I shot myself, they did too

mounting a frozen boar at carnival

2011-02-14T23:19:00.003-05:00

Mounting the main dish in the ice palace during the 114th Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. Click image for larger view.

pittsburgh scapes...

2010-12-22T17:52:00.003-05:00

I was visited by the pittsburgh police for the shot in the park. Once they learned I was a photographer they moved on. Although crazy people can have cameras too? Not sure they were thorough enough on that one, but I lucked out.

white trash © cinemascapist 2010

city steps #2 © cinemascapist 2010

Goliath Cigarettes...

2010-12-14T23:05:00.002-05:00

trying to quit sucks... but so does dying I suppose.

something different © cinemascapist 2010

Hibernate #3

2010-12-02T17:50:00.002-05:00

phallic cold fuzzy scratches

hibernate #3 © cinemascapist

shoes...fuck shoes

2010-11-20T17:38:00.001-05:00

wherever you go... the shoes will follow.

pants, no shoes © cinemascapist 2010

out-take from recent shoot

2010-11-15T00:30:00.001-05:00

This pose didn't make the cut... but I still like it.

This pose didn't make the cut... but I still like it.

indian summerscape

2010-11-14T22:41:00.001-05:00

indian summer © cinemasapist 2007-2010

new "level" of panoramics...

2010-11-14T17:05:00.002-05:00

taking panos to a new level... one that is not so level...

dangling © cinemascapist 2007-2010

jupiter's shrooming

2010-11-09T23:19:00.003-05:00

unintended layered consequences, infrastructure, branches, and Jupiter say hello. jupiter's shrooming © cinemascapist 2010

2010-11-07T16:15:00.002-05:00

cold light, shorter days, and sleep = winter

mundane #2 © cinemascapist

mundane #1

2010-10-25T23:59:00.003-04:00

but seriously, most of the time...life is about doing dishes and looking out a dark kitchen window. No fears, no suspense, nothing spectacular other than mid-90's era pickup truck to look at... Not sure how else to explain it.

mundane #1 © cinemascapist 2010

First snow of the year...

2010-10-15T14:58:00.002-04:00

sometimes I feel like I live in a giant fucking snowglobe up here in the Adirondacks.

first snow 2010 © cinemascapist

underneath...

2010-10-08T18:03:00.002-04:00

underneath the lens, the grass, the light, and the dark.

underneath © cinemascapist 2010

free falling into winter

2010-09-28T18:18:00.003-04:00

possible snow showers in the forecast for this weekend, cold night breezes and dead leaves... I cling onto autumn as winter's darkness approaches.

winter's free fall © cinemascapist 2010

search & rescue

2010-09-26T20:40:00.002-04:00

bear trap, alligator, chainsaw, handsaw, wood planer, knife, bullet, spider bite, drugs...

search & rescue © cinemascapist 2010

looking sharp...

2010-08-17T21:32:00.002-04:00

more and more I am twisting and making images from real life drama instead of my own. I am taking stories from friends, things overheard, and things seen and manipulating them into my work. It's becoming less semi-autobiographical and more semi-biographical.

getting pretty © cinemascapist 2010

not a good review of my work...

2010-08-09T20:37:00.002-04:00

So I've done pretty good in photo comps over the years, some wins, some mediocre honorable mentions. Most recently I entered a photo competition (w/out categories) for Canteen Magazine. I've been a fan of the magazine and the articles, art, & photography they publish for a while.

The cool thing about this competition was that they published a bunch of the juror's comments. I didn't win, but I was lucky enough to be the winner of the Viewer's (or entrants' choice) Award. Which was humbling in it's own right, since it was from peers and other artists.

The most recent issue of Canteen Magazine came out with more comments by the jurors... below is one about me... needless to say some folks get my work and enjoy it, but a whole other bunch do not. Since I dropped out of school in 10th grade, I needed a Dictionary twice to understand what this dude was saying, I guess it makes sense he's not a fan.

The results of the Entrants' Choice poll, in which contest participants voted for their favorite submissions, revealed an overwhelming preference for pictures of staged tableaux. The majority of the vote getters, along with the clear winner—Aaron Hobson—relied on staged constructions. In general, I think we treated staged photography pejoratively* (one of the words I had to look up... meaning to disparage or belittle). In the case of Aaron Hobson, the work, to me, read too much like either high-concept summer movie or a retreating of on-the-road clichés.

Perhaps the wide, cinematic shape of the frame is an unnecessary gimmick; the pictures become film stills from nonexistent but familiar narratives, not originally authored works that imply or develop a narrative we've never seen before. Considering the vertiginous* (second word I had to look up... it means inclined to frequent and often pointless change) catalogue of images that already exists, why not look for new stories to tell?

time to wake up...

2010-08-08T00:10:00.002-04:00

A week has passed since our little guy has been down in South Jersey on the shore with the grandparents and extended family. I'm psyched to see him. But it's also been a great week of friends, fun, and excessive consumption of all things adult. Hugo (my little one) returns tomorrow and there will be no more long baths with cigarettes and wine...just bubbles and little floaty toys and such. I needed to document it.

unwind © cinemascapist 2010

Grow a pair!

2010-08-06T19:23:00.002-04:00

Fuck E-harmony and matchmaker sites, just grow yourself a pair of antlers and the ladies will come around. Just scrape'em and bang'em on some trees and make loud noises and it will happen... or so says National Geographic.

the rutting © cinemascapist 2010

the state of things

2010-08-02T21:47:00.004-04:00

I love lush lawns and bug-free nights.
(but I don't love optimized jpegs...better viewed in person at 40" on a wall)

reclined © cinemascapist 2010

jumping into a 750,000 gallon pool

2010-07-28T22:26:00.004-04:00

a quick viddy I made today showing what the U.S., Canadian, and Russian Olympians do when the snow is gone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zZ72cTTpLo

Clutterfuck!

2010-07-28T22:11:00.005-04:00

as I sat contemplating what to do as the wife watches "master chef" on the tube and having no images to process, I decided to make a mosaic of our living room/my CPU workspace. It's sort of a quasi David Hockney meets my friend Cornelia Hediger inspired piece. It's a godamn rubik's cube if you ask me?!?! Makes my eyes sore.

my workspace/living space (plus wife and sleeping dog)

shepard

2010-07-26T00:11:00.003-04:00

1969 British Raleigh...a nice bike.

Shepard © cinemascapist 2010

even darker...

2010-07-25T00:04:00.003-04:00

"rinse" © cinemascapist 2010

this one revisits my early work from the "even darker" series of 2007.
a little seattle street living influence.

fuckin' leeches!

2010-07-17T23:06:00.005-04:00

You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you might find
You get what you need
- rolling stones

leeches © cinemascapist 2010

(NOTE: the story below is the behind the scenes factual narrative, but of course it's up to you, the viewer, to create your own story and fill in the blanks for yourself. If you don't want to be influenced, just don't read the story below. If you do, I apologize in advance if my story hinders your ability to read into this image on your own)

So I was thinking about that Rolling Stones song during/after this shot. Initial plan was somewhat different for this image and involved me swimming out there in that river. After standing about knee high in the waters for a minute contemplating where to swim out to and where my focal point was, I realized I was slowy sinking into the muddy banks. After a little challenge of lifting my legs out of the thick mud, I felt bits of mud stuck to my ankles.

