Shooting Depth

This pic is hot off the CF card as it was just taken last Friday! 

I had fun shooting this downtown view among others that day because they reminded me of what my mission and passion is as a photographer--to make the uncommon, common to YOU. Part of the challenge is in my commitment to drawing images from places without public access so that there is authenticity. I want YOU to know that my goal in continuing to build the Chelfoto library is for it to be a place that YOU can count on something new, fresh, and a creative angle that is not overdone. Let's keep up this journey together and take in some of the best views life has to offer!

Reflections

This photo is from a recent Chicago adventure on a rainy Saturday morning. At first, I was disappointed in the lighting or lack of it, but then the absence of brilliant blue sky turned my focus onto the buildings themselves. Seeing them as clusters of freestanding monuments instead of a postcard backdrop. I took over 150 pictures that day.

To me, the reflections were the coolest part. They seemed like ghosts, and I appreciated them for the additional layering. Seeing them as buildings on buildings, peeking around each other like in this image. The dimly lit scene was a better stage for imagery and urban shadow effects that only lasted in the morning. An hour later the sun came out again, changing in typical Chicago fashion, end scene and cut! It was like another city altogether.

Transience

Recently, someone asked about what makes a marketable photo. There are countless opinions on this from writers like Ron Engh (who is great!), and my two-cents is that the importance comes from an element that draws in the viewer or strikes a different mood. While my last post referenced the 'non-passerby', I like this shot because it singles-in on the commonly 'passed-by.'

It's likely that this stationed musician sees a representation of three-quarters of the New York populous by just sitting in his chair each day. There's an interesting concept here, the notion of seeing everything by going nowhere, and I thought its irony would be most appreciated with a dramatic black and white overlay.

Capturing Culture

The opportunity to travel and take pictures has been my long-time dream. From a young age, I've been inspired by what I see on trips both domestically and abroad. Even through the uniquely beautiful lenses of culture, it is both apparent and profound to me that human needs are essentially basic across the board. Everyone wanting to be recognized, loved and special. My goal in photography comes from creating images which foster a common connection to these places-making them known to the non-passerby.