rajafacesbothways

First Attempt

Lots of pounding, grinding, chipping and ripping  from workmen downstairs resulting in my being off in a cloud dust in my loft.

Escaped it last Saturday by being in a show in Oxford. Sold a couple of photos and have now downloaded my first iPhone photo to this blog.

Easy!

Smokin' Sixteen

The Sunny Sixteen photo group met in my loft for snacks and wine, crossed the street where a member, Mark, gave a demo on framing and matting at Hockensmith Studio, then returned here for more wine and  sitting around a fire, built by neighbor member on the rooftop. Probably the only rooftop fire ever in town that didn't take the whole building with it!

A perfect starlit night, a wood fire in a braizer--8-10 tipsy people sitting around on a sloping vinyl rooftop. What could go wrong?

Absolutely nothing. The clock on the court house read after midnight before the "meeting" was over.

Shooting the Dog

As a photographer, I've said I shoot everything that moves and some things that don't. Today I took photos of "Lady" who was once a rescue dog and is now warming hearts as a therapy dog.

Lady has spotted a chipmunk and is on the hunt.

Here she poses graciously in the beautiful garden.

And volunteers her working hours as a therapy dog for adoring elderly in nursing homes.

Re-Focusing

With 20/20Vision exhibit behind us--although photos and information continue to be added to our website; accidentalhighway.com--and infrared film discontinued, I've been searching for a new photo challenge. Digital photos just don't do it for me.  I've seen excellent digital done by serious photographers but I just can't get serious about it. For so many the fun is not in taking the photo--it's making the photo in Photoshop. That requires sitting in front of a screen--I prefer standing in a darkroom or in front of a subject with the limitation of film to make each shot count.

My latest camera is the INSTAX MINI 25 instant camera by Fuji. A  colored poloroid shot--can't be manipulated or easily reproduced-instant results on the size of a calling card.

My challenge--taking photos that become abstracts and work any way you turn them.

It forces me to look at things differently. My theme--"to see is to forget the name of the thing one sees". (Paul Valery quote)

 

Another Month--Another Show

The Sunny 16 photo group hung the exhibit of "Say Cheese--Caught On Camera" at the Scott County Art Center (aka the old jail) yesterday. The reception is August 12, the opening tomorrow.

I have been shifting photos into frames with the skill of a card shark dealing at Vegas. Fame cannot come soon enough--where have all the collectors gone?

Oh. I forgot. I have none.

Movin' em Down the Road

Delivered all photos to the Carnegie Center in New Albany, IN today and met with the people there. They will be fun to work with--and good news! A Brewery is just across the street to party after the opening.

The banner for our exhibit is now hanging outside the entrance:

The previous show is down and the gallery is being painted. Below is one of the two facing spaces where the exhibit will be and the center desk when one enters the gallery. The space above the desk will be used for the jazz group, playing at the opening.

Hmm. Doesn't take much to get me enthused. Next stop? The Library of Congress.

Right.

On The Road Again

After a short respite spent buying and planting an assortment of flowers and herbs in my back garden  and finishing a New Yorker three weeks late, once again I got sucked into working on the exhibit.  Back to sending  out some more cards, going over the brochure that the gallery will offer and trying to mesh scans with Kathryn to add to our website.

Last summer I haphazardly scanned some Route 20 photos, thinking they would never be used and created a disorganized mess that I'm now trying to sort out.

Actually, I need an agent. Anyone interested?

All Wrapped Up

Another major move for the exhibit behind me; numbered and wrapped the photos--easier said than done--and now must live with the invasion of bubble wrap, boxes and plastic bags for the next couple of weeks.

Did GO to a Derby Party--one held in the country for about 50 years running at a log cabin home with big yard and rolling farm land. However it was raining so even great food and drink didn't outweigh being contained inside with several dozen of Kentucky kin. Did a U-ee and opted for a beer and Galvins carryout on my deck.

There will always be another Kentucky Derby party.

Sad Cats and Mad Men

The Cats lost 58-57 to UConn--a good game although the team looked tired. So all my attention now is directed to more important things--like preparing for the Carnegie Center exhibit in New Albany, IN. Scan. Print. Assemble frames. Putting together info from the 5 years of traveling and photographing along Route 20. And preparing for a website that Kathryn has been setting up.

For trash time, I've been watching Season 4 of Mad Men. Not as exciting as watching UKY Cats but almost as much "scoring" going on.

What Goes Up Must Come Down

After 2 months, the exhibit at Capital Cellars comes down tomorrow.  Unlike some, this one was quite lucrative, providing me with enough sales to pay for frames for the next exhibit.

Some of these photos have found their home on other walls.

And some of the frames will hold totally different photos in the 20/20 Vision exhibit; that will include approximately 50-55 photos that Karen and I are now prepaing.

Examples: Old drive-in theaters along U.S. 20--like the one above in Idaho--or the one below in Ohio