Well...after looking down, I quickly realized it wasn't mud. It was a couple blood sucking leeches thinking about partying on my blood supply. Now anyone that knows me, knows that I don't dig creepy crawlies of any kind. I'm downright arachnophobic and generally a sissy about other shit as well. So even though I knew I hadn't gone more than knee deep, my phobia panic set in and I started feeling things all over my body and started swatting at everything and everywhere on my body. As luck would have it, for some reason I was clicking away with the remote and ended up with a few nice panels for that portion of the pano.

Moral of the story is that leeches fucking suck and spontaneous picturing can be a good thing.

new cowboy scapes

2010-07-12T23:23:00.004-04:00

piles © cinemascapist 2010

these 3 new images made me want to listen John Prine's "your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore"

unloading © cinemascapist 2010

Well, I went to the bank this morning
And the cashier he said to me,
"If you join the Christmas club
We'll give you ten of them flags for free."
Well, I didn't mess around a bit
I took him up on what he said.
And I stuck them stickers all over my car"
And one on my wife's forehead.

Well, I got my window shield so filled
With flags I couldn't see.
So, I ran the car upside a curb
And right into a tree.
By the time they got a doctor down
I was already dead.
And I'll never understand why the man
Standing in the Pearly Gates said...

"But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
We're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more."

fences © cinemascapist 2010

new femme

2010-07-10T17:30:00.002-04:00

found the femme series lost in the forest.

"linger" © cinemascapist 2010 (part of the femme vérite series)

panoramic stop motion animation

2010-07-05T14:15:00.004-04:00

a rough idea for new creative release. shot this with remote and no assistants. that is not the best way to do it. need to find 3rd party device that can shoot intervals for me.

this is a 3 frame panoramic with roughly 75-85 frames.

http://aaronhobson.com/panoparadox.html

new work

2010-06-30T23:11:00.002-04:00

from time to time something would wash up on shore.

"scavenge" © cinemascapist 2010 (dark series, click for larger)

trunkman

2010-06-20T23:13:00.002-04:00

how does a rock smoke if its covered in roots?

trunkman © cinemascapist 2010 (click for bigger)

even newer work...

2010-06-09T19:06:00.002-04:00

"skull garden" 2010 © cinemascapist (click for bigger)

newest work...

2010-06-08T17:47:00.003-04:00

I think I was subconsciously inspired by the treeman from Lord of the Rings.

"wandering/wondering" - 2010 (part of the dark series)
click for bigger

Oh well...

2010-05-25T00:02:00.004-04:00

I had a good run of transforming the panoramic into something interesting (to me) and new... but Sony went and made it easy for anyone to do it. I'm hoping these new pano-consumers don't have a trunk full of props and clothes, a head full of narratives, and access to a 6 million acre park for their picture making needs.

I'll just need to re-invent something new.

http://www.adorama.com/alc/news/Sony-announces-five-cameras-with-sweep-panorama

A remake of a lost photograph (a sad story)...

2010-05-19T20:40:00.005-04:00

the station - revisited
© cinemascapist, 2010 (part of the dark series)
click for large version

3+ years ago when I first picked up a camera, I was a big fan of sharing my work on flickr. Not having any ambitions of anything more than posting cool shots to flickr groups. Once I learned my pictures were unique and "people" started t appreciate and spend more money than I had on my photos, I realized that many of my original images were fucked with a capital "F".

I had never imagined printing them or showing them at anything other than 72dpi on Flickr. Needless to say I found myself in a pickle. Many of my favorite and favorites of others were lost and "f"ucked forever. Saved at 72dpi and flattened. "f"ucked.

I've tried to re-shoot several of those over the years and never been satisfied. I'm not sure this (image above) is any better than the original, but I'm happy about the outcome. I've had major amounts of family tragedy recently and this image is a result of the release of that stress and emotional rollercoaster. "f"ucked... I can't believe I saved SO many images at 72dpi?!?!

just a tiny stream...

2010-04-09T21:20:00.001-04:00

the stream © cinemascapist (part of the dark series 2010)

teabaggers...

2010-03-29T22:52:00.004-04:00

"sleeveless by a frozen lake with a fuck you salute"
© cinemascapist (part of no particular series)
you may click to enlarge

- It's spring and the dogshit and cigarette butts are surfacing.
- The ice is melting slowly in the front yard from the 30 degree rain day after day.
- Teabaggers are gathering to pout about Obama with less than 3% of the creativity of the previous administrations Anti-Bush demonstrators.
- Today's pop music absolutely fucking sucks.
- Bills and shit are piling up as I try to find unobtainable funding for a photo project this spring in Pittsburgh.
- nobody is buying art.
- I've been sick for 5 days and counting.
- Democrats push for New York State budget that threatens my job and those of thousands in our northern region.
- Dickheads are still dickheads.
- I wear sleeveless shirts by frozen lakes.
- it's almost spring and I'll be happy again.

pittsburgh...

2010-03-01T23:42:00.006-05:00

The little house that myself, my brother and my father lived in. Filson Way was an alley that was part of the Mexican War Streets in Pittsburgh. I took this shot 2 years ago, but never processed it...not sure it fits anywhere but in a digital scrapbook or blog.

along with a "splintered" panorama of how I saw Pittsburgh the last time I was there... a decaying, stringy, concrete jungle of sorts. Summer is much nicer.

new work...

2010-02-22T17:25:00.003-05:00

"ice jammed" © 2010 part of the even darker series

Ice blocks piling up along the Ausable River today, and spring like conditions just 40 miles away, 1,000ft. lower in elevation, and 15 degrees warmer at the famous artist and painter Rockwell Kent homestead.

"spring fever" © 2010 part of the dark series

winter hunter

2010-02-14T17:54:00.005-05:00

New Year, new lens, new camera, new technique, new images.

"hunter" (part of the winter series) 2010

hunter snow falling detail

video of a photo

2010-02-06T17:08:00.003-05:00

super short clip of a very old photo of a very sick man on my mantle...but don't worry, jesus gonna make it alright.

Shooting Freestyle at night

2010-01-24T20:38:00.003-05:00

cold as balls...crazy as hell. shaky frozen hands and skyward limbs. this was the last qualifier for these athletes before the Vancouver Olympics in February. I had some sweet access for this viddy, but long for warmer hands and steadycam or tripod.

"(unfortunately) there's an app for that"

2010-01-19T21:19:00.003-05:00

PHOTOCADDY APP description for iphone... (my notes in bold)

Amateurs and professionals alike know that taking good photos can be hard (sure...okay... so what?). There are many settings and things to consider (I guess, but not really), and far too often a photo of that beautiful scene just doesn't turn out well (that's a shame. I'll try again and practice more). Wouldn't it be great if you had someone with you all the time suggesting what settings to use, where to point the camera, and when the best photos can be taken (fuck no! that sounds like it would suck!)?

