I saw something photographically today...

While sitting and chatting at a coffee house I frequent these days I noticed a woman sitting in the front window reading a magazine. It was afternoon and the sun was coping in through the west front window, reflecting the white of the magazine page onto her face.

I was astounded at two things -

1. how stark and strong the ordinary light reflecting on her face from a white magazine page was
2. that my conversation partner, who was also looking at her, didn't notice the light at all.

Seeing things photographically means seeing things as they serve your photographs and photography. Below, for your records, is what we first looked at and then saw.

without reflector

with reflector

FYI the lighting in both these photos was not adjusted. They were imported, sharpened (equally) and sized. Also, I do not recommend using this white and stark of light. If you want to have fun, reflect in different colors. Gold will warm the skin tones. If you want to shoot in black and white try using yellow, orange, red and green paper. These will increase contrast in photos by varying degrees. Try, experiment, enjoy, learn.

Remember it's not important to do it "right",
but it is really important to do it and keep doing it.

Hey Hippies - the Cosmic Railroad pictures here!

(please click on one of the ad links on the right - they help me make money so I can keep doing this!!!!)

Finally, after being burdoned, disorganized and lazy (oh, and being hired to do some other stuff) I have edited and posted the pictures from the Cosmic Railroad show at the Maplecrest Country Club in Kenosha.

Held on February 7th, the show had a Mardi Gras theme - hence, the colorful wear.

To see the pictures in my Flickr account, simply click the photo or that thare link to the left.

If you see any photos of you and yours that you would like to purchase in hard copy, simply go to my photostore.

The password to get to the pictures is "jamband" (minus the quotation marks!).

Thanks and enjoy!!!!
Mikasi

Aftter a long hiatus...

I am back. Things have been really insane on a personal level lately. There's been a break up and two moves since my last posting. But things have settled down now and it seems that I might just be getting my photographic balance back. And here's what's coming up -

in just a few moments is a set of photos from a Kenosha-based regional favorite jamband Cosmic Railroad

on March 7th, a group of us is making up run down to Niles, Illinois to visit the Sphinx for the March halfla (pictures to be cross posted to mondohafla)

finally, on March 21st I'll be in Arlington County, Virginia taking pictures of the March on the Petagon, commemorating the sixth anniversary of the war in Iraq

But enough time wasting, it's time to post the first set.

Blast from the [photographic] past...

While looking for somewhere to post a homepage so people could find my links across the web I chanced upon an old Tripod account which I thought I had closed about 3 years ago. Seems there were shots from two weddings I hadn't thought about in quite a while.

Anyhow, here's a link to a few pictures from Steve and Hannah's

and Chris and Karen's weddings.

I generally don't like doing weddings due to the Bridezilla aspect. I don't like to share in the pressure they are feeling, prefering my more mello way of living. To their respective credits neither of these weddings were tense and both brides (and grooms) were a joy to work with.

It was almost enough to make doing weddings an attractive proposition.

And the winner is...

Javi "El Gallo" Vega

Javi is a friend of mine - I met him working at Franks Diner in Kenosha. Currently a student at the Illinois Institute of Art, he still comes up from the Chicago area now and then for breakfast at the diner... or when he has a fight scheduled in the Kenosha/Racine area.

This shot was taken last Saturday night at Racine's Memorial Hall. I'd been invited by a trainer to take pictures of his two fighters in the ring. His fellows did not have the best of nights, one losing a split decision and the other falling to one of the international up and comers in the Ultimate Fighting world.

For his part, Javi had a great night. He tore through his opponent (upper left) like a weed whacker through dry grass. It was a short, but sweet fight for Javi.