2010 is almost history...............

When I was a kid growing up I thought that by 2011 I'd be flying around via a jet-belt, we'd be living on Mars, and cars would be propelled by by anti gravitational devices. I guess there was a bit too much comic book reading in my youth. However in 2011 we are going to have a great year. I have some specials planned for almost every month that will allow you to capture the flavor of your family for today and future generations.

I may seem to be making too much of a big deal of photographic family history, but my family has been fortunate enough to come across portraits of Mom and Dads' parents in recent years that we didn't know existed. My Dads' father passed away when Dad was young, and my siblings and I never knew him or our grandmother, on Dads' side. We were cleaning out an old desk and from under one of the drawers a picture dropped out. It was a picture of a man with a stringer of fish, a cane pole, wearing work pants, high top work boots, and a smile on his face. It was my fathers' father when he was about 25-30. The resemblance was as remarkable as the pictures we have of my father when he was a young child. My brother and Dad could have been twins.......about 25 years apart. If someone had not taken those pictures when they did, a part of our family history would have never been known.

One of my favorite pictures of Moms' father was taken in Canada and he's holding a large Muskie fish. He has on the style of pants that were the "item" to be wearing outdoors in Canada at the time, the flared "Mountie " style of pants. He's got on a vest and jacket....proper attire for the fisherman...a great document of the times.

With the specials we will be running this year, opportunity will be yours to own what now may seem to be just portraits. These images though will be the ones that become the priceless points of family history. Please email me at mspeermorgan@netscape.net to be placed on our mailing list of clients to get first notification of these specials. Generally the specials will only last one weekend at a time, so by the time you will probably hear about it from a friend, it will probably be too late to take part in it. Please put "Mailing List" in the subject line.

Have a great New Year, 2011 is going to be fabulous !!!

The year in review...

What a great year it has been ! Since getting the studio up and running at the end of May I have been steadily busier and busier. I must admit that I had forgotten how slow a new business is to get running, but I must have learned something. It seems like every turn had a bright light associated with it from the interview with the "Ah Hah" people from Mutual of Omaha, to the present with projects that are still unfolding. I can't tell you how excited I am at some of the specials I'm formulating for the new year 2011.

Portraits are the most amazing gifts that can be given. They solidify moments and occasions that are meaningful, can be reviewed and seen by individuals at a later time in their lives, and seen by relatives they will never know. I know in my family for instance, my brother looked exactly like our father as a young boy, as did his son. My sisters kids were also in the same boat. They were look a likes for their Dad. None of these comparisons could be made without the time being taken in the present, to save for the future.

The specials I will be running in 2011 will allow the "savings accounts" to start. I guess they are sort of like an annuity.......they just keep on growing in value. If you know of anyone that would like to start receiving email special alerts please feel free to have them email me to get on the "list".

Have an outstanding New Year !!

It's almost over.....

This has been a great Christmas season for the new studio. I have opened new markets and am preparing for the January and Spring specials as we speak. I have a couple of more orders to come in tomorrow or Friday but for the most part, order delivery is coming to a close. I have booked a couple of sessions over the holiday which is something that goes with the territory. I work when families can get together.

Looking at our family for instance, my Mom is in Kansas City, Brother in North Carolina, and sister will be in Nashville. This is the first time in 60 years we haven't been together. I find it amazing that we have been able to hold it together for that long. But as Dylan says, "Times are a changing." The memories of Christmas's past surface every now and then when all of the pictures were square Black and White 3 x 3's. Kids in footed sleepers, a real tree, presents, torn wrapping paper, and young parents. The times have changed and rolled on. If nothing else I feel as though the holiday is a time to reconnect with old friends and just say "Hi, how've ya been?" I think that will be my present to me.....wish old friends well.

Have a Merry Christmas !

Christmas RUSH !!!!!

You know I just don't know how Santa does it. We have had so many orders come in for the Christmas season that I seem to be on the computer constantly placing the orders for my Clients. However I must say that by using the finest lab in the US makes life a bit smoother. In "the Old Days" we had to tape all of the negs to masking sheets, over a light table to arrive at our cropping. It was VERY tedious, and time consuming. Now it is all done via software. Quicker, more stable as we can see the end result before the prints get back, and sent via the internet as opposed to the Post Office. Turn around time almost immediate so I can now deliver products to clients that would have been impossible five years ago. I'm getting ready for next years specials so stay tuned !

Web Page is up !!!

Years in the making....Cast of thousands.........No expense spared or trimmed !!!!!!

The Website is open !!!

morganstudiointulsaoklahoma.com is up and functioning. A bit more tweeking and we'll be rocking and rolling. Check on it for updates !

When you can't sleep..do something productive.

Every now and then I am stuck in a thinking mode and it is always at night. I got to bed about ten last night and was wide awake at 1:30. No reason to waste the time so I started thinking about marketing the studio. I have just come off two events that were VERY successful and I'm planning a new special for February. The name of the game is to continually expand your market with new clients and keep the old at the same time. About three it came to me and I got up and wrote the idea down. I can't tell you how many ideas I've lost in the fodder of sleep after being enlightened with the "Great Idea'. I now get up and write them down after I develop them.

I'm also trying to become engaged with a group that needs a videographer/blogger/still camera guy, that can travel well, roll with the punches, and do what he says he can. I know I'm the guy they need....I just have to convince them. I've shown them my hand, now I hope they see all the aces in it.

Over the last several days I have been reviewing some of my China images from 1987, when I was there for a month with Kodak. I thought I'd add them to the blog today because they have special meaning for me. It was an amazing time and I saw a part of the world, that up until that time, I never thought I would. Enjoy

Media Stars

In the afternoon last saturday I met with a group of girls that wanted to learn about the media profession, advertising, the web, photography and the business of media. Inclusively as part of the project we had sessions both creating advertising images for the Girl Scout Cookie sale that is coming up and a few portraits of the girls. It was a good afternoon well spent.

Last weekend....the shoots....

I got up early Saturday morning as I wanted to be down at the "Breakfast with Santa" location early and be set up ready for the hoards of people I expected. I have been in the business long enough to know that Murphy DOES exist and if something is going to go wrong....it will happen where ever I am. I got the background up, lights placed and fired off a test shot on the exposure. Everything was in place and looked good.

In the kitchen were the cooks, accessory equipment they brought to cook and keep breakfast warm, and wait staff. People were starting to filter in with their kids and breakfast was being served, lookin' good, gonna work. I then noticed that the modeling light was out on my main, fill, and background lights. I checked and there was no power to my lights, period. I found the administrator I had been working with telling her that we evidently blew a fuse. She called the maintenance man who was on his way in and told him about the problem. He said he would be there shortly.

Concerned....yes I was concerned.....but Santa hadn't arrived yet so I was OK...thirty minutes go by....no maintenance man...but no Santa either. More people and kids.... Starting to sweat bullets but still O.K. Can't photograph kids with Santa if there is no Santa. Walking a thin line....The administrator then hears from Santa...Mrs. Claus has fallen the ambulance is on the way. I see dollar bills sprouting wings and headed south for the winter. Twenty minutes go by, I hear that Santa AND Mrs. Claus are on the way. There is hope.

Santa and Mrs. Clause arrive shaken, but in good spirits. Without my studio lights I decide to keep the show going I use my Nikon 900 flash which can do a good job, but will necessitate a bit more work on the digital negatives to get what I want.....but will work. The maintenance man shows up ten minutes later...lights are back on. YEEEEEEE HAWWWWWWWWW !!

In an effort to break in my new Marketing Director I brought her along. What a great way to get her feet wet. In this profession you seem to have to constantly be thinking on your feet and she saw that. We had a couple of people cut in line, frown frown, but in order to remain some semblance of peace, good will, and Christmas cheer, we moved right through it and kept on going. We extended the shoot time as people were still coming in and I was having a really good time. I was able to produce, for some Parents, the picture that will come in VERY useful as their children age.

Several kids had a minds eye image of a Santa that evidently did not meet the reality they were facing. One shove by Mom or Dad closer to the big red suit and the kids lost it. In every case I looked at the parent and asked what they wanted to do........."TAKE IT !!", was the reply. When the kids are 17 and step out of line, I know in my heart that one of my images of them with Santa, will be the threat and promise. Straighten up..or you and Santa WILL be in your Senior yearbook. Merry Christmas.

New Marketing agent to join !!

The first of the year I will have filled a new position for my company, Director of Marketing. It will be filled by perhaps one of the most capable business people that I have ever known. Her marketing record is unmatched, and business sense edges on the realm of "6th sense". For the past twenty years she has held the Chief Executive Officer of two nonprofit organizations, advancing them far beyond the expected hopes of their Boards of Directors. She has received national recognition for her successes within the Organizations she has steered. Bringing these two organizations to the forefront was not easy. The economies and preconceived notions of what the organizations were, in both cities, had their challenges. She met them with creative ideas and innovative programs. It was not long before the media picked up on the fact that there was a "new idea machine" in town and they promptly embraced her personality and drive.

I actually have known her for almost 20 years. I can't tell you how amazed I've been in watching her face the challenges she has, constantly turning tough assignments into beneficial programs for her organization and the people in it. Watch out !! Morgan Studio is adding Karen Morgan, retiring C.E.O. of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma as our Director of Marketing/Vice President. Welcome aboard Karen.

Christmas !!!

What a wild time of year for our studio. As in the past, Christmas is the last really big event till the wedding season starts in April and May. We are already however speaking with prospective Brides for dates early in 2012. It just keeps getting necessary to book your wedding further out from the date of the wedding.

Saturday I have two large booking with a couple of organizations that should be fun and create a buzz from my new clients. I will be photographing Santa with individuals from a very large group of people at a local site that has a historically large turnout. It will really be a kick and full of surprises. You just never know two things, how the small kids will react and how the background will be received.

