Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Photography’ Category

They’ve Struck Water at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center!

Posted in Photography, tagged , on November 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Joshua Tree, California
Fall, 2011

There was never a reason not  to visit the Joshua Tree Retreat Center (JTRC).  And the architecture by Lloyd Wright, the quiet of the Mojave Desert, the self-realization nature of the curricula and more make a bouquet of reasons to visit this special place located on Hwy 62 in the California Desert.  Now they’ve discovered hot springs!  Although yet to be developed, this post describes what is available now.

For those of us who gravitate to the lake or sea, we might be thinking that we would miss the water — but no more!  Since I have been visiting here, it has become more lush.  So with a couple of days on my own, I decided to take a photographic inventory of the water features at JTRC.

The Chalice Pond (1)
It’s 7am on a crisp late October morning. I get up and in my quest for coffee at the Dining Hall;  I pass the Chalice Pond. Constructed in 2009, this was the first of a  major undertaking of the new water projects conceived by the Director here, Victoria GeVoian. The sun is behind the fountain to the East, and is just beginning to hit the upper jet. The Chalice Pond is located between the Apartments and Studios and the Ridge-line Cottages (See map near the end of this post).

The Chalice Pond at JTRC

The Dining Hall Fountain (2)
I continue on my quest to the dining hall. There is nobody up-and-around yet, and I pass the “grandmother” of JTRC fountains, located just north of the dining hall. In the distance to the East are the Caravancias (dormitories) and the new swimming pool. I have taken still pictures here before for groups that have attended the Center, including a “fotobomb” shot.  My son introduced me to the concept of the fotobomb – something that appears in the picture that is definitely and most absurdly out-of-place.  In my youth, we would have asked, “what’s wrong with this picture?” (I have omitted the picture here to protect the faces of the innocent — and the guilty!)

The image that I am thinking about was done for a school that holds classes here.  I arranged some of the staff and students around this triangular-shaped fountain.  It was a magical moment.  Everyone took my direction, and continued to interact as they had before I had guided them into position — so the moment was “real.”  I had a Quantum Q flash ready to fill-in the shadows of the strong desert sun and was ready to release the shutter.  Suddenly, a passer-by ran into frame claiming, “hey, what are you guys doing here taking this picture? — pictures should not be posed, posed pictures not real!”  (My dear mentor, the late Monte Zucker is smiling now). I clicked the shutter, and she was the only thing in the shot that appeared out-of-place.  She was later “Shopped” from the image.  The actual image made was picked-up be the school catalog.

There are coy in this pond, and it is a meeting place for the people who attend events here.  It’s a great place to sit and not be too far from the coffee!

The Dining Hall Fountain at JTRC

Doing an about-face will give you this view of the dining facilities.  The facilities are really quite special — designed with a high, peaked ceiling and picture windows.

Dining Hall Fountain at JTRC from the East

And when you are inside the dining room in the daytime looking back to the North, you’ll be rewarded with a view of the fountain as well:

The Dining Hall Fountain from Indoors

The Caravansary Fountain (3)
The Caravansary rooms have a special spot in my heart. Maybe because it was where I stayed during my first visit here over five years ago. Or, maybe it’s because it is where I met several close friends like Jim Dewell and where I first saw Brooke Medicine Eagle. There was no fountain at the Caravansary then; perhaps the Director, Victoria had it in-the-works. But at that time it was just desert. The Caravansary Fountain may not be as active as the Chalice Pond, or as serene as the Dining Hall Fountain, but I think this one is my favorites. I think this is partially because it reflects the shape of Lloyd Wright’s architectural details on the roof-line of the Caravansary just beyond.

The Caravansary Fountain at JTRC

The Pool and Spa (4)
Directly behind this location, adjacent to Friendship Hall, are the new pool and spa.  I am told that there are still some landscaping plans in-the-works, but the pool and spa are heated operational.  At the time that I made this image, there as a German photographer doing laps at about 9 in the morning.  He was being observed or accompanied by the mysterious, hatted figure seen in the shadows of the foreground.

