Jacksonville’s icon, Friendship Fountain is back in business after many years of “barely working”. The fountain opened in 1965 to much hoopla and I remember it being a very big deal when growing up. The fountain was always the gateway to our city, and we were all very proud of it. So when it came time for the renovation planning in the middle of the recession, you can imagine the battle that had to be won. 3.1 million is the final price tag, but I’m glad we did it. We need symbols that we can be proud of, it lifts the spirit and is a joy to see. I hope everyone in Jacksonville comes downtown to see this new incarnation.
My only beef with the fountain is the music and light show. Listening to patriotic music (Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” among many other favorites) and the disco lighting is a bit much. Knowing that the whole system is programmable through some nifty software makes you want to go in and do something really creative. I’m inquiring as to how we can get some visual artists and musicians involved in improving the quality of the shows.
I belong to a group of distinguished photographers called The Next Step who are selected alumni from John Paul Caponigro’s workshops. Several of us are participating in a group showing of work at various venues throughout the country. Our first opening was in Rockport, Maine at the Maine Media Workshops and our second was here, in Indianapolis at the Renaissance Gallery. The gallery is actually located in Carmel, Indiana at the center of the Arts and Design District. There are 23 artists participating and our exhibition catalog is published on Blurb.
I am showing two pieces from my Straight and Twisted series – Illumination and Renewal. Each are framed 30×30 in heavy dark wood with a gloss finish. This framing was selected by Donald Dusinberre and I was very pleased with the way the presentation turned out. Framing for prints is like clothing to the person…need I say more? Usually I am looking for low-cost solutions to protect my prints. Since I’m not a “clothing” sort of guy I tend to go with jeans and t-shirts. Sometimes this just doesn’t cut it, especially when your art needs to convey a sense of inner beauty, stability, and long term value. This is a tough lesson and an expensive one, considering the number of prints I would like to display. A client needs to be able to visualize your artwork in their office or home. A $15 frame doesn’t help.
Tonight I spoke at our local Sierra Club about image design and the art of nature photography. It was great to meet some new friends and I always enjoy yakking about my work. I showed about 60 images from our national parks as examples to explaining image design principles taught to me by Freeman Patterson and Brenda Tharp. At some point in your development as an photographic artist you want to go beyond camera skills. Learning how to “see” is the basis for developing your own style of photography. I recommend highly the following 2 books if you are ready to progress: Creative Nature and Outdoor Photography by Brenda Tharp, Photography and the Art of Seeing by Freeman Paterson.
Most nature photographers have some connection to the Sierra Club. It may be significant or indirect. All who enjoy our National Parks and the results of conservation movements can give thanks to organizations like the Sierra Club, who had the early foresight to raise the red flag to so many situations that had the potential to destroy our natural treasures in the name of progress and industry. My introduction came in high school, where I by chance picked up a 1972 Sierra Club Engagement Calendar. It was one of those spiral bound datebooks with a beautiful image for each week. I remember being fascinated with the photography, not only the technical quality but the beauty and interest in each image. Where were these places, what were these rocks, plants, and details, how could I create images like these? I wanted to know and do.
Back in those dark ages, photography could only be enjoyed by books and magazines. I never had access to viewing a fine art print until much later. Fortunately, the Sierra Club and Ballantine Books had a series of larger format paperback books with inspiring photography. Everytime I went out to photograph, I can remember trying to reproduce those classic images of trees, flowers, and landscapes in these beautiful publications. It’s interesting to view an old book that influenced you. Most of the time I’m so impressed at what was accomplished with film, and how the “style” of nature photography promoted by Ansel Adams, Eliot Porter, David Meunch, and the likes continues to influence nature photography today. That’s why I love used book stores, because it’s fun to see where your photography came from. And I’m still looking for that engagement calendar.
