The Chief Source Photography

Negative Attention

2012-01-28T17:21:00.000-05:00

This...

Gets you this...

Shot with a Minolta X-700 and Tri-X 400 film - developed in HC-110.

Mama Don't Take My Tri-X Away

2012-01-19T22:46:00.001-05:00

Kodak filed for Chapter 11 today - everyone knew it was coming but its still kind of a bummer.

The story is well covered on my favorite blog, The Online Photographer.

Corrected Follies

2012-01-16T23:02:00.001-05:00

My friend Gabe(who has appeared here many times) had a record release party at Square Records on Friday night. Square records is a pretty lousy place to shoot photos(florescent lighting, beige ceiling, wall blocking half the view) so I decided to mess around in Photoshop to give the pictures something interesting. The above shot is what I consider a happy accident!

Midnight in Akron

2012-01-14T14:21:00.000-05:00

I snapped this while crossing West Market Street on my way back from the RedBox on Thursday night - the beginning of the storm. I've been working on digital black and whites a lot lately and I really liked how this conversion came out. The most important thing(I find) is to shoot something that is conducive to a monochromatic shot in the first place....sound obvious but....

Nice Catch

2012-01-13T08:12:00.007-05:00

Behold the Ring Flash Adapter. It is an adapter that clips over a flash unit on camera. The flash shoots light into the top and it bounces down into the ring creating the round light. The photo above was my first shot out of the box. At only $40, this knock off is a much less expensive alternative to the name brand Ray Flash, which will set you back $200.

Catch light or catchlight is a photography term used to describe either the specular highlight in a subject's eye from a light source, or the light source itself. The shape of the catchlight in the subject's eye is naturally the shape of the light source.

Tim and I spend about two hours tinkering with various light setups. This photo of Tim was lit only with the ring flash and is unedited in photoshop. As long as you get very close to your subject, the light is really remarkable. It is some of the smoothest light for skin I've ever shot with. There are a couple drawbacks. First, it is cumbersome and really only practical for studio or location shooting. Second, your flash loses a lot of power as the light bounces down into the ring. This unit is really only good for portraits taken up close. Finally, the closeness to the subject will definitely make them shy and uncomfortable. But, whatever... our friends are going to have to get over it because the light is too good. We are excited to get the ring flash out of my basement and will be posting results soon.

Ring Flash Portrait

2012-01-12T18:43:00.004-05:00

Last night Kyle and I got together to mess around with a couple of new 'toys' we bought. I got a new lens(Canon 17-55mm f/2.8) and he had got a Photojojo Ring Flash Adapter. We placed the ring flash on my Canon 580exII and then set up two 430ex flashes 45 degrees back on each side for some highlights. We shot at 17mm and got in real close to achieve the "ring" catch-lights in the eyes. We were quite proud of our set-up.
I used a high-pass filter in Photoshop for sharpening and effect and really thought it complimented the lighting.

I think I need to get myself one of these Photojojo contraptions...

One of the photos Kyle took of me.

Button Brush Trail

2012-01-08T20:28:00.001-05:00

On the way back from an estate sale in Aurora we stopped for a hike at Liberty Park - neither Laura nor I had ever been there before. We hiked the 1.6 mile Button Brush Trail which follows an old oil well access road. Most of the trail was wet and muddy which made the small bridges(above) kinda humorous. While it was a peaceful and secluded-feeling trail I assume it would be a much prettier hike in the Summer or Fall....

Bridge Reflection

2012-01-05T22:19:00.002-05:00

I've posted pictures of the Everett Road Covered Bridge multiple times - but I really like the impressionist painting look of the bridge reflected in Furnace Run. The photo was really flat straight off my camera so I added a lot of contrast and saturation in Camera Raw. I also flipped the photo upside down. Dig.

Rust and Weeds

2012-01-03T18:55:00.003-05:00

Do photographs of old tractors rusting away in weeds ever go out-of-style? I don't think so. This is one of the Szalay's old tractors, an Oliver 770 Row Crop, now rotting on private property(an estranged family member's land). Oliver's were the tractors of choice for many farmers before being bought up by White Motor of Cleveland, eventually cheapened, and then discontinued(White itself filed for bankruptcy in the 80's). They were known for being simple and extremely reliable. I hadn't been back to look at this one for seven years and expected it to be just a 'pile of tractor' by now. It has sat in this spot for over 20 years after being "in service" for the previous 20. What a shame....

A look at 2011

2012-01-01T20:11:00.005-05:00

These are some of my favorite photos that I took last year in chronological order.

Pit-Pad

2011-12-31T15:16:00.010-05:00

With our Christmas bonuses, we traveled to Pittsburgh for a day. Clouds hung heavy and spurted a few yule- sprinkles, but we didn't let that gloom ruin our few hours.

We started our afternoon at the Quiet Storm, a fantastic vegan-friendly joint, just a ways down Penn Ave. The slop of red potatoes tasted brilliant.

We walked off our large lunch through the bazaarish Penn Avenue. Pittsburgh faithfuls sported their black and yellow, and Steelers songs rang from some storefronts. Included in the store mix were some rather interesting food stores, such as the one that offered dried cod, a Scandinavian picnic delicacy.

The city center sported a very busy skating rink, not much larger than Lock 3. Students' gingerbread houses lined the way to the rink. Nearby, in the very scenic Pittsburgh square, we found the coffee shop we were looking for, Nicholas Coffee. Although the guys were nearly too friendly, we enjoyed the selections of teas and coffees, and it helped us to warm our way back home.

The pic's are all iPod photos.

Holiday Bokeh

2011-12-23T08:35:00.003-05:00

A Friday Night

2011-12-22T10:42:00.003-05:00

Taken before heading out in Akron last Friday.

Christmas 1861

2011-12-13T23:23:00.009-05:00

It was very cold as our group of newly acquainted strangers walked across the frozen path under bright moonlight. We had gathered at night to experience Christmas in the year 1861 at Hale Farm. Our tour took us to meet the townspeople and hear their story of how they were impacted by war, how they felt about their neighbors, and their plans for Christmas. I tried not to think of this South Park episode. It was part theater, lots of history, and all lit by candle light and heated by logs burning in open hearths. In order to respect the time period, they did not allow flash photography. All of these photos (except the polaroid) were taken handheld with 1-2 seconds of exposure. I find the ghostly effect fits well.

