86. Tribute - February 1-7, 2015
Paul-
Kevin. Flash Bazbo. Gordonski. Gonzo Brother, The Trentster (sorry, just made that one up). There are so many names I have for Kevin, and almost all of them can be spoken at a tent revival meeting.
I feel I really went out on a limb on this one. It’s difficult for me to separate Kevin and BMWs in my mind—or Kevin and miniature golf. Another story. So (to me) capturing something that is so singularly synonymous with one of my closest friends is like having yourself throw down the gauntlet. If don’t do justice to the image, I haven’t done so for the person. Twisted logic, I know. Sue me.
I drove out to the local BWM/Mercedes dealership, made my standard oh-god-please-let-me-take-some-personal-photos-here-I’ll-be-good pitch, and popped the lid on this 2015 M4. (“Austin Metallic Yellow” by the way.) It looks pretty damn good at every angle, but I had Kevin in mind, so I selected this image because it contained four distinctive, contiguous, and integrated elements. The grille work, badge, engine, and windshield. Kind of cover-all-bases type of thing. So, here’s my reason for submitting this specific picture. (Standard Disclaimer: Heavy bias and personal, rose-colored perspective ahead. Use caution.)
When I think of Kevin, qualities and character traits like “precision,” “dedication to craft,” “control,” “loyalty,” “hands-on,” “expertise,” “intensity,” and “scope of interest and experience” pop into mind. (This is hardly an exhaustive list.) Much of what Kevin does, he tends to pour himself into. Drawing in the experience. Tapping into the benefits that may be had. Unselfishly sharing what he learns. My sense is that Kevin doesn’t so much move through an experience as encircles it—and adds his own, unique energies and take to it.
The BMW—as I imagine it—seems to be such a mirrored expression of those traits: Precision, power tempered with control, understandingly demanding of those who would keep its company, a source of exhilaration and creative focus, dedication to improvement over the long haul, complex without being unapproachable, an unshakable confidence in itself without the need to trumpet the fact, and just plain fun. Oh, and well integrated in its different facets…remember that “grille work, badge, engine, and windshield” thing?
Remember, this is not a dossier. It’s a tribute. I hope I came close to providing a suitable one.
Our story so far…
As he walked onto the automobile showroom floor (tracking snow), his slightly disheveled appearance and sophomoric rictus was signal enough for the salesmen to ignore him for the gawker he clearly was. They focused instead on lunch, a bored receptionist, and conversation peppered with more than a few off-color words. So, the presence of him taking pictures with a 14-45mm lens (focused at 36mm); ISO 800; 1/30 sec. at f13 was barely a blip on their sales radar.
Kevin. Flash Bazbo. Gordonski. Gonzo Brother, The Trentster (sorry, just made that one up). There are so many names I have for Kevin, and almost all of them can be spoken at a tent revival meeting.
I feel I really went out on a limb on this one. It’s difficult for me to separate Kevin and BMWs in my mind—or Kevin and miniature golf. Another story. So (to me) capturing something that is so singularly synonymous with one of my closest friends is like having yourself throw down the gauntlet. If don’t do justice to the image, I haven’t done so for the person. Twisted logic, I know. Sue me.
I drove out to the local BWM/Mercedes dealership, made my standard oh-god-please-let-me-take-some-personal-photos-here-I’ll-be-good pitch, and popped the lid on this 2015 M4. (“Austin Metallic Yellow” by the way.) It looks pretty damn good at every angle, but I had Kevin in mind, so I selected this image because it contained four distinctive, contiguous, and integrated elements. The grille work, badge, engine, and windshield. Kind of cover-all-bases type of thing. So, here’s my reason for submitting this specific picture. (Standard Disclaimer: Heavy bias and personal, rose-colored perspective ahead. Use caution.)
When I think of Kevin, qualities and character traits like “precision,” “dedication to craft,” “control,” “loyalty,” “hands-on,” “expertise,” “intensity,” and “scope of interest and experience” pop into mind. (This is hardly an exhaustive list.) Much of what Kevin does, he tends to pour himself into. Drawing in the experience. Tapping into the benefits that may be had. Unselfishly sharing what he learns. My sense is that Kevin doesn’t so much move through an experience as encircles it—and adds his own, unique energies and take to it.
