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Letting someone else drive.
Yesterday, I put out a call on Facebook. I asked if anyone wanted to go shooting, and one of my friends chimed in first. I told him I had no agenda, and all day to get there. He picked me up, and we started out. He mentioned he had lunch the other day down by the river in downtown Kansas City. I said it was his call as he was driving.
We ended up down in the “bottoms” by The Local Pig http://www.thelocalpig.com
Next to the Local Pig is a box style, walk-up window restaurant. The Pigwich is on the side, and has some great lunch sandwiches.
With the heat index hitting 107 today, it was nice to see that the Local Pig had a great A/C unit, and were willing to let you set inside to eat your sandwich. The staff was very accommodating. I started talking to the front manager, and it was about a minute before I was invited behind the counter to shoot some of the butchering.
Sara was casing some ground meat, and you could tell the concentration was needed to tie off the casing.
The meat looked amazing. The other thing I noted, was the distinct lack of odor. Meat butchering has an odor, and the worse a place is taken care of.... the worse it smells. There was no odor to this place other than the lingering odor of my awesome burger in my nostrils.
I walked away with some very cool shots, found a great place to get some amazing meat, and probably met some new friends (they all seemed like folks you would like to hang out with and have a beer).
The Ability to Speak to people
I am finding more and more, that the ability to approach and speak to people is an art of fleeting moments. I have also discovered that most people do not have the ability to, in a relaxed manner, talk to complete strangers. I have been shooting off and on at the Overland Park Farmer’s Market for a year and a half. Most of the vendors I know. I know their produce. I know them. I have come to this by the conversations we have had, and the “gift of gab.”
I have talked to numerous photographers about this. We, in general, feel comfortable behind the camera. We don’t have to put anything out there for the world. We get to see moments of life and time, capture them, and then share them. I would offer this. Your photography will mean more to you if you invest something of yourself into it.
I walked up to a mom that I have talked to so many times before, and asked about making photographs of her and her family. This is what you can get when you make a stranger into a friend by investing yourself.
Beyond this, there is something about feeling comfortable in your own images and ability. Zarda Bar-B-Q (http://zarda.com) followed me on Twitter the other day(@ZardaBBQ). First, I responded by saying thank you to them for the follow. Second, I warned them I may show up with my camera. I was advised they would welcome me anytime. I took them up on that. I walked in, told the manager who I was, what I was doing, and that I wanted to see something nice. Out came a great sandwich and some Kansas City Burnt Ends! Now understand, the sandwich was not staged by the kitchen... I did that. They were concerned that it would taste great, and trust me it did.
These were shot in the main dining area of the Lenexa, Kansas restaurant. No portable studio. This was one flash, off camera with a hand-held shot. I would not have had the freedom to do this had I not been able to talk to the manager and explain what I was doing. Take the step folks, and ask. Put yourself out there and see what happens. They say “No.” Ok. Move on. Ask again... and invest in your photography.
Night Drive
A buddy of mine ( I think I can call him that by now) had a venture into the world of private business with a very cool coffee shop. The shop could not sustain itself, and I would say it was a victim of location but not the clientele. It was one of the coolest little shops I have stepped foot in for a cup of Java. The Flywheel Coffeehouse had musicians, artists, and photographers in there at any given moment in the day. Some great times were had in there with some great music.
Jon has since started up a band by the name of The Oldfield Victory (https://www.facebook.com/oldfieldvictory). Old school rock, and they sound amazing live. You really should head out to one of their shows to hear them if you like rock.
I was able to go see them and shoot some shots of them performing down at The recordBar, down in Westport. Imagine my surprise when Jon sent a link to a YouTube video made with a slideshow of my images. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV0aVsv3PHE&feature=youtu.be
Here is a link to the show shots from when they played with Black Actress:http://www.tblphotography.com/oldfieldvictoryblackactress
Jon, I can only say I hope you guys take off and make it big. No other group of guys deserves it more just from your attitude and love of music.
Three Dollar Portrait
I have always thought it interesting. The way people relate to each other. The way some humans are wired to be reclusive, while others are gregarious and outgoing. I have been blessed, I think, with the ability to speak to anyone. I have been told I have the “gift of gab.” If you make eye contact with me, prepare to at least chat for a minute.
I was out with a group that started with Google Plus as Drink and Click Kansas City https://plus.google.com/u/0/104896290046122761009/posts. We had walked around downtown Kansas City, Missouri. A few photographs were made, but I had not found what I was looking for. The evening had started with a theme of black and white portraits. I had taken some photos, but I had not made a photograph. If you have ever been out trying to get a specific shot and not having it pre-lined out for ya... you know what I mean.