Infamy

2011-12-07T22:57:00.001-05:00

A photo of my 48 star flag, the kind that would have flown on "the day that will live in infamy", in honor of the Greatest Generation on the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Turkey Bowl 2011

2011-12-01T23:16:00.001-05:00

Played annually at Schneider Park in West Akron

"Are ya blind or something?!?!"

2011-11-21T10:12:00.000-05:00

One of the worst officiated games I've ever seen....

Perkins Stone Mansion Haunted Tour

2011-11-20T00:26:00.006-05:00

This past Friday, Artcetera hosted a social and haunted tour of the Perkins Stone Mansion. The mansion is located on Copley Road and is home to the Summit County Historical Society. It was a flashlights and camera flash tour in the dark lead by staff who told stories in each room. The house, original furniture, and Akron history was all very cool. The tour guides did a good job of keeping the tour interesting. Most of the furniture is original or from the period the home was built when Portage Trail was the border to the wild west. Unlike a museum tour, you get to walk through each room and see things up close. It was fun getting to inspect some of the old artifacts like a quilt from the 1800's with a flashlight.

I hate so be a spoiler, but the ghost stories were pretty lame. Most of them are a variation on someone seeing a person in a window or in a room, but then when the police came there was no one there. Supposedly psychics have come to the house and sensed energy. They also call dust spots on photographs "orbs" and cite them as signs of ghosts. "People frequently catch the spirits in photographs." While my eyes rolled, my girlfriend snapped countless photos feeling she had discovered a gift as some sort of ghost whisperer. Regardless, it was fun to move room to room and see the place. I'd recommend taking a tour sometime.

Old San Juan

2011-11-18T11:37:00.006-05:00

We spent our last day in Puerto Rico wandering around Old San Juan - the 16th century, Spanish Colonial city. Most of Old San Juan is still walled and it is book-ended by two historic forts. We walked through the blue cobblestone streets to Fort San Felipe del Morro. Laura commented that we could have spent a whole day just there. We then followed the old city walls along the ocean to Fort San Cristóbal. We had a beer and some Puerto Rican food at a restaurant, grabbed some souvenirs for friends in a shop, then had to be off to the airport - and we felt we only scratched the surface.

Most of the buildings in Old San Juan are original and anything new has been built in the Spanish colonial style - they now mostly house restaurants, bars, and shops on their lower levels - and even though its definitely a tourist hot spot it doesn't feel overwhelmingly touristy.

Fort San Felipe del Morro from the outside.

...from the inside

more San Felipe del Morro

Typical architecture in Old San Juan.

Inside Fort San Cristobal.
More Puerto Rico vacations pictures here.

Ohio Statehouse

2011-11-17T17:07:00.007-05:00

I worked for one academic quarter as a Ohio Senate page while I was in college. My time there made me very fond of the capital building. Anytime I visit downtown Columbus, I try to stop by to walk the halls and visit the Ohio Senate chambers.

Stepping Back In

2011-11-14T20:41:00.001-05:00

I'm done with the long hours on the farm and back from a relaxing week in Puerto Rico. I can't wait to get involved with The Chief Source and its many friends again! I've got tons of pent-up photography ideas I look forward to sharing soon....

NYC Brooklyn

2011-11-05T20:20:00.006-05:00

A snow storm traveled to New York City during the same weekend I decided to. Though it made for some torturous walking, it also made for some stupid fun and great shots.

I also took the time to check out the Occupy Wall Street crew. It was interesting seeing the little town they had set up--food station, sanitation station, a bike hooked up especially to run the electricity, and the welcoming atmosphere.

Warhol

2011-11-04T06:13:00.004-05:00

Took some French students and their hosts to Pittsburgh. I was excited about the Warhol Museum, and it turned out to be a great Museum; 8 floors of visual vivation. Alex Ross' work was also on display, Batmans and Supermans galore.

We also took a ride up the Duquesne Incline for some great views of the city.

Big Clouds

2011-10-04T21:36:00.000-05:00

Happened to have my camera in the back seat of my car on a day when there were huge clouds over Akron. It was tough to find open space that was elevated to try to capture them.

Teams Dinner

2011-10-02T21:30:00.005-05:00

Our relay teams met for dinner in the valley to load up on carbs. The Akron Marathon Relay is my favorite sporting event of the year.

Nothing Runs Like a Deere

2011-09-26T05:25:00.000-05:00

Sporty Gems

2011-09-19T06:13:00.003-05:00

I was recently asked in an interview for a local art project what I like about Akron. Caught off guard by the question, I fumbled about like a stuttering John, blabbing a response that in no way could be used for the value of posterity. If only I had attended the Rubber City Roller Girls and University of Akron events prior to the question.

Friday night, my wife and I finally got to a UA Soccer match (it only took us two years). It was cold, but the chill in the air only excited the packed house. If you haven't gone yet, you must. There's definitely an energy and confidence here that you won't feel with any other home team. Unfortunately, we witnessed a red card that would eventually lead to a tie, but watching the #4 team battle #16 New Mexico was great.

The other sporty fun of the weekend is a more hidden: Roller Derby. This was my third bout, and the first time I knew what was going on. I actually had the opportunity to explain some rules to my pals.

This game is a violent one. Bashing each other on concrete while skating is just plain dangerous. There's always an injury. On this night, a girl broke her leg in two places. Awful, but fun.

Venice of America

2011-09-05T21:36:00.004-05:00

I've been going down to Fort Lauderdale a couple times a year since my brother moved there five years ago. This past trip was the first time I had the opportunity to go boating on the inter-coastal waterway, which is the main attraction in the city. Our high school friend Jeff picked us up in his fishing boat at a public dock downtown in the pouring rain. He was the kind of guy who laughed at the weather and was happy to host us despite the bad conditions. One of the easiest jobs in America has to be working as a Florida weatherman. All you have to do is say 50% chance of rain everyday. Anyway, we stood under a pavilion and sipped beers while we waited for the storm to pass. Thirty minutes later, Jeff fired up the engine and we hit the water. The mansions and yachts were were really cool. Architecturally each home was different and it seemed like each yacht was bigger than the next. We passed the time guessing what each one was worth and waiving to fellow boaters. It was really nice to be doing so little.