The BMW—as I imagine it—seems to be such a mirrored expression of those traits: Precision, power tempered with control, understandingly demanding of those who would keep its company, a source of exhilaration and creative focus, dedication to improvement over the long haul, complex without being unapproachable, an unshakable confidence in itself without the need to trumpet the fact, and just plain fun. Oh, and well integrated in its different facets…remember that “grille work, badge, engine, and windshield” thing?
Remember, this is not a dossier. It’s a tribute. I hope I came close to providing a suitable one.
Our story so far…
As he walked onto the automobile showroom floor (tracking snow), his slightly disheveled appearance and sophomoric rictus was signal enough for the salesmen to ignore him for the gawker he clearly was. They focused instead on lunch, a bored receptionist, and conversation peppered with more than a few off-color words. So, the presence of him taking pictures with a 14-45mm lens (focused at 36mm); ISO 800; 1/30 sec. at f13 was barely a blip on their sales radar.
Jerry-
Look closely at the curio cabinet and there you will find the "Byron Tribute". You know you've made the big time when your face is in my wife's collection of highly meaningful objects. Byron has made the big time amongst the Precious Moments things! I've also attached the jpg of "Triple Byron", inspired by Andy Warhol's "Triple Elvis".
D5200, 40mm Micro Nikkor, 1/60 @ f8, ISO 2500. Superman Byron photo courtesy of Hennepin Technical Center, 1974.
Look closely at the curio cabinet and there you will find the "Byron Tribute". You know you've made the big time when your face is in my wife's collection of highly meaningful objects. Byron has made the big time amongst the Precious Moments things! I've also attached the jpg of "Triple Byron", inspired by Andy Warhol's "Triple Elvis".
D5200, 40mm Micro Nikkor, 1/60 @ f8, ISO 2500. Superman Byron photo courtesy of Hennepin Technical Center, 1974.
Byron-
This is my tribute to Paul “The Rock” Hoffman. I had a couple of ideas that would pay tribute to Paul but I couldn’t make them work. That is testament to the lighting skill of Mr. Hoffman. I was trying to emulate his style of lighting while the camera is on a copy stand. I couldn’t make anything look good. The picture I had in mind was the one of the coin with light reflecting off of it in all directions. I then moved to a theme that would remind us that Paul has made the transition from Olympus to Nikon. I took a picture of Paul in front of a background photo of Mt. Olympus. That would show that Olympus is now behind Paul. I also looked for an Olympus street so I could do something with that. I found an intersection of Olympus and Halliburton. I didn’t know if Paul owned a Halliburton case for his camera and besides, it would have been almost a 2 hour drive to get there. So I took a different path and tried to show Paul Hoffman’s image merged with a rock. It is much like Mt. Rushmore. 4 great presidents and Paul Hoffman.
My tribute tries to communicate that Paul is always available as a friend (unless he has bronchitis or tummy troubles). He is a master in self defense and a creative, technically savvy photographer.
This is my tribute to Paul “The Rock” Hoffman. I had a couple of ideas that would pay tribute to Paul but I couldn’t make them work. That is testament to the lighting skill of Mr. Hoffman. I was trying to emulate his style of lighting while the camera is on a copy stand. I couldn’t make anything look good. The picture I had in mind was the one of the coin with light reflecting off of it in all directions. I then moved to a theme that would remind us that Paul has made the transition from Olympus to Nikon. I took a picture of Paul in front of a background photo of Mt. Olympus. That would show that Olympus is now behind Paul. I also looked for an Olympus street so I could do something with that. I found an intersection of Olympus and Halliburton. I didn’t know if Paul owned a Halliburton case for his camera and besides, it would have been almost a 2 hour drive to get there. So I took a different path and tried to show Paul Hoffman’s image merged with a rock. It is much like Mt. Rushmore. 4 great presidents and Paul Hoffman.
My tribute tries to communicate that Paul is always available as a friend (unless he has bronchitis or tummy troubles). He is a master in self defense and a creative, technically savvy photographer.
Kevin-
As I contemplated how to pay proper tribute to Deron photographically I realized it was impossible for me to think of him without also thinking about his bicycle abilities. Deron rides to extremes that the rest of dull, boring, sedate, inactive lumps of humanity can’t even contemplate. But Deron does more than bicycle. He has a strong artistic predilection about him as well and I knew that needed to be represented in the way that I paid tribute to him. Deron is also everywhere, as in, he seems to constantly turn up in places that it might not ever be expected that he would appear. Byron has especially experienced this, but I have as well.
