When I was in Medellin on business a few weeks ago, my very gracious hosts asked me whether there was anything I would like to do on a free afternoon. I asked whether there were any photography exhibits going on around town, and they found a small gallery that had just opened a remarkble show by Camilo Echavarria, called "Paisajes Ilustrados", or Illustrated Landscapes. 

The photographs are of Colombian landscapes, with rich colors, details and often a large perspective as well as many details for the viewer to find. I was lucky to have a chance to meet the artist and he explained that he had studied landscape illustrations that were made to accompany travel writing before photography. In their making original sketches by the explorer became idealized lanscape composites in the hands of artists and engravers, who often added a figure or building to provide scale. These works by Mr. Echavarria are their modern descendants if you will. 

In his own words (using Google translate):

"The project illustrated landscapes born from a fascination I've had over many years by the natural landscape. This interest was constantly enriched by the many trips I have made to different locations than I have done research on the representation of the natural landscape in the history of art, literature, travel and mass media. I am interested specifically those illustrations that accompany the writings of Alexander Humboldt and chronicles of some travelers who visited our country in the first half of the nineteenth century. These images are studied in depth in my thesis entitled The illustrated look or illustration of the look: Romanticism in American landscapes Humboldt. Throughout this research I explore the way many of these landscapes lose their status as objective document the description of physical reality is compromised to the interests of different people involved in the design, production and circulation of the images. I am interested in reflecting on the role of man in the landscape, either as an observer, creator or inhabitant. The landscape represented not only a tool for communicating ideologies, but also one of our memory containing entity on its surface that records the history of man's relationship with nature.

The inevitable presence of subjectivity in the representation of the natural landscape is a major concern of this project. I also look beyond the traditional photographic representation, which consists of recording a particular piece of space in a specific moment in time. Subtly altering the topography and controlling the human presence in the landscape, I seek to create images that open questions about the objectivity of the landscape represented as questioning the veracity of the photographic document."

I fell in love with these photographs - and couldn't resist buying Paisaje Montanoso. You feel yourself falling into the lush mountain valley, and also envying the inhabitants of the house on the right their vew. 

Paisaje Montanoso by Camilo Echavarria

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I am joining Team 2 of the Houston Group http://community.help-portrait.com/group/houston (or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HelpPortraitHouston?v=wall). The team, led by Marti Corn, is off to a couple of shelters, and will be busy all day.

The car is packed - printer, paper, ink, computer, camera, backdrop stands etc. I'm excited & looking forward to a day of fun and work for a good cause.
Part of the philosophy of Help-Potrait is that it is not for the photogs. So I won't be showing any of the photos on my site- we don't keep them. But we are aloud to take some behind the scenes photos and maybe even video, so I might post this.

Have a great day, all Help-Potraiters across the world!

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This past weekend got a chance to work with her again, here in Houston. Here are some of the photos from that day:

See the full gallery on Posterous

You can see more photos on my site: http://www.oliversimages.com/#/allison/

If you get a chance to work with Allison, I recommend you seize it, before she hits the big time!

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I posted about 270 photos to my site, for free download or to prints at cost (these are password protected - sorry). Here I am showing you some where you can't recognize the kids (there was no way to get releases signed in this setting).

See the full gallery on Posterous

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I went as far as my meager customization skills could take me, and it was OK. For 1999. Then I looked around at what others had done, especially the for-hire customizers on the SmugMug forums, and that was more like it! But I am worried about then being able to change stuff myself, whenever I want to. I am not averse to hiring someone - but I can't afford to keep them on retainer for when the whim strikes me...

So, then I came across ShowIt Sites - and the more I learned about it, the more I realized it was for me. It allows you to design your own sites, but you don't need any coding skills. If you can manage programs like PhotoShop, then you can do this. And the results are pretty stunning - take a look at some of the examples that they have in their portfolio!

Anyway - I am pretty happy with my new site - not totally, but close. I may fiddle with it some more. What I love is that the photos are front and center. And there are some cool transitions. And you can view it at many different sizes and it still looks good.

Anyway - check it out - www.oliversimages.com - and if you feel like it, leave a comment!

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So, off to the blogs, the google, the review sites and read read read. OK - parameters first: would like TTL, neeeeed high-speed sync (live in Houston, do portraits outdoors during the day), want ratios. Don't really need massive range.