Here's what PhotoCaddy can offer you: • Guidance for over 50 different situations, from castles to rainbows to babies and everything in between (what about babies on rainbows?) • Over 500 unique tips on how to take the best photos in each situation (can you guarantee they will be the best photos and if so, who will agree with me that they are?) • Typical settings you can use for each situation (typical? I want the best! not typical!) • Clear, simple directions that even beginners can follow, but with enough depth for more advanced photography (so it's for everybody?... cool!) • Sample images for inspiration and ideas (cool!) • Note taking features (for you or me? who's taking these notes and what do I know? that's your job.)

Whether you are serious about photography or simply just want to improve your travel album (I look forward to improving my travel album, but am not too serious about it.) PhotoCaddy will be there to help you in any situation. Get your caddy and start taking better photos today (hell yeah I will!)!

headless baby jesus & more...

2010-01-14T00:06:00.005-05:00

new random video complete with headless baby jesus figurines, buddha, angels, my dog and hot radiators that look skeletal. can anyone say cabin fever? It's snowy as shit and -2°f outside and I aien't got no fancy studio to shoot in. note: this was shot with an old pentax 50mm f1.7.

Blog Update & short documentary...

2010-01-10T20:52:00.007-05:00

It's cold and I'm waiting for a new lens before I do anymore experiments. I expect the lens next week and I need to create a shot for a group show in NYC this April curated by Wardell Milan and Collette Blanchard loosely themed around the book "Giovanni's Room". I like being a part of group shows involving mixed media, film, performance pieces and of course my photography. I don't like being hurled in with other photo group shows. I'm not a photographer and I don't act like a photographer. I would like to just be an artist.

So to kill the time and get out in the sub-zero temps, hugo (my son) and I tried to document the effects of warm water being thrown into -14° air. A great effect that I have shown in the past ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC6UwSaGcd0 ). But alas, his cup was lopsided and the water spilled to the frozen lake below him. Not the climatic short I was hoping for.

the cats pajamas

2009-12-06T23:52:00.002-05:00

view video here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZxqB0dIjI0

sinking my teeth into the post-processing of video a bit more. This is the first test that isn't just raw video. These play with techniques I use in my non-moving images. It's a very nonsensical video, but it's better than doing nothing.

nikon festival entry...

2009-12-05T01:18:00.004-05:00

the hut © the cinemascapist 2009

click here to see my video entry

It's like a commissioned project that doesn't pay meets a $100K grant lottery ticket. Even though I'm dubious that I had to enter my camera make & model for a Nikon contest that states "it doesn't matter what camera you use", because if it didn't matter, why make it mandatory to reveal that info? I'm also dubious because I shot my film with a Canon.

Like I give a rat's ass about the camera clubs... Nikon vs. Canon vs. Olympus vs. Large Format vs. Megapixels vs. Photoshop vs. etc... I have whatever gear I can get my hands on cheaply and that will do at least half of what I have in my head. Most of it is hand-me-down from my father and most of that is just the kit crap.

It's all in your head... literally.

I had a challenge shooting this "survivor man style" short, but am pleased with the steadiness of the camera and lens. I had the tripod and it's legs in all sorts of bizarre places to shoot half of this while I was walking and filming. Plus, it was pouring rain.

I again left this footage "raw" as I'm still learning the basics of after effects and the limitations of huge files on my older Macintosh. I have made a few 10 second clips that damn near replicate my photographs with editing of color hues, blurs, contrasts, et al... but even 10 seconds with all those effects can take 45 minutes to render with my meak 1.5GB of ram. I can't tell you how much it sucks to wait that long and then find a tiny mistake and have to do it all over again. Imagine my despair if that happened with a 5 minutes (estimated 6 hour rendering time) short? So I guess for certain things equipment DOES matter.

"sit back and strech your sack" - kyuss

enjoy the clip.

canon 7D video #2

2009-11-23T15:29:00.003-05:00

second video with camera... fairly generic (i.e. nothing groundbreaking or unique to my style yet) just to get familiar with camera and it's video capabilities or incapability.

This one is longer and throws in a little narrative element to accompany the song...Shot in complete manual mode and manual focus with no PP other than sequencing the frames together and transitioning them.

watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvvvZIzBia4

first moving cinemascape test...

2009-11-21T03:30:00.004-05:00

finally got to try out new toy (canon 7D picked up at B&H thursday)... the editing is pretty weak and it was shot behind my office during a 10 minute cigarette break with the bizarre props I keep in my trunk, but I was antsy to try out some "moving stills". More to come...in time. view video on youtube...

don't forget to click the HD button to see in it HD!

note: HD on my internet connection kinda sucks (it's all choppy n' shit), so maybe don't watch it in HD unless ya' gots hi-speed internets.

brief intermission (pictures of nature)

2009-11-01T14:32:00.005-05:00

earth/sky © cinemascapist 2009 (click for larger version)

Possibly out of sheer boredom or some other circumstance unbeknown to me, I ventured out for a 2 hour walk with a camera, no tripod and no narratives in mind. This may be the first time I've shot like this in 2-3 years? No intention to do anything more than picture some good old adirondack nature while walking the dog, I somehow stumbled upon a fun series of earth and sky portraits (plus my feet). Decorative more than anything else, this is as far out of the norm as anything I typically shoot.

what's next... probably a fire and water series! haha!

Happy Halloween and upside down Jesus...

2009-10-30T16:58:00.005-04:00

upside down jesus © cinemascapist 2006

It would be frightening if gravity switched around on us... but the sugar rush would make everything OK. Happy halloween to ya'll.

framing suggestions...

2009-10-30T16:56:00.001-04:00

note to those that have purchased recent prints.

1) is frame recommendations... visit attached link to see samples of my work in a gallery. I don't matte them and I use simple thin black frames. The black bars are intentional and should not be cropped out by framer (I've seen this happen!). Of course, this ...is only my suggestion... It's yours now and if you prefer pink sparkles and bull testicles hanging from it, so be it.

2) I don't sign or number my actual prints. Since there is no white space on front and it might be mounting on back to Sintra or similar. I include a fancy tiny black envelope with a signed /numbered card inside that I recommend be taped to the back of the frame.

http://aaronhobson.com/shows.html

that's all... just thought of that.

economic slump does wonders...

2009-10-29T22:50:00.003-04:00

the pieta (north country style) © cinemascapist 2007

Not sure about the rest of the world or other artist, but this economic slump has done wonders for me and my work. Instead of planning, organizing, marketing, producing, and traveling for exhibits to show my work which really just consisted of drinking in excess with strangers who become new friends and sales to break even. I have now become a hermit up here in the mountains, come up with way too many projects than I could ever possibly accomplish, yet feel completely reinvigorated and excited about the approaching winter and the few concepts I am trying to begin.

I really wouldn't mind another 12 months of this economic slump.

