On Assignment: Franklin, North Carolina-Day Four

"Thumbs Up For Good Ideas" by Wes Aldridge

This shot is proof of a bad decision on my part. My final assignment in Franklin, N.C., was to shoot a new trailway on Cowee Mountain. The sun was perfect and the weather overall was pretty stellar for a winter day. I love to go out into the wilderness, so I was totally excited about this assignment.

I traveled on several forest service roads ascending the mountain side. The crude roadways were nothing more than dirt and loose rock steeply winding up to the mountain peak. I couldn't go more than about 5 m.p.h. in the Impala I rented from AVIS. I creeped along about 10 miles worth of dirt road up the mountain to around an elevation of 5,000 feet, and then I saw the snow. I had been driving trying to find the trail for about 1 hour and 45 minutes, so I thought I should keep going and get my shot.

Stupid. The snow covered the road. If you notice, the road is extremely narrow and a significant drop off is on the side. I kept trying to drive through the snow and the wheels kept sliding a bit. It scared the hell out of me, but I still trekked on because I NEEDED the shot.

I finally got to the last forest service road the trail was supposed to be connected to. Just my luck, the entrance to the damn road was blocked off. So, yes, I idiotically drove through snow-covered, narrow mountain passes to try to get this shot and then the final stretch was blocked off. And I learned a valuable lesson: Sometimes the shot just isn't worth the danger you put yourself in. But, forget that... where is the adventure without a little danger?

Another assignment in the books.

On Assignment: Franklin, North Carolina-Day Three

"Down On The Corner" by Wes Aldridge

This is a sight that makes me happy. In Nashville, you can look on the corner of 21st Avenue and Wedgewood when any political event is occurring and see masses of protesters. When I drove by the Macon County Courthouse in the small town of Franklin, N.C., I saw John Womack and his wife JoAnn, from left, Trish Severin and Doug Woodward exercising their First Amendment rights, standing shoulder to shoulder visually sounding their "Voices of Peace."

John said some people can't understand or get confused about his involvement with "Voices of Peace." He said his protest is not really one of anti-war, he is "more interested in working for peace." He said he doesn't understand why more people aren't trained in peace, like soldiers are trained for war. He said imagine what might happen if the money pumped into the war in Iraq was used to train soldiers in peace instead. John's point is an interesting one to listen to.

Sometimes in the smaller communities that I shoot magazines in, I wonder if these people know another world exists outside their city's limits. Today, as motorists drove by honking their horns and giving the four demonstrators the occassional "thumbs up" sign, the awareness and political interest of a sleepy little town was evident. I love to see people exercising their rights as a free-speaking citizen of this country.

SIDENOTE: Arthur Miller, a great writer who penned such amazing classics as "Death of a Salesman" and "The Crucible," has died today. Review his works, pass on his ideals and let his legacy continue.

On Assignment: Franklin, North Carolina-Day Two

"Old Glass" by Wes Aldridge

This shot was taken in the historic Methodist church in downtown Franklin, NC. The stained glass has been in the church since it was built, sometime over 100 years ago. It survived through a renovation and addition of a new sanctuary. In the new part, the stained glass seemed to be crafted in a similar manner as to mimic the original, old glass.

It was another shot that I couldn't pass up. I was walking through the building admiring the craftmanship and beauty of the glass when a little old lady walked up to me. She asked the usual question: "Who are you taking pictures for?" We spoke candidly for a few minutes and then she told me about the old glass in the old sanctuary and the new glass in the building addition. I'm glad she stopped and talked or I would have skipped over the old glass and thought it none different from the newer. I felt like it was my duty to shoot the old glass because nature had allowed it to stay beautiful for all of these years.

The settings that I used were for a backlit situation: ISO 100 handheld at 1/80th of a second at f/2.8. The sun was beaming brilliantly into the window, as if it were asking me to take the shot and share a piece of its history. It gave me a feeling of satisfaction to snap this frame, and I hope it gives you some satisfaction to share it with me.

On Assignment: Franklin, North Carolina-Day One

"Cornerstone" by Wes Aldridge

The assignment this week is in North Carolina, very close to Cherokee National Forest. It is beautiful here... minus the totally engulfing dreary weather. It will be great when the sun finally shines here. I have my eye on some sunrise/sunsets from high vantage points looking into mountain valleys.

