Leaves encased in the first ice.
Yesterday Joe and I did a little photography up at "Stepping Stones", up near Foster, RI. A secret little place just off a country road with a pair of waterfalls. The wonderful smell of autumn filled the air. A few patches of ice had encased some leaves. It was great to be alive.
Click to enlarge, more on http://www.armorphoto.com/steppingstone
These incredible canyons are so sensuous, so beautiful, and so crowded. Upper Antelope was like Disneyland yet still spectacular. I can only imagine what a moving experience it would be walking alone through these convoluted red walls.
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Antelope Canyon, like being inside Mother Earth.
Camp Verde, AZ, on the way to Tuba City. Montezuma's Castle closed due to the Tea Party Republicans in Washington. :(((
On a recent trip to D.C .,there were some Kodak moments.
Like the annoying Stink Bugs that were feasting on the grapes at the winery.
Or the pampered little PooPoo dog guarding the neighbor's castle.
And the airplane flying by Washington Monument, (under construction after an earthquake), that reminded me of thalassotherapy September day.
One of so many faceless, homeless people living on the streets of our capital.
And immigrants seeking a better life.
She made her grandfather laugh as she danced around him.
Grandfather and granddaughter have fun together. I could feel the love.
So many moments seen along the sea wall are worth keeping. This one was gone in the blink of an eye, 1/320th of a second at F/11. A fleeting gesture that looked so curious. I just had to keep it, just like the sea glass she found... Another Rhode Island "capture," the way it was on Narragansett Beach, in Rhode Island.
Mark and Rha
The images flooded in yesterday. Sometimes they just do. A nice young couple, Rha and Mark, obviously crazy about each other, agreed to a few photos. So did big, old J.R., who was just sitting alone watching the world go by, a cold drink between his legs. You can see more photos from the shoot, "the way it was" last Sunday, on my home page. I include new selections in the slide show, often updated for your viewing pleasure. Click on a photo to view it enlarged.
J.R. with a drink
I have always loved "street" photography the best. It combines so many skills all at once, from the technical to the artistic, including documentary, portraiture, even "spy" photography. You need a sense of humor, a bit of voyeurism and a sharp eye for composition.
"Not sure I'll make eighty."
So I have been using the sea wall at Narragansett Beach as the ever changing "stage" upon which my "players" appear (and rapidly disappear). I love the challenge of making pictures that are both truly candid (the subject is unaware), to the honest but often less than natural images that result from asking my subject, "Hey, can I take your picture for my book?" (This is is a true statement, btw, as "Seen Along the Sea Wall" is coming along nicely, and will also be a video.)
Take this elderly gentleman for example. He did not object to having me take his picture. He was obviously very comfortable in his skin. He was actually flattered that I would ask. I walked by at first, nodded hello, but having observed his tanned body, and ample belly, hanging out there on the sea wall for all the world to see, that I did a 360 and asked permission to make his portrait. He agreed, and after we had a brief conversation about getting old. He told me he was approaching eighty, and wasn't sure he would make it. We commiserated together about aching backs, and sore knees. It was a short but wonderful little opportunity to connect with another human being, albeit for just a few moments. I like this portrait very much, but regret that I never asked his name... Click to see larger.
Sun, clouds, rain, sun, clouds, rain, over and over, the day was undecided. Still, lots of people trying to get some exercise miles on their bodies before the next heat wave. One of the first things that caught my eye was this old 1960 Mercury Montego with the board on top, a reminder of the way it was down on Long Beach Island in the Sixties., the way I was, having fun in the sun.
1960 Mercury Montego
This is the way it was on my Tom Tetzner tour yesterday afternoon in Charlestown, R.I. Low tide, lots of folks digging clams, and a profusion of Egrets. The whole experience reminded me of sunny days on Long Beach Island in NJ when I was a kid. My 100 to 400mm Canon lens came in very handy. Even from a moving boat many of the images looked sharp, f/8 at 800 ISO gave me shutter speeds 1/1000 to 1/3000 of a second in the bright sun. Take a look!
This is the way it looked along the seawall on the Fourth!
Fashion Statement, 7/4/13
A smorgasbord of sights along the sea wall in Narragansett, Rhode Island. Photos and video by Jan Armor
This is the way it was at our Boot Camp II Workshop at 5 AM this Saturday. I noticed this nice lady was clutching a large quantity of shells as she walked up the beach. I greeted her and asked her what was she going to do with so many? She responded with one word, "Stuffies!" To see more pictures from the workshop click here.
These shells are for making Stuffies.
This is the way it was in New York City yesterday. Stimulating!
Click on a thumb nail to see it big!
This is the way it was last Saturday at MOMA in NYC, one of my favorite museums. There was an extensive collection of Bill Brandt's photography, portraits, wide angle nudes, and images from World War II taken during the bombing of London. I've always admired his work, particularly the distorted nudes. All the iconic ones were there, and many photographs I had never seen before.
Large paintings make a great place to do some street shooting. The crowd wasn't too bad, and the collections at MOMA were fabulous, as usual. Besides enjoying the art myself, I like to take pictures of people doing the same. I crank the ISO up to 1600, Aperture preferred at f/8, and wait for an interesting gesture of posture and use the art as the background. Heres a few, and if you click on the thumb it will get bigger...
Snowy Egret preening
Tom is terrific... not more than 30 seconds into our walk down the bay side of Napatree Point he spotted a couple of Osprey overhead. This was a prelude to a morning of birding with Tom. He spied a Blue Heron across a breachway that it took me 5 minutes to get into focus. Everywhere we went Mr. Tetzner kept up a running dialogue of advice on when to see what where. He showed me the fox den on a sand dune, he introduced me to the Fish and Wildlife Wardens, and could ID every darn bird that flew by. Tom just knows what's going on with the wildlife in South County. It was a great morning with a man who I would call, "The Bird Magnet." Take the tour, you won't be sorry. Contact: tjtzner@cox.net or Face Book him: "Thomas James Tetzner. Click this link to see more pictures from yesterday morning... that's the way it was. Tom Tetzner
Kathy and I took the South Kingstown Parks and Recreation bus down to NYC on Saturday. Did some street shooting and took in MOMA, as usual. Lots of fun! See the slideshow on my website: http://www.armorphoto.com/nyc
The Apple Store, NYC
It was hot yesterday. That's the way it was on Indian Lake. But these teenage boys knew how to cool off. Take a look at the short video, "Horseplay On The Raft."
Taking The Plunge.
This is the way my rapper friend's arm looked sporting his religious tattoos. By the way, I tested Lightroom 5 Beta to vignette multiple areas in the same photo, the tattoo on his forearm and the one on his hand. A nice new feature!
Tattoo'd in many places...
Ernie and Renee
This is the way they were on Sunday, sitting in the sunshine, a perfect pair, with their two Harley's parked at the curb. I introduced myself, and Kathy, and we talked a little about the beautiful day, the view, and the nice people you might meet here along the wall, people just like them.