The JTRC Pool and Spa

The Friendship Hall Fountain (5)

I thought that I had finished the inventory of water features and fountains when I remembered a large pot by the Friendship Hall.  I drove (yes, I know, a purist would have walked) over to the area adjacent to the caravancias and grabbed this quick image of the Friendship Hall Fountain.

The Friendship Hall Fountain

The Gift Shop Fountain (6)
If you check in at the Office, you’ll pass through the Center’s great gift store — but not before you pass this sight on the left:

The JTRC Gift Shop Fountain

The Sanctuary Fountain and Detail (7)

Of course, by now I should have known that there would be a fountain at the Sanctuary. The sound from this one echoes off of the stone walls of the Sanctuary building onto the quadrangle.

The Sanctuary Fountain (detail)

I am informed that the proper Fung Shui for this fountain is just right where it is: on the “dragon-side” of the building.

The JTRC Sanctuary Fountain

The Meditation Building Fountain (8)
Quiet, secluded and peaceful, the Meditation Building is directly behind (to the West) the Sanctuary. Here, a quiet fountain is watched-over by a goddess (at the time of this writing, I believe it is one of the Taras). Silence is encouraged here.

The Fountain at the JTRC Meditation Building

If you ask about the figures in silhouette in the image above, I am afraid that I just couldn’t say, other than to mention that my assistants often wear hats.

The Ding Le Mei House Pool (9)
I have photographed the house of the founder of the Institute of Mental Physics (yes, it is a name that can be an ice-breaker) before. For background on the center and the founder, I invite the reader to visit the Institute of Mental Physics website. I walked (this time) over to the Ding Le Mei House to scout the pool.  The next day, I returned to make this image with the help of Regina, my daughter-in-law.

The Ding Le Mei House Pool at JTRC

On the Grounds Map
Here are the map locations of the water features that I have mentioned in this article:

The JTRC Grounds Map

Oh, did I mention the gift shop itself?  One of the best-stocked New Age gift shops that I have seen is here. I just couldn’t help picking up a rattle made from nut shells!

In this image, the pendulae in the center are moved by the breeze coming in from the front door — or are they?

The JTRC Gift Shop

Closing
Photographers always encourage each other to have personal projects. I made use of some personal time in the desert to do this one — for myself, and for my friends at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center. I hope you like it.

Post Script
After reviewing this blog post, Victoria informed me that I had missed one. I said, “you mean that one that is in pieces next to Noble Hall?” “No! The one on the exercise pad next to Noble Hall.” “So, I missed two!” I include these for the sake of completeness.

First, the lonely fountain south of Noble Hall:

Noble Hall Fountain 1 (incomplete)

And the one with miles of potential:

Noble Hall Fountain 2

Read Full Post »

Visiting “A Valley of Vitality Wellness Studio” – Prescott, AZ

Posted in Photography, tagged , on October 23, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Several months ago, I was minding my own business and nursing a torn left bicep muscle suffered when Chauncie decided to chase a cat and squirrel at the same moment — the moment for me being unguarded as I was glibly chatting with a neighbor.

"Chauncie"

Chauncie is a 70 lb mixed-breed — a mix between a drool bucket and love sponge! Weak she is not. It is not uncommon for passing school boys and girls to say, “Gee mister, you have a neat dog, but it looks kind of scary!”

When Facebook suggested friends in my area, A Valley of Vitality Wellness Studio came up, and I immediately thought, “now that is exactly what I need — more vitality!” And my arm could use some treatment too. So I called Amanda.

Amanda Barnett is the force behind the Valley of Vitality Wellness Center. An R.N. and nationally-certified massage therapist, she knows what she is doing. And the introductory special doesn’t hurt either. During our small-talk she found out about my love of photography. I interrupted her, “I know what you want — a Web Commercial.” “How did you know?” she asked. I am sure that I said something stupid like, “doesn’t everyone?” But that conversation led to what for me is a growing respect for this professional, and I can’t say enough about her knowledge and skill. She has helped to neutralize the effects of Chauncie on my arms.

A Valley of Vitality Wellness Studio

Today I went over to the studio to get some pick-up shots for the web commercial. Amanda has expanded the facility with additional services like far-infrared (FIR) sauna. While I was there, I made several images of the rooms including the ones above and below.