"prices are insane"

2009-10-27T15:00:00.003-04:00

East Coast folk will remember Crazy Eddie. I only wish he (Jerry the actor) were still around to help promote my sale which has "prices that are insane".

Internet Sale here:
http://aaronhobson.com/sale.html

crazy eddie clip here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jc-Mhynh_pg&feature=related

cinemascape print sale (pledge drive)

2009-10-19T11:58:00.001-04:00

Print Sale is now Live. I think it's funny that it corresponds with our local NPR radio station pledge drive. I might not have a 1-800 number to call, nor do I need 310,000 by saturday, and no there is no hat for your name to be put in for a special calendar or coffee mug, and lastly I do not have a co-host to beautifully describe the wonderful gift that you will receive... But I can guarantee I will be less annoying.

http://aaronhobson.com/sale.html

making right with jeebus.

2009-10-12T20:41:00.004-04:00

get right © cinemascapist 2009

I've always been inspired and typically find myself in awe of catholic churches. I grew up with catholic schooling, forced communions and daily services. My father was an alter boy and recently posted some inspiring posts from his recent trip to Italy. Although I don't have access to grandiose churches here in the remote mountains, we do have a handful of quaint, older churches that I am going to check out with my camera over the course of the long winter. There's something I can't pinpoint about the feeling I get, so I'll try to find it with the camera.

p.s. I love some good gospel for inspiration from time to time as well. Here's a goodie from the Holmes Brothers and Willie Nelson (link to video).

Foto Forgery?

2009-10-06T21:25:00.003-04:00

© Liu Bolin

So today I get an email full of these absolutely mindblowing images by Artist Liu Bolin from a friend. He does this unbelievable combination of painting, photography and urban camouflage that is simply incredible. It's hard to believe it is real.

© Liu Bolin

Upon further investigation I notice an article somewhere about this Dutch Artist Desiree Palmen that does/did the EXACT same thing. I understand there are influences in everyone's work and nothing is 100% original these days (it's impossible), but this just seems like a total ripoff. Granted, I think Liu Bolin has absolutely mastered the technique, but it still seems too much like Palmen's work.

© Desiree Palmen

Now I'm guessing Desiree Palmen is the original because her work dates back to 1999 and Liu's work seems to all be dated 2006 and newer. Apparently the Art World is so overpopulated and cluttered, that if you wait 5 or 6 years you can copy someone else's style and no one will notice?

© Desiree Palmen

New website design...better viewing pleasure...

2009-09-28T21:30:00.007-04:00

www.aaronhobson.com

Spring cleaning comes late around these here parts. I got around to redesigning my website. A few items that I wanted to adjust were:

a) clutter
b) photos were too small
c) cleaner photo viewing

I believe I managed to do this with the new look. I did away with the mini-series titles as I believe all of the cinemascapes are part of one continuous vision for a cohesive body of work. Rather than segregate them by narrative, I have set them apart by year of creation.

The new structure also allows for a few extra shots in each of the sections, some of which you may have already seen, some of which you have not. The images are now 1000 pixels wide, so if your monitor is set to only 1024 x 768 you may not be able to view as cleanly as you could with higher resolution, but that's a decision I made for better viewing these panoramics on computer screens. Simple navigation (for those that frequent photo sites) that allows for clicking on the right side of image to advance and left side to go back. Click anywhere off image (or close button) and go back to main site.

2009 aien't over yet and 2010 has much more in store.

autumn melancholy...

2009-09-27T14:17:00.035-04:00

melancholy © cinemascapist 2009

Sitting around the trailer waiting for the storm... just another autumnal day full of melancholy and blues. Luckily I found the best song and lyrics to accompany this lonely seasonal feeling...

lyrics below... listen to song on youtube here... (link)

Liquor and Whores - by Bubbles from the Trailer Park Boys

Liquor and whores, liquor and whores.
Cig'retts and dope and mustard and bologna and liquor and whores.

I was down, drinkin at the legion.
I met a girl, she was nice,
she was pretty and pleasin'.
She said "Hey boy, we should do some marry'in".
I said "Sure but before we do there's somethin that you should know".

I like liquor and whores, liquor and whores.
Cig'retts and dope and mustard and bologna and liquor and whores.

Doobie doot doot do... [instrumental break]

And then one night down at the legion
She walked in, I was drunk on gin,
dancin' with a lady friend.
And she said "Hey boy, you better fly the fuck home".
I said "No, cause a' five little words, coulda' swore I said to you".

I like liquor and whores, liquor and whores.
Cig'retts and dope and mustard and bologna and liquor and whores

new "dreams of end days"

2009-09-25T16:39:00.002-04:00

abby #2 © cinemascapist 2009

the stash (new for the dark series)

2009-09-20T00:09:00.002-04:00

the stash © cinemascapist 2009

Ah yes, the dark series... long forgotten. Classic american cars, cowboy hats, and open narratives. It felt good to revisit what started everything for me. Makes me ponder decisions for 2010.

Ice & Snow on NY's 4th highest mountain

2009-09-19T23:58:00.003-04:00

Took a drive with the family up the only mountain accessible by vehicle in NY state, Whiteface (9 miles away from home in Wilmington, NY). Then a quick run up the tourist friendly 1/4 mile climb complete with guard rails. It was refreshing to feel the 36° air with 15mph winds. Got my first photos of snow this fall and a little handheld panoramic of hugo climbing the final ascent.

fishing for children and physically challenged...

2009-09-19T23:56:00.003-04:00

I'm thinking that pond is really well stocked or something? Not something I would normally photograph, let alone skid to the side of the road to stop and photograph it.

I am now a twat...

2009-09-16T22:13:00.001-04:00

https://twitter.com/cinemascapist

5 year old does self-portrait too...

2009-09-13T22:12:00.005-04:00

hugo shoots himself too.

Prior to the apocalyscape in the previous post, I had set the camera down as I was composing the scene in my head. I was checking out possible angles, etc... All the while Hugo (my 5 year old) was snapping away with my remote. Like father, like son, I guess eh?

"dreams of end days"... son #2

2009-09-13T22:11:00.002-04:00

son #2 © cinemascapist 2009

"dreams of end days"...home

2009-09-11T23:38:00.005-04:00

Home #1 © cinemascapist 2009

sometimes I can't get home either in these dreams.

p.s. dented the roof of my truck taking this one.

p.s.s. blogspot seems to be adjusting these grayscale images for some reason? I've tried to adjust the file to trick the jpg optimization that it automatically does to my files, but it still wants to increase contrast! arrrgh!

"dreams of end days" continued...

2009-09-08T19:17:00.004-04:00

I think I called them "end times" yesterday by accident...
but anyway, here's a new selection...

wife & son #1 © cinemascapist 2009

p.s. received the test print from Ken Allen and it was beautious! Love love love the paper he selected and just really dig the b&w. I even liked it at 19", although I'll probably take it to 25" x 10" for the final editions.

crewdson quote rings true...

2009-09-08T15:24:00.000-04:00

Stumbled upon this quote by Gregory Crewdson and it is pretty much how I feel about the first few images of the new series "dreams of end times". Those doorways I posted about a few days ago were truly subconscious, but definitely obvious to me.

