international group of photographers, writers, artists, filmmakers, videographers and designers

After the Ecstasy by Jim Robertson

Jim Robertson is ecstatic about his image “After the Ecstasy”  being given an honorable mention in Lensbaby’s “Get Published” online competition. The contest chose 13 out of nearly 2000 images entered to be featured in a soon to be published book about the light-bending lens. Although not getting published, Jim’s many-legged image is featured here on page 5 of the Honorable Mention gallery. Congrats!

Jim Robertson is a founding member and co-administrator of aamora. He is following the photographic path in Lexington, KY, USA.  You can find his previous post on aamora here and more of his work at his photo site.

1/17/10. Woke up early. Drove my parents’ beige 2000 Lincoln Continental (our transportation these days) to Pepboy’s. They were short a mechanic and the wait was going to be 2 to 3 hours. I asked if it would be better to come in the next morning and they said, ‘Okay….around 8:30.”

On my way there I had noticed a painted bus but held myself back from taking a photo. When I came out, I was so happy to see the bus still parked there. I was trying to get my camera out of the bag when the bus started to pull away. All I could think about was “Aaron & Aamora…” I had to get those pix!

Jumped into the car and started following. Every time the bus stopped I would snap a photo. Stayed right behind for at least a mile until the bus pulled into the Avenues Shopping Mall and parked. I pulled up on the left side, leapt out and proceeded to photograph (even though there were cops there and the tag on the Lincoln is from 2007).

A few minutes later, the driver got out of the bus and asked, “May I help you?” I replied, “I’m just a crazy artist and this is such a cool bus…I…I followed you.” He said, “I know.” I asked if he minded me taking a few pictures. He said, “No”. I asked if he wanted to be in one. He said, “No”. I thanked him and took a few more photos.

So, these are the result of my quest. I think I should have been a photojournalist, because I’ll do almost anything to get the shot.

*****
Maura is an aamora member. She tells us: “I received my B.F.A. from Bennington College in Vermont. It was there I learned how to “see” and ‘listen” abstractly. Before that, I studied in NYC with Daniel Green, a well-known portrait artist…. total realism, oil paints, “live” models….also, posed as a painter’s model during that period. Owned “Embellishments” – a business I created from being inspired by a small Indian mosaic frame found in the gift shop of the Jacksonville Museum of Art. – for 12 years. Now, I work at Merrill Lynch, helping people with their 401k plans. Photography has become my salvation.” – You can see more of Maura’s photography at jpgmag.com

“My story: Once upon a time I read a book. The end. The book was “Bird” (about Charlie Parker) & I was 12 years old. For the next 50 years I became a jazz musician. I first used a polaroid camera in 2003, next was Nikon film in 2004, I added a low-tech camera phone in 2005 and high-tech digitals in 2007. And now, here I am.”

We welcome Rhio9 as the newest member of aamora. You can see more of his wonderful work on his photo blog.

Remember one of the last scenes in “The Graduate” when Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) drives desperately to Santa Barbara to interrupt his loved one’s wedding to another man? * Click here *

The iconic Alfa Romeo Spider was his means of transport, and this year the company, or what’s left of it, will be one hundred years old!

I live in the town of Arese, just outside Milan, and in the early 60s, Alfa opened its largest factory here.

Up until the 80s there was a work force of about 19,000 . Since then it’s been downhill all the way for poor Alfa, bought up by Fiat, with the gradual fading out of this legendary make of car.

The area of nearly 2.000.000 square metres that was once a thriving complex is now up for grabs and battle now ensues between concerned citizens and political and financial interests.

Who knows what we will find on our doorstep tomorrow! Meanwhile the area is a sad and dilapidated reminder of former glories.

Catharine is a founding member of aamora. She grew up in England but has been living in Italy since her marriage in 1969. She spends her winters near Milan and her summers in Tuscany. Check out her previous contribution to aamora – the very first one! -  by clicking here . You can also enjoy more of her wonderful work on jpgmag.com .

(This is a sequel to John Linton’s “Secret Project” contribution, “The Lock”. You may want to check that out first by clicking here.)

The boy placed the old man’s paper on the step and left. The next day when he came to deliver another he noticed the paper he had left the day before was gone and that an SUV with out of state plates was parked by the side of the road. Before he could leave the paper a stranger opened the door. The boy asked the stranger if the old man was around and the man said that he had died. The stranger then asked if the old man had owed the boy any money for the papers. The boy told him how much and the man paid him and told him the paper was no longer needed.

As the boy continued his deliveries he noticed the old man’s next door neighbor coming out to get her paper, something that had never happened before. Every time he needed to collect from her he would have to bang on her door many times before she would answer it. When the boy gave her the paper she asked what the man had said. The boy told her and she said, “He’s Skip’s son, George. He arrived yesterday with his family and turned that house upside down looking for money he said Skip had stashed away somewhere in the house. His wife said all he found was $2,000 in an envelope with a letter that said it was for the care of the dog. Of course, he took the dog to the Vets to have him put down and put the house up for sale. He kept the $2,000.”

