Art

Music

The essentials of music: a instrument (a dulcimer in this case), sheet music, bottle of over-the-counter pain relieve, and a tip jar. This is another shot from the monthly jam session at Barnett Park. I liked how the items seemed to say something about being a musician in general or an artist in particular.

Speaking of being an artist ... I mentioned I was working on something and that I might have some news soon. Well, here it is in long story form.

Last week I took some prints to L&L Framing, a local framing shop and gallery a couple of blocks from my house. The owner seemed to like the prints that I brought in, particularly the way the metallic paper I had selected brought out the colors and gave the images an almost 3D effect. We talked for a bit and somehow I mentioned that I had been shooting for a couple of years and was trying to figure out how to make some money with my photography. He asked if I had considered putting any prints on consignment at a gallery. I said that I didn't really know how to do that, and he responded, "Talk to me." So we talked about it for a bit. I told him that I would bring a sampling of photographs for him to look over when I came to pick up the prints I was getting framed.

This week I have been organizing my images into a portfolio collection in Lightroom and then further narrowed those down to a selection for him to look through. This also meant that I had to figure out how to get prints off of my printer that looked like they did on the screen as well as all of the organizing that I had been putting off. All of which was good to do anyway for long term purposes. It also meant that I had to figure out print sizes, pricing, etc. All very new things to me.

Today I went to pick up the framed prints and show him the photographs I had selected. After waiting for him to finish with a painter that was getting some work framed, I showed him the book of photographs. He looked at them. Liked several of them. And we talked some more as did my ever personable son. In the end he has ordered 8x12 inch prints on the metallic paper of three photographs to start with to see how things go. A small order, but my first gallery order! I'm quite happy about it.

This means more things to do and learn. It has to start somewhere doesn't it?

Keep shooting.
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Something a bit different

In my internet wanderings today I found something that really illustrates the power of modern technology and the internet to stretch the boundaries of creativity in the service of a cause. Now, it doesn't really have anything to do with photography per se. However, with the merging of videography and photography it illustrates a way for artists across the globe to collaborate. It is a music video cover of Ben E. King's classic song Stand By Me for an album called Playing for Change which was put together by the Concord Music Group. The video was recorded around the world with various street musicians progressively building off of previously recorded "sessions". Watch the video to understand what that means.

In a similar accomplishment, a week or two ago YouTube's first symphony orchestra performed at Carnegie Hall. The orchestra was composed of musicians from around the world who auditioned and practiced via YouTube videos. Go see the performance over on YouTube.

Both of these items illustrate how the internet can be used to bring creative artists together that otherwise would not have been able perform together in the past. The world is changing.

Keep shooting

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A Busy Weekend

Hub City Jam (Oct., 2008)

This past weekend was fairly busy. I went to what I thought would be an antique, European car show at the BMW plant. However, I had the wrong date. It wasn't last weekend, it is this coming weekend. Oh well.

However, the Hub City Jam had their annual get together in Morgan Square. There weren't as many musicians there as last month, but it was still a good, relaxing thing to do in the afternoon.

Tent(ative)

There was also an art installation down on Main Street near where I parked. It was using renewable and recycled materials to build tipis as statement about modern building waste. It was titled "Tent(ative)" and was the work of a couple of Hub-Bub's artists-in-residence.

Sunday after the jump



On Sunday, the Spartanburg City Fire Department held an open house at their main facility in City Hall downtown. It was an event to raise awareness of fire safety, to provide fire safety education to children, and to provide a community out-reach about the Fire Department. They had quite a few activities for the kids. Plus, there was free food and drinks which is always a big draw. We particularly enjoyed the fire station tour and talking with the firefighters about the trucks and their equipment. Connor had fun with all of the activities; he was quite excited the entire time we were there.

Hose Practice

Fireman Connor

Repelling Demonstation

Ladder 1

Memorial on Ladder 1

Keep shooting!

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Hub-City Jam

Hub-Bub Jam

Lydia, whom I met the other night at the blogger meet-up, is a member of a group of musicians who get together downtown once a month. They call it Hub-City Jams and I thought it sounded like fun so we took my son into town to listen to them. Of course, I took my camera, and used the opportunity to practice event shooting. I took some photographs with all natural light and others with fill flash. All-in-all another fun time out with the family and my camera.

Something I found out about at the Spartanburg blogger meet-up the other night was that a local art organization, Hub-Bub hosts various events throughout the year. I will have to keep an eye out for other photographic opportunities.

The full gallery of shots is over on my Zenfolio site.

A couple more shots after the jump.


Singin' in the Shade

Lydia

Bongo of Fire

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