So I started with the PocketWizards (PW) - read about them on Strobist of course, watched the videos, liked the demos, cool gear and idea of being "future proof".

Then I read more, and learned about the interference problems with some Canon flashes. Hmmm. Started thinking about other products. Started looking widely.

Came to RadioPoppers. Really liked the idea of a radio that sits neutrally between the Canon systems IR signals. The transmitter listens to the master device (my ST-E2, still in control) and then transmits them to the receiver that outputs IR right onto the flashes sensor. Great range. Simple. Didn't like the idea of the brackets and stickers etc too much. Also the price... $250 for the PX units I wanted. Watched the video on RadioPopper site about the range - found it unconvincing, with the issues of the radio shadow from that large lens. Anyway, range is not my primary requirement. So was almost ready to buy, but the price...

More searching. Worrying about cost. Came back to look at the PW Jr gear. Maybe I can do without TTL. But I can't lose high-speed sync. Aaargh. Then I read about the recent firmware upgrades for PW that has improved the way they work with the 5DMkII. Also read that 430II are OK with the interference issue. I have one, and am planning on getting a couple more, so that would work (keep the 580 for on camera work). And getting the transmitter and two receivers was "only" $637 instead of $750, plus they were at Amazon, so free shipping, could get them in a few days.

Reasons I chose the PW:
1) lower cost
2) easy computer interface for updates and config
3) more elegant versatile mounting of flashes - may sound stupid, but with this system I can carry around/store the flashes in their original bags, as they easily come off the radios, while with the RadioPoppers the temptation is to keep them in the clamps, and then you have them loose in the bag like that...
4) future proof (I hope)
5) if I don't need ratios, I can just use the radio on the camera (without the ST-E2) while the RadioPopper needs the ST-E2 always, to have something to listen to - difference is significant - the PW MiniTT1 really is quite small (and cool), while the ST-E2 with the RadioPopper velcroed to the top is quite large (and a little less cool...)
6) nice bonus - if there is no camera or ST-E2 on the transmitter, the PW system will automatically go to high speed sync - no need to think, and great if you are shooting in aperture priority. (It also does something called hypersync, which I read about in the manual several times, but need to play with to understand. Yes, I am a person who downloads the manuals before the gear arrives, and reads them. Is there a twelve-step program for that?)
7) if I ever want to add manual lights, it is easy and affordable to do that with some of the less expensive receivers.

They'll be here tomorrow!! Can't wait.

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See the full gallery on Posterous

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See the full gallery on Posterous

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via mfah.org

There is a great photography exhibit currently on at the MFAH - Houston's own Amy Blakemore. It is a 20-year retrospective, with 36 works spanning earlier black and white and more recent color works. The prints are all square, and presented simply, letting the viewer to access the work without interference.

Blakemore's work has a quality that is hard to communicate in words (at least for me...). They induce a meditative state - you feel your mind wondering about the subject, even as your eye explores the simple yet rich compositions. In some instances I almost feel as if I am entering into the picture, as I wonder about the people, animals or objects being shown. In one of my favorites (Three Girls) a child is very close to the viewer looking directly at you - what is she thinking. In another (Dog in Snow) a dog looks over its shoulder directly at you, as if it had just noticed you. There is something of frozen time in there. You feel the artist has captured a moment worth thinking about.

The MFAH's Photo Forum (the museum's photography interest group) had a treat this Monday past, when the curator of the exhibition, Alison de Lima Greene gave a lecture, and Amy Blakemore was also there. I saw Amy talk about her work a couple of years ago at the CAM, and always enjoy her comments on her work. They are very down to earth, often short and always to the point. She photographs things that interest her, that catch her eye and people that mean a lot to her. This connection comes across in the prints. She implies that many times her photographs are happy accidents, but it is also clear that she is a perfectionist.

Anyway - drop in on the show - you won't regret it.

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via kintera.org

I am participating in "Ridin' for the Rose" this year - on May 2nd - to raise money for the Dr. Marnie Rose Foundation. I resumed motorcycling a few months ago, and am excited to participate in this event. I do so in honor of my late colleague, Dr. Sam Hassenbusch, who also died of brain cancer. Please visit my fund raising page and help me reach my goal.

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