Jarrod’s Photography Blog

Views from my temporary apartment.  Rainy season makes for some striking cloud shots.

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So it’s no secret I’m into hats.  I think the last few posts let the cat out of the bag on that one.  My collection is growing and more importantly, so is my ability to incorporate my love of hats into photography.  I am working with the greatest hat shop in world, HATS IN THE BELFRY, to provide creative images of lids they carry or that I’ve purchased there.  They are fantastic people and their selection is second to none!  Their online store is great too!

Most recently, two new hats found their way into my collection.  Here are some samples of the shots I produced to showcase the quality, style and “feel” of each one:

The Hats in the Belfy “Ellington” -a formal hat made of wool…only the best materials and craftsmanship go into this line of “Purple” hats from Hats in the Belfry. It’s best paired with a suit, formal blazer outfit or trendy/dark jeans and a matching vest.  It’s an attention getter.  I know from experience!

Like it?  Get it here – http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=h&Product_Code=murino-fedora-belfry-ellington

The Bailey Rubell - a fantastic summer hat.  It’s eccentric and bold in styling yet casual enough in feel and look to be worn with shorts and a T.  It’s perfect for summers here in Arizona. 

Score a Rubell here: http://www.hatsinthebelfry.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=h&Product_Code=bailey-rubell-81720

More pics to come as I put together a more formal portfolio of shots for Hats in the Belfry.  If you haven’t checked out their shop…do it!  You won’t be sorry!

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About a year ago I really got into hats.  The death of my grandfather in early 2009 was the catalyst.  He, along with my great-grandfather, wore hats most of the time.  I really do like how a hat makes a statement and I wish the 20’s era would return where hats were part of everyday fashion.  My collection is growing a little every few months but I do have a favorite.  It’s a Goorin Brothers, which at this point is my favorite “maker”.  I got it in Annapolis earlier this year at Hats in the Belfrey.  The model is “Bonanza” and it’s a plaid fedora.  The inside has a pattern of guns and a western theme.  Interestingly enough, the caricature of the man wearing the hat in the pattern looks like my Grandpa!  I travel with this hat most of the time and wear it to go out.  Here are some shots I took of it in the hotel when I was in Tacoma for Business last month…the polka-dot couch was just too cool to pass up…I thought the contrast of colors and patterns was pretty cool.  Yes, I like this hat that much!

Here is a shot my wife took of me rocking it right after I got it (location – MD State House):

Me and My Goorin Brothers "Bonanza"

Hats are Happiness

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Quite some time ago, I made a promise to myself to “live in the moment” and take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself.  I live by this and apply it to every aspect of my life; from a simple interaction with a server at a restaurant and especially in my professional life.  But, this post is about applying that to a situation I never thought I’d ever have the courage to pursue.  The situation?  Asking a total stranger if I could photograph them.  Why would I do this?  Well, let me set the stage:  I was driving to San Diego from Surprise with my family and as we always do, we stopped in Gila Bend for a cup of java.  I just so happened to pick “Love’s” this particular evening.  We drove up and parked right at the front of the store.  Before I got out, I noticed a man and his dog sitting on the sidewalk in front of the store.  Time was about 7:30pm PST..it was dark and the store was busy.  The man caught my attention because of his appearance.  He was a man that looked as if he’d lived a hard life.  He had a tired and aged face that was tattooed here and there with symbols and markings.  His hairstyle was interesting as well: Middle of his head from front to back was completely bald…then on each side of the “lane” were carefully manicured mohawks running the length of his head.  He had a bandanna around his forehead.  His eyes were narrow.  He was dressed in a leather vest and on his right arm, a leather sleeve.  He was sitting there with a large dog and his backpack.  He had various trinkets and tags around his neck.  He was pierced - lip, ear and tongue.   I could just tell by looking at him that he was a ‘walking story’ and probably had so much to say.  But, even after this inspection and assessment, I made no effort to interact with him.  I simply went into the store, got my coffee and came back out.  But once I got back in the car and was actually ready to drive away, I turned to my wife and asked her if she would mind if I went and talked to him to ask him if I could take his picture.  After all, we had another 4 hours to drive and we had 3 antsy boys in the car…this was highly unorthodox and went against every aspect of family travel protol.  She approved and I went for it.  I could not in good conscience  leave without talking to this man and photographing him.

Before getting the camera, I walked over and I introduced myself. I informed him that I was an amateur/hobbyist photgrapher and couldn’t pass up scenes that were unique, intriguing or curious.  I explained to him that I was very interested in his story and was very taken by his look.  I then asked if I could take a few shots of him and learn a little about where he’s been and where he’s going.  He consented, but only after asking if I could possibly give him a ride to San Diego.  Interestingly enough, the pictures are really a minor and secondary aspect of this entry.  The true beauty of this interaction is that I took the time to approach and engage this person.  By appearance, he was not someone you’d really want to interact with.  We are taught all of our lives, to avoid people like this.  He was “hard” looking, was a hitchhiker and seemed unkempt.  However, with this experience, I proved that age-old addage that you cannot judge a book by its cover.  Let me take you through what I learned from this man; things I know that many people that have crossed his path know not because they were afraid to engage him.

