Bit By the Blogging Bug

After months of encouragement from others, I'm pleased to announce (and therefore shamelessly plug) my husband's blog!

If you have an interest in mechanical engineering, the "green-build" movement, flying or guitar click on over to Just Bloggin' and let Isaac know what you think!

TGIF!

No, we didn't just come back from Alaska; I'm just now getting around to posting these pics of the kids and their snowman from the big snowstorm at the beginning of the month! Spring can be a cruel time here, in Ohio. We get the first daffodils and crocuses coming up, and then get hit with more snow, just as it seems will be the case today (I hear parts of Ohio will get up to 4").

The better weather is on it's way and I, for one am thrilled because with the warmer weather comes weddings! I was given an opportunity to second shoot one with another fantastic photographer this weekend so I should have some images to share on the blog early next week!

Have a great weekend!

Emerson Burkhart

Music

Sunday night, after watching another installment of the Complete Jane Austen on PBS (it was Emma...and no, our daughter was not named after the protagonist) I stayed up another couple minutes to watch the local featurette. In the past, they've shown mini-documentaries on things like the construction of the LeVeque Tower or the history of some local attraction...and I'm a history buff, so the feature was sure to keep my interest, whatever it was.

It turned out to be a piece on a massive, 70 foot mural that once hung in the auditorium at Central High School (now COSI) painted by a local artist, Emerson Burkart. He had been commissioned to paint the piece simply called, "Music" in the 1930's. It featured musicians and music lovers alike apparently swaying and dancing euphorically. Just four years after it was painted, officials deemed it "too risque" and had it painted over. Then, in the 1990's a group of students from Fort Hayes participated in a project to restore the mural to its' original beauty...each student donating a minimum of one hour of service to remove the chalk-and-glue composite covering the painting. The project is now complete and the mural hangs in the Battelle Hall at the Columbus Convention Center for all to enjoy.

I knew as I was watching the program that I had to do a blog post about this (art, prohibition and a renaissance...all rolled into one great story). Then yesterday, on a chance visit to the Ohio Historical Society (my six-year-old wanted to see the mummy there), I saw Emerson Burkhart's face staring at me from behind a glass enclosure... he's one of the local artists featured by the society and his self portrait hangs in the gallery.

He was born in Northwestern Ohio, attended Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, painted in New York City and Massachusetts and eventually settled in a home on Woodland Avenue with his wife Mary Ann. She died tragically at the age of 37, and Emerson remained a widower. He died of a stroke in 1969. He left a mark on the art world, but it's a shame he wasn't better known; especially by those of us lifelong Columbus residents.

His fascinating story is recounted here by a friend of his, if you (like I) care to learn more. Be sure to check out the gallery links on the same page too!

A portrait of the artist's wife

Edible Landscapes

I've said it before, I love great photography! I've just found a new photographer who inspires me and his name is Carl Warner.

In an attempt to encourage children to eat more healthy foods, he came up with a series of photographic landscapes like the one above. Yes, it looks like a beach at sunset, but look closely and you'll see that the water is made of salmon, the boat is a peapod and the rocks are actually soda bread.

A beautiful collection that also inspires one to really think outside the [fast food] box!

Click here to see more!

Happy Easter!

Words cannot express the absolute joy I feel this particular Easter. Today I am filled with a sense of peace, fulfillment and gratitude that I have never known before. So forgive me for not having any pictures to share of Easter Egg hunts (they have taken place, I assure you) or stunning Honeybaked Hams (with my mother-in-law's cheesy potatoes and angel food cake...yum).

Instead, I simply want to share with all who may read this the same delirious happiness that I feel right now.

Happy Easter. :)

What a Treat!

Again, I divert completely from the topic of photography...but I do so in an effort to raise the public's awareness of an awesome new treat available to those of us in the greater Columbus area, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams.

There's so little on t.v. these days, that our set is often tuned to the Food Network. Last week, the show Unwrapped with Marc Summers (anyone my age will remember him from the Nickelodeon show "Double Dare") did a feature on a small-batch ice cream parlor that specialized in combining sweet and savory ice cream flavors. The program showed the owner making her ice cream step by step (even making homemade marshmallows for her version of Rocky Road) and putting it into pints where she hand wrote all the flavors right onto the package. Sounded great, then my buddy Marc says she's located in Columbus, Ohio!

So this past Friday I headed out to see if I could find Jeni's. I had a hunch from what they showed on t.v. that she might be at the North Market so I went there first and much to my surprise that's just where she was! A pint of the signature "Roxbury Road" and one of the famed "Salty Caramel" and we were on our way! Now I'm making it my mission to make sure everyone in Columbus has a chance to check it out!

It's high-quality stuff, and what's even cooler is the fact that Jeni uses ingredients from local sources (honey from Ashland county, coffee from Stauff's and smoked almonds from the Krema Nut Co.). The flavors offered change regularly, so go often and you'll be hooked too!

