220. Freestyle w/ Mr. Braton - September 3-9, 2017
Darin
When I announced the WPOTM theme, Freestyle with Mr. Braton, there were joking remarks that these photos may put Byron in a bad light. I assure you, my intention was to pay tribute, thank and just say, "Gosh darn it, he's a good dude.".
I have been blessed with the best uncles a guy could ask for (if a guy asks for uncles), and right there at the top of the heap is U.B.. Uncle Byron.
With that said, I believe there is no better way to pay tribute to someone, than to turn them into a gangsta rapper.
So, the next time you're taking a long, midnight drive up I-94, pop in 'The Very Best Of Byron'. You'll hear all of his hits, such as 'Lefse Over Lutefisk', 'They Call Me King Koin' and the current number one song on the Scandinavian rap charts, 'F#@k Rollag'.
Peace, yo.
When I announced the WPOTM theme, Freestyle with Mr. Braton, there were joking remarks that these photos may put Byron in a bad light. I assure you, my intention was to pay tribute, thank and just say, "Gosh darn it, he's a good dude.".
I have been blessed with the best uncles a guy could ask for (if a guy asks for uncles), and right there at the top of the heap is U.B.. Uncle Byron.
With that said, I believe there is no better way to pay tribute to someone, than to turn them into a gangsta rapper.
So, the next time you're taking a long, midnight drive up I-94, pop in 'The Very Best Of Byron'. You'll hear all of his hits, such as 'Lefse Over Lutefisk', 'They Call Me King Koin' and the current number one song on the Scandinavian rap charts, 'F#@k Rollag'.
Peace, yo.
Kevin-
Osseo, Minnesota had been trying for many years to get their (now unused) water tower listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
Part of the difficulty may have been related to the lack of uniqueness of the water tower. Sure it looks different than the more modern and much massive ones scattered around the Twin Cities, like the ones in Maple Grove or Blaine...
But without reading the word “Osseo" on the water tower the average person really can’t differentiate Osseo’s tank from the water towers in Milaca, or Freeport, or Kettle River, or Brandon, or Canton, or Silver Lake, or… well you get the idea.
Finally the City of Osseo seized on an idea! They needed to enhance their historic water tower with an image of their most famous citizen, Byron Braton. Known far and wide as that "former HTC dude," producer of numerous videos, and possessing an uncanny ability to always be in the right place at the right time to hob-nob with other famous people, Byron was a shoe-in for the role. While Byron was born in Barnesville, MN, Osseo is now truly his city, and he is easily the most revered of Osseo’s 2,700 citizens. Now as Byron himself is approaching historic status (based on his age), the committee choose an old photo of a relatively youthful Byron, but one that still sported the classic "Byron Braton pose” with the glasses in hand adding almost 40 IQ points. And it worked! And this past summer the Osseo, Minnesota water tower finally made that historic places list. Still Byron's fame doesn’t appear to translate into free fuel at the Holiday gas station or free pizzas at Duffy’s, both within sight of this water tower. Totally unfair!
Nikon D4s. handheld, 70-200 f/2.8 Nikkor zoom, set to 200mm and fitted with a polarizing filter, ISO 100, f/8 @ 1/250th of a second.
Osseo, Minnesota had been trying for many years to get their (now unused) water tower listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
Part of the difficulty may have been related to the lack of uniqueness of the water tower. Sure it looks different than the more modern and much massive ones scattered around the Twin Cities, like the ones in Maple Grove or Blaine...
But without reading the word “Osseo" on the water tower the average person really can’t differentiate Osseo’s tank from the water towers in Milaca, or Freeport, or Kettle River, or Brandon, or Canton, or Silver Lake, or… well you get the idea.
Finally the City of Osseo seized on an idea! They needed to enhance their historic water tower with an image of their most famous citizen, Byron Braton. Known far and wide as that "former HTC dude," producer of numerous videos, and possessing an uncanny ability to always be in the right place at the right time to hob-nob with other famous people, Byron was a shoe-in for the role. While Byron was born in Barnesville, MN, Osseo is now truly his city, and he is easily the most revered of Osseo’s 2,700 citizens. Now as Byron himself is approaching historic status (based on his age), the committee choose an old photo of a relatively youthful Byron, but one that still sported the classic "Byron Braton pose” with the glasses in hand adding almost 40 IQ points. And it worked! And this past summer the Osseo, Minnesota water tower finally made that historic places list. Still Byron's fame doesn’t appear to translate into free fuel at the Holiday gas station or free pizzas at Duffy’s, both within sight of this water tower. Totally unfair!
