Untitled by Artist

Artist: Jenny Vyas

jennyvyas.com

Posted with artist permission

This mural struck me as I walked around Old Orchard to capture a C.London color theory photo for this week's challenge.  There is no title to provide a clue to the story or inspiration behind this creation.

What I see in this mural is a woman in despair, moving towards a clean slate or new beginning (the white wall in front of her) while expunging from her mind the disorder & chaos that is the source of her despair.

I'm posting two images of this mural.  The head-on shot is the stronger depiction of the woman's emotional state.  The angled shot is a stronger depiction of her moving towards the clean slate, leaving the disorder & chaos behind.

Sony A7C @ f4.5 1/750 28mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071


Sony A7C @ f4.5 1/1000 39mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 3/28/22

L'Occitane

2022_Clondon52w13: Color Theory

From the C.London website: “Color theory is something I’m extremely passionate about - so much so that in the past I dedicated multiple weeks to its various aspects. This year we’re going to do it a little differently, however. Instead of breaking it down, and arguably beating it to death (no such thing!), we’re going to look at color with broad strokes. For this week, I want you to focus on color as an abstract, that isn't to say to make an abstract photo, unless you want to. What I mean is just have it in the forefront of your mind. Look through the link below for an introduction into color theory, as well - you’ll need it for next week!”

I photographed this storefront a couple of weeks ago during Fan Ho week. I was struck by the strong yellow color at the time and returned to capture it for this week's challenge. We were blessed with blue skies as well so I composed the image remindful of the Ukrainian flag.

Sony A7C @ f4 1/1500 28mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 3/28/22

Sunlight Macros

Some afternoon sunlight shots from around the condo.

 
"Glass Tray"

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f3.5  1/160  40mm equiv  ISO 1250

Photographed 3/20/22

"Stacking Tables"

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4  1/160  40mm equiv  ISO 640

Photographed 3/20/22

"Santorini Sculpture"

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f8  1/160  40mm equiv  ISO 6400

Photographed 3/25/22

Peace, Brother

52Frames - Week 12 - Long Shutter

While perhaps not officially considered "long shutter", I wanted to try Panning this week, a heretofore untried technique. 1/45 sec. is a much longer exposure than I normally shoot at! Definitely more difficult than it looks.

Sony A7C @ f9.5 1/45 28mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 3/25/22

Multi-Beams

2022_CLondon52w12: Beaming

From the C.London website: Open For Interpretation

Even though a week early for the challenge, I grabbed this photo just in case because of the strong sunbeams and the joy being expressed by my grandson watching one of his favorite programs being beamed to the TV. Since no good weather is predicted between now and Saturday, I'm going with it as my submission.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro @ f2.4 1/120 1.54mm (19mm equiv) ISO 250

Photographed 3/15/22

Ripples & Rail

Visual Notes 20

[a page out of the @aarondigruccio playbook]

Palm Desert, CA

Resort swimming pool

Thought about Visual Notes when I made this photo and never posted.

Apple iPhone 12 Pro @ f2 1/1600 6mm (81mm equiv) ISO 25

Photographed 2/3/22

Someone Forgot Pants

Michigan Avenue Bridge

Chicago, IL

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4.5 1/250 40mm equiv ISO 200

Photographed 3/17/22

Gene

As I was walking up Madison Street toward the train station, our eyes met and we exchanged a couple of pleasantries. He seemed eager for a conversation so I asked him if he had heard about $2 Portraits. He had not, but readily agreed to participate.

Gene is 67 years old and has lived in a homeless encampment at 41st & Halsted for the past seven years. He described it as an old construction site that had been abandoned and has since become a place for those homeless who cannot, or who choose not to, go to a shelter. Gene told me about someone who gifted him a Coleman tent and when it broke, Coleman replaced it for him for free. I asked him if he had any family in the area and he told me about his younger brother (65) who also lives at 41st & Halsted. Gene said he worked for the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times (newspapers) for about 35 years; I didn’t catch what he did for them. But now, he has some side hustles selling candy & novelties to supplement his income. He’s been struggling since Covid, as the streets have been very empty and he’s been unable to make the connections he was used to, however feels fortunate because he’s not had Covid.

In the 10+ years I’ve been making $2 Portraits, Gene is the most entrepreneurial of anyone I’ve spoken with. I was curious about the Venmo strap around his neck so he pulled out a Venmo card with QR code from which he can make sales of his novelties and take donations. He also told me about his gofundme.com campaign and his listing on Homeless Lives Matter. He also rattled off a couple of other websites he’s connected to. I scanned the QR code and sure enough Venmo came up with Gene’s name and novelty business.

I commented on Gene’s beard and he proudly stated he hasn’t shaved it since 2010. Every once in awhile his brother trims it around his neck because it gets caught in zippers. He said it keeps him warm in the winter time.

