Every Picture Tells A Story

THE SUN POURS DOWN LIKE HONEY....

2007-05-28T17:30:00.000-04:00

The whole time I was shooting this model all I could think of was Leonard Cohen’s song “Suzanne.” Her name’s not Suzanne, but for some reason it seems to fit her. Of course these photos don’t really follow the song, but the lyrics still drift through my mind as I view them. Many thanks to Leonard Cohen and this lovely girl for a memorable shoot.

Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by
You can spend the night beside her
And you know that she's half crazy
But that's why you want to be there

And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her
That you have no love to give her
Then she gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover

And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that she will trust you
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind.

And Jesus was a sailor
When he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching
From his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain
Only drowning men could see him
He said "All men will be sailors then
Until the sea shall free them"
But he himself was broken
Long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human
He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone

And you want to travel with him
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.

Now Suzanne takes your hand
And she leads you to the river
She is wearing rags and feathers
From Salvation Army counters

And the sun pours down like honey
On our lady of the harbour
And she shows you where to look
Among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed
There are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love
And they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror

And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you know that you can trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind.

HE GOT CAUGHT IN THE SPOTLIGHT...

2007-05-28T16:39:00.001-04:00

Shooting musicians in concert is no easy task. You are at constant odds with the lighting, microphones, other musicians, strange facial expressions and an endless stream of cords in our wireless society. However, in the interest of trying to be a well rounded photographer I take my camera and my chances. Below are some of the better ones from the last couple of years. Given a second chance I would have done almost everything differently, but when it’s live you just have to live with the results.

Sara Brazil of 90 Minutes

Elana James

Eddie Delahunt

Tom Russell

Ray Wylie Hubbard

Barclay Martin

Sarah Babcock

Mark Lowery

Brent Hoad of the Elders

Steve Phillips of The Elders

Megan Hurt

Darrell Lea

VALENTINE'S CAN'T BUY HER

2007-02-14T21:46:00.000-05:00

I recently read an article on songwriting that made the argument that songwriters, when writing about relationships, tend to always write about the same person. It seemed like a nice thought on the eve of Valentine’s Day. We of course have no way of knowing if there’s any truth to it or not though. It did give me the idea for this post however.

Using various photos of a single model as a starting point I poured through the lyrics of Bob Dylan to see what made for a good match. I could have gone in a million directions but in the end I found these suited my vision best.

“Suddenly I turned around and she was standin' there
With silver bracelets on her wrists and flowers in her hair.
She walked up to me so gracefully and took my crown of thorns.
"Come in," she said, "I'll give you shelter from the storm."

“Something there is about you that strikes a match in me Is it the way your body moves, or is it the way your hair blows free? Or is it because you remind me of something that used to be Somethin' that crossed over from another century?”

“And these visions of Johanna are now all that remain.”

“Your breath is sweet, your eyes are like two jewels in the sky. Your back is straight, your hair is smooth on the pillow where you lie. But I don't sense affection, no gratitude or love Your loyalty is not to me, but to the stars above.”

“All I feel is heat and flame and all I see are dark eyes.”

“I march in the parade of liberty, But as long as I love you I'm not free.”

“We grew up together, from the cradle to the grave
We died and were reborn, and then mysteriously saved.”

THE HEART OF SATURDAY NIGHT

2007-01-06T17:37:00.000-05:00

Some random views of clubs and bars before the liquor starts flowing for the evening.

YESTERDAY ONCE MORE

2007-01-05T18:02:00.000-05:00

In a moment of unexplained insanity my family has entrusted me with their slides and photos. It would appear that they were a typical fifites clan of hunters and gatherers with a keen eye towards autos. Like any good historian I have no idea who any of the people in these photos are. I'm told I'm related to all of them though.

All photos are from the early 1950's. As far as I can tell they were all shot with my father's Argus C3 35Mm camera. All of these images are from slides. They were converted to digital files and I have done next to nothing as far as manipulation or correction. Only scrathes and obvious damage were repaired.

ONE FOR MY BABY...

2006-12-18T19:53:00.000-05:00

One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)

It's quarter to three,
There's no one in the place 'cept you and me,
So set 'em' up Joe
I got a little story I think you should know

We're drinking my friend, to the end
Of a brief episode,
Make it one for my baby
And one more for the road

I know the routine
Put another nickel in the machine,
I feel kind of bad
Can't you make the music easy and sad

I could tell you a lot,
but you've got to be true to your code,
Just make it one for my baby
And one more for the road

You'd never know it
but buddy I'm a kind of poet
And I've got a lot of things I'd like to say,
And if I'm gloomy, please listen to me
Till it's talked away

Well, that's how it goes

And Joe I know you're gettin' anxious to close,
So Thanks for the cheer
I hope you didn't mind
My bending your ear

But this torch that I found
It's gotta be drowned
Or it's gonna explode,
So make it one for my baby
And one more for the road.

(Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer)

Special thanks to M.E.S.

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

2006-11-18T14:50:00.000-05:00

Some random photos of New York shot one weekend in October, 2006

CONEY ISLAND MOON

2006-10-23T21:24:00.000-04:00

A few photos from Coney Island as it heads into its winter slumber. Still, quiet and yet ready for action anytime somone wants to flip the switch. From fall 2006.

THEY'VE ALL COME TO LOOK FOR AMERICA

2006-09-30T15:30:00.000-04:00

Various photos from the heart of America

LET ME TAKE YOU DOWN...

2006-09-30T15:01:00.000-04:00

Random Beatles related photos from Liverpool and London

"Nothing is real..."

"There beneath the blue suburban skies..."

Nearly every Beatles recording was done behind that door.

McCartney's boyhood home.

Lennon's boyhood home on Menlove Avenue.

Not sure where they all come from, but here's where they all end up.

The crosswalk to overdone, so here's the street sign instead.

No arguments here.

I HEAR THE TRAIN A-COMIN'....

2006-09-09T22:04:00.000-04:00

"When I hear that whistle blowin' I hang my head and cry..."

(Cash)

"So come all you ladies you must take a warning, From this time on and learn, Never speak harsh words to your true loving husband, He may leave you and never return..."

(Traditional)

"I bet there's rich folk eatin' in a fancy dining car. They're probably drinkin' coffee and smokin' big cigars..."

(Cash)

"I guess I've got a little gypsy in my heart, When I'm old and grey and settled down, If I ever get a chance to sneak away from town, Then I'll spend my busman's holiday, On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe"

(Mercer-Warren)

"Trouble with you is the trouble with me, Got two good eyes but we still don't see. Come round the bend, you know it's the end, The fireman screams and the engine just gleams..."

(Garcia-Hunter)

(All lyrics used without permission, but acknowledged)

LITTLE EDEN

2006-09-04T22:43:00.000-04:00

"And you know that tilt-a-whirl down on the south beach drag, I got on it last night and my shirt got caught, And that Joey kept me spinnin' I didn't think I'd ever get off..."

(Springsteen)

(All lyrics used without permission, but acknowledged)

SHE MOVED THROUGH THE FAIR

2006-09-04T17:21:00.000-04:00

"She stepped away from me, And she moved through the fair

And fondly I watched her move here, And move there.

And she went her way homeward, With one star awake,

As the swan in the evening, Moved over the lake. "

"How I remember our days of courtin'. I met my love in the fading light,

But now she flies to meet another. The day is lonely as the night.

(All Lyrics traditional)

THE BOXER

2006-09-04T14:47:00.000-04:00

"In the clearing stands a boxer and a fighter by his trade,

And he carries the reminders of every glove that laid him down,Or cut him 'til he cried out in his anger and his shame,

"I am leaving, I am leaving."But the fighter still remains."

(Simon)

(All lyrics used without permission, but acknowledged)

...SMILE DOWN UPON YOUR SON

2006-09-04T14:07:00.000-04:00

"In my hour of darkenss, she is standing right in front of me..."

(McCartney)

"And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water

And he spent a long time watching from his lonely wooden tower

And when he knew for certain only drowning men could see him

He said "All men will be sailors then until the sea shall free them"

But he himself was broken long before the sky would open forsaken, almost human

He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone."

(Cohen)

"Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine"

(Smith)

“If Jesus saves , He'd better save Himself from the gory glory seekers who use His name in death.
I saw him in the city and on the mountains of the moon, His cross was rather bloody, He could hardly roll His stone.”

(Anderson)

(All lyrics used without permission, but acknowledged)

JAMAICA SAY YOU WILL

2006-09-04T13:55:00.000-04:00

The Blue Mountains of Jamaica enroute to Kingston

Not exactly the island paradise that the music conjures up in the urban area of Kingston

An outdoor flea market in Kingston

The drug dealers arrive for work early and stake out their territory near Bob Marley's tomb.

Not every shoreline has been turned into a tourist mecca. Yet.

On the road to Kingston, the cultural capital of the island.

So begins another day in paradise.

"Many rivers to cross

And it's only my will that keeps me alive

I've been licked, washed up for years

And I merely survive because of my pride"

(Cliff)

(All lyrics used without permission, but acknowledged)