Viewfinder Anschauung

Moving!

2009-08-07T15:19:00.000-07:00

Hello to all three of the people who read this. Please note that all future posts will now be at my new photoblog: http://stevengrayphotography.wordpress.com/

I fancy the layout of WordPress better than that of Blogger (better looking and easier to use), so for your benefit and mine, I'll be setting up shop there from now on.

Regards,
Steven

Carly Spade

2009-07-20T21:28:00.000-07:00

Carly Spade, (Model Mayhem #56852), is a young and talented young model from Pensacola. She has worked with some very proficient and advanced photographers, which intimidated me at first, my style is pretty simplistic by comparison, but it turned out to be a very relaxed and enjoyable shoot. Enjoy.

Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk

2009-07-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

Not much to say here, except that it was the most fun thing I've done on a weekend in quite some time.

Boat & Clouds

2009-06-26T09:52:00.001-07:00

Continuing my love for the idea of solitude on the water.

Tall Ship

2009-06-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

Taking a break from editing a wedding to post some shots I took of the Juan Sebastian De Elcano as it docked in Pensacola Harbor last Thursday. The third largest tall ship in the world, its landing kicked off the 450th Celebration of the Juan Tristan De Luna's founding of Pensacola.

I continued my growing reputation for looking stupid to get the shot by running making my way across Plaza De Luna underneath a blue tarp to keep my lens and camera dry. Just call me Inky.

Flowers after the Rain

2009-06-03T14:05:00.000-07:00

The Pianist

2009-05-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

"A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence."
- Leopold Stokowski

Heron and the Moon

2009-05-17T20:07:00.001-07:00

"When despair for the world grows in me, and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be -- I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought or grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free."
- Wendell Berry

Downtown in Black & White

2009-05-10T16:53:00.000-07:00

Lauren

2009-05-07T21:12:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the absence; the Leviathan known as finals kept me busy. I now present some retro-themed portraits, taken this previous week. It's no secret that I'm a fan of vintage fashion photography, and it comes through very transparently here, mimicking the classic compositions and colors seen in Seventeen and Vogue magazines in the 1950s.

This post is significant as it marks the first to include a musical slideshow of the photoshoot. I plan to do this with every shoot, as well as include some behind the scenes video of the creative process.
Scroll down to view the photo, and remember to set it to HQ to get the best picture.

Kids

2009-04-24T20:48:00.000-07:00

“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.”

- Elizabeth Lawrence

A few shots from my cousins' recent visit.

Seeds of Hope

2009-04-17T08:06:00.000-07:00

I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph an awesome benefit show last weekend. In five hours, five bands rocked the UWF Commons Auditorium to help raise awareness and funds for suicide awareness.

I've never personally known anyone who committed suicide, but I've seen depression in many forms; I even felt it myself during my early teen years, and the importance of support and a willing ear can never be overestimated.

Easter Lily

2009-03-14T08:33:00.000-07:00

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.
- Robert Flatt

Peaceful Solitude

2009-03-12T13:41:00.001-07:00

“Solitude is such a potential thing. We hear voices in solitude, we never hear in the hurry and turmoil of life; we receive counsels and comforts, we get under no other condition . . .”

- Amanda E. Barr

Swing Fiends

2009-03-07T17:11:00.001-08:00

"If their feet aren't in the right place, at least their hearts are."

- Christian M. Chensvold

Endless Island

2009-03-06T13:55:00.000-08:00

Angela

2009-02-25T16:29:00.000-08:00

A few shots from the Flickr Meet-up Pensacola group shoot last week.

Pensacola Beach

2009-02-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

A few hours prior to sunset.

Wet Tarmac

2009-02-17T13:55:00.001-08:00

High Key Candy

2009-02-13T12:14:00.000-08:00

Dirty City

2009-02-12T08:23:00.000-08:00

Beach Skateboarder

2009-02-11T20:19:00.001-08:00

Dome of a Home

2009-02-07T20:27:00.000-08:00

Kit Car

2009-01-30T13:24:00.001-08:00

Fannie

2009-01-22T09:43:00.000-08:00

Taken at St. Michael's Cemetery.

