Category Archives: Personal Photo Project

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 22


Not Sent for Slumber
Not Sent for Slumber

I took the Not Sent for Slumber photos on a very beautiful Spring night after eating at Jeff’s Pizza with Shannon. It was also the same night Teresa and I found out the lineup for Stephens’ 2010-11 season. The lineup ended up being mostly disappointing, with the obvious exception of David Sedaris, but Jeff’s Pizza never disappoints.


Not Sent for Slumber - Alternate
CyRide

Not Sent for Slumber - Alternate

Not Sent for Slumber - Alternate

Not Sent for Slumber - Alternate

Not Sent for Slumber - Alternate

Not Sent for Slumber - Alternate

I hope people like this style of picture because I have a few more of these in the hopper. 1 has been taken and the rest still only exist in my brain.

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 20


Loneliness is Underrated
Loneliness is Underrated

This is a bit unusual. Up until this week I have posted the Personal Photo Project of the Week in the order that the project was attempted. This picture of Willy was actually slated for a June 11th publishing, but I decided to slide it up a week in honor of Mr. McAlpine.

This Saturday he will be in the middle of Wisconsin attempting a 100 mile race.

That isn’t a typo. Willy is running for 100 miles.

Normally when Willy competes in these extreme running challenges he takes his brother Ken as a support network. However, this weekend Ken could not get away from keeping the streets of Cedar Rapids safe and Willy is running this race without a support team.

For this reason, I have graciously granted Willy’s request to have the Lone Wolf nickname back for this weekend. Therefore, if you are lucky enough to be in my presence, do not call me Lone Wolf, like all of you normally do. I will regain the nickname on Monday.

In case you are wondering, The Lone Wolf-Off has yet to be decided. I have yet to submit the data to the judges for their decision and Willy has requested an extension to “prove” his Lone Wolfness. A waste of time, if you ask this guy, but sleep well at night. I will post the results when I get them from the judges.

Here are a few more pictures from the “Loneliness is Underrated” Sessions.


Loneliness is Underrated Alternate

Loneliness is Underrated Alternate

Loneliness is Underrated Alternate

Loneliness is Underrated Alternate

Loneliness is Underrated Alternate

Loneliness is Underrated Alternate

I would be a failure if I didn’t point out that I am Willy’s Publicity Agent. If you would like to book Willy for an appearance at your next party, corporate banquet or charity fundraiser, contact me and we will discuss his appearance fees.

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 19


Theories Pass
Theories Pass

Derrick likes to tell a story (and I like to listen) about the album cover for Pink Floyd’s album Atom Heart Mother. This album features a picture of a cow.

The story goes that the reason that this picture was selected for the album cover is that no other picture says “cow” like this picture says “cow”.

It must be a great picture, because this album cover appears in A Clockwork Orange during the music shop scene.

“Enjoying that are you my darlin’? Bit cold and pointless isn’t it my lovely? What’s happened to yours my little sister?”

That bit aside, my goal was take a picture that says “frog”. At least now I have next February’s calendar picture out of the way.

Here are a few other pictures that hopefully say “frog” to you:


Theories Pass - Alternate

Theories Pass - Alternate

Theories Pass - Alternate>

Theories Pass - Alternate

Theories Pass - Alternate

Theories Pass - Alternate

Theories Pass - Alternate

There is nothing as rewarding as coming home with a quality frog photo after a days mucking about in the mud. This is why the first test for applicants for Photography 139 Photo Assistants is frog spotting.

Feel free to go out to your local bog and give it a shot.

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 18

My goal for Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 18 was to capture a tulip picture. I visited tulips in my Mom’s yard, my Grandma’s yard and in Pella. After taking a lot of pictures, the photo below is the picture that best captures my tulip vision.


Amen
Amen

Here are a few other pictures from the Amen Photo Session(s).


Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Still Laughing - 2010

Reviewing these pictures makes me excited for my trip to the State Center Rose Garden I have planned in a couple of weeks. I like roses more than I like tulips, but that might because of the Chuggler Incident that happened in Pella many a year ago. I suppose I should let that go…

I should also take somebody other than Jay to State Center. He didn’t enjoy waiting for me to get done taking pictures of roses last time.

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 17

The Personal Photo Project of the Week for this week is a little bit different than previous projects because it isn’t necessarily a designed photo, but more like an event that I wanted to photograph. This is the type of event that I have photographed many times in the past, but this one is different because it might be the last one.

I downgraded my “donation” this year and thus I have no clue where my season tickets for Iowa State’s football season will be. Therefore, I highly have my doubts that I will be taking my camera to any of Iowa State’s football games this season.

