Suffragette City

A rather jolly suffragette here posing for my time travel camera.

Taken at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI. Greenfield Village is an entire village of American History (right next door to Henry Ford Museum which is a similar theme but more of an indoor venture).

Greenfield Village is open year round, showcasing different aspects of American history in each of the four seasons. Winter visits are only for die-hards, but it is very nice around Christmas.

Here is a brief historical timeline of the suffragette movement in American that you might find interesting. It goes much further back than the early 20th Century. Happy reading!

Just Bearly Love

These two polar bears sure are fond of each other. Aw, shucks!

These incredible beasts are in a bit of trouble up there in the Arctic Circle. To learn about polar bear conservation and how you can help, check out Polar Bears International. Pix, webcam action, PB giftshop, info for teachers and a whole bunch more.

Is It A Dream? Cruise...

A favorite from the Woodward Dream Cruise. 2006, maybe? I love this car! They are already gearing up for Dream Cruise 2009!

Hobo Joe

If you should find yourself tramping through the west valley, there's a good chance you might run across this classy fellow in the backwaters of Buckeye, AZ. He's hard to miss as he's gotta be twenty feet tall.

I'm told he's called Hobo Joe.  Of the now defunct Hobo Joe Coffee Shops.

I found some info on him here and a smidge here.

Honestly, it's not worth a special trip, but if you're out there, anyway, for all his imposing stature and all, he's really just a big little tramp and quite a sight. A quite contented-looking sight at that.

Orphan Works Act, S 2913

Fellow Photographers:

There's a bill in Congress that spells bad news for us. It's the Orphan Works Act, S2913. It passed the Senate and is heading for the House. Please read Chase Jarvis' blog post for more detailed information as well as information about who to contact to have your voice heard.

Hot Air Balloon?

Well, sort of. It is an artistic representation of a hot air balloon at the center of a very wonderful and elaborate merry-go-round at Canterbury Village in Lake Orion, MI.

Dawn and I were there (almost four years ago) when we were checking out reception halls for our wedding. We ended up going another way, but I got a few interesting shots out of the experience. The main attraction is the Castle, which is themed medieval. Out back there are some shops (shoppes?) and a building that houses the terrific merry-go-round surprise.

Last year we had the chance to shoot a wedding in one of Canterbury Castle's big rooms. Beautiful place. If you ever find yourself in Lake Orion, MI, it's worth a visit.

They Said, "Go West, Young Man"

...so I did! This stagecoach is one of several decorating a local watering hole. I guess it's fair to say that convertibles have always been, and always will be, a very popular mode of transportation!

Pain at the Pumps

This is a semi-complicated image. The gas pumps are from a crazy retro looking joint in Royal Oak, MI called the Vinsetta Garage (I think that's what it is called). Then a dusting of a poster edge effect.

I didn't care for the dull urban background, so I dropped in some desert and now, finally now(!), I am very enamored of this look. I'd been sitting on this image of the pumps for a few years, never quite satisfied with it.

So, as always, thank you Photoshop and all the PS gurus out there in Adobeland.

Pipedreams of the Obsessed

So, I spare you a picture with this post (although I thought about adding the pix to all of the equipment listed below). The big Photokina event is wrapping up in Cologne, Germany. This is where all the big guns in the world of photography announce the new gear. And when it comes to photography, I have visions of being a huge gearhead!

So I share with you my current wishlist over at B&H. Yeah, it's only like $15,000 worth of stuff. Ha! The items in italics aren't even available yet!

• Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital Camera (1)
• Impact Umbrella Bracket (2)
• Bogen/Manfrotto 3216 Monopod (black) w 234 Head (1)
• Canon EOS 50D SLR Digital Camera (1)
• Canon EOS 40D SLR Digital Camera (2)
• Quantum Instruments Turbo SC Battery Pack w/ C2 Flash Cable (3)
• Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Autofocus Lens (1)
• PocketWizard Plus II Tranceiver Radio Slave (4)
• Canon 580EX II Flash (4)
• Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro AF Lens for Canon
• Bunch of Alien Bees or White Lightning strobes, stands, umbrellas, softboxes and power packs!

Good Humor Man and Wife

She clearly knew what she wanted. In a husband, a wedding, and an ice cream! This was a seriously fun wedding in downtown Detroit, summer of '07. This photo was taken on Belle Isle, a park/island in the middle of the Detroit River - a great spot with terrific views of the Detroit skyline as well as Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Gotta See a Man about a Horse

...or perhaps, two horses. That's right, it's a photograph. At least that's how it started out. One fancy solarization effect later, we have this. And again, it's a case of "I don't know art, but I know what I like." It's funny how sometimes an abstraction can really capture the essence of something better, and more clearly, than a straight photograph.