The interesting thing was, I had just watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359950/). For those of you into photography, go see this film. You will understand and appreciate it. I had also just read a book by Joe McNally named The Moment It Clicks (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/548169-REG/Pearson_Education_978_0_321_54408_7_Book_The_Moment_It.html). These two things had been running laps in my head as of the last few days before the photo-walk. While looking for the perfect person to grab a portrait of, we walked. No one jumped in front of me, grabbing my attention. We saw people, and others were grabbing some frames... but nothing spoke to me.
I ended up with a couple of frames from in front of The Union Station downtown:
that included the Bloch Fountain:
We ended up walking over the tracks to a restaurant named Grunauer (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grunauer-Kansas-City/115721498444235). A german restaurant with some amazing food, and great service. I started chatting up the bartenders and was asking if there was anyone in the place that would make a great portrait. They both pointed at the other one, and gave the very easy to read “not me not me” vibe and continued getting ready for the evening rush. I was content with grabbing a great dinner, with a little dark German Lager.
We chatted about light, and speed lights, and angles of light. You know, all the stuff that photographers like to try to figure out. After that, we wandered back toward the Union Station. A few after dusk photos of some of Kansas City’s architecture, but I had not found that one thing that made me want to jump. Mark Hungate and I just stood by my car chatting about getting out more often to shoot.
About that time, a gentleman walked up to us. Having been out shooting with Mark before, I knew he was not the chatty type with strangers. The man walked up and asked if we could help him out. He said he was down a little and was trying to get some food and maybe a room. I looked over at him, and I knew the moment had found me. First off, I asked his name. He said he was Lamont. I said my name and said it was good to meet him. I noticed his body language changed. He stood a little more forward toward me. I also told him that he could actually help me. I said I had three dollars that I would pay him if I could get his portrait. He paused, looked at me, and then asked “Three dollars for one picture? I can do that.”
I had already packed all my things up. Out comes the camera. I grab the Canon flash commander and a 600ex-rt flash. I also happened to have a small Pocket Box soft box that fit on the front of the flash. I turned, turned on the camera, turned on the flash, and hand-held the flash up. Having the camera in manual, I shoved my eye to the eyepiece. Settings checked and “blam.” My one shot. I paid him the three dollars, and thanked him. He looked like he stood a little taller, maybe straighter. I think I got my black and white portrait.
Thanks Lamont.
Being able to actually talk to, not at someone is important. I had a feeling as soon as I hit the shutter, that I had witnessed “The Moment it clicks.” Thanks Joe for making me bring this to the forefront of my mind.
Dirty Kanza 200/2013 - From my side of the camera
I had been thinking about coming down for the DirtyKanza200 for some time, and it wasn’t until a question from Eric Benjamin (http://adventuremonkey.com) asked if I wanted to come shoot some photos of the race. Now here is where my creative wheels started turning. Being from Kansas, the Flinthills, and Emporia I thought I had a leg up on the other possible out of town boys and girls snapping photos of the race. I mean, it kind of takes someone who can appreciate the area to find the beauty of the area… I think anyway. I was talking to a friend in passing the other day from Kansas City, who said there was nothing more boring than the prairies of Kansas. I argued that he had only looked at them driving 70 (well in his case more like 90) down the highway.
I get the idea that some of the interesting things you see on the inter webs are majestic mountains. You see deep sea floors with amazingly colorful fish. I argue you can see just as amazing sights following a 200 mile bike ride across the Flinthills. The texture of the land, with the rock outcrops. The smell of cool grass in the morning as it licks the next blade of grass, swaying in the wind. Ripples roll across the landscape showing the touch of the breeze. Comprise this with struggling on a bike, on gravel, up hill and down feeling the wind smash into you slowing you down. The beauty is still there, just a bit harder to see.
I rolled into town at about 4:30 after having driven down from Kansas City. The Emporia downtown was blocked off, and you could see riders milling around on side streets. Support crews comprised of riding teams and some of family members strolled around parking lots looking at their riders. Some would ride unsupported, with nothing but themselves to endure.
The main street was mostly void of traffic. The side parking had a few cars with doors open, supplies being unloaded, riders being prepped. It was like you could hear the collective anticipation of an endurance race. Gut checks to follow.
