Diving In
Diving In – Mud Lake, Michigan
photography
In Praise Of The Coney Island
I’ll tell anyone who will listen: I’m a fan of the coney island hot dog.
You have chili dogs, and kraut, and brats, and Chicago style, and whatever NY happens to be bragging about, and all the rest – and I love those, too. But to me, the coney island is the hot dog style.
When I worked in downtown Jackson, Michigan, I had two coney islands across the street from my office. Every Friday, I’d hit up the Virginia Coney Island and, every week, order “the usual”: two coneys, fries, and a diet Coke.
I miss that. So I try to grab a coney for lunch wherever and whenever I can – even a Detroit-style coney, like the ones above from Lafayette Coney Island across from Campus Martius in downtown Detroit.
An Artistic Perspective
I don’t have a specific type that I like more than another. It’s just when I feel inspired. I like to look at life through the lens and show people how I see the world. Like photography is more than just taking pictures with a nice camera. It’s about creating an artistic perspective on something everyone sees every day. In today’s times it’s easy to get a nice camera for an affordable price but not everyone can create compositions like you. And it’s impressive the way you turn pictures into art
Thank you. I appreciate that.
And you’re so right. It takes way more than a camera. Or a lens. Or a VSCO preset. I’m finally feeling like I have something to say as a photographer, after many years of experimenting and trying and fits and starts.
The gear is fun. But making stuff is way more fun.
Which Way Sunlight
Which Way Sunlight – Concord, Michigan
Sunrises this time of year are pretty special.
Shadows & Light
As a photographer, shadows and light (along with maybe color) are your paint and paintbrush. You are a recorder of light, or the absence of light.
It’s what I love about taking urban exploration photos: finding those areas where light meets dark, and creates mystery. What’s in the corner? What lies waiting in the shadows? What can’t I see?
I found a great abandoned warehouse in mid Michigan where these big, bright windows let in a lot of light. But as usual with window light, it falls off in such a great way. There’s just enough illumination to highlight details on the interior, and just enough shadow to make some mystery.
I’m drawn to these areas when I find something to photograph. Where just enough light leaks in to make something magic.
Canon Generations: EOS M and Canonet
My two portable Canons, and probably my most used digital and film, respectively. Light, easy to use, and capable of great photo making.
Around the Albion Neighborhood
Summer. Walks around the town. Noon sun staring down at all of us.
And gnomes watching our every move.
For the past few summers, I’ve made it a point to take long walks around Albion’s neighborhoods. The challenge is to find the photo-worthy in everyday life: yards, signs, porches, etc.
It just goes to show that no matter how “boring” you think your area is, there’s always something to find.
Fill ‘Er Up, Green Stuff
Fill ‘Er Up, Green Stuff – Kimball, Michigan
An abandoned gas station along I-94, just south of Port Huron, Michigan. It didn’t look like it had been left all that long ago, but already the grass is taking over.
Make the Print
I am happy we are all taking so many photographs. It’s wonderful we are getting more creative as a connected society. Just don’t forget to make the prints.
GḶI†ÇH
I first became aware of glitch art thanks to Nine Inch Nails’ Year Zero album. There was something about the VCR-looking graphics that helped highlight the mystery and DIY philosophy of the album.
The way you go about glitch art is pretty cool: you open up a graphics file in a text editor, and hack away at the code. The image that comes out the other end is super random. Hence, glitch.
But now you can automate this stuff using apps. One that I find is really fun and creative is MOSH, a web app that lets you upload image files and glitch them. It’s not over the top and obnoxious, and has a kind of aesthetic to it.
I took a bunch of image files (above) and ran them through MOSH, keeping the aesthetic semi similar with each image. It’s easy to create a whole series of images that have the same look, but still get the glitch look. I really dig the Scanlines filter (giving you that old TV/VCR look), and the Bleach and InstaColor settings.
MOSH is a fun way to make some truly creepy and horror movie-style effects. I do wish the app spit out bigger image files, but the website says an iOS app is coming, so maybe that will help.