I Been Working on the Railroad

A detail from the train station at the Goldfield Ghost Town near Apache Junction, AZ.  I like the way the vivid color juxtaposes with the dilapidation. 

Spooky Behavior

In the memorable words of Amy Poehler, "I don't respond well to... spooky behavior." This was a bridge to some woods in Goodison, MI, a cute little rural town north of Rochester, MI. Actually not spooky at all. Really. I mean it.

...But I Know What I Like...

I'm goin' "fine art" for the rest of the week. But as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I suppose the same can be said of art. So today I say "Mailboxes to you!" and I hope I haven't offended anybody with this shocking depiction of the tried-and-true, steadfast postal communication in this hectic age of e-mail and text messages.

Forgotten History

Just found this shot that I forgot I took probably two years ago at Greenfield Village in good old Dearborn, MI. Would have been the same day as the old-timey baseball guy below. Pictures, like history, come and go and sometimes end up in the bottom of a shoe box.

Hot Off The Presses

Killing some time yesterday wandering around Mesa and we found ourselves in the Art Center area along Main St.

At every corner, and in some spots in between, there are statues that really add some pizazz to the street. This paperboy is just one of them. Nice touch to an already pretty area.

Bomb Pop Wedding

I've heard of a shotgun wedding, but a bomb pop wedding?

CH__CH. What's missing? (YOU ARE!)

A Pre-Owned Vehicle?

Found this in the Aussie Exhibit over at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Think it has much trade-in value?

9/11 Memorial

Was in Tempe on Sunday. In the park over by the lake, they had a memorial display for 9/11 victims. One U.S. flag for each victim spread out over the whole park with a little info on the person represented. Very impressive sight. Kind of hard to see in this panorama (if you click on the picture, it may open larger depending upon your browser), but the entire middle of the picture is flags. And all those great sunbursting shadows are from the flagpoles all lined up perfectly and orderly in stark contrast to the terrible event it memorializes.

Old Rose

Old Rose here was a delicate flower. Just about ready to shrivel up and go to the old greenhouse in the sky.

I like the details within the flower as well as the good bokeh beyond. Also, the subtle gradations from red to yellow.

Ruins

I don't know if this is what you would call ruins or not.  It certainly could be more ruined.  Anyway....  This was back in '06 on Antigua (I think).  But definitely a Carribean island.  I'm not big on the notetaking.  May have to invest in one of those cameras that lets you add a soundbite to the file of each image.  Now that's some useful technology!

The Wayback Machine

So I had a little time on my hands yesterday and I decided to take a trip in my Wayback Machine. I decided a nice day with America's favorite past time might be fun (with a twist), so off I went to the late Nineteen Century somewhere in the South.

Everyone was perfectly pleasant, but I had to be very careful to keep my fancy newfangled picture box out of sight. Oh, they had photography back then, but the sight of my 40D might convince the excitable masses that I was a minion of the devil.

That may be, but gosh darn it, I wanted some pictures before I was run out of town on a rail. I grabbed this shot and then settled in with a hotdog and some lemonade to enjoy the game.

I was eventually run out of town, but not because of the camera. Word of warning: when lurking about the South some odd hundred years ago or so, don't say that Miss Larabie's fried chicken isn't quite as good as your Mom's. No, just keep it to yourself and move on to the apple pie. Yessiree, Bob. I can't stress that enough.

Frenetic Wedding Sampler!

Having a little fun with animoto.com.  Check it!

We'll Call It A ButterMoth....

I don't know my butterflies from my moths (until they start eating my clothes!). So, we'll call this little stinker a buttermoth for now. This is from last week's journeys at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. If anyone has any suggestions for great photo subject matter in the southeast valley, let me know. My shutter finger is getting itchy!

Glamour Dog

Cosmo demands more exposure on the blog. And who am I to deny him?

Environmental Executive Portraits

Used to be, if you were shooting an "executive portrait" -- and I use quotation marks because they are not just for businessmen, anymore -- you'd set your subject right in front of your favorite marbled grey or blue backdrop, set your lights to the 45's and bob's your uncle. Well, that's so 1985!