“It’s funny, when you’re making pictures you’re not really – I’m not – conscious of really the motivations behind the photographs or what they mean, ever. It wasn’t until much later, I was producing the show, that I realized there’s a lot of cars with doors open. I thought, ‘Whoa, strange. I wonder what that means.’ " - Gregory Crewdson

more dreams of end times...

2009-09-06T23:02:00.003-04:00

wife #1 © cinemascapist 2009

self #3 © cinemascapist 2009

I'm waiting for a test print from Ken Allen Studios in Brooklyn, but I think these images will be printed smaller in size than the color cinemascapes. I want the viewer to really get into these physically and mentally. By sizing them 24" x 10" viewers will have to get closer to the physical print than my typical 40" wide images. At least the current line of reasoning.

Los Angeles Fires

2009-09-02T21:40:00.003-04:00

Stunning shots over at Boston Globe's Big Picture (link)

Now I'm not as evil as Lex Luthor (and I hope folks and animals are OK), but looking at that satellite image above, it's gotta make ya' wonder why so many people live in an area as desolate and barren looking as southern California? It just doesn't seem like it was meant to host that many humans?

Lex Luthor: Everything west of this line is the richest, most expensive real estate in the world: San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco. Everything on THIS side of the line is just hundreds and hundreds of miles of worthless desert land, which just so happens to be owned by...

Otis: Uhhh... Lex Luthor Incorporated.

Lex Luthor: Now, call me foolish, call me irresponsible, but it occurs to me that a 500 megaton bomb planted at just the proper point would, uh...

Superman: Would destroy most of California. Millions of innocent people would be killed. The west coast as we know it would...

Lex Luthor: Fall into the sea.

Lex Luthor: Bye-bye, California. Hello, new west coast. My west coast.

the role of the portal/doorway?

2009-08-31T20:54:00.003-04:00

I'm still not sure if it was my subconscious, but 4 out of 5 of the images thus far from this series involve doorways all located in similar positions. I've always tried to push the panoramic and try new things with them. So shooting multiple frames that flow through multiple rooms is nothing new to me. But the part about it that works in favor of this series in particular (involving apocalyptic dreams and perhaps premonitions) is the definition of a portal...

A portal in fiction is a magical or technological doorway that connects two distant locations, whether separated by time or, most commonly, space.

Places that a portal will link to include: a different spot in the same universe; a parallel world; the past or the future; and other planes of existence, like heaven, hell or other afterworlds.

l also believe that portals or doorways can be closed, just in the same manner that in my dreams I cannot reach or get to my loved ones. There always seems to be something slowing me down or getting in my way. I can see them, but cannot get to them.

"dreams of end days" son #1

2009-08-31T20:53:00.001-04:00

son #1 © cinemascapist 2009

self #1 alternative version

2009-08-30T18:39:00.001-04:00

self #1(b) © cinemascapist 2009

different version of self #1 posted yesterday.

dreams of the End Days

2009-08-30T01:54:00.006-04:00

self #1 © cinemascapist 2009

abby #1 © cinemascapist 2009

dad #1 © cinemascapist 2009

Cinema, TV, radio, school... just a few of the places that probably influence our apocalyptic dreams. I'm not sure how yours go down, but mine are typically pulse raising scenarios where the end of life is moments away and I cannot find or get to my loved ones. All I am left with is flashes or glimpses of terrible scenes with friends, family, and loved ones in some situation all alone and no one there to comfort them, while I frantically search or try to get to them. It's not a favorite dream and it was rekindled recently after the news of a comet the size of the Pacific Ocean that collided with Jupiter and was completely undetected by our vast sattelite and radar systems. So I've decided to compile these flashes/glimpses of terror into a series titled "dreams of end days". I'm going to picture my real family, friends, pets, et al, no actors/models... and we'll see what this does to my dreams. I'm not one of those people that can recall many details of their dreams, mine are in fact quite hazy and mostly void of color, hence the black & white panoramics. Enjoy... that is if you can possibly enjoy apocalyptic visions without being depressed?

"photos that will leave your mouth open"

2009-08-28T12:57:00.005-04:00

That is the rough translation on this cover that reads "las fotos que te dejaran con la boca abierta"...

And would you believe they are partly talking about my skinny ass, not Pilar Rubio's (the model)! I wouldn't! ha. That teaser is for an article inside with a few of my photos. The article description on their site is... "We show the most exciting, artistic and impressive snapshots to you; winners, all of them, of the best contests of the world." (view issue details in Spanish here - link)

I'm awaiting my copy via mail to scan the full article. If you're in Spain or a big city with a vast selection of international magazines, go ahead and grab a copy. I imagine there are some great shots in the article from the other photographers. I'm excited to see who else they included.

Fucktards stole my car!

2009-08-24T21:24:00.004-04:00

"not a McClaren, but it's the closest I'll probably get" © the cinemascapist 2008

I was still awake at 1:30am watching the M*A*S*H movie last night when I hit the mute button on my remote to listen to two drunks walking past my house talking loud as can be and shouting. Next thing I hear is a car door shut and a car take off. It took me only a few seconds to realize it sounded like my engine and my car. I ran to the window and sure enough there was an empty street where my car was sitting only moments ago.

Now anyone local can tell you that crime is pretty non-existent in our little tranquil village and most folks I know leave their keys in their cars, either in the glove box or the console. Needless to say, it wasn't difficult to take my car. 2 minutes later I have 2 cop cars outside the house and the hunt is on. They call the State Police to watch the outskirts while the local cops scour the village. No more than 25 minutes later a car pulls up out front and to my surprise, it's mine! Two guys get out and run off. I call the cops and explain that their search was terrible and the freaking car was dropped back off outside my house. Now it's a foot hunt with floodlights and backyard searches.

I gave the car a once over and it was fine. They actually parked it nicely, left it in first and kindly used the e-brake. Nothing was taken, nothing was damaged, and nothing was different at all. Later the cops explain to me that local kids have been taking advantage of the keys-left-in-cars situation in town and have been making errands in the wee hours while the owners sleep. Simple things like picking up girlfriends or scoring a bag of weed in the next town over. Given that they returned it so nicely and swifty, it made me wonder if they've been using my car for weeks or months? Just this time I was still awake watching M*A*S*H and heard them.

Still pretty lame and now I have to jingle when I walk with a pocket full o' keys. Damn kids!

EDIT: it makes the local morning newspaper:
http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/page/content.detail/id/508244.html?nav=5008

ADDITIONAL NOTE: as most of you know my cinemascapes are semi-autobiographical. I'm sure at some point in the future this story will make it into a shoot. Particularly the part where I am butt naked in my living room looking out my window with a cell phone talking to the cops in one hand and a giant kitchen knife in the other.

cinemascape noir

2009-08-20T14:35:00.005-04:00

moleman © the cinemascapist

I had a little fun myself during the workshop I conducted last weekend. Thought I'd switch it up a little with this dream-like, post-apocalyptic, black & white moleman scenario.