Therapy Room 1

And still more:

Far-infrared Suana

And another therapy room (Amanda’s business sense has enabled her to expand the business recently):

One of several therapy rooms

Highly recommend!

Read Full Post »

An Actor Prepares – Again

Posted in Photography, tagged , , , , , , , , on October 22, 2011| Leave a Comment »

St. Alice of Chattahoochee
It will have been almost five years now since I received an email from my friend and acting coach Rod Menzies with a general invitation to come see Alice Johnson Boher in a solo performance called “St. Alice of Chattahoochee.”  I joke around that I don’t get out much. And the joke is, it’s mostly true. I didn’t know what to expect – but I decided to go, even though the traffic in LA doesn’t exactly motivate one to go out at any time unless it is a matter of life and death.

Well, I could have died laughing that night. I don’t think I have ever quite seen (or heard of) a comedienne like Alice Johnson. Rod directed this one-woman show that was at-once touching, embarrassing (in a good way), raucous, physical and poignant .  It was the first time since Phantom of the Opera that I had contemplated coming back for the next performance. I left the theater thinking to myself, “what a lucky guy Rod is to be able to work with people like Alice Johnson.”

Alice Johnson Boher and Rod Menzies

On Points and Arcs
Rod and I see each other only occasionally since I have moved to Arizona. But my foray into HDSLR video production seems to draw us back together. I do the video mostly on behalf of charitable organizations in Arizona. But if we are both in LA at the same time, we like to have breakfast at Nick’s Coffee Shop & Deli on Pico near La Cienega on a weekday morning to catch up.

It was at that last breakfast that I was telling Rod how moved I was to watch him coach Elisa Donovan the day before her read of her upcoming solo-performance called “Sweet Dreams,” which is based on the death of her father.  Like any outsider, I am woefully unaware and unappreciative of the work and skills that are required for a successful performance.  This is not practically true – but it feels that way sometimes.  I watched silently as Rod listened to Elisa’s read.  He had a calm but focused attention that was registering on not only every word, but on the “arc,” of the story.  She paused … he would ask about one word.  She would immediately understand the obvious and subtle implications for the performance, mark-up the script and continue reading.  It was a delight to watch. The next day I was lucky to be asked to film the read.

Elisa Donovan

So at breakfast I told him that I would love to be able to film such a session.  He got a strange look on his face and said, “Well, Alice is coming over in about an hour.  I’ll call her and see how she would feel about it.  I am sure she won’t mind.  That’s the kind of person she is.”

“You don’t mean “Saint” Alice, do you?” (I could feel the grip of destiny on my shoulder).

“Yes, didn’t you see her first play?  Well,  she’s working on another one and I am going to meet with her to discuss it.”

I reminded Rod, “Of course I saw it– twice!”

I just shut my mouth and was glad that I had a Westcott Spiderlite TD5 in the car.  I set up at Rod’s place.

Alice arrived and I became a fly-on-the-wall for the next 90 minutes – camera ‘rolling.’  I am hoping that Rod will have some snippets of this session on his web site soon, and I can hardly wait to see what Alice comes up with next.

Growing up in Hollywood should have numbed me by now — but I am still such a fan of people like Alice and Rod!

Post Script:

Here is a “snippet” from Alice & Rod’s session. Enjoy being the fly-on-the-wall!

Read Full Post »

Who Are You Calling Habibi?

Posted in Photography on October 4, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Sam. A friend in deed.
I never get tired of still photography sessions. In the following collage, I am lucky enough to have made images with two loving sisters who took the time out of their drive to a friend’s wedding to sit for me.

My friend, Sam hosted us at his home in Los Angeles. We spent 30 minutes making images before the girls had to move on – but the time was so well-spent. I had every intention of using Sam’s immaculate gardens to frame the images. But as we chatted while waiting for the girls to arrive, I couldn’t help noticing the elegant simplicity of Sam’s house. Indoors, it was peaceful, and there were framed windows with wispy, white laces and deep green fabrics. And the master bedroom was airy and done in woods and chenille. In every room, light was coming from two directions — almost as if they had be designed with portraiture in mind.