His name is Mathew and he is from Mathews, LA.  He was heading to San Diego and was at Love’s looking for a ride west for this, the last leg of his journey.  He said he wanted a fresh start and some good weather.  His dog’s name is Tai Chi – he informed me that this was Chinese for ‘Balance’ (which I knew, but I didn’t let on as I sensed it gave him great pride to share that fact).  He said his dog was his rock and his companion and kept him on-track and motivated.  He said that what I saw before me in the form of a dirty backpack and a cardboard sign were all he currently had to his name.  His cardboard Sign read, “CAL”.  As I continued to converse with him I started noticing little things about him that made him even more intriguing.  Things like the lines in his face, the shape of his eyes and the small tattoos on his face and arms.  Beyond the physical and visual characteristics of Mathew, what he had to say and how he said it were equally interesting.   As I finished taking pictures I asked him if he had an email address.  Which I might add, made me feel strange to be asking a nomad if he had an email address…but, since technology allows folks to have a virtual address they can take with them anywhere; even Mathew had one.  His email address was a story in itself.  He said it was essentially the Spanish word for bogeyman.  He said that it wasn’t the traditional definition though…he said it was a concept that defined him.  He stated that is was the idea that people judge first and assume the worst and that all things in a specific light or view are “bad”.  But, he continued, even if the surface is different or scary, if you probe, you will find out that things aren’t really what they seem.  He said this is how he sees people seeing him.  They see him as scary and someone to be avoided…like the bogeyman.  But, if they’d just stop and chat or get to know him, they’d see he was just another person living their life with a shared understanding and respect for right and wrong.   I have to tell you that this last piece of our conversation moved me.  I had taken the chance and mustered the courage to not only approach a stranger, but an interesting and intimidating stranger at that.  I am truly thankful for having the opportunity to meet and chat with Mathew.

Photographically speaking, this has opened up a whole new world for me.  I usually, if not exclusively, shoot landscapes wildlife and architecture.  But, with the recent encouragement and guidance from Mark Menditto as well as this experience; I can see myself pursing more “people” projects.  It has also left me with a greater respect for the craft of people photography.  The photo is only part of the story…in order to get a shot, you have to engage the subject; and by doing so, you learn the person’s story and that makes the images stronger.

 I learned that getting over the fear of engaging subjects and not caring about how others view you as you work to get the shot you want in the location you want.  I this case, there were people everywhere and it was a busy storefront.  I’m sure there were plenty of people that walked by as I worked with Mathew that were confused and perplexed.  But, I was completely focused on Mathew and didn’t really even think about what was happening around me.

So, thanks to Mathew for being there at the Love’s in Gila Bend.  Thanks to Mark Menditto for his recent comments and his confidence.  And thank you to my wife for letting me shoot with her camera…I used her D90 with a 50mm 1:1.8D lens.  My D70 wasn’t with us on this trip.

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I was on my way back from my Doctor’s appointment today and about 1/2 mile from home I noticed that the sunset and the clouds were painting a great scene across the sky.  Since I was so close to home, I just pulled into the driveway, grabbed my camera and tripod and headed back to a spot about 1/2 mile from our house.  Here in Surprise nestled between the sub-divisions, are working farms and ranches which make for great foregrounds for the amazing sunsets we get here.  I was able to snap a few scenes and took them back for processing.  I only shot 6 scenes but the coolest thing was that this was only 1/2 mile from my house.  I didn’t need to travel or get all prepared for this shoot.  Sometimes, a close, simple locale and some spontaneity can go a long way.

Processing Notes:  My workflow includes My HDR application, a freeware noise reducer (which I use occasionally to reduce color noise prior to HDR processing) and Photoshop Elements (used primarily for color adjustments, specific actions as well as some cropping if needed).

And here are the results of this impromptu shoot.  These HDR Images are comprised of 3 exposures (-1, 0, +1 EV (using AEB)), Matrix Metering Mode, Aperture priority, manual focus,  f/22 and processed with Dynamic PhotoHDR 4.01 and Photoshop Elements 7.0. 

Looking west to the White tanks - Cattle Ranch

Looking North across the canal

West - sunset over the white tanks

Ghost Truck - Truck went through my scene on the 2nd exposure - kind of a cool effect

Sunset - looking west across a farm to the white tanks

Awesome Cloud formations over a farm (facing south)

Gallery of the photos is here:

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