Long Lens

2011-08-30T19:51:00.002-05:00

The photographer shooting the wedding noticed that I had a Canon camera. He was kind enough to let me swap out my 17-85mm lens for his 70-200mm f/2.8 IS for a bit. It is a pretty amazing lens. Even with my older camera body, I was able to capture sharp images in low light without the subject knowing. The bokeh adds soooo much to the photos. Someday I'll own this lens.

Liz and Garrett

2011-08-29T20:26:00.003-05:00

My friends Liz and Garrett got married this past weekend at Crockett's Run in Logan, Ohio. It was truly an awesome wedding. Their gamble on an outdoor ceremony paid off handsomely with picture perfect weather all day long. They had just the right amount of planned activities balanced with the freedom to hang out and enjoy the company. Weddings are unique to photograph because they are rare life events and every moment feels extra important and fleeting. I feel like if it doesn't make the wedding album, it didn't happen. I couldn't do wedding photography professionally because of the pressure to capture it all. As the chach friend with a camera, I'm a hero if I get one good shot. The wedding photographer is expected to get hundreds of photos and is more remembered for what they missed. I got lucky on the kiss shot below and was most proud of it because of how tough that moment is to catch just before contact.

The Bomb Shelter

2011-08-21T10:26:00.022-05:00

Hidden away at 923 Bank Street, the Bomb Shelter proves worth the search. We easily spent an hour uncovering vintage treasures, and we didn't come close to seeing everything.

The Bomb Shelter is a warehouse full of everything from motorcycles to old board games, from 1950s furniture to 1940s record players. Some items I remembered from my youth, like gaudy glasses. Some items hearkened back to an age well before my childhood.

Check it out. You won't leave empty handed.

In other news, school's up and running again. I'm still in search the loads of horrifically lazy teachers I keep hearing about. So far I've located none. I'm sure they're out there, walking arrogantly through the halls. I will find you Bad Teachers!

Findley State Park

2011-08-20T08:24:00.007-05:00

Findley State Park is an hour west of Akron in Wellington, OH. There aren't any special attractions at the park other than a lot of green space. Most of the state parks in proximity of Lake Erie are sold out on the weekends. Findley had a fair amount of open spots and we didn't need a reservation. The highlight of the one night trip was a storm that rolled in around 4:30am. It is amazing how much more powerful a boom of thunder sounds in a tent. Fortunately the rain fly held off the heavy rain.

Statue of Liberty

2011-08-16T21:22:00.006-05:00

from the ferry returning from Liberty Island

color version

The Front Porch Cafe

2011-08-13T07:21:00.006-05:00

I spent the summer working for University Park Alliance. One of my projects was to interview pastors and community leaders in order to learn about their community. I wanted to know how they worked within the community, what they saw as assets in the area and what they saw as their biggest challenges.

Whatever your view on religion, it's difficult to ignore the stability a church brings to a community. There are some poorer communities in the University Park area, scarred by crime and poor education, and in every case, there is a church sitting right in the middle of it. The churches provide clothes, food, education, counseling and a sense of security.

One of the faith-based organizations that has it right is South Side Ministries. The non-profit set up shop in probably the poorest and most dangerous area of Akron. They work hard trying to give the recovering addicts and former inmates the tools they need to better themselves. For instance, their Front Porch Cafe employs people of their neighborhood; in fact, the old building that houses the Front Porch was refurbished with the help of the men from the nearby correctional facility.

South Street hopes the Front Porch can eventually be a gathering place of people from diverse backgrounds, wealthy and poor. The trick is getting people to cross over I76. Once South Street completes work on the second floor of the Front Porch, they plan to open a sort of mini-mall. At the moment, Joe, who builds guitars, has set up shop in one of the rooms.

Training Program Printed

2011-08-10T21:49:00.007-05:00

On New Year's Eve of this past year, I resolved to run my first marathon. A few weeks later I registered for the Marine Corps Marathon which takes place on October 30th in Washington DC. 30,000 runners signed up in 28 hours and the race sold out back in January. I was glad I was able to get a spot. One of the best things about registering for a marathon is people congratulate you for it even though you really haven't done anything other than punch credit card info into a website. I'm also a little skeptical of the faith my friends have in me actually doing this. When I mention my goal, they look at me like they would a toddler who says they want to be an astronaut. "Sure you do buddy. You can do anything you want." Thanks a lot, Babb.

I've been running this past spring and summer, but not at the level I will need to in the coming months. This is going to take more than just logging miles. I'm going to have to add in additional dietary and social discipline to lean out, recover properly, and stay generally balanced. The farthest I have ever run is a half marathon. Last week, I officially started my 12 week training regiment - printed out my program and placed a highlighter next to it. Seriously. This photo was taken after a training run to commemorate the occasion.

DC Squared

2011-08-07T20:27:00.006-05:00

Square photos of a square city.

Arches

2011-08-06T12:36:00.004-05:00

Snapped this with Hipstamatic just off the Federal Triangle subway stop in Washington, DC.

Butterfly bias

2011-08-04T01:22:00.006-05:00

My constant pursuit of liberal bias in science lead to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History for the exhibit: Butterflies + Plants: Partners in Evolution. It illustrated how natural selection has shaped both butterflies and plants in their shared habitats over thousands of years. The monkey business was in a permanent exhibit downstairs.

The Womb

2011-08-03T06:15:00.003-05:00

The WOMB sits near the corner of Arlington and East Market. It's nestled with other old store fronts, but its inside is vibrant and alive.

The WOMB offers a space for people in the community to call a second home. The target is kids. The WOMB provides kids from this poorer neighborhood activities that help teach a unique skill. For example, The WOMB offers martial arts classes and lessons on building and playing drums. The WOMB has a community garden that can help teach kids about health and gardening (Heck, the only nearby places to eat are fast food junks).

The key is active learning. When I talked to Adreyan, one of the founders, he expressed how important it is for kids to take an active role in their learning. "That's how they remember and learn to do it," he said.

Everyone is welcome here. Some nights there's music, so stop in and say hello.

