Padfoot

This blog entry is my first since the blog hit it’s one year mark on the 26th of this month. It’s been a lot of fun and allowed me to make new friends and stay connected to people I’ve known for a long time. Last year at this time I was also working at a fox den, so here’s another image from this year’s den work.

Since this den is on a slight hill, I was able to work at the kit’s eye-level, or in this case foot-level. These fuzzy balls of energy are great to watch and exhibit so much character. They are a constant challenge to my vision and craftsmanship as well as my use of the latest gear capabilities. April here has been wonderful and I’ll be sorry to see it go. I hope to get back to the foxes soon, but tomorrow I’ll be working tulips (another sign of spring).

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L’il Bugger

I’ve been working at a local fox den for the last couple weeks and have begun to edit and develop the images. These guys are great to watch but a real challenge. While lighting has been managable because the den is in the open, the grass is sometimes annoying and these guys move quickly. I’ve spent enough time now with them to begin to predict locations and activity patterns. More importantly, I’ve begun to bring image ideas with me into the field. While each visit is unpredictable, it does help to have an image in mind and prepare for it should a situation arise.

I’m always looking for expression, so I am enjoying this image that I’ve named “L’il Bugger”. The fly which is just visible at the center top of the picture, was on the fox kit’s head and as it flew off his head I saw the fox begin to look up. The expression on the fox’s face is great, tongue out and its right eye slightly closed as if it’s sizing up it’s little prey. As an aside, I’ve noticed that even a passing commercial plane grabs their attention skyward. I’m working with some long glass which gives me enough distance from the den to not affect behaviors.

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New Shoes

I bought a new pair of shoes today - a pair of Rockports that I will use for outdoor shows. Since I stand for the entire show, I can be on my feet for 12 hours. This makes the comfort factor of any shoes I wear really important. If my feet aren’t happy, my sales could suffer as I become irritable. Actually, just looking uncomfortable can be a turn off to any prospective customer. So I don’t mind putting some money where my feet are. If I find these shoes really work well, I’ll buy another pair. Heck, I have a back up camera, why not shoes?

I use a different shoe outdoors than I do indoors. The outdoor shoes need to be comfortable, but also waterproof. The challenge is in finding a pair that don’t look too hiking boot like. I try to maintain some level of professional dress even in outdoor shows. Sometimes, it’s just impossible. But, if it’s a wet show, or the grass is damp with dew, I need at least a weatherproof shoe.

I have scheduled four outdoor shows in a row starting next month and well, at least the shoe issue is covered. Now, I could really use some new show shirts (with my logo).

I’ve been actively working a fox den about an hour from home. I’ve become rather attached to the little guys and anticipate more visits. I’ll work up some images soon for posting.

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“Colonial Yarn” is a Rare Breed

One of the prints that I sell with some frequency is this one entitled Colonial Yarn. It is a fun picture, lots of character and great texture. I composed the image to maximize symmetry and the fun nature of this sheep. The image was made in Colonial Williamsburg, VA where these sheep are raised as part of their rare breeds program.

I am sometimes asked what breed this is and only recently checked the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation website to find out. So if you have asked me before, it is a Leicester Longwool. These were originally a British breed for the colonies, but the Foundation started their herd with sheep from Tasmania.

I have been offering this print only in the 5×7 size (for $32), but will now also make available an 8×10 size (for $45). Both are matted and mounted on 11×14 acid-free board.

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Another Visual Artist You Should See….

Karen Bilak is a fabric artist creating small quilts that are framed behind glass. These are handmade pieces that are expertly crafted and just beautiful to look at. I’ve watched Karen work, as you can at any show she exhibits at, and she is meticulous! The quilts have great character and traditional style. Donna and I have purchased two of Karen’s works, one for ourselves and one as a gift. We enjoy having traditional art in our home and knowing Karen made it makes it that much better.

