quotable photable

Needles and pins, Needles and pins,
Sew me a sail to catch me the wind.
Sew me a sail strong as the gale,
Carpenter, bring out your hammers and nails.
Hammers and nails, hammers and nails,
Build me a boat to go chasing the whales.
Chasing the whales, sailing the blue
Find me a captain and sign me a crew.
Captain and crew, captain and crew,
Take me, oh take me to anywhere new.

--Shel Silverstein

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Show us your adventurers, won't you?

Superhero Photo Challenge: Smooch

Nothing like a good smooch to make a great photo! No one's eyes have to be open, they don't have to know what to do with their hands or whether to smile or not. Not to mention the irresistible love that shines through.

This week's challenge is capture a kiss... it can be romantic or not, a puppy kiss or a baby kiss. Get creative and pucker up!

truth

"Everywhere I went people welcomed me with warmth. In friendship they  politely expressed their natural apprehension about pictures: 'We hope photographs can express the truth'. Fortunately, the language of pictures, like the language of friendship, is very straightforward and uncomplicated. Like a helicopter, the photograph takes over where language leaves off, transcends linguistic limits and lands in the heart of the matter."

-Bhupendra Karia - Russian Immigrants, Tel Aviv, 1972, Creative Camera, page 421-December 1973

What kinds of truths do your photos reveal today?

Found in Little Italy

"I was looking for one of my favorite cow tail hair shots and..."

(insert sudden burst of laughter)

"Wait a minute, you were looking for what?" chuckled my shutter sister Karen. I suppose I hadn't thought about the fact that most of my friends don't spot cow tail hair on the barbed wire fence most days. But as much as I love admiring those random delicate blonde strands of hair on the "architecture" out here on the farm, I often crave a good dose of the city. Place me in the middle of Littly Italy in NYC, and I might just mistake it for home.

Let's see a little of the city in you.

Superhero Photo Challenge: Wig out

Teaching last week at Squam Art Workshops, I was reminded of one of the easiest and best ways to loosen someone up while photographing them: wigs! or hats! or any other prop that gets people feeling playful, sassy and out of their shell.

I was amazed to see the transformation from one exercise to the next in my class. Students who were previously awkward and afraid to have their photo taken were suddenly throwing out the America's Next Top Model poses. It was so much fun to see! (the above hottie is my friend Jonatha Brooke)

This week's challenge is about using your props. Maybe it is a boa, a cowboy hat, a wig or a big twirly skirt. Whatever it is, notice how your subject comes alive...