---In other news, I finally got my Canon Rebel sensor cleaned. Dodd wanted $99 to clean it. I found a pretty cheap and simple do-it-yourself kit for about $25. But then I decided to have the boys at Campus Camera in Kent do it for $30. Be sure to have your battery fully charged when you take your camera to have it cleaned, because then you might get it back that day instead of waiting a day, like me.---

Lincoln's View

2011-07-31T20:21:00.002-05:00

He's got a great seat looking east. So much history has unfolded on the steps of the memorial. From Martin Luther King's most famous speech to me sitting on these steps after losing my friends to listen to Obama's inauguration. My only disappointment from the trip was that the reflecting pool had been drained for some sort of repairs.

For this shot, I opted to keep it simple and wanted to just get a tourists view. I intentionally included the column and metered off of the skyline in the distance. I waited until there weren't any people directly in front of me and got a couple shots. The partly cloudy day provided good light. In post processing, I used linear curves, increased the vibrancy of colors a touch, and cropped it to 8x10.

Abraham

2011-07-31T19:23:00.005-05:00

I was fortunate to spend a few days in Washington DC last week. One of my favorite places on earth is the Lincoln Memorial. Architecturally, it is perfect. The experience of walking up the steps, through the columns, and into the temple feels religious.

The most remarkable feature is Lincoln himself. It is amazing that an artist can render marble to look so lifelike. The way his legs and fingers are posed make him look as though he is poised to move. His jacket and pants flow as if they are fabric instead of stone. The expression on his face is confident, stoic, pleasant, and vigilant. He sits and watches.

One morning I went for a run through the monuments, to the White House, and up to the Capitol. Running past the columns of the Lincoln and seeing that face gazing out was a really cool. It is a weird and memorable optical experience.

Best drink spot in Akron

2011-07-23T23:16:00.004-05:00

There is no better place to stop for a drink in the summer months. Lockview's rooftop patio is one of the hidden gems of downtown. Good music, random beer, and acoustics perfect for conversation. My team sits on the right side of the panorama. Cans of Strongbow and 22oz bottles of Red Stripe sat on the table momentarily as empty hands flailed to emphasize a point or laugh. You know, the kind of laugh so hard that you need your hands to be empty.

Highland Square Baseball

2011-07-20T11:03:00.002-05:00

The score is 16 to 13. It's the bottom of the ninth, and the Rupert Murdoch Phone Tapping Scandals are hoping for a comeback win. It's hot, and the scrappy mix of men on the diamond are slowing down. The third out is made and my team, the Murdochs, fall short. I'm somewhat relieved. It's 5 o'clock on Sunday, and I'm hungry.

Eight years ago, David Ignizio and Matt Horak wanted to organize some guys from the Highland Square area to play some ball. Eventually, the game turned into a weekly summer social. Today, HSB has ingrained itself into the minds and muscles of a healthy group of aging boys. We know that summer Sundays at 2:00 means that we have an appointment at the Erie Island baseball fields.

It's a great example of social entrepreneurship (thanks, Kyle) and a great example of building some social value by strengthening the Akron community through that special Akron character, which Ignizio has done with his Square Records.

The Flood of 2011

2011-07-19T15:27:00.004-05:00

The cats stood at the top of the stairs, spooked into careful movements. I peered over them and saw black, like liquid death. As I walked deeper and deeper into the pool that was my basement, I realized I should take my dress shoes and socks off and slip into something a little more sewage-friendly.

After some stupid steps of disbelief, I got to work, quickly trying to identify items that needed to be moved. Most items hid themselves safely in plastic bins and others on shelves, but some cardboard boxes sat exposed in the black pool. RECORDS! I quickly ripped open the box and tossed the records into an empty bin and lugged it upstairs, whereupon I began removing each record from its dampened sleeve. Pictured is a portion of that pain. I think you can see the exhausted wonder in Lemon's eyes.

Though a flooded basement is a sure way out of a day's work at the office, I'd rather be at the office. Together, my wife and I began a haphazard clean-up, moving and mopping and moping. What a complete bummer.

Luckily, we lost very little--we didn't much care for the rugs, and we needed to do a little reorganizing of the basement anyway.

The funny thing is I lost some very trivial items I had kept from my youth. I had moved these things from place to place over the years attempting to mastermind some grand send-off. In the end, my elementary school yearbooks, cassette tapes, discarded stories, drawings and Star Wars magazines all fought valiantly but were destroyed.

Hobo Jungle 2011

2011-07-16T12:46:00.008-05:00

Don't forget to boil up before dinner.

The Metro Parks 7th Annual Hobo Days celebrates all things Hobo at Deep Lock Quarry this weekend. Hobo culture is on display day and night. Eat some Hobo Stew from the Hobo Cauldron, but be sure to bring a canned good to donate--I brought black beans. You can also sit around the Hobo Fire and listen to Hobo Music, or watch a documentary on the Hobo Flat Screen, or learn the Hobo Code or Hobo Symbols.

Just so you know, a Hobo is not a bum or a tramp. Hoboism is all about experiencing true freedom, which means they believe in taking full advantage of life as they see it. This includes traveling the rails, but it also includes carrying one's lot or responsibility. To put it simply, hobos work. This is different from their cousins the bum or tramp, neither of which work (though tramps do travel).

In 1889, the Hobo Code of Ethics was written. This list was meant to establish some structure and safety to the open road of hoboism. For example "don't allow yourself to become a stupid drunk..." meant to curb any unwanted behavior that might promote a bad image of hoboism to the outside world.

You can find a list of past Hobo Kings and Queens here.

Track

2011-07-07T04:43:00.000-05:00

There are places that will always stick with me. The track at Revere High School is one of them. There is no place on earth that I have been more winded than here. Sprints were never my strong point back in my high school days. I lack the explosiveness and right set of muscle fibers. I can remember feeling more tired from a 400 meter race than I would feel after a 5K for Cross Country.

It is rare that I become presently aware of how old I am. My mind is more wired to process how young I was and how old I will be if that makes sense. It is some variation on ignorance being bliss. Running on the track with a stop watch brings everything into perspective. In high school, it was realistic to try to be close to a minute for one lap around the track. Now, I cross the finish line and slump over gasping for air at 75 seconds. Oddly though, sprinting feels good. It is therapeutic to empty the tank quickly only to try it again minutes later.

