A Floating Rose

Deborah made a floral arrangement with cut flowers for her Mom's 80th birthday this morning. There was one rose bloom that was stemless. She dropped it in a glass of water. When I saw it, the wheels started turning, dark background, a a strong back light, little more light from above.....

One thing led to another, we swapped the glass for this cool vase, put a black cloth under the vase, added candles and another bloom of some kind and here is my favorite. 

The lights were two on camera strobes used on light stands. The back light had a snoot to focus the light into a tight spot. I made the snoot with the cardboard from a cereal box and duct tape. Honey Nut Cheerios seem to work best, something about the cholesterol. The front light was above and to the left of the camera. 

I had cut some tea olive blooms this morning and decided to see how they looked using the same lighting set up. Not a bad morning's work.

The Concrete Plant, Part 1

There is an old concrete plant in Fort Valley. I have thought about doing some photos of it before, actually did a couple of quick shots one day, but was in a hurry and didn't really look the place over.  I took some time yesterday and found a couple of interesting images.

The first thing to catch my eye was this slippery when wet sign that has been overtaken by vines. Not too slippery, I guess. The door below was an obvious target of my 3oomm.  I had three lenses with me and shot some with all three. The 300, my 15-30, and the fish eye. We will look at some more next time. 

We all have places we drive by quite often and think about shooting. Take some time and check them out. Doesn't cost a thing but a little time. And hey, you will have a camera in your had so it sure won't be wasted time.

The Reverend Pearly Brown

I met Gary Harmon for lunch early last week. During our conversation he asked if I had any photos of the Rev. Pearly Brown, a blind street singer/preacher who was a fixture for years in downtown Macon. Then later in the week I met Jody and James Palmer at the Rookery for lunch. I was so happy to see the hustle and bustle at lunchtime in Macon's wonderful downtown. That brought back memories from my younger days, when everyone went shopping in downtown, no malls. Not a bad thing.

You always saw a man who was missing his legs from well above the knees. He pushed himself around on a small wheeled platform that resembled a mechanic's creeper. He had a sign and a tin cup for donations. The other regular was Pearly Brown. You would hear his rich voice and guitar well before you saw him.

Pearly was born in Abbeville in 1915, and raised in Americus. Supposedly be learned to play the guitar at age 7.  He sang a bluesie style of gospel music, and an awesome guitar. Rumor has it that he tutored Duane Allman and Dicky Betts on the slide guitar. He did do several albums, one was "Georgia Street Singer" and another was "It's a Mean Old World To Try To Live In."  You can check out his talent on You Tube.

Pearly was still on the streets when I began shooting for the Telegraph. He retired from the streets in 1979 due to poor health and died in 1986.

Play on,  Rev. Pearly, play on.

Farewell, My Friend

I lost a friend this morning. A.W. Dorsey passed away. And Peach County High lost one if its foremost and truest supporters. A.W. covered Peach County High's sports teams for the Leader Tribune. I had been around him for years. Our paths often crossed as I covered events for the Telegraph, he was there doing his thing. Always brought a smile when I saw him on the sidelines.  When I joined the Leader Tribune I was blessed to work with him. 

A.W. loved what he did, sure didn't do it for the money. He covered all the home events from the various sports, and most of the ways ones as well. The folks he worked for never fully appreciated what he did. A lot of local athletes got some ink because of A.W. He was the embodiment of community journalism.

I know it hurt him not being on the Peach County sidelines this year. Me and a lot of other folks missed him. Every home game he was asked about. Most of the information coming through his co-worker Victor Kulkosky. 

Farewell, my friend.

Dandelion

I have always been fascinated by dandelions. Even as a kid I was more interested in looking at all the little parachutes and the textures than blowing them loose into the wind.  The way back light separates each little feather-like hair, such an awesome creation of God.  Then I discovered how much fun they are to photograph.  No telling how many dandelion photos I have made over the years, many on negative film that were never printed. Just so much fun to shoot.

Sunday evening I found this one while walking the dogs. It was really too dark to shoot, but I wanted to back light it anyway.  I set up my old SB-28 on a little table top tripod about three feet to the right and slightly behind the dandelion, and fired it with my Cowboy Studio radio triggers.  Shot was with the D70 and Sigma 70-300 using the Macro setting.

I shot at 1/250th second to darken the background.

Happy New Year

I covered a town hall meeting last night involving three state legislators. Linmore James, Robert Dickey and Cecil Statam took questions from a gathering in Fort Valley. These kinds of assignments can make for some really boring images. 

I shot from all the regular angles and still was not thrilled with what I had. Some decent stuff but not what I wanted.  I moved around in front of the three with the 15mm, wanting to get the row of lights behind them. The old building where the meeting was held is kind of a neat environment with some bare brick walls. When I got in front of them I noticed the position of the two outside guys legs. 

Thought this might make a cool shot, so I put the camera on the floor and shot a few frames. I did some 

available light, and a couple with some bounced fill flash. The one above was available light. It was my choice.

Happy New Year.