Modern Wedding Photography

Clearing off an old bookshelf the other day, I came across a book that I’ve had for quite some time, but have never really sat down and read (sound familiar?). It was an old garage sale buy (one which included my first Twin Lens Reflex cameras), but the other day I opened it up and started leafing though and was really surprised by what was inside.

It’s called “Modern Wedding Photography”. And at first glance, the word Modern seems way off! The cover photo shows the 1970’s bride surrounded by her bridesmaids all in floppy hats and a-line dresses. But the book is filled with images that (except for the hair and clothes) would seem at home in any of the wedding albums we see today.

Like today’s wedding photographers, she captured moments and looks of anticipation just before the bride walked down the aisle and intimate shots the couple just after the ceremony. She even caught detail shots, such as a close up of a bouquet or rose petals scattered on the dance floor similar to what so many wedding photojournalists do today. Also noteable was her use of different angles. When appropriate, she shot from above or below her subjects for a unique look, which was not so common in the typical wedding photography of the day.

Aside from the aforementioned hair and clothing featured in the book, the only other mention that dates it, is her equipment list and approximate costs…

Processing…$1.50 per roll (of film, that is)
Flashbulbs….$10.00 (if you have to ask “what’s a flashbulb”. I can’t talk to you anymore).
Transportation…$5.00 (uh…when gas was 36 cents per gallon!)

And perhaps the most striking feature of her book was how she described the way in which she approaches wedding photography. It struck me because although I sometimes struggle to put it into words, it’s my approach too…

..."My feeling is that I am there to record the day, not to arrange it according to what I have seen happen at other weddings. Naturally, I make sure that I get good photographs of everyone, but otherwise I just try to absorb the atmosphere and take the best pictures I can. Nothing pleases me more than a new arrangement of the receiving line or an unusual cake [sic]; a ray of light illuminating the bride while she enters the church; children overawed by the events; grandparents possibly making their last appearance at such a complete family gathering; a couple that really enjoys dancing and music hour after hour. There is something new at each wedding".

I couldn’t say it any better myself.

As I perused this book, my curiosity got the best of me and I tried to Google Suzanne Szasz. I was sure she had published many more books since 1977 and was probably teaching seminars and speaking at conventions like WPPI right now. Sadly though, she has passed on. She has left an indelible mark on the world of wedding photography. Maybe her contemporaries weren’t ready for such a radically new approach to what they had been doing for so many years, but somewhere along the line her work has been rediscovered and her contribution to the art form has earned her the title (from at least one other photographer) of Mother of Wedding Photojournalism.

Calling All High School Juniors!

With Spring upon us, it's that time of year that most High School Seniors start looking forward to...Graduation! And with that, comes the anticipation of the Juniors ready to move ahead. One thing that every Junior starts looking forward to is their Senior Portraits. And with that in mind I'm announcing my search for my first ever Student Ambassadors!

Student Ambassadors must have their sessions booked by May 31st, but the shoot can take place up until October 1st. Each ambassador will receive a portrait session (both indoor and outdoor and with unlimited clothing changes) with no session fee and discounted prints and products!

Just contact me at heather.claypool@gmail.com to learn more about being an ambassador and learn what will make your senior portraits memorable and unique!

The First Gift of Spring

Hope everyone got out and enjoyed some of the beautiful weather yesterday! Those of us long time Ohio residents know that days like that don't come too often in early March, so we have to take advantage of it while we can. I was very pleasantly surprised to see that the fruits of our (okay, my husband's) labors from this past fall are taking shape...I found these in three places in our yard yesterday!




I think they're daffodils, but I can't be sure... My husband is the one with the green thumb, so he planted them, not me. Besides, I was probably off editing photos somewhere anyway! But it does give us hope for the days to come.

And speaking of Hope, make sure you get out and vote today! Whether you're in Ohio, Texas, Vermont or Rhode Island...today's your day! And if you're shying away because you're a registered independent and don't think you can vote for a candidate...worry no more! According to the election officials, you can make a declaration at the polls and make sure your voice is heard! It's a phenomenal year for politics (something I have never been particularly interested in until now), and we all have a tremendous opportunity to really make an impact.. so get out there and vote!

Everybody in the Pool!

This past Friday my husband participated in the annual Swim for Diabetes. It was great fun to watch and cheer him and the rest of his fantastic team on! As for results...they came in second in my favorite relay...the business suit relay! All proceeds from the event will go to Diabetes research and education. I'm so proud that he's taking a part in such a great cause, and he gets to have fun doing it too! The event was held at the Dublin Rec Center which, in addition to having a first class aquatics center, also has a beautiful facility for banquets and weddings! I'm always keeping an eye out for places like this becuase not only does it have adequate space for a wedding reception, it also sits right next to scenic Coffman Park...an amazing place for gorgeous wedding pictures! Oops, did I get off the subject again? Well, back to the Swim for Diabetes...

Looking over the order of events one last time...

The pool looks so tranquil...

Seriously, have you ever tried to swim in a business suit???