I know I don't really have the time for it, but I've really been wanting to get my paintings out and finish them again and perhaps start on a new one or two. Afyer my MFA Thesis show was over I started working as a photographer and painting became something I did when I found time and place. I began to rework all the painting that were in my show, but never really got into a good flow. I'd work winters in my basement, but its not a good studio and I never really got anywhere. A couple summers ago I began working on two or three canvases outside in my driveway, again, not the best situation. I did finish a couple new paintings in a different style for me--trying to find out how I want to be a painter. But i largely have unfinished works in my attic and basement, leaning against walls in my house and I'm getting sorta tired of living around them(as opposed to living with them!) Earlier this year I began thinking about trying to do a traditional style of painting. I'm thinking about Rembrandt and Carrivagio and Eakins and really thinking about darks and lights--building my paintings from thin dark paint to thicker light paint. In order to do this I need to start from scratch and not paint over an old painting that is already thick with paint. I mentioned this to my friend Rita and we agreed to at least work out an idea that might end up becoming a painting. Recently we made this image with that in mind...again I have no idea when I'll find the time, but I think if nothing else it is making me explore lighting in photography in ways I don't always us...so even if it doesn't become a painting, I think it will lead to pretty cool photographs. SayerMotter Photograph by Richard Sayer.
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About two years ago Harmony Motter and I began talking about starting a business together. We both love photography and we thought this is what we should do together. We started small, we bought a new camera and a laptop and basically--thats how we started. We made our own business cards on my cheap little printer and it got us started. We've grown now from there and we have a space we use as a studio, we have lights and most importantly, we have clients who seem to like what we do. We hope to continue to grow and grow with the idea that we are connected to this place and the people and our role in documenting them is important important work! Today after a shoot I was staring at a few of these original business cards and was really happy that we did this. We've come a long way know we have a lot further to go. The best part is making pictures and having these pictures become a part of family histories all over the area, from high school sports to senior pictures to wedding and first baby pictures to family portraits and and and and .....It is great fun. SayerMotter Photography's first business cards a little beat up and out-grown taken today by Richard Sayer while cleaning up after a photo shoot!
Today I photographed three people who are heading into their senior year in high school. These are three very good 'kids'. I put that in quotes because in many ways they are not kids anymore. We seemed to have fun today. I remember several laughs today and everyone seemed to say they had fun. I sometimes get so wrapped up in looking through the frame of my camera that I lose track of the social atmosphere of a photo shoot. I do admit, I feel out of touch sometimes and wonder if I'm even close to talking in a way young people understand--for that matter people my own age. My brother tells me sometimes that I think things are funnier than they really are...and that does come into my head sometimes as I'm chatting. But I think we all had fun and these three photos from todays shoot with three very nice people are a small example of what we shot today. I can't wait to get these all cropped and toned for them to see. It is a great thing when people are excited about having their photos taken.... it makes me smile that they do. I love making photographs and trying different things. The more I do this the more I love it, even though its a struggle, the rewards are in the pictures we make and hopefully the reactions of the people we make them for. More from today's shoots to come, but first--sleep! SayerMotter Photographs by Richard Sayer.
Sometimes we feel burnout. I think I'm fairly lucky that I don't feel this often, but today I felt it. I am on vacation from the paper for a week and I think I need it. So I'm closed for cleaning--although I'll be doing some portraits this week--so I hope I bring my A-game to those---its a different style of photography so I think it will be all good! Photo from this Spring at Alleghen
Harmony Motter and I have had a few of our pieces hanging in a show at the Meadville /council on the Arts for about a month now. The show is only up for another week. We juried a regional show as well and this is part of the exhibition. I give the MCA credit for tying to establish this organization as something more than just a local crafters and artisans group. They are reaching out looking for something to bring to the community, not just showcase what is in the community already. A regional show expands the possibilities...hopefully next year they'll get twice as many entries!
Production...process....I meant to do that. Sometimes I like to leave the lights in the picture. Why? It is partly the journalist in me and partly the artist in me and partly the 'I like to experiment' in me. I at first didn't mind this light in the picture--it has a neat ray pattern. And since I thought Angela's look was so strong that it didn't matter. Now I think less about it, perhaps because I've taken many other photos of Angela that I like better. But there is something still that draws me into this photo and even the light. Some rules we learn as photographers --- portrait photographers is that we're trying to cast illusions so we want to cut out the process--ie not get the lights in the picture--or the edge of the background or your assistant(expensive photographers have assistants). We're also taught not to leave our camera bags in the way. But I began breaking all these rules on purpose--except the camera bag--it has ended up in a news photo--but it was an accident for sure! Sometimes it works great--other times not so great. Most times the client would rather not have the lights in the frame. SayerMotter photograph by Richard Sayer.