Having been behind the camera in many instances with Santa from Rotary's to other civic organizations, I have seen kids that you had to pry Santa away from, to kids that were terrified. You just never know until they are close to meeting him. My backgrounds are really different from most that you see. I generally shy away from the Trees and presents of the expected backgrounds......no real reason, just that I like to simplify the view so to speak. I'll include a picture Monday in the Blog.

My next assignment is to be photographing a number of girls that are interested in media and the production of it for ad agencies. I will bet that for many of them this will be the first time they will have ever been in a photographic studio. It should be a real hoot and open up a whole field of questions. I'm really looking forward to both jobs, it will be a fun weekend.

NEW STUFF !!!!!!

Well I've always wanted to do this and now technology is allowing it to happen. I have become hooked up with an amazing supplier that will allow me to generate high quality printed pieces that are custom designed for my clients. For instance, Custom Wedding invitations and announcements with the couples portraits on them. Birthday invitations with a picture of the child or adult...the possibilities are endless.

My commercial clients have a new opportunity to launch a new product or service with such an announcement. Everything is custom made on these pieces. They are printed on high quality paper, either as a folded piece or a one pager. Simply amazing. These can be a low run piece or a high volume...it's what ever my clients want. YEEEEE HHHHAAAAAAWWWWWWW !!!!!

Technology growth

Being somewhat of an old dog that grew up with Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry, and Andy of Mayberry, technology has somewhat of a dark corner I've avoided at all cost. My first computer came with the introduction of the Macintosh around 1984 and it was a life saver. No DOS to learn,it was a piece of cake. Of course you had to put up with Apples attitude and that is still old.....look what has happened since it took in Intel chips. They could have owned the world. My computer now has a terabyte or two in the drives and 12 gigs of ram....the sore spot has been the connection to the net.

I've just talked with some people that will get me set up so I can transfer data at a reasonable rate. I was on 48 hours trying to load 417 images to my lab to put up for customers to order from.
TOOOOOOOOOOO long. Hopefully Friday I'll have the new line in and be ready to rock and roll.

Ya just never know..............

I made an appointment for Saturday morning with a potential client to discuss her upcoming wedding next year. I had given her my card at one time and I didn't remember the event, and actually thought it must have been at the last wedding I photographed two weeks ago....I just couldn't put my finger on it. She came in and was impressed with the studio....it is a very different style, and we discussed the wedding. It will be on 11-11-11 which will be a really hot date next year due to the dates repetitive number. She is useing her head as all of the locations will book up quickly as will the suppliers of services.

She had spoken with a couple of other photographers and decided that their pricing had too many strings attached to them. Most of this revolved around a base price for X amount of hours then an additional hourly price for anything over the minimum. This is the best sign I know of that reveals two things about a photographer.

1. He doesn't have the best interest of his client in mind. A wedding is a celebration of the joining of two people and it is a celebration ! He is hired to document the WHOLE event. It shouldn't be his place to limit his attendance. He, if professional, should know that. If he is a photographer that works it as a side line, you shouldn't use him anyway.

2. He doesn't understand the business of Professional service. Because of this, the final product will be inferior to what you should expect. He will scrimp on the suppliers he uses and the quality of products he delivers. Never use him.

3. A lowball price indicates that he may book several wedding in a day and can only spend X amount of time at each one as he has the hammer of time over his head. He has another event to get to.

The other "studio" probably has a "staff" of photographers that will sent. Someone you, as the client, has probably NEVER met. I have known of "studios" that hire people to photograph weddings with no training to speak of, send them out to do the job, and are satisfied with the fact that their people got "pitchures". Everyone wants to be a "Photo Hero". I just find that unacceptable.


The people that grab a camera and start shooting weddings have no idea what they are getting into in terms of equipment and TIME. Time is the hidden cost. For me to produce a finished album, starting the clock at the first consultation, I will generally have about forty hours wrapped up in the design of the album, editing, sorting, shooting and consulting. People just don't ever see the time. I love weddings and they actually start a generational relationship with their family and me. First the wedding, then the first child, family portrait, Grandparents, first communion, junior high dances, Senior portraits..............on and on...
I love this job.

The Lasting Impressions.....

You never expect any life changing differences to be made by slight associations, but it must happen everyday....and many times you'll never have a clue. I've met people that have entered my life briefly that have had this lasting effect, some good and some bad, but overall in a good manner. My wife is somewhat amazed that my associations run so deep, but I figure that a friend is a friend, and there is not much that can make that change. But what about the ships passing in the night so to speak.

I got a note on my facebook page from the daughter of one of my past accounts that I had done family portraits for in the late 70's. In the note she said she remembered the session and at that time, as a young girl, she had decided, then and there, that she wanted to be a professional photographer. In the note she said she had set up a studio in Wilmington North Carolina and was now in the business.

While in College I studied under Don Sothern of Springfield Missouri who, at that time, understood portrait lighting better than any other Professional Photographer in the state. He was a true master of controlled portrait lighting. I am forever grateful that he took the time to teach me the ability to "see" light in a Professional sense. Now, 41 years later, very few photographers know the difference between portrait lighting and a flash on a camera. The "Photojournalistic" style is generally the key word of those who haven't taken the time or had the interest run deep enough to learn what quality Portrait Photography is all about. I have seen the profession evolve through the Digital Revolution where the camera makes all the decisions, so the maker of the image really only has to point and shoot.....I have a picture so, now I can sell it and be a Professional.

The interesting point that I'm coming to is that this young girl I'm speaking of is still shooting film. What a fabulous concept. Film is the true decision maker because if the knowledge of proper exposure isn't there, the computer can't save you. The thought process is relied on because of the cost factors involved. The film has to be developed to be seen. Paper previews must be made. Time is taken and there must be an investment in experience and knowledge that is necessary to have the exposures come out. There is no Photojournalistic style to hide behind here...this is the real deal.

Professional Photographers of the Ozarks

Last week I attended the Professional Photographers of the Ozarks Convention/Seminar in Eureka Springs Arkansas. The organization was started in the 60's by two groups of professional photographers, one located in Springfield and the other in Joplin. I joined it in 1972 after I opened my studio in Carthage. At this time I also started to realize that by attending the seminars and competing in the print competitions my work would improve. I learned as I attended and soon was asked to become a Board member of the Missouri Professional Photographers. I had also been asked to become a member of the P.P.O. Board, which I did. In 1980 I became the President of the P.P.O. and by that time we ( The Board ) had fostered the organization into a group of 300 or so Professional Photographers from Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Arkansas. Our Speakers came from all over the US and it was a great time. The conventions were held twice a year and were a blast. I have had some conversation with the powers that be that it may be time to get on the board again. Membership needs to be strengthened and the programs more intuitive to the professional. I think I am going to give it serious consideration.

At the meeting there is a print competition that brings out the best of the best. The competition is judged by 5 judges and discussion frequently follow the initial display of the images. Sometimes these discussions can carry on for thirty minutes or more, it's pretty interesting conversation. I was fortunate to enough to hang three prints, which scored high enough to do so. Perhaps my favorite of the three is this client, photographed in Kansas City.

It was fun reconnecting with friends I've had for years, and being in competition again. I'm looking forward to the next convention in the Spring.

The Wedding was FABULOUS !!!!

The wedding was a great time !! t was held at the Dresser Mansion here in Tulsa and it was a great venue to shoot in. The Bride was stunning and the Groom looked very dashing. We got some really fabulous images of the wedding party, as two separate groups and together, plus a multitude of associated shots and combinations. As I have mentioned before, photographing everything before the wedding has distinct advantages. The guys were first as they were all together and it just doesn't take them that long to dress. However...one of them forgot his tux. He was a professional DJ/radio personality and had the responsibility of getting all of the audio and lighting equipment to the event....the tux just slipped his mind. He was thinking of other things. Because we started two hours early with the photography, the problem was discovered and the hour and a half round trip to get the tux was not a problem. Once again-saved by starting ahead.

Reach for the sky !!!

I had a family session this past Sunday and the topic of weapons came up and it reminded me of a story.In 1987 I spent a month in The Peoples Republic of China with Kodak as an ambassador for them. Our group traveled throughout the country meeting with Professional Photographers and discussing our work and techniques. While there I met Joe Young from Saskatoon, Canada, and we hit it off well. As it turned out he was former Chairman of the Board of Kentucky Fried Chicken Canada and he invited me to Saskatoon after we returned to do Family portraits for him. It was fun and I produced some really fine work for him, he was pleased. While I was there his son Gordie and I were talking and as it turned out he was into marshal arts. He had some friends that he trained with and wanted to be photographed with them. Rather than go to the gym and do the ol' standing around lifting weights shot, I suggested that they dress kind of roughly and we go to the train station and do some "tough" shots. That lit him up and we set the appointment.

Joe and I drove to the appointed spot the next day to meet the guys. There were a couple of pretty tough looking guys standing around about half a block away from the appointed spot and I ask Joe if these guys were part of the group. He said he didn't know, he had never met any of them, adding that they sure looked rough. In a minute or two Gordie drove up and a gal and guy hopped out of his car and waved at the other two guys we were wondering about. They walked over. We had the round of introductions and I got my equipment ready. Just before we started to go to the location by the boxcars a guy walked up, dressed in a Mountie uniform. We all stopped and he asked" Do any of you have a gun ?" One of the guys said "Well yes", and reached behind his back. At that immediate instant a very loud voice from behind us shouted " HOLD IT !!!!".

It is really amazing how immediate reactions can become. I instinctively reached for the skies and froze. In what seemed like an eternity I noticed that I was not alone in trying to touch the clouds. Another Mountie was behind us, GUN DRAWN !!! POINTED AT US !!!! The first Mountie was in slow motion as he walked around and pulled a gun from the jeans of one of the guys. It seemed as though the guy with the gun said in a voice coming from a slowly played 45 record..."iiiiitttttttssss aaaaaa sssstttttaaaaarrrrrrrtttttttttiiiinnnggg ppiissttollll."

