Reaction shots to Pose

So there are some reaction shots, some photos of the photos left, and then the little girl finding the photo. Enjoy!
~*~Hayley~*~

It's MAGIC! *shakes hands down like spirit fingers* Bahahaha!

Jacob Next to H2O

Jacob at Lookout Mountain Flight Park

Carrie and Ollie

Oma with Ginger and Hootie

Jacob on Bridge

Richard

Richard and Ollie

That goes out to whoever has seen Richard Scott Hill say they word "Magic". It made my life 2 years ago in professional practices. So this weekend was semi-productive. I worked on Pose. I went to Coolidge Park with Jacob, Carrie, Richard, and Ollie. I took some photos of them around the park on Saturday and then printed them at WalMart. Went back and placed them around the park on Sunday and then played creeper. I placed the first 2 photos of Richard and nothing really happened, but the photo of Carrie and Ollie got taken and I watched it happen from a bridge. It was so exciting to see someone interacting with this project. So here is what happened. I was on the bridge with a photo of Jacob and I look down toward the area I left the photo of Carrie and Ollie (mother and son) and I noticed a little girl, maybe 3 years old, with the photo taking it to her mother. I was soo cute and so exciting. I took photos from the bridge with my 28mm (I was so mad I didn't have the 70-210). I can crop it in some. I went back after I saw that to see if I could find the little girl and her mother and ask to take a photo of her with the photo, but no luck. So after that, I decided to hang out on the bridge (complete with the 70-210) to get reactions to the photo I left there. I got some great reactions and I thought it was funny that while I was holding this MASSIVE camera and lens, that people were more interested with the photo taped to the bridge. I got great reaction shots. So this experience was MAGIC!!!*shaking hands as before*. I have decided that I will do this in Douglasville and in Carrollton as well so that I can leave the photos longer than a couple of hours and continue to revisit them. With that being said, I NEED VOLUNTEERS!! Please email, message, call, text, comment, or let me know.
~*~Hayley~*~

Just an update.

It seems as of recently I have been a little off my game. I feel as if I have been giving excuse after excuse as to why I haven't been producing. This week was kinda a bummer. I'm bummed Kelley didn't show up like he said he would, I'm bummed that I have been ITCHING since SUNDAY (allergic reaction to I don't know what), I'm bummed that I haven't gotten my artist statement fixed, and that I haven't new work to show. It seems that when I get one part of my life semi-situated, all other parts just crumble away. So, next Wednesday is the day that I am meeting The Imperial Opa for photos. I am planning this weekend to be a work on Pose weekend. I have been doing stuff for work, not much, but I had a nice photo at the Festival of Majors. (photo that is included) Nothing spectacular, just nice. And something even more important, I finally understand the Zing! poster that says "I am fly like a z6." I didn't know there was a song that said "I am fly like a g6" It was like a fog had been lifted when I heard that. Yes, I am out of the loop and I'm not "fly". You learn something new everyday at West Ga, just not always scholastically useful. OH, if anyone wants to be a part of my Pose project, please comment me and let me know when you would be free. I really need people to sit for me, it would only take a few minutes of your day and we could do some on campus so it can be done in between classes. *light bulb over head* *DING* I just got an idea. I think that I am going to go to the square today after work or maybe in Douglasville and do a photo of me sitting with my camera in a reflection of a building. That might be interesting. Anyways, that is all for now. Happy Shooting Everyone!
~*~Hayley~*~

Time to man up and move on.