This shot was from Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Franklin. I was making this shot about 9 p.m. in the rain. Headlights came from behind the building and who was it? None other than the pastor of the congregation. He stopped for a brief inquiry. He said he really would like to see the shots I was doing. I started to feel uncomfortable, kinda glad he left after a few minutes. Not sure if he could have appreciated the artistic nature behind this depiction of the cross.

Anyway, this shot was fun. I tried several different ways of shooting it, zooming in and out, panning, shifting, many different ways. This particular shot was possible because of my Canon L series 70-200mm f/2.8. It has a tripod collar that allows the lens to spin 360-degrees in a circular pattern. This exposure was shot at f/32 for 20 seconds at ISO 100. I focused on the center of the cross and let the exposure go for about 8 seconds (to make the cross appear solid at the beginning of the exposure) before I started spinning the lens ever so slowly, but evenly and fluidly. The gray cornerstone at the bottom made the gray semi-circle across the left side of the frame. The cross at the top of the frame was on the church's steeple. It almost looks like it flew out of the cornerstone.

Well, I think this one is neat. Pretty hard to find something to shoot after dark in a tiny town, especially one I've never been to before now. I just saw this cross beaming light from the side of the highway and had to go find it. Glad I did.

Shallow dreaming

"Woman, promise please..." by Wes Aldridge

Well, infer what you will... but, none the less: "Woman, promise please..." Take it for what you will. I think there is some strong hidden message buried deep inside the outer facade of these simple little magnets with words on them.

If you look closely, read the rest of the words in the shot on the little magnetic pieces. A story is there, a timeless tale of the ages. The tale is ironic and crude, and it may frighten you. Just trust it and read on. It will teach you things that you never knew existed.

Anyway, enough of the mystic garbage. I shot this in the office. A chic, I mean, fellow co-worker, was putting together poetry lines on this magnetic board. I grabbed the 16-35mm ultra wide lens and opened up to f/2.8. I saw the words: "woman, promise, please." It seemed too perfect not to take a shot. So, there you go. Nothing special, just a moment in the life of an office worker having a good time. Thanks for the shot, Autumn.

Must Be Nashville

"Boot Country" by Wes Aldridge

I went out searching for my shot tonight and realized I was somewhat forced to make the best use out of the rain. I knew neons were the ticket and I had to find some I haven't shot before, for variety's sake. I found one.

Boot Country is a store on Broadway downtown with this obnoxious neon above the door. I thought this one was just as good as any, and besides, the level of cyan in stirrup really sets off the color tones of all the magenta in the shot. So I busted out the Canon and slapped on the love of my life, my 50mm lens, and got to work.

This was shot at ISO 400 with f/1.8 aperture, hand held at 1/20th of a second. No, you aren't dyslexic, the lettering is a little screwy in the shot. This is where the rain comes in to play. A water puddle had gathered about 12 feet from the storefront and I got on my knees and saw this interesting reflection in it. The background to the shot is formed by a brick section of sidewalk the puddle stood on.

And in all honesty, I almost said to hell with the blog tonight. I am dead tired from the move, with more stuff to move in from the Jeep and unpack in my room. I leave to shoot a magazine close to Cherokee, North Carolina, on Wednesday and I have plenty of work to do before I leave. But, regardless, I started this thing and I am going to finish it. You couldn't possibly imagine the strain this 365-day photo project is putting on me. I guess if nothing else, it is teaching me the art of perseverance. I wanted to do this thing to challenge myself... and I think it is working quite well. I just keep reminding myself there is some greater value in it, even if I have no clue what it is. Something inside of me just says to keep on shooting and posting.

A groan of tedium escapes me.

God, I dread it. Its only been about one month and a week since I started it. Can I actually keep doing this? Will I be successful, or will it turn into failure.

Gamblin'

"The Elusive Mister Carter" by Wes Aldridge

Due to the recent SuperBowl sadness, our regularly scheduling posting will come from the archives tonight. Mr. McNabb didn't pull through for us and Mr. Brady walked away with another win, boring, I know. Thanks Eagles.

Anyway, I ran into the elusive Mister Carter tonight during the StooperBowl viewing. It reminded me of this shot from the studio at EMI Publishing. The boys from Thaxton Ward were cutting new tracks that night. Andres was laying down a drum track and the others had a little game of Texas Hold'em going on.

Here Carter is dropped out of focus at f/2.8. I think the shot is killer. I used a 16mm and got that great distortion where the poker chip is bigger than he is. Its solid. Enjoy.

