Something Silly

Every once in a while you run across something so sublime it just begs to find expression.  And here's a great example.  A blog and site called Pothole.com capturing some whimsical moments in the urban landscape.  Giving a new look to an old problem:  the Pothole. 

They have several slide shows from different cities.  These sample photos come from the site and there are plenty more. So take the plunge and you may start to see those annoying little black holes in a whole new light. 

Opening to Grace at Richmond Hill

A few weeks ago, I decided to spend an afternoon wandering around the Church Hill area of Richmond.  Some of the city's oldest homes are there, by the church where Patrick Henry gave his famous speech about liberty or death.  I happened upon this place called Richmond Hill, intrigued by it's well-worn brick wall, a barrier that made me curious about what lay beyond.  

I wandered into the entry way and asked a man there, "what is this place?"  He explained it was a former convent and now a religious retreat, devoted to the city of Richmond and healing.  He said they had a lovely garden and a labyrinth and, noticing my camera, offered that I might enjoy taking pictures there.  When I asked the lady at the desk, she welcomed me in.  

It was warm, overcast with hints of rain all afternoon.  The moist air was rich with birdsong as I opened my eyes to what was there, and after a while, I could "see."  As a filmmaker, it would be the sum of all the pieces of that experience, captured moment by moment.  Each to be revealed and honored.  Later I would find an order for the images and create a slide show.  You'll find a link below. 

I was on a journey, inward towards a stillness I sometimes feel after yoga or meditation.  And outward towards a quiet beauty, a serenity marked by the weight of years... and all the seekers who tread upon these paths.   

Photographing a place that "speaks" to me puts me in a space without time or borders.  There's just that fragment that beckons, catches my eye, and the time spent is without measure, save what is captured as a way of remembering.  

And I position myself to find the right framing, sense the tonalities and structures that will form the composition, and find an exposure that blends the light dark values.  I can feel when the framing works, almost hear a click as it locks in, and rarely crop after the fact.  I may shoot a few different exposures, especially when I'm using shadow and light as a means to focus the eye.  And perhaps a modest color correct, mostly to add a little contrast and richness to the image.  

These images are part of a larger set I've placed on Flicker, called Richmond Hill.   If you go there, you'll get a more complete sense of that afternoon.  Opening to grace.

Intel's Visual Life

Still from The Expressionist

I found myself on Intel's Visual Life site and I want to share.  Especially a video called "The Expressionist" which you'll find on the site.  


In it, designer Michael Wolff talks about understanding the visual experience, its importance to him personally and its impact upon his vision as a designer.  He speaks so clearly about the importance of seeing and engaging in the world around us.  And how that ability informs his work as a designer.  The visuals that accompany his comments are simple, sparse and elegant.

Still from The Expressionist

I'm seeing more videos in this style these days.  Basically static camera, every shot well composed, action takes place within the frame, each shot placed with the next to tell the story, sparse ambient music.  


When it works well, with purpose, it really moves you thought the moment in a highly visual manner.  Leaving lots of room for the words to have impact.  A huge departure from the often frenetic pace video used to embrace.  But that was then... and if this is what's replacing it, I applaud.  But do check out "The Expressionist."  It's well worth the 5 minutes.

Still from The Sartorialist

I also watched the piece on Intel's site about fashion blogger Scott Schuman, better known as "The Sartorialist."  He talks about shooting street style fashion, which he does with aplomb.  


And while I find him personally a little off-putting, as opposed to the engaging and fascinating Michael Wolff, he has a keen eye and a great sense of capturing people imbued with that certain something we call style.  And although he directs and poses his people, his photos have that sense of casual encounter that typifies the street.  I especially liked watching him work with the discovered moment and then seeing what he actually shot.


What I haven't talked about is Intel's understanding that it's not about their chip, it's about what you can do with it.  And what better way to show that, than to profile people who personify "the visual life."   I think it's a great way to re-brand themselves.  And the Intel message only appears at the very end, when you're ready to receive it.  Marketing magic.

Something Borrowed Something Blue

QV Image photo

Wedding photos.  Sometimes tacky, sometimes enchanting.  Offering all the romantic vision of a Hollywood/Bollywood movie.  At their best, they're an approximation of the photo above, displayed on the web portfolio of QV Image, based in Sydney, Australia.  And QV, from what I can tell from their website, takes themselves very seriously, showing lots of artfully posed couples approximating some version of marital bliss.  And videos too, all somewhat predictable, like "David and Vanessa, First Dance."  But that's just once side of the QV Image. 

They also know how to have fun.  And I highly recommend Jimtrace Wedding Highlight - Casual Story Part 2.  It is at once strange, weird, fun, charming, silly, a spoof and an all around good time.  And you can tell, everyone had a great time making it.  