The interior of the house was too much for me to ignore. I asked Sam if he would mind if we shot indoors and he agreed, but not before joking about how the price of the photography permit would escalate accordingly. (I hope he was joking). I believe any thoughts that he had of charging me quickly were forgotten when he saw the ladies walking up to his front door.

When Christine and Vivian arrived, I immediately put Vivian in a wooden chair I pulled from the dining room to the front room picture window and began to shoot. To ‘sweeten’ the picture window images, I used a Quantum Q Flash aimed through a diffuser, and a Canon Speedlite on 1/64 power behind the model. For the balance of the shots, I either went with natural light or natural light and a Monte silver reflector by FJ Westcott.

“Billy, please make find-a-husband pictures.”
Shortly after we began, Vivian said something like, “these pictures, I hope will be good enough for us to find good husbands!” Christine chimed in, “Yes, Billy. Make us our ‘find-a-husband’ pictures.” So I said, “not a problem,” and positioned each one successively in front of the master bedroom window and invited each to look out the window between the layers of chiffon as if by doing so would cause that future person to suddenly appear.

I just love how rich the images look. After the shoot, surprisingly a little tired from working so quickly, I took Sam for an early dinner as a small token of my thanks for being able to use his wonderful home to make the images.

Had the sisters not been on their way to the wedding, we could have spent several hours and a host of wardrobe changes before exhausting ourselves and the space.

A couple of weeks before, I had photographed Christine at the 9-11 remembrance at Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA. The images are at the end of the collage.

The results:

I hope you like what we made.

Read Full Post »

A Simple Video Shoot Degrades to a Life-Coaching Session

Posted in Photography on September 30, 2011| 1 Comment »

I love my adopted Native brother, Wolfs Robe. So much so that my profane side (residue I am sure from a stint in the Air Force) has concocted so many variations on his ceremonial name that I am confident that but not for our close relationship, that I would be in fear of my life or liberty. And I am gratified that he forgives me these attempts to humor myself and that he is also at home in front of the camera and behind the microphone, because I truly enjoy spending the time to make images of him.

In the first year that I photographed him in his beautiful Sedona, AZ, we realized after 12 months that we had enough images through the seasons to make for him a fairly respectable calendar. My favorite image from that first year is probably this one:

Wolfs Robe in Sedona at Sunset

To make this image, we went out on the west side of Sedona at sunset; I brought a couple of lights. The first was a Quantum Q-Flash (one of my favorites) and a trusty Vivitar 285 (don’t laugh, it’s a great unit) for a kicker. I had not yet met Bruce Dorn — so I was not yet comfortable using Speedlights with light modifiers. Bruce was to enlighten me (so to speak) years later.

Anyway, as I have begun to explore the world of HDSLR video, Wolf has been there as my subject and victim as I perpetrate my learning curve on him. And once again, after a year, I surprised him by suggesting that we had enough tracks to allow him to offer to his fans a great DVD of him improvising on the Native American flute in the beautiful red-rock country of Northern Arizona. He agreed to release the DVD under the title of Red Earth.

As winter approaches, we are planning to start a new video project — one where Wolf will go even farther off the beaten paths of Sedona in any weather to improvise on the flute. I can hardly wait to film him in the middle of Oak Creek in the snow as he attempts to trill his way out of the cold.

In the meantime, he recently asked me to help him prepare a training video for the people who purchase his hand-made ‘granfather’ Native flutes. The first half is the care-of part, done in an intimate setting next to a stone fire place. The second half finds Wolf on the banks of Watson Lake.

Wolfs Robe Visits Watson Lake

The next time I pick a location to film Wolf, I am going to pick a place with less distractions. All this time, I thought he was a true professional, literally playing in rain or shine. But there were no people around. The morning we set up at Watson lake, the locals were out in force, kayaking, picnicing and hiking. And being by nature a people person, Wolf was distracted. First you see it in his eyes, as they glance at the pretty girl kayaking past with her lab leading the way by swimming slightly ahead. Next there is a guy adjusting his trunks. Then there is … it doesn’t matter what!