Ok, I had my spirits crushed a bit yesterday at the committee meeting. I was crazy excited to show what I have been working on and only a few images were liked. I'm still struggling with what I want to focus on and narrow my project down to. I have heard from Tim Mack of Imperial Opa and am going to be going to take photos of a practice on March 2nd. I do kinda like that "family" aspect, focusing on the passing of tradition. Practice would be a place to catch the moments that the viewers of the performance wouldn't get to see. (equivalent to the jugglers practicing in their living room). I am thinking similar compositions as the photo I did of my niece and her dad helping her with the contact juggling. That tight crop and depth of field I think helps to make that image strong. I like the idea of looking at the performing group possibly as a "family" as well. They are together quite a bit doing their thing and they feed off of each other, much like my family does. I would still like to have a few performance photos, maybe a few candid, downtime style photos. I think that by focusing on the passing of tradition, my project could include the "human" aspect of this type of entertainment. To be honest, after talking to Tim Mack, my spirits have been lifted and I am ready to man up and move on. So Happy Shooting to everyone!
~*~Hayley~*~

Just because...

...it's a puppy. I realized I didn't have an image for my last update, so here is "Ruffles". Enjoy!
~*~Hayley~*~

I thought of something!

I was wanting my performers to transition from practice/ street clothes to performance clothes. I was trying to think of something for my brother Kelley to wear since he is not a full time juggler. It came to me. I am going to ask him to come out next week to do a "Happening" in front of the UCC and I am going to ask him to wear dress pants, a wife beater, suspenders, and his really cool fedora. I'm thinking kinda like a carnie from the 50s and 60s. It would set him apart from the crowd, not be too difficult to perform in, and it would look kinda nice. I'm going to let him know and I'm certain he would be happy to do this. Also, I have my committee meeting today. I feel like I'm gonna get a tongue lashing. I don't feel I am where I should be with all of my stuff since my show is around the corner. My plan is to shoot Kelley next week and find out when I can get Jamie to do a similar thing. Maybe I can take him to like Marietta square or Little Five Points where there are a lot of people. Now, for Jamie's clothing I might do something similar as Kelley's shots. Jamie just got a very nice bowler hat. Have in him a black dress shirt with his hat and black dress pants. Or in another color dress shirt. The basic idea is to show a distinct difference between practice and performance. I might also talk Kelley into being a clown just for fun since he has the clown nose and all. :) I'm going to have to talk to them, but I think this will all be workable and I should be able to pull it off in a matter of days, schedule permitting. Anyways, just wanted to get that out there.
~*~Hayley~*~
**PS: I just emailed The Imperial Opa to ask for their participation. I am ON IT today. lol

And here we go again...

Well, I think I'm ready for a committee meeting. Although I feel like I'm behind, overwhelmed, and completely lost. I have heard that Captain Stab-Tuggo and his lovely performance partner and wife Maybelle are going to be scheduling me a day to come out and photograph them. :) I haven't heard back from Thimblerig Circus. I did a few photos of my brother in the park juggling, unfortunately, I didn't grab my camera fast enough to get the photos of the kids surrounding him. I am ready to have a small "Happening" in front of the UCC. I am gonna see when the next time one of the guys are in town, if they could come and start juggling so I can get reaction shots and what not. I want to get some photos of the guys dressed up in public as well. Maybe I will hold like a small impromptu performance which has the guys dressed up. Jamie said he is getting a zentai suit so he can cover his identity for performances (but he doesn't have it yet). I would like him to wear his Renaissance Festival clothing for a few shots because that is where his first picked up his talent. I will hopefully be able to shoot some more this weekend so that I can have more to show for my committee meeting, if I have it next week. I am thinking that I need to set out specific dates to have specific things completed. Like dates that I will have committee meetings, and have them set up now so that I know that everyone can be there and I am not scrambling around last minute. I also need to work on my revamped artist statement. I have started a little bit and am working it, though I am not a writer at all. I believe I need to hit up the writing center. But for now, this is all I have. But wait, I have just found out that one of my jugglers is in town right now. Maybe I can ditch work for like an hour and go shoot him and buy his breakfast for payment. We shall see... :) But until next time, Happy shooting.
~*~Hayley~*~

From the mouth of the performer.

