I haven't come up with a catchy title for what I'm doing yet, but Extraordinary moments of mundane and happenstance in the Twin Ports and points beyond. seems to be a good, wide, literal description of the intentions.
Last September I put a page on this website called "Free Portraits." From that little offer spawned the Dramatizations of Everyday Life collection of photographs I have available. I approached it as way to get a feel for how well I could photograph people who were working with me. The results were far better than anything I expected. Not only did I prove to myself that I could work that way, but the positive response I've been receiving from the general public about the work has been stunning.
What I'm moving into now is basically more of the same. Explore, find people in a natural state, photograph. Aside from a few conceptual ideas I'm kicking around, there are a few key changes this time around.
Bigger!
Dramatizations was shot with a camera that is the size of my head. This time around I'm stepping it up to a camera that I can fit my head inside. Awesome!
Super Legit
While before I was basically trying to just get my bearings figured, what I'm shooting over the next year and half is specifically for a solo show tentatively planned for the 2013-14 winter at the Duluth Art Institute. Yup. This is serious business.
How you can help
If you live in or near Duluth/Superior, or are just passing though the area all I ask is for a bit of your time to show up with my huge camera and take a photo or two. If you happen to think that you aren't interesting enough, or don't have anything interesting to show off, you are wrong. I have no expectations of grandeur. Mowing your lawn. Painting your deck. Your children's birthday party. You name it, I'll be able to find at least one scene to photograph. The whole goal of this project isn't to show the beautiful landscape or famous landmarks we have in the region, but to show the humans that live in it.
I'm also extra interested if you can provide me access into something I probably wouldn't be able to find by just wandering around. Like you work at a shipyard or something which normally has security in place for example. Or perhaps just a little hidden nook somewhere in the area that is special to you. Let me know!
I'm interested! What do I do?
Just fill out my be a subject form and we'll go from there. Read over the page as well while you're at it. It will help you get an idea of what to expect.
And also, before you ask me what you should wear, the correct answer is always "Whatever you'd be wearing to do whatever you'd be doing if I wasn't there."
Oh yeah, and go watch this video PBS did about my work after you fill out the form.