The Day Has Begun

"Self BR" by Wes Aldridge

Normally, I am not so vain to put shots of my self up on this photoblog. Today is different though. It is moving day and I wanted a little memento of the times spent at 3054 Franklin Road. So I give you this Pulitzer Prize-winning self portrait of me in my bathroom in my boxer briefs and T-shirt. Marvelous, eh?

I really wanted to showcase the angles of the mirrors and how they worked with a fisheye lens. The field of view is about 180-degrees, somewhere around 14 or 15mm I think, which means that when shooting that lens, it is pretty easy to get your feet in the shot if you aren't careful. More times than not, the lens isn't practical for usage in daily applications. The effect of bending lines and angles is somewhat less than desired in most cases of commercial photography. Shooting with a fisheye is almost like having sushi: its a great idea every once in a while, but if you have it too much, it really starts to suck.

I'm not getting into all the shot settings. Technique-wise, there is nothing spectacular going on, just a shutter speed fast enough to hand hold the camera and avoid shake. Light is natural from the tungsten overhead.

I know, I know, not terribly exciting. Time to get back to packing.

The Night Has Ended

"Catch Light" by Wes Aldridge

For the conclusion of a great night, you need a great photograph. Luckily, when surrounded by good company, a photographer is able to get a good photo.

Take a look. This shot was taken on a tripod at ISO 400 at 1/10th of a second at f/4.0. It was shot with a telephoto lens as close as it would allow to focus. Notice the eyes are tack sharp and the ear on the left side of the face drops out of focus pretty drastically. A catch light in the lower part of the iris tells a lot about the light source used. If it were rectangular, then it would mean a soft box was used... if a star shape, then an umbrella was used. This was a simple cigarette lighter held relatively close to the face by the subject. The hard shadow falling over one eye tells the angle was extreme to the focal plane of the face.

Anyway, who cares about all that stuff. I had a good night, thanks for letting me shoot the shot of you.

Lamps, Grass and Concrete

"Landing Lights" by Wes Aldridge

For not much more than some lamps, grass and concrete, I think this shot is interesting. One of the strongest tools in a photographers repertoire is the ability to distinguish important and visually appealing patterns. Another tool, of course, is the Rule of Thirds.

In this shot, the line of lamps lead your eyes off into the distance where some lights shine in the night sky. The circular patterns of light and shadow seem to blend the cold harshness of concrete with the warmth and life of the grass beside it. When I saw this scene, it seemed to invite me to walk down the pathway, so I wanted to capture it because it spoke to me.

The location of the shot was at the park and riverside landing by the Coliseum across the Cumberland River in downtown Nashville. ISO was set to 100 with a 1/5th of a second shutter speed with aperture at f/3.0 at a focal length of 28mm, on a tripod of course.

NO COMMENT

"State of the Union" by Wes Aldridge

Well, another year and another Bush address. You know, I have nothing to say about anything he said. I just don't care about it. I have simply no opinion. If you believe that for three seconds then you probably don't know me very well. Infer what you will from the shot here.

It was shot through a glass in front of my Sony WEGA television (wish it would have been HD)at f/2.8 with 1/50th of a second shutter speed. I wanted to get one of his classic faces in the shot and really draw attention to it. Guess making his head look like an alien pretty much did the trick. Let me know if you like it, and if you don't, well, you are probably a Republican... God bless Texas!

A Dance with the Spins

"Bent and Twisted" by Wes Aldridge

This shot is from Demonbreun St. hotspot and Nashville-favorite bar, The Tin Roof. I was bone dry sober when I snapped this one, just watching (or as someone I know calls it "stalking") the mindlessly ripped and belligerent plastered 20-somethings have a grand ol' time drinking the night away. I saw this girl swaying back and forth, spilling her glass of beer with every movement and thought, "hmmm, wonder what is going through her brain right now?"

Multi-colored Christmas lights hung above her head on the bar's namesake tin roof. I saw her looking up at them as she did her silly, unbalanced back-and-forth stagger as the band played a cover of "Brown Eyed Girl." This was the moment, this was the ticket.

I set a slow 1/40th of a second shutter speed and wide 1.8 aperture with my cheap 50mm lens and panned in an arc motion during the long exposure. The streaking lights must have been the dreadfully tortured sight her eyes beheld. Anyway, it was just fun imagining a second of someone else's life.

Heat Things Up

"Fire Flowers" by Wes Aldridge

Before anyone puts anytime into analyzing this shot... It has no religious, political, racial or otherwise insightful meaning. It was merely a test shot. The items used to make this shot had caught my eye by chance while I walked through Michael's craft store at 100 Oaks Mall. I started envisioning a reflective surface with roses and a cross on top and then spicing it up with some fire.