There are many bicycle racks scatted around Palm Springs, CA. There’s little doubt in my mind that Deron has attached his bike to some of the racks. To Deron a ride from his home in Riverside to Palm Springs and back is just a quick jaunt, easier than a walk around the block. So perhaps during a quick trip to visit Byron, stop at Great Shakes, or Thai Smile gaze at the robot sculptures and bike home again he could have attached his bike to this very rack.
But sadly Deron and his bicycle are not in the photo. Perhaps he was pedaling across the Sahara at the time. Or maybe biking down Mount Vesuvius quickly, to escape some major volcanic eruption. Deron could have been biking across the arctic, gazing at polar bears. Or perhaps it’s a simple ride on a side road as he passes slow moving traffic on I-10. But I suspect that right after that, if I stop somewhere for a burger or a malt, I’ll suddenly glance over and Deron will be there.
This image was captured shortly after sunrise. I wanted a silhouette style from the back-lighting of the sun, and the shadow of the bike rack on the ground to get the proper artistic impact. This is full color, not monochrome, but the backlighting creates such simplification it certainly looks monochrome. Nikon D3s, handheld (I was literally standing on my tippy toes to get thew right angle), 70-200mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens set to 180mm. 1/4000 of a second exposure, f/2.8 to really minimize the depth of field. ISO 200.
As I contemplated how to pay proper tribute to Deron photographically I realized it was impossible for me to think of him without also thinking about his bicycle abilities. Deron rides to extremes that the rest of dull, boring, sedate, inactive lumps of humanity can’t even contemplate. But Deron does more than bicycle. He has a strong artistic predilection about him as well and I knew that needed to be represented in the way that I paid tribute to him. Deron is also everywhere, as in, he seems to constantly turn up in places that it might not ever be expected that he would appear. Byron has especially experienced this, but I have as well.
There are many bicycle racks scatted around Palm Springs, CA. There’s little doubt in my mind that Deron has attached his bike to some of the racks. To Deron a ride from his home in Riverside to Palm Springs and back is just a quick jaunt, easier than a walk around the block. So perhaps during a quick trip to visit Byron, stop at Great Shakes, or Thai Smile gaze at the robot sculptures and bike home again he could have attached his bike to this very rack.
But sadly Deron and his bicycle are not in the photo. Perhaps he was pedaling across the Sahara at the time. Or maybe biking down Mount Vesuvius quickly, to escape some major volcanic eruption. Deron could have been biking across the arctic, gazing at polar bears. Or perhaps it’s a simple ride on a side road as he passes slow moving traffic on I-10. But I suspect that right after that, if I stop somewhere for a burger or a malt, I’ll suddenly glance over and Deron will be there.
This image was captured shortly after sunrise. I wanted a silhouette style from the back-lighting of the sun, and the shadow of the bike rack on the ground to get the proper artistic impact. This is full color, not monochrome, but the backlighting creates such simplification it certainly looks monochrome. Nikon D3s, handheld (I was literally standing on my tippy toes to get thew right angle), 70-200mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens set to 180mm. 1/4000 of a second exposure, f/2.8 to really minimize the depth of field. ISO 200.
Deron-
Everybody knows that Jerry is the master of the "Relaxed Masked Madman Photos" (see; WPOTM- Mask and Wild). So, I wanted to pay tribute to him with my interpretation of something he might shoot. As you can see, Jesse 'The Body/Governor' Ventura is perusing Photo Magazine, reading the article about their Photographer of the Year, Sir Jerry Vincent. (you get the title, 'Sir', when you are named POTY). Judging from the smile on Jesse's face, he is really enjoying the collection of photos he has seen from Jerry... as we all have!
Everybody knows that Jerry is the master of the "Relaxed Masked Madman Photos" (see; WPOTM- Mask and Wild). So, I wanted to pay tribute to him with my interpretation of something he might shoot. As you can see, Jesse 'The Body/Governor' Ventura is perusing Photo Magazine, reading the article about their Photographer of the Year, Sir Jerry Vincent. (you get the title, 'Sir', when you are named POTY). Judging from the smile on Jesse's face, he is really enjoying the collection of photos he has seen from Jerry... as we all have!