Look out the window, watching the branches sway, rock and roll actually – big limbs still even in the wind gusts, smaller ones doing the dance though. The sky that intense shade of blue that happens at the false dawn, more intense than can be named or if there’s a name I don’t know it..reminds me of being out on the water duck hunting years ago, hearing the birds but not quite seeing them, remembering just how cold cold could be.

WOW its so incredibly beautiful….quick, camera, tripod, memory card…not going out, set it up on kitchen table…shoot few frames…long exposures which I’ve been meaning to play with lately…not even concerned about shooting through the glass…just the need to make some frames, can I capture the mood, the cold, the intensity?

Coffee’s ready – good to be alive!

“You bet!”,  I emailed back. It all seemed so easy. In my spare time ( whatever and whenever that is!) I do landscape photography – in much the same non-traditional way I do the rest of my photography. Here’s a chance to put it out in the public eye and get some feedback, sell  a print or two…who knows, maybe the gallery scene next!

Yea, it all seemed so easy. I thougt about what I’d submit. It all seemed so easy, ideas were streaming through my head like a runaway freight train. I got busy, shelved the train and suddenly the deadline was approaching…Suddenly I really didn’t like my choices, second-guessed myself to death over and over again.

The bottom line – a few things I learned on my way – IT’S NOT EASY! It’s not easy being an artist, baring your soul and spirit. It’s not easy allowing yourself to be vulnerable. I think ego, one of the essential components of an artist, is way more fragile than I ever let on…

Bottom line, it may not be easy but “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”

I’ll have some work hanging in the show – here’s the particulars:
A juried show, art work from 40 regional artists will be on display and for sale.  Works from many genres are represented: pottery, sculpture, photography, wood carving, watercolor, oils, pastels, acrylics, jewelry and more.

Artist wine & refreshments reception,
Friday November 20, 6-9pm
Gallery open weekends,
Sat. November 21 & 28, 11am-6pm
Sun. November 22 & 29, noon-4pm

Exeter town hall gallery, across from the bandstand, right in the heart of downtown Exeter, NH.

Funds Raised

Percent of proceeds go to support ECCA’s scholarship fund, so that all area children have the opportunity to discover the creativity within them.

So if you’re able, please come – especially Friday, have a glass or few of wine, and check out the art – and I promise not to be fragile!

Here’s a couple of my photos you may see.

My nephew was married recently in Pittsburgh, PA. I went – carrying only 1 camera and 1 lens. In a total test of my willpower, I also only brought 2 flash cards – a 4gig and a 2gig. Since I always shoot raw, that wasn’t a lot of images I could retain.

Pittsburgh was unseasonably cold and rainy, but the morning of the wedding I walked down a typical Pittsburgh hill ( they’re reminiscent of San Francisco if you’ve never been to Pittsburgh) to a church I’d passed a gazillion times but had never stopped to shoot. I found an open door but the interior of the church was as dark as a dungeon, so I played around with the incredible architecture. The church was built around 1901 – the ivy covering the walls seemed that old as well. I’ll admit to wishing I had a tripod and/or some strobes along. I was shooting at a 15th of a second at F 2.8. For those who aren’t photographers, that gobbledygook simply means there was no light and it was tough to hold the camera steady – especially since it was raw damp and freezing!

That afternoon when I went to the wedding ( at a historic downtown hotel), I noticed the rest of downtown in the gloom from a room where I was going to change into a full-blown tux…this was a black tie affair – including 1 poor soul still working at 6pm on a Saturday. Made a few photos using the window as a steadying agent for the camera.

Shot a few wedding photos also, haven’t had a chance to even look to see what I got, so here’s a few photos from a busman’s holiday.

For those who might not know, the empty space project is about those places that have become abandoned or otherwise left out of use. I’m alwqays looking for places to explore and welcome ideas or names of people to contact.

And if you can’t get out of bed for it, here – enjoy the sunrise!

Here’s a few photos from the latest shoot – I think it was 12 degrees outside…that’s what the temperature was of the jail as well – can’t wait for Spring!