Now folks like something a little more environmental; a natural background of their workplace, or a wall of trophies, or a gaggle of happy employees beaming on proudly. This gentleman is an educator, a principal, an author, a leader, a speaker, and a motivator. No marbled canvas was going to suffice here. We shot in an office, a library, and on a playground.

The point is: really consider your subject. If they know what they want, great. If not, find out a bit about them and make some appropriate suggestions. Or crazy, wildly creative ones if you think they are game. But leave the marbled canvas to the chain school pix guys!

Top Tips For Grooms

Fancy Duds

OK, Groom. You're probably going to do the tuxedo thang. Terrific (although a nice new suit is acceptable for many less formal modern weddings but you'd better OK it with the bride, first). Arrange for the tux well in advance (at least three months). Take your best man along if you think you'll be overwhelmed by the choices. Better yet, bring the maid of honor. And there actually are a lot of choices. Styles, cuts, colors, accessories. Even if you go basic black, try to coordinate the cummerbund with the bridesmaids' dresses.

Are your groomsmen a little on the irresponsible or forgetful side? Remind then where to go, when to show for a fitting, and when to pick up the tux. On the day of the pickup, try on the pants and jacket and make sure all the accessories are acounted for (shoes, shirt, cummerbund, tie, and cufflinks). Assign the most responsible groomsman to return your tux with his on the day after the wedding. Late charges can get out of hand, fast.

Fancy Dude

Get a clean shave for the wedding, but not too clean. Shave with the grain to get the job done, but don't shave against the grain. At best you'll risk razor burn, at worst nicks. Use a good deodorant but little to no cologne. There will be plenty enough good smelling flowers, girls, and foods to cover all the bases. Just be clean and ready. If a teeth-whitening regimen is in motion, leave it alone the day of the wedding. The whitening agent is often hydrogen peroxide and you don't want to get any of that near your fancy duds. A good brushing will do the trick.

Stag Night

If you make sure that the stag party isn't the night before the wedding, you won't have to worry about a hangover. Or red, baggy eyes in your wedding photos. In fact, better plan for a good week prior in case you need the time to destroy evidence or dole out apologies. And no cameras, cameraphones, or camcorders! Even if you just go for a good meal and then to a nice ice cream social at the local church like I did.

Morning Of

Eat a healthy, but not heavy breakfast. Stay away from the hard-boiled eggs and order the omelette without onions. And not too much coffee! Have a few Altoids available throughout the day.

Get Going!

Leave for the ceremony far ahead of time. Do not allow any chance of arriving late.

Libations
Enjoy your party, but don't drink to excess. Your bride will be peeved and you'll just get tired and bleary-eyed.

Think About Your Gal

Plan ahead for a gift and a card for her to receive while she is getting ready. Strive for sweet and sentimental, maybe something about how you met or when you knew she was the one. Make sure she gets it early enough that she can re-do eye makeup if you make her cry. You'll be a prince!

A Nice One From The Archives

A nice shot from a country club wedding last year.

But Ya Doesn't Have To Call Me A Wedding Photographer

Remember that old Raymond J. Johnson, Jr. bit from the 70's? (really Bill Saluga)

"Ahh, ya doesn't has to call me Johnson! You can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay, or you can call me Johnny or you can call me Sonny, or you can call me RayJay, or you can call me RJ... but ya doesn't hafta call me Johnson!" [I know, I'm dating myself here.]

Well, sometimes I feel like ol' Ray.

"Ahh, ya doesn't have to call me a wedding photographer! You can call me a portraitist, or you can call me an event shooter, or you can call me a child photographer, or you can call me a fine artist, or you can call me Ronnie... but ya doesn's hafta call me a wedding photographer!"

True, my bread and butter is the wedding. But I like to shoot and I'll shoot just about anything so keep me in mind when you need an executive portrait, or sports shootin', or any ol' kind of photography. I'm versatile and ya doesn't hafta call me Johnson!

Boyce Thompson Arboretum

Dawn and I spent part of Labor Day in Superior, AZ traversing the trails at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. Very beautiful spot with, of course, desert plants, fleet-footed animals, and lots of great rock and cliff formations. Here are a few pics of the wildlife (that stood still long enough to shoot!).

I May Have To Rethink New Glass

Ok, I was thinking that my next purchase would be new glass, probably the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 (a compromise down from the $1,800 Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS that I really want -- but $1,100 difference is, well, $1,100 difference!).