I hope no one is offended. In no way did I intend any animosity to be felt over this photograph, but I can see how someone might infer the wrong ideals.Take it at face value only... no statements were in my intentions to be made from the content and composition of the shot. It was just a new challenge to play with changing lighting variables.

Closing the Polls

"Step Toward Freedom" by Wes Aldridge

I wanted to cover some of the monumental Iraqi Government voting at the Tennessee Fair Grounds. My name wasn’t on the credentials list and security was tight at the designated voting location, one of five spread across the United States. I wasn’t able to gain access to the actual polling place, but I felt like I needed to be part of the media coverage for this milestone event. So, I did what every die hard journalist would do… I got creative and got a story.

I waited by the concrete-barriered exit gate, being watched closely by four armed and body armored metro Nashville police officers. I flagged down Adnan Abdulkader and his wife, Hozan Omar, as they drove from the fair grounds in their white Toyota Corolla. I held up my camera and motioned for him to drive over to me so I could talk to him. I asked him if I would do a small interview and let take a photo of him. He was more than happy to speak to me.

Abdulkader, 27, is a Kurdish-Iraqi-American that has lived in Nashville for over 14 years. He was one of the last to cast his vote at the fair grounds as polls for the Iraqi vote closed at 5 p.m. on Sunday, January 30.

“I am over excited and over joyful for me not just to cast my vote, but for being a part of this greatest moment,” he said. “It used to be the choice of one, Saddam. Now you have the choice of 111 [electorate nominees] without Saddam. It feels great.”

Abdulkader wasn’t sure what effect the voting for elected government officials would have in Iraq, but he is looking past the immediate effects and thought things would get better “maybe in the long run.”

“I have high hopes for the future [in Iraq],” he said. “No matter what my sacrifice was, I was going to come and vote today. Iraqis, especially Kurds, have suffered so much and they were persecuted over and over.”

For now, Abdulkader will stay in Nashville, where he said he owns his own home and business, a barbershop called Klean Kuts. But he hopes to return to Iraq someday when the threat of suicide bombers and militant chaos has subsided because he wants his children to “grow up in that culture and way of life.”

“Maybe I will go back if it is safer, if it has peace and harmony,” he said. “That’s where my heart is.”

As he started to leave, he held up his right index finger and showed me where his finger was inked to cast his vote… and I took the shot.

On Assignment: Fulton County, New York-Day Five

"Town Square" by Wes Aldridge

After 5 long, cold and hard days, my assignment in Fulton County, New York has come to an end. I learned several things on this trip, the most dominate being buy some insulated underwear. A close second is shooting in the snow is a tricking thing to get a solid exposure and that close 2 f-stops rule really doesn't hold water when you are shooting color.

When I was heading out of town, I had to stop and grab this shot. In Johnstown, NY, inside Fulton County, the cityscape is heavily influenced with Colonialism, i.e., architecture. Stocks were used in colonial times as a form of public punishment. Believe it or not, there is still a set of stocks in the pubilc square downtown across from the old courthouse.

I thought this was pretty interesting and gave it a shot at night. The Canon 10D holds up pretty well in long exposures in the dark. The stocks were lit by a street lamp a good 30-feet overhead (see the position of the shadow for subject to light source angle). The shot was at ISO 100, f/22 (max aperture on my 24-70 mm L series lens)with a 30 second exposure. All of this is evident in the star formation in the lamp post in the background. Notice the shadow under the stocks. Not much digital distortion in the black shadow on white snow. If the 10D rocks this solid, I would love to see what either of the Mark II's can do. Anyone have an extra $4000 they want to give me to grab the new shooter with?

On Assignment: Fulton County, New York-Day Four

"Little Skier" by Wes Aldridge

After wasting away one-and-a-half hours of my life snow shoeing deep into a thick forest to find cross country skiers and freezing my self nearly to death, here is my shot. I went back to the ski resort I was photographing and sat by the heater with the other bitter cold battered winter wonderland adventurers. I was exhausted, because snow shoeing is tedious work, and laid out on a couch with my head tilted back. I looked up and saw this tiny plastic skier hanging from a mobile in the lodge. I opened to f/2.8 and knocked the shutter down to 1/15th of a second and click. there is the shot.