I received this message on Facebook describing what how a contemporary carnie views his life. Enjoy.
"a little more concise take on "the life", after seeing your photos and reconsidering the "attitude" that might go into creating a person who does these things:

what these photos represent to the majority of you is that "these people don't follow the mainstream"
..."they don't spend their time like we do"..."these people do 'stupid shit' for 'fun'"

...and that's true...we tend to look a little further into life than 24/7 tv...
we tend to watch and study the people around us...
we learn their nervous tics and attitudes....and then we put on display, the same
ideas that you'd rebel against...the reflections of your "self"

"I can hammer a 8in spike up my nose" [claims the performer]

"you're a freak" [claims the crowd]

"anyone can roll a ball around my body" [claims the tv]

"only if you practice..." [claims the performer]

"I can't do that shit..." [claims the public]

"no shit" [claims the performer]

while the disipline is one in the same, the reaction is what seperates us...
though it all rests in the realm of "performance"...

the "carnies" of yester-year were bogged down in a simple situation...how can we make money off of these
people's dis-beliefs...today, we're tasked with "how can we compete with current entertainment?!?"...

WE, as performers are tasked with making folks look away from the [idiot box] and focus on
a truly human element...we are live...we are there...and sometimes, we mess up in front of you...lol...

we are a dying culture...people have too much to worry about than "eating fire, catching a million things,
rolling balls, and shoving shit up your nose...

anyone can do these things that we present, yet we are the ones who take the time to learn why we can do it...
and find a way to present it in a way that makes sense to you, the Audience (or doesn't...that's the beauty of art)...
and to truly appreciate the effect that our time spent, has on you, the people...we are the performers of art in real time...
we are michealangelo under a microscope...his first stroke on a fresco is our final stroke on a performance...we create..."-Jamie Warner
~*~Hayley~*~

I think this will look nice right...

Here.

Just some photos

Just some work I did last night at home. There is three generations of jugglers. I want this set to convey the passing of tradition and the importance of practice. I also want to show how jugglers feed off of each other and practice with each other. And a little humor in the last photo. Just a start with what I'm working on. Next step is to hunt down Captain Stab-Tuggo! So to everyone I say, happy shooting!
~*~Hayley~*~

The Snow-pocolyspe has returned...Well, not quite.

Here are just a few snow pictures I did for work. They are around campus before the snow really started melting. So about my projects, I have talked to my brothers and I am meeting them tonight to do some photos of them practicing together. I have been thinking I want a large print (like almost life sized) of each performer doing their thing surrounded by smaller prints of practice, mingling, and the other little things that lead up to the big performance, then even smaller prints of reactions from the audience members. I'm thinking that I need to get the practice shots out of the way first, then move to the mingling, then to the performance. At the performance, I will shoot half crowd shots, and half the performers to get everything I need. This might include me going to 1 show for crowd shots and another show for performance shots. I have found out that Thimblerig is heading to North Carolina this weekend, which explains why I haven't heard from they yet. But I shall post a couple of photos from tonight when I get them done. I was also thinking that I could have the boys showing my niece how to juggle to convey the passing of tradition. Just a thought. Anyways, keep warm and happy shooting until next time.
~*~Hayley~*~

Photo of the Day

Ok, so I'm editing some photos from this weekend where I went a did some shots for POSE. I have a few good ones which will be printed and left next time I go to Athens, and at here is the shot of the day from that shoot.I don;t know what it is, but I love shooting through things such as peep holes, binoculars, telescopes, and just plain holes. I like that these items naturally frame what I am shooting and it does push the idea of voyeurism. I think for this photo I will put the chair back in the same spot with the photos above it. I want passersby to question where I took the photo from, so I think the photo should go on the wall right above where this was taken. I also have plans for a few other photos I took. So I emailed Chris Steele yesterday, no word yet, but I am going to Douglasville tomorrow to shoot my brother Jamie (contact juggler) in a personal setting, and also shoot Jamie and Kelley feeding off of one another in a practice area. I'm going to minimize background clutter, but still leave one or 2 small things to show they are in a private area. Something Kelley had said to me during an interview was that out of everyone he performs and practices with, Jamie is the one he feeds off of the best. They both try to show the other one up, but in a playful brotherly rivalry type way. They push each other to be the best that they can be. I'm going to try to capture this on camera. I'm thinking bounced flash off of the ceiling or wall to give natural-ish lighting, but still well lit. Onward, to bigger things!
~*~Hayley~*~

And the start of show number 2!