But now I'm getting all sucked into the hype about the new Canon 50D. And to think the 40D only came out last September! I love new gear, but give my old gear a chance to wear out a bit before I simply must have the new thing! Take a look at this:



Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? But to complicate matters, have you heard the rumors about the Canon 5d Mark II? Will the madness never end!?!?!

one more lil' lightnin'

Monsoons!

You're In Trouble Now

Yes, I'm afraid you're all in trouble, now. Now that I've discovered embedding video. I'll try to keep it few and far between in the days to come, but it really is a lot of fun. This clip is of funny little (some not so little) wedding disasters.



None of my weddings have had any drama like those, but no matter what happens, I get a picture of it!

Gear and Hype

OK, I'm a Canon guy, but I'm gonna share some Nikon stuff, too.

First: a video from Chase Jarvis, advance testing a top secret Nikon D90



Pretty cool, eh? And now the really cool news.... the Canon 50D!

http://www.popphoto.com/photonews/5496/canon-eos-50d-first-look.html

photo here: http://www.calumetphoto.com/ctl?ac.ui.pn=popup.imageviewer&itemno=EC2750&w=605&h=700

Canon and Nikon keep it exciting, don't they? And they just won't give my wallet a rest! But I still want some new glass first. Either way, Dawn's just gonna have to slap my hand away from the cookie jar.

By the way, this is the first time I've embedded video. That's fun! Thanks Chase Jarvis and Nikon.

Singin' the Blues for Romance

Just an example of how color affects mood. This shot was fine in its natural warm yellow tones, but a conversion to a soft, evening, cool blue emphasized the romance better and puts the kibosh on the hard lighting. This can be achieved with a physical filter, a hue/saturation adjustment, or 3rd party software filter like Nik's Midnight Blue.

Off Into The Sunset (or Just Into the Future)

Walking away, or walking away looking over your shoulder back to the photographer always makes a nice image to close out the album. All the better if you have a nice bridge, rural road, or rustic woods. Sometimes that extra location between the ceremony and reception is well worth it. For pictures, but also for a few precious minutes to wind down.

A Bad Case of Rhinos

I promised you rhinos, and rhinos you shall have. They have been decontaminated for your protection. Just don't look 'em in the eye. They don't like that. No, sir. Not one bit.

Tiggers Are Wonderful Things

I'm in a wildlife (read: zoo) mode right now. So you get a tigger today. Probably rhinos tomorrow. "You're getting rhinos tomorrow" -- sounds like something you should get some antibiotics for. I'll disinfect them first. It'll be OK.

History Magazine / September '08

OK, this post has little or nothing to do with photography (perhaps I'll try to work in some photo related puns.....) but it MUST BE POSTED! THE WORD MUST BE SPREAD! Dramatic, no?

So why all the hubbub? What for all the hoopla? Why the suspense and hype!?!?!

Well, I'll tell ya.

The current (read September 2008) issue of History Magazine features -- as its cover story no less -- an article focusing on the birth of the blues in America, written by none other than my best friend, Heath Lowrance, way over there in the backwoods suburbs of Detroit.

Take a peek: http://www.history-magazine.com/

Then run, don't walk, to your nearest newsstand and buy the thing. Read it, consume it, talk about it, blog about it, and tell your friends in publishing to print more of Mr. Lowrance's terrific work. And if you think you like that non-fiction stuff, just wait 'til you get your hands on some of his fiction. It will blow your mind! Your synapses will flash and pop like a thousand strobes all going off at once. OK, I'll stop trying to work in the photo thing, but I'll be back at it tomorrow!

P.S. I'm Ron Warren and I approve this message.

Lifting Seth Godin

I'm quite deliberately and blatantly lifting Seth Godin's entire blog entry from today to make my point (with a few additions by me [in grey]):

Taken from: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/08/whos-telling-yo.html

Who's telling you the truth about your online personal marketing? by Seth Godin

Yes, it's true. People judge you.
They judge you especially harshly online.
They judge you by your teeny picture on Facebook (named, after all, after the original quick judgment document) and they judge you by your email sig file and your domain (Hotmail?!) and by the look of your bio on Squidoo or Linkedin or the number of typos in your instant messages. They even judge you by the typeface and ads on your blog.
So, are you getting good feedback on your brand presentation?
Would it hurt your feelings if I told you that your picture made you look dumpy? Or that it was boring? Or way too outre?
It seems like it's better to hear this from a few trusted people than to continue to stumble without knowing why.
I'm not proposing that you let the crowd dictate, or that you work hard to fit in. Far from it. I'm proposing that you know the impact your choices are having and act accordingly.
Pictures are the easiest. Post three or four and let trusted people vote (and tell you why). Don't pick the winner, but read their reasons. And yes, if connecting online is important to you, go ahead and spend a few dollars and get a good photo. (Here, he finally got around to my point!)
This isn't about ignorance as much as it involves effort. Once you pay attention to this, it'll get better.