I don't know about you, but I only recall the forms, shapes, and locations of my dreams. I never seem to recall if they were in color? I see dreams as B&W if I were to recreate them.

fuckin' love this photograph!

2009-08-18T21:18:00.003-04:00

© Tierney Gearon

I love every element of this image and it's definitely in my top 10 favorites of all-time. Would love the print, but it's available in book form via amazon (link) as well.

professional and non-professional

2009-08-16T21:45:00.003-04:00

this was brought up in the comments a few posts back and is from the IPA Awards website...

Q: Who is considered a professional photographer?
A: Those who earn, or have earned, the majority of their income from photography.

I could really give a rat's ass who enters which class/category, but I do find this logic quite fuzzy. I would imagine more than half, if not most of the Fine Art Photographers would not consider themselves Professional by this definition above. I'm fine admitting that I do not sell enough of my prints to keep two vehicles, a house, wife, two children, etc. without some sort of additional or main income. I'm sure it's a better definition for commercial, editorial, and journalism, but not most Fine Art Photographers. I entered as professional because of where I've shown and that I have galleries on the east and west coast? Figured that was my qualification to enter that category?

like I said though, rat's ass.

I am thoroughly exhausted after my intense 3 day workshop I just finished. I will post on that soon. Great participants, a few sales for the "students" at the exhibit, and plenty of fun and fine California wine... and beer, and rum, and vodka too, I think?

final IPA update...

2009-08-11T16:18:00.003-04:00

The above notice (link here) was posted on their site this evening. Pretty self explanatory. More notices Thursday or Friday and of course final announcement on their site next tuesday (August something or other?).

A few minor glitches aside, I liked the new notification system from the IPA Awards. Knowing that there are 3 rounds and knowing when and where my work is in that process is nifty. All other comps you either get a "congratulations you've won!" or "I'm sorry but...". I'm sure they'll work out the kinks for next year.

Best of luck to all the other artist and the 20+ anonymous folk. Thanks for stopping by these here parts of the blog o' land the last few days.

IPA Awards ummm...take II (part B)

2009-08-10T17:40:00.006-04:00

So today myself and several others received another email repeating the same information that we already knew... "your entry has been accepted into Round 1 judging, etc...". I, as well as several others also received this (or some other variation):

Hello billy bob,

Congratulations. Your entry 'cowpokes and long tokes' has passed through the first of three rounds in the jurying process and is now an Official Selection of the 2009 International Photography Awards. If your entry passes through the second round, it becomes an Honorable Mention and is eligible to compete for the third and final round to determine the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners in each subcategory. The overall cateogory finalists go on to compete for cash prizes and Lucie
statuettes at the forthcoming Lucie Awards.

If your entry advances, you will receive an email from us on Tuesday. Congratulations once more.

Very Best,
International Photography Awards

I like the idea of notifying participants along the way, but it seems like they need to work out a few kinks. I'm hoping tomorrow I get three email... the first email for a third time, the second email for a second time, and a third notice for the first time?

Keepin this blog (with it's seemingly amazing search engine results: welcome everyone) as the hub of info, continue to post any new notifications and/or notices from the IPA Awards as the quest continues. Best of luck to all.

UPDATE: received above email again 7:00am today (Tuesday).

SIDE NOTE: what in the world? are these comments the photography equivalent to Alcoholics Anonymous? What with all the anonymity? Award winners Anonymous? I'll start first, My name is Aaron, and I've been clean of awards for 3 months, but I hope to get off the wagon very shortly.

IPA Round 1 Judging (Part II)

2009-08-08T15:24:00.003-04:00

Thinking a bit more about this with a friend, we wondered what it would mean to not be accepted for Round 1 Judging? Would that mean you were cut before any round of judging? by an intern or just some random software program? What exactly came before Round 1?

Makes me wonder more about the wording they used and also they ridiculously poor grammar (as andrew pointed out).

Oh well, if anyone gets any other notices before the 18th announcement, feel free to post it here.

IPA Round 1 Judging

2009-08-06T19:36:00.002-04:00

very cryptic email:

Hello aaron hobson,

Your entry 'femme verite' into the 2009 International Photography Awards.

Has been selected for ROUND 1 Judging .

Sincerely,

The Int'l Photography Awards
entries@photoawards.com

how many rounds are there? what does that mean and why alert me of this? what's it all about?

rachael ray, seaplanes, and a strange mentor...

2009-08-03T15:06:00.003-04:00

I'm the king of the world, on a boat like Leo
If you're on the shore, then you're sho' not me-oh

Friends and family have asked why a student would come all the way from France to the remote mountains of northern New York to study under me for 3 months. But I ask you after looking at his photo above, who wouldn't want to mentor with me?

A few more of Jean-Charles photos below. Today we assisted my father who was being filmed for the Rachael Ray Vacations show on the Food Network (airs next spring). My pops has a luxury guided wilderness gig where he pampers his (wealthy) campers with all the necessities and gourmet meals by renowned local chefs. We assisted for the day.

me helping guide in the seaplane full of film crew to the location

unloading said film crew

filming chef Dave Martin making his Essex Sausage Stew

filming my pops in the boat

guess the narrative...

2009-07-26T23:21:00.003-04:00

got a bonus photo shoot on my drive home from shooting some new work in NYC this weekend. Guess the story and win!

too many photograpers... part II

2009-07-23T21:08:00.002-04:00

wow...I should really step back and have a beer or some shots before I post. Sorry.

In all honesty I have a friend that teaches photography at Yale, several friends that use large format and have darkrooms, and I know at least 3 fucktards that are super fun to hang out with.

I think those of you that read this blog know the type of douchebag I was referring to in my previous post.

Too many photographers...?!?

2009-07-23T17:35:00.003-04:00

I've been reading a fair number of blogs lately that either have comments or posts about the chic photography culture, advent of digital cameras, yadda fucking yadda. Claiming it's dumbing down photography or some shit like that. Is it really a "photographers" fault if an art director at a magazine or a photo editor at a newspaper is clueless and just loves saturation at 110% and/or über awesome lighting effects? Blame shouldn't be pointed at anyone, let alone classifying an entire group of people. Most of my Flickr friends could give a rats ass if they get a gallery show or get called by an agency. They do it for fun. They do it for the club-like atmosphere. That's where I started... shooting, shooting, and shooting some more. Then I shot some more. I didn't have a jillion photo views or contacts, but I had some good friends and they liked my work. I'd take that anyday over a shitload of pretentious pricks at some over hyped school any day. So many of these fucktards think that unless you have some sort of degree, super connections, or large format camera and a darkroom in your condo, you won't amount to shit and you're just cluttering the way for the great photographers. That's Hogwash (you like that one... hogwash? it's the first word that popped into my head?). How about they impress the shit out of some people with their stellar advanced degree learn-ed shit and stop whining.

So that's my pissy pants rant all in one giant paragraph with terrible structure and probably full of awful grammar and punctuation.

p.s. perhaps hugo (my 4 year old pictured above) should stop trying to photograph unless he plans on attending Yale and already has his gallery lined up?