Independence on Ecton

2011-07-05T21:17:00.004-05:00

Cornhole tourney participants at Kristin and Chad's.

Marshallville Fireworks Show to be Finale

2011-07-04T10:50:00.003-05:00

Happy 4th, y'all. For the past decade, my cousin has held a rather impressive fireworks show on the 3rd of July at his house in Marshallville. Since he'll be moving soon, yesterday's show was his last.

The finale didn't disappoint. Attractions included a fire engine and its lift, alpacas and plenty of food and drink.

Unrelated question: Why are newspaper headlines worded like the title of this post?

Roughin' it in Pennsylvania

2011-07-01T18:43:00.010-05:00

Inspired by Kyle and Tim's adventure into the wilds of Pennsylvania, Terra and I decided to blaze a similar trail. Destination: Pittsburgh IKEA store.

A deep blue sky surrounded a brightly shining sun. We tossed on our best mall-walking attire and began on the very same road taken by Kyle and Tim just a couple of weeks earlier. With the air conditioner pumping and the iPod thumping, we managed the suburbs of Pittsburgh in just under two hours.

After persevering the heavy tolls, we first pulled our road-weary bodies from the car and into a Pennsylvanian chain diner, Uncle Sam's, which sat next to a grimy coffee joint called Starbucks. We asked for vegetarian subs without cheese and a pile of fries for good measure. I washed it down with a Yuengling. The difficulties of the excursion were only just beginning.

With full bellies, we lazily strolled back to the car and drove across the street to IKEA. Somewhat intimidated, we entered the behemoth. Corner after corner and level after level, like a challenging Nintendo game, we experienced sensory overload. The Wi-Fi failed us--truly off the grid stuff. We walked on our own, laying on beds and opening cupboards.

I recommend this exhilarating trip, but I would suggest you physically prepare ahead of time. I kept a log of my workouts if you're interested.

The IKEA photo collection was taken with an iPod Touch.

Tionesta & Franklin PA

2011-06-26T21:03:00.002-05:00

After day two of canoeing Laura and I decided to get a room - or as it turned out rooms. We found a place in the tiny town of Tionesta, Pa - about a ten minute drive from where we canoed. It was only 69 bucks for what was basically a whole apartment - including a front porch swing.

On our way home the next morning we decided to stop in Franklin - its a town we always pass through on our way to and from the canoe trip. It has a classic Main Street - but unlike the vacant, run-down, small town main streets we're all used too this one has every store front filled and there is lots of action - even early afternoon on a Monday. We got some lunch, did some antiqueing and took some photos.

Refining on the River

2011-06-25T09:25:00.007-05:00

As our canoe company driver raced us along the roads up river to drop us off, Tim and I talked with him about how mining and refining have been impacting their region. The Allegheny National Forest, through which we canoed, receives a lower level of protection in park hierarchy than our own Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Exhibit #1: United Refining Company pictured above. The massive refinery sits right on the river in the heart of the national park. There were a variety of drain pipes dumping large quantities of water into the river above ground.

Our driver told us of how the oil companies always try to sell the local community on how projects like this will crate jobs in the local economy. The problem is that once the ink on the contract is dry, truckloads of workers who barely speak English show up driving rigs with Texas license plates. The oil companies would rather truck in Mexican workers than pay a liveable wage to the locals. Once the work is done, they vanish.

A new concern is that the Allegheny National Forest is in for another round of damage as the oil companies feast their eyes and focus their lobbyists on the Marcellus Shale. Here is a short video that provides an overview of the controversy over 'fracking' in the region:

Community Gardens

2011-06-23T16:11:00.001-05:00

They're popping up in neighborhoods across Akron. They're behind the Wendy's on Market. They're across from the new YMCA. They're in the parking lot of Habitat For Humanity. Wherever they are, community gardens seem to have a lot of takers.

We stumbled upon the opening of this garden behind Mason Elementary. There was a lot going on here--some physical education gathering ran around the field next door, while we played in piles of warm manure.

The hope of the community garden is that it builds some community camaraderie while educating Akronites on gardening and healthy alternatives. At Mason, there were a lot of people from the surrounding neighborhood. Everyone was having a good time, whether it was the kid playing with the hose or the mom trying to plant her veggies. Community gardens might not heal all of Akron's sores, but they can provide a good beginning point.

Allegheny Island sneak peek

2011-06-22T20:11:00.002-05:00

Trailer for a short film series coming soon to The Chief Source.

Campsite

2011-06-22T19:20:00.001-05:00

As the sun dropped quickly behind the hills, there was intense debate amongst our party about which island looked best suited for camping. The clear evidence of high water on the islands was the overgrown vegetation. It was tough to find an opening clear enough for camping. We must have stopped at 6 other islands that were overgrown and muddy. We got lucky and found this high, flat, sandy spot. It was perfect. These photos were taken in the morning while Tim and I worked on making breakfast.

Canoeing the Allegheny Part II

2011-06-21T21:17:00.001-05:00

Is there anything in the world more relaxing than floating down a river beer in hand? That is the question Kyle, Kristi, Laura and I explored this weekend. The answer is a definite "no".

Kyle and I also both decided to bring our Canon DSLRs with us - we put them in freezer bags and then in our holster bags -hopefully enough protection to snap them out of the river in case of a mishap. Fortunately the water tightness of this set-up never had to be tested. The only problem I had was fumbling to get my camera out in time when a female bald eagle flew within 30 feet of our canoe. I ended up with a blurry photo of it on a far off tree....

I'd be interested to know if anyone has a better idea for having a camera on a river for two days when adult beverages are involved.

The Group

Canoeing the Allegheny

2011-06-20T19:05:00.004-05:00

The Indian Waters canoeing company dropped us off 27 miles up the Allegheny River at the Kinzua Dam. Tim, Laura, Kristi, and I spent two days floating and paddling down the river. The prediction of 40% chance of rain was in reality complete sunshine and perfect temperatures. The only water we had to protect our belongings from was our underestimation of some mild rapids and our drinks. This is the first in a series of posts Tim and I will be sharing this week.