If I had a chair to pull up, Gene would have kept talking all morning. Having a train to catch, I thanked Gene for his time as I headed out. He thanked me for the $2 and kept on talking. Was a unique encounter, for sure. 

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4.5 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 1250

Photographed 3/17/22

Slices Of Light

2022_CLondon52w11: ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Fan Ho

From the C.London website: “Fan Ho was not afraid of strong light and shadows - his work bent whatever light was given to him in graphic and compositionally unique ways. His depiction of everyday life was elevated to fine art with silhouettes, rim lighting, and bright backlit glows around his subjects.  

Really soak in Fan Ho’s strong compositions and use them for inspiration for this week’s photo.”

Using a post by @Bees in the #Resources channel on the C.London Discord server, I was able to get a good feel for the work of Fan Ho.  Check out the entire gallery of alternate photos on my website at Collections/Artist-Spotlight-Fan-Ho/

Sony A7C @ f6.3 1/400 142mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 3/13/22

Editing

52Frames - Week 11 - An Activity

Extra Challenge: Studio Lighting

An activity that I would 100% be engaging in allowed me to get this challenge done early in the week! 

Sony A7C @ f4 1/125 81mm ISO 4000

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 3/14/22

Solids & Stripes

Visual Notes 19

[a page out of the @aarondigruccio playbook]

Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Art Museum

Unfortunately, I did not record the artist's name for attribution, however this piece screamed out to me for the visual notes series.

Sony A7C @ f9.5 1/125 85mm ISO 12800

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 2/27/22

Blog Announcement

I have been posting to this blog for over 10 years, each year reporting on accomplishments over the prior year and goals for the new year. 2022 is no different. My photography goals for the year are listed in the first post of 2022 for the C.London 52 Week Photography Challenge.

One of the goals was to establish a website and domain so this blog content could be viewed in ways additive to this chronological stream.

That goal has been achieved. Check out the website at:

www.jeffmarcowitz.photography 

Subscriptions to this blog remain intact. All content posted here will also be on the website, however with a subscription to the blog, you'll continue to receive the email notifications.

Thanks to all of you who have followed this photo blog for many years and welcome to any newcomers. My hope is that the images and stories are interesting and thought-provoking as I continue this creative journey. As always, comments, critiques and suggestions (here and the website) are welcome and appreciated as they often lead to new ideas and inspiration.

Thank You.

Jeff

Flight-Ready

Milwaukee Art Museum

Milwaukee, WI

See https://www.jeffmarcowitz.photography/Collections/Milwaukee-Art-Museum for the full set of images.

Sony A7C @ f4.5 1/1500 52mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 2/27/22

Angelic

52Frames - Week 10 - Low Key

Extra Challenge: Bodyscape

Another spontaneous shot while checking on my grandson during his nap.  I used the soft focus to my advantage in processing to convey the angelic nature of his expression and position.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f2.8 1/40 40mm equiv ISO 12,800

Photographed 3/9/22

High Noon (Almost)

2022_Clondon52w10: High Noon

From the C.London website: “High noon is one of the more despised time of day for many photographers. The sun is, well, high, and that light is harsh, so I understand how this may lend itself to be a major challenge. But remember, with harsh light come harsh shadows, maybe intentional lens flare, artfully blown out highlights, etc etc. Have fun experimenting with conditions you may not be comfortable with - look for light reflecting off windows, or cascading over a fence creating patterned shadows. Make the light work for you, not you having to work around it.”

Brief walk to a local park that I knew would throw off some good shadows.

Sony A7C @ f3.5 1/4000 38mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 3/8/22

Meter Bank

Black Cat Alley

Milwaukee, WI

Sony A7C @ f3.5 1/125 28mm ISO 400

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 2/27/22

Layers

52Frames - Week 9 - Reflections

Extra Challenge:  Optical Illusion

Totally using this photo as a streak-saver.  This shot was so spontaneous, days later I could not figure out from which direction it was taken until I reviewed the outtakes.  Another instance where having the GRIIIx at hand paid off.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 500

Photographed 3/2/22

Black Cat Alley

Milwaukee, WI

 A stroll through Black Cat Alley taking in some of the wonderful urban art. Check it out at https://www.blackcatmke.com/

  Visual Notes 18A

[a page out of the @aarondigruccio playbook]

Sony A7C @ f3.5 1/125 29mm ISO 250

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Visual Notes 18B

[a page out of the @aarondigruccio playbook]

Sony A7C @ f3.5 1/125 51mm ISO 250

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

All Photographed 2/27/22

Diagonals III

Visual Notes 17

[a page out of the @aarondigruccio playbook]

Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Art Museum

Santiago Calatrava

Sony A7C @ f6.7 1/3000 28mm ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 2/27/22