DT Magazine...

2009-07-15T16:56:00.001-04:00

I'm pretty stoked to have a handful of my images requested by a Spanish Magazine that sports a scantily clad Megan Fox on the cover along with a teaser for a Formula 1 article "Hamilton vs. Alonso". Other than all that great stuff, I have no idea what this magazine is about? Looks like a spanish equivalent to GQ maybe?

Seven Self-Portrait Photographers Self Curate themselves...

2009-07-14T19:55:00.004-04:00

say that 32 times, and then drink!

So the website for a group I took part in creating has finally launched. We plan to show seven individual self-portrait styles to the world with an exhibit tour in 2010 with Myself, Cornelia Hediger, Kate Pollard, Russell Joslin, Susanne Junker, The Feltus Brothers, and Isabelle Lumpkin. A Facebook page for the group will be up soon. It will have more info and hopefully updates along the way.

the [sp] seven selves website: http://sevenselves.com/

Boot Licker (or Liquor)

2009-07-13T21:14:00.004-04:00

untitled © cinemascapist 2007 or 2008-ish?

Some of you may already have heard of Boot Liquor Radio (Americana Roots music for Cowhands, Cowpokes and Cowtippers) and heard all of the goodness that it gives. I'm sitting here playing some online poker and I can't imagine anything that could accompany it better, so I thought I'd share. I've been post-processing my images with it on in the background for years. As I type I'm listening to the Meat Purveyors and "Thinking about Drinking" (link) and I'm drinkin'.

listen to some boot liquor via your itunes today...

http://somafm.com/play/bootliquor

ciao...

beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep...

2009-07-10T22:07:00.003-04:00

sorry for any inconvenience... but between summertime fun, an apprentice, new work, my workshop, the Tour de France, NHL free agency, naked leapfrog competitions, and more... I have neglected the blog temporarily. I will probably post, but posts will be more spaced than usual.

talk soon...

parisian apprentice

2009-07-06T15:37:00.000-04:00

"crack" © the cinemascapist 2009 (from the even darker series)

A few months ago I received an email from an art student in Paris, France. Simply stated, he liked my work and wanted follow me around for a while. I agreed and he has been in our little town for a few days now. We've already shot a few times and his willingness to learn (english and photography) has been a great motivator for me. Summer is half over and I despise shooting in the extreme cold of our winter months, so this is just what I needed to shoot more. Even though this image is a continuation of the even darker series, I have plenty of new Femme work in mind and having an apprentice to adjust my bra and shave my legs is a bonus.

P.S. there is only one spot left in the Barkeater Workshop (link at left). With participants from Switzerland, California, Tennessee, and various other locations it promises to be a great adventure with tons of energy and creativity abound.

60 second shadow boxing

2009-07-03T16:25:00.005-04:00

"shadow boxing"

I was shadow boxing early in the day
figured i was ready for cassius clay.
i said fee fie foe fum, cassius clay here i come.
99,100,101,102 your ma won’t even recognize you
14,15,16,17,18,19, gonna knock him clean right out of his spleen!

- bob dylan ‘I Shall Be Free No.10’

note: fucking around with a single 60 second exposure. This one lined up perfect on only my second attempt!

they call it art.

2009-06-29T14:23:00.001-04:00

my father was gallery hopping in NYC (specifically west chelsea) this past weekend and sent me this image of two older, but mint condition (other than the mild warping around the pole) cars wrapped around poles. I think the art is actually in how the hell this was done? Couldn't have been a car crusher because the bumpers would be crushed or smashed... it's cool nonetheless.

In an economy this battered, is someone actually dishing out $100,000 for these? Their great, but man that's a tough sell in this market right now. I can't imagine the costs just to ship these to the gallery?

cinemascapes - first place book (Paris PX3)

2009-06-26T15:36:00.004-04:00

I don't a) remember entering this competition or b) actually having or sending in a book (other than an old blurb promo). But I'll take it. This silly "stock" press release is a little misleading though. I was awarded first place Book in a sub category (fine art - other), not overall 1st place Book. That was given to Erwin Olaf, who also won the whole shebang as Photographer of the year. Kudos to him. Love his work.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

WINNER OF PX3, Prix de la Photographie Paris

Aaron Hobson of United States was Awarded First Prize in the PX3 2009 Competition.

Paris, France
Prix de la Photographie Paris (Px3) announces winners of PX3 2009 competition.

Aaron Hobson of United States was Awarded: First Prize in category Book (Series Only) for the entry entitled, " Aaron Hobson - cinemascapes ." The jury selected PX3 2009’s winners from thousands of photography entries from over 85 countries.

Px3 is juried by top international decision-makers in the photography industry: Carol Johnson, Curator of Photography of Library of Congress, Washington D.C.; Gilles Raynaldy, Director of Purpose, Paris; Viviene Esders, Expert près la Cour d'Appel de Paris; Mark Heflin, Director of American Illustration + American Photography, New York; Sara Rumens, Lifestyle Photo Editor of Grazia Magazine, London; Françoise Paviot, Director of Galerie Françoise Paviot, Paris; Chrisitine Ollier, Art Director of Filles du Calvaire, Paris; Natalie Johnson, Features Editor of Digital Photographer Magazine, London; Natalie Belayche, Director of Visual Delight, Paris; Kenan Aktulun, VP/Creative Director of Digitas, New York; Chiara Mariani, Photo Editor of Corriere della Sera Magazine, Italy; Arnaud Adida, Director of Acte 2 Gallery/Agency, Paris; Jeannette Mariani, Director of 13 Sévigné Gallery, Paris; Bernard Utudjian, Director of Galerie Polaris, Paris; Agnès Voltz, Director of Chambre Avec Vues, Paris; and Alice Gabriner, World Picture Editor of Time Magazine, New York.

Winning entries from each major category (Advertising, Photojournalism, Book, Fine Art, Nature, and Portraiture) are exhibited in Paris Espace Dupon from July 20-25 and published in the high-quality, full-color Px3 Annual Book, which is distributed to galleries, agencies, publishers and bookstores worldwide.

About the Winner:

Contact Aaron Hobson:
aaron@aaronhobson.com
http://aaronhobson.com

ABOUT Px3:
The "Prix de la Photographie Paris" (Px3) strives to promote the appreciation of photography, to discover emerging talent, and introduce photographers from around the world to the artistic community of Paris. Winning photographs from this competition are exhibited in a high-profile gallery in Paris and published in the high-quality, full-color Px3 Annual Book.
Visit http://px3.fr

For Press Inquiries, Contact:
info@px3.fr

I hate heat, but some people don't even feel it?

2009-06-24T13:41:00.004-04:00

Kids enjoy a soccer game on June 21, 2009 in Botshabelo near Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

This photo taken from the Boston Globes newest installation of "the Big Picture" (link) baffles me. It's always baffled me how natives of extremely hot regions of the earth can tolerate the heat. More so, how the hell they can dress in sweaters, toques, and long pants? What gives? I was on the isolated island of South Andros in the Bahamas a few years back and it dropped down to 88 degrees one night and everyone on the tiny island was wearing 1990's Oakland Raider type Starter Jackets, and wool hats. I was in shorts, no underwear, and the thinnest cotton shirt and was miserable and sweating.