Tree on Erie

2011-06-12T22:13:00.002-05:00

Taken at Huntington Beach in Avon Lake, OH just after sunset.

Yardsailing

2011-06-10T15:36:00.006-05:00

Yard sales are like the weather, totally unpredictable. This is our second yard sale in the last month, and in that time, predicting what people will want and when they will show is a complete coin flip. So, it came as no surprise that most of our Yardsailers arrived when the clouds opened up and began the drizzling of rain.

We're very interested in getting rid of stuff, so we're always willing to come down on prices. At the same time, the constant, near spiteful, haggling gets a little old after a while. Like the $15 rug that ultimately went for $4. Or this one:

"How much is the clock?"

"Five dollars."

Pause. Inquisitive look. "Will ya take a buck?"

"Sure," with a roll of the eyes.

Well, here's to rain...

Summer Pond

2011-06-06T10:33:00.003-05:00

Taken at the pond at Virginia Kendall. Sunday was perfect.

Directory Headshots

2011-05-31T22:17:00.007-05:00

One of the projects I'm working on for Torchbearers is a hard copy directory. At out last general membership meeting, I offered to take headshots for people who didn't have one or who wanted an updated photo. We have our general membership meetings at the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank. I set up for photos by finding an armless chair and white wall in the board room upstairs. The shots were taken with a 50mm lens and a white shoot through umbrella. I placed the umbrella above the subjects as high as I could go without hitting the drop ceiling. From a process standpoint, it went pretty well. My only regret was I wish I could have spent more time with each subject rather than just two shots.

Memorial Day

2011-05-30T14:04:00.000-05:00

Wash Here

2011-05-24T23:05:00.003-05:00

Camera: Minolta X-700 with MC Rokkor f/1.7 55mm lens.
Film: Ilford XP2 Super 400 Black and White. (more here)

Return of the Green

2011-05-23T21:41:00.002-05:00

I love the first truly green hike of the year - the color is almost over-whelming after the barren Winter landscapes.

Holding Out!

2011-05-16T21:32:00.001-05:00

I took this photo Saturday night at The Matinee while watching a couple of my friend's bands play.
A classic hold-the-camera-out shot aided by some bounce-flash and a wide angle lens.

137th Kentucky Derby

2011-05-13T20:03:00.002-05:00

I went to the Kentucky Derby last weekend. I'm not really into horses, horse racing, or gambling, but I thought it was one of those things that I should go do as a truly unique American experience. I went with a couple friends of mine - two of which have now attended eight (or maybe nine) years running. The first video is what I saw of the actual derby race. Not much from the infield. (Side note - I bet on several long shots to win the race. All of em lost. I don't think anyone there bet on Animal Kingdom.)

The second video is the tail end of what is apparently somewhat of a derby tradition in recent years. A few years ago, someone climbed atop the long row of port-o-lets in the infield (there's like 30 or 40 maybe), ran the entire length across the top of them and did a face plant into a "mud" pit at the end. Every year since, some bourbon fueled challengers have attempted to recreate the feat, often falling off before making it the entire length. They often fall because it is apparently also somewhat of a tradition for those surrounding the port-o-lets when said feat is attempted to hurl things at the runner. This year, the Derby organizers erected a row of canopy/tent thingies over the entire length - I'm thinking that it was to disable this event. It didn't work.

To get into and out of the infield, you must travel through a tunnel. The third video is the trip out of the infield after the race. There was a guy playing sax for tips in there (I think he plays every year and makes a killing). Here's when the "uniquely American experience" really kicked in. As he played "God Bless America," the crowd exiting the infield spontaneously erupted into a boozy sing-along - ending with drunken chants of U-S-A! U-S-A! After speaking with my friends who have been to derby the past eight years, they claim that they have not witnessed a sing-along link this and certainly not the USA chants - most likely caused by recent events in Pakistan. Interesting stuff.

Wide-Angle-Weeding

2011-05-11T21:38:00.000-05:00

Finally got some done...

Greg and Friend's Show

2011-05-08T23:04:00.000-05:00

On Saturday Laura and I stopped by the photography opening of 'Break' at Millworks Gallery featuring some of The Chief Source's own, Greg Milo's, work. All very good stuff. It was part of the Downtown Akron Artwalk and we checked out a couple of the other shows too.

The throngs of various people roaming around the different galleries were just as interesting as the art. There is stuff to do in Akron, dummies.

This is a 30 second exposure I took of the Northside Lofts before heading home...

Human Rights

2011-05-05T06:16:00.001-05:00

Human Rights lawyer, registered nurse and apparent cyclist Jeffrey Heller spoke to my U.S. History class on Wednesday about U.S. immigration policy.

I'm sure it was an interesting change for the students who sometimes get upset with my non-partisan stances. Heller laid out his position quite clearly and with great knowledge and articulation. His frustration on the issue of immigration showed as he talked about hard working innocent people getting tossed out of the U.S. and being sent back to often miserable or dangerous conditions.

He is riding his bike (with his pal Joey the Kangaroo) from New York to Iowa (1400 miles) with the hopes of raising awareness and money for Human Rights First and their efforts to help refugees gain asylum in the United States.

When he pulled into the Hoban parking lot, his odometer had just hit 499miles. Follow Jeffrey on his blog http://rideforhumanrights.wordpress.com/about/.

Twins

2011-05-03T21:57:00.000-05:00

I almost always have a camera with me even when I have no specific plans to take photos....

.....because you never know when your girlfriend and a friend will show up at the bar in the same shirt....

Delorean

2011-05-02T01:49:00.000-05:00

The theme was Back to the Future. A Delorean arrived midway through the party to the amazement of adults and mild interest of kids. We circled around the stainless steel body laughing, quoting lines from 80's movies, and trading places in the car seats for pictures.

It is amazing what can happen via email. A week before the party, Sarah and Chris sent out an email looking to see if anyone had a connection to a Delorean. We were joking that they might as well have asked for it to be delivered on a unicorn. It turned out a contact of Chris' dad had a connection and the random wish came true. It made the party special.

