For ArtWalk this year, I'm presenting a series entitled "The Creative Process". The project is composed of five (5) portraits of different Birmingham Artists. Each of the five (5) framed portraits includes the documentation of how each shot reached the final print; this will include: the predicted sketch of the shot, a polaroid of the shot, a contact sheet, and the final print.
It will kind of look like this:
I'll be presenting at the heavenly Urban Standard on September the 5th and 6th, so if you're in Birmingham during that time, you should come by.
Look for some of the polaroids that will be featured in the show to make an appearance on the blog this week.
I've gotten to know Taylor Christian Jones over the last couple years, and I'm better for it. Every time we have coffee, or just talk about photography, I'm inspired to go out and shoot.
Here are a few shots from "The Roof" series of my friend Patrick. Patrick is a truly wonderful and loyal friend, and although my camera was messed up when I took these, I still think they came out cool!
The last 4 days I've been in Dallas with Laura visiting friends.
I took all of my camera equipment, and didn't shoot a single frame....it was wonderful.
We just returned from the 9 hour drive home, and in 4 hours Bryan and I will be leaving for the great NYC to take a wedding photographer workshop with the also great John Dolan.
I'm very excited about this week.
We're taking some camera's and a laptop, so we should both be updating our blogs while there.
Josh Wilson is a very dear friend of mine, who is also an amazing photographer and musician. You can check out his photography HERE and you can check out his music HERE.
Josh is no stranger to my roof. A few months ago, he and a his band mates from Handwritten Letters played a song for a Grey Haven video series called, Watch the Grass Grow.
When I was in high school, I took a class on Rhetoric. During that time we were asked to keep what is know as a Commonplace Book. I used this book to store ideas, quotes, an any inspiration I happened to come across. It is a wonderful item to keep, and this blog was very much so inspired by my keeping up with that commonplace book through the years.
A few years after my high school days, I had the pleasure of working for a library. It really is an incredible spot for thought and consideration, and I do believe we are slowing slipping away from it's simple pleasure. With all the information in the world at your fingertips, why would you want to go to a physical place that only consists of a few thousand books? I leave that for a far later post.
As an employee of the library, I had the privilege of perusing the book that were donated and weeding out the ones that were not in good condition...and also the one's I wanted.
It was then I came upon the commonplace book of Bettie Hayes started in 1933.
....it is absolutely amazing.
The pages feel and look like individual autumn leaves: each just as fragile, beautiful, and meaningful as the next. I can't really explain everything that is contained inside, but the list includes: newspaper clippings, poems, esssays, speeches, letters, quotes,..so many treasures.
The purpose of a Commonplace Book is to collect and record the common things of this world, and after you have done this, to stand back and recognize the extraordinary nature of the common. Where would we be without common? Without the man chasing a dime down the sidewalk; the woman in the shop window; the child releasing a balloon; the kitten purring.
He who is faithful with a little, will be entrusted with much. And surely, he who observes the little, will see much.
Thank you Bettie for reminding me.
Here (typos and all) is an exert from this very Common book:
WATER
Mr. Toastmaster, Ladies, and Gentlemen:
I speak of water. What visions does the word conjure up! What delectable thoughts does it bring to a contemplative mind! Mr. Toastmaster, Ladies, and Gentlemen, I maintain that water is the most beneficient, the most benign and the most beautiful of all the elements with which a generous Creator endowed this mundance sphere.
You ask if water is beneficient! Look upon the ocean upon whose bosom is born the freighted argosies of distant climes; look upon the rivers upon whose bosom is born the commerce of nations, making possible communication and intercourse among her people; look upon the harnessed power which turns the wheels and gives impetus to applied industry; look upon these things and dare say that water is not beneficient!
You ask if water is benign? Consider the tide which flows twice every twenty-four hours--now retreating, now advancing upon the wave-kissed beach; make glad and glorious the summer morn; consider the rain which decends upon a parched and arid desert and causes blossoms to burgeon on where before there was but desert sands and wate; consider these things and dare say that water is not benign.
You ask if water is beautiful? The answer is found in the Niagara, in the roaring cataract, in the pounding mountain torrents, in the purling brook; the answer is found upon the bosom of the hidden lake which reflects as a mirror each passing play of radiance from the skies and the lofty evergreen, as they are gently caressed by the evening breeze yea, the answer is found in the tear drops of the mother as she bids her son go forth and fight for her imperiled country! Yea, verily, water is beautiful!
Never again while man has breath, let it be gainsaid that water is beneficent, that is benign, that it is beautiful! But, Mr. Toastmaster, Ladies, and Gentlemen, as a beverage it is a teetotal failure!
I recently received the film back from the Look3 conference. Here we go...
So on the way to the conference, Rob and I spotted a large rock quarry off the road a little ways, so we decided we would pull off and walk to the top. You can't really understand the depth of the place with these, but just picture us being able to fall to our deaths at any moment...
After Look3, we all stopped in Greenville, SC, to see the wonderful folks of Portland Studios. Along with letting Bob and I see how incredible their place looks and feels, they also let me take a portrait of each of them.
One person, one shot. Here's how it came out.
*Pardon me, but I'm terrible at remembering names, so I just won't include any.
It's a weird and wonderful thing when your friends start having babies! I went to highschool with Alyssa way back when (aka the early 2000's), and had the wonderful experience of shooting her wedding.