Last night the sunset over the St. Johns River was very nice. Not crazy spectacular but visually beautiful. Typically I don’t make a point to hang out and watch sunsets. I figure that there will always be another sunset…what a poor attitude. By chance I had my camera in the car. When I left the gym to come home, I saw the pink sky and headed to the dock. There is always some anxiousness when you approach a site and you don’t know what to expect. I’ve arrived way too many times only to be disappointed. The dock and boat ramp were barricaded which almost sent me home, but I grabbed my camera and decided to check things out. I left my tripod in the car thinking there would be nothing worthwhile to shoot. When I walked to the water’s edge it was obvious that I was staying a while. I exposed 50 images. Most of these I laid my camera on the wooden rail for support. I’m typically an f/18 ISO 100 type of shooter. My favorite shot was 1/20 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1250. No 40×60 for this one but I was happy with the result. So what about the other 49 images? I worked a few different angles, isolating the sky, then the water, some verticals, etc. I found that this image combined all of the elements of interest…the sky, the orange color highlighting the boat, reflections in the water, the docks, the lights of the Buckman Bridge in the background, and the couple watching the sunset. I think it is the couple that adds the human element and scale. When you can get a few elements to come together then an image has a good chance of being a keeper.
Morals of the story: Go to the gym and your rewards will come after, hang out to watch sunsets and be surprised, never leave your tripod in the car.
It may be freezing elsewhere in the US but it’s been spring time in Northeast Florida for a few weeks now. Since mid-February my allergies announced the annual arrival of pollen, and my yellow dusted car confirms it. We’ve had some very dry weather here and I’ve been waiting for some cloudy overcast days to get out and visit some of the parks to capture the new spring growth that is everywhere. With the arrival of the redbuds, azaleas, and dogwood blooms, I think Spring is almost over.
One of the most spectacular places to view azaleas is Ravine Gardens State Park in Palatka. I make an annual trek out there but so far I’ve only hit the peak once, back in 2007. Today was overcast so my good sense told me to venture out to test my luck. Many of the azaleas have started to bloom in the neighborhood. When I arrived the person on duty told me the blooms are so-so. Looks like next week the majority of the blooms will pop. With the nice light I was able to have a good time anyway. Many of the red azaleas were blooming, but the classic magenta flowers were mostly in buds.
The March/April issue of Arbus Magazine features an article about the RAM Art Gallery with some great photographs 
. I shot these late last year and was wondering when/if a story was going to run. The idea was to show how the RAM Art Squares could be used to decorate various rooms. Marsha Faulkner, ASID, arranged to have us install and photograph the squares at 4 different locations, so we spent the day carting a few bags of squares all over town. We had a blast.
What a wonderful spread and a good read about this important project. If you haven’t visited the Riverside Arts Market you need to do so. It is quite a phenomena, growing from an idea by Wayne Wood to one of the most widely attended events in town. Catch it every Saturday (except in the dead of winter) under the Fuller Warren I-95 Bridge in Riverside (north bank). Food, music, street entertainment and lots of art for sale.
Today the Space Shuttle Discovery made its final voyage. Discovery served us well as a symbol of achievement and quest for knowledge. I know the costs were staggering, but the benefits are innumerable.
This image was taken from the 42nd floor of the Bank of America Tower from the Skyline Cafe. I like to find cool places to photograph Jacksonville and the Skyline Cafe is the discovery of the month, thanks to fellow artist Robert Leedy. The windows are relatively clean and you have access to almost the entire perimeter of the building. Skyline offers a few hot entrees, salad bar, sandwiches (hot and cold), and soups, all at a very reasonable cost ($8 can get you a lunch) with an incredible view. There are buzzards constantly flying around the tower, wonder what “dead” meat they are sensing, couldn’t be all the empty office space downtown could it? So far every time I’m there the sky is blue and sunny. I’m waiting for some nasty weather to roll in. I’ll post interesting stuff as it comes.
Dolf James is always coming up with something new and creative to get people involved with the arts in Jacksonville. His latest project, Art In Strange Places, includes bumper stickers that are placed all over town announcing that Jacksonville is a cool place. How cool is that? Coinciding with this is Dolf’s new installation at MOCA (chair related of course), and as a teaser to all of us wondering what the heck is going on, Dolf made 3 Red Chairs and is taking these all over town for pics. I went out with Dolf on New Year’s Eve and we had a blast…driving around town and finding some cool spots. We met a few new friends on the People Mover and it suddenly occurred to me what a neat way this is to meet people . I mean it is much cheaper than having a puppy! When you carry around a big red chair people notice, they inquire, and ultimately they want to sit in your chair! Bingo.
Follow the expoits and adventures of the 3 Red Chairs on Facebook.