This photo of Mia in the car was lucky. I had snapped dozens of fairly typical photos of people posing, which I will post. For this shot, I held my camera up real high and shot down into the windshield. It is hard to know what would be visible through the glare of the glass. I think the only person who noticed I was doing this was Mia and that was the lucky part. I decided to make the photo back and white except for the break in the glare that reveals Mia's smile. I like this photo best as big as possible.

Haley's Run Clean Up

2011-05-01T08:53:00.010-05:00

Saturday morning some volunteers got together in the muddy, yet sunny, elements to clean up Adam's and Haley's Run.

The park sits along the Goodyear Track. Originally a wetlands, Haley's Run now looks more like a near motionless stream, where junk builds up easily. The hope is to eventually bring back something resembling the wetlands, and both Goodyear and neighbor Lockheed Martin have assisted. See the revitalization work Lockheed Martin did here.

Several groups have cooperated together in order to make the restoration happen, including the Western Reserve Land Conservancy and Keep Akron Beautiful. A walk along the trail proves that great progress can be achieved through perseverance and cooperation--like Congress.

The trash seemed to multiply--pick up one piece, another piece emerged. You can see all the tires we found, but of course there were the more usual energy drink containers, cigarette packages, and baby dolls. Circle K's Polar Pop cups won the prize for being the most represented trash.

Additionally, we tried to remove the invasive garlic mustard plants.

Constructing Break

2011-04-27T07:22:00.002-05:00

Fellow Breaker Micah and I spent some time last night working on the Break show (May 7).

The show will be at Millworks Gallery near Luigi's.

The four of us each bring a very different perspective and style of photography to the show, so I think there will be something for just about everyone.

Breaker Matt proposed the theme Break and asked each of us to interpret it however we wanted, which allowed for some great diversity. I spent much of last night just admiring the others' photos--there's no room for slacking, I thought to myself.

Join us May 7 between 5-10pm.

Springing at Night

2011-04-25T21:53:00.001-05:00

When they first started putting 'Live View' on DSLR's I didn't really see the point. I thought that I would always use the viewfinder(and for the most part I do) - but I have found a few really good uses for it. These nighttime, long-exposures in my yard are the perfect example. The 'live view' mode makes it so I can see in the near dark and also digitally zoom in and manually focus far more precisely.

Springing

2011-04-24T21:07:00.006-05:00

It always amazes me how worn I feel in the final days of winter. A gray day in April is like Dexter sneaking up and injecting a syringe of tranquilizer straight to the blood stream. It knocks me out and before I know it I feel like I'm wrapped in plastic on my couch unable to get motivated to do anything. The window of sunshine on Saturday felt like a curse had been broken.

Analog Collage

2011-04-19T09:50:00.010-05:00

I hadn't done a film collage with prints since I was in high school...So early one morning I headed to a place in Akron I've always wanted to photograph with my Minolta X-700 and a roll of Kodak Portra 160VC. The photo to the right is me putting together the results - below is the rough draft.

I was standing a bit to close to my collage subject - I had hoped to make the collage consist of more photos and bigger. A lesson learned.

I've scanned the negatives from these shots and I'm going to have Photoshop make a digital version of the collage which I'll post soon.

I have a few more locations planned out to try and make better and bigger collages - if it ever gets nice and stops raining.....

Volunteer Project at CVNP

2011-04-17T20:42:00.003-05:00

Three of Akron's leadership development organizations coordinated efforts for a morning of service projects in the Cuyahoga Valley National Parks this past Saturday. Participants from Leadership Akron, Torchbearers, and Junior Leadership Akron braved the accurate forecast of steady rain to tackle a variety of projects. My team worked on clearing existing trail drainage channels and digging some new ones. I was pretty handy with a Pulaski by the end of the morning. I had to take my camera back to the car early in the morning because I wasn't sure if my backpack could wick away the steady downpour. The shot above is of two of the eight teams getting instructions before heading out.

Break

2011-04-16T16:47:00.005-05:00

Twenty-one days until the opening of the Break show at Millworks.

All Chief Source friends are welcome to attend.

If you don't have a planner yet, buy one, mark the 7th of May, invite a date to Luigi's, and end the evening with a pleasant viewing of photography.

Damp, Moldy Shoe Box

2011-04-12T07:38:00.001-05:00

I thought of a novel way to achieve the "damp, moldy shoe box" look that Mencken is so fond of without using an iphone and an app. Who woulda thought that you could get that filmy, point and shoot look (that is so hot these days) by using....wait for it....film and a point and shoot camera!

I shot this roll with a Nikon L35 AF on expired Fuji Superia HQ film. The only thing I did to the photos was a bit of cropping and sharpening. Fans of American Apparel ads should love these....

This was the first roll of film I had developed at Akron Commercial Color Lab. I decided to try them out after coming across their website. I had been using Dodd Camera but between their pricing and the wait to get my film back I wasn't too happy. I really like ACCL - it only cost $3.60 to get my film developed and put into a binder ready negative sheet(not the flimsy drugstore kind) and It was done the same day. They develop C-41 three times a week, E-6 twice and black and white once.

I'd also like to get some digital enlargements done there. It'd be nice to keep my business local.

Sigalow Wedding

2011-04-10T19:53:00.005-05:00

Over the weekend my friends Ian and Jessica got married in Livingston, NJ. It was a wedding weekend unlike any other I had experienced and I mean that in a very good way. I had the privilege of being Ian's best man and the duties limited my ability to carry my SLR. So I snapped a few shots with my iPhone to try to capture a few moments.

Copley Tire & Oil

2011-04-09T14:40:00.008-05:00

If you're ever looking for tires or any advice on your car, try Copley Tire & Oil (on Copley Road right off the I77 exit).

Ahmed runs the show, and he has several hard-ass, yet pleasant, workers.

There's always a deal to be found here. I was lookin' for new tires, since mine were nearly bald. They had the cheapest and most honest option for me. Of course, if you go in expecting glitz and glam, you'll be quite disappointed. This is a bare-bones operation with no fluff. They just get the job done.

In an age where local businesses seem nonexistent, give Copley Tire & Oil a try.

France, Part II

2011-04-07T05:51:00.003-05:00

There's plenty of great shots in Europe. Ya just hold your camera up and shoot and something good will come of it. I have a lot of pictures (as usual) from my trip. You can find some of the ones I like on my flickr page; though, I'm still up loading some.