The woman went on to say, “The police found Skip dead after I called yesterday complaining about the dog’s constant barking. When George arrived he told the police that no one in the family could afford to pay for the old man’s burial and wanted to know if the state or the VA would pay for it. Can you imagine? I’m so glad I don’t have a son like that. George sure was upset at not finding more money. Serves him right.” With that the boy continued on his way.

A month later the boy visited the old man’s grave. After all, it was the least he could do for the old man.

***

“John Linton is a floundering member of aamora. He lives in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the state with the biggest name and smallest size.”

Check out John’s other aamora posts here and see more of his work  by clicking here.

1-21-2010 (Postcard 11 – Fish)

1-21-2010 (Postcard 12 – FOOD)

Alexis Gerard is a member of aamora.com. Alexis has been a passionate photographer since his twenties. He worked at Apple in the pioneering days of the Macintosh launch, then founded imaging think-tank Future Image in 1991. He founded and now chairs the 6Sight® Future of Imaging executive conference. He co-authored the book “Going Visual”, speaks widely on imaging technology, and is a member of the International Advisory Council of the George Eastman House. As a result of his business activities he had the opportunity to begin shooting digital in the early nineties and does so exclusively now. He prefers small cameras he can have with him at all times. Check out Alexis’ other posts on aamora here and see his other work by clicking here.

The Dark Season: Digital photo montage

‘The world goes dark and deep in the winter months. Life lays fallow. We wait in shadows and fallen leaves and are covered in a silent white robe from the sky.’

Today’s guest photographer is Anne McGinn, who lives in Los Angeles, California. She tells us: “I am a digital photographer and image maker. In my work I seek to express emotion, reveal beauty, and explore the liminal edge between reality and dreams.”  You can see more of Anne’s wonderful work on Redbubble.

Independent Arts and Minds is a new organization that is currently running weekly creative sessions for adults living in Dereham, England who are suffering from stress, anxiety and/or depression.

A team of professional community artists with a wide range of specialist areas including sculpture, film and performance lead the friendly, informal drop-in sessions.

Some of the work produced will be showcased in public exhibitions, performances and screenings, providing an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health issues in the community, break down stigma, and promote the role of creativity in helping people to recover from mental ill health and stay well.

The project also aims to collaborate with other community groups in both making and exhibiting work, thus reducing the isolation people suffering from mental ill health are known to experience particularly in rural areas.

James Mortram is a Carer and Social Documentary Photographer in the East of England. Second Place World Digital Photographer of the Year 2009. Published and exhibited in UK, featured in the Guardian newspaper and the BBC Website.  See more of Jim’s work on Flickr by clicking here.  We also want to credit Tilney 1, a member of Independent Arts and Minds, the subject of Jim’s portraits above, and the creator of the artwork above. Please see more of Tilney 1’s work on Flickr by clicking here.

We’re glad to have Jim here as our guest. When he told us that he and the IAM group are working on a new project involving “mutual documentary photography”, we invited him back to have its premiere showing here on aamora. Watch for it!

In the 70s, a homeless man named Chris used to roam the streets of Toronto. He had a long white beard and wore a lumber jacket and could often be seen holding onto fire hydrants around town while yelling: “Fire Ten! Fire Twenty! Fire Thirty!” and so on.

Most people thought Chris was crazy. But if you stopped and talked to him you would discover he was in possession of a very valuable secret. Fire hydrants, according to Chris, were storehouses of power, and anyone at anytime could fuel up by just following his procedure.

Try it sometime.

Marie Wilson was one of the first members of aamora. She is a writer, photographer, artist, actor, mother and muse. Originally from Vancouver, she lives in Toronto.  This is Marie’s contribution to aamora’s “Secret Project” (more here). Enjoy more of her photography at her photosite here and check out her writing, art and photography, as well as some cool links, on her new website

1-14-2010 (Postcard 1)

1-14-2010 (Postcard 2)

Alexis Gerard is a member of aamora.com. Alexis has been a passionate photographer since his twenties. He worked at Apple in the pioneering days of the Macintosh launch, then founded imaging think-tank Future Image in 1991. He founded and now chairs the 6Sight® Future of Imaging executive conference. He co-authored the book “Going Visual”, speaks widely on imaging technology, and is a member of the International Advisory Council of the George Eastman House. As a result of his business activities he had the opportunity to begin shooting digital in the early nineties and does so exclusively now. He prefers small cameras he can have with him at all times. Check out Alexis’ other posts on aamora here and see his other work by clicking here.