Shots and Thoughts: Latest Photos by Dave Wolanski

Moving on up!

2010-12-04T17:01:00.002-05:00

Yeah, Blogger wore me out.
I decided to start a new blogsite.
Come on over to www.davidwolanski.com for the all new blogsite!

Dave

OK, I seriously hate the Blogger update

2010-05-30T15:31:00.001-04:00

I don't know what's happening, but the posts don't work the way they used to. In the post below, I wanted the text on top, and the photos of the lady and her dog at the end. I wasn't smart enough to figure it out.

Facebook Photos in the Park

2010-05-30T15:28:00.001-04:00

I decided to offer free FB profile photos in the park, because I could. I had one FB person show up, and a random lady walking her dog. It was a nice morning to sit in the park and enjoy the breeze.

Books and Blogs influencing me these days

2010-05-22T03:00:00.001-04:00

I loved "The War of Art" by Steven Pressfield. it's about being committed to your art. Your art is anything you bring a piece of yourself to. So it can be a business, most jobs and the arts like writing and, of course, photography. If you do anything less, you're not fulfilling your god(s) given role on earth. He talks about "the resistance" as being the habits or thoughts that prevent you from reaching your very best. And how to beat the resistance. Great stuff, highly motivating.

Seth Godin is amazing. Great insights into marketing, and being the best you can be. I love his blog. I get new entries to it emailed to me automatically (look on the left side, below his bald photo). In his latest book, Linchpin, Seth preaches giving, with no expectation as the way to excel and lead the pack. By doing this, you can become the indispensable one. I pre-ordered the Linchpin book because I liked his stuff and he said all the income was going to a charity. Seemed like a win-win idea to me, so I did it. Not only did I get the book I ordered, Seth made arrangements to send a second copy. I passed that copy on to a friend. A month or two after the book came out, Seth suggested that folks send their first copy along too in his blog entry about emptying your library. Seth thinks that spreading the idea is more important than his income from the book. And he puts his money where his mouth is. I took his "empty your libarary" idea to the next level by sponsoring a "scholarship" to supply the "War of Art" book to 5 people that were interested in reading it, as long as they agreed to pass it on.I actually sent more than 5 copies out. Cool stuff, and a great feeling.

Danielle LaPorte is an interesting writer and speaker. Quite the career path! Great insights and Passionate about living to your potential. She calls her blog "White Hot Truth: Because Self Realization Rocks" I'm subscribed.

The Gaping Void cartoon on the upper right goes to Hugh Macleod's site. He wrote "Ignore Everybody". Great book! About a fourth of it is online here. I've subscribed to his newsletter. He sends it out every day. Sign up for it.

It's been awhile since I read "The Four Agreements" but it's time to do it again. It's just a few hours. A chunk of it is new age crap to me, but the core of the book is right on target. Do your best. Be true to yourself. Watch your words and thoughts. Don't let others influence the inner you, either up or down.

Check out Lateral Action. Great stuff. I get their email subscription.

The Artist Farm. Just as with Lateral Action, Great stuff, and I'm on their email subscription list.

Full disclosure: If you go to any of the Books I linked to above, and make the purchase, I get a kickback. Try the library first. I get nothing for the blogs, but I think they're worthwhile!

There's more, but it's late...

Rolleiflex Goodness

2010-05-21T01:15:00.001-04:00

All three of these were taken with a Rolleiflex camera. Gotta love the German engineering! Great images from a camera from the 60s or so!

Commie Cams Rock

2010-05-21T01:10:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos done with either my Chinese Holga, or a 1970s era 35mm Zorki 4 Russian Leica Wanna Be. Antique German cam in the next post!

I've been wanting to photograph here, forever

2010-05-06T01:31:00.000-04:00

Just got around to doing it after driving by it today. Some of these were done with my lensbaby lens. I love that lens for the way it highlights stuff by blurring the rest of the image

Lyons Twin Mansions B&B, Fort Scott Kansas

2010-05-05T01:44:00.000-04:00

I stayed at the Lyons Twin Mansions B&B in downtown Fort Scott Kansas for the Mpix Meetup a few weeks ago. Miss Pat was an amazing host! I don't think you could ask for a more gracious host or inn keeper! From the minute I called for directions to the minute I left, I felt like I was talking with a favorite aunt. You know, the one that asks if you had enough cake for breakfast? and would you want any ice cream to go with it?

On arrival Pat asked what I'd like for breakfast, and when, and gave me a lot of great choices. I swear if I had asked for cake she would have made it!

The mansions have an interesting history and are filled with delightful stuff to pique your interest and add to that Victorian Mansion feel.
If you ever go to Fort Scott, look up the Lyons Twin Mansions, and tell Miss Pat I sent you!
Based on my experience, I'm going to be looking for B&Bs in the future, not the sterile, boring, big chains hotels.
Here are some photos of the mansions and grounds, just impressions, really, but thought I'd share.

Last but not least, Miss Pat is adding a coffee house/breakfast restaurant service in one of the mansions, and having a naming contest to name it. Check it out, maybe you'll win a weekend there or breakfast for a month!

Impressions of Fort Scott and Southeast Kansas II

2010-05-05T01:08:00.002-04:00

Some more photos from the Fort Scott Area.

You know me and benches! These are all the same bench. Just different treatments. The street was going down a slight hill, so there is this tension created by looking at the flat horizon of the bricks but the street is not level. The first one solves the tension best.

A state policeman pulled over to make sure I was OK while shooting these old trucks. Didn't undertand what I could find interesting. He said he stopped at the abandoned church a few weeks ago for another photographer. I told him old stuff is like photographer bait!