Aragon

2009-01-21T18:06:00.000-08:00

Continuing my obsession with clocks in Aragon.

Weddings

2009-01-16T20:48:00.000-08:00

It has been, in a feeble attempt at the parlance of the interweb, an uber-busy couple of months. In the confusion of the holidays and multiple bookings for photographic services, I've neglected my sad little blog. As restitution, I offer an extended sampling of photos from the weddings I've photographed since my last posting.

Every wedding is special, but these felt really special because of the good friends and wonderful people I got to work with in shooting them. While it's technically my job to photograph a wedding, I always tend to view it as a privilege; that I've been selected out of a host of others to record the most important day of a couple's life in my own unique visual style.

Every wedding's photographs have their own tone, as far as the angles I choose and the points I focus on in post-processing, and these are no exception. The respective couples had very definite ideas about the way they wanted their photos to look, which helped stretch me in new ways. They were fun to make and I hope you enjoy them.

Josh and Barbie

Chad and Sara

Shades of Kubrick

2008-12-17T16:27:00.001-08:00

Taken yesterday while on assignment for Jupiter Composites.

Two Bikes

2008-12-12T12:42:00.000-08:00

Ultra Mega

2008-12-11T20:21:00.000-08:00

One of my favorites from a shoot I did over the summer for the super cool guys who run the awesomely awesome Ultra Mega Studio on the corner of Gadsden and Davis. Props to Rocco and Kimsalsky for running such a great outlet for local talent.

Cross at Sunset

2008-12-09T11:33:00.000-08:00

"Men have said that the cross of Christ was not a heroic thing, but I want to tell you that the cross of Jesus Christ has put
more heroism in the souls of men than any other event in human history."
– John G. Lake

Palafox

2008-12-07T14:46:00.001-08:00

"Palafox Street is a major and historic north-south artery in Pensacola. It serves as the dividing line for all the city's east-west streets. Palafox is also the southernmost leg of US Highway 29, which terminates at Palafox and Garden Streets in downtown Pensacola. Palafox Street is named for José de Palafox y Melzi,
a Spanish nobleman and military hero."
- Pensapedia

Further experimentation with my new polarizing filter.

Three Mile

2008-12-05T05:15:00.000-08:00

Driving home across the Three Mile Bridge.

Loblolly Self Portrait

2008-12-03T18:34:00.000-08:00

Levels

2008-11-17T14:17:00.001-08:00

Michelle Obama

2008-10-21T13:42:00.000-07:00

I had the unexpected chance to get some photos of Michelle Obama earlier today. I don't agree with her husband's politics, but the Civic Center is always good practice for event photos.

(Big thanks go to Tim at the Civic Center for offering to taking me in the back way while I was out photographing the crowd.)

Water Tower

2008-10-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

Taken on my way home from the aforementioned Peanut Festival.

Foul Ball

2008-10-16T16:05:00.000-07:00

Gabbert Farm Peanut Festival

2008-10-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

Big time of the last weekend up in Jay. Considering it was a peanut festival, I was surprised that there was only one booth devoted to peanuts.

Gustav at Pensacola Beach

2008-09-01T13:23:00.001-07:00

Renewing the Vows

2008-07-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

From the last wedding I photographed. I opted for a more naturalistic look this time.

Gold Star

2008-07-11T13:04:00.001-07:00

I was out photoing with Sheldon yesterday at NAS Pensacola and had the good fortune and privilege to be present as the gold star was presented to a distinguished member of the United States Marine Corps.

