Young at Heart

I often think about what the future holds and hope that it's a pleasant one. There's so much to look forward to; there's so much to be done now. It's everything I do today that will end up as either fond memories or bitter regrets.



It's fiery, youthful eyes like these that make me hopeful for the future. I'm glad I'm here and now, trying to make the most of my time. The future will come and I plan on giving everything I have for as long as I can. Years go on as they always will- time will be your old companion.
Where do you see yourself 25 years from now?

A Little Fashion

It's Sunday afternoon at the park. The sky is clear and the sun is warm. A soft breeze glides through leaves and grass. Children swing and slide, parents gossip, and the weekend warriors jog unknown stretches. My beautiful model watches the going-ons while I drive through the park. I almost give up hope in finding a good portrait spot when my eyes find an empty area. My hands steer toward the turn before my mind realizes what's going on. Call it fashion photography, portrait photography, or just photos of a pretty girl. At the end of the day I don't know what to do except for make photos. These are my favorites.

Taking photos of people is a scary prospect for me. Gesture, the way skin reflects light, and all my photographic skill all come into play. Using 35mm film really pushes my thought processes while slowing me down enough to appreciate each shot. I used a $10 lens with a pretty big blemish for all of these photos, so this is  proof that you need to use what's at your disposal. Whether it's using a pencil instead of paint, a George Foreman grill instead of Oneida, or a cellphone instead of a laptop for blogging, don't limit your art because of your tools. Maximize your tools in ways no one else ever thought of. Then your art is truly yours.

Thanks in advance for stopping by! As usual, comments are always welcome.

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A Blink in Time

The mind and camera work together. The mind organizes and interprets; the camera records. Life doesn't need an audience to be appreciated, but a story untold is a waste. I'm not the mind behind a story, I'm part of the humble audience who needs to share the stories witnessed.

Thoughts and Downtown

It's funny how our world seems so small nowadays. I can send an email and it can be read by somone on the other side of the world. World news can be discovered faster and more easily than even local news. We can travel to a different town in just a couple of hours on the highway.

Now, more, and fast. It seems like the world is so interconnected that it's hard to get a complete thought done without our phone going off or the news spewing from electronic devices. Then comes the dichotomy of our society: the forgotten people that live precariously off the 'grid'. Families struggling to make ends meet. Fathers cry for their families and women become stone, worried and somber.

I took a trip downtown and took some photos. But my mind is somewhere else tonight.

Back to my original topic, I tried disconnecting from the the attachments of the everyday and make photos outside of my comfort zone. Photography, my creative outlet, lets me be in control. The power to create something artistically beautiful, disturbing, or inspiring gives me a sense of purpose.

Take the time to inspire others. Just as importantly, take time to be inspired.

Seeing Without Sight

seeing beyond sight
photographs by blind teenagers
by Tony Deifell

Imagine a world of total darkness, one where the physical aesthetic holds no value. Sound and smell would be life's harmony; touch being navigation and desire. Such a world would have no place for photography.

Governor Morehead School for the Blind was the epicenter of an idea which was developed and nurtured. Blind children were empowered via the art of photography. They learned to make photos, to develop their film, and to find subjects. These students learned to photograph using their senses; their teachers could then describe to them what they photographed. These memories weren't their own until they captured what they could not see. Once they had their prints they could share with the world the beauty around them (of which they could not or could hardly see).

This paradox is the backbone of this five-section book, each with its own concept of reality. Each section has photos taken by young school children in their early teens with vision ranging from no sight to low. Many of the photos are of daily happenings: photos of the students' parents/loved ones, of their favorite objects and self-portraits. Other photos represent their fears and nightmares, their dreams, as well as their distorted reality.

This 'altered reality' comes as the photographic representation of shadow, sound, and heat. Bouncing sound was the metaphor for how light works. The direction of heat defined the intensity of light (and deepness of shadow). The stories that succeeded the photographs were the retelling of life and love.

I was deeply moved by this book. In a world of beauty and extreme necessity, this book...no... this gallery lives as a compassionate collection of truth and honesty. Fear became understanding, shadows became form, and light was merely a tool- a means to an end. If only we were all so lucky to appreciate photography in such a profound way.

"I was thinking that it would be sort of hard for a blind person to take pictures, but it's not very hard. You've just got to listen."~ John V., student

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Three's Company

While walking around with my wife, I saw this gentleman and his wife feeding the ducks. I noticed the two ducks close to him and took this photo. They look like long-time friends!

Portrait Project

My long-planned portait project is finally underway. Without any social media clichés, I'm simply going to be photographing interesting people over the next few months. There's a general theme and direction I'm planning on, but we'll see how things develop (pun intended).

I'm going to give myself creative freedom, so there will be color photograghy as well as black and white.

If I happen to take your photo, please stop by on Fridays and Tuesdays to see if you made it on the blog. It takes time to finish a roll of film so please bear with me. This is all self-funded but well-wishing will be gladly accepted.

Thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to leave a comment below!

Purpose

As I walk around the park I see people jogging and talking. Some feed birds while others enjoy a meal at a bench. There are smiling children chasing ducks; their parents watch lovingly. Stories unfold.

That leads me to ask these questions:

Where are you right now?

Are you proud of who you are and where you're going?

If you're not proud, make a change. Put love into your next project or goal. Risk your pride, forgive yourself, get past fear. There are so many things stopping us from becoming better people. Most of those reasons come from within.

Three of my current goals:

- finally start my portrait project

- maintain a steady workout routine

- cease my self-defeating routine

Reasons:

Develop my photography and self-image.

Be a better husband.

Help others.

Live a better life.

What are three of your goals and the reasons behind them?

Photographing Myself

I'm fairly adept at figuring out others' emotions and personalities. Deciphering my own habits and quirks proves to be nearly impossible save for my family and wife. When asked how I'm feeling, I turn to my wife for affirmation. With that said, my photography serves as my unconscious effort to make sense of things. My photographs show a part of me- for better or for worse.