On Assignment: Fulton County, New York-Day Three

"Painfully Cold" by Wes Aldridge

Today was ruff. I am beyond exhausted and my body hurts. This photograph isn't on the blog for its quality as a shot. It is here because it accurately captures my life today. This was sunrise (that never had any color) wrapped in gray sky. I think it was somewhere around 7 a.m.

It was a fierce 30 minute drive across country highway to get to this location. Hard drive in the dark with roads that hadn't been plowed by the time my 6 a.m. drive began. This isn't a field... it is a lake that had frozen 18-inches on the surface, lying on the edge of the Adirondacks.

It was 21 degrees below zero. -21 DEGREES. The coldest temperature I have ever witnessed. I got up intensely early, drove on terrible country roads and froze until my body stung for this pathetic sunrise. At least I tried. I am paying for it now with fever, wind-burned face, bloodshot eyes, aching joints and the darkest bags under my eyes I have ever had.

The sun actually rose above the clouds in about an hour and the sky cleared up beautifully. I was able to get a majority of my exterior shots done. Now, I am ready to crawl into bed and crash until the next sunrise.

My body has had enough for one day.

On Assignment: Fulton County, New York-Day Two

"Sticks" by Wes Aldridge

Another day wrapped up in 8-degree weather. Nothing like having my hand stick and freeze to my metal tripod while I attempt, sadly attempt, to shoot an exterior of a colonial theater in pitch black covered in 2 feet of snow. Ah... the joys of New York weather. Lovin' it! Seriously. Now, on to the shot.

I stopped into this little side country store and saw this little pieces of wood in the circular shape seen here. The light was right. The leading lines are perfect. The depth of field is cut lovely at f/2.8. Simple, but I think it is pretty interesting. Some very earthy color tones highlighted by the natural lighting.

I know, I know. I am on assignment in the Adriondacks and I haven't posted a single landscape or otherwise outdoors shot. Well, when I get a little bit of sunlight to break through this thick gray cloud cover, I'll get one up, promise.

On Assignment: Fulton County, New York-Day One

"Barney's Place" by Wes Aldridge

Tonight I shot the most interesting assignment I have ever had. In the "Gateway to the Adirondacks," an artist by the name of Barney Bellinger lives with his wife Susan and their 14-year old daughter, Erin. He is a beautiful painter, amazing natural woods craftsman and a genuine person.

My appointment began at 7 p.m. and I didn't leave his home studio until 10:30 p.m. (normally my photo appointments last between 30-45 minutes). Barney showed me photographs of some amazing places he travels to to fish for trout, and conduct his artist business. We talked for quite some time, but I never got bored with it. I listened to him talk about how he started from less than nothing and worked through adversity of all sorts. And now, he seems to live life to its fullest. Did I mention he hand picks and carves pieces of wood into beautifully intricate works of functional art furniture. He showed me photographs of one tall elaborate cabinet that he said sold for $100,000.

Barney showed me several projects he was working on, each one elaborately detailed. As we walked around his wood shop, I stared in awe. The materials he gathered were simply amazing.

Barney looked around for a few minutes as I gawked about. He turned to me with a beautiful piece of wood in his hand. He told me it was from Yellowstone National Forest. He said he bought it from some Native Americans, because they were the only ones allowed to take the wood from the forest. He wrote his name on it with the date. I was honored to accept his gift.

The photograph was a mural on a wall in his home. I thought it was great, so I took a quick shot. Freezing Day One, complete.

Warm Sky, Cold Weather

"January's Full Moon" by Wes Aldridge

First, I apologize to all of you that are sick of seeing my Nashville skyline shots, but I think this one is worth it. I was paying an electric bill at Nashville Electric Service and when I came out, this is what I saw in the sky. Notice the tones on the buildings. That means the reflections are of the sunset in front of them. So, that big ball of light in the sky is January's full moon. I couldn't pass it up. I only had minutes to frantically search for a vantage point that I have never shot from before I lost last light and the shot would have lost all warm and vibrant tone... I found it.

The colors were amazingly warm.

Warm is a key word right now. I decided I needed this shot to remind me how warm it is in this city. I leave for New York on assignment tomorrow and the highs are in the mid teens with lows down to a whopping -10, not including wind chill factor. The weekend blizzard left about 2 feet of snow I have to deal with, with even deeper drifts, but I am excited because I have looked forward to a challenge like this. I even get the chance for one of the features in the magazine to be a photo essay of Colonial architecture that I will be shooting. Time to see what I can do.