 

I’ve known Karen’s husband Mark for years. He’s a fine photographer whose work I really enjoy as well. Karen started doing fine craft shows about the same time that I began making photography my full-time profession. We are both juried members of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. As a result we do several of the same shows and so I get to see Karen, and Mark, a lot more often. That’s one of the benefits of this kind of work.  

 

Visit Karen’s website at Redbud Ridge Quilts and check out her quilts and show schedule.

 

 

 

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10 Reasons I Know It’s Spring

1. Allergy pills have become part of my night time routine
2. Donna (my wife) and I drink coffee on the back deck
3. I sit on the front step just bacause it’s reminds me of springs gone by
4. The UPS guy is wearing shorts (I get a lot of packages)
5. I’ve started preparing for outdoor shows (I’ve got 4 in a row)
6. I’ve mowed the lawn
7. Windows are finally open
8. I listen to 70′s music more (don’t ask)
9. Hannah (my daughter) wants only to go to Rita’s (water ice)
10. All I want is to be outdoors with a camera

This is an image I made in Colonial Williamsburg during our April 2006 visit. The wisteria was growing well and draped nicely over the white-picket fences. I used a shallow depth-of-field to show that there was a large tree in the background.

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An Artist is As An Artist Does

I prepared my various tax envelopes for mailing the other day and fell into thinking about the IRS’s definition of “artist”. Actually, the IRS doesn’t have a definition of “artist”, just a definition of what is a business. This time of year finds me thinking about what an “artist” is in more functional terms. What makes someone an artist functionally is different from defining them based on their work itself. Functionally, I, and the IRS, think of an “artist” as being someone who actively creates and engages in selling their work. More specifically, the IRS expects that an “artist” also make a profit from selling their work (at least at some point).

My functional definition of an artist in total is probably a bit different from that of the IRS. I think of artists as also studying their medium, exploring their vision with that medium, and sharing that vision even if not offering it for sale (but I’m more likely to think of someone as an artist if they do sell their work). I think of an artist as being passionate about what they do, passionate about art in general, and passionate about interacting with other artists. At some level I even care if the work being produced is good , but it doesn’t seem to be a requirement for me to think of someone as an artist. Is that weird?

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Virtual Photography

I hadn’t been out in the woods to photograph for weeks! That’s why getting out today was so important. I didn’t expect to create anything special, I just wanted to hike around and see what spring was bringing. After trudging around for a couple hours with a heavy long lens and tripod, I had had enough. The gear went back into the van and I drove off. It was cloudy, but not cold so I parked at a new location and started back into the woods. This time, I brought no camera. I just wanted to visualize the potential imagery I could make next time. I walked around for about an hour taking in the textures and colors of the ground, trees, old stone walls, and lines of a creek that winds through the woods.

Sometimes it is best for me just to walk and “see” without any gear. It’s something I don’t do often enough. My approach was to ask myself, if I were to make the image I’m visualizing, how would I do it and what gear would I need? When I walk around with a camera, I generally think about what type of imagery I can make with that particular gear. It’s limiting. I have several new ideas for series of images and feel that my time was well spent.

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Should there be a visual arts reality show?

My wife and daughter have been trying to pull me into their American Idol viewing. I have resisted but am weakening, mostly because I like David Cook. I have however watched various episodes of reality shows dealing with creative competition. These have included fashion design, cooking, and interior design. Mostly I find it interesting to see how creative people deal with often ridiculous tests and restrictions.

I do think though that these shows have heightened the appreciation for the various creative endeavors that they feature. It strikes me that no show has dealt with photography or any two-dimensional visual art. I could easily see a show where photographers are given assignments and restrictions on time equipment, method, etc and then evaluated for their problem solving and creativity. Is there just no interest in this kind of competition or is this a feasible idea? Would such a show heighten the appreciation by the public in general for the medium or diminish it in some way?

I tend to think that any coverage would be beneficial. Ask most people to name a famous photographer and other than Ansel Adams, most would be stumped. Of course it’s probably worse for other mediums. But since most people can name famous painters, authors, singers, actors, and a cloth designer or two, maybe photography would benefit from some pop culture.

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