I found myself on several occasions handing the borrowed Canon EOS 40D (which I found to be much heavier than my Rebel) to a student and asking him to first focus on me and then move the camera to the left or right a bit so I'm not in the middle and so I get some scenery in the picture. It was kind of a funny, ongoing thing.

The above picture is taken from the top of the Arc de Triomphe (Napoleon's monument to his very successful soldiers). At 8:00 each evening the Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes, so everyone's gotta get that picture. It had stopped sparkling by this point. The bottom picture is taken atop the Eiffel Tower looking out onto the Seine. Notice the shirt.

Fare

2011-04-06T05:43:00.000-05:00

+ =
Winking Lizard lizard. Poppcorn popper at the Sheffield Cafe, PA. Steak at Jerome Bettis' Grille 36 in downtown Pittsburgh.

Firestone Morning

2011-04-05T14:26:00.002-05:00

I took this photo early one morning last week - I had the perfect spot and time selected.

I've been working on taking photos of Akron icons this Winter and Spring - because you never know when they will disappear....

Opening Day

2011-04-04T06:02:00.000-05:00

Supposedly the game was sold out, but you wouldn't have known by looking at the stands.

Rubber Capital

2011-04-03T17:25:00.001-05:00

I snapped this today on East Market Street while out for a random photo drive. Those kind of drives usually don't work out - I do a lot better when I have a specific subject in mind. ...but I had some luck today.

"Do you remember?"

I also had to stop for this shot.

James

2011-04-01T12:20:00.012-05:00

I skipped work today. I felt kind of bad about so I thought I'd do something to make up for it. First I went to the doctor, and then I stopped to talk to James. I asked if I could take his photo. I took a few and liked this one. The picture was a mistake originally, but as I looked at it more, I liked how all the b.s. in the background was blown out and only James and his sign stood out.

We often ignore these guys, but try this one on for size: James has stomach cancer, lost his job and his wife, has a son in intensive care, is behind on his child support and makes $7 an hour.

James was quite open and willing to talk. If you happen to catch him at the Market/Exchange/Hawkins intersection, take a moment and say hello.

High School Photography II

2011-04-01T07:30:00.000-05:00

I think this is part of the roll that was one of my first - for an assignment on portraits...

High School Photography

2011-03-30T21:16:00.008-05:00

So I decided to go out and buy myself a new scanner after a failed attempt to scan some negatives with the one my printer has. I started to scan a few old color negatives to get the feel for how the device and software worked - it got me thinking about what other old film I might have. I found myself searching my basement where I discovered my high school photography folder containing four sleeves of black and white negatives.
So far I scanned and uploaded part of a roll of some friends hanging out in the parking lot after school(we used to have to wait until the buses left before we could get out of the lot). There are some gems here - check out 'Baby Face Kyle'.

I added a bit of contrast and sharpening to a few of the photos but decided not to remove the dust, scratches or watermarks - hipstamatic 4 realz! : ) lolz!

It was in high school photography that I learned to shoot with an SLR which ignited my passion for taking photos - thanks Mr. Pierson!

40 gigapixel

2011-03-30T07:33:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure what purpose this serves.

Akron Tracks

2011-03-29T10:30:00.000-05:00

I took this photo yesterday morning when I was out shooting for a film project I'm working on.

St. Pat's on Film

2011-03-23T22:40:00.004-05:00

On St. Patrick's Day I decided to shoot with my Nikon L35 AF and some Fuji Super HQ film that I bought cheap at an estate sale. I figured an auto-focus camera that was well built and acquired inexpensively would be a good choice for a holiday like this. I have to admit I did look at the back of the camera after a few shots....

It takes some getting used to having no confirmation beep or light for the auto-focus. Also, to use fill flash you cover the lens and push half way to get the flash to pop up - then you compose and shoot. A few little tricks like that made for some good photos.

Delainey

2011-03-22T01:02:00.000-05:00

When was the last time you enjoyed food this much?

Altkirch, France

2011-03-21T08:35:00.005-05:00

Currently on location in Altkirch with some students. I'm not having the best of luck with computers--hardware as well as simple things like French keyboards.

Here's a quick taste of forgetting that you're using a French keyboard: Zeùre hqving q lovely ti,e here in Qlsqce: The kids hqve expressed greqt joy: Theyùve spent ,ost of their ti,e zith their French hosts:

Since the keyboard is different, I'll keep it short.

Time to teach about American Indians.

Signs of Life 2011

2011-03-19T09:27:00.002-05:00

I do this post every year on TheChiefSource - and write something about the thrill of the first few jacket-less days and little flowers for a Midwesterner after a long Winter - you know what I'm talking about....

Puerto Sagua

2011-03-17T20:30:00.003-05:00

Puerto Sagua Restaurant is a diner that serves Cuban food in the heart of Miami Beach. Large Cuban sandwich, beans, rice, and beer. The fried pork chop on the right was Rob's. This was the best meal I had on the trip. Photos take with Hipstamatic.

Miami Beach

2011-03-16T20:57:00.004-05:00

Saturday evening I took a walk south on the boardwalk to try to see if I could get any photos around the magic hour. The boardwalk was full of Hasidic Jewish couples who were either elderly or walking their young children in strollers. I didn't take photos of them because it seemed disrespectful. Instead, I stuck to people on the beach enjoying the fading sun.

This photo was tweaked in photoshop with an Action called Technicolor Dream World.

First Energy, Damn!

2011-03-15T23:45:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning I went for a hike at The Gorge thinking that the water would be flowing pretty heavy over the First Energy Dam - it was. It made for some pretty cool photos.

"The Roots"

"Morning Face"

Fontainebleau

2011-03-14T22:25:00.004-05:00

I was in Miami over the weekend to celebrate my friend Ian's end to bachelorhood. These photos were taken around the Fountainebleau hotel. I would write more, but I need to sleep.

No Matter What

2011-03-13T22:40:00.002-05:00

March Madness

2011-03-11T15:33:00.000-05:00

Barns and snow - always classic.
This is the one on Bath Road right by Northampton Center.

Across the street...

bit-o-color