Fire Breather

2008-07-07T11:05:00.000-07:00

Kids on the Fourth

2008-07-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

"My early childhood memories center around this typical American country store and life in a small American town, including 4th of July celebrations marked by fireworks and patriotic music played from a pavilion bandstand."
- Frederick Reines

Colorful Hotel

2008-06-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

Feeding the Young

2008-06-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

"The very idea of a bird is a symbol and a suggestion to the poet. A bird seems to be at the top of the scale, so vehement and intense his life. . . . The beautiful vagabonds, endowed with every grace, masters of all climes, and knowing no bounds -- how many human aspirations are realised in their free, holiday-lives -- and how many suggestions to the poet in their flight and song!"
- John Burrough

Fountain Drops

2008-06-17T17:25:00.000-07:00

"Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as the water from a fountain. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass the fountain"
- Lao-Tze

Karate Demo at Kung Fu Panda Opening

2008-06-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

Presented by Falbo's Family Karate.

Phil Wickham

2008-06-12T14:41:00.000-07:00

"For You I sing I dance
Rejoice in this divine romance"
- Phil Wickham, "Divine Romance"

Reborn

2008-06-10T18:32:00.000-07:00

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"

- Matthew 3:11

A Film That Needs Making

2008-05-31T11:12:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how cool real life can look.

Silhouettes at the Pier

2008-05-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

“My life is like a stroll on the beach...as near to the edge as I can go.”
- Thoreau

Frisco

2008-05-26T21:13:00.000-07:00

The time will come when people will travel in stages moved by steam engines from one city to another, almost as fast as birds can fly, 15 or 20 miles an hour.... A carriage will start from Washington in the morning, the passengers will breakfast at Baltimore, dine at Philadelphia, and sup in New York the same day.... Engines will drive boats 10 or 12 miles an hour, and there will be hundreds of steamers running on the Mississippi, as predicted years ago.
- Oliver Evans, 1800

The Potter

2008-05-24T08:09:00.000-07:00

For in the Market-place, one Dusk of Day,
I watch'd the Potter thumping his wet Clay:
And with its all obliterated Tongue
It murmur'd -- "Gently, Brother, gently, pray!"
- The Rubayyat of Omar Khayyam, XXXVII

Photos of a Photographer

2008-05-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

On the day I shot the past few entries, I had good company in the form of one of my best friends, who is also a photographer. The photos in this entry are a fly-on-the-wall look of him at work.

Screaming Tree

2008-05-21T13:12:00.000-07:00

The Tracks

2008-05-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

Confusion of Lights

2008-05-08T07:11:00.001-07:00

Clock Tower

2008-05-04T18:28:00.000-07:00

Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back,
Wherein he puts alms for oblivion,
A great-sized monster of ingratitudes:
Those scraps are good deeds past; which are devour'd
As fast as they are made, forgot as soon
As done: perseverance, dear my lord,
Keeps honour bright: to have done is to hang
Quite out of fashion, like a rusty mail
In monumental mockery.
- Troilus and Cressida, Act 3, Scene 3

Country Estate in the Golden Spring

2008-04-30T16:55:00.000-07:00

"It was the sort of house that you never seem to come to the end of,
and it was full of unexpected places. "
- The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe

Pensacola Beach

2008-04-26T15:47:00.000-07:00

Pensacola Beach from the Air

2008-04-25T20:50:00.000-07:00

(Big thanks to my friend and pilot Sheldon for taking me up.)

The Barn

2008-04-19T15:38:00.000-07:00

Some of the best fun to be had during the year is a dance at The Barn. The barn is closed for the rest of the year to be renovated, but until then, we have our memories.

Last Game of the Season

2008-04-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

Baseball; the all-American sport. Seen below are photos I took while in attendance at one of my hometown's Junior Varsity games the other day; the last one of the regular season. I had the opportunity to act as fitness trainer to some of them last fall, and it was great to see them in action.

Anschauung. Anschauung? Anschauung!

2008-04-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

Anschauung
–noun Philosophy.
direct or immediate intuition or perception of sense data with little or no rational interpretation.

There's not much else to say. Photography is my vision and the extension of my imagination. Enjoy the ride.