Saturday, March 24, 2018

Blue In The Face

Earlier this week someone hit the Roebling Bridge causing authorities to be closed the bridge to all vehicles until repairs can be made.  Cincinnati photographers, myself included, have flocked to the bridge to take advantage of the opportunity to safely photograph the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge.

The second winter storm of our new spring season moved in this morning. Hoping the weather would keep most photographers away, I woke at 5 am to head to Cincinnati. Early morning plus snowstorm equaled a win for me. It was just me and my friend Michelle. We took pictures until Michell was blue in the face. Literally, she was so cold she was turning blue! That is what I call a good friend, hang with me until she is on the edge of hypothermia. 

No Michelle's where hurt in the making of this image. :) 

Roebling Bridge pre-sunrise in B&W / Elle Pollard 2018

Friday, March 23, 2018

I'm a photographer, not an accountant.

I'm a photographer, not an accountant.  I am excited to team up with QuickBooks Self-Employed. No more piles of receipts like this and hours of data entry for this photographer.  Get 50% off for 12 months with this link:  https://quickbooks.grsm.io/EllePollard  

#BackingYou

My old system of tracking receipts before QuickBooks Self-Employed / Elle Pollard 2018

Thursday, March 22, 2018

What if

What if spiteful words and actions could not hurt

What if instead of reacting, I reflect

What if I see the hurt I bare as a mirror, exposing my fears or self-loathing

What if I do not try to change the other person but amend the one I can, me

What if I use the experience to rise, expand my self-awareness and improve my core

What if I embrace the hate turning it into positive growth

What if I convert the self-torcher to self-love

What if I slay the bitterness with amorous awareness

What if the venom is no longer viable

~Elle Pollard
What if / Elle Pollard

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Monday, March 12, 2018

Friday, March 9, 2018

Common Misidentification

The misidentification of this species is common.  Encounters often happen in a scene where human gather to observe a passing coyote, like the one where I captured this image. Correct identification can be difficult. I am referring to the misidentification of the human species in the wilds. You will know them by their howls "wolf, wolf" when a coyote is present.  These humans fall into two sub-species categories, the imalwaysright urwrong, and the idontknowthat wowthanks.

When addressing the imalwaysright urwrong, it is best not engage once identified. This sub-species is abrasive, have been known to become aggressive when a "coyote" call counters the "wolf" cries.  I have found the best reaction is to remain calm, slowly back away while issuing a distracting statement, "and did you see the coyote, too?"  Discontinue all interaction. Do not make further eye contact. Immediately seek a new location.

The Idontknowthat wowthanks is better suited to adapt and comprehend when presented with a different call.   An additional factual statement like, "its ears are taller and pointed unlike a wolf's that are shorter and rounded," makes their head tilts inquisitively. This group will relax and be attentive as if they are trying to gain knowledge for future use. This amicable sub-species is safe to feed information, "the coyote's muzzle is narrow or slender and pointed, while the wolf's muzzles are shorter and blockier."  Most will remain open and eager to learn. However,  few have shown a submissive demeanor by dropping their head.  Speaking in a reassuring voice to the wistful human, "misidentifying wolves for coyotes is a common mistake."  Slow, pleasant movements and vocalization is the best reaction.

Understanding the differences between the two sub-species will aid in proper identifications.
Coyote in the snow, Yellowstone NP/Elle Pollard 2018

Friday, March 2, 2018

First Friday Photo Friend - Robert Coomer

This month's First Friday Photo Friend is Cincinnati's very own man of steel. Yes, it's true, an infant male landed in the middle of America's Heartland. The child was raised on a farm in  Brown County, Ohio.  As a young boy, he curated and collected scenes made with his toys.  Disillusioned with clean up time the child learned the extraordinary power of drawing his collections. This power would keep those toy curating moments memorialized.  As a young man, he journeys to UC College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning wherein the photographic darkroom he discovered the power of chemicals, silver halide crystals, and red lights. It was then he knew what he was sent here to do. Today he grips a camera in one hand, a power tool in the other, standing in front a pile of metal plates our man of steel emerges. Sanding, painting and creating. Hours turn into days, and days turn into months. Finally, he is finished, giving the world Art in Decay.  He is Robert Coomer.

Years past and Robert grew to maturity... A short break will be taken as the writer seem to be choking on the last sentence. We will return momentarily...

Years past and Robert had grown to maturity when my paths crossed his on a hiking trail in Ohio. His  Lois Lane, Tabby accompanied him.  Each was wearing a camera pack, but Tabby does not shoot.  She was there for the hike and to support her husband. The instant I figured out that Tabby was carrying gear for Robert she gained hero status in my eyes.  Proving behind the Man of Steel is a superhero, a woman, Tabby.

I was intrigued and wanted to know more about Robert's work.  After a bit of internet investigation, I realized Robert was more than the photographer he led me to believe. But what is he hiding?

One night in a parking lot,  under a solitary street lamp I was chatting with a friend when out of the darkness Robert appeared. I decided it was a good to time question him about my suspicions and the rotten art he spoke.  A smile buried deep under the mask of his beard appeared as he answered,  "Art in Decay is my newest body of work, and probably the most artistic. My goal is to build a believable artifact of time, connecting the subject of my image, to the strata that I am printing on. I want the viewer to look at my pieces, especially the steel work, and believe they were made from pieces from within the photo. Maybe I stole a piece of metal off the tin roof of the old house or barn and printed on it?"  Then he turned and opened the back of his SUV. The light flickered, and the wind blew as he shuffled through large felt wrapped bundles.  Unsure what was going to happen next my body began to shake. I forgot my coat and was cold. With the strength of a man that has done the task a hundred times before, Robert started to reveal Art in Decay.  Metal plates made the images come alive. Captivated by the beauty of the industrial print.  I could not look away, it was as if I was entranced by some unknown power.

Our steely man has assumed the disguise of a plaid wearing, mild-mannered photographer. He carries the camera, post to social media, sells his work in galleries and art shows.  But far away from civilization he uses his powers. A piece of steel scarred with pits and rust rises from months of neglect.  Debris fall to the ground as Robert uses his hand to pick up the metal. Utilizing a power-sander he is faster than hand sanding, more powerful than a sanding block and able to leap two steps in a single bound.  Chaos erupts in the workshop. For hours metal panels are single handily sanded, cleaned, painted and even washed in acid.  As the dust settles, our hero uses his laser eyes (aka a big printer)  to apprehend another piece of the Art in Decay collection.

The infant of Brown County is now the Man of Steel, fulfilling his call to art.  Robert battles the never-ending need to take his photography to the next level through his print production.

Please note some details in this blog post have been fabricated. I have never seen Robert leap over two steps in a single bound.  I may have molded my story to give the appearance I am friends with Clark Kent assuming a pseudo name, when in fact I was indeed referring to my friend  Robert Coomer.  For complete information check out his work at the links below:

http://artindecay.com/
http://artindecay.com/instagram/
https://www.facebook.com/artindecay/

http://robertcoomer.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Robert.Coomer.Photography/

Completed art piece of  Robert Coomer / photo by Robert Coomer

Metal print in acid bath / photo by Robert Coomer

Distressing bolts with fire to burn off oils / photo by Robert Coomer