The Ft. Scott Brick company must have been pretty busy at one time. Lots of brick buildings and streets downtown!

Impressions of Fort Scott and Southeast Kansas

2010-04-29T02:49:00.000-04:00

Amanda's Maternity Photos

2010-04-23T02:18:00.007-04:00

I met Amanda at the Mpix meetup in Pittsburg Kansas last week. We were talking and I told her how much I liked working with women to make photos. Amanda said she hadn't been able to find anyone to do her maternity photos yet, so I was like "well...I'm here, I'd love to do them Sunday before I leave town". We worked it out and had a lot of fun doing the shoot in the beautiful Loose Memorial Park in the heart of Kansas City. Tracy came along to do some photos too. It's fun working with other photographers, including, one as the subject this time! Amazing park, and even more amazing images! Amanda and her husband were so much fun. It's so obvious how much they love each other in these photos. Amanda just glows in them. More evidence I'm turning into a chick!

Look at her eyes! Amazing image, one of my best ever.

Amanda, From Applebees

2010-04-23T02:12:00.000-04:00

A group of us went to Applebee's for lunch and Amanda was a server there. She had the most amazing blue eyes and a great smile. I had to get a shot. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me so I borrowed Valerie's and did this quick photo right there in Applebees. We tried to arrange a shoot at a local park after Amanda got off work, but that fell through.

Loose Memorial Park Kansas City Strangers

2010-04-23T01:57:00.005-04:00

I was working on Amanda's maternity shoot and took the chance to shoot with some strangers in some opportune moments.

This is Sarah, her mom ~~(whose name escapes me)~~ Patricia (see comment below) and her dad, Joel. She was such a cutie! Mom was going to use her own camera to take some photos, but since I was set up, I asked if they wanted me to do some.

Daniale had some great ink, beautiful blue eyes and an open personality, so I had to ask her to get a photo!
I'd love to fix the names if the folks come here and see the photos!

Assateague Island Virginia Impressions with the Holga Camera

2010-04-23T00:25:00.000-04:00

I got the film back recently, but haven't had time to post!

More Holga Goodness from Slower Delaware

2010-04-23T00:17:00.001-04:00

Catching up with some photos that needed posting!

Nightmares in the Reading Terminal Market

2010-04-12T01:54:00.002-04:00

If you're on a diet, I'd say don't go into the Reading Terminal Market in Downtown Philadelphia. The sights and aromas in there will surely derail you. Thus, the candy is your worst nightmare!

And if you're a vegetarian, this place has got to be a nightmare. I saw these fish and had to make a photo of them. I did the rest of the fish shots as they came to me, after this first one!

Scenes from the Reading Terminal Market: People

2010-04-12T01:44:00.007-04:00

One of the things I love about the Reading Terminal Marke t is the energy and the people. The Lensbaby really helped me capture that mood, and impression.

Scenes from the Reading Terminal Market: Places and things

2010-04-12T01:33:00.006-04:00

We took my mom, the Philadelphia native, that had never been to the Reading Terminal Market this Saturday. I love the place for lots of reasons: Thai basil chicken to die for, the melting pot of people there, from Amish to Full on turbaned muslims, and ages from 1 month to 65+, and the opportunity to photograph it all. Amazing place!

Scenes from Downtown Dover, Delaware. Lensbaby shots

2010-04-12T01:21:00.006-04:00

Actually, the first few images are using a regular lens. The Lensbaby lens is a special lens that is used to selectively focus on certain areas and blur the rest of the shot. I love the effect! I'll have to make sure I don't get carried away with using it!

Another bench shot

Dover plants 75,000 bulbs every year. They are spectacular, and a point of civic pride, at least for me!

I told you a hundred times, we should build the nest on the lake, but did you listen? Noooooooooo!

Post card photo of the church on the corner of State and Loockerman Streets.

The rest of these are Lensbaby shots.

Part of my city halls series

Wyoming Delaware Bench Study

2010-04-06T23:33:00.003-04:00

I did these a few weekends ago in Wyoming, near the municipal building. As noted before, I'm interested in the small town office buildings of Delaware. There are lots of ways to shoot a bench!

Chincoteague and Wallops Island Virginia Impressions

2010-04-06T00:44:00.004-04:00

I had to do this photo. I did a bunch with the Holga too!

I liked the shadows

Two forms of power

Had to do the shot!

Assateague Island Virginia Impressions

2010-04-06T00:40:00.003-04:00

Dappled light is usually a no-no. The way this hit the pony's head, I knew it would be an awesome photo!

Obligatory Post Card Shot. It would have been better if the light had been behind me.

Color and texture!

Color and shape

Our Agricultural Heritage

2010-04-05T00:25:00.003-04:00

Southern Delaware is focused on the Agriculture industry. Silos and grain handling facilities dot the area. You're usually in sight of one of you're down there.

Scenes from Southern Delaware Camden-Wyoming Pond in the fog

2010-04-05T00:19:00.003-04:00

I love having a foggy day to shoot in! Fog = mystery = cool photos!

The Dock.

The Dock II

Scenes from Southern Delaware: Small town city halls project

2010-04-05T00:13:00.002-04:00

I've been interested for a while in the small offices I see as town/sity offices in some of the local towns here in Delaware. I've decided to shoot as many of them as I can.

The Delmar town office. Delmar is a town on the border between Delaware and Maryland, at the bottom of the state.

The Bethel Town office. In a converted old church.

Part of downtown Bridgeville. A nice little park

The Greenwood building was donated to it by the Discover Bank, which has a huge brick building about a mile or two away. This used to be a bank, from all appearances.