I just don't understand how that works? (click on the image and enlarge it. look at all of their warm outfits and especially the little guy second from the left. It's a heavy demin or corduroy looking coat with fur trim and the collars are up! holy shit, I'd die in that.)

A mountain, a storm, near death, LSD and a few boy scouts...

2009-06-23T10:00:00.003-04:00

ill prepared © the cinemascapist 2009

One of favorite real life stories that I've never photographed until now. It's both humorous and horrifying and somewhat embarrassing at the same time. Not one to explain a photo and I don't think I need to at all, but this story is too good to not share to the 2 or 3 readers of this blog.

The story begins a few months after my ex-girlfriend and I moved out of the city (Pittsburgh) and to the 6 million acre Adirondack Park where I still reside. One weekend we decided to try some camping. Being relative camping neophytes, there was little to know forethought other than choosing a lean-to that was on the back side of a mountain. This entailed summiting the mountain and then traversing down to the lake and cozy lean-to on it's shore. No big deal.

First things first being young, dumb city folk, we drop a few hits of LSD to better enjoy the nature. We head out from the car and pick up the trail to the summit. Less than 2 miles into the trip we heard distant rumbling of thunder and above were dark dark clouds (one of many oversights; the weather). After about an hour of meandering the flats we approach the base of the mountain and start our ascent as the storm grows nearer. Not long into this leg of the trip the storm erupts overhead and we push on with our waterproof gear. Several hours later (not sure how many) we are approaching what appears to be the summit... short windblown and ravaged trees, weird bushes and tough plants that can withstand the winter exposed up here at this altitude. Everything is becoming increasingly intense. The wind seems to be a category 4 storm, the rain is huge and the unearthed balding head of this mountain is starting to become exposed. It's rock head, like many in the Adirondacks, is one of the oldest and most worn down "rock" in North America (5 million years old). Stepping on it almost seemed wrong and very weird.

I was starting to feel a little freaked out at this point. Then it went from kinda freaked out to "what the fuck" in a split second. My girlfriend had collapsed into a ball of tears on the trail. Crying that we're going to die and the hurricane was going to take us away, etc..., etc.... With adrenaline kicked in now, I picked up her pack (mine and hers were at least 50lbs each) and begged her to get up and follow me until I could find a flat area to pitch the tent.

That is when I was starting to think we were on the wrong mountain or way off the trail we started on. There was no flat in site. It's just kept going up and up. Tight, narrow trails with thick bush on either side. Not even solid ground except for the exposed bedrock every once in a while along the path. Panic was setting in as I was struggling to carry both packs (quite uncomfortable) and my ex was still panicked and talking about laying down on the path and that she couldn't go on.

At last, the peak was in sight. The trail started to lose it's pitch and was leveling off. After a few more turns we were there. There just happened to be a football field sized rock with zero cover from the wind, rain, lightning and thunder. Lovely. I found a spot behind a boulder and tried to figure out the damn tent pole situation. Pole after pole, they seemed never ending with their opening and expanding. This took the patience and attention that I was so lacking at this point. An agonizing amount of time went by and the tent was up. We crept inside and bundled up in the down bags to regain warmth and sanity.

The storm only lasted a little bit longer and then it passed completely. It was summer and the sun seemed to be coming out and birds were singing. At this point I realized it was only 4pm. What happened next really stunned me. I heard people talking and approaching the summit. I immediately get out of my tent to offer towels or help to these other people that had to endure what we had just gone through. Imagine my surprise when two 14 year olds come skipping along with their water bottles and small fanny packs on. They seemed startled by the grissled looking wet dude standing there to greet them outside of his tent on the summit.

I asked how they got up here and they said they took the trail. I asked which trail and they responded the only one that was accesible to this peak. I continued to ask questions as I was befuddled on how they got here. They told me that their mother was waiting in the car while they climbed up here. They told me we were only a little under two hours from the road and the trailhead. I was in complete denial and probably freaking them out. How the hell did it take us a fucking eternity to get here. An epic 6, maybe 7 hour adventure. Too battered and too confused to even dare attempt descending down to the lake and lean-to that, for all we knew, was 30 more miles away. I mumbled something at them about my journey up and then crawled back into the tent. They didn't seem to hang out for too long and headed back down to their mother quite swiftly.

The next morning we were human again. Everything was soaked and we were hungry and exhausted. I was unable to cook the previous night for fear of unleashing the fumes from my butane camp stove. It all seemed way too complicated at the time. We quickly packed up our belongings and leftover brainwaves and headed out. It was not surprising that it was a quick trip down back to the car, although absolutely nothing looked familiar. The edges weren't as extreme, the sky wasn't bloodred and spilling waves on us, and the wind was calm.

It was a lesson learned and unfortunately a good amount of time passed before even thinking about camping again.

So that's my story. Long story. Glad I finaly got that one out in photo form.

words on photography...

2009-06-19T11:09:00.011-04:00

some quotes and a photo.

"I thought I made a mistake once but it turned out it was a creative moment."
- Scott Fleming

"I always thought good photos were like good jokes. If you have to explain it, it just isn't that good."
- Anonymous

"I like photographers—you don’t ask questions."
- Ronald Reagan"

"My idea of a good picture is one that's in focus and of a famous person."
- Andy Warhol

"Photographers are lousy editors."
- Maggie Sherwood

cinemascapist app for iphone

2009-06-18T12:22:00.006-04:00

Rob Haggart mentions a new app from Men's Health magazine over on his blog (aphotoeditor.com) today.

It got me thinking. Why not have someone create an app that makes anyone a cinemascapist? I mean I'm not threatened by others bitin' my style, it actually humbles me and inspires me to push my work further and become more inventive, etc...

Here's how it would work...

You and Betty Sue are visiting the Great Wall of China. Betty Sue poses for a photo (see below)

Next you go to your iCinemascapist app template (see below for very basic cinemascape template)

Then you position it to where you like on your photo and apply said template (see below)! voila! you've got's yourself cinemascape of sorts and now you are a cinemascapist. Of course it's basic and doesn't have the hours of targeted dodging and burning that a real one possesses, but it takes your photo of Betty Sue to a whole new level! right? ;)

So where are all the app designers at? give me a shout, we'll make our first million in 2 months!

91 year old still exhibiting

2009-06-17T11:34:00.003-04:00

end of an era © Aaronel deRoy Gruber

Deconstructed J&L Site View II © Aaronel deRoy Gruber

Celebrating all things Pittsburgh Week continued... (GO PENS!!!)

Aaronel deRoy Gruber will be turning 91 on July 12, 2009. She currently has an exhibit on display at Pittsburgh's Silver Eye Center for Photography (view here). Cheers to her for that!

I've always wanted one of her panoramics of the old Steel Mills in Pittsburgh.

Be sure to visit her site for more images and news. Aaronel deRoy Gruber