Finally he (as they say in show business) “went-up.” This expression means that he forgot what he was supposed to or was going to say and just sat there looking at the camera with at best a quizzical look on his face. As the frustration builds, he begins to verbalize his frustration.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to step in and talk to the actor. I thought, “What would my director friends Shayde Christian and Rod Menzies do?” But I was brotherly anyway. I stepped in and gently tried to get Wolf to re-focus on his message. He had locked on the subject of “breath control,” a highly technical technique. So I suggested that he return to the basics, and the fog cleared. This is the back-story to the silly clip that I have embedded for you below:

I don’t think that I will be coming out of retirement to be a life coach. But, on the other hand, how hard could it be? And, of course, what could possibly go wrong?

Read Full Post »

“Why Is He Calling Me A Banana?”

Posted in Photography on September 16, 2011| Leave a Comment »

The opportunity to make an image of my Egyptian friend has eluded me for years. Finally, she found time in her busy life to let me photograph her.

I had fantasized about doing something that Monte Zucker might have done: use an Egyptian fabric as a combination background and veil, or maybe to put her on a white (high key) background with flowers or other adornments. But when the time came, it was a simple white sun dress on the beach in Malibu. Of course, I made images at the water’s edge. But the challenges that I like the most are getting out of the direct sun and finding an interesting place near the direct sun with soft, beautiful light that will wrap around the subject’s face with no need for flash or even a reflector — to get the image right when it’s in the camera.

I found it: a weathered sea wall near the water’s edge covered by the cantilever of a beach house. I metered on the wall itself at -1ev, anticipating that she would therefore stand out from the background, as the effective working space was rather narrow. ISO 100, F5.6, 1/200, Adobe RGB.

Now for the pose. (I thought of the masters that I have had the honor to know: What would Monte do? “Body turned away from the light … Face tilted and turned back to the light. Try a 2/3 angle.” What would Robert Lino do? (Something that I can’t, but I digress) “Now, drop your arm and lean, lean! Yes, the Lino Lean!” What would Bruce Dorn do? He would “dutch” the camera — probably to the left). “Now, relax the face and shoulders. Look down at that dog that just came up to you and is sniffing your right foot!”

Click!

"Moza"

So I posted this image in a way that I knew my son, Damon would see it … to make him jealous of course! He, by virtue of his worldly travels is in a position to know a bit of Arabic and therefore tried to confound me with the one-word response: Moza!

I quickly went to the Urban Dictionary, and there it was:

1. moza

is an egyptian [expression] ( most arabs use it as well )means chick , a very beautiful girl
ohhhh my god , did u see this girl , she is moza

2. Moza

Arabic word for banana

used to refer to cute Arabic girls with lighter complexions
“is that jouanna?”
“yea man it is”
“OHH MOZA!”

she replies
“heyyyyyyyy!”

Very funny! Seeking to further ingratiate Damon in my world, I texted her informing her that Damon thought that she was Moza. (What could possibly go wrong?)

She quickly replied, “Why is he calling me a banana?”

Read Full Post »

Preparing for the Shoot

Posted in Photography, tagged , , , , on September 9, 2011| 1 Comment »

How did I ever get by without apps on a smartphone?

“Hi, my name is Patty — Denise said that I should call you. All my friends tell me that I need new images for match.com,” she said to me.  She continued, “It’s been 20 years since I have had good pictures taken – I hate my picture taken, I have ‘issues.’  I think ‘smart’ is sexy; I don’t want to show skin!”

This is not an unusual phone call.  At this time in my life, I think that I enjoy the “I hate my picture taken” call the best, because I know he or she is about to be thrilled with the results!

I asked Patty, “What are you doing when you feel most like yourself?”

“Reading!” she quickly replied.

I thought to myself and said, “reading can be alluring; bring a book and your reading glasses – how do you feel about the beach? — we’ll do something with you, and tide pools and books.”

“Great! I go to the beach all the time”, she said.

Tide Graph

Knowing that I would be near Malibu at a time convenient for the session, I pushed the button at the bottom of the iPhone and quickly checked my two go-to apps while I was still on speaker with Patty.  The first, to see if we would be inundated by the tide.  Enter Tide Graph.  I kept chatting with Patty about what she wanted to create while I quickly checked the tides two weeks in the future.