So there you go.  Even the wedding video biz can provide its creative moments.  And thanks to QV Image, Jim and Trace for theirs.

Exploding Vision

D. Bailes

 Last time I was in New York I visited the High Line.  If you haven't been there, it's a space transformed, now an elevated  walkway/garden/observation post, that transports you to a new vision of the city.  It's a fully realized shift in view as it sets you apart from the every day urban street experience.  People visit it from all over the world.  And it's quiet presence has served as a catalyst for any number of architectural innovations.  

HL23 Website

D. Bailes

Take, for example, HL23 by Neil Denari.  Here's how he puts it:  "We wanted to make new architecture that honors the old in certain ways, but that stands as an elevated world, integrated with the High Line in a new way."  Here's what he's talking about:

Renderings from HL23 Website

Michael Falco for NYT

Limited to a small footprint, HL23 grows wide as it grows tall.  And it shows us how to use space differently, covering the steel framing with glass front and back, bowing and curving out. The NYT calls it "sleek and muscular as an Italian sports car."  I can only imagine how captivating your vision of New York would be if you were fortunate to observe the city from within its calmly elegant spaces.  

Michael Falco for NYT

And yes, HL23 was not designed to quietly blend into the neighborhood. Rather, it calls out for our attention.  And it does play well off the ever-changing  High Line.  I think it's a great example of how the High Line serves as a catalyst for a bolder vision.  
If you want more, John Hill blogs about architecture on his Archidose site and has some great photos showing the High Line and it's surrounds.  His site is a rich experience and you might want to spend some time exploring his take on architecture and design.

Hong Kong Honey

Just watched a wonderful short piece on Vimeo about a man keeping bees in Hong Kong.  Beautifully conceived, a simple mediation.  The insanely huge city of Hong Kong, the almost insignificant but essential honey bees and the nostalgia they bring for a connected life.  Check it out at Hong Kong Honey.


But wait, there's more.  HK Honey has a website.  And they are an organization of "beekeepers, artists and designers that aim to communicate the value of bees and benefits of locally produced honey."  Even thinking about it slows my mind to a more contemplative state.  And how nice to think about these bee fanciers living on the other side of the globe, creating an oasis of peace in a frenetic urban environment.  The photos were taken by Martin Cheung.  And he has some cool pinhole camera shots of the bees that feel like an inside the hive pov.  You can see those on his site.

Photos by Martin Cheung

The New New Yorker

I admit it up front, I haven't been paying attention.  So if this is not news to you, then you can skip the rest.  But today I spent some time on the New Yorker website.  And I found a lot of stuff that was new, or I should say new to me.  And I'd like to tell you about it, just in case I'm not the last person in the world to discover the wheel, or fire or whatever.


So, here goes.  Yes, of course there are those indepth well- written pieces that so typify the New Yorker of old.  But there are also wonderful short bits, lots of video and audio slide shows.  They even animate one of their cartoons, although not sure that works so well.  But there's plenty to explore.  And I'm talking about the side show stuff.  The main attractions remain.  For example:


A bit they call fingerpainting which are city scenes created by Jorge Colombo.  Click on one and you watch, in process, as he "draws" using Brushes, an iphone app.  That's a finished piece on the left.

And there's a jigsaw puzzle of a New Yorker cover, with three layers of difficulty for the visual wizards out there.  A built-in timer lets you play against the clock. 

But what has me really buzzed is that all the charming video pieces that I used to write about that were abandoned by the NYT seem to have found a welcome home at TNY.  Cool.  
So here are some pieces to check out:

Peter Schjeldahl writes a blog about art.  For example, his piece "Bye Bye Kitty" on new Japanese art at the Japan Society has haunting, strange images.  I also like listening to his voice, it has a pleasing intimacy, a lot of humanity in his descriptions.

"Portraiture Now"  A fascinating audio slideshow about modern portraits by TNY photographers, Steve Pyke and Martin Schoeller, who made them.  The work was on display at the National Portrait Gallery in DC.  Their bold work is brought to life by their insightful comments.  Very nice piece.

"Burning Bright"  A beautiful visual collage about Asian people who live with Tigers. Video without words.  Just natural sound, music and footage from a new documentary in process by George Butler.  He did Pumping Iron and lots of other work.

"Social Studies"  A funny and engaging profile of a young man running for NY City Council.  What makes it work is he's still in High School and talks about the juggle of campaigning while trying to keep his grades up.  Plus he's so earnest but also self-aware, and the piece just makes you think about how all those political pros so cynically package themselves.  


So there you have some things to savor.  I love the variety, how eclectic it is.  I love the wry humor that wafts around the edges of some of their stuff.  Plus the varied collection of visual delights.  Intelligently conceived and skillfully executed.  Thank you TNY.