When I was taking pictures of the Spring Game, my goal was to get pictures of the players on the sideline.

I only identify 1 player by name because if you don’t know the Cyclones by their number are we really friends?


Iowa State Spring Game - 2010

Iowa State Spring Game - 2010

Iowa State Spring Game - 2010

Iowa State Spring Game - 2010

Iowa State Spring Game - 2010

Iowa State Spring Game - 2010

Iowa State Spring Game - 2010
#38 is my new favorite Cyclone. Even with his helmet he is as short as the girl next to him. According to Iowa State’s roster, his name is Trenton Bledsoe. He is 5-5 and weighs 146 pounds! This guy has some testicular fortitude to walk out on the field. He actually got in the game and caught a pass and wasn’t killed! I’ll definitely be rooting for him as his Cyclone career advances!

Iowa State Spring Game - 2010

Iowa State Spring Game - 2010

Iowa State Spring Game - 2010

Iowa State Spring Game - 2010

Iowa State Spring Game - 2010

There are a few other images in the Iowa State Cyclones Football – 2010 Gallery:

Iowa State Cyclones Football – 2010

I don’t have any analysis to provide. I don’t think you really learn anything watching the Spring Game, but the weather was very nice.

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16

This is the first Personal Photo Project of the Week where I didn’t actually take the pictures. I just designed them. Sara was kind enough to take time off from her studies to come up and take these pictures that graced my birthday barbecue invitations.

These pictures are not presented in order of personal preference, but simply in the order that they were taken.


Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Alpha

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Beta

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Gamma

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Delta

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Epsilon

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Zeta

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Eta

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Iota

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Kappa

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Lambda

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Mu

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Nu

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Xi

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Omnicron

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 16
Done Got Old Pi

The theme for the invites this year came from an old blues song originally recorded by Junior Kimbrough, (I think) but was introduced to me by Buddy Guy on his album Sweet Tea. An album that I believe might have been a gift from a Sam Goody employee.

I’m not going to pretend that the song is a masterwork, but you never know where you will find inspiration.

Done Got Old

Well, I done got old,
Can’t do the things I used to
‘Cause I’m an old man

Well, I done got old,
Well, I done got old,
I can’t do the things I used to do
“Cause I done got old,

Remember the day, baby
That done passed and gone
When I could love you
Most all night long

But now things gone changed
And I done got old
I can’t do the things I used to do
‘Cause I’m an old man

I can’t look like I used to
I can’t walk like I used to
I can’t love like I used to,

And now things gone changed
When I done got old
I can’t do the things I used to do
Because I’m an old man

And I’m an old man
I’m an old man
I’m an old man
And I’m not the same
I’m a very old man

In addition to Sara taking the pictures I should thank her for loaning me the prop cane. Derrick was also instrumental (bad pun intended) in loaning me the unstringed, left handed guitar with real bullet holes.

After the photo shoot, Sara and I met up with Jen and Derrick and went to Wallaby’s for celebratory fried mushrooms. Something that I like to think is a tradition for us.

To answer two surprisingly common questions:

1. Yes, the white shoes were intentional. A lot of people have a problem getting their head around the white shoes, but believe me they were very intentional. Even Sara had a little difficulty with them. Her first few pictures she tried to shoot around them until I told her that they should be in the picture.
2. My favorite pictures are Alpha and Mu.

I ordered something like 75 prints and since I only have about 10 friends and I don’t have much use for pictures of me, if you show up to the barbecue and want an additional picture of Blind Dog Bennett, that might be arranged.

One last sidenote, the guitar is destined to be turned into a clock, but if it doesn’t become a timepiece, Derrick is going to set it on fire and smash it. After all, that is what Derrick likes to do.

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 15


Superstar
Superstar

I think I indicated awhile back that I thought that it was a Gorshe family trait that they do something I really like in the test shots. I really like the picture below marked “outtake”.


Superstar
Superstar Alternate

Superstar
Superstar Outtake

I don’t usually explain titles, (until later in the comments section) but this time you may know that the title for this picture is a reference to one of Jill’s favorite movies Factory Girl.

Personal Photo Project of the Week No. 14

“I want to get a vending machine, with fun sized candy bars, and the glass in front is a magnifying glass. You’ll be mad, but it will be too late.”
-Mitch Hedberg


Amplification
Amplification

A couple alternate versions of Amplification.


Amplification

Amplification

I should point out that the opening joke isn’t to imply that Shannon is a fun-sized candy bar that will disappoint you, even though she did her hair in a “fun style” for these pictures. It is just that I don’t get many chances to use magnifying glass humor, so I had to cash in when I got the chance.