Paul Haun passed away unexpectedly two years ago at age 37. I have met his widow and children before and photographed them on several occasions since. Today I was sent on an assignment to cover their tribute to Paul on his 39th birthday. They sent up sky lanterns, they were originally going to send up 39, but more people showed up and the numbers went a little higher. I took this picture because I thought it was quite quiet and calming and serene. The picture below is of Paul's mom and widow sharing an embrace after releasing their special pod with a remembrance on its side. This sort of thing is exactly why I love doing what I do. If it weren't for working for a small paper, I wouldn't get a chance to witness this sort of thing. A beautiful tribute. Meadville Tribune photographs by Richard Sayer.
I remember the first time I saw a Helmut Newton photograph I wondered why the heck is this guy famous. I'm not really sure when it came to me that I realized why, but I think it was really only recently--maybe the last three years or so. Helmut Newton pushed the boundaries of fashion photography and I admit--I still don't always get what he was trying to do--but when he did it right...man! I was thinking about Helmut a lot last night during a photo shoot. Helmut I think allowed for the un-thought-out-ahead-of-time-idea to just go. I was searching for words to explain this last night. I have ideas and they are the impetus to get started--but its usually the discovery that yields the best results. We started out shooting with an idea and I admit--I was about to pull the plug because I just couldn't get an image I thought was good. So we switched gears and the next thing I knew we were on to something completely different and making ok images. I was thinking about Helmut Newton and hoping somehow I could somehow call up his spirit to help me out...not sure if he did come by, but I'd like to think his work still somehow helped me get through! SayerMotter Photographs by Richard Sayer.
Seems we get reminded every once in awhile what it means to be American. I don't hold true to the belief that our way is the only way--that is arrogant--but I will admit that the foundation of what this country was built to achieve...if taken for the good of all...is brilliant. and the folks that applied their names to the founding of this country were without a doubt very very fed up and gutsy. This photo was taken at one reminder that we are given of what the following words stand for, a soldier's funeral taken earlier this year. I thought this picture showed a young girl who may or may not truly understand the event she is at, her look down the road lined with flags seemed to be searching...perhaps only for the flag draped coffin, but symbolically maybe something more. I think it is something we all should do...not accept blindly 'truth,' but search for a better truth. And if you read the words carefully from the partial except from the Declaration of Independence below you can see why we both fight wars and protest them simultaneously! This day, the 4th, both the lines from two different songs play in my head---'My country tis of thee, sweet land of liberty..' and 'your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore' This really is a great country and principle to continuously work to improve upon taking in all sides and try to understand the roots of meaning. Meadville Tribune photograph by Richard Sayer.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. — John Hancock, New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton, Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry. Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery. Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott. New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris, New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark, Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross, Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean. Maryland:,Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton. North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn. South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton. Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton. Do you really know all of the names of these people--I don't even know both people from my home state of RI really. Stephen Hopkins was infamous, possibly for shenanigans --so I know a little about him. If you want to learn more about any or all, each name is linked to a brief biography. One of the new photo crazes is the Hipstamatic app for the iPhone. It replicas an old cheap camera look. Its really great. I has made me think about dropping the hundreds of dollars to get a cell phone just so I can have the dang camera. A few years back I invested far less money and bought a Holga camera--you can get the camera for around $40. I've shot a few rolls with it--all black and white and I currently have a roll of color in camera. What you can get with a holga that you can't get with the iphone apps is overlap if you want it. Years ago I saw a newspaper piece shot by Beth Bergman Maknumara for the Virginia Pilot where she used a Holga. She allowed for the overlap and seemed to plan it out really well. She also allowed light leaks and it all came together great. I am currently trying to overlap images as much as possible with the roll I have in camera right now. It could be a complete failure, but we'll see. I need to finish this roll soon because I am allowing for light leak as well--the Holga is plastic and light does seep in the cracks--if you want to control this you have to tape the back along the seams. This was shot with one of the first rolls of film I put thru the Holga experimenting late one night/early one morning in my basement. Photo by Richard Sayer. More Holga Images to come I hope soon--haven't dropped down the cash for the phone....though still thinking on it!
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