Nikon D4s. handheld, 70-200 f/2.8 Nikkor zoom, set to 200mm and fitted with a polarizing filter, ISO 100, f/8 @ 1/250th of a second.
Paul-
What is the measure of a man?
Plato said it was what he does with power. Einstein said it was the degree to which he could subjugate his ego. Still others content it is the actions or decisions you choose when no one is watching.
For the sake of argument, and to cater to the lowbrow humor that pervades much of our (read: mine) WPOTM commentary, I prefer to think it is what a man must do to make it on the cover of Peephole Magazine. And it is by the sheerest coincidence that our very own Bryon F. Braton graces this week’s issue!
Rolling Stone and Time be damned. This publication is the true litmus test for our popular culture’s constantly moving measure of celebrity, notoriety and achievement.
You’ve made it to the top, Byron. I tip my Malt Shoppe cap to you.
Cover Boy: I used no cameras (save for a screen shot) in the making of this week’s submission. And I only made slightest to tweaks to make Mr. Braton’s picture appear more handsome, charismatic, and dignified. Not that I really needed to, of course.
What is the measure of a man?
Plato said it was what he does with power. Einstein said it was the degree to which he could subjugate his ego. Still others content it is the actions or decisions you choose when no one is watching.
For the sake of argument, and to cater to the lowbrow humor that pervades much of our (read: mine) WPOTM commentary, I prefer to think it is what a man must do to make it on the cover of Peephole Magazine. And it is by the sheerest coincidence that our very own Bryon F. Braton graces this week’s issue!
Rolling Stone and Time be damned. This publication is the true litmus test for our popular culture’s constantly moving measure of celebrity, notoriety and achievement.
You’ve made it to the top, Byron. I tip my Malt Shoppe cap to you.
Cover Boy: I used no cameras (save for a screen shot) in the making of this week’s submission. And I only made slightest to tweaks to make Mr. Braton’s picture appear more handsome, charismatic, and dignified. Not that I really needed to, of course.
Jerry-
I attempted to create a sort of Popeil Pocket Fisherman type of ad - something where Byron endorses a very special product like the ByroSnoot. And here you go! In my garage studio I held the snoot in the left hand and the Sony a6300 in the right. Background color is Miata Sunburst Yellow. Lighting from the sun. 16-50 zoomed to 36mm, 1/160 @ f8, ISO 6400.
I attempted to create a sort of Popeil Pocket Fisherman type of ad - something where Byron endorses a very special product like the ByroSnoot. And here you go! In my garage studio I held the snoot in the left hand and the Sony a6300 in the right. Background color is Miata Sunburst Yellow. Lighting from the sun. 16-50 zoomed to 36mm, 1/160 @ f8, ISO 6400.
Don-
As I look at this picture I am at a loss for words.
Well maybe not,
A King Above His Throne.
Focal: 24-70mm set at 26mm
Exposure: 1/80 sec; f/6.3; ISO 2200.
D810 hand held and I crawled into a cabinet to get the distance to
take the picture.
As I look at this picture I am at a loss for words.
Well maybe not,
A King Above His Throne.
Focal: 24-70mm set at 26mm
Exposure: 1/80 sec; f/6.3; ISO 2200.
D810 hand held and I crawled into a cabinet to get the distance to
take the picture.
Byron-
Poker Joe Beignet is a serious poker player. He hates it when he is dealt a hand and it contains a Joker. It is the first discard of that hand.
I used 3 lights. A softbox on the right side, a warm gelled Byr-snoot on the back wall and a third light in the back aimed at the subject to provide some rim light. I also turned up the lights in the adjoining room to provide light to illuminate the card. Since they are daylight balanced LEDs they blended quite well.
ISO 200, 1/30 sec, f5.6,
Poker Joe Beignet is a serious poker player. He hates it when he is dealt a hand and it contains a Joker. It is the first discard of that hand.
I used 3 lights. A softbox on the right side, a warm gelled Byr-snoot on the back wall and a third light in the back aimed at the subject to provide some rim light. I also turned up the lights in the adjoining room to provide light to illuminate the card. Since they are daylight balanced LEDs they blended quite well.
ISO 200, 1/30 sec, f5.6,