As I walked down the road, I met up with Jess Buchholz with Emporia Mainstreet Association (http://www.emporiamainstreet.com). Here is where the City of Emporia and its residents comes in. I told her that I was looking for Kristi Mohn, and that I had been accepted to shoot some photos for the DK. Jessica Buchholz went out of her way to help me with this. I ran into Kristi, who by all accounts with her husband Tim, Jim Cummins, and others too numerous to mention, ran a great event. And then off I was, not just looking at the people around me but trying to see the event for what it was. People were here for numerous reasons. The ones racing for time. The ones racing to have fun. The ones to see just what they are made of.
Then Jessica grabbed me and we ran to the top of a marque. Again, being from Emporia, I knew how important a landmark The Granada Theater is to the downtown of Emporia. The old theater has been restored and stands as a testament to the importance of saving something from collapse and demise. I also jumped at the chance of getting on top of the marque to be able to witness the gathering of humanity that was to take on the flint and chert roads of the Flinthills.
Nearly 1000 bicyclists gathered along the street awaiting the start of their journey. I was interested in getting to capture the leaders later on in the race, but I really wanted to show some of what happens outside of the leaders.
The race headed out to Madison via gravel roads. At one point, a low water crossing came up to meet everyone with cool rain run-off.
Madison greeted the riders with a long downhill to the checkpoint and resupply. The hill out of town was waiting.
The checkpoint was up and waiting as the riders completed the first leg of the race. I can say that I could feel the energy of this race just looking at it through the lens. People would grimace and then smile. People, not knowing the other person, would run down the street for a spare part. People helping people.
Some would blur into town to the checkpoint, racing the clock.
Once out of Madison the roads started into the actual Flinthills. The dirt was different. It became more sticky, and the rocks began to pronounce themselves. The clouds sifted across the bright blue background of the open sky. Cattle grazed in luxury as the time passed waiting on someone to ride by.
I made it to a crossing in the roads where the assigned path crossed with an access road. The bikes swept down the little downslope, and out into the prairie hills.
I then headed toward the last leg of the journey. I made it back into town to grab lunch, and take a little nap as I was operating on about three hours of sleep from the night before. I checked the map for the route and headed out to Kahola Lake area. Again, being from around here was a definite help. I knew there was a loooooooooong hill marked on the map that would be a challenge. I found myself looking across at some cowboys rounding up cattle. I noticed the scale of the open prairie. I could see where someone would think nothing was here. I also looked with eyes open that could see the Meadowlark jumping in the grass. I could see the prairie flowers starting to bloom. I could see the green of spring knowing how tough winter is here. I could see the toughness that it takes to scratch a living out here. I could see the kindness it takes to temper that toughness.
Shortly after I came across a man working on his bike. A derailleur had come apart just north of Americus. Bob Dippold was working away at the rear sprocket. I stopped just to check that he was okay. He said he was, and that he was going to finish “This Thing” if he had to walk it in. There was no bravado in that statement. I took it as a matter of fact. He was resolute in the fact that he was going to finish. That was all.
Pipe cleaners and zip ties to hold the chain up. At one point prairie grass from the ditch was added as a filler, but that didn’t work.
This was what I wanted to see. This was the story I wanted to find and see how it played out on the sharp edge gravel roads of Kansas. This is what the endurance race was how I had it defined in my little noggin. Human resolve to conquer the obstacle faced in front of them. As Bob worked away on this, I looked down the road about 50 yards and noticed someone else had stopped to the side of the road and was working on a bike. I walked down to check, and met Jenny Wise-Cook.
Rider after rider went by. I could tell that she was frustrated. I could tell she was tired and equipment failures when tired are never fun for anyone. Bob continued to work on his sprocket, and Jenny continued to fight the tire.
Jenny was fighting with her CO2 and Bob was fighting with the pipe cleaners. Before long both were on their way. I was able to see the grit from a few other riders who were showing determination to make it in. Husband and wife pair Shawn and Lynette Honea came barreling down the hill.
I then headed into town. I was waiting at the finish to see Dan Hughes take his fourth win of the DK200! What an amazing task to win four, but he has taken the last three in a row!
But I waited… and then I saw Jenny come around the corner for the long straight to the finish. She made it in. She finished.
She had ridden the HalfPint (100 mile) and conquered the gravel. But where was Bob? I looked and noticed he had not finished yet. I walked through the crowd, seeing old friends from school. And then I looked up. One legging it in was Bob. Finishing what he said he was going to finish.
This was what I wanted to see. Maybe some part of me needed to see him finish. I had spent quite some time with him on the side of the road. Watching him fight with the machinery that was supposed to help him cover the ground to the finish. He said he was going to and he did. Congratulations for winning. Oh he was not the top finisher. Dan Hughes took that honor. But Bob won. He won against adversity. He won against self doubt. He won against sore muscles and inner thoughts. He won against the Dirty Kanza.