She and her little boy, Trey, came up about a week ago to take some pictures for her husband, Carl's, birthday! He's over seas right now, so I hope these picture bring him a little closer to home. All three of yall are amazing!
I pretty much made a figure 8 (with a little tail) on the South/Midwest United States.
I'm tired, but it's been a good week. I've been shooting lots of film, and yesterday I got a roll back, edited it, and forgot to post it on the server....so....I'm going to post a shot unedited (which I never do*), because I like it so much.
This is Nicholas. You may remember me talking about him when I took my trip to Romania.
Nicholas served as a missionary in Romania for 2 years and has just returned to the States "for good".
He and his fiancee, Melissa, are getting married in October, and they both came up to visit a week ago. When Nicholas was about to go for a run, I ask him to go up on the roof of my house for a portrait.
Welcome home, man!
Peace. - Caleb
*Yes Cary, I wish I had kept his feet in. But I still like the shot.
The world is a wonderful and weird place. I guess that's why the story of the journey has been spoken and written about for thousands of years. Odysseus' journey home, Joseph's journey to leadership, Jack Kerouac's Road, all serve as highway reminders: "It's not where you're going, it's how you get there."
Travel becomes story when you take your eyes off the road.
In late November of last year, I decided that the month of December was going to be a travel month. As much as I love home, sometimes you have to go find inspiration outside the four walls of your own city. I bought two plane tickets: one to Denver and one to New York City.
In Denver, I found Larry, of whom I've already written, and in New York I found Steve, of whom I will write about....now.
It was cold. The rain had just begun to fall when all three of us, guided by now native Rob, took shelter in one of the many "open-late" italian dessert shops in Alphabet City. This one was called "De Robertis." As we walked in the shop, there was no question about what they sold. Two refrigerated glass columns stretched the floor for 30 ft on both our left and right, literally stuffed with baked goods. We shuffled past a line of customers and moved into the crowded dinning area. Leathery booths lined the eggshell walls, while florescent lighting buzzed and flickered above our wet heads. Framed photos hung heavily on the walls, weighed down by years of balancing on a single hook and a thickening layer of dust on top. The place was filled, and a table in the center of the room was the only one available. Seated in front of the table was a man in his forties holding a violin , and next to him, a younger man with a guitar.
Small restaurant musicians by nature exist for sheer environmental reasons; one of the five restaurant stimuli. Food satisfies taste, it's aroma satisfies smell. The decor satisfies sight, while the materials that compose the decor satisfies touch. Then comes hearing. French restaurants have their tuxedo dressed violinist; mexican restaurant have their mariachi bands; and most ever restaurant has the circular poor quality tile ceiling stereo with whatever Enya, Celine Dion, or 97.5 FM Easy Listening compilation you desire.
However, it was clear after the very first chorus of "Blowin in the Wind" that Steve (the violinist) and Peter (the guitarist) were not your average restaurant musicians. They were not there to add to the environment. They were there to create experience. Between stanzas, Steve peppered their performance with cries to the crowd like, "Everybody sing!", or "One Last Time!" And everyone did sing, and we alway sang one last time.
Here's a clip of their rousing cover of "Yellow Submarine", by the Beatles: CLICK HERE.
The singing continued for about 45 minutes. After which, I decided I wanted to take a portrait of Steve and Peter.
When Steve saw me approaching, he asked, "Where you guys from?" When we told him Alabama he lit up and said "I was in a movie once in Alabama." He went through his pockets in a burst and took out a card which read: Steve Greenstein - Musician, Actor. He went on to explain, "It was called 'The Bear', and it was about Couch Bear Bryant. I played Joe Namath and even got on the poster."
*note: he's the one to which Bear Bryant says, "If you won't be beaten, you can't be beaten."
We continued to talk for about 10 more minutes. I asked if I could take their portrait. Steve gave me a nod and a, "Sure", and began cradling his violin (which I thought was pretty corny, but kind of priceless). I took about four frames and then we parted ways.
A month later, Rob sent me a text message that read, "At De Robertis, the dessert shop. The same musicians are here and I am the only non Italian."
Tomorrow I drive up to Chattanooga, TN, to shoot for Matthew Perryman Jones's new album. We have a really great concept worked out, so if all goes well, awesomeness will occur.
Speaking of the Jones'...
About a month ago Cannan Elizabeth Jones came into the world.
She is a cute baby.
Fact.
Matthew and Megan wanted some shots of the new wee one, so away to Nashville I went.
He's running for President...of the Alabama Public Service Commission. This is a state wide office, which means the 50-60 people from Alabama who visit my site each day can vote for him.
Yay!
Matt called me about a month ago and told me he was running for this office. He followed by say, "Ok, I can either ask you to give me money, or some photography. Which one would you prefer?"
I love family.
Peace. - Caleb
P.S. I'm terrible at explaining what this office actually does, so if a certain THOMAS RICHIE has a few moments to spare, I would much oblige a explanation in the comment section.
Tricia & Judah are getting married this weekend in Mobile!
The great Josh Wilson and I will be shooting the wedding, and we couldn't be more pumped about it.
Trish came into the studio about a month ago to have her bridal portrait taken, and before she left I ran off a roll of her goofing off around the curtains. I hope this gives you an idea of the wedding fun we will be experiencing this weekend!
