the days I cheated.  One or two of my cheats have actually proved to be among the most popular of my posts.  Not sure how to feel about that?!? 

But today, this image grabbed me the moment I saw it and I made sure to get it just the way I saw it. 

I struggled for a long time trying to come up with the right title.  And, as you can see, eventually gave up.  I thought of calling it "the unbearable lightness of being," "higher plane," "Up," -- or something Valentinesy like "Billy Bob Loves Rita."

But none of those quite fit.  I see this image as one of hope, and possibility.  Of serenity and stillness.  Of journey and ascension.  It tells me that there is beauty to be found both here and there at the end of the ladder.  And it speaks of respite at the end of what has been a somewhat chaotic week for me. 

And all that's just too much to put in a title.  But if you feel you want to have something to call this image, I'd go with "Billy Bob Loves Rita."


Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Forty-Four: Moody Morning

We got a dusting of snow overnight not amounting to more than a couple of inches, and that only on the grass.  The streets were clear and that made getting around easy.  The storm that brought the snow overnight was clearing slowly throughout the morning, making for dramatic light at times.  I will post several more photos to the main blog (but not until tomorrow at the earliest). 

The image I chose for today is not dramatically lit.  The lighting is fairly flat and the sky is gray and slightly ominous looking.  But I love the strong contrast of the bright snow and dark trees and paths.  The path crossing low in the scene helps to define the main subject and give it some extra separation from the background.  The path on the right side of the image brings they eye deep into the image's vanishing point which is just a bit off center low and left.  This invites the viewer deeper into the scene than the image itself can deliver. 

I am quite proud of this image (to toot my own horn).  I have never been much of a landscape photographer.  Shooting for this project, landscapes have been a frequent subject of my work on a nearly daily basis.  Though not too many have made it to the blog (like I said, I've never been very good at the genre) I am seeing progress in my attempts and here, I've produced the kind of photograph I see in my head when I look at a landscape scene, but only rarely am able to produce in an image.

I hope you like it too.  Til tomorrow....

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/

Day Forty-Three: Vivid Colors and Strong Shapes

I was driving through the Target parking lot this afternoon on my way to an appointment when I came across this bright yellow older model Chevy pickup.  The bold color and strong lines caught my eye and I zoomed in tight to get this composition.  When I'm not shooting people, I have become very drawn to the interplay of shape and color.  My second choice for today's photo was this Mondrianesque composition comprised of a white wall and read door being framed withing the opening of a green dumpster. 

I like the abstract "found art" feel of this shot and I very nearly made it the shot of the day.  In the end, it came down to this photo being one I can recreate anytime, but the Music of the Triangle pickup was something I saw today I might never see again.  I did take a more abstract shot of the truck as well, again using line and color for the composition. 

 

See you tomorrow.

Please check out my main blog: http://bmcportraits.wordpress.com/