The mountie pulled it out, examined it, and noted that it WAS a starters pistol, we could put our arms down. Then came the twenty questions.....What's going on.....everyone looked at me.
I'm a photographer from the States and we are photographing for a Record album cover. Seemed logical......to me. "Why the gun,"he said. I went into a long story about reality in appearance
but wanting to be safe....blah blah blah. I was then dressed down for not calling the authorities and letting them know what we were doing. I profusely apologized promising not to ever let it happen again. We were then left alone.

The guys looked at each other and the QUESTION came up...How'd they know? After some discussion we put the story together.The two guys that were early had gone into a bar and asked for a drink of water....as none of them drank alcohol. Evidently, as the guy reached for his billfold, he moved his shirt which wasn't tucked in, and the bartender saw the gun. He said the water was free so the guys left........and the Bartender called the cops thinking he had averted a robbery.

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH..... the life of photography........it's just a movie....

Wedding bells are ringing again..

Kind of a catchy title for the Blog...no pun intended, but I have a wedding coming up weekend after this and I'm looking forward to it. Yesterday I did the formal portraits of the Bride and she'll view them this afternoon. It was a kick to do. The couple is getting married in the Dresser Mansion here in Tulsa and it is going to be a great time. The grounds are fabulous, the interior is spacious with large windows and the feel of the elegance of the "20's" when the building was built. We will have late afternoon sun to work with and, as usual, we will do the majority of the portraits before the wedding. This will include the Bride and Groom, families, and attendants. By photographing everything ahead of time, with exception of the cake cutting and other reception shots, the Bride and Groom can spend time with their invited guests instead of missing them because of pictures. I'll keep you posted as we get closer to the day.

Being There...at the Maple Leaf Festival

It's better than waiting for Christmas.........it's warmer, you get to see more friends, the walk down Grand Avenue is a head on with old times and friends. It just can't get any better. I don't think that there is an event I look forward to more than Maple Leaf. Given that this event is now 44 years old and going strong, I guess it is the premier event in town. It seems as though all small towns seem to have a homecoming of sorts, and Maple Leaf has become Carthage's.

The local perspective given it runs the complete range from "so what" to mine of "can't wait". My lock on friends I guess is the determining factor in my looking forward to it so much. I will see many people that I haven't seen for a year or more and in most cases, will catch up on where we've been, starting with our last conversation. It's really a kick. I heard Sam Platt will be playing Saturday night at Jim's so that is must see. His group is fantastic and the crowd will be fun.

The car show on Saturday will have over 400 cars so that also is a gotta see. In fact, I will be covering that for one of the Car Mags that wants pictures. Yeeeee Haaawwwww...gonna be fun.

Childrens' Portraits

Childrens' portraits always need a different approach depending on the client. I have done many specials over the years in collaboration with schools, preschools, and my own specials. It has built a rather nice following for me and has allowed me to watch my clients grow up. It has also led to sessions with the clients on a one to one basis. The following image is an example of a one on one session that came about through one of my specials. I had photographed these two girls on several occasions in different specials and Mom and Dad decided that the time was right for an individual session for them. I previewed the location during the consultation I had with the patents and knew what additional equipment I would need to complete the shoot. At the appointed time I arrived and set the lights and camera and waited for the girls. Soon they came out dressed to the "9's" and we started to work. Although the youngest knew me she had suddenly become bashful. Sensing this, it was obvious that she needed the comfort of being "connected" to her sister and we made that happen. The resulting portrait to me captures the essence of childhood and the fragility of age. I really like this portrait.

Weddings and what I look for at them...

A wedding is probably the the highest tension event most of us will ever go through. It seems to be a self-generating combination of what ifs, how comes, and OHHHH MANNNNNNNNNN's! But...in spite of that, by the time the dust clears, in most cases they are a really great time. Today I was going through some files and came up on a wedding I shot in Crested Butte, Colorado. It was one of my most memorable for a multitude of reasons. I have found that through the years I have had incredible customer loyalty and generally remember my clients, if not by name, by the images I shot of them. In many cases they are still floating in my memory. I had photographed this family in the early 70's when the children were young and Dad was just starting his career. The home I photographed in was in Neosho and a wonderful place to be, warm and inviting.

This particular wedding was going to be outside overlooking a fabulous meadow filled with wildflowers in Crested Butte where the couple had met and presently lived. The view was a spectacular John Denver kind of thing outside and the weather sparkling. The deck was large and easily would give everyone a good piece of the view and yet create an intimacy for the wedding we all could enjoy. The mountains, which surrounded us with white tops and tree laden slopes did however contribute to a weather pattern that could be pretty unpredictable. As we were getting ready to shoot the first Claps of thunder rolled through the valley.

That started the fire drill with all of the guys and dads scrambling to save the flowers and other decorations on the deck. Through the following rumbles and cracks of lightening I started the formal portraits inside. In what seemed an eternity to me, I photographed the groups, individuals, couples and family members silently wondering how special the wedding could have been if the weather had cooperated.

In Missouri, when it starts to rain it generally lasts a good part of the day. Not having spent much time in the mountains I figured the day was lost and we would have to accept the fate that was stareing at us......INSIDE WEDDING. The Bride didn't seem to be too concerned and I was amazed at her acceptance of the hand she was dealt. What I hadn't considered and didn't realize, WE WERE IN THE MOUNTAINS !!! It almost always rains in the mountains daily in late July early August. Soon the clouds broke, the sun came out, the deck redecorated, and the wedding was a complete success.

I have several memorable images I would like to share with you from that wedding. There are so many imagers that present themselves that unique to the event.

The Bat Mitzvah I photographed last night

Last night I had a fabulous time capturing the dinner and celebration of one of my clients, Isabella. It started with everyone gathering, family and friends, and socializing. After seating and the prayers, breaking bread, and dinner, the fun began. Her Dad and Mom spoke and then a slide presentation was given, narrated by her father. It was a riot. We in the audience got to see her grow up before our eyes, what a fun time. Soon after the show, the dance floor was cleared and the dancing began. I had forgotten how much a really great time a party can be for a group of kids. Many relatives were present and I was able to collect many memories for her album of the night, that will only increase in personal value as she gets older. A really great time for everyone.

Maple Leaf One Shot !!!

It's happened again, the Maple Leaf Festival is approaching. As has been a tradition for a number of years...frankly more than I would have ever assumed, I am having my One Shot again this year. It will be held at the same place we had it last year, 401 Belle Air, one block east off of Grand Avenue. We will be shooting Sunday morning October 17th, from 10:00 until 2:00 in the afternoon. If it is raining steadily, we will have to cancel it. However, if it is cloudy, we will be in great shape as that is my preferred lighting.

I really enjoyed shooting at that location as the background is fabulous with the colors of the Maple trees, complimented with a rustic wood fencing, and the soft green bushes. Of course family groups, individuals, friends, and pets are all welcome, with no reservations required. Payment is due at the time of the order, and because of some streamlining of our ordering process deliver has been simplified and the prints will be back sooner. If these times won't fit your schedule please contact me at 918-760-1575 and we'll see if I can schedule a different time for you on Saturday.

I will have the same pricing as last year with packages ranging from $25.00 up. Once again you may create your own custom packages with our Ala Carte packages. I hope to see you there and help you continue the family tradition of the morgan Portraits on your walls.

Time Machine-Fast Forward !!

I was expecting to get a couple of images published in Ol'Skool RODZ-THE HOT ROD KULTURE MAG from last year. They concerned my trip down the road of memories of growing up in Carthage and going to Mo Kan drag-strip in Asbury Missouri as a kid. It was a day of "Nostalgia Drags", featuring cars that were pre-70's with the majority being custom low riders, custom Mercs, Fords, Chevys,Plymouths, Rat Rods and classics. I wrote a bit about the day and the flood of mental images of the times and people I've known. That all came back to me because of the trip. They published the whole story with 8 images. As we used to say in the late 60's...Farm Trout. I never expected the article to be published,just the images. Cars were a big part of the teen years and as I got to Mo Kan it all came back. I'm returning tomorrow and on the way I've set up a shoot with on old hot rod friend of mine that has had some of the quickest cars around.

Even more amazing is the fact that in the same issue there are several pages dedicated to Mickey Thompson. Mickey was a hero of mine growing up as he set land speed records, had a line of Hot Rods products, and raced in about every area you could imagine. As fate would have it, he was my wife's first cousin. It is amazing how things roll out. The issue I have is the January 2011 issue......I've gone into the future !! WOW...there is time travel!! I'll keep you posted. Zoom Zoom

Back to the original intent of the last blog...

I started to share some images with you from a recent shoot I had at Cains Ballroom and got wound up talking about Jackson Browne. SORRRRRRRRRRRRRY !!!
My original intent for creating these images was twofold. One to document for the Band that they played at the Historical birthplace of some great Oklahoma musicians and secondly that they would have some images for future publications, posters etc.
It was a very hot evening and the crowd was packed in the hall. Fortunately I did have my earplugs with me as being that close to the band and the amps hearing is affected in an adverse way. It was a fun shoot.

Rock and Roll

I've photographed bands since I was in college and it has always been somewhat of a hoot. I was asked by my business partner in California, Byron, to fly out to LA and photograph a Jackson Browne Concert in the 80's and I took him up on it. I was expecting a huge gathering in a stadium or hall as the event was to raise funds for the Catholic Church to fund the care and education of the homeless children that were sent up to the US from El Salvador during the Iran Contra situation. Their parents thought that even living on the street in LA was safer than being in the country with the "war" going on. The church was known as a sanctuary for the children and they all tried to get there.

Byron picked me up at the airport and we went to his apartment and settled for a while. He then told me that the concert was to be attended by about 400 people and was to be held in the courtyard of the oldest Catholic church in the City. I didn't know what to expect....400 people...how much money could that bring in ? The next day we loaded up and drove to the church. Arriving there walked into the courtyard and the area was ready for the gathering. NOTHING like what I expected. An open area with tables of finger food, a couple of bars and tables for the guests to sit at while they ate and drank. There was a stool and a chair with a microphone sitting alone some distance from the tables. I really didn't know what to expect. The light was good and with only 400 people I should be able to get some great shots. I was standing around talking to Byron and I started noticing faces I recognized from Television and the movies. Byron stepped away from me to speak with someone a a guy came up and said, " My name is Kris, where ya from, ya talk funny." I promptly told him I was from the Ozarks and gave him my name. We shook hands and he turned to Jimmy Smits who was one of the stars of LA Law and said," Hey Jimmy come here and listen to this, he's from the Ozarks. I spent the rest of the night photographing and eating dinner with LA Law and the Hill Blues guys while they listened to me talk. Never knew I had an accent.....

The Interview Part 2

My interview was aired this morning and it was very good...thank God for editing. Dick took about an hour and a half interview and edited it into a 20 minute segment and quite frankly did a great job of making my rambling sound like I had good sense. Of course that has always been in question ....I've been able to bluff well. I'm sorry that I seem to have neglected the Blog but I have been very busy with new business, and clients. I had a great time last week photographing the introduction party of "119 Downtown" a building of Historical significance that is poised for repurposing as Residential Lofts. I will be doing the interior imagery soon and will post some of them here. The project is amazing. Outside of the building was a spotlight opening up the heavens overhead and that brought back memories from my childhood in Missouri in the 50's.

I was 9 or 10 and there was a spotlight searching the sky one night as we looked toward town. We had never seen anything like it and the family piled into the car and headed to town. Bear in mind that things were simpler then, we may have just gotten our first Black and White TV. As we approached the center of town, it was a "square" as it had the county Courthouse in the center, the light seemed to reach up from that area. NO it was from the East side !! As we drove to that side we ran into what had to be the first traffic jam I had ever been in. Cars were everywhere!!! Located on the East side of the square was the Fox theater.......and it was playing "I Married the Monster from Outer Space." I guess we were to believe they were searching for more space ships. The searchlight got the town out and all of the kids saw the movie............and knew from that night on, the monsters were in the dark basements, closets with slightly open doors at night, and always under their beds.

"The Story"

Tomorrow is the day my "Japanese Iraqi Hostage" story gets full airing on National Public Radio. It will be carried under the program "The Story" with Dick Gordon. I just checked locations of stations carrying the program and the closest is KOSU - FM 91.7 in Stillwater. There are however 100 stations Nationwide that will be airing it. On KOSU it will air at 11:00 tomorrow morning. If you want to hear it and can't get it on your radio you may stream it from the net by going to thestory.org and hear it. They will leave it on their website for a week or so so that if the 11:00 time is not convenient you can catch it at another time. It is an amazing piece of unknown history of the times in Iraq immediately before Desert Storm kicked of the war. Interesting escapade..........to say the least. There will be some images featured on the site that have never been published before

RAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a session yesterday that the rain helped. The sky was overcast and I could shoot anywhere. It was so easy to control and see the light, I live for overcast days.I finished the new floor in my set that I put up this last weekend and have decided what I'll do with my last area. I've added pictures at the request of one of my followers of my reception area and working office. The studio area will not be seen as there are too many great ideas that I really don't want to give anyone that may need ideas for their studio locally. Sorry....but a great place to visit.

I have been negligent in making calls to potential clients...I get distracted easily..Tuesday I'll start as summer is over officially and we all need to be looking to the needs of fall and next year. This weekend I'll get a marketing plan down on paper as that is the only way it really works. I generally get the ideas, put them down on paper, rearrange them into a logical order and as projects are finished they can be checked off the list. It is sort of a bucket list of "to do's". Stay tuned for pictures of my studio.......coming soon to your computer.

Second to the last addition to the studio

I've been looking at a corner of the studio for some time now and have had reservations about the treatment I was going to give it.I do most of my creative thinking between...regrettably...between 3:00 and 4:30 in the morning. I have thought about the style of the wall and have run the treatment over and over in my head. Nothing seemed to trip my trigger....until last Friday. I came up with the idea and built it in this past weekend. In the process of doing that I resolved the other corner that I was considering and I completed it last week also. I have only one wall to finish. Business is starting to flow in and it looks like I made the right decision in opening up in the PhilTower.

I have had several consultations for Senior Portraits and once that starts and previews are passed around, and the Seniors can see that they can get a different "look" here that at other locations can't offer, business will be rolling.

Hot RODZ !!!!

I just talked to Alan Mayes, Managing editor of "Ol' Skool Rodz and Car Kulture DeLuxe" Magazines.Some images I photographed from the Mo-Kan adventure I had last year will be published in the upcoming October 5th issue. The gathering this year is on Sunday October 3rd at Mo-Kan Drag strip in Asbury Missouri, and promises to be a really great time again watching some fabulous cars from the 40's and 50's run down the quarter mile. The cars range in style from Rat Rods, apparent rust buckets with bad paint, to highly polished and chromed low riders with dazzling paint and 40's style. The Rat Rods are generally FAST and look like a lot of fun to drive because they are such sleepers.....especially at stoplights. The customs are just Kool. They are so far over the top in paint and style that they are in a class of their own. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to the event.

RadioLand....N.P.R.

I had my interview with "The Story" with Dick Gordon yesterday. Interesting interview and I'm curious how it will edit. I could come out looking like the village idiot or maybe looking like I'll go anywhere for a free trip.....time will tell. Also interesting that it happened almost 20 years ago. Time has given it a different perspective. I'll keep you posted as to the airing date.
Steve Clem was the engineer and a tremendous help. A very nice faciity.

Back again....NEWS !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm back from the second trip to North Carolina. It's really a hop, skip, and jump as the connections are close and all across the terminal. I got wind of a session that may take place in October. It will be fun. It reminds me of of a call I got several years ago from one of my clients that ask me to shoot a friend of hers, a country musician that she wrote a song for that he recorded. He was traveling from California to Nashville and would stop in my studio on the way for a session with me. I asked who it was and she told me that she couldn't say as the word might get out....and that would not be good. As I have said many times in this blog, I am the luckiest guy in the world. She said he would be in between 11:00 and 2:00, I was to wait. I agreed and had some reservations. I was told he would pay the necessary amount, and to shoot a lot. As the clock rounded 1:15 it became perfectly clear that I might have been had by some of my friends.I was hungry, the clock was ticking and no one had even opened the door.

My studio was about two blocks north for Souls Harbor, a rescue mission in town. Periodically some of the clients would be walking to the North and pass the studio. They were just people that were down on their luck and passing through. They all had a story to tell, you could see it on their faces. The second hand on the clock hadn't paused and it was about a quarter till two. How could I have been so easy. A call out of the blue, a former client claiming to have written a song that was recorded by a country western singer. I was to photograph that famous singer, HOOK, LINE , AND SINKER !!!! I took it all.

I stood looking out the window and saw a man coming up the street......North. He had on a long coat, knee high boots and a very broad brimmed hat. Hadn't shaved for a long time, what a day. The man made a right turn, stepped into the studio, took his hat off and said, Hello, I'm Merle Haggard, is Mike Morgan available. I told him he was. It was a fun shoot, ya just gotta have the faith.

Senior Portraits

Looking back, "The Senior Portrait" I had taken in "68", was something of a touch of new territory for me. My parents weren't big picture people. Granted we had the new clothes for Easter shots, Christmas, birthday pictures, and a couple of professional portraits taken growing up, but that was about it. I started my first "stash" in the fall of 1968, much to the dismay of my Mother and disdain from my Dad. It lasted a week. I transferred to SMS in the summer of "69"and started it again. It's been with me ever since with the exception of the three days it took to go to KC for my physical for the Army, but that's another story. The changes we go through as we grow up and the memories the old images bring up give meaning to the portraits of our lives.

I came across the Senior portraits of an old friend of mine that I took and I thought that I'd pass them on to my readers. This guy is one of the best Jazz drummers in the Mid West and one heck of a great guy. The memories I have, other than of him, are of the studios I took them in. The white wall and door shot was taken in my available light studio in Carthage that had been in use since the late 1800's. It originally was the first "Steward Studio" just off the square. In 1975 I bought my studio building at 340 Lyon Street. It was a great 2 story brick building that had been built in 1883. As a matter of fact Onis Hutchins used it to store his business supplies in. His daughter was a year younger than I and later married the Manager of (and now business partner ) with Graham Nash, of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Check out Nash Productions for limited edition prints and production services. Sorry about the wandering conversation but memories are memories. Anyway, the day after I bought the building at 340 I walked south and turned left, AND LOOKED UP. I grew up in Carthage, I thought I knew everything about it. To my south was the Skylight of old. The studio I had never seen, never knew of and would have killed for if I had known it was there. It was sitting silently 2 and a half stories up....I had just NEVER looked up. Bill Grey owned the building and I rented the studio from him and used it in the Spring and Fall. If it rained you were out of luck as the skylight leaked, and if it was winter you froze as there was no heat. But....when the weather would allow shooting in it...it was fabulous. Sam and the drums were taken in my studio at 340.

In my new studio here in Tulsa I am able to take full advantage of the natural light as two of my walls. East and South are floor to ceiling glass.....one story above the street.

NPR Talk on "The Story"

On my way to Wilmington I was listening to National Public Radio and heard a new program called "The Story" with Dick Gordon. He interviews individuals with a story to tell and it sounded really like something that I could add a widely unknown story to. I gave them a call and gave a brief outline of my trip to Baghdad, Iraq in 1990. On this trip I photographicly documented the group "Peace Wave" which I was a part of, and our efforts to secure the release of the Japanese Hostages that were being held by the Iraqis. The event we were participating in was "The International Sports and Music Festival for Peace from Iraq. It was a cover for countries to retreive the hostages that were being held by the Iraqi's for the previous 6 months and allow them to return to their home countries. We were to try to get the Japanese, and the Japanese were to try to get the Americans out.

I had received a call from Byron Morgan, a business partner of mine in California, the day after Thanksgiving asking me where was the last place in the world I'd want to be. I calmly replied...Iraq....and he ask me if I wanted to go there. Tune into "The Voice" over National Public Radio on your computer or radio if it carries "The Voice" on on your local station
to hear the complete story. I will be interviewing on August 25th and I'll tell you the play date as soon as I find out. I'll also scan some of the images from the trip and post them on the blog. What a Hoot.

Carolina days.....

Well...it seems like years but I'm back to drop some notes into the blog. I'm in Wilmington North Carolina on the Coast and it is a visual candy store. It seems that whenever I travel my senses go on high alert to new images.....and new foods. Being on the coast the grasses are going to be fun as I can pre-visualize an image of them that will express time drawn out....you'll see that image soon.The light is not right now as it is too bright....even at a slow film speed. I need it to be a REALLY low light.

Before I left Tulsa I came to the conclusion that I needed to change the direction on the treatments of two walls in the camera room of the studio. I'm changing from brick to Tin and a "rock " treatment in one area to two types of paint. Primary concerns on the change were the "look" and time.

The Senior Portrait season is upon us and I am having clients book consultations right and left concerning the ideas I have for the Senior portrait "style" I'll be offering. Every Senior is different and I have always tried to create a unique portrait collection for that individual client. I can think of nothing more boring OR unfair to the client and myself than producing "cookie cutter" portraits of my clients. It is not my style and I just won't do it.

If you want to follow what I'm saying visually sign up as a follower on my blog as I'll be posting images throughout the "season" giving you an idea of what I'm talking about.

Back again..

Been out of pocket getting my web site up...I've been searching for the right images..and that takes a LONG time. Ought to be done getting the first one done and up soon. Sorry for the lost contact...I'll get more on tomorrow.

Coming soon to a computer near you

AT LAST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I got the word from my webmaster that it is time to start getting him images for the website. Yee Hawwwwwww !!!
I spent most of the morning and afternoon collecting past images and it's more work than you can imagine. I'll
obviously keep you posted. Stay tuned....

Ya only go around once...

Great week end !!!! Members of  "The Class of "68" turn 60 this year and a bunch of us got together to mark the notch in the handle. What a Hoot and Holler...!!!!! It's amazing that we have lived this long and are only 16 years old.

If you are anything like me, I've had lingering questions for years over images from my minds eye that have just seemed to nag at me on occasion. Probably the two most pressing over the years have concerned two individuals whose paths in life have passed through mine. I don't know why, but these images/thoughts have been with me for years.

I can remember being outside waiting for my ride home from Miss Tilly's Kindergarten and I have had frozen in my mind the image of a kid, my age with a tan and brown eyes, looking back at me, background out of focus. For years I thought it was Tom Loydd, a classmate of mine through high school. But he didn't go to Miss Tilly's , so that left me confused as to who was looking back at me.

After I opened my studio in 1972, a couple of Lawyers moved to town, Tom Williams and his wife, Mickey. They had to have moved to Carthage after 1975 as they rented my old office as I had purchased the building down the street. We became friends and in later conversations Tom told me that we had been at Miss Tilly's together, but he went to school in Sarcoxie Mo, 10 miles down the road. It was him !! One question solved.

At the birthday party the last question was solved. We had a classmate that had grown up in Brazil, the son of Missionaries. His parents wanted him to experience his Senior Year in Carthage so he became a member of our Class. I remembered his name and face, but had lost track of him the minute we graduated. He was at the Birthday, looked the same -maybe looked like he was 19....but he was there. After graduation he went to William Jewel College and went to work in K.C. Because of different family obligations or work situations he was NEVER able to be at any of the other reunions we had had in the past. BUT HE GOT TO THIS ONE !!! We spent some time catching up and it was fabulous, second question solved. I'll post some pictures tomorrow for grins....Yee Hawww....quality time with friends, nothing like it and so special I don't think we will ever be able to replicate it....it was just drop dead fun.

The Logo.......

When I started my studio in Carthage, Missouri October 1st, 1972 I had no intention of making the business a career...it was a holding pattern until a teaching job on the University level became available....little did I know what I was in for. As part of the process I needed a logo and got Joplin Printing involved. They were and still are a fabulous printing firm in Joplin, and had a very creative artist on staff, Rita Swanson. Rita and I met and we conversed on what I wanted and the image I wish to project. That image really told the story...value, return to the past values of the our parents, trust, a true caring for clients, a warm fuzzy "life is as good" attitude, and a "can do" approach to any visual challenge or problem. Several ideas were batted around and  I went back in a week to view the roughs of Rita's ideas.
It is very gratifying to find someone that can turn words, vision and ideas into a physical entity. Rita and I were on the same wavelength, she hit the nail on the head. At the  time she was dating a guy, Sam Lopp who operated Windfall Light Stained Glass in Joplin. Sam and I met and became solid friends. When I bought the building at 340 Lyon in Carthage in 1975, Sam turned my Logo into a stained glass piece to fit  above the double door as clients entered the studio. It became my brand, looks fabulous, and I now have it hanging in my new studio.

Sam and I became fast friends.........and he and Rita got married. How about that.....

New week......

Cards are printed and the cold calling starts tomorrow morning...it should be interesting. The new Kid on the block always has a challenge, but it's not my first rodeo.

The interesting part of my business is getting behind the scenes of manufacturing. One of the companies I've worked for manufactures the floats ands different accessories used in Dock Floatation. I really had never thought of where the floats come from.....just never put two and two together. Someone has to make them and it's a really interesting business. Storage is costly so the inventory is kept at a minimum and production on demand can keep up with the orders. Extrusion of the plastic is pretty amazing and it looks like they can manufacture any shape. These images are for their catalogue, website, and general advertising. It was a fun shoot.

Website

Well today I've started to get my website together. With business starting to flow I need it. I've been in conversation with a local web design company but the effort has been fruitless. There seemed to be person in charge so to speak. The initial conversation pretty well set up our relationship, Morgan Studio and the design company as a cooperative venture with each of us feeding each other clients. The conversation was great ! But...that is all it amounted to........empty conversations. What was proposed, accepted, and looked like a solid deal vanished into thin air. I really wasted some time on that project. Not a problem, there is more than one way to get things done. I have a new web design partner that will get me up and running with immediate controls on design changes etc. It is amazing how things work out....one opportunity that was "smokey" gets replaced by one that is solid. I guess I actually dodged a bullet. The unfortunate thing about it for the previous company is that my commercial clients that ask about my site will be referred to my new design partner. I'll keep you posted on the website so you may follow whats happening here in the Studio.

Weekend..........finially getting the right stuff

I had a new account come in on Friday for a consultation on two portrait sessions. One now and one in October. It will be two family groupings the first being composed of the original family, the second will include the original family, wives, husbands, and first grand child, inside and environmentally. Both sessions are planned that way due to different considerations. The total family, because the grand child is a newborn and somewhat limiting in what we can do, and the fact that the Hospital took new born pictures for the family...it was felt that they had enough portraits.

Because of the great light of the golden summer, we will do the immediate family environmentally in a casual setting in the evening light. On the October session we will do all sorts of grouping with the entire family, only this time indoors as well as outside. I'm looking forward to it as it should be a hoot. Being this late in the year we will also be able to create Christmas cards for each family, individually as well as all of the entire group.

The session...the result...

I spoke in my last blog about the Intellectual properties issue of writing, photography, general creation of tactile items. To make a long story short, my client that I photographed on Friday wanted a disk of all of his images. We hit a conversational impasse concerning who owned them ( the files ) as they are by law mine as the creator. Granted I had two hours of shoot time, some wait time as he was late, stuff happens...not the end of my world, and the time it took to download the images. I am amazed that , as an "author", he does not realize the copyright issue directly effects him. In our long conversation I asked him if it would be OK if I bought one of his books then made 100 copies for all of my friends cutting him out of the financial loop. If I printed his book on pink pages with a yellow and red cover altering his concept of how the book should be presented, would that be OK with him ?? I never got an answer...if he objected then how could he expect to receive the files ?  My main concern is NOT the money. The concerns belongs to the quality of the finished image. He takes the image to a processor, probably a drugstore, large discount chain, who knows......I will gaurentee that the finished prints will not be up to my standards. I just won't have that happen.

Another interesting point that came up in the conversation is his concept of loyalty. I spoke with the web design company that referred him to me and told them the course of events. I didn't feel that it was fair for him to have digital files in his possession that were a direct result of their reference, especially when he said, " I have not signed a contract with them, I may go with someone else or do it myself." If he had the files there is no telling who would end up finishing his web site, with great pictures, gained from a reference from a company that he may or may NOT use. Just to keep things simple I decided to cut my losses. I gave him his money back and showed him to the door. Life is just TOO short. Tomorrow will be a great day !

Monday Monday......

Wild weekend....Rain...more rain....and more rain......
I loaded some new software on my Mac and PC this weekend. Two different programs that will facilitate my getting images out, time IS money. My client that I spoke of the in last Post is coming in this afternoon to select the images. Which brings up an interesting question.....who owns the "image". Depending on how the sale was made, I own the images exclusively. I very seldom ever release the rights to images I create unless there is a valid reason. My reasoning in this stance is that each image I produce must be a reflection on the type of work I do - Top Drawer. By giving up a digital file or negative I am giving up control of the final look of that image. All processors are NOT the same and all printing substrates are not the same....both of which effect the "look" of the image as well as the longevity. When I deliver a product to a client it has MY approval. Nothing else will do....

Session fees, hourly rates, both pay for my experience which spans 38 years of learning. The print costs pay for the cost of doing business and help me earn a living. If I would relinquish a digital file or negative I have ended all sales of that image and any profits therein. If an author publishes one book....are people then entitled to copy that book for themselves, cutting him out of payment for his efforts ? Absolutely not. Intellectual property is intellectual property, be it a book, movie, painting, photograph, anything that is someones creation. Just for grins check out your ability to use a photograph of the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, or the Golden Gate Bridge, in a publication or ad. They are copyrighted, just as all of my images are. How about that......

The dust has settled...

Back from KC and my stepfathers 90th birthday....YEEE HAAWWWWW. I finally addressed the elephant in the corner - the dressing room in the studio. It has lingered as a space to store all of the tools from the build out, needed paint, carpet, and a bit of TLC. Yesterday and today I moved stuff in and out...out to measure and thought I'd get the rug cut and down-fantasy-then back in, as I had a session this morning. It was fun and was for an author of several books. The images will be used on his website which is being created by Winston Web here in the PhilTower. We worked for about two hours and had several ideas for imagery over the span of time. As is ALWAYS the case...the first several images were pretty tough as he wasn't used to being photographed and I was still looking for a direction. He was pretty set on the look he wanted..........I just had to figure out how to get there. After a while we started to go in the right direction and the more we worked, the better it got. Going into a shoot with an idea of what you want reminded me of the problems associated with the Platonic Ideal. I hadn't thought of that since philosophy class in College taught by Dr. Brown. Plato, in one of his dissertations, talked about the "minds eye"  concept/view of an object. In the mind it is perfection......achieving that perfection is impossible as in reality - it is what it is. My idea of the perfect chair is different than yours and to achieve the "perfect"chair" your perfection must match mine...impossible. It's enough to drive you crazy........but we got some great shots. After we view them on Monday I'll see if he'll let me post one or two on the blog. Tomorrow I'm out of town and Sunday I'm in training for some new software.....Talk to you Monday....if not sooner.

The Fourth of July....

A short week again and today I'm making appointments to meet with new accounts. The 4th is more or less in the way as I'm leaving early Thursday to go to Kansas City to celebrate my step dads 90th birthday. He's a 4th of July kid, but because of the logistics of my brother coming in from N.C., his daughter coming in from Scottsdale, and the 4th being on a Sunday this year, Thursday is the day to celebrate. He has decided with this event to start counting backwards. Sounds like a deal to me.

I'll keep you posted on the success of the calling.

Back in the saddle again

I can't tell you how good it is to be back in the office. After what seemed like eternity, but having a good time, the nose gets back to the grindstone. Tonight I'm picking out my new stationary along with the coloring of my logo which I had in the early 70's. I feel as though it is a personal necessity to return to that logo as it has a connection with a very successful past and I am comfortable with the design. It doesn't seem plausible to fix something that isn't broken.......perhaps to the chagrin of the advertising people.

I have a set idea for the colors of the stationary half baked into my mind but I may just go with the color logo on white paper stock.....I'll let you know tomorrow. Also will be researching companies to do business with tonight. I have downloaded the information from a source that is good, inexpensive, and tells me everything I need to know about a company and who to contact. The calling to set up appointments will start tomorrow.

Spreading the word...

While in the Napa area we decided to do some shopping and stopped in a store. While my wife shopped I struck up a conversation with the owner of a consignment store named Maria. I asked her if she had a blog and she said she didn't. I then related to her what I had happen to me with my Blog and explained that I had no idea that ANYONE was reading it. Because of the opportunity that presented its self with the "Aha Moments" I encouraged her to get one going. I saw her the next day and she said she was going to and, in fact, had looked at the instructional pages the previous night. I also took her picture which can be seen at the right, that she said she loved and it and would use on her Blog.

Tidal Pools

While out here in California we met up with my wifes' daughter and her family. The kids had just been introduced to a tidal pool and we decided to go back for a look. The area is a National Park and has the usual rules-take nothing, leave nothing, glad you were here. The area was a bit of a walk from the parking lot that was amplified by having to walk in the sand to the pools. The fine sand made walking in sandals difficult but eventually we made it. There were a bunch of people there that were there and like us, were escorting kids over the kelp strewn rocks that were actually condos for clams. There was no avoiding them and occasionally as you walked you could here one breaking under foot. In an effort to launch the Save the Clams movement I'll start the diet tomorrow.

The tidal pool is an interesting ecosystem as the waves are constantly bringing in new food to the plants and animals but also gives some species the "right" to rule. The larger the crab, the less threats to it, and much more wet pasture to scour for food. Of course to the delight to most of the kids that have wished to become "Crab Wranglers" the confines of the smaller pools in the overall big picture were made just for them. There was always a flurry of activity when a big one was spotted, Over here !! No here !!!, the yell of discovery was constantly being batted about. It was worth the trip.....great to see the kids so involved.

Up Up & Away

Anticipation never fails. I have found that I generally don't need an alarm to get up early for departure on a trip, or to be up for a shoot before dawn, I just seem to get up at the right time. But to take the chance of missing an appointment....never....just be safe, set the alarm. I was scheduled to take a hot air balloon ride meeting the company at 5:30 this morning. The alarm is set and it goes off at the appointed time 4:30 according to the cell phone. Shaving preparations start and a side glance at my watch reveals that it is 2:30. The cell was still on central time.......I lay awake until 4:30.

Meeting the company at 5:30 at a local grocery store/restaurant and everyone in the group loads up in the vans and we take off for the "Launch Pad"....kinda feel like Buck Rogers. I thought that it would be somewhat of an individualized trip, one balloon a couple of people the pilot in the basket, Up Up and Away. Not quite that simple. We get to the site and there are three balloons in different states of inflation. Some nice light is creeping through the trees and everyone is milling around with the exception of the "Inflation Technicians". They are zapping the balloons with bursts of flame and as they do the limp folds of material start reaching for the sky. The crowd is divided into three groups of about ten each and we are introduced to our Pilots. Kevin is ours and seems to be a nice guy that is absolutely in love with flying the balloons. He said that he has been a "Corporate Pilot" for several corporations and has lived in several areas that are connected with the industry. He liked Aspen Colorado the best with the view from the air being remarkable.

With a blast of hot air we were in the air. Smooth elevator so to speak. As we rose I was amazed by the view and the silence. Actually we rose pretty quickly and floated through different currents which is how we "controlled" our direction. About halfway through the trip Kevin lowered the balloon down to just several feet above the grape vines....I was wondering about when we were to land.....start smashing grapes...do I need to take off my shoes ? We cruised above the grapes for a while and then rose again. Kev had continued conversations with the chase group, the car following us in a car, until we decided to, or had to.... land.

There were several balloons in the air with us and if we had to get them rounded up it would be like herding cats. The conversations Kevin was having also included the other balloons. The comments were mainly concerning the "currents" that we were flying through. Depending on the level of the balloon the general direction of flight was determined. Judging from the conversations he was having, Kevin determined that we would land on a volleyball court surrounded by houses. To me it all looked pretty grim......I could see hordes of people gathering to meet us waving pitchforks, dogs yelping, and small children hiding as the sky was falling. 

It could not have been more uneventful, we landed, the balloon deflated, the chase crew remained behind to repack the balloon, and we went for a celebration breakfast. One more item checked off the bucket list.

Memories triggered

When I was out on the coast yesterday, in the tidal pools looking at remnants of the receding tide, I heard the whopwhop of a  helicopter flying overhead. My mind immediately sent me back to Nicaragua. I was shooting a video concerning the Water Well project for the Tulsa Rotary Club and I was having lunch in the Areoporte Cafe.The only problem with that was that we weren't at an airport or even near one. Painted on the wall was a picture of a "copter" with the machine guns blasting away. I figured there could several reasons for the name/painting..a  longing to be a pilot by the owner, some type of club of retired fly boys met there, or maybe it just looked different. I asked one of the men what the story was.

During the first revolution, a few years back, when the Sandinistas first started their war the location we were on was the airport for them. All staging for the helicopters took place under our tables, it was the scene of the most activity in the country. One enterprising Nicaraguan realized that EVERYONE in the country knew the location of the Areoporte and after the war he opened the restaurant. When I get back to T Town I'll find the picture of the wall.

California/Stock files

Sorry about missing yesterday, I was in the air so to speak. Looking around today to try to find some images for my stock files in Palo Alto today and tomorrow and Napa Valley the rest of the week. Sorry if I miss a few days but photography calls. I'll probably post more today after some coffee starts to work.

Ok, it's working. Nice day may shoot something.........

Cars...........I love 'em

For years I've been a car freak photographically as well as an owner of several that were dear to my heart. As regrettable as it may seem, and a bit shameful as I'm a photographer, I have few photographs of them. The most memorable among them was a 1951 Chevy Panel Truck. My friends nicknamed it the Video Van and it was a real hoot to drive. I had two captains chairs in the front and the rest of the back was open to haul equipment in while on commercial or portrait jobs. I painted it a dark metallic brown with black fenders and running boards, chromed all of the bumpers, and ran it with baby moons and chrome rings. I have one picture of it that I'll have to scan to show you. A great car.

A friend of mine, Tony Candella, Master of car stereo and Hot Rod Wiring, author of one book on the subject with another on the way, and owner of a BAD "72" Cutlass, had me go to Phoenix to photograph images for his first book. While there we also ran around in the Cutlass and photographed it. What a great time.

Promotion and a fond memory

I sent out some inquiry letters this morning and will also send some from California.We are going out to see grand kids and also stay a week or so in Napa photographing for my stock files. I'll try to keep you posted as it should be a great time.

Several years ago I had the opportunity to shoot for one of my Commercial Clients, Freeman Hospital in Joplin,Missouri. I have been fortunate enough to land many assignments over the years with Freeman and St. Johns Hospital in Joplin as well as McCune Brooks in Carthage, Missouri. It is fascinating work and it has covered all of the business of the hospital from accommodations, speciality services, surgery, and to Executive and Board portraits. Really a fun bunch of assignments.

I received a call from one of their public relations departments saying that they would like to schedule a creative meeting and see what it would cost to complete an assignment for them. At the meeting they expressed the desire to come up with a warm and fuzzy image that basically stated that they delivered a lot of babies in their hospital. After some brain storming we came up with a concept and set the date. I arranged for it to be shot in my studio and also acquired the necessary prop for the shoot.

On the shoot day my subjects arrived with their mothers and we started. Everyone behaved well and were impressed with my imitation of a dog barking, we wrapped it up in less than 40 shots. The finished image was used in print and in billboards throughout the area. I just wonder if any of the Moms took pictures of the billboard to show the kids as they got older. It was a great time.

Cold Calling...Wet Calling

As fate would have it the skies opened up and when accompanied by 60 mile an hour winds....we didn't cold call today. I went to the library
and did research on companies I want to do work for. I'll drop them all a letter of introduction and then call on the phone and try
to set some appointments.

New revelation !!

Just realized that I hadn't entered any thoughts today and checked out the dashboard and was amazed. I have my first follower. That's really pretty neat from the standpoint that I was picked up by the "Aha Moments" people and didn't know ANYONE was reading this blog. NOW someone has admitted to it !!!
YeeeeHawwwwww. I've been working on the finalization of structuring the studio into workable form. The desks are amazing...photo following....and I have enough room to work. One more bit of furniture to add and it's all done.

Tomorrow is cold calling in the suit. Gotta do it and actually it's kinda fun. One on one selling, telling the story and explaining why my services are desperately needed by a company. It only takes one yes to make my day. I'll keep you posted.

Ramping up

Saturday again, last of the old week and start of a new one tomorrow. I have decided that Monday and Tuesday I'm going to do some cold calling with my portfolio and see what happens.The generation of new business is crucial to survival in this market. The digital revolution has, in all outward appearances, taken away the necessity of knowledge i.e. F stops, shutter speeds and their relationships with the finished images, and the thought of previsualization. I find that a truly a shame. The quality of imagery as the average commercial client sees it has taken a real hit. Photoshop can't make up for poor photography, the computer note of Garbage in Garbage out still exists.

Cold calls are always interesting...I'll keep you posted.

Right Thing

I had been gone a month when I arrived back in Carthage. The Building that housed my studio was still there, the key still worked, all good signs. The following day after my arrival I opened the doors with a new attitude, new enthusiasm, and the realization that I had it made. I could do what ever I needed to do to make the studio work. The paper ran a few articles, the local TV stations had me on, and I had created a multi-image slide show that I showed throughout the 4 states to different schools and organizations. The business didn't go away, it increased. Yes, it was the right thing to do. I'll never forget what I saw, the people I met, and the images I captured. It opened doors for me that I didn't know existed.

In passing I received the image of yours truly while being interviewed for the Aha Moment in the Airstream. It was taken by Tom Gilbert from the Tulsa World......thanks Tom.

I'm BAAAACKKK !!!

Sorry for the delay in writing but I was gone over the holiday and not around a network to get on to. Back to the Li  River.

We all were in a state of shock so to speak as the mountains were surrounding us. Jagged peaks that rose from the ground reaching for the sky. We were all in a Chinese watercolor.....I can't relate the experience adequately to let you know what it was like....it was better than the end of the rainbow. We stopped the boat and I ran to the top of the nearest hill with my 4 x 5 and equipment. I got set up as the light changed, actually softened a bit, thank you Mr. Cloud. I had time to snap a few with the Nikon and my 4 x 5  Linholf then we were back on the boat. We sailed the rest of the morning then made dock in Guillin.  The images is from the Linholf and actually made it worth it to haul halfway around the world. I have several other images from shots I took on the outside of the wall surrounding the Forbidden City that are also favorites from the 4 x 5. I have to get them scanned and I'll get them to you.

Throughout the trip we met individual Professional Photographers that were working under intense pressure as the images had to be within the framework of Party lines. I met one man though that became an instant friend and we corresponded till his death in 1994. His name was Yang Tang and he was the former owner and then manager of China Photo in Beijing. He owner the store until the Revolution and then was made a manager and only could work one day a week due to the fact that the Party has to give everyone a job. I had broken my camera strap and went in for another. I tried to get it across to a clerk that I needed another and he didn't understand. He called Yang and he came over and spoke fluent English. I explained the situation and he gave me three. I tried to pay for the one I wanted but he wouldn't let me, in fact he asked me where I was staying and he want to bring me one more that evening to make a final selection. I told him and he showed up with his son that was wanting to practice his English with an American about 8:00. We talked for an hour or so and parted company. Yang and I wrote for years back and forth. Just cards but it solidified our friendship.

To be continued... Did I do the right thing.....

Favorite image ( continued )

We got on the plane to fly to Hong Kong and after we were in the air one of the stewardes' came back from the forward part of the plane and stopped at my seat. She then ask me to collect my belongings and follow her. I did, and she took me to First Class and gave me a seat. A friend of mine, Dixie Mitchel, was a stewardess for American Airlines and alerted some of her co-workers that I would be on the plane and if a seat was available, bump me up to First Class. It was a great trip over and hell on the way back, I didn't get bumped up and really didn't realize how tight the regular seats were. I also didn't realize the implications the move had for me in the eyes of the other photographers on the trip. They immediately started wondering who that guy was and why the perks....I didn't have a clue the buzz had started. We flew into Hong Kong went through customs and then into China. We traveled mainly south and west getting eventually very close to Viet Nam. We talked to different photographers in different cities but also traveled in the backwoods so to speak. In fact we were in one area where Caucasians had never been seen and people ran from us.

The Chinese culture has always been somewhat of a magnet to me, I like their design, history is fascinating, and the geography simply amazing. The photograph of the boat on the Li River speaks a volume of what the trip did for me. In College as part of my degree track I had to take 12 hours of Art History in addition to the 45 hours of other art classes plus the 18 hours of my major area. This doesn't sound like much till you consider we were in class 2 hours for each credit received and expected to spend at all other waking hours in the discipline were were studying...were spent a lot of time in the Art Department. I never quite understood the Chinese watercolorists.....mountains just don't have fog and look like the ones I had constantly seen in the paintings in Art History.

We got on the boat in the dark, about 5 in the morning. I had my 4 x 5, Nikon 35mm, and my Mamiya RB 67. I was loaded for bear. As we slowly moved down the stream daybreak slowly started to replace the pitch black night. I started noticing strange forms along the river bank, not quite able to make them out. As it got lighter I started getting goosebumps......Like the Chinese paintings I was surrounded by huge rows of spiking mountains. We stopped the boat and I scampered up the bank to capture the image of something I thought didn't exist.

To be continued...........

A favorite image..

Shooting as much as I do and having the opportunities I have had has resulted in my seeing things I never really thought existed. In 1987 I had applied to American Field Service to go to China to teach English and also learn Chinese. My thinking was that my understanding Capitalism and understanding and fluently speaking Chinese would be more of an asset to business entities than a China man speaking English that has no personal grasp of how Capitalism works. Just a thought..... I got my reply back from them of Thanks but... No Thanks. I was sitting in my studio on a Saturday shortly after receiving the news in January and the phone rang. It was a friend of mine Paul Ness from Kodak. After a bit of small talk he asked me what I was doing in July. I looked at my calendar and I was open.  He then asked me if I wanted to go to China for the month. I was floored. He explained that Kodak had arranged an exchange of professional photographers from China the U.S., Canada, and Australia...did I want to go ? The words fell out of my mouth..absolutely. Promising to get back to me later he said to clear my Calendar for July.

As the date grew closer I started rethinking my decision. I was located in a town of 11,000 with a market area of about 60,000. Summer is good for Senior Portraits, Weddings, Family Portraits, and booking for the  Fall of all of the above. Could I possibly afford to miss these dates. I work 7 days a week as I must be available for commercial as well as portrait clients. It can sometimes run me to my wits end, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do.  My store front would be closed for a month. Dark....adios....not there....should I do it.

The appointed day arrived to fly to Seattle to go and I went. It was the most amazing experience of my life and it changed how I saw my business and understood my potential.

To be continued.....

Nicaraguan Moments...

Several years ago I produced a video telling of and the reasoning behind the Downtown Tulsa Rotary Clubs' Water Well Project in Nicaragua. This project has been ongoing for several years and has been responsible for gaining potable water for thousands of people. It has also provided the liberation of the children from the daily job of gaining water for their families to a great extent. The long walks to and from the wells kept the children out of school, and hindered them greatly. It has also brought to an end the reliance of the Barrios on hand dug wells that are easily contaminated and go dry quickly.

While there I met one of the premier Fashion designers of the Country. Knowing that I was a professional photographer she asked me if I would photograph her newest collection which was to debut at a fashion show in Managua that weekend. The show was sponsored by Mercedes Benz and Cartier Watches and I thought it would be great fun and a needed break from the drilling work. If she won she would have her line open in New York and really launch her career.

She told me of her collection and we decided to shoot the outfits outside primarily due to the fact that I had no lights to speak of and the environment was different enough to really tune up my senses. We spent the day shooting and ended up on a lava field for some of the shots.

At the show I was wined and dined on finger food and wine and the lights flickered signaling the start of the show was on us. There were three designers in the show and there would only be one to go to New York. The music started and the models started their walk down the runway. It was exciting, fun, classy, and something I quite frankly never expected to see. The three designers all took a bow after their models did their walk with each one having around 7 different designs. The lights flickered again and the intermission was signaled. In about twenty minutes the lights did their thing again and we took to our seats.Turn on your imaginators and walk with me through this next segment.

The room is pitch black. Faint thunder rolls followed by silence. More thunder, a brilliant clap of thunder which raised EVERYONE out of their seats, and a soft light fell on the stage. Thunder sounding like drums rolls through the space and fog starts covering the stage. Everyones' eyes are dancing around the room as flashes of lightening are blasting  the stage. Looking at the stage I can see the fog start to move out of the center as the floor opens. Everyone was spellbound-you could hear a pin drop. All eyes were on the stage as the new 600 series Mercedes Benz rises from the fog. I have NEVER seen something so amazing. What a way to introduce a car internationally. Aha....right place right time....again.

Making a long story short, my designer won and I assume launched her career in the Big Apple. I need to follow up with a friend I have in Nicaragua and see where she is.

YEEEEEHHHAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW continued

I got in this morning and sanded and recoated the desktops. Really lookin' good. Tomorrow will be the last coat then I'll install them in their locations in the reception room and my working office. I am waiting on the OK to start on production of a video about an artist friend of mine, Andy Thomas. Google him to see his work. He is amazingly talented and a nice guy besides. I'll keep you posted on the progress. It should be challenging and fun. Must get caught up-too much Aha and YEEEE Haaaaaaa... if you know what I mean. Later

Desk Tops

I varnished the desk tops this morning and they are fabulous. I couldn't ask for more....other than them being done. It looks like it will take one more sand and two more coats of varnish. They are just drop dead good lookin'. YEEEE HHAAAWWWW .

Well this weekend is the production time to get caught up. I went to Missouri yesterday to pick up the base for my reception room desk. I'll get the top to it and the top my production desk sealed this weekend. Both are American Black Walnut tops, three inches thick from a tree that I grew up with. It was in the side yard of the old home place and we lost it a year and a half ago. I took two 10 foot sections to a sawmill and had them slice them into 12 three inch thick sections. They have been drying for a year in a barn. I have always felt that I wanted to have some of that wood with me ever since I was a kid. It appears as though we may lose another one this year and I'll do the same with it. I'll post the pictures of how they turn out soon. Must go, have a great weekend.

Back to work...

I picked up the Tulsa World this morning and in the D section was yours truly talking in the Airstream...what a kick. The production company did say that I'll get a link to add to my blog so my readers can see the interview. I'll post it as soon as I get it from them.

I showed my client the previews of his Monday shoot and a selection was made. I did the finishing work, cropping, retouching, and the prints have been ordered. I generally wake up about 3:00 and start thinking about the business. It is this time of morning I solve problems, create new directions to go...generally work out the upcoming day. As mentioned before I was snot happy with the jewelry shots and this morning I figured out how to correct the problem. That will be the main efforts for the day.

Aha Moments cont.....

Well, it was great. I am somewhat nondirectional but in spite of myself I found the Ambassador Hotel. I actually had been there before and had a brief memory of the location. The Airstream was parked just south of the hotel and what a fine piece of machinery. Airstreams are objects of legend for the quality of manufacturing and just plain solid American spirit. This one had been custom made to function as a remote "Production Studio" and I'd sure arm wrestle someone for it. It was stunning as it sat sparkling in the bright sun, reflecting the Oklahoma blue sky.

I didn't really know what to expect although I've been producing short videos for years for commercial clients. We had the meet and greet and talked about Aha Moments. I have been fortunate to have several and I'm sure have not recognized some that I should have. My turn came up and I stepped onto the ramp to enter the mobile video domain of Mutual of Omaha. I guess that will be the closest I will ever come to a Luke Skywalker moment. I got seated and we started talking about my Aha's. The time zipped past and even though it was a brief encounter, although longer than Andy Worhal predicted, I had a blast. I talked of my wife and I and how we met, and other topics that I guess you'll have to see on the Aha Moments web page. It was just a real kick in the pants-a good time. Thanks Mutual of Omaha ! I had a great time.

Aha Moments...

Quite frankly I have never photographed jewelry in the digital format. There is a difference ! The quality of light records differently and adjustments must be made. My day today will be dedicated to solving the problem of the lighting. But, first things first..........

I would have never thought anyone was reading this blog....it's only about two weeks old....just a pup. Checking my email last week I got a note from Ashley from Skaddle Media, producers of Mutual of Omaha's " Aha Moments" campaign. ( Check them out at www.ahamoments.com...they are amazing. ) She had read the blog and asked me to talk to them on camera relating my "Aha moments" as part of a 25 city tour they have for the commercials for Mutual of Omaha. I have been so lucky and seem to have had a steady stream through the years of Aha's.....but who'd a thunk. I am elated with this opportunity. Everyone has Aha ,moments....you just have to recognise them. I must go.....to be continued.

Challenges....

As I said in my last post it's the Mayfest weekend. I met another artist, Sally Wade. (swadeworks@gmail.com) She is a jeweler from Tyler, Texas and makes some fine art......no pun intended. We talked for a while and hit it off. As usual cats and dogs were falling from the sky so the crowds weren't visible and we had time to really talk jewelry. ( It is almost like a Rite of Spring, Mayfest-rain and wind for the first day or so. ) I liked her style and she is a very nice person, we decided to photograph some of her work.

Jewelry is tough to photograph. I was in on the photographing of thousands of dollars of diamonds, rings, and other jewelry with Joe Bergeron at his studio in New Orleans on several occasions in the early 80's for his client Diamond Dealers Exchange, Phillip Gabriel Sr. Lighting is the key and getting there may take hours. However-once there it gets pretty easy with just minor tweaks for additional pieces.Sally has a "look" in mind for her work that she hopes will aid her in getting into more shows.

In many exhibitions for The Professional Photographers of America, Wedding Photographers International, and many state affiliations of these organizations there are guidelines for what they want to look at in terms of size, mounting, and density of the image. The prints are viewed in a dark room with lights that are actually pretty bright, and if not printed to these specifications, the prints look washed out. Sally does great work and needs great imagery to aid her into getting in to more shows. We set out on the road to success.....found a few more bumps than expected.

To be continued

Gone to Pot.....

This is the Mayfest weekend for Tulsa. Great artists gather and sell their wares to an art hungrey population. Tulsa is one of the great supporters of the art market and this event brings out some of the best.I met one of them this morning through a potter friend of mine, Brent Skinner. I' ve known Brent for years and he is a wildman from the word go.....and a great potter.His fried Dan Ishler creates some fantastic pots that are classical in shape and wood fired. This process results in Bisque ware which he then treats with different colorants and refires. Dan has done this professionally for years and has created a rather large following of collectors for his amazing pots. As an art major in college I took ceramics and used it in my regimen of nightly duties. Originally I was a printmaking and drawing major and would start the evenings off with the print room and get all "inked up" running proofs and finished prints. By 10:00 it was time to hit the pottery room and throw pots for a couple of hours to get my hands clean from the ink. About midnight I'd enter the darkroom with clean hands and generally work till 3:00 or so. Ed Albin, head of the Art Department, instructed the janitors to leave a room open so I could get in on the ground floor and crawl through a window to walk back to the dorm. It was during this period of time that I not only learned the qualities of processing and printing B&W prints, but also the magic of the early morning. On many occasions I would overextend my time in the darkroom and leave just before dawn. The magic of sounds and the smell of dew on the grass are memories I'll always treasure from my college days. Dan and I got together and photographed a few of his pots. It was a great test for the new studio and the lighting controls I have. It was a fun shoot.

Lucky Breaks continued...

Byron and I never made any films, but we had one heck of a good time trying to. He was primarily a writer and was able to research several stories and come up with some great scripts. They made the circuit in H land but no one took the bait. Through Byron though, I met the man that brought up the first gold off the Atocha
shipwreck. As part of his settlement with Fisher he received 11 treasure maps as part of his pay for his efforts in the operation. Byron had spoken with him about the possibilities of making a series on the recovery of the bounty from the wrecks. I met Byron in Hilton Head S.C. and we drove to Florida to meet with Rick, the mapman. While there he showed us a video that had been taken of his crew plotting and mapping an area that gave readings to the location of some metal under the sand. As expected as they dug below the waterline on the island the hole started to fill and they had to bring in sump pump to remove the water as the digging continued.Soon the pump quit and the digging had to stop so the pump could be taken in for repairs. The hole was filled up and all parties sworn to secrecy and a date was made to reconvene to start the dig again.Before the pump was returned Rick got a letter from the owner of the island telling him his lease was up and not to return to the island under the threat of arrest. Rick didn't go back, but through the Salvage rumor mill, the story was that one of the men went back and left the island with 10 "milk crates" full of silver. Byron and I were teething at the bit.

We then went outside to try to see what one of the metal locator instruments looked like and how it worked. It looked like a raygun from a zzzz grade 1950's Space Flick. I had never seen such a dumb looking device in my life. I was skeptical to say the least as Rick gave it to Byron to try out. He explained that it would "bump" when aimed in the direction of the metal showing the holder the location of the source. My BS O Meter was pegged out. Byron couldn't seem to feel any bump so he handed it to me.Gripping it I slowly waved it across Ricks backyard and just passing a tree I FELT A BUMP ! Tried it again and the same thing happened. We all walked to the tree and behind it was a pile of silver bars. The hook was set.

To fund the exploratory work on the series we needed money. We came up with the idea of having an auction in Atlantic City of Bounty taken from past sunken ships as there was great interest at the time due to the recovery of the Atocha. Byron lined it up and Rick got the other salvage people involved. We were to take a percentage of the total for our efforts. The night before the event a cocktail meet and greet was held at the casino for the prospective buyers and the salvage people with displays of coins and other bounty. The next afternoon people were milling around but as the auction started the crowd thinned. The sales were a bust and we barely made enough to cover the hospitality the night before. Byron called and told me the news....we had forgotten one small thing....we were dealing with PIRATES !! While the auction was going on in the Casino, the largest amount of booty was being sold out of car trunks in the parking lot !!! Live and learn...