Instagram

I have officially joined the masses of Instagram. I resisted for a long time, but now I am very much enjoying it. Since joining I now constantly find myself looking out for something to photograph and that keeps me on my toes, as well as being good practice for my more professional shooting. It also (since it's on your phone) frees me from the sometimes cumbersome large camera equipment I so often lug around. I hope you will join me on this new photographic venture and that you enjoy what you see. Thanks and Keep it REAL! - To follow me click here.

Flashback Friday #22 - LEGO

Today is the opening day for The LEGO Movie and I am not even exaggerating when I say I have literally been waiting my entire life for a LEGO movie. I've been playing with LEGOs since probably before I could walk and credit them with my decision to study architecture. I wanted to share some photos from my first visit to LEGOLand Florida back in December of 2011. The park is really geared towards a much younger audience, but LEGOs will always speak to the kid in me and anyone who thinks differently I say - "You can't ruin my fun!" Which is exactly what I told my family when we were heading to the park that chilly December morning. I had somehow convinced them to go with me and they were teasing me the entire drive about how excited I was. And when I heard years later about The LEGO Movie I showed the same excitement! I plan on seeing the movie very soon and regardless of whether it's good or not - You can't ruin my fun! But, if you're still on the fence just take a look at it's current Rotten Tomatoes score! And if you want a relic of a flashback to round out your Friday take a look at this LEGO Movie I made 7 years ago. I made it the summer before my freshman year at SCAD and you can see those art school tendencies building. Keep it REAL and (as LEGO would say) Play Well!

Flashback Friday #21 - Sweetheart Roller Skating Rink: Bill Yates

Hello Blog People! I've been gone a long time. Sorry for the absence and thank you for returning with me in the new year! Let's make 2014 a great year. Instead of dwelling on how long it's been since I posted, let's jump right back in. It's Friday so that means Flashback time and I got a big one for you this week. Last year I was very fortunate to meet Bill Yates, a local photographer here in Jacksonville, FL. We quickly discovered that we have a similar photographic eye and started to work on several projects together. One of them being Bill's Sweetheart Roller Rink Photo Series. This is a series that Bill shot when he was about my age from the fall of 1972 through the spring of '73 in rural, southern Hillsborough County (Tampa, FL). The negatives have been in binders for the past 40 years and only a handful of people had ever seen them. But now, over the last few months, Bill and I have gone through all 800 negatives, scanned them, and have started to edit them. During this time Bill entered a portfolio of 10 images into PhotoLucida Critical Mass 2013 contest. As we continued to edit the series and work on other projects we kept getting positive feedback regarding Bill's portfolio and the images were eventually chosen for the Critical Mass "Top 50"! All of the winners will be included in a traveling exhibition curated by George Eastman House Assistant Curator of Photographs, Jessica Johnson and will be on display in March at the Corden | Potts Gallery, San Francisco as well as the Houston Center of Photography in May. It just goes to show the true power of a strong image that even after 40 years this series is getting lots of attention. Still don't believe me? Then listen to the man himself talk about his work. Click the link and watch the short video made by Bill's good friend Clif Brewer. And be sure to check out Bill's other work here! Until next time.....Keep it REAL!

Flashback Friday #20 - Disney

Flashback Fridays are back! After a little break from blogging I am back and will be posting some more photos and stories. This week we take a look at Disney! Last week I was in the Orlando area staying at my Uncle's house for a few days and while there I was able to visit Downtown Disney with my good friend Stephanie. We had a great time exploring the stores and themed restaurants, but it was during all that when I realized the last time I had been to any of the Disney parks was way back in 2008 (when these photos were taken at The Magic Kindom) and the last time I had been to Epcot, The Animal Kingdom, or Hollywood Studios was back in the 1990's! Heck, the last time I was at Hollywood Studios it was still called MGM Studios! I have been on a Universal Islands of Adventure binge recently, having been 4 times in the past 3 years. Stephanie and I both had gone to the Disney parks loads of times as kids and we decided that it was high time for me to go again, especially after all the new stuff they have added in the past few years. New things like the new FantasyLand at The Magic Kingdom, which I hear is most awesome. And then I have also been missing out on the Star Wars weekends. Man, I need to get back on that Disney train. My good friend Thomas has even been to Disney parks in three different countries now so I have no excuses! haha. Disney, here I come - you know - when my schedule allows it. Keep it REAL everyone!

Photowork at the Anastasia Island Branch Library

Just yesterday I hung up some photowork at the Anastasia Island Branch Library out near St. Augustine, FL. I now have work at two public libraries at the same time! The works I decided to hang at Anastasia are from my Great Connectors and Travel Archive series. I am excited for the chance to share these images once again and I hope that the library patrons enjoy them. The show will be up for the rest of June and through July so if you are in the area be sure to stop by the library. The people are very friendly and my good friend Stephanie works there even! I got more projects on the way so be on the look out for more photos and stories. And, as always, Keep it REAL!

Photowork at the Bartram Trail Branch Library

Earlier this week I was able to hang some photowork at the Bartram Trail Public Library. I decided to show pieces from my Monumental Architecture series that I shot in Savannah, GA on 4x5 Large Format film. The pieces will be up for the month of June so if you are in the area drop on by and take a look for yourself. They are also for sale if you are at all interested. Keep it REAL!

Post #200!

Hello readers. This is post number 200! I wanted to mark this special milestone by saying thank you to all of you who keep reading this blog. It is all of you who continue to put up with my babbling and ranting and weird stories and this blog would never have gone as far as it has if I knew there was no one reading it. So, thank you. Please feel free to share, comment, and ask questions. Also you can suggest topics for future posts if you feel so inclined. I just might take them into consideration! But, as always - Keep it REAL! PHOTO REAL that is. Thanks again! Now on to the next 200...