PierceLaw Art Exhibit Opens This Weekend

I'll be both curating and participating in the show. Second day of dropoff is tomorrow; receiving has been slow to date. Three of the four of the pix I submitted will be displayed in public for the first time, including this one:



Show hours are M-F during normal business hours. Franklin Pierce Law Center is located at 2 White St., Concord, NH.

Some Days, I Can't Shoot the Broad Side of a Barn

I dropped by the Concord, NH Borders today for a book discussion/signing by Lama Surya Das. Let's just say I didn't approach the shoot very "mindfully": I didn't take the time to adjust the white balance (critical for this type of shoot) and the background was very busy. (All those darned books in the way!)Needless to say, most of the resultant images were junk..... and I have no one but myself to blame for it.


I am not a portrait/event photographer, so it took me a while to capture a moment that I thought was both unguarded and (I hope he agrees) fairly flattering:

After that -- since I was shooting just for fun -- I tried to record the details that people tend to miss while photographing these types of events:

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Sometimes the best memories are not those captured in a photographic print, but those you keep in your heart and mind. I had the opportunity to ask (and have answered) questions related to my volunteer work at the prison and I will always remember how Lama Surya Das took the time to make each and every person who came to hear him today feel special as he signed books for them.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Some new snaps on a quiet day away from studying (definitely worth the ride up to the Boothbay Harbor area):

When we weren't snapping pix in DC...

...the partner and I made time to lounge by the hotel pool.

(We took mercy on blog readers and stayed covered up for the snapshots, even though it was nearly 100 degrees out....)

At the Castle

Last weekend, my partner and I embarked on a 5-day "pilgrimage" to DC to see a photo of mine that is currently hanging in the Smithsonian Castle. I was very fortunate that my photo was placed in a high-traffic area, right next to another compelling image.

Notable: (1) the photo was reproduced at a meager 6 x 8", but as I was reminded, "But look where it's hanging!!!!!!"; (2) it was hanging right across from the "pile of Smithsonian stuff" movie prop (including Faux Dorothy's Ruby Slippers and a fake Hope Diamond) from the movie "Night at the Museum II."

You've already seen the pic in this blog, but did you see the ***sign*** for the show?

Eastern Market

A few of the images I snapped last Saturday at the ongoing street fair / flea market in Washington, DC:






Above: The world's most delicious crepe was made with Oreos, strawberries, white chocolate... need I go on?







Above: Someone filming something. The boyfriend swears he saw Will Smith there, but I'm not convinced....

The difference is in the details...

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to tour Portmouth Harbor on a Coast Guard boat and visit the (supposedly-haunted) lighthouse at nearby Fort Constitution State Park.

Although I took obligatory snapshots of my fellow passengers taking turns driving the boat and the temptation is great to take panoramic pictures of the surrounding area (I succumbed: see edited shoot at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=90218&id=542304560&l=3e3bda073d), I'm happiest with the pix that will never make it onto a postcard, the snaps that show what happened to catch my attention that particular day:




Above: Note the wear and tear on the railing outside the top of the lighthouse

Above: Unusual angle of the lighthouse light

Above: Cannon goes here (or the Batmobile)

Above: Textures of the walkway and the water

Above: Layered Coast Guard apparel

In summary: if you can buy it on a postcard, don't feel compelled to reshoot it. Spend the bulk of your time creating your own vision....