Ok. So everyone is aware of the Scars exhibition in Atlanta being last night. For those who haven't heard already, it went very well. :) Since that stress is off my shoulders for the time being, time to focus on show number 2! The Show Must Go on is right around the corner. I feel my time slipping away as I type this. I have soo much to think about and to start planning, I feel swamped. So, to put this all down now. I have the place booked. I have the band pretty much booked. I have the food planned. Now to actually get some work. (I hear the actual photos are the important part, who would have guessed). I am going to revise my artist statement to include more about the performers. As I have mentioned a million times over, I want to focus on every aspect of the performers' lives. I want to include works from their private practice space, to the public performance space, and even the connection they make with the audience. Due to a lack in funds, I am unable to attend the "peep show" that is coming to Little Five Point on Thursday. *sad face*. I haven't heard back from Thimblerig Circus, but in all fairness to them, they are quite busy with the Georgia Renaissance Festival coming up. I would like to get in touch with Chris Steele aka the Amazing Stab Tuggo.<-go check out his website (WARNING! Might make you cringe...But it's worth it.) I think I might email him a few minutes to get a date set to do some stuff. I'm also looking into doing like a small Happening style performance in front of the UCC around lunch time with some jugglers. Just to get some reactions to what they are doing and what not. At the top are some new things I was working on. Nothing great, but just some starting points, although I feel like I'm back at square 1 with them. I do plan on re-shooting some those, especially the one of the 2 contact juggling balls together. I want to light it in a way that highlights the nicks and dings in the standard acrylic to show that although he is really good at contact juggling, he still drops it. Anywhoozle, just thought I would update.
~*~Hayley~*~

A bit last minute

I was on facebook and found this link. Atlanta Celebrate Photography is looking for proposals for the 2011 ACP public art piece. The deadline is February 28th! We can submit as a group or as individuals. Check it out and see what you think.
~*~Hayley~*~

In case you didn't know....

Hehe, I totally got this shirt for Christmas from my brother and his fiance and thought it would be a good way to make this dreary day much brighter. And yes, I do shoot people. :) So the shoots last night went well, I haven't edited them yet, but I was happy with the feel I got from the photos. I also did another interview with my other brother (the one that gave me the awesome shirt) before we started shooting and we also bounced ideas. He had an idea to appease everyone. Focus the larger prints on the performers while including numerous smaller prints of the audience reactions, whether the reactions are good, or just ignoring. The reasoning is that for Kelley, the reaction of the audience kind of dictates what he does. If a group of people like what he is doing, then he will do more, but if he doesn't get the reaction he wants, he stops and moves on. He also brought up the idea that everyone is performing in some way in everyday life. To look at myself as a performer to my committee. See what they like, keep pushing that, but at the same time, back up my opinions and my views because in the end, I do this to make myself happy. I also found out that Kelley uses his talents as a mean to connect with people much like Jamie does. But about the shoots. I did some shots of Jamie at work with a few onlookers. Jamie was not the main focus, but he was still in the shot. I also worked on intimate shots of Kelley. I got shots of him messing up and dropping the balls, shots of him looking at the camera making a face, shots of him hula hooping... I got one shot I really like that has him bending to pick up a ball, but only his leg is in the shot. In context with other photos, I think this one would be interesting. He also agreed to dress up like a clown when we go in public for photos. (Yes, nose and all). I pitched the idea of the carte de visite to Perry and he really liked the idea. :) I think I am finally getting a handle on this. :) Now, didn't that just brighten up the day.
~*~Hayley~*~
(P.S. Gotta love the "deer in the headlights" look I have in the photo...Priceless!)