So, let's get you a digital image upgrade. For Facebook, Linked In, Match.com, Chemistry, or any social or business networking. Or business cards, direct mail, magazine ads, or even bus stops and benches! Or perhaps.... political campaign signs!?!?! Call me at 248-250-3369 or e-mail ron@ronwarrenphotography.com so we can get you some new headshots!

(See http://ronwarrenphotography.blogspot.com/2008/04/portraits-for-business.html )

BTW: My favorite political sign seen around town recently: "Vote SCHMUCK! That's right, Frank Schmuck!" His sign didn't have any photo at all. But I suppose with a name like Schmuck, it's got to be good.

More Goin' Nowhere Fast

As they used to say on WKRP, "And now, more news with Les Nessman."

In keeping with that very sentiment, I give you more goin' nowhere fast. Previously that meant a new image of an old truck baking in the hot sun. Today, it means an old image of a turtle. They famously move oh so slowly, however just on land. They can be quite graceful and speedy in the water. But here we have one that is merely a bump on a log.

I've seen several interesting wildlife shots recently where the animal was captured with a camera equipped with a motion-activated shutter release. Also, check out this: http://strobist.blogspot.com/2008/08/art-on-wing-bradford-fullers-fly-in.html . Great, artful bird imagery all done in a backyard with a feeder and one flash. Very impressive. How do you get the shot without spooking your subject?

Goin' Nowhere Fast

Better call AAA because this tow truck won't be coming to help you anytime soon. One messed up truck looking cool in the hot desert sun. F/10, 1/200, ISO 100, Sigma 10-20mm at 10mm.

Sheer Lunacy

Just a simple shot of last night's full moon. Turns out shooting the moon takes a bit of trial and error. This was shot at 1/20 sec., f/22, ISO 100, 75-300mm lens at 300mm.

Perspective on Dance

Want a new perspective on shooting dancers at a wedding without risking life and limb (and camera) by standing on a questionable chair? Here's what I do.

• Put a wide-angle lens on one of your camera bodies (I use a Sigma 10-20mm)


• Throw an off-shoe cord into the hotshoe (and a speedlite on the other end)


• Put the camera on a monopod


• Set the camera timer for 10 seconds


• Hold speedlite to aim or bounce off ceiling


• Hit the shutter and thrust that camera up over the crowd (angled down a bit)

Voila! Crazy aerial perspective. It can be very hit or miss, but when it works, you'll be mightly pleased with yourself. Note: if you have a remote shutter release, you can use that instead of the randomness of that timer business.

FX

I'm generally not big on the special effect picture, but I have to make the occasional exception. Like this one, for instance. Just too sweet to not post.

Eichhorn Nation

Well, I am clearly still editing pix from the Eichhorn wedding... and loving it! Here I've done a little magic to the color but I'd be nowhere without good subjects doing photogenic things! Thanks Jennifer and Eric!

Elevated Eichhorn

Another teaser from the weekend. Aren't they a handsome couple?

America the Beautiful

From the Binaghi wedding last year. I always liked this picture but I changed out the distracting background and added the Old Glory. Seemed right, especially during the Olympics!

May I Introduce, Mr. & Mrs. Eichhorn!

I had the great privilege of photographing the wedding of Eric and Jennifer Eichhorn. Just a lovely outdoor wedding at Addison Oaks in Leonard, MI. The weather held out long enough for the ceremony and the grounds and gardens there are terrific. The bride and groom looked great and didn't seem nervous in the least. Here's a preview shot for you.

Birdy Over the 9th Hole

A Birdy, not a Birdie flying by the 9th hole.

Arizona Skies

It's monsoon season in the Valley of the Sun. That means beautiful skies and lots of lightning. So........wait for it........wait for it....... here is a beautiful sky and some lightning from last night in my new neighborhood.

Erin & Her Dad

A little something from the Morris/Burke wedding.

116.2 Degrees Fahrenheit!

OK....

116.2 degrees fahrenheit. It's some kinda joke, right? It doesn't really get that hot here, does it!?!?!