Nature: Fog & Spiders

As hurricane Irene loomed, it seemed like a good idea to take a photo or two.  Seeing as I'm not into the whole risk getting blown away for the sake of art thing, the front porch seemed like a good place for a quick documentation.  It had been raining off and on.  It was foggy.  The wind had yet to make any major visit at this point.  As I looked through my camera I thought to myself, wonder how this will look in black and white?  When I started processing it, I immediately realized that I have not perfected the art of shooting fog!  At any rate, I wanted it to look somewhat like an old postcard.  I'm into this type of look/processing at the moment.  

The above fella was bracing for the storm.  We have lots of spiders and webs in our yard and I've been saying I was going to capture some of the webs.  That's easier said than done.  Apparently there's great skill to the art of taking photos of spider webs!  I don't have that skill it seems.  No matter what I seem to do, the web doesn't show well.  Without the processing, you can barely see the web. Oh well.  But, since we have five hundred billion spiders constantly making webs in the yard, I'll be able to get plenty of practice and figure out what I'm doing wrong... eventually!

Newport Folk Festival: Earl Scruggs

Earl Scruggs at the Newport Folk Festival, July 30, 2011

One of the things I like about the Newport Folk Festival is you get to see legends as well as the younger artists.  This year, I got a kick out of seeing banjo legend Earl Scruggs perform.  I mentioned to a person I was chatting with right before his set that one of my favorite live albums is Flatt and Scruggs at Carnegie Hall.  They looked at me oddly.  Apparently, I didn't look the type to them!  Of course, I looked at that person oddly when they declared that the "Ballad of Jed Clampett" was their favorite and would be disappointed if it wasn't played.  I might have rolled my eyes.  Don't get me wrong, it's a fine enough song and I'll watch a Beverly Hillbillies repeat in a heartbeat but, I wouldn't have been disappointed if it hadn't been played, there are too many classics I'd pick over that.  Thankfully, my fellow festival goer wasn't disappointed as the song was played and more than a few people sang along.

Mr. Scruggs and his band, which featured sons Randy and Gary, kicked things off with "Salty Dog Blues."  I was, for lack of a better word, giddy over that and nearly forgot to take photos because I was too busy singing along.  I went up to the roof of the fort to take photos during the set which is an amazing spot to listen to music.  At some point while I was up there, they ripped into "Orange Blossom Special."  I might have kinda, sorta danced up on the roof; it was impossible not to!  

The view from the fort roof during Mr. Scruggs' set

My Favorite Images: Delta Spirit

Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit at the Newport Folk Festival, July 30, 2011
(More Photos HERE) 

Some photographs you just like.  There isn't some profound reason as to why you like it; you just like it.  I look at this image and just like it.  Matt Vasquez led Delta Spirit through one hell of a set at the Newport Folk Festival this year.  "THE PEOPLE," who flocked to the Quad Stage to see the band, showed them insane amounts of love.   

Vasquez is an expressive and energetic performer.  So, I suppose it could be considered odd that of all of the photos I took of him during his Delta Spirit set, and his performance the following day with his other band Middle Brother, that this would end up being my favorite.  Hey, I'm quirky that way!

My Favorite Images: Ambrose Akinmusire

Ambrose Akinmusire at the Newport Jazz Festival, August 6, 2011

I spent this past Saturday roaming around Fort Adams State Park taking in the sounds of the Newport Jazz Festival.  Of course I had my camera!  I wondered over to the Harbor Stage to catch some of Ambrose Akinmusire's set.  I knew before I took the photo, that even though I was taking it in color, it would be a black and white photo.  Some images you just like.  This is one of those that I quite simply, just like.

 

My Favorite Images: Brown Bird

David Lamb of Brown Bird at the Newport Folk Festival

This past Sunday, I was at the Newport Folk Festival.  One of the bands performing that day was Brown Bird.  I was sitting on my knees, on the hard dirt that was sprinkled with worn patches of dried grass, in front of the stage, listening to their warm blend of spirited stomp and clap music while trying to capture a few photos of them.  As I sat there, I was drawn to David Lamb's hand while he was playing the banjo.  My inner voice kept telling me I needed to get a shot of his hand.  I pondered what my inner voice was telling me before realizing why the urge was incessant.  What was that realization?  His hand was three letters short of displaying the word that Brown Bird made their audience feel, welcome.