“How does 3pm two weeks from Saturday sound?”

“Great!” she agreed.

tide graph

Tide Graph App

Sunseeker

Now, what kind and power of light will I need? Enter app 2: Sunseeker.

Sunseeker app

Then, for the date of the session, Sunseeker tells me the elevation and direction of the sun at 3pm – I can use either a Speedlight or Quantum Q Flash for a kiss of light and maybe a translucent screen to block the direct sunlight.

Without missing a beat, I can confirm that 3pm 2 weeks from now would be a great time to create her images.

“See ya then Patty. We’ll have fun!”

The Result

Postscript: And here the image is:

low tide right where we want it,

sunlight right where we need it,

the book in hand, and

the Quantum Q Flash gently filling in the shadows from the late afternoon Malibu sun.

I hate to think that I could probably sell the expensive DSLR camera that made this image and make the image on the smartphone.

 

Read Full Post »

More Thoughts on a “Beloved” Session

Posted in Photography, tagged , on August 31, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I often think about the “Beloved” Session that I did with Murray and Emma (See May 26th Blog Entry). For a guy like me, who theretofore was in love with portable off-camera lighting, I decided to follow the advice of Jesh DeRox‘s cohorts and go into Murray and Emma’s home with the minimum about of equipment. Taken to the extreme, I would have done it without a camera if I could have, just as I sometimes imagine that Bill Gates would have done what he did without developing software if he could have.

So, I did a mental checklist:

1. No lights, stands, tripods or reflectors (I feel naked to the world);
2. Make images in their favorite environment, not mine, the photographer;
3. Make no attempt to formally pose the couple;
4. Try using a wider-angle lens, say 35mm on a full-frame sensor (I’m usually an up-close and personal guy); and
5. Only use “Beloved” invites as a means to move the couple to a place of comfort.

Well, this doesn’t mean that one forgets the principles of light patterns, camera angles and/or position. But it seemed like flying a plane without taking a lesson for me. The couple had an exquisite, gentle energy about them. But they said what I have heard from virtually every one I have ever photographed: “I hate having my picture taken!”

With that as a starting note we began; I spoke the first “Beloved” invite (the details of which I elected not to discuss outside the session). Suffice it to say that instead of the photographer barking instructions such as, “Ok, Emma. Turn away from the light … now turn your head back toward the light … tilt the top of your head to the right ….. [etc],” the might hear, “Murray: remember the time that you were the most ….. [the invite continues ].”

The results were remarkable. Suddenly they were reliving a reality of love 30 years prior, and I was a “sacred observer” so caught up that I forgot that I had a camera and about this time that I was supposed to be using it. I gathered my wits and began to make images.

Click here to see the images.

Read Full Post »

The Magic of Oak Creek

Posted in Photography on July 17, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Wolfs Robe and I have made Native American flute videos in northern Sedona, AZ on Oak Creek. But I have been wanting to go back to the south of town to make images in the gentle rapids. This is were we took Regina and Shannon Angelique to have some summer fun.

There is something quite magical about the green waters of the creek surrounded by the red rocks of Sedona. Even so, it took a little coaxing to get the girls into the water; it was a little cold and the rocks were slippery. But the results were worth it:

Regina and Shannon

I am looking to go back to this spot as the seasons change to see how the creek behaves throughout the year.

Technical data:
Camera: Canon 60D
28mm
ISO 100
F10
1/200
K=5400
F J Westcott Monte Illuminator

Read Full Post »

Never Pass by a Lemonade Stand!

Posted in Photography on July 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Wasn’t there a book about this? I found myself driving a nice lady to her doctor’s appointment today and as we turned onto “doctor’s row,” there was a lemonade stand. I slowed down and said that I would be right back after going to the doctor’s office. The three entrepreneurs seemed genuinely excited and trusted that I would return … which I did presently.

A brief search of the internet confirms my suspicion that there are many reasons not to pass up a lemonade stand. And I will leave that to you to investigate. But today, I feel like I was the one rewarded. Because when I returned, I was greeted with this vision of innocence and hope.

Never pass by a lemonade stand!

I was thrilled when the hot dog agreed to pose for me. At $0.50, I got a real bargain!

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »