Lumen Prints

Look what I can do!

Pinhole Wizard . . . another pic

Pinhole Wizard

I made a digital pinhole camera over the weekend. It doesn't seem to have the sharpness my film pinhole camera does, but it's still pretty fun.

Here are a few images...

Hi mom.

Bird is the Word?

Random, strange image from a new series I'm working on.

Do You Want Me to Succeed in Grad School? I Know You Do!

Here is an old image (new images will appear soon). This is a little advertisement about a new photo project I'm working on. Visit my site: www.tprally.com. The project is investigating how people view political imagery. The question: how much does it depend upon the viewer's political ideology? 

So. That means it's interactive . . . that's where you come in! Leave a comment about how you view the imagery. I want to hear from people across the political spectrum. 

Who Doesn't Love a Nice Train Photo?

These are a few images from a series I'm working on involving my old commute in D.C. The series is progressing, and I'm hoping it will be a success.

Critique on Thursday!

Washington x3 More Botanicals

More images from the National Botanic Garden.

Washington x2: Orchid Mania

More images from my week in D.C.

Washington 1

I have been Suzy McTraveler this month, and my latest adventure led me to Washington, D.C. It was great being back in city I love (and miss), and it was wonderful to see old friends.

Attempting to document my former commute on Metrorail, I ran into a big of a snag with Metro security . . . a couple of times. Eluding arrest, I managed to get some great shots. I am hopeful the resulting body of work will live up to my expectations.

The highlights: I was able to visit with several D.C. friends, as well as meet up with Nebraska Erica, who was introducing The District to her poetic genius. I caught a lovely orchid exhibit at the National Botanic Garden, stopped by the Hirshhorn Museum (not that interesting despite its reputation), spent time in Eastern Market, and discovered a few new and wonderful coffee/restaurant establishments.

I was delighted to see the Columbia Heights neighborhood progressively developing into a safe, exciting neighborhood. I was also pleased to know scary H Street has come a long, long way in the five years I've been gone. Good job, Washington.

Images: I'm uploading a bunch for your viewing pleasure. I'll begin with some images from Capitol Hill and Eastern Market. Orchids and others to follow.

Philadelphia

Last week I attended a photography conference in Philadelphia. It was my first trip to Philly, and it did not disappoint. I rather enjoyed experiencing Reading Market, and I loved once again being in a city that is so pedestrian-friendly.

Modern art, historical architecture and good friends . . .

Here's an ugly fish image from the Reading Market for your viewing (dis)pleasure.

02/23/10

Super Heroes

I miss my nephews and their sweet, sweet super powers. Protecting the world is a tough job, but with capes and swords, these guys are well on their way. Thanks, fellas.

I screwed up a whole month of blogging. Sigh.

Oh goodness. So . . . my free time was hijacked by the start of the new semester. It seems strange that when I return to my studies as a fine art photographer that I can't manage to make an image a day, but so it goes.

I've been busy teaching a couple of sections, making new work, and generally taking care of school business. Currently, I'm prepping for two exhibitions. One solo exhibition, which is evidenced by today's photos . . . of my show cards. I'm showcasing the Miss Fortune portfolio during Lexington's Gallery Hop. Locals: Please come!

The other exhibition, opening the same night, is UK's advanced student photo show. It's a juried exhibition with cash prizes, where advanced students showcase new work. It should be a good time. In addition to the cash prizes, I'm starting a new tradition within our department, that I hope will be a lasting one. On the evening the students hang the show, we'll cast ballots for the best-in-show. I'm calling it "The Big Shot" award, and it will come with street cred, as well as the winner's name engraved on a trophy (of some sort) that will be displayed prominently (somewhere) in the photo lab. Each year during this annual exhibition, students can pick a new winner and have that name added. It's pretty geeky, but I'm just so excited about it. Once I make/secure the trophy, I imagine a photo will appear on this blog.

So. Clearly my life in the past month has been photo-filled, although not photo blog-filled. I'm hoping to get back in the habit. Stay with me.

Thursday 01/14/10

This is an image of the Reynolds Building, where the art studios and grad students live. After an early morning and afternoon spent teaching, I arrived for my evening lighting class. I've always appreciated a good yellow-orange glow against a near-night sky. (And I can see my house from here.)

And it begins . . . 01/13/10

Ready or not, the semester begins. My Wednesday includes a Contemporary Art History class with a professor highly regarded as brilliant, tough, and terribly interesting. The first lecture lived up to its reputation, and I'm excited about what I can learn in this course this semester.

Night Before Classes Start 01/12/10

The night before a new semester. A dark, cold November (well, January) in my soul. **Thanks, Moby Dick, for the lifetime of quotes.

Eye Exam 01/11/10

As a part of my spring semester prep, I went to the eye doctor today. I've managed to weasel out of having my eyes dilated for many, many years now, and I was afraid I would run out of luck this time. As it turns out, I've stalled long enough to see a new technological advance, which allows a doctor to look at a special photograph to see the back of the eye. No pupil drops and sensitive eyes for 8 hours!

The super-doc emailed me the images of my eyeballs. I think they are pretty, and a little gross. I learned I have a freckle on my right eye. Who knew?!

Button 01/10/10

On Saturday, my professor called to alert me to a weekend antique fair thing in Lex. I have never been to it, so I stopped by. There were a ton of vendors, which was excellent. I picked up this bicentennial-year dem convention button for $10. I bought it from two hilarious republicans who gave me a hard time . . . and a great price.

I also found a stereoscope for viewing stereocards. I've been obsessing about learning to make them ever since I had the opportunity to view one at UK's art museum. The original 3-D image, how wonderful. I passed on the viewer, sigh, because the lady was pretty proud of it (expensive), and I'm inclined to wait until I actually attempt one of these images. But they are out there in the world, and that makes me happy.

A Little Green, A Little White 01/09/10

An image from a parking space in Lexington.

Espon 9900 01/08/10

I stopped by my studio this afternoon to grab a book. I am happy to report the mice must be infesting another part of the dilapidated building. Yay! But, despite my wishes, the studio hadn't cleaned itself. I have some work to do to get it in fine, working order for the semester.

The image above is of the Epson 9900. A magical machine that prints everything right the first time. My friend, Stacey, awarded it with a ribbon. You're right, Stacey, it is the best!

Spoonicorns

I have a spoon problem. I used to have a full set of spoons, but the image above depicts one of only two that remain. I'm not sure how my silverware drawer ended up in this near-spoonless state. They are the unicorns of my kitchen. Impossible to find, but legend speaks of their existence. Clearly it's time to invest in some new ones.

End Scene. 01/06/2010

Oh, Kentucky, I have returned. I would like to give a special thanks to JJ Grey & Mofro, as well as Jonny Lang. There's nothing like scratchy, swampy blues on the long end of a road trip through cities like St. Louis and Louisville. Despite great (although inadequate) efforts to figure out the St. Louis metro bypass, I always seem to weave my way straight through town. The traffic wasn't bad at all, which gave me the opportunity to gawk at brick remnants of an historic river city. One day I'll stop to look around, but the threat of winter weather made a visit impossible today. Louisville is as shiny as ever, and I can't wait for my next trip . . . presumably Friday for T. Shaffer's Megachurches opening.

My photo offering is a bit lame today, considering the yummy, bricky towns I passed through. Incidentally, there is a Santa Claus, Indiana. I swear. I arrived home to a beeping fire detector, which prompted a trip to the grocery store for food and 9 volt batteries. I attempted to go without a detector, but the sucker is hardwired into the electric in addition to needing a battery. I don't get it, but there was only one way to make the beeping stop: replace the battery.

What makes the grocery run interesting is that the Kroger parking lot was completely full. I mean every slot. 9 voltless, I braved the crowds. Wading through the masses, I weaved my way to the check out clerk and asked her why every Lexington resident was in the store. As it turns out, today was "senior citizen discount day," (which explained a lot), and the impending winter non-blizzard storm has drawn out the crazies. The culmination of the elderly coupon blitz, and snow, led to an unavoidable scene I can best equate to my experience of having a near-empty gas tank on 09/12/01. It just wasn't convenient.

I'm safely nestled in my home, glass of wine in hand, battery in the smoke detector, watching cable. (Happy sigh.) Perfection.

Greetings from Columbia. No, the Missouri one.

The first leg of my trip is complete. I am resting comfortably in a hotel in Columbia, Missouri. I received my first Spring semester "official business" email from my professor, and my feelings are mixed. I am ready to return to my life in Lexington, but I don't know that I'm ready to gear up for another semester. Perhaps this interim week will be sufficient in getting me enthusiastic for the rigors of a new semester.

Speaking of legs, how about some feet? I found this weird foot thing at a Columbia flea market. I haven't researched a thing about it, but my guess is that it's a shoe cobbler's tool. Maybe I can cobble something.

I probably won't.

Boo Flu, Boo.

My trip back to Lex has been delayed by illness. While I'm not fond of being sick and ready to get home, it was nice to have another day with my nephews. Well, I was sequestered, but it was nice to hear them . . .

We'll see about travel plans tomorrow. Hopefully my photo will be one from the road (and less grainy and more focused).

Last night in Nebraska. (Sigh)

Bell and Howell Filmo 8 01/02/2010

Alas, the frigid, Nebraska winter has taken hold. The sub-zero temps and threats of snow prompted canceled travel plans. Cabin feverish, my sister and I ventured out for a little shopping fix this afternoon. Lovers of old crap, we went in search of antique stores and were lucky to find a fabulous one in Bellevue. The proprietor talked about doing a lot of business with filmmakers who have filmed in Omaha. His antiques graced the set of About Schmidt--look for a red chair and beer signs.

Perhaps it was a moving image theme that led to my great find: a Bell and Howell Filmo 8 projector. I bought it as a shelf decoration (it's beautiful), but found out it works. Perfectly. I returned to the shop and scooped up an 8mm camera he had (also works), and located a film supplier. Perhaps I'll be a maker and watcher of silent films.